Виктория Холт - Kirkland Revels

I caught their nervous excitement. I knew I had to act promptly. I could not see how he could harm me now, because I had so much evidence against him, but I did not doubt that he was diabolically clever.

” Go at once,” pleaded his wife. ” Do not wait for anything He may return here at any moment. If he found you … if he knew what we had told you….”

” Yes’,” I agreed. ” I will go at once. How can I thank you for telling me this? I know what it must have meant to you.”

” Don’t waste time in thanking us. Please go, and he must not see you leave this house.”

So I went, and when I came through the fir trees to the gate I was trying to make up my mind what I should do.

I was not going to Glen House. I was going to Kelly Grange. But first I would return to the Revels because I was determined that I would take the monk’s robe with me. I was not going to allow anyone in future to believe that I had suffered from hallucinations.

As I walked back to the Revels, I was in a state of great excitement.

I was certain that the account I had heard was a true one. How could I doubt that sick woman? Her fear had been genuine. Besides, now that I knew who my enemy was it was easy to understand how he had been in a position to act as he did. I thought back to the very beginning . the occasion when Friday had warned us of an intruder and had insisted on being taken out to the corridor; the next day when he had been missing and I had gone to look for him. and lost my way and been brought home by Simon, Deverel Smith had been present on our return.

He could have heard Gabriel say that he was going to order some milk for me. He might have seen the maid bringing it up, and have explained to her that I was upset about the loss of my dog and he would slip a sedative into my milk. Such a possibility had not entered my mind; on that tragic morning none of us thought of anything but Gabriel’s death.

But this could have been the reason why I slept so quickly and so deeply.

Then how easy it was for him to slip in and out of the house; to pull the curtains about my bed, to remove the warming-pan, and to put my cloak over the balcony.

He could come by the secret entry and if he were seen, on the stairs, in the hall, he would always have a plausible answer. He had been worried about Sir Matthew . Sarah . and latterly myself, and had dropped in to assure himself that all was well.

And Simon? I had to face the truth. I believed that Damaris regarded her father’s determination to marry her to Luke with repulsion; and what I had originally thought was an affection between her and Luke was merely Damaris’s desire to please a father whom she feared, and Luke’s natural interest in an attractive girl—and with one as beautiful as Damaris that interest would normally be intensified. But with Simon it would be different; and I did not believe that any woman could be completely indifferent to the virile charm of Simon Redvers. Even I—down to earth and sensible person that I believed myself to be—could not.

I must not think of Simon. But Hagar was my friend. I could rely on her. So I was going to the Revels; I was going to take the monk’s robe from my wardrobe and go with it to Kelly Grange. I would tell Mary-Jane to pack some of my things, and she could bring them over in the carriage later. I should walk because I was not going to let anyone but Mary Jane know that I was leaving.

Those were my plans as I entered the Revels.

I rang my bell, and Mary-Jane came to my room.

” Mary-Jane,” I said. ” I am going at once to Kelly Grange. Pack some things that I shall need. I will send for you and them. But I propose to go immediately.”

” Yes, madam,” said Mary-Jane, here eyes wide with surprise.

“Something has happened,” I told her.

“I cannot stop to explain now.

But I am going to leave this house at once. “

As I spoke I heard the sound of carriage wheels, and I went to the window.

I saw Dr. Smith alight and, because I no longer saw him as the benevolent doctor, I felt myself tremble.

” I should be gone,” I said. ” I must leave at once.”

I hurried out of the room, leaving a bewildered Mary Jane staring after me; I went along the corridor, down the first flight of stairs; then I heard the doctor’s voice; he was talking to Ruth.

” Is she at home?”

” Yes, I saw her come in only a few minutes ago.”

“That is fortunate.. I will go and get her now.”

“What if she … ?”

” She will know nothing until I have her safely there.”

My heart began to hammer uncertainly. He was already striding across the hall. I slipped into the minstrels’ gallery quickly, thinking that I might hide myself there while he well) on to my room. Then I should run out of the house and to Kelly Grange.

Ruth had remained in the hall and I wondered how I should get past her.

Would she tell the doctor that I had run out of the house? If so, how long would it take him to catch up with me?

I quietly shut the door of the gallery and I immediately thought of the cupboard. If I could escape by way of the secret tunnel they would not catch me.

But even as I, my body bent so that I should not be seen from the hall, went towards the cupboard, the door of the gallery opened and he was standing there.

” Oh … hallo, Catherine.” He was smiling the benign smile which had deluded me in the past.

I could say nothing for the moment; my voice had lost itself in my constricted throat.

” I came to call on you, and I saw you come in here as started up the stairs.”

” Good morning,” I said and I felt that my voice sounded calmer than I had thought possible. He stepped into the gallery and shut the door. When I glanced over the balcony I could see Ruth standing below.

^ “It’s a fine morning,” he went on.

“I wanted you to come for a little drive with me.”

” Thank you. I was just going out for a walk.”

” But you have just come in.”

” Nevertheless, I am just going out again.”

He lifted a finger and there was something so sinister in that playful gesture that I felt a shudder run down my spine.

” You are doing too much walking, and you know I don’t allow that.”

” I am perfectly healthy,” I answered. ” Jessie Dankwait is pleased with me.”

” The country midwife!” he said contemptuously. ” A drive will do you good.”

” Thank you, but I do not wish to go.”

He came towards me and took my wrist; he held it tenderly yet firmly.

“I am going to insist to-day, because you are looking a little pale.”

“’ No, Dr. Smith,” I said. ” I do not wish to go for a drive.”

” But my dear Catherine ” (his face was close to mine and his gentle, suave manner seemed more horrible than violence), ” you are coming with me.”

I tried to walk past him, but he caught and held me firmly. He took the robe from me and threw it on the floor.

“’ Give that to me and let me go at once,” I said.

” My dear, you must allow me to know what is good for you.”

I was filled with sudden panic. I called: “Ruthi Ruth! Help me.”

I saw her start up-the stairs, and I thanked God that she was at hand.

She opened the door of me minstrels’ gallery; he was still holding me in a grip so firm that I could not extricate myself.

” I am afraid.” he said to her, ” that she is going to give us a little trouble.”

” Catherine,” said Ruth, ” you must obey the doctor. He knows what’s best for you.”

” He knows what is besti Look at this robe. He is the one who has been playing those tricks on me.”

” I fear,” said the doctor, ” that it is more advanced than I believed.