Sylvia Andrew - Reawakening Miss Calverley

They looked at the marks made by a girl desperately scrabbling up the bank. ‘She’s a determined lass, that one, all right,’ Sam said. ‘How is she? Has she been able to tell you what happened to her?’

‘She can’t remember anything at all before we carried her into the house. But she was running away from someone. There are rope burns on her wrists where she has been tied up.’

Sam was shocked. ‘Can’t she tell you who kept her or how she escaped?’

‘Not yet. She could still be in danger. Pass the word on—I want to know if any strangers appear in the neighbourhood asking questions.’

‘I’ll do that.’ Sam looked at the marks on the ground. ‘She’s a brave lass, whoever she is.’

They were so deep in thought as they walked back up the drive that they said little to each other. But as they neared the house Sam suddenly said, ‘That young lady can’t have come more than a few miles without being noticed. It was a bad night, but I’d be surprised if someone or other didn’t see her. I’ll ask Mr Norris and one or two of the farmers, shall I?’

‘That’s a good idea, Sam. There’s very little Norris doesn’t hear about sooner or later. Though there won’t have been many travellers on the road that evening. It was a terrible night!’

‘Indeed it was,’ said Sam with some feeling. ‘I heard Mr Norris telling someone only madmen would go out in that storm when they could stay safely indoors.’

James grinned at this, but then said seriously, ‘If I hadn’t decided to carry on to Hatherton that night, your brave young lady would probably have died, Sam.’

‘Aye, and that would have been a pity. Right, I’ll be off to Norris and the rest, my lord.’

On his way back to the house James decided that he had exaggerated the effect the girl had had on him. He had promised her she would be safe, and the sight of her lying on the floor of the bedroom after apparently being attacked had thrown him off balance, that was all. Was it likely that a sad waif, who couldn’t even remember her own name, would touch him when so many accredited beauties had failed? No, he hardly needed to avoid her. Indeed, it would be cruel and unnecessary. She trusted him. She would expect him. By the time James entered the house he had made up his mind to keep his promise and visit her that evening—in spite of Mrs Culver’s certain disapproval.

When Anne next woke up it was late afternoon. A fire was burning brightly in the fireplace, and for a while she watched its light flickering over the room. Then Mrs Culver came in, followed by Rose, who was carrying a tray. ‘There you are!’ she said, lighting a lamp. ‘I was thinking I would have to wake you. Eat this up and then we’ll put you in a chair by the fire for a while.’ She disappeared while Anne was eating, but came back shortly, carrying a blue dressing robe. ‘Your own clothes will be ready for you tomorrow, but meanwhile I’ve taken the liberty of borrowing this old robe of Lady Aldhurst’s for you.’

In a short while Anne was sitting in front of the fire, trying not to wince as Rose did her best to bring her hair into some order. But the maid was skilled, and after some painful moments Anne’s hair was brushed and tied back tidily with a ribbon.

‘There, miss,’ said Rose. ‘You look ever so much better. His lordship will be surprised to see you looking so much more the thing.’

‘That will do, Rose,’ Mrs Culver was severe. ‘I doubt his lordship will see anything of the sort! He has spent most of the day trying to find out where Miss Anne came from, so it’s most unlikely he’ll visit her again today. He has better things to do with his time.’

Mrs Culver was wrong. When James came in he saw her in the hall and immediately asked how Anne was.

‘She is doing very well, my lord. She is awake, and has eaten a good nourishing meal.’

‘I’ll see her, then.’

‘Rose is with her at the moment. It really isn’t convenient. Besides, I’m afraid I gave orders to serve your dinner in an hour.’ She looked expressively at the mud on James’s coat and breeches. ‘I expect you will wish to change.’

‘Oh, very well, Cully. I’ll see Miss Anne after dinner.’

‘I expect she will be asleep, my lord.’ The housekeeper’s tone was discouraging.

James had been about to go to his room, but now he stopped and looked at her. Then, taking her by the arm, he led her into the small parlour off the hall. ‘Cully, I have no wish to challenge your authority in this house, but I shall see Miss Anne sometime tonight. That girl is feeling completely lost at the moment and I intend to keep my promise to see her.’

Mrs Culver shook her head. She said, ‘You always did go your own way, Master James. But I wish you’d be more careful.’ She paused, then added with a touch of temper, ‘The sooner that girl is out of the house the better!’

‘Why are you so eager to get rid of her, Cully? It isn’t like you to be inhospitable.’

‘You may be sure I’ll see that she is comfortable while she is here. But, I don’t like mysteries, and there are too many about this girl you’ve brought into your grandmother’s house. She may have been wearing a beggar woman’s dress and boots when you found her, but the rest of her clothes are best quality, and you can tell by the way she treats Rose and the others that she’s used to dealing with servants. And, for someone who was at death’s door a night or two ago, she has recovered remarkably quickly…’ Mrs Culver took a breath. ‘I don’t suppose you’ve learned anything more about her this afternoon?’

‘It looks as if she came from the Portsmouth Road, though it’s quite a distance to walk. Sam Trott is going to ask Norris and others if they have heard of anything. But she will stay here until I am sure she is safe.’ When he saw the housekeeper’s expression he added sternly, ‘You and I are old friends, Cully, but we shall fall out if the girl comes to any harm through anything you do or say. I’d be obliged if you would keep these suspicions of yours to yourself.’

Mrs Culver drew a deep breath and said stiffly, ‘My lord, I am surprised at you. In any matter involving the Aldhurst family my discretion has never been called into question. Your lordship may rely on it. Completely.’

‘Good!’

‘I will see that your lordship’s dinner is ready when you are,’ said Mrs Culver majestically. She curtsied and went out.

James shook his head ruefully. In deciding to come to Hatherton he had looked for time and peace to consider his future. Instead, he had been plunged into a mystery that threatened to wreck his relationship with one of his oldest allies in the house, as well as offending one of his grandmother’s most trusted servants. Cully might be right, after all—the girl was an unsettling influence and ought to go as soon as possible. If she regained her memory in the next day or two, he would see her safely delivered to her own people. If it looked as if it was going to take much longer than that, he would have to see that she went somewhere where she would be looked after in comfort. He and everyone else at Hatherton could then forget her.

When he entered the green bedroom later that evening, James found Anne dozing in a chair by the fire. The blue robe she was wearing was his grandmother’s—he remembered it from his childhood. Her hair had been tied back, revealing an ugly bruise, vulnerable hollows under her cheekbones and dark shadows under her eyes. He came forwards and sat down quietly in a chair near to her. The bandages had been removed from her wrists, and he could see that they were healing. But the sight of cruel red lines still encircling her delicate bones angered him. She must have been in considerable pain.