Виктория Холт - The Captive

“Well, it was a terrible ordeal,” said Felicity.

Theresa laid her hand on my arm.

“And for you, too. I heard about it.

Lucas doesn’t talk much. Carleton says it is like getting blood out of a stone to get information out of him. He was so active. And this has hit him hard. But he did cheer up quite a lot when he heard you were coming. “

“He likes to talk to Rosetta,” said Felicity.

“After all, they were together. I always think it helps people to talk.”

“It is wonderful that you both came through. We had been so worried about Lucas. And when we knew he was coming home … it was wonderful.

And then . he was so different. And Lucas being the man he is . it was never easy for him to be the younger brother. ” She shrugged her shoulders and looked faintly embarrassed, as though she thought she was saying too much.

I knew that she was right. Before the accident Lucas had been constantly preoccupied by the fact that his elder brother was head of the household when their father died. He was a man who liked to lead and it could never have been easy for him to take second place. So he had travelled widely after he left the Army and of course while he was in it. He had tried archaeology. He had written a book, inspired by his discovery, and had been on the point of lecturing about it when disaster had struck. It must have seemed then that he was making a life away from Trecorn Manor, which was what he had wanted; and then he was brought back . as he was now. I could understand that he was disillusioned with life. I looked forward to more talks with him. Perhaps I could try to make him see the future differently. Perhaps I could inspire him with a little hope. I did not think there was a very good chance of this, but I could try.

He could still ride, which was a blessing. True, he needed a little assistance in mounting and dismounting, but when he was on his horse, he was all that he had been before. He had always been an excellent horseman and I noticed at once that there was a strong relationship between him and his mount. Charger, who seemed to understand that his master had changed and that he needed to be looked after.

Theresa said: “We never worry about Lucas when he goes off for long spells. If he’s on Charger we know he will be brought home when he wants to come.”

The first night at dinner he wanted to know if I rode.

“There was little opportunity at home,” I told him.

“But when I was at school we had riding lessons. So I cannot call myself quite a novice but… somewhat inexperienced.”

“You ought to get in a bit of practice while you’re here,” suggested Carleton.

“Yes,” agreed Lucas.

“I’ll undertake to be your tutor.”

“It will be a little boring perhaps for such a practised rider,” I said.

“I know it will be a pleasure,” he replied.

Theresa beamed on us. She was such a kindly woman and I realized how happy she was that I was here because she thought it would be pleasant for Lucas, and that we were good for each other.

It had been arranged that after two days at Trecorn Manor James should go back to Truro to do his work while Felicity and I remained behind to wait for him. He would return to the Manor when his work was done and after a day or so we should all leave together.

I soon settled into a routine. Lucas and I rode together and talked a good deal, often about our adventure. We often went over the same ground, but I am sure it did us both good. As far as I was concerned, it made me all the more eager to find out something about Perrivale Court.

I found myself drawn into life in the nursery. Jennifer seemed to have taken a liking to me. I had had little to do with children and was unsure how to deal with them, but Jennifer solved that. She informed me that her name was Jennifer Lorimer and that she lived at Trecorn Manor. She was four years old. All this was told as if in great confidence and it was almost as though we shared a special confidence.

Although the girl in the twin ship she was the leader. She was vivacious and chattered a good deal. Henry was much quieter, a serious little boy; he always followed Jennifer and as she had decided that she liked me, he must do so too.

Moreover, there was Nanny Crockett another ally. I think it must have been because I got on well with the twins that she accepted me.

She was by no means young, but a power in the nursery. Ellen, the fourteen-year-old nursery maid, behaved towards her as though she were the Queen. I gathered she was in her late fifties. She had iron grey hair which was plaited and worn round her head in a rather severe manner; her grey eyes were alert and she had a way of pursing her lips if she disapproved of anything and then she could be indomitable. She was a woman of definite opinions and once they became hers she determined to stick to them.

“We were lucky to get her,” said Theresa.

“She’s a very-experienced nanny. She’s not young, of course, but that’s all to the good. She’s as active as a young woman and there’s the experience as well.”

Nanny Crockett liked to have a little chat now and then and when the children had their afternoon nap, if I were not with Lucas, I would be with her.

Felicity and Theresa had interests in common the running of a home and the care of a husband and children. They were ideal companions. I imagined when they were together they discussed Lucas and me. They thought we were ‘good for each other’ and we were certainly thrown together on every possible occasion. Not that their efforts were necessary, for Lucas showed clearly that he preferred my society to that of anyone else. It was a fact, I believed, that since we had arrived, he had become a little more like the man he used to be. He laughed occasionally now and then and sometimes would deliver a witty quip, but alas, very often with a hint of that bitterness which seemed to have become a feature of his conversation.

I knew this routine must soon be interrupted by the return of James. I was enjoying my stay, but ever present was the need to find out the truth about Simon and there were times when I felt a deep frustration and despair.

It was maddening to be so near to his old home, but how could I get to it without arousing suspicion? I was afraid to make outright enquiries. The very fact that Lucas had met him at some time implied that it would be very easy to make a false step and reveal to him who John Player really was. And if he discovered, how did I know what action he would take? True, John Player had saved our lives, but if Lucas believed him to be a murderer, a fugitive from justice, what would he feel he ought to do about it?

It would have been such a relief to talk to him about Simon, but I dared not do it. Sometimes I thought of telling Felicity. I was indeed often on the verge of doing so, but I always drew back in time.

But I was getting desperate and that day at luncheon I had to speak. I said tentatively: “Wasn’t there a murder somewhere about here … ?”

Theresa wrinkled her brows. Then she said: “You must mean that affair at Perrivale Court.”

“Yes,” I cried, hoping I did not show the emotion I always felt when the subject was raised.

“I … I think that was where it was.”

“It was the adopted son,” said Lucas.

“He’d been cared for all his life,” Carleton added, ‘and he showed his gratitude by murdering one of the sons of the house. “

“I think we mentioned it before,” I said to Lucas.

“Didn’t you say you’d met him?”

“Oh yes … years ago … and briefly.”

“How far is the place from here?”

Theresa looked at Carleton, who pondered for a few moments.

“As the crow flies, I’d say seven or eight miles, but if you are not a crow it could be a little longer.”