Виктория Холт - The Captive

“Part of it undoubtedly is … but these old places are restored down the ages and sometimes you get something of a mixture.”

“You went there once, didn’t you?”

“Yes, but I don’t remember much of it. It had completely slipped my memory until the murder. That brought it back, of course.”

I was hoping that someone would emerge. Perhaps the brother who had survived or the beautiful woman who might have been the cause of it all. I should like to have had a glimpse of her.

Lucas said suddenly: “I am sure the King’s Head is not far off.” And as the winding road took a turn away from the coast he cried: “Ah, there it is. Only it’s not the King’s Head. The right place but the wrong name. It’s The Sailor King. Same monarch but with a different soubriquet. Come on. We’re going to leave the horses in the stables.

They can do with a rest, I dare say. And while they’re refreshing themselves we’ll do the same. If there is time after . though I doubt it . we’ll look in on Upbridge. But you mustn’t be disappointed if we don’t. “

I assured him that I was having a thoroughly enjoyable day and should not be in the least disappointed.

I helped him dismount as unobtrusively as I could, and after seeing that the horses were in good hands we went into the parlour. There was no one else there and it was pleasant to have the room to ourselves.

The host came bustling in.

“Now what shall it be, sir … my lady.

It’s only cold, I’m afraid. But I can promise you some prime beef and ham. And there’s hot lentil soup. “

We said that sounded just what we needed and cider in pewter mugs was brought to us. Then we settled down to the meal.

A maid brought the food, which was excellent, and while we were eating, the host’s wife came over to see that we had all we needed.

She was clearly a garrulous woman who enjoyed chattering to her customers.

She wanted to know how far we had come.

We told her we came from Trecorn Manor.

“Oh, I know it well. A fine old place … not so old as Perrivale, of course.”

“Oh, Perrivale Court,” I said eagerly.

“We passed that. Is it occupied now?”

“Why, bless you, yes. The Perrivales have been there since time was.

Come over with the Conqueror, so they boast, and they liked it so much they’ve stayed ever since. “

“There are a lot like that,” said Lucas.

“They are pleased they got in at the start.”

“Oh, there’s been Perrivales round here forever. There’s only Sir Tristan now, Mr. Cosmo having been …”

“Didn’t I read something in the papers about that?” I said.

“Oh, it was some time ago.”

“That’s right, you did. And at the time people could talk of nothing else. They forget quick, like. People be fickle. You ask ‘em about the Perrivale murder now and some of these young ‘uns … they don’t seem to know anything. I say, it’s history, that’s what it is and people should know it.”

“Some might think you have a morbid mind to absorb and retain such knowledge,” said Lucas.

She looked at him as though she thought he was a little mad and I could see the mischief rising in him so that he wanted to convince her that he was entirely so.

“Well,” she said defensively, ‘when it did happen the place was swarming with people . reporters . detectives and such like. Two of them stayed . right under this roof. Making their investigations, they did say. So you do see, we be right on the spot.”

“Very conveniently placed,” put in Lucas.

“Well, I must go and see to things. Mustn’t stop chattering-‘ She went away and I said: ” It was getting interesting. I wanted to hear more.”

“Lookers on often get a distorted vision.”

“At least they are close to the scene.”

Trifle was brought by the maid. It was delicious and well laced with sherry. I was glad that the hostess found it difficult to resist further gossip and while we were finishing the trifle she came up for a little more.

“People don’t come here much,” she confided.

“Well, we get the locals, like … but visitors like yourselves … they don’t come this way much. It was different at the time … you know what happened at Perrivale.”

“Murder is good for business,” said Lucas.

She looked at him warily and I prompted: “You must have known a good deal about the family.”

“Well … being here all my life, could hardly help it, could I then? I was born in this inn. My father had it … and then when I married William he took over. My son another William he’ll do the same one day, I shouldn’t wonder.”

“A dynasty of innkeepers,” murmured Lucas.

I said quickly: “It’s very good to keep it in the family. It gives you a certain pride, doesn’t it?”

She beamed on me. I could see that she was thinking I was nice and normal enough to enjoy a bit of gossip in spite of my companion.

“Do you see much of the Perrivales?” I asked.

“Oh yes, they be always in and out. I can go back years. I remember when that Simon was brought here. That’s the one … you know.”

“Yes,” I said.

“I know.”

“It must have been all of twenty years ago when he came. Me and William was just married. There was a bit of a scene, I can tell ‘ee, when Sir Edward brought him into the house and said he’d be staying there. Well, it stands to reason there’d be fireworks. What woman’s going to stand for that, I ask you?”

“I quite agree,” I said.

“Now why does a man like that bring a strange child into his home?

Everyone said her ladyship was a saint to put up with it. And she wasn’t the sort either. A bit of a tartar by all accounts. But Sir Edward was the sort of man who didn’t say much . but he’d have his own way. He said the boy would stay and stay he did. “

“That was Simon,” I said.

“Well, what can you expect? Can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear, they tell you. Nor can you.”

“You mean …”

“Well, where did he come from, I ask you? Some back street somewhere, I shouldn’t wonder.”

“Why should Sir Edward let him live in a back street and then decide to bring him to Perrivale Court?”

“Well, people get things on their consciences, don’t they? Anyways, he came. Treated like one of them, he was. Time came they had a tutor .. that was before they went away to school. A nice fellow, he was. He used to tell some tales about the life up there. Then he faded out and it was school for them. Simon, he went too … just like Cosmo and Tristan. And how did he repay them? He murders Mr. Cosmo. There’s gratitude for you.”

“But can you be sure that he was the one who committed the murder?”

“Plain as the nose on your face. Why else did he run away?”

“It certainly seems conclusive,” said Lucas.

“There could be other reasons,” I protested.

“Oh, a definite sign of guilt,” commented Lucas.

“Yes, he was guilty all right. Jealous, he was. Of course there was that widow woman, Mirabel … She was Mrs. Blanchard then. Now, of course, it’s Lady Perrivale. She came down here with her father … the Major … and a nicer gentleman you could not wish to meet. Her father and that young Kate. There’s a piece of mischief for you, Mrs. Blanchard she was then. Oh, she was a beauty … one of them red-haired ones. You couldn’t help looking twice at her. She set her cap at Mr. Cosmo and we all knew that it wouldn’t be long before she was mistress of Perrivale. Cosmo was mad about her. Tristan liked her too, to say nothing of Simon. There they were, the three of them, all in love, they said, with the same widow woman. And what does Simon do? He lures Cosmo to that old farmhouse Bindon Boys they call it and he just shot him. Through the head, they said. Might have got away with it too, if Mr. Tristan Sir Tristan now hadn’t come in and caught him red-handed.”