Виктория Холт - The Captive

Her eyes were shining. I felt happier than I had for a long time.

“We’ll do it,” I said, ‘together. “

What a difference it made to share my secret with Nanny Crockett. We talked continuously, going over the same ground again and again; but it was surprising how ideas occurred to us as we did so. We had convinced ourselves that someone in that house knew who had killed Cosmo Perrivale, and we shared the burning desire to find out the truth and prove Simon’s innocence.

A few days after I had taken Nanny Crockett into my confidence. Jack Carter left a message at the house to say he was taking a load over Upbridge way and if Nanny Crockett would like a lift he’d be more than happy with the company and do her a good turn at the same time, for he knew how she liked the little trip.

It seemed like an answer to our prayers. Nanny Crockett said that if I would look after the children, she would go; and she set off in a state of great excitement.

It seemed a long day. I did not see Lucas, as I spent the whole time with the children. I played with them, read to them and told them stories. They were quite content, but I was counting the minutes till Nanny’s return.

I do not know what I expected she would find out in that short time.

She came back in a mood of suppressed excitement, but she would tell me nothing until the children had had their supper of milk and bread and butter and were safely tucked up in bed.

Then we settled down to our chat.

“Well,” she said.

“It was a blessing that I went. It seems that Madam up there is in a bit of a state.”

“You mean Lady Perrivale?”

“I mean young Lady Perrivale.”

She folded her hands on her lap and surveyed me with great satisfaction, and, like some people who have exciting news to impart, she seemed to derive a certain pleasure in holding it back for a while, savouring the pleasure she was going to give me.

“Yes, yes. Nanny,” I prompted impatiently.

“Well, it’s nothing unusual to them up there. It happens regular, but they are getting desperate. It’s Madam Kate.”

“Do tell me what she’s done. Nanny, and what has it to do with us?”

She pulled herself back in her chair and smiled at me knowingly, which was irritating to me being so very much in the dark.

“Well,” she went on, ‘it’s like this. The governess up there has walked out again. It’s a regular way with governesses up there. None of them can stand young Kate for more than a week or so. But it throws the household in a turmoil. Really, this Kate must be a bit of a demon if you ask me. Well, there’s Mrs. Ford telling me that they’re all

praying to get a governess who gives Kate the education she ought to have . and keeps her out of the way of the grownups, I wouldn’t mind reckoning. And how they can’t, how they’re all in despair and young Kate is laughing her head off because the last thing she wants in the house is a governess. There’s been goodness knows how many . and not one stayed. Mrs. Ford reckons that soon it will get round and they wouldn’t even give it a trial. She’s a little imp, that Kate. Wants her own way. Mrs. Ford said if they don’t get someone to control her sometime, governesses won’t be the only ones who are leaving. Well, that’s how it was up at Perrivale. ” She paused and looked at me steadily.

“I said to Mrs. Ford, ” I wonder. ” and she looked at me sharply and said, ” What do you wonder. Nanny? ” I said, ” Now I don’t know whether I’m speaking out of turn . but an idea has just come to me.”

“Yes, Nanny,” I said, a little breathlessly.

“I said to her, ” Well, I don’t know . I may be speaking out of turn so don’t bank on it,” I said.

“But there’s a young lady staying at the house … a well-educated young lady. Best schools and all that.

Well, she was saying the other day she thought she’d like to do something. Not that she needs to, mind. But she was just feeling a bit restless, like. Well, she’s very good with my two . likes teaching them things. Well . I don’t know, I’m sure. It’s just a thought that came into my head. ” You should have seen Mrs. Ford’s face. I reckon it would be a feather in her cap if she could find them a governess.”

“Nanny, what are you suggesting?”

“Well, we always said if you could get into the house … we reckoned the secret was tucked away in there somewhere. And there’s no way of finding out when you’re outside it.”

As the possibility swept over me I felt enormously excited.

“Do you think they would take me?”

“They’d jump at you. You should have seen Mrs. Ford’s face. She kept saying, ” Will you ask her? Do you think she would? ” I played it very cautious. I wanted to make them think you might need a bit of persuading.

“I can only just mention it,” I told her.

“I can’t vouch for anything … I don’t know, I’m sure.” But she wouldn’t leave it alone. She was on it like a ton of bricks. “

“I’ve had no experience. How do I know if I could do it?”

“Look how you are with the twins.”

“They’re not difficult nine-year-olds.”

“That’s true enough. But when Mrs. Ford told me, I thought it sounded like manna from Heaven, as they say.”

“It does look rather like that. I’ve longed and longed for an opportunity.”

“Well, now here it is.”

“What else did Mrs. Ford say?”

“She did wonder how long you’d stay … if you came. She didn’t understand how anybody particularly someone who didn’t have to work would want to be governess to Miss Kate. I couldn’t tell her that there was rather a special reason. Then she stopped talking like that, being afraid I might put you off. She said, ” Well, perhaps Miss Cranleigh might be able to manage her . perhaps it’s because the others haven’t been much good,” going on like that. Ever so anxious she was to get me to ask you. She’d be in high favour with her ladyship if she was the one to find a governess who stayed. I told her not to hope for too much but I’d have a word with you.”

I had been so astounded by the suggestion that it was difficult for me to take in its implications at first. I was trying to be calm. I should go into a strange household as a sort of higher servant. What would my father think? Or Aunt Maud? They would never allow it.

Moreover, what would my position be with a child who had a reputation for making life intolerable for past holders of the post?

And yet. only a few hours before I had been praying for a chance. I had seen clearly that unless I could get a footing in that house, unless I could learn something about its inhabitants, I should never discover the truth behind the murder of Cosmo Perrivale.

Even while I hesitated I knew I had to seize this God-given opportunity with both hands.

Nanny Crockett was watching me intently; a slow smile spread across her face.

She knew that I would go to Perrivale Court.

It was soon quite clear that I should be very welcome at Perrivale Court. Lady Perrivale must have despaired of ever getting a governess for her daughter and the suggestion that I might take the post was received with enthusiasm.

Lady Perrivale sent the carriage over to Trecorn Manor to take me to Perrivale Court so that we could discuss the matter without delay.

I was relieved that Lucas was not there when I left, my trepidation overcome by the elation I felt at the prospect of making headway in my self-appointed task.

I had sworn Nanny Crockett to secrecy about the project, for I was anxious that Lucas should not know anything about it until it was definitely settled. I knew he would be astonished and would ask awkward questions and of course attempt to dissuade me, for, not knowing my reasons, he would naturally find it difficult to understand why I should take on such a post.