Виктория Холт - The Captive

I had ceased to marvel at the amazing turn of fate which had brought me this opportunity. So many strange things had happened to me in the recent past that I was prepared for anything. I suppose that when one steps out of the conventional life one must be prepared for the unexpected and unusual. And there I was, speeding along the road in a splendid carriage drawn by two noble horses, one black, one white, and driven by a coachman in the smart Perrivale livery.

We arrived at Perrivale Court. In the distance I could see the sea. It was a light blue today, in a gentle mood, smooth and benign. Whenever I came face to face with the sea-whatever its mood-I would visualize that raging angry torrent which had played such havoc with my life and that of many others. I would never trust the sea again.

And if I lived at Perrivale I should see it every day. I should be reminded.

If I lived at Perrivale? I must. I was becoming more and more certain how imperative it was that I should secure this post.

There was an air of timelessness about the place. The grey stone walls, battered by the winds of centuries, gave it the impression of a fortress, and the machicolations the look of a castle. Lucas had said it had been restored so often that it had lost its original identity.

That might be so, and I found it difficult to analyse my feelings as I passed under the gatehouse into a courtyard where the carriage drew up.

A door was immediately opened and a woman appeared. She was middleaged, verging on the elderly, and instinct told me that this was Mrs. Ford.

She had come to welcome her protegee personally and she showed clearly that she was very pleased that I had come.

“Come along in. Miss Cranleigh,” she said.

“I am Mrs. Ford. Lady Perrivale would like to see you at once. I am so glad you could come.”

It was an effusive greeting, hardly the sort that a governess would expect; but when I reminded myself of the reason for it I was less euphoric.

“Nanny Crockett has told me all about you,” said Mrs. Ford.

Not all, I thought. I could imagine Nanny Crockett’s glowing terms, and I was sure she credited me with qualities I did not possess.

“I’ll take you to her ladyship right away,” she said.

“Will you follow me?”

We were in a hall long and lofty, the walls of which were adorned with weapons and there was a huge fireplace with ingle nooks and seats on either side; the floor was tiled and our footsteps rang out as we walked across to the stairs. It was typical of many such halls except for the stained glass windows at one end with their beautiful shades of ruby red and sapphire blue which were reflected on the tiled floor.

Placed strategically at the side of the staircase like a sentinel was a suit of armour. It seemed lifelike and I could not help glancing uneasily at it as I followed Mrs. Ford up the stairs.

We went along the corridor until we came to a door at which Mrs. Ford knocked.

“Come in,” said a voice.

Mrs. Ford threw open the door and stood aside for me to go in.

She called: “Miss Cranleigh, my lady.”

And there she was, seated in a rather throne-like chair which was covered in dark velvet. She wore a gown of emerald green which was very becoming to her red-haired beauty. I noticed a gold necklace in the form of a snake about her neck. Her glorious hair was piled on top of her head and her green eyes glittered with pleasure.

“Miss Cranleigh,” she cried.

“Do come in. Thank you, Mrs. Ford. Sit here. Miss Cranleigh, and we can have our little talk.”

She was immensely affable. Clearly she was very eager that I should accept the post. She must be desperate, I thought, and I shuddered to think what the child might be like.

“Mrs. Ford tells me that you want to come here to teach my daughter.”

“It was suggested to me that you were in need of a governess,” I replied.

“Kate’s last governess had to leave in rather a hurry and naturally I do not want her studies to be interrupted too long.”

“No, of course not. I must tell you that I have never taught before.”

“Well, we all have to start somewhere.”

“Your daughter is eight years old, I believe … or is it nine?”

“She is just nine.”

“She will be in need of advanced education soon. Do you propose to send her to school in the near future?”

I saw a look of dismay in the green eyes. Was she imagining this daughter of hers being expelled from school after school ?

“We had no plans for a school yet.”

We? That would be Tristan, the girl’s stepfather. Images flashed into my mind. I saw him, coming into the farmhouse . finding his brother dead and Simon standing there with the gun in his hand. I must stop my mind from wandering on. This house would be full of such reminders.

But this was what I had wanted. Those people who had been nothing but names to me were now going to take on flesh and blood, and I had to assess their part in the drama if I were to find out the truth.

She was saying: “Mrs. Ford tells me you are very good with children.”

“She would be referring to the two at Trecorn Manor. They are only four years old.”

“Oh yes … Trecorn Manor. You are visiting there. We met, didn’t we? Those sheep. What a terrible time Mr. Lorimer had. That ghastly shipwreck.”

“Yes,” I said.

“I was shipwrecked too.”

“What a dreadful experience! I heard about it from Mrs. Ford. But you have emerged, fortunately, in better shape than poor Mr. Lorimer.”

“Yes, indeed I was more fortunate.”

She was silent for a few seconds denoting sympathy. Then she said brightly: “We should be so happy if you came. It would be good for Kate to have a … lady … to teach her. Mrs. Ford tells me that you have had an excellent education.”

“There was nothing outstanding about it.”

This was becoming a most unusual interview. I seemed all the time to be stressing why she should not employ me and she seemed determined at all cost that she should.

“We have rather pleasant nursery quarters here. You know, the family’s children have been brought up there over the years. That makes a difference … some how.”

I was trying to shut out of my mind images of that frightened little boy being brought into the nursery by a determined Sir Edward and by good fortune falling into the hands of loving Nanny Crockett.

It was obvious that my next words unnerved her.

“Perhaps I could meet your daughter.”

It was the last thing she wanted. There was apprehension in the green eyes. She was clearly thinking that one look at the little monster would be enough to make me decline. I felt almost sorry for her. She was so anxious to find a governess any governess, I imagined for her daughter.

Never could a prospective governess have been in such a position. I was amused at the feeling of power which came over me. It would be entirely my decision. I knew I was not going to enjoy my work, but at least I should not have to cringe before my employer. I knew I was coming to this house for Simon’s sake and I was certain that I should discover some of its secrets which, with luck, might lead me to the truth.

“She may not, of course, be in her room,” she said.

“I think we should meet before we make the decision,” I said firmly, and I somehow managed to convey that this was an ultimatum.

Reluctantly she went to the bell rope and in a few moments a maid appeared.

“Would you bring Miss Kate to me?” she said.

“Yes, my lady.”

Lady Perrivale looked so nervous that I wondered what I was going to discover. If she is quite impossible, I thought, I shall at least have a chance to look around and if it is really bad I can always follow the example of the other governesses and leave.