Виктория Холт - The Captive

“Oh, Lucas … I wish …”

“We could go right away from here. Anywhere we fancied …”

“You couldn’t leave Trecorn, Lucas. Carleton needs you there.”

“Well, would it matter where we were? We could help him together.”

“Oh, Lucas … I am so sorry. I truly wish …”

He smiled at me ruefully.

“I understand,” he said.

“Well, let’s make the best of what is. Whatever happens, what we went through together will always make us special friends. I often think of that man Player.

I wonder what happened to him. I should like to know, wouldn’t you?”

I nodded, afraid to speak.

He went on: “I understand why you did this, Rosetta. It’s because you want to move away from all that went before. You’re right in a way. So you have gone to that place. It’s entirely new … new surroundings, new work … a challenge. Particularly the girl. You have changed, Rosetta. I have to say I think she is helping you.”

“Yes, I am sure she is.”

“It’s brave of you to have done this. I think I’m something of a coward.”

“Oh no, no. You suffered more than I did. And you brought about your own freedom.”

“Only because I was a useless hulk.”

“You’re not useless. I love you very much. I admire you, and I am so grateful because you are my friend.”

He took my hand and held it firmly.

“Will you always remember that?”

“Always,” I said.

“I’m so glad to have seen you. I feel so safe … to know that you are nearby.”

“I shall always be there,” he said.

“And perhaps one day you will call me in. Now … let’s get out of this place. Come. Show me your Goldie. Let’s ride out to the sea and gallop along the beach. Let’s tell ourselves that our good angels are smiling on us and all our wishes will be granted. There is a nice sentimental speech for an old cynic, is it not?”

“Yes, and I like to hear it.”

“After all, who knows what will be waiting for us?”

“One can never tell.”

And we went out to the horses.

Mrs. Ford caught me as I was going to the schoolroom for the morning lessons.

“Nanny Crockett is coming over this afternoon,” she said.

“Jack Carter is taking a load to Turner’s Farm, so he’ll be bringing her over for a couple of hours. She’ll want to see you, so do come up to my room for a cup of tea.”

I said I should be delighted to do so.

As we were talking, there was a commotion in the hall. I heard the voice of the head gardener; he was saying something about roses.

Mrs. Ford raised her eyebrows.

“That man,” she said.

“You’d think the whole world depended on his flowers. He’s making such a noise down there. I’d better go and see what it’s all about.”

Out of curiosity, I followed her.

Several of the servants were in the hall. Littleton, the head gardener, was clearly very angry.

Mrs. Ford said in a commanding voice: “Now what is all this about?”

“You may well ask, Mrs. Ford,” said Littleton.

“Four of my best roses in their prime … someone has stolen them … right from under my nose.”

“Well, who’s done it?”

“That’s what I’d like to know. If I could get my hands on them.”

“Her ladyship may have fancied them.”

“Her ladyship never touches the flowers. I’ve looked after those roses. I’ve been waiting all this time to see them in bloom.

Beautiful, they was. A sort of pinky blue . a rare colour for a rose. Never seen anything like them before. They was special, they was . and I’ve been waiting all this time for the flowers. Took a bit of rearing they did . and then someone comes and picks them . without a by your leave. “

“Well, Mr. Littleton,” said Mrs. Ford, “I’m sorry, but I’ve not touched your roses … and, if you can find who has that’s up to you, but I can’t have you disturbing my servants. They’ve got work to do.”

Littleton turned his agonized face to Mrs. Ford.

“They were my special roses,” he said piteously.

I left them and went up to the schoolroom.

It was difficult to settle to lessons that morning. Kate wanted to hear about my meeting with Lucas on the previous day.

“I was staying with his family, you know,” I told her.

“So he thought he’d come over to see me.”

“Did he ask you to leave here?”

I hesitated.

“He did,” she said.

“And you told him you would.”

“I did not. I told him we were reading Treasure Island and that you and I get along moderately well. That’s right, isn’t it?”

She nodded.

“Well, now let’s see if we can master these sums and if we can we’ll have an extra fifteen minutes’ reading. Then I believe we could finish the book today.”

“All right,” she said.

“Get out the slate and we’ll start right away.”

Simon was very much in my thoughts that morning. The meeting with Lucas had been unsettling, and the prospect of seeing Nanny Crockett had brought back memories more vividly than usual.

When I reached Mrs. Ford’s room Nanny Crockett had not yet arrived but she had a visitor. It was the rector, the Reverend Arthur James. Mrs. Ford was evidently a great church worker and he had come to consult her about the flower decoration for the church.

She introduced me.

“Welcome to Perrivale, Miss Cranleigh,” he said.

“I have been hearing from Mrs. Ford how well you are managing with Kate.”

“Mrs. Ford has been very kind to me,” I said.

“Mrs. Ford is kind to everyone. We have good reason to know that. My wife and I often ask each other what we would do without her. It is the decorations, you know. We rely so much on Perrivale for so many things. The big house, you see … garden fetes and so on. It has been the same through generations. Sir Edward took a great interest in the church.”

“Oh yes, he was a real churchman,” said Mrs. Ford.

“He’d be at church twice every Sunday … and so were the rest of the family too. Then we had prayers every day in the hall. Yes, he was a real one for the church, was Sir Edward.”

“Sadly missed,” added the rector.

“We don’t have many like him nowadays. The younger generation haven’t the same commitment. I hope to see you there with your charge, Miss Cranleigh. “

“Yes,” I said.

“Of course.”

“Miss Kate is a bit of a handful,” said Mrs. Ford, ‘but Miss Cranleigh is working wonders. Her ladyship is very pleased. It was my idea that she should come. Rector. Nanny Crockett and I worked it out between us. Her ladyship can’t thank me enough. “

“Very gratifying.”

“This is the list,” said Mrs. Ford.

“Mrs. Terris always likes to do the altar. So I’ve put her there. And the windowsills I thought could go to Miss Cherry and her sister … on one side of the church, that is, and on the other. Miss Jenkins and Mrs. Purvis. I thought if I added the flowers they’re to use there’d be no squabbling.”

He had taken out his spectacles and was studying the list.

“Excellent… excellent… I knew I could trust you, Mrs. Ford, to make the arrangements amicably.”

They exchanged mischievous glances which implied that trouble could ensue, but for Mrs. Ford’s skilful handling of the affair.

In due course the rector rose to go. He shook hands and repeated his hope that he would see Kate and me in church on Sunday, and departed.

Not long after he had left Nanny Crockett arrived. She was delighted to see me and Mrs. Ford looked on benignly while we greeted each other.

“My word,” said Nanny Crockett, ‘you do look well. And what’s this I hear about you and Miss Kate getting on like a house on fire? “