Виктория Холт - The Captive

“And young Lady Perrivale’s fond of her?”

“Oh yes … well, it’s nice for the old lady. I remember how upset she was when Mirabel went away … that was before the marriage. She was really worried. I remember seeing a letter from young Lady Perrivale to her.

“Darling Aunt Jessie …” She had called her Aunt Jessie when she first came down and it never changed. I can see that letter now. She was staying at a place called . what was it? Oh, I remember. Malton House in a place called Bayswater in London. I remembered Malton because I was born close by. It’s near York. That’s why it stuck in my mind. When she came back, her ladyship made such a fuss of her. And then soon after that there was the murder . “

“It must have been a terrible shock for Lady Perrivale to lose her son like that.”

“Oh, it was … and Sir Edward dying at the same time. It was enough to finish her off. We were all surprised that she came through as well as she did. But it did something to her … her mind started wandering then, and there was all that prowling about at night.”

She went on to talk about the difficulties she had with Lady Perrivale and gave examples of her strange conduct, to stress the change in her after the tragedy.

While we were talking the Major arrived.

“Oh, hello. Major,” said Maria.

“Her ladyship’s fast asleep. Been prowling in the night again, I’m afraid.”

“Oh dear, dear. Nice to see you. Miss Cranleigh. You haven’t been over to see me lately. I must speak to Kate about that. I’ve told her to bring you any time you’re passing. You’re almost certain to find me in the garden.”

“Thank you. Major. I should like that.”

“Maria takes such good care of Lady Perrivale. What we should do without Maria, I do not know.”

“I don’t know what I’d do without her ladyship,” said Maria.

“We’ve been together so many years.”

I said that I would go as I guessed that when Lady Perrivale awoke she would be delighted to see the Major and would not want another guest to spoil her teteatete with him.

He said politely that he was sure she would be most disappointed to miss me.

“Oh, I can easily look in tomorrow.”

He took my hand and said: “Now, don’t forget. I shall expect to see you soon.”

When I went downstairs it was to find a message awaiting me.

It was from Carleton. It told me briefly that Lucas’s operation was to take place on the following Wednesday. It was then Friday.

I had made up my mind that I was going to London. I wanted to be there when Lucas had his operation. I wanted to see him before it took place, so that I could assure him that I should be thinking of him all the time; and that I was praying that the operation would be successful.

I could stay with my father, where I should not be very far from the clinic. I must be close at hand and I wanted Lucas to know that I was there.

I approached young Lady Perrivale.

I said: “I am very sorry, but I have to go to London. A very dear friend of mine is having an operation and I want to be there.

Moreover, it is time I saw my father. I haven’t seen him since I left with my friends Professor and Mrs. Grafton for Cornwall, and I really owe it to my family to explain a few things. “

“Oh dear,” she said.

“I’m afraid Kate will be most upset. You two have got along so well together.”

“Yes, but I have to go. I’ll talk to her. I’ll see that she understands.”

I did talk to her.

“Why can’t I come?” she said.

“Because I have to go alone.”

“I don’t see why.”

“I do.”

“What about me while you’re away?”

“You managed before I came.”

“That was different.”

“I’ll tell you what I’ll do. I’ll find some books for you to read and you can tell me all about them when I get back. I’ll set you some lessons, too. “

“What’s the good of that?”

“It’ll pass the time.”

“I don’t want the time to pass. I don’t want you to go unless I go with you.”

“Alas. That is another lesson you have to learn. Things don’t always turn out the way we want them to. Listen, Kate. This is something I have to do.”

“You might not come back.”

“I will. I swear it.”

She brought a Bible and made me take an oath on it. She seemed a little more satisfied after that.

I was deeply moved to see that I meant so much to her.

My father was pleased to see me. Aunt Maud was cool and disapproving as I had expected her to be.

My father said: “This was a strange decision for you to take, Rosetta.”

“I wanted to do something.”

“There were so many more suitable things you could have done,” said Aunt Maud.

“I could have found you something at the Museum,” added my father.

“That would have been far better,” said Aunt Maud.

“But a governess . and in the wilds of Cornwall.”

“It is a very important family. They are neighbours of the Lorimers.”

“I am so glad you are near them,” said my father.

“What are you teaching?”

“Everything,” I told him.

“It’s not difficult.”

He looked amazed.

“In any case,” said Aunt Maud.

“No matter what you teach and to whom, I think it is a very foolish thing to have done. A governess indeed!”

“Felicity was one, remember.”

“You are not Felicity.”

“No, I’m myself. I was just saying that she managed very well and was not the least bit ashamed of having been once a governess.”

“It was with friends … and to oblige.”

“Well, I’m obliging. They’re very glad to have me.”

Aunt Maud made an impatient gesture.

I had a very good welcome in the kitchen. Mr. Dolland looked a little older. There was a little more white at his temples. Mrs. Harlow seemed larger than I remembered her and the girls were the same.

“So you’re a governess now, are you?” said Mrs. Harlow with a faint sniff.

“Yes, Mrs. Harlow.”

“And you the master’s daughter!”

“I enjoy it. I have a very bright and unusual pupil. She was quite unmanageable until I came.”

“I wouldn’t have believed it … nor would Mr. Dolland … would you, Mr. Dolland?”

Mr. Dolland agreed that he never would.

“It used to be such fun down here,” I said.

“Do you still do The Bells, Mr. Dolland?”

“Now and then. Miss Rosetta.”

“It used to frighten me so. I used to dream about the Polish Jew. I’ve told Kate she’s my pupil about you. I’d love to bring her up to meet you all.”

“We miss not having a young ‘un in the house,” said Mrs. Harlow reminiscently.

I went to her and put my arms round her. She hugged me tightly for a few moments.

“There,” she said, wiping her eyes, ‘we often talk about the old days.

You were an old-fashioned little thing. “

“I must hear The Bells before I go back.”

“I heard Mr. Lorimer is in London.”

“Yes. I shall go to see him while I’m here.”

I intercepted a knowing look which passed between Mrs. Harlow and Mr. Dolland. So they were pairing me off with Lucas.

The next day I went to the clinic. Lucas was delighted to see me.

“I’m so touched that you came,” he said.

“Of course I came. I wanted to be here while it was done, and I want you to know that I’ll be thinking of you all the time. I shall come round tomorrow afternoon with my father or Aunt Maud and find out how it went.”

“That might be too early.”

“Nevertheless, I shall come.”

His room was small with a single bed and a small table beside it. He was in a dressing-gown. He said that he had been advised to rest for the last two days and was spending the time mainly reading. They had to prepare him apparently and this was what they were doing.