The Lady and the Lake Page 5

  He always did seem like a man with something on his mind, time would tell and I prayed it would be soon, for no female was safe until the culprit was apprehended.

  Placing my blue dress back in the wardrobe after Alice had left, and ensuring the skirt of it was straight so it didn’t crease, I spied an envelope in the bottom of the wardrobe. Swiftly I bent to pick it up and sitting on the bed I looked at it.

  There was no name on the front cover so I opened and read the words on the sheet of paper inside, and this is what it read:

  Whoever sleeps in this room and reads this, I want you to know that I too, have heard the steps on the stairs and the scuffling behind the bed. The worse thing is the piercing scream that comes some nights. I am so fearful as to who it is that I can no longer stay, but wish you well. This is a strange household and I shall be glad to leave it. Maybe you should go also before some harm befalls you.

  Martha.

  As I looked down at the words, I realised Martha had been more frightened than I and was she right? Should I leave now? But then there was Thomas.

  I tucked the letter in a drawer of the dressing table and tried to forget it. I was so tired after my eventful day, in fact each of my days had been eventful, but I fell into a restful sleep before one o’clock, but was awoken, not by a scream, but by a scuffling sound in the tower, almost as though someone was moving furniture. I listened for some time but the sound ceased and all was quiet.

  I drifted again into a peaceful slumber, thinking of Martha’s note, and then dreaming of Thomas and his lips on mine. How I wished that soon it would be reality.

  6

  Saturday dawned and I could see by the sky that it was going to be a glorious day. I decided to wear the mauve skirt and jacket I’d worn on the day of my arrival as I felt no other dress would be suitable for the occasion.

  With breakfast over, I took Maggie to one side. ‘Should anyone ask for me,’ I confided, ‘I am spending the day at Whitby. No-one else knows.’

  ‘Well I hope you have a nice time,’ said Maggie, eyes like saucers, ‘are you going alone, Miss?’ she asked as an afterthought.

  ‘No, I am spending the day with Thomas Craddock, only please tell no-one,’ I implored her.

  ‘I promise, Miss,’ pledged Maggie, and I knew I could trust her.

  As I left the kitchen I had the misfortune to encounter Mrs Grafton, who completely spoilt the moment.

  ‘Ah, Miss Sinclair, the Mistress wishes you to read to her this afternoon in her sitting-room at two o’clock,’ she informed me.

  ‘I’ll be there.’ I said, knowing full-well I would not be back, but I was willing to suffer Henrietta Kershaw’s wrath for a day with her nephew, and although I wasn’t used to lying I felt I had no choice as I didn’t want Mrs Grafton to know I was going out.

  But I wasn’t to get away so lightly. ‘You are dressed up,’ she said, looking me up and down suspiciously.

  ‘I thought to walk to the village this morning for a breath of air,’ I lied admirably.

  ‘Well, be back in time, the Mistress demands punctuality,’ the housekeeper warned me.

  It was nearly nine, I managed to escape from Mrs Grafton, but felt she was suspicious of my intentions. Quickly I slipped out of the servants’ entrance and walked across the front of the house and on to the short drive. Glancing back at the house I could see someone watching me from a side window of the main door. I was sure it was Mrs Grafton, this caused me to quicken my steps for I would not be thwarted.

  Hastily, I undid the gate and closed it behind me, the latch clanging as I secured it. Thomas was waiting in the pony and trap, I ran to him and instructed him to move off quickly as I’d been seen.

  ‘Calm yourself, pretty lady,’ he said urging the pony forward, ‘it will be all right.’ He tried to reassure me, but it was futile. I knew what I was doing was underhanded and I knew that without a doubt I would be dismissed from my position. But if this were the case I may as well enjoy the day.

  I really didn’t know what had happened to me, but if it were love then it had certainly caused me to behave out of character.

  ***

  The pony and trap bowled along through the village of Beckmoor, and as we passed Clara’s cottage I thought that I had quite forgotten to speak with Antony Kershaw about her attending Emily’s party. So taken was I with my desire to be with Thomas all other thoughts had flown from my head.

  ‘A penny for your thoughts, sweetheart,’ said Thomas clasping one of my hands in his.

  ‘I’ve done a silly thing,’ I answered him.

  ‘And what would that be other than falling in love with me?’ he teased. Could he never be serious, and strangely I felt quite irritated.

  ‘I invited Clara White, Gladys’ sister, to Emily’s party next Thursday and I realised I had no right to do such a thing.’ These words caused Thomas to pull the pony to a halt.

  ‘Gladys White’s sister at the Hall?’ He mocked, ‘Aunt Henry will never stand for it, you little fool.’

  ‘How dare you call me a fool!’ I lashed back at him, quite incensed. ‘Your aunt may not like the idea, but Emily’s father might. I have yet to broach the matter with him.’

  ‘I wish you luck.’ Thomas chuckled, urging the pony forward once more.

  ‘Please take me back,’ I said so suddenly I quite surprised myself. I had at last come to my senses, realising how wrong this was.

  ‘I’m not turning back now, we are only two miles away and my mother is expecting us,’ he said quite seriously for once.

  ‘Your mother?’ I exclaimed. ‘You didn’t mention your mother.’

  ‘I surely didn’t need to. Come on Abigail, smile and enjoy the day,’ he coaxed.

  There was nothing I could do, it were as if I were on a slippery path and couldn’t get off. We travelled in silence for quite a while until Thomas pointed out the sea to our right. It shimmered calmly in the sunlight in total contrast to the never ending moorland.

  Without warning Thomas pulled up outside a wooden gate and over the privet hedge I could see a delightful pink thatched cottage, an arch of white roses around the door, quite idyllic and picturesque.

  ‘Welcome to Tidwell House,’ he said.

  ‘So this is your home,’ I answered him, ‘it is delightful.’ And as I spoke I could see a middle-aged woman walking down the path to greet us.

  Thomas chivalrously helped me alight from the trap and then introduced me to his smiling mother.

  She was a nice looking woman for her age, a pleasant rounded face, greying hair secured at the nape of her neck with a plumpish figure dressed in an expensive blue gown with ruffles at her neck and sleeves.

  We sat under a parasol in the splendid colourful garden, sipping cool lemonade and eating small sponge cakes. It was all very civilised, but somehow unreality set in, so I was startled when Mrs Craddock spoke. ‘And what do you make of my sister?’ she asked, looking directly at me intent on an answer.

  ‘In truth, I’ve not seen much of her since my arrival,’ I replied, unable to tell this sister of Henrietta’s my true feelings.

  ‘She has never been the same since her accident in the carriage thirty-five years ago.’ Mary Craddock spoke almost as if relating a much told story. ‘She will carry the scars to her grave, it has also scarred her personality. As a young woman she was kind and gentle, but now...’ Here she stopped.

  ‘Please don’t distress yourself,’ I said kindly, for I could see the sadness on the woman’s face.

  ‘No I mustn’t, for it was all so long ago and nothing can be altered,’ she agreed. Now, I heard that you’d like to see Whitby.’

  ‘Yes I would, and I need a haberdashery shop where I can purchase some silk flowers.’ I told her.

  ‘No need to find a shop, I have plenty in my sewing room, all different colours and sizes. Please come with me, Abigail.’

  So we left Thomas alone in the garden and I stepped into the cottage with his mother. It was cool inside for which I was tha
nkful. In the narrow hallway a picture of Kerslake Hall hung on the wall, no doubt a copy of the one that I had seen in the long gallery. It seemed that anyone with association to the Hall could not escape it and I wondered if I ever would, for the place had got under my skin and I already felt part of it.

  Mrs Craddock led me up red thickly carpeted stairs, the place was cosy and inviting, unlike the Hall. She led me into a room which was full of sunlight. There were two tailor’s dummies in the middle of the room, one of which held an unfinished yellow gown.

  I was led to a large red pot in a corner which stood on a round table. Inside were indeed many silk flowers of different colours and sizes.

  ‘Pick out what you’d like, dear, for I have no use for all of them. I bought them because it is fashionable at the moment to decorate gowns with flowers. I gather this is what you want them for?’ Mary Craddock enquired.

  ‘Yes it is indeed, I wish to decorate my best blue dress in preparation for Emily’s party next week,’ I explained.

  ‘That lovely child will be ten years old, I can hardly believe it. It is so sad about her poor mother. Now, you select your flowers while I go down and keep Thomas company. You will know your way?’ she asked me.

  ‘Yes, and thank you, Mrs Craddock.’ I said politely, for it was indeed fortuitous.

  I looked through the many silk flowers thinking of Alice’s words that cream would be nice, but I’d spotted some small pale-pink-coloured ones which I felt sure would enhance the blue of the dress.

  I picked out a dozen of them and then selected a large one identical in colour for my hair. I was about to turn away when on impulse I selected a large white one for Clara’s dark hair, which brought to mind that I needed to speak urgently to Antony Kershaw.

  Placing the flowers in my reticule I made my way back down the stairs, peeping into the open door of what was obviously the living room. It was very homely with matching floral curtains and chair covers.

  Making my way back outside and through the garden, I marvelled at the beautiful colours of the flowers and how tall the mauve lupins were in all their splendour.

  As I neared the table I could hear Mary Craddock’s voice, ‘Why do you have to associate with these young girls and women who have no direction in life and very little if not no means to support themselves? It really is beyond me, Thomas. She’s a nice enough young woman and very nice looking, but then so is Barbara Middleton and she would marry you tomorrow! Her parents are wealthy and it would be more in keeping. I really don’t understand you.’ Here she stopped and I listened with baited breath for her son’s reply.

  ‘They are a challenge, Mother, that is all, I have no intention of marrying any of them. So let that reassure you.’ As he spoke I saw him reach across and lay his hand across his mother’s.

  I was incensed. So, I was just a challenge was I? And who else had been such to him? Annie and Gladys were brought to mind. Oh no! How could I have been so naïve as to have fallen for this young man’s charms? So far as to think that I was in love with him when all I appeared to be was a dalliance. I pulled myself together and made my way across to where they were sat.

  ‘Here is Abigail,’ declared Mrs Craddock, ‘did you find what you needed dear?’

  ‘Yes, thank you so much,’ I said sweetly, smiling at the both of them and in my heart wishing that Thomas were anywhere but in my presence. What a charmer he was, he’d certainly deceived me and I could never forgive him for making me look so foolish.

  ‘Are you ready to go into Whitby?’ Thomas asked me.

  ‘Why yes, I think I am,’ I answered, for a while here I thought I may as well see the town and I knew that I would not return in time to Kerslake Hall to read to my employer. What consequence this would have I had no idea but would soon find out.

  The road to Whitby was not long and I could very soon see the ruined abbey high on the hill and smell the salt water and seaweed in the delightful harbour.

  I managed to purchase myself a pretty turquoise sunshade with a few coppers I had in my reticule. All in all it was a pleasant afternoon and I endeavoured successfully to keep Mr Thomas Craddock at a distance much to his annoyance.

  On our way back to the Hall I looked at the ruins of Whitby Abbey and thought that the abbey near Kerslake Hall would never hold such a joy for me after what I’d discovered today. We were silent all the way back and I was sure that Thomas was aware that something was amiss.

  As we pulled up at the gates of the Hall Thomas bent across to me, his intention was to kiss me but I moved away from him.

  ‘You may as well drive us to the main door,’ I told him, ‘for we are both in trouble anyway, me more so than yourself, your dear aunt will probably dismiss me as soon as she lays eyes on me,’ I continued.

  ‘I don’t know what has changed you today, Abbey, but I am obviously wasting my time, at least if you are dismissed we won’t have to see each other again.’

  After this little speech he smiled at me and jumped down to open the gates. The cheek of the man I thought, and what could be gained by berating him; and I wondered for the second time that day how I could have been so foolish as to fall for such a cad as him.

  As we pulled up outside the main door I knew that someone was sure to see us and when Mrs Grafton looked out of the downstairs window I knew my fate was sealed. I got down without assistance, my feet crunching on the gravel. I threw a look of disdain back at my companion and headed for the servants’ entrance with Thomas’s words ringing in my ears.

  It was nearly six o’clock so I made my way to the kitchen, thankfully encountering no-one on the way. As I seated myself by Maggie she whispered, ‘There’s been a right carry on about you today, Miss,’ she said.

  ‘Has there indeed,’ I answered quietly, ‘in what way?’

  ‘Mrs Grafton has been asking us all if we knew where you’d gone, but I didn’t let on Miss, honest. And apparently the Mistress is right put out.’ At these words her voice got louder and all at the table looked at me. What they were thinking I could not imagine.

  Supper over, I made my way to my room hoping I would bump into Antony Kershaw to enable me to speak of Clara, but I encountered no-one, not even the hateful Mrs Grafton. I was quite surprised at this as on other occasions she had been ready to pounce on me at the time of my wrong doings and today’s outing had surely beaten them all.

  Stepping into my room I removed my bonnet and then tipped the silk flowers out of my reticule on to the bed. I went across to the wardrobe, took out the blue cotton dress and laid it on the bed too.

  I glanced out of the window towards the brooding lake, my thoughts with Phoebe, Annie and Gladys, wondering as Alice had done who would be next.

  The lake lay calm and still in the evening sunlight as if it held no secrets, almost innocent to the fact as to what had happened in its depths.

  So engrossed was I in my thoughts that the sound of a key turning in the lock of my door didn’t at first register itself in my head. As I laid the pink flowers on my blue dress thinking how becoming they were, I suddenly realised what I had heard but hardly given it any thought.

  I went across to the door and turned the knob, pulling the door as hard as I could but it wouldn’t budge. The awful truth dawned on me that I had been locked in and was a prisoner in my own bedroom.

  7

  It must have been Mrs Grafton I thought, the cunning woman that she was. On her mistress’s instructions she had no doubt waited for me to return to my room after supper and turned the key in the lock, probably with jubilation that I had got my come-uppance.

  I paced up and down, then tried to open the door again in the event that I had made a mistake. But to no avail, the door was locked fast. My only hope was Alice, I pounded my hands against the door as hard as I could, hurting my knuckles in the process but there was no response.

  After a while I gave up and looked out of the window, watching as the sun fell farther in the sky, casting a pink glow on the still lake.

  Ev
en as I looked I could see a man walking on the path, I could tell by his clothes that it was Thomas which brought to mind the day’s events. What a horrid day this had been and it was by no means over yet.

  I saw Thomas step into the summer pavilion and then I lost sight of him. Had he a tryst with someone I wondered and certainly wouldn’t put it past him. The sight of him had renewed my vigour and I proceeded to pound on the door again, but no-one heard me. Where was Alice?

  My knuckles felt bruised now and I had to give up, hopefully someone would miss me in the morning. At the thought of all those hours spent in my room I felt utter despair and with my back against the door I slid on to the floorboards leaning wearily against the wood.

  It seemed an eternity before I heard light footsteps in the corridor coming in my direction. I found some strength and got to my feet hammering on the door with one hand and at the same time shouting for help.

  ‘Is that you, Miss Sinclair?’ It was Maggie, I’d never before in my life been so pleased to hear another being’s voice.

  ‘Maggie, please help me, someone has locked the door of my room.’ I spoke trying to keep my voice as calm as possible.

  ‘Someone locked you in!’ she exclaimed, ‘I can hardly believe anyone could be so wicked.’

  ‘Maggie, I want you to fetch Mr Kershaw, he’s the only one that can get me out of here,’ I said, knowing that Henrietta and her minion would not help me as I was sure they were the perpetrators of this injustice.

  ‘But Mr Kershaw is drinking his port, Miss. I dare not disturb him,’ she said with some reluctance.

  ‘Maggie, you have to fetch him.’ I said firmly or I’ll be locked in here all night.

  ‘I may lose my job, but all right, Miss, I’ll go,’ she agreed.

  It seemed an eternity before I heard footsteps again along the corridor. It was a man’s tread, and to prove it Antony Kershaw’s voice came to me through the door. ‘Miss Sinclair, what is going on?’

  ‘Someone has locked me in Sir, please get me out of here,’ I pleaded with anger.