“Zillah is your stepmother, Mrs. Glentyre.”
“Yes. She came as my governess when the previous one left.”
“And married your father. That was rather romantic, wasn’t it? She does not look like a governess.”
“That is what I have always told her.”
“A most attractive lady. I am not sure what impression she will make in court.”
“She will have to be there, I suppose.”
“She’ll be a major witness. She was with your father when he died. Oh yes, she will be very important. But we must try and find this Ellen Farley to confirm that she asked you to buy the arsenic for her. You bought it, you gave it to her, and that was the end of the matter as far as you were concerned.”
“Yes, that’s true.”
“Then we must find her.”
“I know she went to London. She caught the London train. Hamish Vosper took her to the station.”
“London is a big place, but we must find her. It’s imperative to your case that we do. Now tell me about the student.”
“His name is James North. We met when I was lost in the wynds and we became friends.”
“I see. And it went on from there. You met secretly.”
“It was only my father who did not know of the meetings.”
“Your stepmother knew?”
“Yes, she was very sympathetic. Jamie came to dine. I think she suggested it.”
“And it was then that matters came to a head with your father who wanted you to marry Mr. McCrae?”
“Yes. Mr. McCrae had invited us to his house and was a fairly frequent visitor to ours.”
“He came to see you?”
“Well, he had not come much before.”
“He was the husband your father had chosen for you and he threatened to disinherit you if you married the student. You did not tell Mr. McCrae of your attachment to the student?”
“No … I was afraid of what my father would do and Jamie said we needed time.”
“I see. And this was the state of affairs when your father died of arsenic poisoning?”
He was frowning. I knew he was thinking that the case was black against me.
“Well,” he said, “we’ll get to work on this Declaration. We’ll marshall the facts … just as they really happened. We’ll present them simply and go on from there. The important thing is to find Ellen Farley. I’ll go and see your stepmother.”
He rose, smiled at me and held out his hand. I took it and said: “You do believe me, don’t you?”
He looked at me earnestly and replied: “I do indeed, and I am going to bring you out of this. Never fear.”
WHILE I WAS AWAITING my trial I saw Ninian Grainger frequently and he continued to be of more comfort to me than anyone. He had an air of buoyant confidence. Never once would he allow himself to visualise failure. It meant a great deal to me that he showed his belief in my innocence, though when I considered my declaration of what had led up to the tragedy there was so much which seemed to suggest my guilt.
But that had to be proved and I was awaiting the trial which was to take place two months after my arrest.
One cannot remain in a state of shock forever; and when I awoke in the morning it was no longer to unfamiliar surroundings. There was no longer that feeling of blankness as realisation of what had happened swept over me.
An ordeal lay before me and the passing of each day was a relief to me because it brought it nearer; and I longed for it to be over.
I had no idea what the outcome would be. Ninian Grainger was wonderful. He filled me with hope which I could not entirely believe in unless he was there. In his presence I had the utmost faith in him and myself.
I was allowed visitors, but I was never alone with them. There was a woman with sharp eyes and an alert manner sitting in a corner watching me all the time. She was not unkindly, just impersonal. I never knew whether she thought I was a murderess or an innocent victim of an evil fate.
She saw to my creature comforts to a certain extent, but there was no warmth in her. I began to regard her as an inanimate object, which was just as well in a way because it enabled me to talk more freely to my visitors when I had a chance to do so.
Zillah came. She was full of compassion. “This dreadful, dreadful business,” she said. “But it must come out right, Davina. Your very nice barrister seems to think so. He’s been to see me several times. He’s very eager to find Ellen. I told him that she’d come from London and I thought her mother was there.”
“And London’s a big place,” I said, echoing Ninian Grainger.
“Yes, I’m afraid so. Mr. Grainger did go to London. He’s put a notice in the papers to see if he can trace her.”
“Do you think he will?”
“I expect so. These people do a marvellous job, don’t they? Oh, Davina … I do hope you’ll soon be home.”
“There’s the trial first. And do you think they’ll believe me?”
“I think that Ninian Grainger is very good. He’s young and full of energy. It means a good deal to him to get you off.”
“Yes, he’s in his father’s business. He hopes to be a partner and I suppose he wants to prove himself.”
“He wants that, of course. But it’s more than that. He really believes in you.”
“He has been very good to me. I don’t know what I should have done without him.”
She was silent.
“Zillah,” I said. “What’s it like at home?”
“It’s awful. They rush out and get the papers as soon as they hear the boys in the street. They’re always hoping there’ll be some news.”
“And you’re bearing it all!”
“You’re doing very well, Davina.”
“I don’t know. I feel it is all so strange. I feel like another person. I keep going over it all. I keep thinking of everything that happened. Have you seen … Jamie?”
“He did come to the house. He seemed absolutely brokenhearted. He’ll come to see you, I think. He didn’t know whether he should … whether it would be right. He’s just so shocked by the whole thing.”
“Who is not?”
“I wish there were something I could do.”
“They’ll ask you a lot of questions, Zillah.”
“I know. I’m dreading it.”
“I’m longing for it. I think waiting is one of the worst things about it. I want to get it over … even if …”
“Don’t say that,” said Zillah. “I can’t bear it.”
We were seated at a table facing each other, which was according to the regulations, and the watchdog was seated in a corner, her eyes discreetly averted.
Zillah gripped my hands.
“I’m thinking of you all the time,” she said. “It’s got to come out right. It must. Everyone must see that you couldn’t possibly do such a thing.”
JAMIE CAME. He looked like a different person. All the joy had gone out of him. He was pale and there were shadows under his eyes.
“Davina!” he said.
“Oh, Jamie, I’m so glad you came to see me.”
“This is terrible.”
“I know.”
“What will be the outcome?”
“We have to wait and see. The advocate is very optimistic.”
He put his hand to his forehead covering his eyes.
“Davina … they are saying the most terrible things.”
“I know.”
“You bought that arsenic. You signed for it. Your name is in that book with the date and everything … and soon after your father is dead … after you bought it.”
“I know that, Jamie. I’ve explained it all.”
“People are saying …”
“I can guess what they are saying, but Ninian Grainger is going to prove them wrong. He’s going to make them see the truth.”