She took me to my room.
“If there’s anything you want, Miss Cranleigh, let me know. I’ll see you’re as comfortable as I can make you. Nanny Crockett said I was to take care of you, and I promise you, I will.”
My room was next to the nursery, and Kate’s was next to mine. It was a pleasant room with a window that looked down on to a courtyard. Across the courtyard other windows faced me. I immediately had the impression that I was being watched and I was glad of the heavy drapes.
From the first I felt as though I had slipped into a dream. I was overwhelmed by the knowledge that I was actually living in the house where Simon had spent the greater part of his boyhood, and my determination to prove his innocence intensified.
It soon became clear that Kate felt an interest in me. She was certainly determined to find out all she could about me.
No sooner had Mrs. Ford left me to unpack than she came into my room. She did not knock, feeling, I was sure, that there was no need to stand on ceremony with a mere governess.
“You came, then,” she said.
“I didn’t think you would, and then I did . because you wouldn’t have said you’d come if you didn’t mean to, would you?”
“Of course not.”
“A lot of people say they’ll do things and don’t.”
“I’m not one of those.”
She sat on the bed.
“Horrible old room, isn’t it?”
“I think it’s pleasant.”
“I suppose as a governess you haven’t been used to much.”
“In my home in London I have a very pleasant room.”
“Why didn’t you stay in it, then?”
“You are not very well-mannered, are you?”
“Oh no. Actually, I’m very ill-mannered.”
“Well, at least you are aware of it… which is a point in your favour. But as you appear to take a pride in it, that’s one against you.”
She laughed.
“You are funny,” she said.
“I do and say what I like.”
“I had gathered that.”
“And nobody’s going to change me.”
“Then you’ll have to do the job yourself, won’t you?”
She looked at me curiously and I went on: “And would you mind getting off my bed? I want to sort out my things.”
To my surprise she moved and stood watching me.
“Is that all you’ve got?”
“Yes.”
“It’s not much, is it? I suppose you think you’re going to marry the master of the house, like Jane Eyre. Well, you can’t, because he’s married already … to my mother.”
I raised my eyebrows.
“Don’t look so surprised,” she said.
“It’s what a lot of governesses think.”
“I was expressing surprise at your erudition.”
“What’s that?”
“In your case, a certain knowledge of literature.”
“Did you think I didn’t know anything?”
“I gathered you had difficulties with your governesses.”
“I like reading books about people. I like it when awful things happen to them.”
“I’m not surprised at that.”
She laughed.
“What do you think you’re going to teach me?”
“We shall do some history, English literature … grammar, too, and of course mathematics.”
She grimaced.
“I shan’t do what I don’t like.”
“We’ll have to see about that.”
“You are like a governess sometimes.”
“I’m glad you recognize that.”
“I like the way you talk. It makes me laugh.”
“I think you must be rather easily amused.”
“You’re not like Miss Evans. She was ever so silly. Right from the first she was just frightened all the time.”
“By you?”
“Of course.”
“And you took advantage of your position.”
“What do you mean?”
“She was trying to do her work and you did all you could to prevent her. You made her so miserable that she had to leave.”
“I didn’t want her here. She was a bore. I don’t think you’re going to be a bore. I wonder how long you’ll stay.”
“As long as it suits me, I imagine.”
She smiled secretly. Clearly she was planning her campaign.
Oddly enough, I found her stimulating and I was quite enjoying our verbal battles. She went with me to the schoolroom and I inspected the books that were in the cupboard. It was well stocked. There was a blackboard, several exercise books, slates and pencils.
“I shall have to ask you to show me some of your previous work,” I said.
She grimaced.
“When?” she asked.
“There is no time like the present.”
She hesitated and seemed poised for flight. I wondered what I should do if she refused to stay with me. I knew she was quite capable of that and deeply I pitied my predecessors whose ability to earn a living rested on the whims of this creature.
I wanted to stay for as long as it was necessary, but at least my living did not depend upon it.
At the moment, however, she was mildly intrigued by me and she decided to cooperate; we had an interesting half an hour when I discovered that she was not as ignorant as I had feared she might be; in fact she was exceptionally bright. She had read a great deal which was a help.
In that, at least, we had something in common.
During the first day I learned a little about the household. There were three estate managers, Mrs. Ford told me.
“Be cause ever since .. you know what. Miss Cranleigh, we don’t talk about… You see, Mr. Cosmo had gone and so had Mr. Simon. There’d been three of them and now there was only Sir Tristan left. Well, it was too much for him.
There’d always been one agent, even . before . and afterwards, there were two more. Perrivale’s a big estate . the biggest round here. Of course, it’s all different since . that happened . and Sir Edward being gone . “
During that first day I had a glimpse of Tristan and from the moment I saw him I began to suspect that he knew something of what had really happened in the old farm house.
He looked the part of the stage villain. He was very dark:
his hair was smooth and shiny, so sleek that it looked like a black cap, particularly as it came to a point in the middle of his forehead, which gave him a rather mysterious and sinister appearance.
Our meeting was brief. Kate had taken me out to show me the gardens and I met him coming with Lady Perrivale from the stables. She looked beautiful in a dark blue riding habit, with top hat in the same colour. Her hair looked brilliant under the darkish hat.
She said: “Oh, Tristan, this is Miss Cranleigh, the new governess.”
He took off his hat and bowed in a very courtly manner.
“She and Kate are getting along so well together,” said Lady Perrivale, with more optimism than proof.
“I’ve shown her the schoolroom,” said Kate.
“And now I’m showing her the gardens.”
“That’s very good,” said Lady Perrivale.
“Welcome to Perrivale,” put in Sir Tristan.
“I hope your stay with us will be a long and happy one.”
I saw Kate smirk and I wondered what she was planning for my discomfort.
And there and then I, illogically, assigned to Tristan the role of murderer, telling myself that I might not have any evidence against him, but my conclusions were due to my sixth sense.
I was very thoughtful as I examined the gardens. Kate had noticed this. I was beginning to realize that there was little she missed.
“You didn’t like Stepper,” she said.
“Who?”
“My stepfather. I call him Stepper. He doesn’t like it much. Nor does my mother.”
“I suppose that is why you do it.”