“Oh no. I couldn’t be made more of a cripple than I already am, but..”
“Tell me the truth.”
“To tell the truth, I’m a bit in the dark myself. But there is a hope a faint one perhaps … but I want to take it.”
“Why didn’t you tell me before?” I demanded.
“I wasn’t sure that I was going to do it. And then I thought: Why not?
It can’t be much worse if it goes wrong and it could be a lot better.”
“And I’m going on about all this when you’ve got this on your mind!”
“Your concern touches me deeply, Rosetta,” he said seriously.
“Of course I’m concerned. I care very much about you.”
“I know. Well, I shall be leaving in a few days’ time.”
“How long will it take?”
“I’m not sure. If it’s successful perhaps a month. I’m going into this man’s clinic. It’s just off Harley Street.”
“I shall hate to think you are not here.”
“Promise me you’ll be careful.”
“About probing. Of course I will.”
“Don’t make it too blatant and don’t take too much notice of servants’ chatter.”
“I promise you, Lucas. Will you give me the address of this clinic?”
He took a piece of paper from his wallet and wrote it down.
“I shall come to see you,” I said.
“That will be pleasant for me.”
“I shall keep in touch with Carleton. What is he going to feel about your going away like this?”
“I don’t think my being here makes much difference. It doesn’t bring Theresa back. He’ll be all right. He throws himself into his work and that’s the best thing for him.”
The news had cast a gloom over the day for me. It was typical of Lucas that he should make light of a serious matter. What was this operation? Was it dangerous in any way? If it were, I knew he would not tell me.
I felt very uneasy.
We left The Sailor King and went out to the stables.
Til escort you back to Perrivale,” he said.
We rode on in silence and all too soon the house came into view.
“Oh, Lucas,” I said.
“I wish you weren’t going. I shall miss you very much.”
“I’ll remember that,” he replied.
“It won’t be long. You’ll see me galloping up to The Sailor King … a changed man.”
I looked at him sadly.
Then he said seriously: “But I am concerned about you, Rosetta. Take care. Give up the search until I return. That’s the best plan.”
“I promise to be very careful, Lucas.”
He took my hand and kissed it.
‘am revoir, Rosetta,” he said.
I felt depressed. These meetings with Lucas had meant a great deal to me, and to be deprived of them made me wretched. Moreover, I was worried about him. What was the operation? I wondered. Had he been a little secretive about it?
When I went riding with Kate I suggested we call in at Trecorn Manor one day.
“It’s rather a long way. We couldn’t do it in an afternoon.
But why shouldn’t we have a day’s holiday? I will ask your mother if it would be permitted. “
Kate was excited by the prospect and, as I had been sure, there was no difficulty in getting the required permission.
My riding had improved since my arrival and I could manage a long ride easily now, and Kate was quite capable of it.
I was delighted to see her so pleased at the prospect of our little outing.
“It’s quite grand,” she commented, when she saw the house.
“Not so grand as Perrivale, of course … but it’s all right.”
“I am sure the Lorimers would be pleased by your approval.”
“Are we going to see that old Lucas?”
“No. He’s not there.”
“Where is he?”
“In a clinic.”
“What’s a clinic?”
“A sort of hospital.”
“What’s he doing there?”
“You know he hurt his leg.”
“Yes, in the shipwreck. He can’t walk very well.”
“They are going to see if they can do something about it.”
She was thoughtful.
“Who shall we see, then?”
“His brother, I hope, and the twins and Nanny Crockett.”
We left our horses in the stables and went to the house. Mr. Lorimer was on the estate but Nanny Crockett should be informed that we were here.
She came hurrying down.
“Oh, Miss Cranleigh. How nice to see you! And Miss Kate! Well!”
“Where are the twins?” asked Kate.
“Oh, they’ll want to see you. They remember you. Miss Cranleigh.”
“I hope I shall be able to see Mr. Lorimer before I leave.”
“Oh, he’s gone to London.”
“I mean Mr. Carleton.”
“I was thinking you’d come to see Mr. Lucas. They’re going to do something about his leg.” She shook her head.
“They’re supposed to be very clever nowadays. I don’t know.”
“I knew he was going. I wanted to talk to Mr. Carleton about it.”
“He’ll be back before long, I reckon. Come up to the nursery and see the twins.”
Jennifer recognized me at once and ran to me. Henry was unsure, I could see, but he followed his sister.
“Now tell me how you’ve been getting on,” I said.
“This is Kate, who is my pupil now.”
Kate was looking at the children with slightly scornful interest.
I asked Jennifer how one-eyed Mabel was and also Reggie the bear. She laughed and said they were as naughty as ever.
I talked with the children for a while and Nanny Crockett said why didn’t they show Kate the dolls’ house.
The twins jumped with glee. I looked anxiously at Kate, who might well state her lack of interest in such childish toys.
I think my glance must have been appealing for she said:
“All right.”
The dolls’ house was in a corner of the nursery. The children went over to it and Nanny Crockett signed to me to sit down.
“Is there any news?” she asked in a whisper.
I shook my head.
“It’s difficult. I can’t find out anything. Sometimes I think it’s an impossible task.”
“I know you’ll find something. I know there’s something to be found . and it’s in that house. That’s where the secret lies. I wish I could get there.”
“I get little bits of information but they don’t lead anywhere.”
“Well, you go on trying. Have you tried talking to Mrs. Ford? She knows most of what’s going on.”
“Perhaps you could talk to her. You are on friendly terms.”
“I’ve tried but I don’t get very far.”
“Perhaps she doesn’t know anything … or if she did, thinks she shouldn’t talk about the family.”
“She might talk to someone in the house while she wouldn’t to someone outside it. And you’re there now. You’re one of them. I’m out of it now.”
I could see that Kate was listening to what we were saying and I flashed a sign to Nanny Crockett. She understood at once and we talked of the children and how they would soon be needing a governess.
Kate called: “You won’t come back here, will you, Cranny?”
So I knew she was taking note of what we were saying.
“Not while you continue to be a good pupil,” I replied.
Kate grimaced. But it was clear that there could be no intimate conversation with Nanny Crockett.
In due course one of the maids came to say that Mr. Lorimer had returned.
I left Kate in the nursery and went down to see him. He looked very sad but he was pleased to see me.
I said: “I’m worried about Lucas. What do you know about this operation?”
“Very little. He went up to London recently to see this man and to have a thorough examination. Well, this is the result.”
“What do they think they’ll be able to do?”