There followed giggles which annoyed me. But I had to curb my irritation. I wanted to say: It is not a mistress he is visiting tonight. But how foolish that would be. Leigh’s reputation had served us well during this affair, but at the same time I felt irritated that he had it—and more so because I was well aware that he deserved it.
I was watching at my window for his return. It must have been an hour or so after midnight when he came in. I had to know what had happened. I slipped on a cloak over my nightdress, put on slippers and ran down to the hall. He came in quietly. The moon—now waning—gave a little light through the tall, narrow windows.
“Leigh!”
“So it’s you.”
“I had to know.”
“All’s well,” he said. “I got the horse and he’s now on his way. If he’s careful there shouldn’t be any mishaps. He’s assumed his new identity—onetime child actor, John Frisby, on his way to see his old friend, Lady Stevens, who played with him in the past. Once he’s in Harriet’s charge all will be well.”
“Thank God,” I said fervently.
I had put up my hand to hold my cloak about me, and Leigh said: “You have a new ring. I haven’t seen that before. It looks like a signet ring and it’s too big for your hand.”
I hesitated, then I said: “Jocelyn gave it to me after … after the scare.”
“Jocelyn! May I see it?”
I took it off and showed it to him.
“It’s a signet. That’s the Frintons’ crest. You can’t wear that.”
“Why not? I want to.” I snatched it from him. “He gave it to me.”
“Then he must be mad, the careless fool! What if it were discovered with you! Don’t you understand? People would want to know how you came by it. And what would your answer be then, eh? Tell me that?”
“I should say it was given to me.”
“When? How? By whom? That’s what you’d be asked and what would you say? By Jocelyn Frinton when we helped him to escape! Give it to me.”
“Certainly not. It’s mine.”
“I only have to be away for a short while and people start acting senselessly. He had no right to give it to you.”
“He has every right to do what he likes with his own property.”
“Not when it means implicating you who have helped him. Give it to me. I’ll return it to him and let him know what I think of him.”
“I shall keep it,” I retorted. “Don’t be afraid. I do see the point. I won’t wear it.”
“It looks ridiculous on your finger anyway and everyone would notice it.”
“I’ll put it away.”
“In a hiding place, please. How foolish of him! What did he want to give you a gift for! And such a one! He must have been mad. Both of you must have been mad.”
I was silent. Perhaps it could be called a moment of madness. We had both been overwrought. I was sure Jocelyn would not have spoken as he had if those men with their dogs had not come along and brought such fear with them.
I gripped the ring tightly in my hands.
“Well, be careful,” he said. “There’s too much gossip and prying in a houseful of servants.”
“I’ll be careful, Leigh. I really will be. I’m glad you made me see it. I’ll hide it right away. You know I would do anything … anything for his safety.”
“He’s a pleasant young fellow, I agree. I wonder what Harriet will make of him.” He smiled, thinking of his fascinating mother.
“Time you were in bed,” he said. “Heave a sigh of relief. Our dangerous adventure is over.”
But of course it wasn’t. It was only just beginning.
Island Lovers
WE WERE ALL IMMENSELY relieved at Jocelyn’s departure, for my mother had written that she and my father were preparing to return and we were certain that one of them at least would have discovered that something unusual was taking place.
Carl had been warned to be careful of what he said, but in any case the adventure was over as far as he was concerned and his entire attention was now focused on a new falcon he had acquired and which one of the gamekeepers was helping him to train. Carl’s conversation consisted of nothing but this bird.
Leigh showed us a letter he had received from Harriet.
All was well at Eyot Abbas, she wrote. She had had to postpone the visit to town which she and Gregory had been contemplating. Benjie was in good spirits. He had taken quite a fancy to a visitor they had staying with them—a man with whom she had acted years ago. He was quite young, having taken child’s parts naturally, and he had never really made the grade as an adult actor, poor fellow. But he was quite amusing and it was fun to have him. He fitted quite well into the household and she was not sure how long he could stay with them. She was happy to have him, for Leigh knew how much she liked visitors when they were in the country. Gregory had had a slight cold and was saying when were some of you coming to see us? …
Leigh patted the letter, well pleased. “You can trust her to enter into the spirit of the thing.”
Christabel came to my room that night. She looked excited and quite beautiful.
“I wanted to talk to you, Priscilla,” she said. “I’m sorry to come at this time but I wanted to be sure of our being alone. Do you mind?”
“Of course not,” I said. “Come in.”
She sat down. “I noticed the ring you were wearing,” she told me. “What happened to it?”
“Leigh made me hide it away.” I did not tell her that when I wore bodices with high necks I wore it on a chain hidden from sight.
She raised her eyebrows and a secret smile played about those mobile lips. She said: “Jocelyn gave it to you, didn’t he?”
I nodded.
“I believe he’s in love with you.”
“Why do you say that?”
“It was rather obvious, and then that day when you came back after the scare with the dogs, I guessed he had said something.”
“I know it must sound ridiculous, but he has asked me to marry him if …”
She nodded, understanding. “It’s very romantic,” she said. “I understand because …”
It was my turn to study her. She burst out: “Nothing like this has ever happened to me before. I have always been wondering how I could ever have gone back to the rectory and now … now I shall be here. I shall be one of you.”
“What do you mean? You are one of us now. We all look upon you as a friend … especially after this which we have all done together.
“It’s strange but this matter … being in danger … conspiring together … it’s done something to us all.”
“To you, Christabel?”
“Yes, to me … and Edwin.”
“You mean you love each other.”
“I love him.”
“Then he loves you, too. Oh, why didn’t I see it? It’s so obvious.”
“As obvious as you and Jocelyn.”
“Oh, Christabel, you look so happy.”
“I am happy. It means so much to me. It is not only Edwin … loving him … knowing he loves me. It’s other things besides. Well, perhaps I shouldn’t think of them but if you had been brought up as I had …”
“I know what you mean. It’s all going to be changed. It’s going to be different for you. You can’t help thinking of that as well as being with Edwin. Has he spoken to you then? Has he asked you to marry him?”
“He has shown me in a hundred ways that he loves me. He has told me so, yes.”
I thought: Edwin is not the sort to take these matters lightly. He is not like Leigh. If Edwin were in love it would be serious. I had never heard the servants giggling together about his way of life.
“I am so happy for you,” I said. “You will be a sort of sister. Now you won’t have to think of leaving here. Oh, Christabel, I’m so glad you came.”