“No,” I replied. “It was just the suddenness of the attack.”
He grimaced. ”I’ll have to get this key back to Clarkson. He was most insistent. See you shortly.”
He rode away.
“It was quite an experience,” said Drake, looking at me.
It was the afternoon of the following day. Drake had gone off with Charles and Philip on some masculine excursion early in the morning. Julia was in a bad temper because of this. She wanted to be with Drake all the time.
I took a book and was on my way to the pond garden when I met one of the young boys from the stables. He came running to me rather breathlessly. He said: “Oh, Miss, I was coming to the house to see if I could find you. I wanted to see you.”
” What’s wrong?” I asked.
“It’s Willie. He’s lost his dog.”
“Oh no …”
“Yes, Miss. He’s in a state about it. He’s been in the forest looking for him all day. I think I might know where he is.”
“Well, where is he?”
“He’s in that burial place, Miss. People was there yesterday. P’raps he got in while the door was open. I thought I heard him there … through that slit in the wall. I put me ear there… .”
“Well, have you told Willie?”
“Couldn’t find him. I thought as you … being friendly with him like … and me not liking to go down on me own.
“Well, we must go and see.” He held up a key.
“I got it from Mr. Clarkson … I don’t like to go in on me own … I thought as how you …”
It seemed possible that Pepper had gone into the mausoleum. It must have been when the door was open and we were all down there. I could imagine his sniffing round the place. He came there often with Willie.
I did not relish going into that dark underground place.
I said to the boy: “Come on … we’ll both look round.”
He hesitated.
“Oh come on,” I said impatiently. “I shall be there. You won’t be alone.”
The boy unlocked the door leaving the key in the lock and we started down the steps, I leading the way. I picked my way carefully and warned him to do the same. I said: “The stairs might be damp and slippery.”
He did not answer. Then I realized that he was not following me. I heard voices through the open door. I was relieved. Some-one else was there.
“Pepper,” I called. “Pepper, where are you?”
There was a shadow behind me.
I said: “He’s probably hiding. He must have been rather scared when he found he could not get out.”
I had reached the bottom of the stairs and turned. I went cold with fear. Charles was behind me.
“Charles!” I cried.
“The very same.”
“How … how did you get here?”
“By the usual means … on my two feet.”
“Where is the boy?”
“I sent him back. Oh don’t worry, I have the key.”
He held it up smiling at me.
I was determined not to show how frightened I was to be in such a place … alone with Charles. This was more than fear, It was like something out of a nightmare.
“Pepper,” I called, “where are you?”
“The little beast is probably hiding. We’ll find him … if he’s here. Pepper. Come here.”
There was no answer. Our voices in that strange place sounded unfamiliar.
“Well, if he is not here we’d better go,” I said. “The boy thought he heard a dog down here and it seemed very likely as we had the door open yesterday and he comes here with Willie a good deal.”
“I don’t think he’s here.” He turned and looked at me. “You’re scared,” he said.
“I don’t like this place.”
“Not very cosy, is it? And you like it less because you’re alone here with me.”
I wondered if I could pass him and make a dash for the stairs. Could I reach the top before him? I knew I could not, for it was so gloomy one would have to pick one’s way with care.
“You should not be afraid of me,” he said in a soft voice. “I have told you I want to be your friend. But you won’t let me.”
“I do not want the sort of friendship you are suggesting.”
“Oh, I know you are a very pure young lady. It’s a pity. What are you afraid of?”
“I think we should go now. The dog cannot be here. He would come when called if he were.”
“You think I’m going to attack you, don’t you? That I am going to force you to submit to my evil desires. Is that not so? Confess. You think me capable of that, don’t you?”
“Yes, I do.”
He laughed. “You’re a bold wench. Let me tell you that I do not have to beg for favours.”
“I am sure you don’t. So why don’t you take from those who are willing … perhaps eager to give them?”
”There are plenty who are, I assure you. Therefore I will not do that which I could so easily do, for, my proud little bastard, you are at my mercy down here. What a setting for the ravishment. Surrounded by the dead.”
“I am going now.”
“Not so fast. You should be in terror that I shall rob you of your innocence … for innocent you are, are you not? Such a stinging blow that was, you gave me. I feel it still. No. I would not give what I have to offer to a slut who would not appreciate it.”
“I can understand that. I am sorry I hit you. But you did provoke me. But now that we understand each other perhaps we can forget the incident.”
“I do not forget insults so easily.”
“I thought I was the one who was insulted.”
“Because you have ideas above your station, little Miss Cleremont?”
“Perhaps,” I said, “but I hope never to trouble you with them again.”
“Then we will go.”
He was on the stairs a little ahead of me. Suddenly he turned and said: “Listen. Did you hear that?”
I stood very still listening and turned to stare back down into the dark chamber. “No, I can hear nothing,” I said.
Then I heard him laugh. While my back was turned he had been mounting the stairs. He started to run up them and he was well ahead of me. I heard the door shut with a bang just as I reached it. Then I heard the key turn in the lock.
A terrible fear came over me.
I was alone … locked in the house of the dead.
I went to the door and beat on it with my two fists.
“Let me out. Let me out,” I cried.
He must have been very close to the door but I heard his laugh.
“You were very rude to me, you little bastard,” he shouted. “You have to be punished for that. Stay there with the departed and think about the way you behaved to the son of the house which has been your benefactor for so many years. You ungrateful little beast. You have to learn, you know.”
“No … no!” I cried.
The laugh was fainter now. He had gone leaving me here.
I sat down on the stone steps and covered my face with my hands. It was very dark now that the door was closed. I thought: This is not happening. This is a dream. I shall wake up soon.
But I knew it was not a dream. 1 knew he had thought of doing this to me yesterday, that he had lured me here. The boy must have been obeying his orders. There was no question of the dog’s being lost.
I called: “Help! Help!” My voice sounded feeble echoing through the underground chamber. Perhaps if someone was right outside they would hear it. But who would be there? And how long should I stay here?
I was afraid to move from the stairs. I did not want to go down to the chamber where the coffins were. It was better there on the stairs where I could not see them.
They would miss me soon. Grand’mere would be worried. She would insist on their looking for me. It could not be very long. But even a little time in such a place would be terrifying.