I disengaged my arm from Edmund’s and sat down, feeling drained of energy.
‘May I have a glass of wine, please, Greyson? I asked meekly.
He got to his feet in one movement, looking lithe and tall beside Edmund’s stocky breadth. His hair was crisp and dark, springing away from his face, and his eyes were half closed as he stared down at the ruby wine.
I took the glass with trembling fingers and avoided looking directly at Greyson as he sat beside me.
‘What did Father have to say? You were with him quite a long time.’
He leaned toward me, offering a piece of cake, but I shook my head.
‘Oh, nothing very important, really.’ I hated myself for telling him lies, but I could hardly tell him the truth. ‘He’s resting now, although Wenna insisted on taking him tea.’
Greyson nodded. ‘Yes, that’s her daily ritual when he’s here. She looks after him like a baby.’
I couldn’t help wondering if something was being put into Uncle Tom’s tea. It would explain why he had been ill when he had first arrived at Winston.
‘You are far away,’ Greyson remarked. ‘What were you thinking about?’
‘Uncle Tom’s health. He seems much better, don’t you think?’
Edmund was determined to break into the conversation. He pulled his chair nearer to mine and leaned forward.
‘Oh, yes, he’s been improving steadily these last few weeks, didn’t you know?’
I looked at him and then at Greyson, who seemed suddenly tense, though he hadn’t moved at all.
‘On the contrary,’ I said stiffly, ‘I thought he was worse.’
Greyson leaned forward and looked intently at Edmund. ‘But you sent William down with a message to tell me Father was worse,’ he said firmly.
Edmund shook his head in bewilderment. ‘No, I did not!’ He turned to me. ‘Did you see William, Charlotte?’
I was forced to shake my head. ‘I didn’t see him, but Greyson told me he was here.’
‘Well, let’s send for him. I’m sure he can clear this up in no time.’ Edmund beamed, and I sighed with relief.
‘Of course. Why don’t you ring the bell, Greyson? There must be some misunderstanding.’
Greyson leaned back, an odd smile on his face. ‘I don’t think there has been any misunderstanding,’ he said thoughtfully. ‘I think I’ve been made a fool of!’
‘Greyson, what do you mean?’ I asked indignantly. ‘William wouldn’t attempt to make a fool of you.’
He shook his head. ‘Maybe not, but he’s disappeared. He didn’t say a word – just vanished.’
I put my hand to my lips. ‘Oh, Greyson, I do hope he’s all right.’
Edmund coughed and got to his feet. ‘Ah, well, no doubt there is some explanation; but I can’t think of one at the moment.’
‘Except that I am a liar, is that what you are getting at?’ Greyson glared at Edmund and moved closer to him.
‘I didn’t say anything.’ Edmund looked defiantly at me, and I stepped in quickly.
‘There can be no good purpose served by quarrelling. Will both of you sit down again?’
I stood with my hands on my hips and out-stared the two of them, though my legs were trembling. When they were seated, I poured drinks for the three of us and sat down between them.
‘I, for one, believe that William was here,’ I said. ‘And if he has disappeared without a word, something is wrong, very wrong.’ I looked at Greyson. ‘William was very loyal to me. I’ve known him for a long time. He wouldn’t leave without seeing me unless he was forced to.’
Greyson looked back at me, his eyes unreadable. ‘I think it’s time I went to bed,’ he said flatly, rose and went outside. He stopped at the door and called me. ‘Could you spare me a minute, Charlotte?’ he said imperiously.
Edmund grimaced, and I felt the colour rise to my cheeks as I went to the door.
‘Here is the key to your new room,’ Greyson said quietly. ‘Leave most of your belongings where they are for now, so no one will guess you are moving.’
‘Where is my room?’ I asked curiously, and suddenly he smiled.
‘I hope you won’t mind, but you’ve got one of the maids’ rooms. Will that be all right?’
I nodded. ‘But Wenna brings me tea every morning. What shall I do about that?’
‘I’ll make sure she sees to Uncle and friend Edmund first. That will give you time to get back to your own room and rumple the bed.’
I smiled. ‘All right, Greyson, and thank you. See you in the morning.’
Edmund was sulking when I returned to him. He stared down at the floor for a long time until, with a sigh, I challenged him.
‘What’s wrong now, Edmund?’ I sat near him, and he looked up at me reproachfully.
‘You are far too friendly with Greyson for my liking. I don’t trust that fellow.’
‘He is my cousin, Edmund,’ I said quietly. ‘Come on; cheer up. Perhaps we will be able to go out for a walk together tomorrow, if the weather stays fine.’
Edmund was not to be side-tracked. ‘He was not speaking one word of truth. You realise that, don’t you?’
‘Why do you say that?’ I asked impatiently. ‘Will must have been here.’
‘No, he’s at Winston. He’s never left there, not even for one day.’
‘Are you sure about that, Edmund?’ I could feel the colour leaving my cheeks. I wanted with all my heart to believe in Greyson.
‘Charlotte, is it a thing I could make a mistake about? Anyway, you can ask him yourself when we get back.’
‘Get back? Do you mean Uncle is going back to Winston?’ I said. ‘I thought he wanted to be here.’
‘You are deliberately being stupid, Charlotte. When you and I go back as man and wife, that’s what I meant.’
‘Now wait a minute, Edmund. I haven’t said I’d marry you, have I?’
‘You are splitting hairs, Charlotte. It’s always been understood we’d marry one day.’
I sighed. ‘I’m rather tired, Edmund. I think I’d better get some sleep.’
To my dismay, he came upstairs with me and stood outside my room. Reluctantly, I opened the door and let myself in, standing just inside the door, listening to his footsteps going away.
The fire was lit and candles burned in their holders; naturally, everyone assumed I was still using the room. The curtains over the balcony door billowed a little, and then I felt the hairs rise on the back of my neck, and I went absolutely cold. There was a woman standing in the gloom, wearing a black dress and with waist-length dark hair.
I couldn’t move. I could barely breathe. I stood rooted to the spot with fear. She stood staring at me, and then she began to raise her arms, and I saw her lips frame my name, though no sound came out.
Slowly, as if in a nightmare, she began to move toward me. She stood poised for a moment under the candlelight, and to my horror, I saw there was seaweed clinging to her hair.
From somewhere I found the strength to move. I pulled at the door and ran onto the landing, screaming Greyson’s name, and then there were hands holding me as I sank into blessed darkness…
Chapter Eleven
A cup was pressed to my lips, and I gasped as hot tea spilled onto my face. I took the cup with hands that shook uncontrollably and looked at the sea of faces around me.
Greyson held me in his arms, and Uncle Tom, his face white, was kneeling on the floor beside me. Edmund was returning the cup to the tray Wenna was holding in her hands.
I stared hard at Wenna. The woman looked like her, so very much like her! But Wenna was in her nightgown, with her hair tidily hidden under a cap. Could it have been my mother I had seen?
‘Feeling better?’ Greyson asked, holding me up in a sitting position.
I nodded. ‘Yes, thank you. If you’ll help me up, I’ll be all right. I’m sorry I’ve disturbed you all. Won’t you go back to bed?’
Greyson took charge. ‘Wenna, perhaps you and Edmund will take Father t
o his room, and I’ll see to Charlotte.’
At the tone of command in his voice, everyone began to move away.
‘What was it?’ he asked. ‘Something frightened you, didn’t it?’
‘Greyson, are you sure my mother is dead?’ I asked, and even to myself, my question sounded silly.
‘Why, yes, she was drowned. I can even remember her a little. Why do you ask?’
I shook my head. ‘I thought I saw her tonight. She was standing near the balcony of my room, and she held her hands out to me. It was horrible!’
Greyson frowned. ‘But it’s impossible. No one can get in that way. The balcony hasn’t been repaired.’
‘I know, I know, that’s why it’s all so mad!’ I leaned against him, feeling desperately ill. ‘Greyson, I think I’m going out of my mind,’ I said, and tears slid down my cheeks.
‘Wait here,’ he said. ‘I’m going to have a look.’ I stood against the wall, watching in fear as he opened the door to my room. I saw him go across to the curtain and move it aside, and then he disappeared from view as he searched around the bed. He returned in a few moments with a necklace dangling from his hands.
‘Another one,’ he said darkly. ‘And there’s no sign of anyone having broken in.’
‘Could it be a ghost?’ I asked in a small voice. ‘I saw something – I know I did.’
He took my arm. ‘Come along; you’ve had enough to put up with for one night. You’ll be safe upstairs.’ He took me into the attic room, and it was a relief to be in a small room where there were no dark comers and large recesses; just long beams bending like crooked arms across the tiny slanting ceiling.
He turned his back until I was in bed and then sat beside me.
‘Look, Charlotte,’ he said, ‘try to put everything out of your mind. Promise?’
I grinned wryly. ‘I promise to try; but it won’t be easy, will it?’
He pulled the covers up to my chin. ‘Would you like me to stay with you, just for tonight? I can sit in the rocking chair and make sure no one comes in.’
I smiled. ‘And what will Edmund and your father make of that? No, thank you, Greyson. You’d better go to your own room. I think I’ll be all right here.’
‘Good night, then.’ He bent forward and kissed me gently. ‘I’ll see you in the morning. If you should need me tonight, just knock on the floor. My room is directly under yours.’
I lay for a long time staring at the cracks in the ceiling above me and praying for daylight to come.
* * *
Uncle Tom was still resting in his room the next morning, and I offered to take some tea up to him. ‘Hello, my dear; come and sit down.’ He smiled and patted the bed. ‘I hope you are feeling better today.’
‘Yes, I’m fine, thank you, Uncle. Do you want some tea?’
I handed him the cup and sat down at his side, happy to see that he looked much better. There was colour in his face again, and I realised that last night I must have frightened him badly.
I’d wanted to question him about William, but it didn’t seem to be very kind to worry him under the circumstances.
‘What are you thinking?’ he said, patting my hand gently. He leaned back on the pillows and smiled, and for the first time since I’d known him it occurred to me that he wasn’t really an old man, in spite of his silver hair and bushy brows.
‘I’m just thinking how handsome you look.’ I smiled warmly and tweaked his nose. ‘You should be out enjoying the company of some eligible ladies. They must be ten a penny in these parts.’
‘Maybe you are right, Charlotte, but it’s Greyson they are all after. He could have been married three times over by now.’
My heart dipped in the oddest way, and for some reason I couldn’t look at my uncle.
‘Of course I would like to see him married to you. I’m very fond of you, my dear. But I think that Edmund has first refusal, isn’t that correct?’
I sighed. ‘Poor Edmund! He keeps asking me to marry him, but I don’t think it would work.’
‘Ah! Well, you have my sympathy; but it’s not every young lady who has two fine young men begging for her hand. And don’t forget, Charlotte, there is the danger of falling between two stools.’
‘I’m just not ready for marriage yet. I can’t imagine settling down and having children. It all seems far away in the future.’
I moved the tray and straightened the cover of Uncle’s bed.
‘You’d better rest now, and then perhaps we’ll have the pleasure of your company this evening at supper.’
‘I expect so, Charlotte. And think over what I’ve said. Don’t turn down any offer out of hand. You may regret it later.’
There seemed to be some underlying meaning in my uncle’s words that I couldn’t fathom. I stopped for a moment on the landing and tried to work out what he could have meant. It sounded as if he were advising me to marry Edmund, and yet he’d told me himself he’d like me to accept Greyson. I grimaced wryly. I couldn’t even be sure that Greyson would have me.
As I passed the door of my room, something made me stop. Carefully I pushed the handle, and the door swung open. The bed was made, and the fire grate had been carefully cleaned out, so that a fire could be lit at night. It all seemed so harmless, with the sun streaming in through the window, that I couldn’t believe anything at all had happened last night.
In my cupboard was the new necklace, along with all the other valuables, just placed carelessly in a box as if they were of no importance. Idly I lifted them up, and they shot bright fires across my skin. They were beautiful, priceless stones, and yet I wished I’d never seen them.
I jumped, startled, as I heard soft footsteps behind me. Then Wenna appeared.
‘Oh, Charlotte, the maid tells me you didn’t sleep in here last night. I’m not surprised, seeing you were so upset, though I’ve told you before that your mother wouldn’t harm you. She just wants you to be happy.’
She spoke quite normally, as if my mother were alive, and uneasily I moved away from her.
‘What was my mother like? To look at, I mean? Was she like me, for instance?’
Wenna shook her head. ‘No, not like you at all, except perhaps about the eyes. But she was very lovable; such charming ways. I couldn’t believe it when she drowned.’
‘Wenna, did you see her? I mean after she was found out there?’ I gestured toward the island, not quite sure how to say it without upsetting Wenna.
She shook her head bitterly. ‘Oh, no, I couldn’t look at her, Miss Charlotte; it was too much for me.’
Even now, at the thought, tears welled in her eyes, and I felt ashamed, like someone uncovering an old wound.
‘I’m sorry, Wenna; I didn’t mean to upset you. I just wondered about it, that’s all.’
She didn’t speak again for a few minutes. She walked across to the window and stood looking out at the sea.
‘It’s natural to ask about your mother, quite natural. And she was somebody special all right, even though they say she was a bad lot, because she wasn’t married to your father.’ She turned to look at me, her eyes rather dazed. ‘For a while I believed they were married. I even remember the ceremony in the chapel, and the bell ringing out joyfully to tell all the world.’ She stopped speaking and put her hand over her eyes. ‘But it seems it was all inside my head. I was ill for a long time after she died.’
‘Who told you there was no marriage, Wenna? Can you remember?’
Her eyes cleared as she heard my voice, and she looked at me suspiciously.
‘Why are you questioning me like this, miss! I haven’t done anything wrong.’
‘Wenna,’ I said slowly, ‘I’m not saying you have done anything wrong. I was only asking about my mother.’ I tried to smile. ‘And what’s this nonsense about you calling me “miss”? You’ve never done it before.’
She looked down at her fingers, her brows drawn together in an uncharacteristic frown.
‘Your uncle’s orders. He doesn’t like me to
be familiar. He told me off about it.’
I raised my eyebrows in surprise. ‘But I don’t mind at all. After all, you are one of the family, aren’t you?’
She smiled thinly. ‘Well, he doesn’t like it, and he’s the master here, even though Greyson does all the managing, and on precious little money at that.’
‘Do you mean that Uncle Tom is short of money?’
I couldn’t believe it. Plas Melyn was run on much more luxurious lines than Winston.
‘That’s about it, miss. Trouble is, he doesn’t know it.’ She moved toward the door. ‘Greyson says he must never know. It would kill him.’
‘Then who pays for everything?’ I asked, puzzled by the whole thing.
‘Greyson does! By right he owns the Plas and has for these many years. Good thing he had money left him by his mother’s side of the family.’
‘It will all be his one day,’ I said comfortingly. ‘I’m sure it’s money well spent in the long run.’
‘I dare say you are right.’ She opened the door, determined to answer no more questions, and reluctantly I had to let her go.
‘Well,’ I said softly, ‘who’d have thought Greyson would be so generous?’
* * *
By evening Uncle Tom seemed to be in excellent spirits. He sat at the head of the table and kept everyone amused with his tall stories about smugglers coming into the estuary with gold and kegs of wine; anything, in fact, that would bring a fair price from the people living near the coast.
‘Yes, they used to flash lights from the island out there, and then the rowboats would come in like a fleet of dark beetles, and there would he gentlemen and ladies wading out into the water in their hurry to have the best pickings.’
I drank more wine and smiled indulgently. Uncle was quite obviously enjoying himself. His cheeks were pink, so that he looked more than ever like a cherub. And his hair was brushed until it shone like silk.
‘Where’s Wenna tonight?’ Edmund said conversationally, when Uncle at last lapsed into silence.
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