The Scarlet Gown

by Sarah Mallory

  ‘And your good name means that much to you?’

  ‘Of course it does. Think how poor Charlotte would suffer if her sister’s affaire was known. And I was protecting your name, too, Adversane. I was determined to save us all from the scandal.’

  ‘I would rather have had the scandal than your daughter’s death, madam.’

  She curled her lip.

  ‘You may say that, but you would be singing a different tune if she had left you, and for your own cousin, too.’

  ‘Cottingham!’ Ralph’s eyes narrowed. He said slowly, ‘No, you are wrong. Adam was with his wife all night.’

  There was a soft whimper and he looked around, surprised to see that it was not Charlotte standing behind him, but Judith Cottingham, her face ashen in the candlelight.

  ‘Adam escorted you upstairs,’ he said to her. ‘I saw him. I remember saying goodnight to you both.’

  Judith was shaking.

  ‘He...he did not stay,’ she whispered. ‘He made me say he had been with me all night, but it was not true. No sooner had we reached our room than he slipped out again through the side hall.’ She folded her arms across her narrow chest. ‘I d-did not see him again until dawn.’

  He turned back to Lady Preston, observing the defiance in her eyes.

  ‘You knew,’ he said slowly. ‘You knew she was meeting him that night yet you said nothing?’

  ‘She was dead,’ she retorted. ‘How she died was not important.’ She had the grace to look a little embarrassed. ‘Besides—it may well have been an accident.’

  ‘It was.’ An anguished whisper came from Judith. ‘It must have been an accident.’

  A cold hand was clutching at Ralph’s chest as he made for the door.

  ‘Let us hope for all our sakes you are right, madam.’

  * * *

  The play was about to recommence and the hall was emptying rapidly. Ralph saw Harry and beckoned him over. ‘Have you seen Lucy?’

  ‘She went into the white salon, but she’s not there now.’ Harry glanced into the library. ‘And she has not returned to her seat.’

  ‘We must find her,’ Ralph told him urgently. ‘Be a good fellow and look for her.’ He caught Harry’s arm. ‘Discreetly, of course.’

  Ralph’s meaningful look was not lost upon his friend.

  ‘Of course, leave it with me. She is probably in the cloakroom gossiping with your sisters.’

  ‘Most likely,’ replied Ralph, but without conviction. He added grimly, ‘I need to find Cottingham, too.’

  He saw the alarm in Colne’s eyes.

  ‘You think—’

  ‘I don’t know,’ Ralph ground out.

  Harry nodded.

  ‘I’ll check the house,’ he said shortly. ‘You had best see if anyone has driven off recently.’

  Ralph left him and slipped out to the stables. The whole area was packed with horses and carriages belonging to his guests. He spotted his groom amongst a noisy group of stable hands gathered in one corner of the yard.

  ‘All our horses are accounted for, my lord,’ said Greg, in answer to Ralph’s enquiry. ‘And none of our carriages missing. Of course with so many people here tonight there’s no knowing if any of them have gone out.’

  The cold band around his heart squeezed harder. Ralph issued a few terse instructions before returning to the house. He found Harry waiting for him in the hall.

  ‘Neither of them are in the house, Ralph, I am sure of that. Nor are they in the gardens.’

  ‘Greg is even now checking with the man we posted at the main gate to see if any carriage has left that way.’

  ‘Perhaps we should enlist Wetherell’s help, and Sir Timothy—’

  ‘No, not yet. I need to be sure I am not merely being fanciful.’ He saw the butler crossing the hall and stopped him. ‘Something has come up, Byrne, but I do not wish to spoil everyone’s enjoyment. Tell the players to go on without us, will you?’

  With a small bow Byrne moved off, and Ralph hurried to the door, saying over his shoulder, ‘Come on, Harry, we’ll go to the stables and wait for Greg to return.’

  They had just reached the entrance to the stable yard when the groom came running up.

  ‘No one has left by way of the gate, my lord.’

  ‘Then where can they be?’ muttered Harry. ‘Surely they would have been seen if they had crossed the open park.’

  Ralph frowned and slammed one clenched fist into his palm.

  Think logically, man!

  No, logic would not help him here. Cottingham would not be thinking reasonably...

  ‘He has gone to Druids Rock!’ Ralph grabbed Harry’s arm. ‘Adam could have taken Lucy out through the gardens and to the old ride with very little chance of being observed.’ He began to run. ‘Harry, inform my brothers-in-law of what has happened and ask them to cover our absence. Then you and Greg follow me!’

  He dashed into the stable, issuing orders as he went. As soon as the bridle was fastened on Jupiter, Ralph did not wait for a saddle but hurled himself onto the horse’s back and clattered out of the yard.

  * * *

  ‘Adam, we should go back.’

  Lucy stumbled through the darkness. Her head was spinning, and she could not keep her balance. Adam had one hand around her waist, and although she knew she should protest she was afraid that she would collapse if he did not support her. Her head ached too much for her to think clearly, but surely they should not be quite so far from the house?

  It seemed such a long time since she had stepped outside. Adam had suggested they walk around the gardens, assuring her that the fresh air and exercise would soon drive away her unaccustomed dizziness. She must be inebriated. The punch had been very strong and she was glad she had only drunk a little. In any case she could not go back indoors in such a state. Adam was right—she must walk it off.

  She was dimly aware that they had strayed a long way from the formal gardens and the terrace. In the gathering gloom she did not recognise this area at all. Then Adam pulled her through a door set into a high brick wall and she could see the palings and the black shapes of trees in the distance.

  ‘Why have we left the gardens?’ She tried to tug herself out of his grasp. ‘Adam, no more. Take me back now.’

  The arm about her waist tightened and pulled her along.

  ‘It is not much farther.’

  She stumbled on beside him, but when they reached the old ride a sense of danger broke through the fog in her brain.

  ‘No!’ She clung to the gate. ‘No. Let me go.’ Adam prised her fingers from the wood and dragged her roughly away. ‘Help me! Someone, help!’

  ‘There is no point in shouting,’ he said. ‘No one can hear you at this distance from the house.’

  It was impossible to resist him. She felt so tired, all she wanted to do was to lie down and sleep, yet Adam would not let her rest. She struggled to put one foot before the other as he pulled her on through the evening twilight. However, by the time they reached Hobart’s Bridge the exertion had cleared her mind a little.

  ‘You drugged me,’ she accused him. ‘There was something in the punch.’

  ‘It was necessary.’

  His breathing was laboured. The heaviness was easing from her limbs, but she decided it would be safer if Adam did not know this, so she continued to sag against him.

  ‘Why is it necessary?’ she asked him. ‘Why are you doing this?’

  He gave a sob, but did not slacken his pace as he responded.

  ‘You cannot live. You cannot be allowed to take her place.’

  ‘Do you mean Lady Adversane?’

  ‘Of course, who else? I cannot allow you to marry my cousin. I am very sorry. Ralph does not deserve you.’

  She dug in her hee
ls and tried to resist him.

  ‘But he did not kill Helene.’

  He whipped about.

  ‘Yes, he did! He d-drove her to it.’

  ‘No. He told me what happened—’

  ‘And do you think he would tell you the truth? He wants you to take her place. She never loved him, she loved me. Me! And I loved her, worshipped her.’

  A chill of uncertainty made her shiver, but she pushed it aside, saying urgently, ‘But this won’t bring her back. Let me go, Adam. You do not really want to hurt me, do you?’

  ‘No, of course not, but you are his punishment. I see that now. Adversane thinks he can find happiness with you, but why should he? If I cannot have Helene, then he cannot have you.’

  Fear and the cool night air were combining to clear Lucy’s mind. She realised they were heading for Druids Rock. A glance at Adam’s contorted face made her shiver, for there could be no reasoning with him. She held back, making it necessary for him to half carry, half drag her along. It was slowing them down, and Lucy could only pray that it was using up his strength, too. Night was closing in but the rising moon was already giving off a faint light. If she ran away from him now there was no cover, nowhere to hide, but she must look for an opportunity to escape.

  * * *

  Ralph set Jupiter racing through the old ride at a gallop, but when the great horse stumbled he steadied the pace. He was riding bareback, and it would not help Lucy if he broke his neck getting to her. They crossed Hobart’s Bridge and cantered on along the old track. He sat up, straining his eyes against the near darkness. The rising moon gave a little light, enough to show him the moors stretching away in every direction, desolate and empty. What if he was wrong? What if they had not come this way? He pushed aside his doubts and dug his heels into Jupiter’s flanks, cantering around the ridge until Druids Rock was in sight, looming black against the night sky. There was movement on the rock’s sloping incline. He could see the outline of two figures struggling. Ralph slid to the ground and ran closer, crouching in the hope that they would not see him. Adam was slowly pulling Lucy up to the top but she was resisting him, talking, arguing. The steady wind was blowing his way, so they did not hear his approach. He dropped lower into the grass and moved a little closer, concealing himself behind the thick mounds of heather that grew all around. Lucy’s voice floated to him on the breeze, calm, reasoning, no hint of panic.

  ‘Adam, please. Helene would not want you to do this.’

  ‘Adversane never loved her as I did. I wanted to make her happy—he only ever wanted to possess her, like some beautiful trophy. He never knew the real pain of her death. And now he wants to put you in her place. He thinks you can be another Helene, but I won’t allow that. And this time he will feel it. When he sees your body smashed and broken he will suffer, just as I did two years ago.’

  Ralph gritted his teeth. It was as much as he could do not to break from cover and race towards them, but the risk was too great. Adam was walking backwards up the slope and pulling Lucy after him. The moon was climbing higher now, and he would have a good view of anyone approaching. Ralph calculated the distance to the highest ridge. If Adam swept Lucy up in his arms he could be at the edge before Ralph could reach them. There was only one way to approach Adam without being seen: he must climb the steep face of Druids Rock. Ralph glanced again towards the couple. Lucy was still arguing, holding back, delaying the inevitable by precious moments. It might just work.

  Keeping low, Ralph turned and hurried around to the far side of the crag. Tearing off his coat, he looked up. The black rock towered over him, rising almost vertical to the sky. He had done this dozens of times as a boy, but not so much as a man, and never in the dark. The thought of Lucy being dragged inexorably closer to the precipitous drop sharpened his resolve. He put his hands against the rough stone and began to climb.

  * * *

  Lucy resisted with all her might, bracing her feet against each tiny ridge, but Adam forced her upwards inch by inch, stopping only when he had to reply to one of her questions. She kept asking them, using everything she could think of to slow him down. Far below in the valley she could see tiny pinpoints of red light in the darkness. The people of Ingleston were celebrating Midsummer with bonfires. She could even smell the wood smoke carried to her on the night air. In the town and at Adversane life was carrying on, and no one was aware of her plight. Ralph might not even have missed her yet. The thought made her feel terribly alone.

  Concentrate, Lucy. Keep him talking.

  ‘Tell me what you think occurred that night, Adam. Why do you hold Ralph responsible for Helene’s death? He was not even here when it happened.’

  ‘No, but he drove her to it. He wanted to possess her, and she would do anything to get away from him.’

  Even through her fear, Lucy felt the stab of jealousy. Helene had been so beautiful, how could Ralph not love her, whatever he might say? Adam continued, unprompted.

  ‘She knew it was a mistake soon after they were married. She was such an innocent. Her parents persuaded her to marry him for his money, you know. She thought he would take her to London, that they would live in society, but instead he brought her here, where he could have her all to himself. Oh, there are a few families in the neighbourhood, but Helene wanted parties and concerts every night. She needed to be admired, you see. She craved approbation. I could give her that. Ralph couldn’t, it is not his way. He is too impatient, abrupt. I could see she was a delicate creature who needed to be nurtured. And I promised to take her abroad. The Italians would go wild for her fair beauty. I promised to love her and cherish her for the rest of her days.’

  ‘But, Adam, you have a wife. What about Judith?’

  He gave a wild, scornful laugh.

  ‘An arranged marriage to a drab female no one else wanted. With Helene on my arm it would be different. Every man would envy me. And why not? Why should Cousin Ralph have everything? Let him keep Adversane and his fortune, but Helene—I wanted her. I loved her.’

  His heart-wrenching cry tore into the night.

  ‘I understand how you must feel—’

  He interrupted her with a snarl.

  ‘You understand nothing! She is dead, dead! And you are going to follow her.’

  ‘No.’

  Lucy struggled but to no avail. There was nothing she could do to prevent Adam dragging her the last few yards towards the brink and that sheer drop to certain death.

  ‘Let her go, Adam.’

  Lucy thought the deep, calm voice was in her imagination until Adam stopped. She looked past him and saw Ralph standing at the very edge of the rock, feet apart, the white sleeves of his shirt fluttering gently. Like wings, she thought dizzily. Her guardian angel.

  ‘Never.’ Adam’s voice rose hysterically. ‘Devil take you, Adversane. She will die, as Helene died.’

  ‘No. I won’t let you do this.’

  Lucy forced herself to keep still. Adam might yet make a run for the edge, killing them both, perhaps even taking Ralph with them.

  ‘I will stop you,’ said Ralph. ‘Look behind you. Colne and Greg are here, too. You cannot fight all three of us.’

  Lucy glanced back. She had not heard the horses come up, but now she saw them quietly cropping the grass not far away while the two men stood at the edge of the slope, Harry Colne with a pistol in his hand. Ralph took a step nearer.

  ‘It is over, Adam,’ he said quietly. ‘Let her go.’

  ‘No!’ Adam dragged Lucy hard against him. ‘Why should you have everything? You think she will make you happy, another Helene to grace your house and your bed.’

  Ralph was coming closer.

  ‘Lucy is not Helene, Adam. I would not want her to be.’

  ‘Helene is dead because of you—’

  Even as Adam spat out the words Lucy felt his grip slacken a li
ttle and she wrenched herself free. Ralph reached out for her, drawing her close as Harry and Greg hurled themselves at Adam. He struggled against them, cursing, but he could not shake them off. He glared at Lucy, standing silent and trembling within the circle of Ralph’s arms.

  ‘Don’t you see? He has turned you into the image of Helene. He is possessed, so much so he must replace her, even though he drove her to her death—’

  The terrible logic of his words stabbed into Lucy like a dagger, making her sob. It made sense that Ralph was still in love with his wife, despite everything he had told her. She pushed her hands against his chest and stared up into his hard face, aghast. He met her eyes and gave the slightest shake of his head.

  ‘Trust me, love. I have no secrets from you now.’ His arms tightened about her and he said over her head, ‘I did not love Helene, Adam, and I did not kill her. You did. You met her here on Midsummer’s Eve. Judith has told us everything. Helene’s walks here were nothing to do with nature or the druids, were they? It was not even to escape me. She came to meet you.’

  ‘We had to meet somewhere. She could not take a carriage—the servants would have informed you, and she would not ride out alone. When I was staying at Adversane we only needed to slip out separately and meet up here. And when I was at Delphenden I would ride over and leave my horse in the woods, out of sight, while I walked up here. If anyone saw me it was easy enough to say I had business in Ingleston.’ He laughed. ‘We fooled you all. No one knew of our meetings.’

  ‘Save your wife.’

  Adam gave a dismissive shrug.

  ‘Judith did not dare to speak out against me. She knew Helene was the love of my life, that nothing must come between us.’

  ‘Oh, that is so cruel,’ exclaimed Lucy.

  ‘Judith does not need your pity. She was happy enough with the house and the children. Besides, what could she offer me, compared to my darling? Helene was too good, too kind, she did not want to hurt anyone, but at last I persuaded her that we could be happy abroad. They understand these arrangements on the Continent. But in the end she could not do it.’ Adam raised his ravaged face to Ralph again. ‘You tricked her, you warped her mind, hid your true nature behind a mask of kindness so that she believed she should stay with you.’