It was easier said than done, and dawn was spreading pink-tinged fingers into the room before I drifted off into a restless sleep.
Nine
It was in a sombre mood that I made my way downstairs the next morning. My hands shook, and I was agitated at the thought of seeing Garth face to face.
I need not have worried. He had had an early breakfast and left the Hall before anyone else was stirring. Lucy was most indignant as she handed me a fragrant cup of tea.
‘Bread and cheese left on the kitchen table for any stray mouse to nibble at,’ she said, her voice rising. ‘Cook was in a proper panic about it, I can tell you.’ She shook her head as if Garth’s behaviour were past her comprehension.
Jonathon entered the room just then, and I was agreeably surprised to see he was almost recovered from his illness of the previous night.
‘I can see you are feeling much better,’ I said with a smile. ‘Come and sit here next to me and have a hot cup of tea.’
I toyed absently with a piece of toast. ‘Did you know Garth was leaving this morning?’ I attempted to speak naturally, but for all that there was a slight tremor in my voice.
Jonathon shook his head. ‘I am the last one Garth would confide in, Catherine. Has he gone then?’
‘It seems like it.’ A thought suddenly occurred to me. ‘It could be that he went into town to bring a doctor for you.’
Lucy spoke from behind me, dashing my hopes. ‘No, miss,’ she said quickly. ‘Mr Garth has taken some clothes from his room; I expect he is aboard his ship by now.’
We finished our meal in silence, both Jonathon and I immersed in our own thoughts. At last I rose to my feet, unable to keep up the pretence of eating a moment longer.
‘Oh, Catherine,’ Jonathon said, ‘I shall be going into town later today. Is there anything you would like me to bring you?’
I tried to think clearly. ‘No, not at the moment, thank you,’ I said at last. ‘But if I think of anything before you go, I’ll let you know.’
Later, I watched from the window as he rode past on the chestnut mare Garth had bought for me. I felt angry and resentful that he had taken the animal without bothering to obtain my consent. I told myself not to be so petty and foolish; it was a small enough favour for me to bestow when Jonathon had taken me into his home.
The sun was bright on the windows, tempting me to take a walk. I slipped on my cloak, glad to leave behind me the strangely empty aura that now seemed to envelop the Hall.
I walked briskly out onto my favourite path along the edge of the cliffs, breathing the fresh, sweet air that came in off the sea. It was impossible not to be cheered by the warmth and sparkle of the day.
As I rounded the headland, my spirits were dashed. The harbour was empty; all the ships, including the Sea Witch, had sailed. I stared at the wide sweep of the bay, unwilling to believe the evidence of my own eyes, and suddenly I was filled with an impotent rage. Garth must have been preparing for this voyage for some time, and yet he had given no hint of his intentions. How could he be so indifferent, just leaving like that with no warning?
I sank down onto the damp grass, sea, sky and earth whirling about my head in a kaleidoscope of colours, a sick feeling making me dizzy. I laid down my head, feeling unutterably weary, and soon I slept.
When I opened my eyes once more, it had grown chilly; the sea was a dull pewter and the skies were overcast. Gathering clouds indicated that there was a storm brewing, and I scrambled to my feet, brushing the grass from my skirt.
Even as I stood there, large drops of rain began to fall, and the wind started to howl against the cliff face.
I tilted back my head, looking up into the darkening sky, praying that the storm would pass. In my imagination, I could see the Sea Witch dashed to pieces on the rocks, her masts snapped like twigs.
I pulled myself together, telling myself I was becoming hysterical, a trait I had not previously noted in myself, and set out briskly in the direction of the Hall.
Candles were agleam in all the windows, and for the first time I realised it was almost nightfall. I must have been out on the headland for quite a few hours. I hurried indoors, feeling guilty about my long absence. Jonathon would no doubt be anxious about me.
He came toward me as soon as I entered the sitting room, drawing me into his arms. I leaned against him with my eyes closed, wishing it were Garth holding me with such tenderness.
‘Catherine, I have been so worried about you. Where have you been? I have been back from town for hours!’
‘I’m sorry, Jonathon, I must have lost my way on the cliffs,’ I said feebly, unable to tell him the truth: that I’d been pining like a love-sick calf over Garth’s departure.
‘Come and sit before the fire.’ He placed a log on the blaze and pulled the high-backed chair nearer the fire.
‘Thank you, Jonathon. You always seem to be looking after me,’ I said with a little smile.
‘It is easy to be kind to you, Catherine,’ he said soberly. ‘I only wish you would give me more opportunity to show how high is my regard for you.’
I looked away from him guiltily. ‘I would like a hot drink,’ I said more to change the subject than anything else. He immediately called for Lucy.
‘Miss Catherine is going to her room,’ he said. ‘Take her some tea up there and make sure the fire is glowing.’
‘Really, Jonathon,’ I protested, ‘there is no need for any fuss. I’m all right, really.’
He held up his hand for silence. ‘You must take my advice, Catherine. I insist.’
I gave in with a sigh of resignation, deciding it would do me no harm to have an early night.
Later, as I lay tucked cozy and warm in my bed, I wondered why I could not give Jonathon my love, he was so kind and considerate. All my problems would be solved by such a marriage. Jonathon would naturally take control of the money, and I would have none of the irksome responsibility. I closed my eyes. And though I had been asleep most of the afternoon, I found that I was still tired and soon fell asleep.
I sat up suddenly to find that the candle had burned down. Even as I watched, it flickered and was suddenly extinguished. A board creaked, and with mounting horror, I realised that someone was in my room.
I crouched against the pillows, straining every nerve to hear or see anything that would give me a clue to the identity of the intruder.
Something moved near the edge of my bed, and my hand flew to my throat as I tried to scream.
Suddenly there was cold steel at my throat. Instinctively I turned away, swinging up my arm, and felt the sharp blade cut into my flesh.
A harsh voice uttered a curse, and I found my voice and screamed repeatedly. There was the sound of quick steps, the door was flung open, and suddenly I was alone.
‘Catherine!’ Jonathon’s voice came urgently. ‘What is happening? Are you all right?’
He came into my room, a candle held high, his face white and drawn.
‘Oh, Jonathon, someone was in my room,’ I gasped. ‘He tried to kill me.’
I fell against him, and he held me tenderly, brushing the hair from my face.
‘Wait here, Catherine. I will see if I can catch the intruder.’.
He hurried down the stairs, and to my relief, Lucy, appeared on the landing, her cap awry and her eyes enormous.
‘Oh, miss, whatever have you done to your arm? It’s bleeding badly.’
She led me back into my room and poured water from the large china jug into a basin. ‘There, pull back your sleeve and let us have a look at the wound.’
She worked with deft capable hands and made soothing noises whenever I winced. Jonathon came back up the stairs, shaking his head.
‘I can find no one there, and what is more, all the doors are still locked. It is a mystery.’ He came and stood at my side. ‘Are you hurt badly?’
It was Lucy who spoke. ‘It is just a small cut, Mr Jonathon, and tomorrow I will put some of my herb paste on it to heal it more quickly.’
Jonathon poured us all a drink of wine, and I think he more than anyone needed it. He was still pale, and there were dark shadows under his eyes.
‘I think we had all better try to get some sleep,’ I said, though the thought of being alone was enough to make me shudder.
Jonathon must have seen the movement, because he held out his hand and covered mine.
‘Lucy will stay with you for the rest of the night, so please do not be afraid.’
He picked up the coal scuttle and built up the fire himself, though I could see that Lucy was itching to take over from him. His efforts were less efficient than she liked to see.
‘There,’ Jonathon said with satisfaction. ‘You have plenty of warmth and light, and if Lucy makes up her bed on the sofa, everything should be comfortable for you.’
I stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek, and for a moment there was a strange apologetic look in his eyes. Then he smiled and went to the door.
‘Sleep well and do not worry. I will see that we have no more intruders tonight.’
I lay against my pillows, glad to see Lucy snuggling under her sheets.
‘I hope you are comfortable, Lucy,’ I said drowsily. To my surprise, I realised I was very tired and would shortly be asleep.
In the early sun of the next morning, the events of the night seemed unreal, almost a ridiculous, impossible nightmare. If it had not been for the throbbing of my arm, I would have doubted the whole thing had ever happened.
I made a careful study of my room, seeking for places where a bulky man could hide, but there was only a large old-fashioned wardrobe, and I felt sure Jonathon would have searched that first of all.
I thought of the incident again in detail – the way the man had loomed large beside me as I crouched next to the tall chest of drawers, and then his oath as I had managed to scream. Something clicked into place, and I remembered where I had heard that voice before. It belonged to Daniel Perkins; there was no mistaking it.
I hurried downstairs and saw that Jonathon had almost finished his breakfast. I sat beside him and began to speak excitedly.
‘Jonathon, I know who the intruder was!’ My voice was triumphant, and he looked up at me sharply.
‘How could you know?’ he asked softly. ‘You yourself said it was too dark to see anyone.’
‘I know,’ I said impatiently, ‘but I have an ear for voices. I can recognise someone more quickly by his voice than by appearances.’
Jonathon tapped his spoon against his cup and smiled a little, as if he were humouring me, though somehow he seemed to be ill at ease.
‘Well, come along; I cannot wait to hear what Miss Cleverness has found out.’
I gave him a quick look. I might be imagining things, but for a moment his tone had been almost derisive.
‘It was Daniel Perkins,’ I said quite sharply, resenting the idea that Jonathon found me a bit of a fool.
He stood up so abruptly that he knocked over his cup and, without noticing the stain spreading across the table, moved over to gaze out of the window.
‘Nonsense!’ he said firmly, though his hand shook a little as it rested against the curtain.
‘It was Perkins,’ I said quickly. ‘I was in his company for quite a long time on the journey to Swantown. I know I am not mistaken.’
There was silence for a moment, and I wondered if I had convinced Jonathon that I was speaking the truth.
‘Come here, Catherine,’ he said quietly. Surprised, I went and stood next to him. He pointed across the harbour.
‘Tell me what you see?’ he said, a strange smile playing about his mouth.
‘Just the harbour, of course.’ I spoke a little impatiently, wondering what on earth this had to do with the intruder of the previous night.
‘No ships; am I right?’ he said, turning to me with a smile.
The question dropped into my mind like ice, and I saw then what he was getting at.
‘Perkins is away at sea.’ I almost whispered the words, and I realised even as I said them that somehow he had come back last night. It had been Perkins in my room; I w.as certain of it.
‘You see you were mistaken.’ He stared at me intently, and I could see that my answer was important to him.
‘Yes, I was mistaken.’ I do not know why the words left my lips, but they did, and Jonathon smiled with relief.
‘Come, let us have a hot cup of tea and forget all about it.’
He led me back to the table, and I pressed my lips together to prevent the rush of protestations that longed to be said.
‘I have checked the doors and windows.’ Jonathon smiled at me. ‘We will have no more mysterious visitors in the night, so please do not be afraid.’
I attempted to smile. Nothing could be gained by insisting that I knew the identity of my attacker. It was better to allow the whole unpleasant matter to drop, although I had a strange feeling that it would not be so easy to forget.
Ten
For several days I was in a state of nervous exhaustion, hardly able to sleep. When darkness fell across my room, I could feel again the cold steel of the blade against my throat. However hard I tried, I could not blot the thought out of my mind that the intruder had been Daniel Perkins.
About a week later, Lucy came into the room, a strange expression on her face.
‘You have visitors, miss,’ she said. ‘Mrs Perkins is here, and she’s brought that daughter of hers.’
‘Show them in, Lucy,’ I said after a moment’s hesitation. ‘It is probably something to do with the dress.’
Mrs Perkins seemed more birdlike than ever; her eyes darted everywhere, and there was a thin smile on her lips.
She stood stiffly just inside the door, but Sarah was bolder. She strode confidently into the room and seated herself comfortably near the fire.
I suppressed the feeling of irritation that was rising in me and looked questioningly at Mrs Perkins, waiting for her to state her business. She moved uncomfortably, staring down at the carpet, not certain how to begin.
I tried to help her out. ‘Have you come to see me about the dress? Has something gone wrong?’
She shook her head. ‘It’s not that, miss. The gown is almost ready; just a few more stitches in the hem is all it needs.’
‘Well then,’ I said, becoming a little exasperated, ‘is there another matter I can help you with?’
I sat down, hoping she would do the same, but she remained standing, and her face grew a shade paler.
Sarah was staring about her with avid curiosity. There was something unpleasant in the way she seemed to be summing everything up.
‘Please sit down, Mrs Perkins,’ I said sharply, and she was so surprised that she sank down on a chair near the door, her mouth hanging open as she stared at me.
‘Sarah will have money soon,’ Mrs Perkins said, and I frowned, trying to understand what she was talking about. She pointed at her daughter, and for a moment there was a spark of feeling in her pale eyes.
‘Oh yes?’ I said uncertainly.
‘My Sarah will be a fine lady quite soon now.’ She smiled proudly, and Jonathon’s words popped into my mind. He had called Sarah a sow’s ear, somewhat unkindly perhaps. But a fine lady she would never be by any stretch of the imagination.
Mrs Perkins seemed inclined to talk now that she had started, and I let her ramble on, hoping to find out what she wanted of me.
‘So you see, miss, it would only be a loan, just for a little while until Sarah’s married.’ She looked at me hopefully.
Then it occurred to me that she was trying to borrow money on the strength of her daughter’s expectations, whatever they might be.
I watched Mrs Perkins rubbing her thin hands together and felt more than a little sorry for her. She couldn’t have much of a life with a man like Daniel Perkins to contend with, as well as a spoiled, difficult daughter.
‘I’ll be glad to help you,’ I said briskly. ‘But you will have to wait a little while, say until the day aft
er tomorrow. Will that suit you?’
‘You are too kind, Miss Llewellyn,’ she said so quietly that I hardly heard her. ‘I will have your dress ready when you call.’
As I watched them both walk away from the house, I shook my head in bewilderment. I couldn’t actually pin down anything Mrs Perkins had said. For instance, how much did she need?
I shrugged and closed the door. Tomorrow I would go into town to see Mr Sainsbury, and until then, I would put the entire Perkins family out of my mind.
I would have liked to discuss the incident with Jonathon, but I saw very little of him that day. He was probably on business. I went up to my room and sat in the window seat, looking out over the sea. Not even to myself would I admit that I was hoping for the sight of sails appearing on the horizon. But the stretch of ocean remained flat and empty, glinting gold under the sun.
I leaned my face against the cool glass and found myself remembering vividly how it felt to be in Garth’s arms. It was so lonely at the Hall without him.
I brushed the tears away from my eyes, impatiently telling myself how foolish I was being. It was obvious that I was over-tired; a peaceful night’s sleep would do me a world of good.
The next day I was determined to keep myself so busy that no thoughts of Garth would be able to invade my mind. I dressed in my riding habit and, without asking permission, took Garth’s stallion out of the stable.
As I rode away from the Hall, I thought I glimpsed Jonathon from an upstairs window, and I wondered guiltily if he had wanted the stallion for himself.
Mr Sainsbury was pleased to see me. He invited me to sit down and was so pleasant and charming that I wondered what he could have in common with a man like Daniel Perkins. They had seemed to be on close terms the day they had ridden past me on the hill road.
‘I would like to have some money,’ I began, and he nodded solemnly, a slight smile on his face.
‘Of course. Why else would an attractive young lady like yourself come to visit a crusty old man well past his prime?’
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