‘Why have you brought disgrace to me?’ she said to Garth, holding out her hands in supplication.
‘Very pretty,’ he said with sarcasm, ‘But save it; the audience is gone now.’ He indicated that Daniel should take a seat.
‘There is nothing to be gained by trying to blackmail me,’ he said calmly. ‘I have no intention of supporting your daughter or her bastard child.’
Perkins flushed a dull red, and Sarah looked at him with abject fear. ‘The child is his, Father!’ she said quickly. ‘I have not lied to you.’
Garth ignored her and turned to me. ‘I think you should go to your room, Catherine,’ he said quietly. ‘There is no reason for you to witness this unpleasantness.’
I was too shocked and too weary to answer. I rose to my feet and stumbled up the stairs to my room.
When I was alone, the tears spilled down my cheeks, and I fell face downward on the bed, caring nothing for the fact that my gown was being crushed. There was no joy in it now.
A few minutes later, I heard Perkins’ gruff voice in the hallway.
‘All right then, Mr Llewellyn. Just so my girl gets paid for her troubles, I’ll be satisfied.’
I closed my eyes in pain. So Garth had managed to buy his way out of the predicament without a thought about the child that was his.
As soon as the door closed on Perkins and his daughter, I hurried down the stairs. Garth was sitting slumped in a chair, and there was no sign of Jonathon.
‘Garth,’ I said softly, ‘how could you allow yourself to be mixed up with such people?’ He looked up slowly.
‘So you believe Sarah Perkins, with no evidence against me at all except her word?’
I sat down quickly, feeling somewhat discomfited. ‘But it’s not just her word,’ I said. ‘I heard Perkins talking to Mr Sainsbury about it some weeks ago.’
He raised his eyebrows. ‘I see,’ he said in a strange voice. He rose to his feet, and his glance flickered over me so coldly that I felt I was the one in the wrong. He walked past me without speaking another word, and I lay back in my chair, wondering why I should feel such a pang of guilt inside me.
Fourteen
I hardly saw Garth at all during the next few days, and I knew he was deliberately avoiding me. I couldn’t shake off the feeling that somehow I’d failed him, even though I told myself repeatedly that the notion was a foolish one.
Jonathon had an air of triumph, a lightness in his step that I couldn’t understand. It was almost as if he revelled in Garth’s predicament.
He spent a great deal of time following me around the gardens, popping up when I least expected him, paying me absurd compliments so that I dreaded to see him.
He trapped me one day in the rose arbor, putting his hands around my waist playfully.
‘Come along, Catherine. Surely you are not made of stone. I’ll make you marry me yet!’
His words brought a chill with them, so that I shuddered as I tried to draw away from him.
‘I don’t think I’m the marrying kind.’ I attempted to laugh, but he wasn’t to be put off.
‘There is no one else, is there? Surely you can think nothing of Garth after all that’s happened?’
I evaded his question. ‘I’m quite happy to live here with both you and Garth to look after me.’
He turned a little sulky. ‘Garth will not be here much longer.’ He turned away from me, and I caught his arm.
‘What do you mean, Jonathon. Is he going away?’
He frowned. ‘The people of the town are incensed at his behaviour with Sarah Perkins. Not only that, but he repeatedly acts at variance with the law. He can’t be allowed to get away with it forever.’
‘There is no proof against him. There can’t be, or he would not be free at this moment,’ I said in agitation.
Jonathon gave me a strange look. ‘There will be proof enough; just you wait and see.’
Suddenly frightened, I moved away from him. ‘I think I’ll take a walk,’ I said quickly. ‘The fresh air might clear my mind.’
‘Keep to the road then, Catherine,’ he warned. ‘I have told you many times that the cliffs can be dangerous.’
It seemed as if he were warning me of a greater danger than I could foresee, and I knew I was shivering.
The air was spicy with the scent of early flowers, and as I walked I regained a little of my serenity. I had not previously been given to bouts of hysteria or foolish fancies, so why should I allow myself to be frightened now?
Of course there had been attacks on my life, there was no denying that. Even if the incident of the girth had been an accident, the attacker in my room had been real enough.
I sat on a boulder and tried to think of some motive for anyone wishing me dead. Chilled, I realised that Garth would be the beneficiary if anything happened to me. As the legitimate heir, he would no doubt have my money as well as his own share of Grandmother’s estate. It was a point I should clear up with Mr Sainsbury, of course, but I had the awful feeling I was right.
I rose and walked around the headland. Garth might be guilty of a lot of things, but surely he couldn’t be capable of trying to murder me. Perkins worked for Garth, and it was only since the trouble with Sarah that I had seen any animosity between them.
A tall ship caught my eye, sweeping out to sea, its sails spread wide to catch every breath of wind. My heart dipped as I recognised the colours of the Sea Witch. I followed it along, wondering what Garth could be doing. I imagined him with his brown arms bare, leaning on the rail, so vital, so handsome. He could not be guilty of murder; I would not believe it of him.
I longed to be in his arms, to hear his protestations of love as he held me close to him. But it was all a foolish dream.
The Sea Witch turned in a wide arc and headed back towards the harbour, and I began to retrace my steps back to the Hall. I had reached no conclusion in my mind, but was resolved to find out as quickly as possible if it was Garth who would inherit my share of the estate.
Dinner that evening was an uncomfortable affair. The two men stared at each other in silence, and all my attempts at conversation met with the barest of replies. I gave up at last and ate my meal in silence.
As soon as possible, I made my way upstairs on the feeble pretence that I was developing a headache. My cousins rose politely to their feet as I left the table, but neither of them made any attempt to detain me.
I had only just settled myself close to the window in an attempt to do some needlework when I heard the sound of raised voices from below.
My heart beat uncomfortably fast as Garth’s deep voice rose in anger. I dropped my needlework to the floor and crept out to the head of the stairs, straining to hear what was being said. I was terrified that the brothers might come to blows.
‘How can you be so hard and unfeeling toward the girl?’ Jonathon’s voice rang out, and breathlessly I waited for Garth to reply.
‘If Sarah Perkins is in trouble, then she had better not come wailing to me to help her!’ Garth sounded furious. ‘She went into this affair with her eyes open. I have promised her father money; what more can be expected of me? It is none of my concern what happens now.’
I was appalled at his cruelty. Could he not imagine how humiliated the girl must be and how afraid she was of her brute of a father?
Sick at heart, I crept back to my room and closed the door. Nothing could be gained by any interference from me. I would be unable to hide my contempt from Garth, and that would only serve to anger him more.
It was a long time before the shouting ceased, and even when the building was quiet, I lay wide-eyed in my bed. I doubted now that I had ever known anything at all about the character of my cousin Garth.
Lucy was agog with gossip when, heavy-eyed, I made my way down to breakfast. She carried in the tea tray, her hands shaking with excitement.
‘Have you heard about Sarah Perkins, miss?’ she said, knowing full well I hadn’t. ‘She’s run off in the middle of the night. Poor thing, an
d her going to have a child, too.’
I looked at her, startled. ‘Doesn’t anyone know where she has gone?’ I asked. Lucy shook her head.
‘Oh, no, she wouldn’t leave any clues behind, because if her father catches up with her, he’ll whip her within an inch of her life, baby or no baby.’
‘But I thought him the sort of man who would be delighted to have her off his hands,’ I said in surprise.
Lucy rubbed her hands on her apron. ‘Not until he has his money from Mr Garth, he wouldn’t.’
I saw the truth of this. ‘I can’t help feeling sorry for the poor girl,’ I sighed, ‘although I could never bring myself to like her.’
Lucy sniffed. ‘Not many could, miss, so you are not alone in that. She flaunted herself before the men; it’s not a bit of wonder she ended up like she did.’
Lucy moved to the door. ‘One thing puzzles me, though. Where would the likes of her get money to run away?’ She sniffed again. ‘No doubt she smiled at some man or other.’
I remembered the fifty pounds that had been taken from my bag when I was at the Perkins’ house. Sarah had plenty of money; there was no need to worry on that score.
I gave up any pretence of eating and rose from the table. This would be a good time to try to see Mr Sainsbury; neither of my cousins was around to stop me.
I was putting on my cloak when Lucy came up behind me with an exclamation of surprise.
‘Where are you going, Miss Catherine? I’ve had orders to see that you remain indoors.’
‘I’m sorry if I get you into any trouble, Lucy,’ I said with a smile. ‘I have to go into town on a little errand. I promise I’ll be as quick as I can.’
She darted away, and after a few moments Cook came up the stairs, breathing heavily from the exertion.
She had quickly pulled on a faded brown cloak over her spotless apron, and she smiled a little sourly at me.
‘If you are going to town, Miss Catherine, I’m coming too,’ she said with such determination that I knew she wouldn’t be moved.
I shrugged. ‘Very well; come if you must.’
I helped her into the trap, and she plumped herself down, nearly tipping the small carriage with her weight. ‘I’ll walk,’ I said, and off we went, the strangest-looking procession imaginable.
It was a nice day, and sooner than I thought we came to the dipping road leading into the town. Cook was still sitting like a brooding spider, and hiding a smile, I stopped the pony outside Mr Sainsbury’s office.
I had not seen him since the night of the dinner party, and he avoided my eyes as he held a chair for me to sit down.
‘What can I do for you, young lady?’ he asked with a great show of joviality.
‘I just want to know the answer to a simple question, Mr Sainsbury,’ I said, coming straight to the point. ‘Who will benefit from Grandmother’s will after my death?’
He seemed a little nonplussed. ‘Why, the legitimate heir, of course, though if you marry, you must make a will leaving the money to your children. Otherwise it will naturally belong to your husband.’
‘But,’ I said, determined to be clear, ‘if I were to die now, Garth Llewellyn would benefit?’
He nodded. ‘Precisely, dear lady.’ He beamed at me over the top of his spectacles. ‘Is there anything you wish me to draft for you, a will or something?’
I shuddered and shook my head. ‘No, not yet.’ I gave him a wry look and rose to my feet. ‘That is all I wanted to know.’
Cook was still waiting patiently for me, and as I left Mr Sainsbury’s office she waved her fist at some children who had come around to look at me.
I took the reins and led the pony and trap away from the town and up the cliff road back to the Hall. I shivered and passed quickly by the place where I had been set upon by thugs, though anyone who chanced attacking me with Cook there would be asking for trouble.
I smiled at her warmly, and she looked away, but not before I’d seen the humour in her eyes. It was a longer journey going back. The gallant pony strained upwards, and I did my best to help him by pushing the side of the trap. At last, when we were both almost exhausted, the road flattened out, and the Hall came in sight.
‘I think that calls for a small glass of brandy,’ I said breathlessly to Cook when we were inside. She made no attempt to protest, but took the glass from my hand and drained it with very little effort.
When she returned to the kitchen, I sank down in a chair, my legs weak with tiredness, my head full of spinning thoughts. Garth wanted me dead. There was no other explanation for everything that had happened. He was the one who would benefit financially.
I wanted to cry, but even as the tears burned behind my eyes, Lucy came into the room, a strange look on her face.
‘You have a visitor, miss,’ she said excitedly. ‘You’ll never guess who it is; not in a hundred years you won’t.’
I coughed a little and sat up straight, trying to concentrate on what she was saying.
‘Who is it, Lucy? Since I cannot guess, you’d better tell me, hadn’t you?’
She came toward me, her eyes wide. ‘It’s Sarah Perkins, miss,’ she said in a whisper. ‘She says she wants you to help her!’
It was a strange situation. I had just discovered that Garth would probably stop at nothing to be rid of me, and here was Sarah, who was carrying his child, wanting my help.
‘You’d better show her in, Lucy,’ I said quickly. ‘It might be dangerous if anyone sees her here.’
‘She’s a bad lot, that one,’ Lucy warned. ‘Send her away, miss. I feel something awful will happen if you give her shelter here.’
For a moment I was tempted to listen to Lucy. It was as much as I could do to cope with my own troubles without taking on those of anyone else.
I hesitated, but just for a fraction of a second; then I looked up at Lucy.
‘Show her in,’ I said flatly.
Fifteen
Sarah was a sight to arouse pity in the hardest of hearts. There were dark rings beneath her eyes, and her pretty blonde hair was bedraggled.
She stood at the door, her shoulders drooping, her whole demeanour one of abject hopelessness.
‘Come inside,’ I said at once, torn with pity. ‘Warm yourself before the fire. Lucy will bring you a hot drink.’
Sarah sank down into a chair, her eyes wary, like a dog who has been kicked so often that it trusts no one. She glanced up at me, and for a moment there was a touch of defiance in her eyes.
‘I had to come here,’ she said. ‘There was no one who would help me.’ She clenched her hands together. ‘I haven’t a penny to bless myself with; I don’t know what I am going to do.’
I sat opposite her. ‘I will help you, Sarah.’ I bit my lip. ‘Surely you still have some of the fifty pounds. You did take it from my bag, didn’t you?’
She flushed a deep scarlet. ‘I didn’t mean to keep it; I just wanted to upset you.’ She couldn’t look at me. ‘Father found out I had it and he kept it; he said Jonathon owed him money in any event.’ She managed to look up at me, her lips trembling. ‘I have to get away, or my father will kill me!’
‘Don’t let yourself become hysterical,’ I said crisply. ‘I know your father is a hard man, but there is no need to exaggerate the situation.’ I paused for a moment. ‘Anyway, I thought that Garth was going to pay your father some sort of compensation.’
She flashed me a look that I couldn’t understand. ‘You haven’t much sense, for all that you are a fine lady,’ she said flatly. ‘Mr Garth will give my father a small sum, but he will not be pushed too far.’
I gave an exclamation of impatience. ‘Well, Garth should have considered all the difficulties before he took advantage of you.’
She shook her head in disbelief. ‘Surely you’ve guessed it by now?’ She stared at me, and I felt uncomfortable. She gave a short laugh. ‘The child isn’t Mr Garth’s. I only wish it was; at least he’s a man.’
I stood up quickly, my heart beating so
quickly I felt almost suffocated. I stared unseeingly through the window, wondering if she could be telling the truth this time.
‘But he gave you the silk, the same silk he gave me. Why should he do that?’
She withered me with a glance. ‘Fancy you not realising the truth. There was a lot of silk left over from the bolt, and my mother is clever with a needle, as you know. She just sewed the pieces together and made a dress for me.’
‘I suppose I have been rather stupid.’ I stared at her. ‘Why didn’t Garth deny the fact that he was the father of your child? Why did he allow everyone to believe he was responsible?’
She clucked her tongue. ‘To protect his precious brother, of course. He’s always been the same, because Jonathon is so much younger, I suppose. Mr Garth is more of a man than ever Jonathon could be.’
There was a knock at the door, and Lucy came in with a tray. ‘The toddy, miss.’
Sarah pressed her lips firmly together. She obviously had no intention of saying any more while Lucy was in the room. When she left the room, Sarah sat up straighter in her chair, her cheeks pink.
‘Nosy slut!’ she said. ‘I expect she’ll go and tell everyone that I was up here at the Hall. My father will soon be after me then.’
‘Calm yourself, Sarah, please,’ I said firmly. ‘Lucy isn’t going to gossip about you, so don’t fret.’
I stared at her, trying to establish how much of her story I could believe. One thing was certain: if her father caught up with her, the least she could expect was a good hiding.
She was watching my face. ‘It’s true about Mr Jonathon,’ she said rather testily. ‘He was always spoiled. His grandmother wrote him letter upon letter, often sending him gifts of money. I expect everyone wanted to make up to him for being born a bastard, if you’ll excuse me for saying it, miss.’
I took a quick sip of my drink, trying to sort things out in my mind. Jonathon had denied even hearing from Grandmother, let alone receiving money from her.
‘My father told me that Mr Garth’s mother was never liked because she was some sort of foreigner, so most of the family money was left to Jonathon.’
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