Victoria Holt - Kirkland Revels

by Kirkland Revels (lit)

" We've been wondering what had become of you," Matthew told her.

  " Of all the ridiculous things ..." she began. She looked round, the company helplessly.

  "I went into ... Gabriel's >ld room and noticed something under the coverlet there. tV hat do you think it was?"

  I stared at her and felt the colour rushing to my cheeks, and I was fighting hard to control my feelings, because I knew.

  "The warming-pan from your room!" She was looking straight at me, quizzically and intent. " Whoever could have put it there?"

  "How extraordinary!" I heard myself stammer.

  " Well, we've found it. That's where it was all the time." She turned to the others. " Catherine had missed the warming- pan from her room.

  She thought I'd told one of the servants to remove it. Who on earth could have put it into the bed there? "

  " We ought to find out," I said sharply.

  "I asked the servants. They quite clearly knew nothing about it."

  " Someone must have put it there." I heard my voice rise unnaturally high.

  Ruth shrugged her shoulders. 149 " But we must find out," 1 insisted.

  "It's someone playing these tricks. Don't you see ... it's the same sort of thing as the curtains being drawn."

  " Curtains?"

  I was annoyed with myself because the drawing of the bed curtains had been a matter known only to the one who had done it, and Mary-Jane and myself. Now I should have to explain. I did so briefly.

  " Who drew the curtains?" screeched Sarah. " Who put the warming-pan in Gabriel's bed? And it was your bed, too, wasn't it, Catherine.

  Yours and Gabriel's. "

  " I wish I knew!" I cried vehemently.

  "Someone must have been rather absent-minded," said Luke lightly.

  "I don't think it was absent-mindedness," I retorted.

  "But, Catherine," put in Ruth patiently, "why should anyone want to pull your bed curtains about your bed or remove the warming-pan?"

  " That's what / should like to know."

  "Let's forget all about it." said Matthew.

  "That which was lost is found."

  " But why ... why ...?" I insisted.

  " You are getting excited, my dear," whispered Ruth.

  "I want to know the explanation of these strange things which are happening in my room."

  "The duckling is getting cold," said Sir Matthew. He came to me and slipped his arm through mine. " Never mind about the warming-pan, my dear. We shall know why it was moved ... all in good time."

  " Yes," said Luke, " all in good time." And he kept his eyes on my face as he spoke, and I could see the speculation there.

  "We'd better start," said Ruth, and as they sat down at the table I had no alternative but to do the same; but my appetite had deserted me. I kept asking myself what the purpose was behind these strange happenings which seemed in some way to be directed towards me.

  I was going to find out. I must find out.

  Before the month was out we were invited to the vicarage to discuss the last-minute plans for the imminent " Bring and Buy Sale."

  " Mrs. Cartwright always gets the wind in her tail at such 150 times," said Luke. " This is nothing to the June garden fete or her hideous pa gents

  " Mrs. Cartwright is an energetic lady," said Ruth, " possessing all the qualities to make her an excellent wife for the vicar."

  " Does she expect me to go?" I asked.

  " Of course she does. She'd be hurt if you didn't. You will come?

  It's only a short walk, but if you like we can drive there."

  " I feel perfectly fit to walk," I said quickly.

  "Then we'll go along. It's an excellent opportunity for you to meet some of our neighbours. Now that we're in mourning, the vicarage rather than the Revels has become the centre of our village. In the past, meetings were held here."

  We set out about ten-thirty, and in a quarter of an hour had arrived at the vicarage, a pleasant grey stone house close to the church. We joined one or two people going in the same direction and Ruth introduced me. I was studied with a certain amount of curiosity because they all knew that I was the wife whom Gabriel had married somewhat hastily and whom he had left pregnant after two weeks of marriage.

  They were summing me up, which I accepted as normal in the circumstances. I expected there were some of them who believed that shortcomings in myself may have been the reason for Gabriel's death.

  Mrs. Cartwright, whom I had of course already met, was a large, somewhat florid woman with a powerful personality. She assembled us all in her drawing-room, which seemed small but only because I was accustomed to the rooms at the Revels, and here morning coffee with biscuits was being served by a maid.

  I was conducted to the window from which I could see the churchyard. I could just make out the Rockwell vault with the wrought-iron work above it. and my thoughts immediately went to Gabriel.

  When all the guests were present Mrs. Cartwright addressed us in her booming voice and told us of the need for speed. The sale must be in time to give people opportunities of buying their Christmas presents at it. " So please ransack your attics, and any little objet of art will be appreciated. Perhaps it is something which you no longer value.

  That does not mean that no one else will. Please try to bring in your offerings before the day. It does give us time to decide how to price them. And on the day ... do come and buy. Remember it 151 is for the good of the church and the roof does need attention. As you all know, there's death watch beetle up there in the rafters. I know you will help. But the need is immediate, ladies. Has anyone any suggestions?"

  There were some, and Mrs. Cartwright considered them and asked for counter opinions. It was all very businesslike and I admired our vicar's wife for her energy.

  When the business of the meeting had been settled she came and sat in the window with me and told me how glad she was to see me there.

  " It is wonderful to see you looking so well and to know that there is to be an addition to the family. I know that Sir Matthew is delighted absolutely delighted. It is a comfort to him in the circumstances...."

  She was one of those women who carry the whole of a conversation for the sheer joy of talking, and a better talker than a listener, I discovered. " Such a great deal of work to be done. The people here are so good ... so helpful ... but between ourselves they are rather slow in taking action ... if you know what I mean. One has to prod ... prod ... to get anything done. This sale of work will not produce half the profit unless it takes place well before Christmas. I do hope you will be able to bring us a little something . and you will come and buy, won't you? Some little thing ... just anything.... More than one, of course, if you have it. Anything ... but the more valuable the better. Forgive me for begging so persistently."

  I said it was in a good cause and I would see what I could find. " I have a brooch of turquoises and pearls ... very small."

  " Ideal! How generous of you. And to-morrow ... could we have it then? I'll send someone for it."

  " It's a little old-fashioned."

  " No matter. It will be wonderful. I am so pleased that you have come.

  You are going to be such a help to us . particularly when . well, at the moment of course you are feeling less energetic than you will later. I can talk of these matters with feeling. I have six of my own. Ah yes, it is hard to believe, is it not? And the youngest is nineteen. He's going into the Church. I'm glad one of them is. I was beginning to be afraid. As I was saying, you'll be so helpful later, I know . with the pageant. I do want a pageant in the ruins this summer. "

  " Have you had one before?"

  " Five years ago was the last. Of course the weather was 152 tragic.

  Rain, rain, rain. That was July. I think we might choose June this year. July is a wet month really."

  " What sort of pageant was it?"

  " Historical. It must be historical ... with such a setting. The costumes were excellent."

  " We were lent some from the Revels
and we made others. We were helped considerably from the Revels with the Cavaliers, but we made our own Roundheads. They were easy to do."

  " Yes, I suppose they would be. So you started with the Civil War, did you?"

  " Good heavens, no 1 We went back to before the Dis solution. It was the only thing to do with that wonderful setting all ready for our use.

  It was most effective. People said that on that day it was as though the Abbey was no longer a ruin."

  I tried to keep the note of excitement out of my voice. " So some. of the players were dressed as monks."

  " Indeed yes. Many of them. They all played many parts ... you know.

  A monk in one scene was a gay cavalier in another. It was necessary, you know. We haven't enough players. The men are so difficult and shy!

  There was many a female monk on that day, I do assure you. "

  " I suppose their costumes were easy to make."

  "The simplest really. Just a black robe and a cowl ... so easy to make it really effective, and against the grey ruins, I really think that part was the most successful."

  " It must have been. After all, there was the Abbey to help."

  "How wonderful that you should be so interested. I'm certainly going to try a pageant this year. But June ... mind you. July is definitely a wet month."

  Ruth was trying to catch my eye, and I rose. I felt I had made an important discovery and I was very pleased that I had decided to come to the vicarage this morning.

  " It's time we went," said Ruth, " if we're not to be late for luncheon."

  We said good-bye to Mrs. Cartwright and started for home.

  I found it difficult to make conversation. I kept saying to myself:

  Somebody who played the part of a monk in the pageant five years ago had a monk's costume which still exists to-day. The person who came into my bedroom used it.

  How could I find out who had played a monk in the 153 pageant five years ago? Who, in our household, that is to say. It could only be Ruth, I guesed. Luke would have been too young. But would he? Five years ago he would have been twelve years old. He was probably tail for his age. Why should he not have played the part of a monk? Sir Matthew and Aunt Sarah would have been too old. That left Ruth and Luke.

  I said: "Mrs. Cartwright was talking to me about the pageant. Did you play a part in it?"

  " You don't know Mrs. Cartwright very well if you think she would let any of us escape."

  " What part did you play?"

  " The King's wife ... Queen Henrietta Maria."

  " Just that part and no other?"

  " It was an important part."

  " I only asked because Mrs. Cartwright said that some people played several parts since she was short of players."

  " Those would be the people who had small parts."

  " What about Luke?"

  " He was well to the fore. He was in and out of everything ..."

  Lukel I thought; and I remembered that it had been some time before he had appeared on that night; he had plenty of time to take off the robe and put on a dressing-gown He must have been very quick getting up to the second floor but he was young and active.

  And the bed curtains and the warming-pan? Why not? He was the one who would have had every opportunity. My doubt was becoming almost a certainty. Luke was trying to terrify me; he was trying, to kill my child before it was born. Obviously Luke was the one who had most to gain from the death of my child.

  " Are you feeling all right?" It was Ruth at my side.

  " Oh yes ... thanks ..."

  " Were you whispering to yourself?"

  " Oh no. I was thinking of Mrs. Cartwright. She's very talkative, is she not?"

  " She certainly is."

  The house was now in view and we were both looking towards it. My eyes went, as they always did, to that south parapet from which Gabriel had fallen. There was something different about it. I stared and Ruth was staring too.

  " What is it?" she said, and she quickened her pace. 154 There was something dark on the parapet; from this distance it looked as though someone was leaning over it.

  "Gabriel!" I think I must have said it aloud because Ruth at my elbow said: "Nonsense! It can't be. But whal ... But who?"

  I began to run; Ruth was beside me restraining me and [ could hear my breath coming in great gasps " Something's there," I panted. " What .. is it ... ? H looks .. limp...."

  Now I saw that whoever was there was wearing a cloak and the hood of the cloak and part of the cloak itself was hanging over the parapet.

  It was impossible to see the rest.

  "She'll fall. Who is it? What does it mean?" cried Ruth as she ran ahead of me into the house. She could go so much faster than I; I found it difficult to get my breath but I hurried after her as quickly as I could. Luke appeared in the corridor. He looked at his mother and then turned to stare at me, labouring up behind.

  "What on earth's happened?" he asked.

  "There's someone on the parapet," I cried.

  "Gabriel's parapet."

  " But who ... ?"

  He had started up the stairs ahead of me and I went after him as fast as I could.

  Ruth appeared on the stairs and there was a grim smile about her lips.

  She was holding something in her hand which I recognised as a blue cloak which belonged to me--a long winter cloak designed to shut out the winds; there was a hood attached to it.

  " It's ... mine," I gasped.

  " Why did you hang it over the parapet like that?" she demanded almost roughly.

  " I ... But I did no such thing."

  She and Luke exchanged glances.

  Then she murmured: "It was made to look exactly like someone leaning over ... about to fall. It gave me quite a shock when I saw it. It was such a silly thing to do."

  " Then who did it?" I cried. " Who is doing all these silly cruel things!"

  They were both looking at me as though they found me very odd, as though certain doubts they had concerning me were being confirmed.

  I had to find out the meaning of these strange happenings. I was becoming nervous, continuously watching for the next. They were such stupid tricks except of course the appearance in my bedroom of the monk. If they had intended to alarm me they could not have chosen anything more calculated to do so. But these minor irritations. What did they portend? Luke and Ruth seemed to have made up their minds that I was eccentric but perhaps that was too kind a word. I was aware of them watching me on every occasion. It was un nerving.

  I did think of going to see the Redverses and telling them everything, but I was growing so distrustful of everyone that I was not even sure of Hagar. As for Simon, he had taken my view of the monk incident, but what would he think of the bed curtains, warming-pan and cloak?

  There was something sinister behind this and I had to find out what it was. I wanted to do so by myself because of this distrust which was stirring in me and which seemed to be directed against every person who was connected with the Revels.

  The very next day I set out to call on Mrs. Cartwright. What she had to say about the pageant the day before had seemed important and I wondered whether I could glean more from her.

  Besides the turquoise brooch I found an enamel box which I had had for years and had no particular use for, so I took this along as well.

  I was fortunate to find her in. She was effusive in her H welcome and expressed great pleasure in the brooch and box.

  " Ah, Mrs. Rockwell, this is kind of you. And to save me the trouble of sending! I can see you are going to be a great help to us. Such a comfort. I am sure these lovely things of yours will fetch a good price. And if you would like a pre view' ll1 be only too delighted to show you." She looked at me slyly as though she thought this was my reason for coming.

  I hesitated. I had no wish to arouse suspicions and I felt that since these strange happenings were taking place it was very necessary for me to have a reason for everything I did.

  " Well," I began.
>
  She interrupted conspiratorially: " But of course. And why not. You deserve it. It's an excellent way of doing one's Christmas shopping, particularly when it is not quite so easy to get about. I think people who help us should have 156 special privileges.... Have a look round and then perhaps you will drink a cup of coffee with me?"

  I said there was nothing I should like better; so she took me into a small room where the articles were set out and I selected a scarf pin, a snuff box and a Chinese vase. She was delighted with me not only as a bringer but as a buyer, and I felt that had put her in a good mood for confidences.