‘Under her marriage settlement she retains Stillwaters for life, does she not, Sir?’ Roger put in.
The Colonel nodded. ‘And a sufficient capital to keep it up. That will absorb the greater part of the Etheredge fortune as long as she lives; and since Sir Isaiah is a man of well over fifty ’tis unlikely that he will ever enjoy the house or the income that goes with it. The marriage settlement was exceptionally rigorous; and, by it, Georgina has secured very much more than the average widow’s portion. I do not blame her for insisting on such terms, as she could have married a much richer man had she wished. On the other hand one can hardly blame Sir Isaiah and the rest of the Etheredge clan from bearing her considerable ill-will in consequence. I trust I have made the situation clear to you?’
‘You have, Sir,’ Roger replied, much relieved to think that the Colonel had nothing more serious on his mind than some slight unpleasantness over money matters with Georgina’s inlaws.
‘Then you will realise that Sir Isaiah has a very special reason for interesting himself in Georgina’s affairs.’
Roger looked a little puzzled. ‘I do not see how anything she may do can alter the situation to his advantage?’
The Colonel gave him a quick, sideways glance. ‘Should she announce it as her intention to re-marry quite shortly, that might do so.’
‘I was under the impression that she would continue to enjoy Stillwaters whether she re-married or not.’
‘Those are the terms of the settlement; but it was not that which I had in mind. I see that I must ask you a leading question. Are you contemplating asking Georgina for her hand?’
Roger coloured slightly. ‘I waited on her after dinner last night, Sir, and we discussed the question then. The conclusion we reached was that, fond as we are of one another, to embark on marriage was to risk the wrecking of our long friendship; and as we count that very precious we should be wiser to remain only friends.’
‘I am much relieved to hear it,’ said the Colonel. ‘Not, let me hasten to add, that I should have anything against you as a son-in-law. Far from it, I am extremely fond of you, and have a high opinion of your abilities. Georgina has ample money for you both and I am well aware of your devotion to one another; so in normal circumstances I should give the match my blessing most willingly.’
‘I thank you, Sir, for your good opinion of me. But if those are your sentiments, may I ask why you should be so relieved that Georgina and I have decided against marriage?’
‘Because I consider that your association with her has become highly dangerous to you both; and any announcement of your intention to marry would draw Sir Isaiah’s attention to it.’
‘I fear I don’t quite follow you, Sir.’
‘Then it seems that I shall have to go into matters which I would have preferred to avoid.’ The Colonel looked at Roger squarely. ‘I tell you nothing that you do not already know, when I say that while Georgina is a most lovable young woman, her morals, by orthodox standards, leave much to be desired. For that, the passionate nature she inherited with her mother’s blood is partly accountable, but I am also much to blame. I emancipated her mind from the narrow outlook to which those of girls are usually confined, and brought her up to think as a man. As a man of honour, I trust, but one with a sense of values quite different from those of most of her sex. My intention in so doing was to enable her to stand on her own feet, and get the best out of life by fighting men with their own weapons, as well as those natural to her, whenever the need should arise. I do not regret it; but I cannot disguise from myself that while my policy has, in the main, helped to create a remarkably fine personality, it has, in some respects, exposed its subject to the over-hasty judgment of others.’
Having paused to take a pinch of snuff, the Colonel went on: ‘Since Georgina thinks like a man where her amours are concerned, she also acts like one. She goes gaily about such matters and takes little trouble to conceal them. In consequence, many people consider her to be quite unprincipled. You and I know that is not the case. Yet there are some who believe that she would stick at nothing to gain her ends; even, yes—even the murder of her husband.’
Roger sat deathly still for a moment; then he said in a low voice: ‘Perhaps, Sir, you would care to—er—elucidate.’
‘Again I regret the necessity,’ said the Colonel, quietly. ‘But ’tis imperative that you should know where you stand. I ask you neither to admit or deny anything that I may suggest, but the following are certain points which could hardly help occur ring to anyone in my position. Count Vorontzoff’s note has been satisfactorily explained; but did he really send it at Georgina’s instigation? We knew that she had grown to dislike her husband, but ’tis entirely out of character for her to play stupid practical jokes on anyone; and the last thing she would have embarked upon deliberately was any project to bring Sir Humphrey’ here, if she did not inspire the note why did Vorontzoff send it? And why did they both say yesterday that they had planned this Fool Day joke between them? Was that collusion, brought about through a mutual urge to prevent certain unpalatable facts emerging at the inquiry? In any case there is no getting away from the contents of the note. Its gist was that if Sir Humphrey at once got to horse he would catch Georgina with a lover in her room. If she did inspire that note she was expecting her husband in the early hours of Sunday morning, so would certainly have seen to it that she had no lover with her then. But was she really alone when Sir Humphrey burst in upon her? I do not think so; and I will tell you why. I was present when his body was examined by the doctor. It had a large purple bruise just below the heart.’
With his eyes fixed on the carpet, Roger strove to fight down the agitation he was feeling, as the level voice continued.
‘The bruise was just such a one as might have been made by a fist striking a hard blow—a harder blow than any Georgina could have struck. But if it came to light that such a blow was delivered in her presence, the fact that she has concealed this attack upon her husband, which doubtless contributed to his death, would be taken as proof that she was concerned in it—and she will be judged equally guilty with his attacker.’
White to the lips, Roger suddenly looked up. ‘I beg you, Sir, inform me of the worst? Does anyone else suspect….’
The Colonel shook his head. ‘I trust not. Fortunately I was able to provide a plausible theory to account for the bruise. I remarked that it was probably the result of a fall; and that Sir Humphrey might easily have had one the previous afternoon, as he was known to have ridden a dangerous horse in the Goodwood point-to-point. The doctor’s mind being entirely free from suspicion, he accepted that explanation and made no reference to it in his evidence.’
Knowing that the Colonel would never betray Georgina, Roger gave a great sigh of relief. ‘You comfort me mightily, Sir; for it seems that all is well.’
‘Nay. I fear we cannot consider ourselves out of the wood, as yet. From ancient times motive and opportunity have oft alone been enough to cause suspicious minds to probe, unearth the truth and exact a fatal penalty. That you have been, and are, Georgina’s lover, she has never sought to conceal from me; and, unfortunately, owing to her casual disregard of the most elementary precautions, at least half-a-dozen of the servants here must have good reason to suspect it. If it comes to Sir Isaiah’s knowledge that Geòrgina did have a lover staying in the house, he might begin to play with the idea that she had encompassed her husband’s death because she wished to share Stillwaters openly with her paramour.’
Roger paled again. ‘You mean, Sir, that if Sir Isaiah once becomes suspicious he will leave no stone unturned which might lead to Georgina’s conviction; since, could he but bring about her death, he would, after all, come into Stillwaters and the bulk of the Etheredge money?’
The Colonel finished his wine. ‘That is the nightmare possibility which has haunted me for the past twenty-four hours. Yet by a simple precaution it can be reduced to an unlikely chance. I refer to the elimination of the motive. If you do not share
Stillwaters with Georgina, either as her husband or her lover, why should anyone suspect that Sir Humphrey was the victim of a crime?’
‘You feel then, Sir, that I should leave at once?’
‘I do; now that the inquest is over. I would have suggested your leaving before, had I not thought your presence in the house essential to support Georgina through her recent ordeal. But if you are not gone before Sir Isaiah makes his appearance, he will naturally wonder why you should have remained on after the other guests departed. He would start questioning the servants about you, and that might prove the beginning of the end.’
‘I see the sense in what you say, Sir,’ Roger said slowly, ‘and will act upon it without delay. But I fear Georgina may take my going hard.’
‘I’ve not a doubt of that. So I will break the matter to her while you make your preparations for departure. I need hardly add that the less you see of one another for the next twelve months the better.’
Roger nodded. ‘ ’Twould be best if I sought some employment abroad.’
‘That would be wise. I also plan to take Georgina out of England until talk concerning her husband’s death has died down. She has often expressed a wish to see Constantinople, so I may take her there, and on a tour through the Balkan lands. Business affairs will prevent my setting out for some six or seven weeks to come; but the less you are seen about the less people will talk of your have been so much in Georgina’s company this past winter, and the fact that you made one of the house-party here the weekend that the tragedy occurred. So I hope that you will arrange to make your exit from the scene as soon as possible.’
‘I will expedite my departure by every means in my power, Sir,’ said Roger, standing up. ‘Should aught occur in the next few days I beg you let me know. I shall be staying with Lord Edward at Amesbury House. In the last event the responsibility is mine, and I am prepared to face it.’
‘If need be I will come to town and call upon you; but I trust that will not prove necessary.’ A kindly smile lit the Colonel’s lean face, as he added: ‘Had I been in your situation I should have done as you did, my boy; so let it not lie too heavy on your conscience.’
An hour later Roger was with Georgina in her boudoir, She had changed back into the grey dress that she had worn the night before, but she was looking very mournful. For the past ten minutes they had been discussing the recent conversations that they had each had with her father. Both agreed that, reluctant as they were to part, Colonel Thursby’s reasons for their doing so brooked no argument.
‘Let us not prolong the agony,’ dear heart,’ Roger smiled, after they had said all there was to say. ‘Wish me luck with one of your long kisses, then I’ll go seek my fortune once again.’
‘Bide but a moment,’ she replied. ‘I have something here that I wish to show you.’
Going over to a lacquer cabinet she unlocked it, produced a large morocco-leather box, and opening that upon a table displayed a magnificent diamond tiara; then she asked him: ‘What think you this would fetch?’
‘I have no idea,’ he shrugged. ‘But at a guess I would say that it must have cost not less than two thousand pounds.’
‘ ’Twas Humphry’s wedding-present to me; so ’tis not an heirloom, and mine to do with as I wish. If it cost so much it will easily pay your debt to Droopy Ned, and furnish you with a few hundreds over for your journey. Take it I beg.’
‘Nay, I’ll not rob thee …’ he began, but Georgina placed a soft hand over his mouth.
‘Dearest Roger,’ she reasoned gently. ‘Thou knowest well enough that I have many jewels and will scarce miss this bauble, Doest thou not remember on thy going away as a boy, how, to finance thee, I parted with the half of my girlish trinkets. I am offering thee far less than half, today. That debt must be paid, and thou hast beggared thyself in buying gifts for me. Add not to my present burden the misery of knowing thee to be in sore straits for money. Give me, instead, at least the joy of sponsoring their departure as I did before; so that I may count it an omen that thou wilt come back to me safe and sound a second time.’
‘So be it, sweet,’ he murmured. ‘I’ve no words to thank thee, but thou knowest what is in my heart.’
‘Aye! Keep it faithful to me, dear one.’
‘I will do better; for the heart is fickle; but no woman can usurp the throne thou wilt ever occupy in my mind.’
‘And thou in mine, dear Roger. Indeed, I meant it so. We may take our pleasure where we list, but neither time nor distance nor other loves, can tarnish the sweet mental bond that unites us two.’
For over a minute they were locked in a tight embrace, each vying with the other to give all that they could of themselves in a last lingering kiss. Then he left her; and as the door closed behind him he wondered miserably if another four long years must pass before he would know the joy of holding her in his arms again.
7
Young Mr. Pitt
When Roger reached London he went straight to the Marquess of Amesbury’s mansion in Arlington Street. In those times most of the great nobles still kept open house for their family and friends, who were expected to stay a few nights or a few weeks, just as it suited them. As Roger had no pied-à-terre of his own in London Droopy Ned had insisted on his accepting the freedom of the house, and had instructed his father’s major-domo that Roger was always to be given acommodation.
On this occasion, having come up from Stillwaters only the day before, Droopy was still in residence; and Roger found him upstairs in his own suite, amusing himself by re-arranging some of his collection of antique jewellery in a shallow, glass-topped miniature table.
After admiring his friend’s most recent purchases Roger produced Georgina’s tiara and asked him what he thought it would fetch. Droopy peered at it with his short-sighted pale blue eyes, then examined the larger stones through a jeweller’s lens, and said: ‘ ’Tis the type of thing on which the trade makes a good profit, since its worth lies rather in its decorative effect than its intrinsic value. I doubt if a goldsmith would give you a thousand for it, but I think I could place it in Hatton Garden for twelve-fifty.’
‘I’d be mightily obliged if you would,’ Roger said. ‘I plan to go abroad again, and the balance of nine-hundred, or so, will keep me in funds for quite a while.’
Droopy knew all about Roger’s hectic love affair with Georgina, but he was much too tactful to inquire the reason for this sudden decision. Instead he asked: To what part of the continent do you intend to travel?’
‘I’ve no idea as yet,’ Roger admitted. ‘But you’ll remember that last November, Mr. Pitt offered me employment in some form of foreign service. I mean to write and remind him of his promise, and see if he can suggest something for me.’
They supped together and talked afterwards for an hour or so on the tragedy at Stillwaters and other matters; then Roger went to his room and wrote the letter. In it he begged for an early interview, making it plain that he wished to leave England as soon as possible; and the letter was despatched by hand to Downing Street first thing the following morning.
Two days elapsed without his receiving any reply, so on Thursday afternoon he wrote again; but by Saturday evening he had still not received even an acknowledgment of either of his letters.
As he was now becoming worried at the delay he consulted Droopy, who said: ‘If you wish a swift decision your best plan would be to beard Mr. Pitt in his den. Why not ride down to Hoi wood Hill, his place near Hayes, in Kent, tomorrow. ’Tis certain you’ll find him there, as ’tis a Sunday.’
On Roger demurring at the idea of breaking in on the great man Droopy shrugged his narrow shoulders. ‘Be not so modest, my friend. Since you served him by going to Holland on his behalf in a confidential capacity, I’ll warrant that he’ll afford you a courteous reception.’
So after breakfast next day Roger mounted his horse and set off. It took him some time to ride through the narrow, crowded streets of London, thick with swarms of church-goers dressed in their Sunday
best; but the going was easier after the first mile of the Old Kent Road. At New Cross he turned south, through the pleasant suburb of Lewisham, and so out into the open country. A few miles south of the village of Bromley he inquired for the Prime Minister’s house, and ten minutes later was riding up the drive.
This small estate of Holwood Hill was, as Pitt had remarked himself, ‘a most beautiful spot, wanting nothing but a house fit to live in,’ but, even so, it possessed quite a sizeable mansion. He had bought it three years before, mainly on account of its gardens, the improvement of which gave him much delight; and because he had a special fondness for the country round about, having been born and brought up on another property nearby.
At the door Roger inquired for Mr. Pitt, stating that his business was confidential. The footman asked him to wait in the hall, and after a few minutes, returned to say that Mr. Pitt would see him; then took him through the house and out into the garden.
The young Prime Minister was in his shirtsleeves, planting a small magnolia, and seated near him in a wicker chair was an exceptionally delicate-looking man of about the same age. At Roger’s approach Pitt looked up, and his long, austere face broke into a smile as he said: ‘Why, Mr. Brook, ’tis a pleasure to see you again. I thought you had quite forgotten me.’
‘On the contrary, Sir,’ Roger bowed. ‘I have written you twice in the past week, and receiving no reply made so bold as to break in upon your privacy; for which I do most humbly apologise.’
‘Ah, me!’ Pitt shook his head drolly. ‘I fear I am the laziest of men where dealing with my correspondence is concerned. To my shame I confess that few who write me ever get an answer. In fact, as most of my letters are bills, I’ve long since given up even opening the demmed things.’ With a wave of his hand towards his companion, he added: ‘You know William Wilberforce, of course.’
Roger bowed again, to the frail man, whose fine eyes and head made such a contrast to his puny frame.
The Shadow of Tyburn Tree Page 15