The Time of the Hunter's Moon

by Victoria Holt

  “He seemed rather interested in you when he came here. I remember that.”

  “Yes,” I said.

  “And how do you feel about him?”

  “I try to avoid him all I can, but he is not the sort of man to respect anyone’s wishes if they conflict with what he wants. He is arrogant and ruthless. He is very powerful. He seems to own everything in Colby…including the school. Even Daisy Hetherington is a little subservient.”

  Aunt Patty nodded her head slowly. “I daresay there is a lot you haven’t told me.”

  There was. I could not bring myself to speak of that scene when I had cut my hands at the window.

  She went on gently: “You could always leave. Come back here. You could do something else later if you wanted to. Daisy’s is not the only school in the country, you know.”

  “Leave the school! Leave Colby! I should hate that. Besides, I should have to give a term’s notice, so in any case I should have to go back to all that gossip and rumor. Even Teresa is upset.”

  “Where is she involved?”

  “There must be a lot of chatter about Jason Verringer and me. She thinks he is involved with that woman’s disappearance, and I believe she is afraid for me. I fancy she wants to warn me against him. As if I needed to be warned!”

  Aunt Patty was looking at me quizzically.

  I went on: “The girls talk a great deal. They overdramatize. She has a notion that he killed this woman. To girls of Teresa’s age there are only the good and the bad…the saints and the devils.”

  “And she has put him into the devil’s category.”

  “She certainly has.”

  “You too?”

  I was faintly embarrassed, remembering so much about him and that peculiar kind of pleasure which his proximity brought to me.

  “I remember him well from the time he came here,” went on Aunt Patty. “He did not strike me as a very happy person.”

  “I don’t think he has ever been really happy. His marriage was a failure and I imagine he has gone out in all the wrong directions.”

  “It’s strange,” said Aunt Patty, “how so many who have worldly possessions lack real happiness. I suppose he is richly endowed.”

  “Very much so.”

  “I’ve always thought that the really successful people in life are those who know how to be happy. If you are not happy you’re not a success. You may have all the kingdoms of the Earth and if you haven’t found happiness, you’ve failed. After all, that is what we are all striving for, isn’t it?”

  “You’re right. You and Violet must be the most successful people in the world.”

  “It makes you laugh, doesn’t it? Here we are tucked away in our little house…of no importance to the world…except to those who are near us…yet we have reached the goal to which everyone is striving. Yes, we’re happy. Dear child, I want that same happiness for you. Perhaps it was easier for me. I’ve always been single. I’ve made my own life. It’s been a good one.”

  “You have made it so.”

  “We all make our lives what they are. Sometimes there is a partner to help you make it. Then it’s not always easy to go the way one wants to. That’s where the difficulties lie. That poor man! Interesting…but I sensed something dark there. He’s not a happy person. You are, Cordelia. You came to us…and everything was right…from the start. We gave you love and you took it and gave us love in return. It was easy…no complications. I’m not being clear, but I want you to be very careful if the time should come when you decide to choose someone to share your life.”

  “I am not thinking of sharing my life with anyone, Aunt Patty, except you and Violet.”

  “You think a great deal about that man.”

  “Aunt Patty, I dislike him. I find him most…”

  She held up her hand. “You are so vehement.”

  “So would you be if—”

  She waited and I did not go on.

  Then suddenly she bent forward and kissed me. “My dear,” she said, “you have chosen your profession and it suits you. You were meant to guide, counsel and protect. He is, as you imply, a man of the world and sometimes they are the ones who need most care. Well, we shall see. Now you are here and you are going to be lazy and rest, and we shall talk and talk. But it’s time you were in bed. Good night, my dear.”

  I threw myself into her arms and she kissed me. Then she released me and went to the door. Neither of us cared to show the depth of our emotion; but our love and trust in each other was known to us both and there was no need to talk of it.

  I lay between the cool lavender-scented sheets and thought of Violet assiduously collecting the blooms and making them into sachets to scent the household linen as well as Aunt Patty’s clothes. Peace…and yet how could I enjoy it?

  Then I was thinking about the next day when the mysterious gentleman would call. I was convincing myself that it was the stranger of the forest who had at last come in search of me. I could remember his face clearly. Yes, he was undoubtedly handsome. His fair hair grew back from a high forehead and he had strong features and rather piercingly blue eyes; and there was something about him which made him different from other men, something not quite of this world. Or had I imagined that after I had had that eerie experience in the Suffolk graveyard?

  How strange it would be if I really did see him again. I wondered what the explanation could be and how I should feel when I came face to face with him.

  ***

  We had breakfasted and Teresa was helping Violet with the washing up. Aunt Patty was going to the vicarage to discuss the “Bring and Buy” and was wondering if I would like to go with her.

  “You’ll be roped in for a stall,” she said. “For heaven’s sake don’t take the White Elephant if you can help it. They turn up year after year. Everybody’s got to know them by now.”

  “Elephants never forget,” called Violet from the kitchen. “And people never forget white elephants.”

  “Violet’s in a spry mood this morning,” commented Aunt Patty. “It’s because she’s going to get Teresa to help her in the potting shed.”

  “I’ll go and get my coat and come with you,” I said.

  When I came down a man was coming up the path. He was tall and fair and I had never seen him before.

  Violet had glimpsed him through the kitchen window.

  “He’s here,” she cried. “The gentleman who called.”

  I went into the front garden.

  He said: “You must be Cordelia…Miss Grant.”

  “Yes,” I replied. “I’m afraid I don’t know—”

  “You wouldn’t know me but I felt I had to come and see you. I’m John Markham, Lydia’s brother. You remember Lydia?”

  “Lydia Markham! But of course. Oh, how nice to meet you.”

  “I hope you don’t mind my coming like this.”

  “I’m pleased you called.” Aunt Patty had come up. “Aunt Patty,” I said, “this is Mr. Markham. You’ve heard me talk of Lydia who was with me at Schaffenbrucken. This is her brother.”

  “It’s nice to see you,” said Aunt Patty. “Did you call the other day?”

  “Yes, I did, and I was told I would find Miss Grant here today.”

  “Do come in.”

  “Weren’t you just going out?”

  “It doesn’t matter.”

  I took him into the small drawing room. Violet came in.

  “You came back then,” she said. “Now do sit down. I’m going to get you something. Would you like coffee or tea?”

  “First,” he said. “I would like to talk to Miss Grant.”

  “I’ll bring you something later,” said Violet. “The parsnip wine was particularly good this year.”

  “Thank you.”

  “I shall get off to the vicarage,” said Aunt Patty. “You two can have a talk and we’ll all meet later.”

  So they withdrew and left us.

  He said: “I hope I haven’t come at an inconvenient time.”

  �
�Certainly not. I’m so glad to meet you. I have wondered about Lydia quite a lot because I wrote to her and I never had a reply. How is she? I wish you had brought her with you.”

  “Lydia is dead,” he said.

  “Dead! But…”

  “Yes. It was a great blow to us. We miss her very much.”

  “But she was young…She was never ill. How did she die?”

  “It was an accident…in the mountains…in Switzerland. She was skiing.”

  “Lydia skiing! She always avoided outdoor sports when we were at school. She even used to dodge gym if she could.”

  “She was with her husband.”

  “Her husband! So Lydia married!”

  “It’s quite a long story. I wanted to see you because she had often talked of you. I think of all her school friends, you were the favorite. Then you wrote to her. I found your letter and I felt that I had either to write and tell you what happened or come and see you. So I came.”

  “I’m sorry…I can’t think clearly. This is such a shock. Lydia…dead!”

  “It was very tragic. Her husband was heart-broken. They had not been married more than three months.”

  “I can’t believe this. I thought she was to have another year at Schaffenbrucken.”

  “Yes, I know. She was only seventeen. But she met this man and fell in love with him. We wanted them to wait but Lydia wouldn’t do that. She could be very headstrong. Our father was most uncertain but he doted on Lydia. My brother and I were several years older. He was devoted to us all but he just adored Lydia. He died soon after she did. He had a weak heart and the shock just finished him.”

  “I can’t tell you how upsetting this is.”

  “It is good of you to care so much. I wanted you to know. I thought you might write to Lydia again.”

  “Where did she meet this young man?”

  “Mark Chessingham was staying near our farm in Epping. We’re not farmers. The farm is run by a manager but it is a hobby for us. We live mainly in London and escape to the farm for weekends and when we can get away. He was there studying law. His family had their business in Basle and quarters in London, but he had come down to the forest to work. He had examinations to pass. Our farm is right on the edge of Epping Forest which is very convenient being so near to London. Actually that was why my father selected the spot in the first place.”

  He paused for a while and then went on: “She met him one day. They fell in love and wanted to marry. My father would have preferred a long engagement but Lydia wouldn’t hear of it and threatened to elope if consent was not given. In the end my father gave way…with misgivings, of course…But Mark was charming and it seemed quite a suitable match. As it was so quick there was a quiet wedding.”

  “She didn’t write and tell me.”

  “Strange really, because she often mentioned you, and was so proud of him and of being married. He was a very pleasant fellow. Lydia had a little fortune which came to her on marriage. At first I thought that might have something to do with it, but he seemed to be so well off himself and his family’s business was known, even in England, and he never showed the slightest interest in her money. They left England almost immediately after the wedding and three months later…she was dead. We had such happy letters from her and even my father had come to the conclusion that after all he had been right to allow her to marry. Then one day we got the news. Mark was heart-broken. He wrote a most pathetic letter to us. She was too reckless, he said. Many times he had warned her. But she took risks. She was so enthusiastic, so anxious to shine in his eyes and tried to undertake what the experts did. That was the end. They didn’t recover her body until a week after the accident.”

  I was silent and he said gently: “I am sorry to distress you like this. Perhaps it would have been better if I hadn’t come.”

  “No, no. I’d rather know. But it is such a shock. When you have known someone as well as I knew Lydia…even though it is some time since I saw her…”

  “I’m glad you were so fond of her.”

  “Tell me,” I said, “are you on holiday?”

  “No. I am working in London but I thought I would take a few days off and come to see you. I just had the feeling that I wanted to. I have to confess that I read your last letter to Lydia and I felt then that I had to let you know. I didn’t want you to think she hadn’t bothered to answer.”

  “Lydia used to talk about her family quite a lot. She was so fond of you all. I suppose you are the head of the family now.”

  “You could say that. There has never been a patriarchal attitude in our family. We were all such good friends.”

  “You’re in banking, aren’t you?”

  “Yes.”

  “In the city of London?”

  He nodded. “We have a house in Kensington, and then of course the farm. My mother died but we were always lucky in having good governesses for Lydia. There was always a lot of fun at home. Our father was more like a brother to us. Perhaps he wasn’t strict enough…with Lydia for instance. If she had waited…If she had not been so reckless…”

  “She was such a happy girl. The way she talked about home…you could tell what it meant to her.”

  “Then she went away with a man she scarcely knew.”

  “That,” I said, “is love.”

  “I suppose you are right. If only…This is a morbid subject. Please tell me about yourself. Lydia used to say you were going into partnership with your aunt in some wonderful Elizabethan Manor.”

  “I think I must have exaggerated about the glories of that Elizabethan Manor. Perhaps I tend to exaggerate when I’m proud of something.”

  “It may be that we all do.”

  “I seemed to give the girls an impression that we were fabulously rich and that we had this priceless manor with a very successful school as a kind of hobby. When I got home for the holidays I found that my aunt was in financial difficulties, was selling the house and that I was to have a post in another school.”

  “Which you did.”

  “Yes, in Devon—a rather marvelous old place in the midst of a ruined abbey. The school is the old Lay Brothers’ quarters.”

  “It sounds fascinating.”

  “Yes, it is.”

  “And you enjoy it immensely.”

  “It is exciting. I have the utmost admiration for my headmistress and the way the school is run and for holidays I escape to this place.”

  “It’s a lovely house. I don’t know why…”

  He stopped short. “I’m sorry that sounded…”

  I laughed. “That sounded like the truth. An ordinary little house…not much more than a cottage, but there is something about it, isn’t there? You haven’t been here half an hour and you feel it. It’s my aunt. She does that to places.”

  “I hope I have an opportunity of seeing her again.”

  “When do you have to go back?”

  “I thought of leaving tomorrow.”

  “Well, I feel sure you’ll be invited to stay to lunch if you play your cards right. At any moment Violet…my aunt’s devoted friend and companion…will appear with a tray on which will be glasses and a bottle of her parsnip wine. If you drink it with relish and if you will go so far as to tell her that you have never tasted better parsnip wine, you will surely be asked to stay to luncheon.”

  “Does it depend on that?”

  “Of course not. My aunt will ask you, and I have already decided to do so. That is good enough. But it would please Violet. Don’t be too effusive for she is shrewd. Just savor, put your head on one side and say Ah. She is such a dear, though people don’t always realize it. We like to tease her and please her.”

  “Thank you for the warning.”

  “And here is Violet,” I said; “and yes, she is bringing her parsnip wine.”

  “It was a good year,” said Violet, “and no one can make good wine without a good crop. You’d know that, Mr.…”

  “Mr. Markham,” I said.

  “Oh yes, I remem
ber now. Mr. Markham, now try that. Teresa, bring in those wine biscuits.”

  “You are spoiling me,” said John Markham. He took the glass reverently and raising it to his lips sniffed the aroma as though he were testing wine in the cellars of some château vineyard. He sipped, there was a deep silence.

  Then he raised his eyes to the ceiling and said: “I knew before I tasted it. The bouquet is superb, and this must indeed be a vintage year.”

  Violet flushed pink. “Well, I can see you are one to know what you are talking about.”

  “I was suggesting to Mr. Markham that he might care to stay to lunch,” I said. “He’s at the King’s Head.”

  Violet grimaced. “I heard the food’s not up to much there. Well, if I’d have known, but there’s only shepherd’s pie and apple tart.”

  “I can think of nothing I should like better than shepherd’s pie and apple tart.”

  “Well,” said Violet, still pleased. “It’ll be a pleasure. I’ll see about laying another place.”

  Teresa had come in and was introduced.

  By the time Aunt Patty returned John Markham had succeeded in making a remarkably good impression on both Violet and Teresa. For me he was Lydia’s brother and hardly seemed like a stranger.

  ***

  He stayed to lunch and went back to his hotel afterwards but not before he had received an invitation to dine with us.

  I knew that he had been deeply saddened by Lydia’s death, but he was not the sort to burden others with his grief. He was amusing and interesting. He talked about banking, his life in London and on the Epping farm. He said that his brother Charles was in London. It was always pleasant to get down to the farm when they had a chance.

  “It is amazing,” he said, “what pleasure there is in haymaking and bringing in the harvest…particularly after you have spent your days in an office juggling with figures and doing all that makes up a banker’s life. Not that I’m averse to banking. I find it fascinating. It’s just the change…the joy of rolling up one’s sleeves and getting into my old farm clothes and throwing off the polish of the city for a bit of rural activity.”

  Violet, who had been brought up on a farm, listened avidly. I had never seen her take to a newcomer so quickly. He had so many stories to tell of the farm and how in the old days he had not had the faintest notion of how to go on. He made it all sound very amusing.