Gossamer Cord

We sat silently side by side for a few moments. I felt slightly chilled, in spite of the fact that it was a warm day. Perhaps it was emotion which made me want to shiver. After all, I had come close to death.

Death by drowning, I thought, like those others before me.

“We shall have to wait a bit for the tide to recede sufficiently to enable us to get along the beach,” he was saying. “Then, the descent. I wouldn’t want to risk your life trying to climb up to the cliff road. There’ll only be a narrow strip along the beach.”

I nodded, glad that he was in charge.

“We’ll make it all right. It’s the descent that will be tricky. Did you have a rewarding session with Mrs. Pardell?”

I was a little startled. “Rewarding?” I repeated.

“Well, I think you wanted to talk to her, didn’t you? The flower was a success, I believe, and she was grateful.”

“She was rather pleased.”

“And in return?”

“There was no question of reward.”

“I think you are rather interested in her.”

“Well, perhaps, in view of the family connection. What sort of girl was Annette? You must have known her.”

“She was rather…er…unsuitable. We were all astonished when Dermot married her.”

“In spite of…?”

“In spite of the circumstances? Particularly so, as it might not have been his responsibility.”

“He must have thought it was.”

“I imagine she was persuasive, and Dermot is somewhat impressionable.”

“She must have been very worried.”

“I daresay. Women usually are in such circumstances. Well, they married and a few months later she was foolish enough to go into the water in spite of her condition, and the fact that she had been warned against doing so.”

“People do foolish things sometimes.”

He looked at me and I saw the hint of a smile on his lips. He was surprising me very much. Now that I felt safe, I was beginning to find the adventure exhilarating. I refused to think of the climb down to the cove which had to come, for I was certain that, under his direction, it would be safely accomplished.

“Dermot must have cared for her,” I said.

“My mother did everything possible to make her comfortable. She was so good to her. She looked after her and helped her in every way.”

“And Mr. Tregarland?”

“You mean the old man…?”

“He’s not really so very old, is he?”

“He must be in his sixties. He married late, in his forties, I think. He has only become infirm during the last few years. His gout cripples him. One never really knows what he is thinking. I once knew a boy who liked putting spiders into a bowl from which they could not escape. He used to watch them for hours seeing what, captured as they were, they would do to each other. He reminds me of that boy, because it is as though he is watching us all in the same way.”

“I understand what you mean,” I said. “That is exactly how it seems to me. One gets the feeling he is watching everyone…in a rather mischievous way.”

“He has always been very good to my mother and me. It is many years ago that we came to Tregarland’s. I remember the time before that only vaguely. And suddenly we were at Tregarland’s…and we have been there ever since.”

“It is a wonderful old place.”

“It is.”

“And you are very interested in the estate.”

“Yes, but…” He did not continue, but stared out to sea. Then he said: “I think the tide is turning now.”

“They will be wondering where I am.”

“I’m afraid they will. Was your sister expecting you back?”

“I am usually with her when she has had her rest.”

“I hope she doesn’t get too anxious. Yes. I am sure it is on the turn.”

“How long do you think before we can attempt the journey down?”

“I am not quite sure. Some little time yet. I want to make certain that it is safe before we do so. It isn’t very comfortable sitting here, I’m afraid.”

“I am sure being submerged in the cove would have been far more uncomfortable. If you had not come along…”

“Shush,” he said.

“I was just going to say what a happy coincidence for me.”

We were silent for a while, then I said: “Tell me about your coming to Tregarland’s all those years ago.”

He paused and I had the impression that he was thinking he had said too much already. He was, I guessed, by nature reticent.

However, he went on: “It’s all rather vague to me. We were in a little house near dockland. When we arrived at Tregarland’s it was as though some genii had transplanted us to a castle. My mother told me that Mr. Tregarland was a distant connection. I’ve never found out what that connection was. I think it must be very remote. Anyway, Mr. Tregarland’s wife had died. There was a son, slightly younger than I, and she was going to keep house there. She was not to be treated quite like a housekeeper and she could take me with her to be brought up there. It seemed like an excellent arrangement for us at least, and I am sure for Mr. Tregarland. My mother is one of the most capable people I have ever known. Life became luxurious suddenly.”

“And has been ever since?”

“Well, people soon get used to comfort, particularly children.”

“And you have made the estate your mission in life.”

“I have worked hard at it.”

“And Dermot?”