The Song of the Siren

I thought angrily: Of course I did. How could I help it? Hessenfield has come back.

It was an hour later when I was able to slip out. I would not be missed for a little while. I had wrapped a cloak over my dress and told myself that if I were seen I would say I heard one of the dogs or something like that.

In any case I had no intention of being missed if I could help it.

He had come to see me. He might have gone by now. Even he must realise how dangerous it was to hang about here. I would tell him so if I found him.

I examined the flower bed under the window. It had quite clearly been disturbed.

I looked towards the shrubbery and as I did so I heard what could have been the call of an owl.

I stepped towards the bushes and said softly: “Is anyone there?”

“Carlotta ... ?”

It was his voice. I ran forward, glancing over my shoulder as I did so to assure myself that no one was about.

I was caught in his arms and held tightly. He kissed me again and again and so fiercely that I gasped for breath.

“You fool!” I cried. “To come here. Don’t you know they will be after you?”

“Dearest, everyone is always after me .. .just everyone.”

“Do you want to end up with your head on a block?”

“No, on a pillow side by side with yours.”

“Will you please listen to me.”

“No. You must listen to me.”

“I will talk,” I said. “I have heard your name mentioned. You have only to be recognised and it will be the end of you.”

“Therefore we should leave as soon as possible.”

“You should indeed.”

“We. I have come back for you, Carlotta.”

“You are mad,” I said.

“Yes,” he agreed, “for you.”

“It has been years ...”

“Four,” he said. “It is too long to be without you. No one else will do for me. I have learned that.”

“You did not come for me alone.”

“I mix business and pleasure.”

“You waited a long time,” I said.

“I did not know then how important you are to me.”

“I suppose you imagine that you only have to come and beckon and I shall drop everything and follow you. Do you think of yourself as some divinity and I your humble disciple?”

“What gave you such an idea? Was it because you felt that fitted the case?”

“This is nonsense. I must go. I saw you at the window. It was foolish to come here.

Someone might have seen you. The dogs could have been released. I came out to warn you-that was all.”

“Carlotta, you are more beautiful than ever and you lie just as glibly. Did you enjoy our adventure on the road? You did not recognise me immediately, did you? I know just when the moment came. Then I knew .. . and you knew ... that it was just as it had been. .. .”

“You play such foolish jokes. You could have been caught on the road there and hanged as a thief.”

“Dear Carlotta, I live dangerously. Death is prowling round the corner all the time. He may catch up with me at some time. It is a great game I play with him. I am on such familiar terms with him that he has ceased to frighten me.”

“It would be a different matter if you were in some noisome dungeon in the Tower, I’ll swear.”

“But I am not. And I don’t intend to be. By the way, who won the chess?”

“My husband.”

“So you have been unfaithful to me, Carlotta.”

“I married him because of you,” I said.

He gripped my arm.

“I was going to have a child. It seemed the easiest way out.”

I heard him gasp. Then he said: “That enchanting creature .. .”

“Clarissa. Yes, you are her father.”

“Carlotta.” He almost shouted and I said: “Be quiet. Do you want to bring someone out here?”

He held me against him and put his lips to my ear. “Our child, Carlotta. My daughter.

She took to me. She gave me the tail of her sugar mouse. I shall tell her that I shall keep it forever.

“It will probably melt,” I said. “And I shall certainly not tell her. I want her to forget the incident as soon as possible.”

“My daughter Clarissa, you say. I loved her on sight.”

‘You love very easily, I daresay.”

”You are coming with me ... both of you. I shall not rest until we are all together.”

“Do you really believe that you can uproot us like that after all this time?”

“I invariably do what I set out to,” he said.

“Not with me.”

“I did once. Ah, but you were willing, were you not? What a time that was. Do you remember when we were down there by the sea and the horseman came riding by?”

I said: “I am going in. I shall be missed.”

“Get the child and come with me.”

“You really are crazy. The child is in bed and fast asleep. Do you really think I can get her up and walk out of my husband’s house just like that?”

“It is not an impossible feat.”

“It is. It is. Go away. Go back and play with your conspirators. Go and plan your Jacobite plans. But don’t involve me in this. I am for the Queen.”

He laughed aloud. “You care nothing who is on the throne, my darling. But you do care a little, I think, who shares your life. I am going to do that. I shall not leave this country without you.”

“Good night and take my advice. Go away quickly and don’t come here again.”

I pulled myself away from him but he held me fast.

“One moment,” he said. “How can I reach you? How can I get in touch with you?”

“You cannot.”