Voices in a Haunted Room

I wrote a letter to Jonathan telling him what had happened. I chose one of the grooms who had been with us since he was a boy. His grandfather had served the Eversleighs and I felt he could be trusted. He had to leave without anyone’s knowing, I told him. I would speak to his father and let him know that it was most urgent and secret business.

He was young enough for a secret mission to appeal to him, but I imagined he would think my motive in sending a letter to Jonathan might be a romantic one. But there was no time to worry about that now. I had to act promptly.

I said: “Leave immediately. Make the journey as quickly as you can. Mr. Jonathan will understand when he reads my letter, and make sure you give it to no one else.”

As I left the stables I ran into Millicent. I felt myself flush deeply. I was, after all, sending a letter in secret to her husband.

She said: “I saw that groom ... what’s his name ... Jake Somebody ... dashing off somewhere ... looking very important.” The manner in which she kept her eyes on me embarrassed me. She was suspicious. “I stopped him and asked why he was in such a hurry. He muttered something about having to do something for you.”

“Oh yes, of course,” I said, trying to speak lightly and wondering if she had overheard anything.

She went on: “That was a strange business about the ghost of the man Grafter.”

“Yes,” I answered cautiously, “very strange.”

”You seem to me the very last person to come face to face with a ghost. And you were so sure ...”

“Yes, it was very strange.”

“I suppose you’re a believer now. You were rather sceptical before, weren’t you?”

“I would always be sceptical until I had the evidence of my own experience.”

She kept her eyes on my face and I thought: Was it you, Millicent, who tied the rope across the path? How much do you know about me and Jonathan? My memory flashed back to a scene in the bedroom. Had she not said: “I think I would kill anyone he was too fond of Millicent was a strange woman. She resembled her mother and I believed she would be capable of a great deal before which others would quail.

I felt myself turning cold with horror. Could I be in the presence of one who had tried, if not to kill me, to maim me for life? Did she know that it was in truth Billy Grafter who had been on the bridle path that day, because it was she who had laid the trap for me? Had she been watching in the bushes for me to fall? And if so, what did she know of Billy Grafter? And having made one attempt and failed, would she try again?

We came into the house together and I went to my room.

I was dreadfully uneasy and it was difficult to act normally. My mother, I had thought, was the only one in the house who would believe that I had actually seen Billy Grafter.

I had to talk to her.

She was very upset. “If only Dickon were here,” she kept saying.

“Maman,” I said, “someone here ... not far away, helped Billy Grafter to get away.

Someone removed the rope from the bushes. That person must be looking after him.

He was hurt, I know.”

“Who, Claudine, who?”

“I don’t know, but I have sent a message to Jonathan. He will come back with all speed when he receives it, I am sure.”

“Let’s hope he comes soon. That rope ... why was it there?”

“I think ... to catch me.”

“Do you really believe that?”

“I must. It was the way I came ... regularly. It was only by a fluke that I stopped to look at Jeanne’s materials and Billy Grafter got there first.”

“Oh, Claudine, I am afraid for you.”

”I’ll be all right. I’ve been warned now. And Jonathan will be home soon.”

“Shall I send for Dickon?”

“I think Jonathan will manage it. Wait and see what he has to say.”

“In the meantime ... you must take the utmost care. I was thinking all last night of the things that have happened: those people coming to the house pretending to be Dickon’s friends; the kidnapping of Jessica; then returning her and ... now this. What does it mean? Where is all this leading? Promise me you’ll take care.”

“I will. I will. Maman, do you think Millicent knows anything?”

“Millicent! I shouldn’t think so for a moment. She’s very preoccupied with the prospect of becoming a mother. Why do you ask? Has she said anything?”

“No, but I just wondered.”

“Well, promise me to take extra special care.”

“I will.”

Within two days Jonathan came back. I saw him arrive and waved from my bedroom window and immediately went down to meet him.

“Claudine!” he cried and kissed me.

“Oh, I’m so glad you’ve come.”

“I want to know everything ... now ... at once. He’s here ... in this neighbourhood?”

“He must be.”

We went into the parlour which led out of the hall and I quickly told him what had happened.

“Rope across the bushes,” he said. “Whoever would have done that?”

“I think it was meant to catch me.”

“Why? I am quite sure that Grafter and his associates would want to do such a thing-but if they did, how came it that one of their own fell into the trap?”

“I don’t understand.”