Voices in a Haunted Room

Death in the house. It had come quietly and was not unexpected, but that did not make it any easier to bear. Sabrina had lived quietly, in the background; there had been days when we had not seen her; but she was part of the household and now she was gone.

Dickon was very distressed. She had adored him so unreservedly, and all his life she had been there to applaud his virtues and excuse his faults, and to assure him that he was the perfect man. My mother comforted him, but she, too, missed Sabrina.

Jonathan was away at the time and Dickon said that they must send for him to come home for the burial. I had thought that he was in London, but the messenger was sent to the Pettigrews’, and Jonathan came, accompanied by Lord and Lady Pettigrew and Millicent.

Sabrina was to be buried in the family mausoleum and there was to be a service for her in our own chapel. The priest who had married David and me read the service and we all followed the solemn procession to the mausoleum.

I was surprised to see that Harry Farringdon had arrived with several of those people who lived near enough to join the company.

Evalina Trent was there with her two grand-daughters. Afterwards they all returned to the house, where wine and food were served.

Everyone was talking about Sabrina, stressing her many virtues as people do at funerals, and we were all saying how much she would be missed.

“At least she died easily and happily,” was the verdict. “She was so delighted at the prospect of the new babies.”

I saw that Harry Farringdon was talking to Evie and that there was a slight flush in her cheeks. I thought: I hope something comes of that. It would be such a good match for Evie, and she is a nice girl, different from that dreadful grandmother of hers. Poor girl, she could not help her relations.

I sat down because I was beginning to feel tired, and in view of my condition I felt everyone would understand.

I was not long alone. To my dismay it was Evalina Trent who came and sat down beside me.

“Nice to get your feet off the ground,” she said cosily. “I expect you’re beginning to feel the weight. What’ll it be now, four months eh?”

“Yes,” I said.

“Then there’ll be rejoicing up at Eversleigh ... and your mother too! That’s really a bit of fun, don’t you think?”

“It is very agreeable for us both.”

She looked at me slyly.

“Oh, you’re a lucky young lady. Such a good husband-and a little one on the way so soon! You’re one of the favoured of the gods, as they say.”

“Thank you.”

“I wish I could do more for my girls. I worry a lot, Mrs. Frenshaw.”

“Do you?”

“Well, look at my Evie now. Pretty as a picture. She’s old enough now to be out and about in society. And what can I do for her?”

“She seems very happy.”

“She’s a good girl. But I’d like her to have her chance.”

“In what way?”

“In the only way! I’d like to see her make a good marriage, be settled like.”

“I daresay she will marry.”

“Yes ... but what sort of marriage, eh? I’d like someone of some position.” She was watching Harry Farringdon intently. “Such a pleasant young man. He’s very rich, I believe.”

“You mean Harry Farringdon? Well, I don’t exactly know the state of his family’s fortune.”

“Ha! You think I’m speaking above myself, don’t you? Perhaps I am. It’s Evie that bothers me. I’ve brought her up as a lady. The best of education ... It’s not been easy. Grasslands is not Eversleigh, you know. My Richard ... he’s gone now, God rest his soul ... but he was a bit of a gambler. He lost a lot of what my first husband Andrew left to me. Not that it was anything like Eversleigh even then. But I’ve had a struggle to make ends meet, you know, and I was determined to give Evie the best.”

“I think you did very well.”

“She should be gracing some rich man’s table.”

“Is that what she thinks?”

“Her? She’s romantic. Young girls dream about love, not security. Mrs. Frenshaw, that Mr. Farringdon is taken with her, wouldn’t you say?”

“Yes, Mrs. Trent, I suppose I would.”

“You see I can’t give balls and banquets at Grasslands. Not the sort they’d expect.

But I’d like her to have her chance.”

“I understand,” I said.

She put out a hand and took mine; hers was cold and bony; for some reason it made me shiver.

“Would you help me, Mrs. Frenshaw?”

“Help you?”

“With Evie.”

“I certainly would if I could, but I don’t see how ...”

“Well, there are ways. You could-er-bring them together. You know what I mean. Pair them off and all that. You get my meaning?”

“But ...”

She gave me a little nudge. “You will if you can, I know. Oh, there’s ways. You could invite him ... and then have my Evie there. You know what I mean.”

“Well, we shan’t be entertaining for a while at such a time.”

“Oh, it needn’t be a grand entertainment. He just comes ... and my Evie’s there.

You could find a way ... if you would.”

“I don’t think they’ll need my matchmaking.”

“A little helping along never did any harm.” She was looking at me steadily. “There’s reasons why you should help me, Mrs. Frenshaw.”

“Reasons?”