But next week I shall be looking at houses... houses which don’t interest me, because Joel is coming home and I am beginning to wonder what I have done with my life.
Since I had read that paragraph about Joel, I had forgotten to look for the man on the haunted seat before I went to bed. The thought of Joel’s return had closed my mind to everything else.
The idea came to me suddenly in the night. I would not go to Yorkshire with them. I had little interest in houses. I wanted to go to London. I must know what was happening about Joel. It was too frustrating to be without news.
I decided to be a little devious.
I said, “I’ve heard from Belinda. She’s coming to London and she thinks Celeste is not well.”
“Oh dear,” said Roland, all concern. He was always very sympathetic to others.
“Belinda thinks I should go to London to see Celeste.”
“You could go after we have got back from Yorkshire,” suggested Roland. “I ... I don’t think I could really be happy if I thought she were ill and I wasn’t on the spot.”
“What’s wrong with her?”
“I don’t know. But I feel I must go up to London and find out.”
“When?” asked Phillida.
“Well... now. I don’t want to wait until she is really ill.”
“Is it as bad as that?”
“Belinda... suggested ...” I trailed off. I was thinking, why should I have to make these explanations, tell them half truths... just because I don’t want to go with them, because I must find out all I can about Joel? I went on firmly, “I think it would be a good idea if you two went to Yorkshire.
After all, it’s your native country. You know a great deal about it. I know nothing.”
“But you were excited about looking for a house,” said Roland.
“Well, you are not going to find it in a day or so. Why don’t you two go ... and if you find something I can come and look at it later. But it is going to take some time... and I shall be worrying about Celeste.”
“It will spoil everything,” said Phillida with a little pout. Roland said gently, “I understand how Lucie feels. She would be thinking of Celeste all the time.”
“That’s exactly what I mean,” I said gratefully.
“Then, my dear Lucie, you must do as you wish. Phillida and I will go to Yorkshire. We’ll look round, and then, if something seems possible, we’ll get you to come down and inspect it. We won’t decide anything without you, rest assured.” I smiled at him warmly. He really was very kind and always understanding. I felt a sense of shame, but at the same time, I was immensely relieved. I could not speak to them of Joel. I was wondering whether I should see him; and had no idea what his reaction toward me would be ... if I did.
Thus it was that I found myself on the train speeding to London. The cab took me to the house and there was Celeste waiting for me.
She rushed at me and hugged me.
“How lovely that you are here!”
“Belinda said that you were unwell so I had to come.”
“Belinda’s exaggerating.”
“I’m so glad. When does she arrive?”
“Tomorrow. I’m glad you came a day ahead. It gives us a chance to chat awhile. Where is Roland?”
“On his way to Yorkshire with Phillida. Celeste ... I saw a piece in the paper ... about Joel.”
“Oh, yes, there has been quite a lot in the London papers. They didn’t make it headline news though. I suppose they’ll wait until he gets home for that.”
“When is he coming home?”
“It must be soon now, I imagine.”
“Did you hear what happened?”
“No. I did think of calling on the Greenhams but I didn’t. They were so odd at the time of his disappearance that I have seen very little of them since.”
“I thought there might be some news up here.”
“The press is being unusually secretive about it. I should have thought it would have made a good story. MPs kidnapped and held all this time ...”
“Was a ransom paid?”
“I know nothing more than what I have read in the papers.”
“I wonder when he’ll be home.”
“It can’t be the same... can it? I mean, between you two.... You’re married now.”
“I was told he was dead, Celeste.”
She was looking at me in some alarm.
“But you are very happily married. Roland is so good, isn’t he? Poor Joel. Perhaps you ought not to see him. Perhaps I should explain.”
“I want to see him, Celeste, I want to explain.”
“If you think it wise. Of course ... he may have changed.”
“It’s not really so long ago, Celeste.”
“But you are a married woman now.”
I nodded and turned away.
“How long will Roland and Phillida be in Yorkshire?” she asked.
“I don’t know exactly. They’re looking for a house.”
“A house? Right up there?”
“It’s where Roland’s main business is. It is more their home than the South is. Roland wants to buy a house. I think he feels that Manor Grange is mine and he wants to provide a home for us.”
She nodded. “That’s natural enough,” she said. “But what about Manor Grange? Are you going to sell it?”
“I’m not sure that I could even if I wanted to. All that business about the trust.
I don’t know what it entails. I didn’t listen much at the time.”
“We were too shocked, weren’t we? I suppose the trustees would have to agree to the sale. I’m no more sure than you are.”
“I wouldn’t sell in any case. Think of the Emerys.”
“I see. But if you are living in Yorkshire ...”
“I shall come South quite a lot. I shall come to see you and Belinda. I couldn’t be quite cut off.”
“Well, you can always come here when you want to be in London... and then you’ll have Manor Grange if you want to stay there. Perhaps it’s not such a bad idea. So they will be looking, and if they find something... ?”
“I shall go up and see what it’s like and if the three of us are agreed... well then, I suppose Roland will buy it.”
“Very exciting!” said Celeste. “It’s wonderful to have you here.” She had put me in my old room; and that night, when I went to bed I could not resist going to the window. I stared at the railings of the garden square, half-expecting to see him there.
But the street was quite deserted.
Belinda came the following day. She was brimming over with excitement. Bobby was with her; he looked only slightly less jubilant than he had appeared on his wedding day. I imagined how shocked and horrified he must have been on hearing Belinda’s confession; but she had managed to convince him that all would be well and it seemed he believed her.
She was soon in my room for a chat.
“It’s working,” she said. “Bobby’s being an absolute pet and Henry is behaving almost like a gentleman, which I never believed he would.”
“Which means he is doing exactly what you want?”
She laughed. “Same old Lucie!” Her tongue protruded in the old way. “It’s going to take a little time. Why do people always have to hang about so? Why can’t they get on with things? I don’t know why there has to be all this delay. But it is going to be done without fuss... and we’re hoping very few people will hear about it. So soon Bobby and I will be well and truly married... and we’ll never forget the part you played in this, Lucie.”
“I only did the obvious thing. There was, after all, only one solution for you.”
“But Henry could have turned nasty. He liked you a lot. He thinks you’re sensible.
He hated doing it but he could see it was no use trying to make me go back with him. Besides, there’s the baby.”
“You think that decided him?”
Belinda patted her stomach. “Dear little baby,” she said. “He’ll be strong and powerful.