I “Oh,” she said, ‘you are resting. “
“No. I had not changed. It was so hot out today and we had ridden quite a distance.”
“Mr. Madden mentioned that you had taken luncheon with the Bannocks.”
“Yes.”
“I believe their cook is very good.”
"I'm sure she is. The food was delicious. “
“I had come to speak to you about the treasure hunt.” J< “I heard of it for the first time today.”
“I had thought Mr. Madden must have mentioned it. It’s an o: event which takes place every year. Mr. Henniker started it because he felt they were getting restive. He used to talk to me a great deal.”
“Do tell me more about the treasure hunt, Mrs. Laud.”
“Well, clues are made up and we make believe that the house is a desert island. The treasure is two opals of some value which have been found during the year. The servants make up the clues and place them. They’re very simple. Mr. Henniker used to think that it was good for the servants to have a part in it. They think about it for the whole year. It keeps their minds busy.”
“It’s interesting.”
“I help them, of course, because I don’t take an active part, though Mr. Henniker used to insist that I did sometimes.” She smiled reminiscently.
“So that part of it will be taken care of, but I wanted to discuss other arrangements with you. There’s always been a buffet supper and the guests have to be asked. Formal invitations are sent out. We like it done some time in advance because it gives people time to anticipate.”
“Who comes to the treasure hunt ?”
“All the heads of departments and people in the higher positions. There would be about sixty or seventy of them. Then a few days later there’s a different sort of celebration for the other workers. There are contests and prizes. Mr. II Henniker used to say: ” Bread and circuses are necessary to keep the people happy. ” He was full of sayings.”
“I dare say you could arrange all this without any help from me, Mrs. Laud. “
“Oh, I thought it only right and proper that you should know how we had conducted it in the past in case you wished to make new arrangements.”
“I’m sure I shan’t want to do that. I’m such a newcomer. I’d like to see how this one works and then for the next one if I have any suggestions to make that would be different.”
“I usually send to Sydney for what we need for the buffet. Then we do a good deal of the cooking here in the kitchens of course."
” You must please carry on as before. “
“I thought you would know how these things should be conducted … coming from such a good family …”
I looked at her in surprise and she lowered her eyes in the way to which I had become accustomed.
“Mr. Henniker confided in me a good deal. I heard Mr. Madden refer to Oakland Hall and your being one of the Claverings. I knew Mr. Henniker bought the house from them.”
“It’s true I was a Miss Clavering, but I never lived in Oakland Hall.
My family became impoverished. That was why they sold Oakland. “
“Oh, I know, but being one of the family I felt you would know how things should be done.”
“I’m not at all sure of that,” I replied.
“I think it would be better to leave this treasure hunt in your capable hands.”
“I’m glad you have no objections to us, Mrs. Madden.”
“Objections I How could I have? You’re so efficient.”
“I mean the whole family of us … living here and enjoying so many privileges.”
“I believe it is what Mr. Henniker would have wished.”
“Oh yes, he remembered us in his will. He was always fond of Jimson and Lilias. They were only children when we came here … Lilias nothing more than a baby. I will always be grateful to him. I was at my wits’ end. Jim-that was my husband-had been so close to me. I had thought it was a mistake to come out to Australia but Jim wanted to.
Then he died and there was I. homeless, penniless and Mr. Henniker came along. “
“It worked out very well, then.”
"Yes, it did for all those years. Then he died and I thought there’d be changes and when Mr. Madden came back with a wife. “
"You were all amazed, I know. But don’t worry. I’m very glad that you are here. I don't think I should do without you. “
She seemed overcome with emotion and said in a practical voice:
“Perhaps I could show you the draft of the invitations I’m sending to Sydney to get done. They’re the same every year.”
“Don’t bother to show me. just go ahead as you always have. I I’m sure that’s best.”
She looked at me so anxiously that I went on: “I’m really more interested in learning the affairs of the Company than running a house, Mrs. Laud.”
“You’re a very unusual lady. I realize that. I think you are the kind who will master what you set out to do. ”
” I hope so, Mrs. Laud,” I said. Then she went and left me with my thoughts.
I could not sleep that night. I kept thinking about that moment when Isa had unrolled the case and revealed the Harlequin Opal. He had known that she was going to show it to me. He had given her permission to do so. It occurred to me that he had taken me there for that purpose. It was tan tv amount to an act of defiance.
It meant: I don’t care for you any more than you care for me. And yet I fancied he did not like my growing friendship with Jeremy Dickson. How dared he resent something so a, innocent when his relations with Isa were far from innocent! And what did Ezra think? Was he prepared to stand aside for Joss because of the power Joss held with the Company? I What sort of husband was he? He seemed equally besotted ready to grant her every wish. What was the power she had over them? Hers was an evil sort of beauty. She was what was known as a siren, the sort who would lure men to destruction when all the time they knew that would be their end but they couldn’t resist it. I was more upset than I would have believed possible, but the revelation was clear. In spite of everything I had allowed myself to be caught up in some sort of fascination. While I hated him, I wanted him to be near me, to take my hands, to laugh at me, to thrust aside my resistance. What had happened to me?
If it had not been for Isa . But what was the use of saying that? Isa was there. She existed. It had taken my jealousy to reveal the true state of my feelings.
I dozed fitfully and dreamed we were all sitting round the table and Isa unrolled the case and showed us the Harlequin Opal.
“Look at it,” she said, and I looked into the fire that extended all across the table and in it I could see pictures. I saw myself and Joss and Joss was saying: “Of what use are you to me? You are no wife. I don’t want you. I want Isa. You are in the way. If you weren’t here the Green Flash would be mine. You’re in the way … in the way …”
I felt his hands about my throat and I awoke calling out.
I lay in the darkness trembling.
It was only a dream, I assured myself. But as I lay in the darkness the thought came to me that the dream was a warning. There was something strange about Peacocks. If Ben had been here it would have been different He would have blown draughts of fresh air through the place, blowing away . I knew’ not what.
How I longed for Ben. I could have explained to him how I felt. The Lauds with their meek unobtrusiveness were pale shadows of people, and it seemed to me that all of them were living two lives-the real one which I didn’t see and the shadow one which I did. Both Jimson and Lilias seemed afraid of their mother . not exactly afraid . protective, was it? I suppose that was natural, and yet. And then as I lay there I heard the sound of footsteps outside my door as I had heard them before. Someone was prowling out there . right outside my door now. I got out of bed and sat on it, watching the door. I had locked it as I always did.