Legend of the Seventh Virgin (14 page)

This was my opportunity. I ran along the corridor, clutching my mask in my hand, looking for the spiral staircase which we had ascended.

I could not find it, but came to another which led upwards; and although I knew I should not be going further into the house when what I wanted was to leave it, I daren’t turn back for fear of meeting Johnny. There was a rope attached to the wall to serve as a banister because the stairs were so steep, and I saw that it could be dangerous not to use it. This was a part of the house which was rarely used, but on this night, presumably in case some of the guests should lose their way and find themselves in this wing, lanthorns had been placed at intervals. The light was dim and just enough to show the way.

I discovered more alcoves like those to which Johnny had taken me. I stood listening, wondering whether it would be wise to retrace my steps. My heart was racing; I could not help glancing furtively about me. I was prepared at any moment to see the ghostly figures of nuns coming towards me. That was the effect being alone in this most ancient part of the house had on me. The gaiety of the ball seemed far away — not only in distance but in time.

I had to get away quickly.

Cautiously I tried to retrace my steps, but when I came to a corridor through which I knew I had not passed before, I began to feel frantic. I thought: What if they never discovered me again? What if I remained locked away in this part of the house forever? It would be a kind of walling up. They would come for the lanthorns. But why should they? They would gradually go out one by one and no one would think of relighting them until there was another ball or house party at the Abbas.

This was panic. It was more likely that I should be discovered wandering about the house and recognized. They would be suspicious of me and accuse me of trying to steal. They were always suspicious of people like myself.

I tried to think calmly of what I knew of the house. The old wing was that part which looked down on the walled garden. That was where I must be … perhaps close to the spot where the nun’s bones had been discovered. The thought made me shiver. It was so gloomy in the passages and there was no covering on the floor of the corridor which was cold stone like the spiral stairs. I wondered if it were true that when something violent happened to people their spirits haunted the scene of their last hours on earth. I thought of her being brought along these corridors from one of those alcoves which could have been her cell. What terrible despair there must have been in her heart! How frightened she must have been!

I took courage. My situation was comic compared with hers. I was not afraid, I told myself. If necessary, I should tell exactly how I came to be in this situation. Lady St. Larnston would then be more annoyed with Johnny than with me.

At the end of the stone corridor was a heavy door which I opened cautiously. It was like stepping into another world. The corridor was carpeted and there were lamps hanging at frequent intervals on the wall; I could hear the sound of music — though muted — which I had lost before.

I was relieved. Now to find my way to the dressing rooms. There would be pins there. I even believed I had seen some in a little alabaster bowl. I wondered I hadn’t thought of it before; I had an uncanny feeling that thinking of the seventh virgin had helped me by calming my mind which was overexcited by the mingling of unaccustomed wine and strange events.

This was a vast house. I had heard it contained about a hundred rooms. I paused by a door and, hoping this might lead me towards that wing in which the ball was being held, gently turned the handle and opened it. I gasped with horror for in the dim light from the shaded lamp which stood by the bed, it seemed for those first seconds that I was looking at a corpse. A man was propped up by pillows; his mouth and one eye were drawn down on the left side. It was a grotesque sight and seeing it so soon after my fanciful thoughts in the corridor, I believed I was seeing a ghost, for it was a dead face … almost. Then to my horror as I stood there something told me that I was seen, for there was a strange sound from the figure in the bed. I shut the door quickly, my heart pounding.

The man I had seen on the bed was a travesty of Sir Justin; I was horrified by the thought that someone who had been so robust, so arrogant, could become like that.

Somehow I must have reached the family sleeping quarters. If I met anyone now, I would say I was looking for the dressing rooms and had lost my way. I clutched again the torn mask in my hand and hesitated by a half-open door. Looking inside I saw a bedroom; two lamps on the wall gave a dim light. It suddenly occurred to me that on the dressing table there might possibly be some pins. I looked along the corridor; there was no sign of anyone, so I stepped into the room, and sure enough, on the mirror, looped by satin ribbons, was a pincushion with pins sticking in it. I took several and was about to make for the door when I heard voices in the corridor.

A sudden panic seized me. I had to get out of this room quickly. Old fears came back to me like those I had had on the night when Joe was missing. If Mellyora was found in one of these rooms and said that she had lost her way, everyone would believe her; if I were — and they knew who I was — that would subject me to the humiliation of suspicion. I must not be found here.

I looked about me and saw there were two doors. Without thinking I opened one and stepped forwards. I was in a cupboard in which clothes were hanging. There was no time to escape so I shut the door and held my breath.

In a few terrifying seconds I knew that someone had come into the room. I heard the door shut, and waited tensely for discovery. I must tell everything about Johnny trying to make love to me and who I was. I must make them believe me. I should open the door at once and explain. If I were caught I should look so guilty; and if I went out and explained right away, which was what Mellyora would have done, I should be more likely believed. But what if they didn’t believe me?

I had hesitated too long.

A voice said: “But what is it, Judith?” A weary voice which I knew to belong to Justin St. Larnston.

“I had to see you, darling. Just to be alone with you for a few minutes. I had to be reassured. Surely you understand.”

Judith, his wife! Her voice was what I would have expected. She spoke in short sentences as though she were breathless; and there was a feeling of tension which was immediately apparent.

“Judith, you must not get so excited.”

“Excited? How can I help it when … I saw you and that girl … dancing together.”

“Listen to me, Judith.” His voice sounded slow and drawling almost, but perhaps that was in contrast to hers. “She’s only the parson’s daughter.”

“She’s beautiful. You think so, don’t you? And young … so very young … And I could see the way she looked … when you were dancing together.”

“Judith, this is quite absurd. I’ve known the child since she was in her cradle. Naturally I had to dance with her. You know how one must at these affairs.”

“But you seemed … you seemed …”

“Weren’t you dancing? Or were you watching me all the time?”

“You know how I feel. I was aware of you, Justin. Aware of you and that girl. You may laugh but there
was
something. I had to be reassured.”

“But really, Judith, there is nothing to reassure you about. You’re my wife, aren’t you? Isn’t that enough?”

“Everything. Just everything! That’s why I couldn’t bear …”

“Well then let’s forget it. And we shouldn’t be here. We can’t disappear like this.”

“All right, but kiss me, Justin.”

Silence, during which I felt they must hear my heart beating. I had been right not to show myself. As soon as they had gone I would creep out and quickly repair my mask with the pins and then all would be well.

“Come on, Judith, let’s go.”

“Once more, darling. Oh,
darling
, how I
wish
we didn’t have to go back to all those tiresome people.”

“It’ll soon be over.”

“
Darling
…”

Silence. The shutting of the door. I wanted to rush out but I forced myself to stay where I was while I counted ten. Then cautiously I opened the door, peered out at the empty room, sped to its door, and with a sigh of thankfulness reached the corridor.

I almost ran from that open door, trying to rid myself of the picture of one of them opening the door and finding me hiding in the cupboard. It hadn’t happened, but, oh, it was a warning not to do anything so silly again.

The music was louder, as I had reached the staircase where Lady St. Larnston had received us. Now I knew my way. In my anxiety I had forgotten my mask until I saw Mellyora with Kim.

“Your mask!” cried Mellyora.

I held it up. “It’s broken, but I’ve found some pins.”

Kim said: “Well, I believe it is Kerensa.”

I looked at him shamefacedly. Mellyora turned to him. “Why not?” she said fiercely. “Kerensa wanted to come to the ball. Why shouldn’t she? I said she was a friend of mine and so she is.”

“Why not indeed?” agreed Kim.

“How did it break?” asked Mellyora.

“My stitches weren’t strong enough, I expect.”

“Odd. Let me look.” She took the mask. “Oh, I see. Give me the pins. Now I’ll fix it. It’ll last. Did you know that there’s only half an hour to midnight?”

“I lost count of time.”

Mellyora fixed the mask and I felt pleased to hide behind it.

“We’ve just been out into the gardens,” said Mellyora. “The moonlight’s wonderful.”

“I know. I was out there, too.”

“Let’s go back to the ballroom now,” said Mellyora. “There’s not much time left.”

We went back, Kim escorting us. A partner came to ask me to dance and I felt hilariously happy to be masked and dancing again, while I congratulated myself on my escape. Then I remembered that Johnny St. Larnston knew who I was, but I didn’t really attach much importance to that. If he told his mother, I should quickly let her know how he had behaved; and I fancied she would not be any more pleased with him than with me.

I danced with Kim later and I was glad because I wanted to know what his reactions were. He was clearly amused.

“Carlyon,” he said. “That’s what puzzles me. I thought you were Miss Carlee.”

“Mellyora gave me that name.”

“Oh … Mellyora!”

I told him all that had happened while he was away at the University, how Mellyora had seen me at the fair and taken me home.

He listened intently.

“I’m glad it happened,” he told me. “It’s good for you and for her.”

I glowed with pleasure. He was so different from Johnny St. Larnston.

“And your brother?” he asked. “How is he getting on with the vet?”

“You knew?”

He laughed. “I’m rather interested in his progress since it was I who mentioned to Pollent what an asset he would be.”

“You … spoke to Pollent?”

“I did. Made him promise to give the boy a chance.”

“I see. I suppose I should thank you.”

“Don’t if you’d rather not.”

“But my Granny is so pleased. He’s getting on well. The vet is pleased with him and …” I heard the note of pride in my voice. “… he’s pleased with the vet.”

“Good news. I thought that a boy who would risk so much for the sake of a bird must have a special gift. So … all goes well.”

“Yes,” I repeated, “all goes well.”

“May I say that I think you have grown up just as I thought you would.”

“And how is that?”

“You have become an extremely fascinating young lady.”

What a number of emotions I experienced on that night, for dancing with Kim I knew absolute happiness. I wished it could have gone on. But dances quickly come to an end when you have the partner of your choice, and all too soon the clocks which had been brought into the hall to strike at the midnight hour began chiming at once. The music stopped. It was time to take off our masks.

Johnny St. Larnston passed near us; he grinned at me.

“It’s no surprise,” he said, “but still a pleasure.”

And there was a purpose in his mocking smile.

Kim led me outside so that no one else would know that Miss Carlyon was really poor Kerensa Carlee.

As Belter drove us home to the parsonage neither Mellyora nor I spoke very much. We were both still hearing the music, caught up in the rhythm of the dance. It was a night we should never forget; later we would talk of it but now we were still bemused and enchanted.

We went soberly to our rooms. I was physically tired and yet had no desire to sleep. While I kept on my red velvet gown I was still a young lady who went to balls, but once I took it off life would become less exciting. In fact, Miss Carlyon would become Kerensa Carlee.

But obviously I could not stand before the mirror staring dreamily at my reflection all night, so by the light of two candles I reluctantly took the comb from my hair and let it fall about my shoulders, undressed, and hung up the red velvet gown. “You have become an extremely fascinating young lady,” I said.

Then I thought of how exciting my life was going to be because it was true that life was yours to make as you wanted to.

It was difficult to sleep. I kept thinking of myself dancing with Kim, fighting with Johnny, hiding in the cupboard, and that horrific moment when I had opened the door of Sir Justin’s room and seen him.

So it wasn’t surprising that when I did sleep I had a nightmare. I dreamed that Johnny had walled me up and that I was suffocating while Mellyora was trying to pull away the bricks with her bare hands and I knew that she would not be able to save me in time.

I awoke screaming to find Mellyora standing by my bed. Her golden hair was about her shoulders and she had not put a dressing gown over her flannelette nightdress.

“Wake up, Kerensa,” she said. “You’re having a nightmare.”

I sat up and stared at her hands.

“What on earth was it?”

“I dreamed I was walled up and that you were trying to save me. I was suffocating.”

“I don’t wonder at it, you were buried right under the bedclothes and think of all that dash-an-darras and mead.”