Seven for a Secret (24 page)

stay and he would not care what happened to anyone else as long as he had what he wanted.

There was a new development which caused a stir in the neighbourhood.

Harry Gentry had discovered that Gaston Marchmont was paying attention to his daughter Sheila. The girl was barely sixteen. Harry Gentry had come upon them together in the woodshed in his garden.

It was clear to Harry what Gaston’s intentions were towards his daughter and Harry was enraged. He declared he would kill the man.

Gaston had tried to make excuses, but Harry had gone into the house and come out with a shotgun which he used for shooting rabbits.

Gaston escaped and Harry fired into the air to warn him what would happen if he came near Sheila again. The neighbours had heard the shots and had come out to witness the scene.

People were now talking of the trouble at St. Aubyn’s. It had been very romantic, running away to Gretna Green, but look at the result of such goings-on. Mr. Crispin must be wondering how they were going to get rid of the fellow.

Rachel was growing more and more frightened. She could not bear that scandal should touch her family. Gaston Marchmont would not care. He would make trouble for anyone if he thought there was any advantage in it for himself.

Crispin came to the office one afternoon when he knew James Perrin would not be there.

“This goes from bad to worse,” he said.

“We really must get rid of this fellow.”

“Have you any idea how?” I asked.

He shook his head.

“He’s philandering around. So perhaps it won’t be difficult to find something against him.”

1 trembled for Rachel. I wanted to make Crispin see how important it was to spare her from becoming involved, but i97

1 could not without her permission to tell, and I knew she would never give that.

He sat on the edge of the desk, swinging his leg, while he stared ahead, frowning. His attitude was one of despairing frustration. I understood his mood perfectly, because I shared it.

“You said you were having him watched,” I said.

“Yes. But that little flutter with Sheila is hardly any help.”

There was a knock at the door.

“Come in,” called Crispin.

One of the labourers from the home farm entered.

“I was passing the cottage when Miss Lucy called to me,” he stammered.

“She said to come and tell you, sir, right away, will you go there? Something’s happened.” Crispin said: “I’ll come right away.” He ran out and leaped on to his horse.

“I’ll follow you,” I said, ‘in case I can be of any help. ” When 1 arrived I ran into the cottage. Flora was with Lucy and Crispin in the kitchen.

Flora looked frantic and Lucy said again and again: “It’s all right. Flora. It’s all right.”

Crispin was also trying to soothe her, but Flora could not be soothed.

She was crying: “He took the baby. He took him. He was going to hurt him. He said he would if I didn’t… if 1 didn’t…”

“Don’t cry,” said Crispin.

“It’s all over now.” She shook her head.

“No, no. He said, ” Tell . tell . and you shall have the baby back.

”

“And you told,” said Lucy in a flat voice.

“It’s not a secret any more. Never be told … but it was the baby he was going to hurt the baby.”

I knew instinctively of whom she was speaking. It was Gaston, of course. Hadn’t I seen him here several times?

He had been interested in Flora. Intrigued . determined to discover that secret which was never to be told. And he had found a way of learning what it was. Oh, poor Flora!

She had shown him the picture of the magpies just as she had shown me, and he had determined to force the secret from her.

Why was he so interested in Flora’s rambling? I wondered. Why, when he was only concerned with that which could bring advantage to himself ?

Lucy took Flora to her room. Crispin stayed behind to help, and I left them, since I could be of no use.

All through the day I thought about what had happened and that night I had a frightening dream. I was in Barrow Wood, lying helpless on the ground and Mr. Dorian was coming towards me. I called out for help.

There was a murmur in the trees. It wasn’t Mr. Dorian who had come to me. It was the seven magpies. They settled on a tree and watched malevolently; and I was struck with terror, as I had been by Mr. Dorian.

I awoke in a panic. It was only a dream, a muddled, silly dream. How could I have been so frightened by a few birds?

The day passed. I wanted to see how Flora was, but I guessed I might not be welcome. I hoped Crispin might come into the office, but he did not. I was glad James did not notice my preoccupation.

The next morning, when we were at breakfast, the postman called. If he had time to stop for a cup of tea when he came. Lily gave it to him in the kitchen. On this occasion, she brought him in to us. Her eyes were round with that horror and excitement which only bad news can bring.

Tom’s just told me,” she said, ‘that Gaston Marchmont’s been found shot in the shrubbery at St. Aubyn’s.”

I felt suddenly faint.

“Yes,” went on Tom.

“He was found this morning in the shrubbery. You know, near the back of the house. One of the gardeners found him there. Must have been there all night.”

This is going to be a bit of a how-de-do,” said Lily. 1 heard myself stammer: ” How? Who? ” ” That,” said Tom, ‘is something they’ll have to find out.”

So, it had happened. There were several people who had wanted him out of the way. I was very much afraid, for I feared someone I knew might be guilty of murder.

My first thoughts had gone to Daniel. I could not believe that that gentle man could be capable of murder. It was unbearable. It would mean the end of Rachel’s happiness.

Harry Gentry? He had threatened Gaston Marchmont with a gun. He had actually fired it.

Tamarisk? She had come to hate him. He had deceived her; he had humiliated her. She was unpredictable, reckless and above all things she hated to be humiliated.

Crispin hated him. He had said more than once that he would like to be rid of him. He was a menace to everyone. He had even disturbed poor Flora. He created unpleasantness wherever he went.

Not Crispin, I kept saying to myself. That would be unbearable beyond everything.

For the first time, I faced my true feelings for him. He had attracted me from the moment I saw him; and when I: he had made that unfortunate remark it had hurt more because it came from him. Barrow Wood? Well, that had affected us both deeply. For myself, I could never forget his wrath when he had thrown Mr. Dorian from him. Nor could I forget his tenderness when he turned to me and picked me up. How I had enjoyed those lunches at the Little Vixen. I had tried to disguise from myself how much I looked forward to his coming to the office.

But there was a barrier there, something which I could not understand.

Sometimes I saw a warmth in his attitude towards me. I could imagine that he cared about me; then there would be that aloofness. Perhaps 1

was half in love with him, but there were times when I felt I did not know him entirely. That aloofness was not only for me, though. It was for everybody. He had a fanatical devotion to the estate. I supposed that was understandable. It was a great responsibility. It was as though there was something on his mind . some secret.

Secrets! I was looking for secrets everywhere. It was due to those visits to the Lanes’ cottage and that haunting picture of the magpies.

I had even dreamed of them.

Aunt Sophie talked of little else but the death of Gaston Marchmont;

but then everyone in Harper’s Green was naturally talking about it.

Who killed Gaston Marchmont? That was the question on everyone’s lips.

There was expectancy in the air. Everyone believed that they would know the answer soon.

Lily was sure it was Harry Gentry.

“He had it in for him,” she said.

“Ever since he caught him with young Sheila. She was ready enough, I’ll warrant. If you ask me, it was six to one and half a dozen to the other. Well, he got his comeuppance and it’ll be a lesson to her.”

“I hope poor old Harry hasn’t got himself involved with that,” said Aunt Sophie.

“It’s murder, whatever way you look at it. He’s hot-tempered, I know, but I doubt he’d lie in wait, coldbloodedly like that. He’d have too much sense. No, I reckon it’s someone from that man’s past. I reckon he’s got one.”

Aunt Sophie was soothing. She had an idea that I was worried about Crispin. She may have understood my feelings better than I did myself.

She knew very well that Crispin had hated Gaston Marchmont and was hoping to get him out of St. Aubyn’s. I liked to think that someone from his past had murdered Gaston Marchmont.

Over the next few days the police were constant visitors to Harper’s Green. Accounts of Harry Gentry’s threats had zoi

. ys leaked out and he was questioned several times. It seemed he had an alibi. He had been painting a neighbour’s housejj until nine o’clock that evening when Gaston was shot, and after that the neighbour had gone to the Gentrys’ cottage with Harry. They had had a beer and a sandwich made by Sheila, and they had played poker till past midnight.

It was reckoned that the shot which had killed Gaston had been fired between ten-thirty and eleven that night. So Harry Gentry was, as they said, ‘in the clear’.

I went to see Rachel. I was glad that her connection with Gaston was not generally known. Daniel, Tamarisk and I were the only ones in the secret.

She was very relieved to see me.

“I knew you’d come some time,” she said.

“I wanted to come before … but I was not sure …”

“Freddie, you don’t think it was Daniel?”

I was silent.

“It’s not true,” she burst out vehemently.

“He came in in the late afternoon and was in the house till morning. Jack was here. He can prove it.”

“Oh Rachel, I’ve been so worried.”

“So have I … or would have been if I didn’t know that Daniel had been here all that time. It happened that night between ten and eleven, didn’t it? He’d been lying there … dead … all that time.”

“Why should Daniel come into this?” I said.

“Why should Gaston be connected with you? No one knows that there might be a motive.”

“They mustn’t know, Freddie. Oh, they mustn’t know.”

“No one knows about you and Gaston but us, and … er … Tamarisk.”

She looked at me in dismay.

“He told her,” I said. I went on quickly, “She wouldn’t say anything.

She wouldn’t want it known that while he was courting her he was making love to you. It’s all right. There’s nothing to worry about.

Aunt Sophie thinks it might have been someone from his past. A man like that would surely have a shady past. He must have made enemies. He has in the short time he has been here made many. “

“Oh, Freddie, I know it’s wrong, but I’m glad he’s not here any more.

There would never have been any peace. I’m glad. I’m glad. “

“I understand how you feel. I can really see no reason why you should be connected with this.”

She put her arms round me and clung to me.

“I’m glad you’re here, Freddie. I’m glad you’re my friend. Daniel often says what a wonderful friend you have been to us both. When I think …”

“Don’t think of that. Forget it. It isn’t going to matter now. You are free of him. I just wanted to make sure that Daniel was not…”

“He wasn’t. I swear he was here all the time.”

I wanted so much to believe her. I did while I was with her, but when I went away, I thought how much Daniel must hate him because Rachel had once loved him. The child he loved was not his. And then Gaston had come back to threaten.

He was innocent. She had sworn he was innocent. But then a little voice within me said: Well, she would, wouldn’t she?

I went to see Tamarisk. I was told that she was in her room and not seeing anyone.

“Will you tell her I called?” I said.

“If she wants to see me I could come at any time.”

1 hovered while the maid went upstairs. She came down hastily just as 1 was leaving.

“Mrs. Marchmont says she will see you. Miss Hammond.” She looked at me and shook her head.

“Poor lady. The police have been pestering her again. She’s taking this badly.”

“I know what it must be like,” I said.

“I won’t stay long unless she wants me to.”

Tamarisk was lying on her bed. She was fully clothed but her long fair hair was loose about her shoulders. She looked very pale.

“So you came, Fred,” she said.

“I wanted to before, but I wasn’t sure whether you’d want to see anyone. I was almost turned away today.”

“I didn’t want to see most people. But I’d like to talk to you.”

I sat down by the bed.

“Isn’t it awful?” she went on.

I nodded.

“I can’t believe that I shall never see him again. I can’t believe he’s dead. The police have been here. They keep asking questions.

They’ve interviewed Crispin . my mother . some of the servants. My mother is very unhappy. She was really fond of him. “

“Tamarisk, how are you feeling?”

She stared ahead of her and I noticed the sullen droop of her lips.

She said: “I know 1 mustn’t say this … but it’s only to you. I’m glad. That’s the truth. I hated him.”

1 was startled and she smiled wryly.

“I didn’t tell the police that, of course. They might have thought I was the one who did it. I can tell you there were times when I might have done it.”

“Don’t talk like that. Tamarisk!”

“It’s unwise, isn’t it? In fact, it’s almost as though they suspect me although they haven’t said so in so many words. I’ve been an awful fool, Fred. But you always thought 1 was, didn’t you? 1 believed all he told me. And while he was telling me he wouldn’t look at anyone else, he was carrying on an intrigue with Rachel.”

Tamarisk, please don’t talk of that. Think of what it would mean to her and Daniel. And there’s the baby. “

“But it’s true,” she said.