The Secret Kiss of Darkness (24 page)

He strode back into the house whistling something he couldn’t identify himself, but it didn’t matter as long as it was a cheerful tune. ‘Nope, haven’t lost my mind,’ he muttered. ‘I think I just found it.’

Back in Devon once again, Kayla was preoccupied, thoughts of Jago and the horrible deaths suffered by Eliza and Sir John constantly on her mind. She understood why he had acted the way he did, and he’d sworn to her he hadn’t actually pushed the man, but with hindsight she could also see things from Sir John’s point of view. The fact of the matter was that his wife had been unfaithful with his own half-brother and it was no wonder he had become unhinged with grief and fury. The whole story was a tragedy for everyone involved, not least little baby Wesley.

She also waited anxiously for news from the art expert, but when he finally did contact her it was to dash her last hope into the ground.

‘I’m sorry, Miss Sinclair, but I’ve been unable to find out anything about the supposed painting of Lady Marcombe. No one has ever heard of it and as far as my colleagues and I are concerned, no record of such a portrait has ever been found. I wish I could help you, but as you said the story must have been made up, perhaps by someone wishing to sell a fake Gainsborough.’

Kayla thanked him and posted off the requested cheque, and that, she thought, was that. She had tried her best and failed.

The following afternoon Kayla and Wes were going through a particularly tricky contract line by line, when there was a knock on the office door. Annie stuck her head round the frame, looking slightly worried.

‘I’m sorry to bother you, but have either of you seen Nell recently?’

Wes and Kayla looked at each other and Kayla felt her stomach muscles contract involuntarily.

‘Not since lunchtime, no,’ Wes said. ‘I thought she was with you.’

‘Well, she was, but then her ma turned up and they went out into the garden for a while. I was watching them from the window, only they’ve disappeared now and I just wondered if they’d come inside. I know as how you said they weren’t to leave the grounds, so they must be somewhere about.’

Wes stood up and Kayla saw a muscle flicker in his jaw. ‘When did Caroline arrive, Annie?’

‘Oh, must have been a couple hours ago now. Yes, just after lunch as I recall.’

‘And when did you last see them from the kitchen window?’

‘Maybe an hour after that? I’m sorry, but I’m not sure. The garden’s so big, I didn’t think nothing of it at first. And to begin with I heard little Nell laughing. You know how loud she can be.’

‘I’d better go and look for them,’ Wes said.

‘I’ll come with you,’ Kayla offered. She indicated the contract they’d been working on. ‘I can’t finish this on my own anyway.’

‘Okay, let’s go then.’

Once outside the back door they went in separate directions in order to speed up the search, but when they converged some time later neither had seen any sign of Nell or her mother. Wes was looking grim and Kayla felt very anxious herself.

‘Bloody woman,’ Wes muttered. ‘What on earth is she up to now? She knows she’s not supposed to take Nell anywhere, not without my permission. I know it sounds harsh, but there were reasons.’ He shrugged.

‘Well, what do we do now? Can you call her mobile?’ Kayla was racking her brain trying to come up with some ideas, but her mind was blank.

‘Tried that, went to voicemail.’ Wes suddenly hit himself on the forehead. ‘Wait a minute, Caro’s car! We haven’t checked if it’s still here.’ He set off at a half-run towards the front of the house, where he came to a halt. ‘It’s gone. She must have taken Nell with her.’

‘I don’t remember hearing a car,’ Kayla said. ‘Are you sure she didn’t come on foot?’

‘Well, maybe, but we were so wrapped up in that damned contract, I don’t suppose we were paying attention.’ Wes sighed. ‘I’ll have to go and report this to the police in Kingsbridge. I know Caro’s licence number, so perhaps they can help me find her. There’s nothing much else I can do.’

‘What about me? Do you want me to continue to look around here?’

‘If you wouldn’t mind, although I doubt you’ll find her. No, Caro’s up to her tricks again. Honestly, it’s enough to try the patience of a saint.’

He stalked off to find his own car and went roaring down the drive a few moments later. Kayla followed the Land Rover with her gaze for as long as she could, then turned to continue the search, although without much hope.

After thanking everyone who had testified on his behalf, Jago headed straight back to Marcombe. Nice though it was to be surrounded by well-wishers and supporters, he needed to be alone for a while. Before and during the trial, he’d tried not to dwell on the fact that Eliza was gone, but now he knew he had to face the future without her. He felt mostly numb, as if an icy chill had spread from his gut and into his every vein. It would have been so easy to sink into misery and either drown his sorrows with brandy or find some way of joining her in the afterlife. But there was a compelling reason for him to stay alive.

He had a son.

Officially the boy may not be his, but Jago had no intention of letting anyone else bring him up. The will he’d forced John to sign had been taken to a lawyer to be proved. The doctor, who’d turned out to be a stalwart ally, had added his signature as a witness, and no one doubted his word. He’d come to see Jago in prison to tell him all was proceeding smoothly.

‘I can’t thank you enough, Mr Ward-Matthews,’ Jago murmured through the bars, keeping his voice down so no one would hear them. ‘Although, if this trial ends the way the judge would no doubt like, your efforts will have been in vain.’ It wasn’t something he wanted to think about at that point.

‘We’ll see, we’ll see,’ the doctor had replied. ‘The Lord and the law work in mysterious ways.’ And he’d been right.

Out of habit, Jago entered the Hall via the kitchen and found the servants seated around the big scrubbed pine table eating their midday meal. They all looked up and an expectant hush fell over the room. The butler, Armitage, stood up, an expression of relief spreading over his features.

‘Mr Kerswell,’ he said. ‘I take it all went well?’

‘If by that you mean I’m a free man, then yes. I rode ahead of the others, but they’ll be back soon. I just …’ He suddenly came to a halt, not sure how to proceed. He had the official right of guardianship over his son, but to all intents and purposes the child was now the owner of this house. The boy was also master of the people in front of Jago, who in turn was nothing but an innkeeper. It was an awkward situation, not to say impossible.

To his surprise, Armitage came to his rescue. ‘You’ve come to make sure the little one is safe, I presume? I’ll take you up to see him now. He’s as right as rain and the wet nurse is a dependable woman, clean and healthy. Lady Marcombe chose her herself before the birth.’ At the mention of his late mistress, the butler’s expression turned bleak, but he quickly regained his usual equilibrium.

As Jago followed the man upstairs, he couldn’t help but ask, ‘So it’s common knowledge then?’

‘That you’re the boy’s guardian, yes.’

It wasn’t what Jago had meant, and he was sure the butler was well aware they were speaking of the child’s parentage too. ‘You don’t mind?’ The question encompassed both subjects.

Armitage stopped outside the nursery and turned to Jago, his gaze frank and open. ‘Her ladyship was well liked by the staff and we all want what’s best for her child. As long as you perform your duties towards him in a fitting manner, you’ll have our support.’

Jago knew the butler had said as much as he was ever going to say on the subject and it was enough. He nodded. ‘Thank you, Mr Armitage, I appreciate it and I promise you I’ll do my best.’

Armitage put out his hand and they shook on it.

When Wes returned, Kayla could see immediately that he was in a foul mood.

‘What happened? Were the police not helpful?’

‘I’m sure they would have been, only I never got that far.’

‘What do you mean?’ Kayla frowned at him in confusion. ‘Did you change your mind?’

‘No, but there was no need to ask them for assistance. I found the stupid woman myself. She was sitting at that outside café down by the harbour having coffee. I saw her when I drove past.’

Kayla let out a sigh of relief. ‘Oh, thank God. So Nell is still with her mother then?’

‘No,’ Wes growled. ‘And Caro claims she left her here, playing quietly in her room.’

‘What? Oh, no … But I’ve looked everywhere, even in the attic.’

‘Well, we’ll just have to look again. Caro was so smug, I’m sure she’s hidden her somewhere, just to give me another fright, but I’m damned if I know where that could be. I swear the woman should be locked up.’ He paced the hall, and Kayla could see he was trying to think where to look next. ‘Let’s start at the beginning, in the garden. If we call out perhaps Nell will hear us and be able to reply. You go and make a start and I’ll get Annie and Ben from the gatehouse to help out as well.’

‘Okay.’ Kayla set off for the garden, but she knew in her heart that Nell wasn’t there. So where was she?

An hour later Nell still hadn’t been found and Kayla was sitting on a bench in the garden resting her head in her hands. She could hear Wes calling for his daughter, but she was sure it was no use. There had to be another way.

Suddenly inspiration struck and she almost gasped out loud. ‘Of course, why didn’t I think of it before,’ she muttered. Standing up so abruptly her head swam for a moment, she set off at a run towards the field that contained the Gypsies, praying they hadn’t packed up and left. If anyone could help them find Nell, it was the old lady. This was her chance to prove she really did have the second sight.

Panting heavily from her sprint, she came to a halt at the edge of the field. At first it looked empty, but then she spotted the ancient caravan partly obscured by a tree and quickly set off towards it. As she rounded the corner she saw the old lady sitting on the top step in the open door, smiling her toothless grin in welcome.

‘There you are, young lady. I’ve been expecting you.’

Kayla was trying to get her breath back and couldn’t reply straight away. She swallowed hard and blinked away tears of relief that threatened to fall. ‘Thank God you’re still here,’ she panted. ‘I was afraid you’d be gone.’

The old woman smiled again. ‘The others left, but I told them to come back for me in a week as there was something I had to do first. Now ask me your question.’

‘Nell … the little girl … do you know where she is? Is she safe? Please, I’d be so grateful if you could help me. We’ve looked everywhere and Wes, that’s her father, is so scared. Me too.’

The woman nodded. ‘I know Wes and little Nell. It’s as I thought. Well, I can’t tell you exactly, but I can say this – she’s waiting on the sand and she’s starting to feel cold and frightened. You must find her quickly. She wants to go home.’

‘The sand?’ Kayla scowled, not satisfied with such measly information at first, but then understanding dawned. ‘The sand! You mean she’s at the cove? The one she and Wes took me to a couple of weeks ago?’

‘Aye, that might be the one. As I said, I can’t tell you for certain. All I see is sand and the little ’un sitting there forlornly. Go now. Your instinct will guide you.’

‘Thank you.’ On impulse Kayla bent down to hug the old woman and heard a chuckle behind her as she began to run back down the path to the house. At the edge of the field she paused and turned to wave at the Gypsy lady, who returned the salute, then she ran as fast as she could to find Wes.

‘Down in the cove? Why on earth would she be there?’ Wes looked at her in disbelief when she came hurtling into the kitchen, babbling about Gypsies and fortune telling.

‘You don’t actually believe Gypsies can foretell the future, do you?’ Annie said, looking as though she felt sorry for Kayla. ‘It’s just a bit of fun, you know.’

‘No, I mean yes, I mean, I don’t know, but we have to at least look. What have we got to lose?’

Wes was still frowning and Kayla felt like stamping her foot and screaming in frustration. She didn’t have time to explain to him now just why she knew the old lady might genuinely have the sight. He’d never believe her anyway.

To her surprise he nodded and said, ‘You’re right, come on.’

‘You believe me?’

He gave her a distracted smile. ‘I believe Katerina. I’ve known her all my life. If she says Nell’s in the cove I’d bet anything on that.’

‘Well, really,’ Annie muttered, shaking her head at the pair of them, but Wes ignored the housekeeper for once and took Kayla’s elbow to steer her out of the kitchen.

‘Let’s go. We have to hurry. It’ll be getting dark soon.’

They took the car as far as the top of the cliff, then set off down the path, trying to keep their balance while walking as fast as they could. Wes went first, so he could block her fall if Kayla should trip or slide on the loose gravel, and consequently he was the first to spot his daughter.

‘Oh, sweetheart, there you are!’ Kayla heard him cry out, before he took off at a run.

‘Be careful,’ she called after him, but he paid her no heed.

Nell was sitting on the sandy beach, her thin arms wrapped around her legs and her head bent over her knees while she rocked back and forth. As Kayla came running down the last part of the path, slipping and sliding dangerously, she could hear Nell crying and it was a heart-wrenching sound.

‘Nell, honey, we’re here. Everything’s going to be okay,’ Wes called out and sprinted across to his daughter. He picked her up and hugged her fiercely, as if he’d never let her go again.

‘Daddy, where have you been? Mummy said you’d come soon, but it’s been ages and it’s almost dark and I was so scared.’

‘Shh, it’s all right. I’m sorry, but Mummy must have forgotten to tell me to come because I didn’t know you were waiting. Look, Kayla’s here too, she didn’t know either.’

Wes sent Kayla a look over Nell’s head and in it she saw despair at the stupid trick Caroline had played on him, but also enormous relief that Nell was safe. She felt the same way herself, so she went over and put her arms round both of them and it felt so right.

‘Yes, I’m here. Everything is fine now.’

They stood like that for what seemed like ages, then Wes said, ‘Come on, we’d better get you home, sweetie. You must be starving. I know I am.’

‘Oh, yes, can I have Marmite sandwiches?’

Wes laughed. ‘You can have anything you want. Anything at all.’

He looked at Kayla again and they smiled at each other. Nell was safe and it was all that mattered. From now on they wouldn’t let her out of their sight and they knew Annie wouldn’t either. Caroline would have no more opportunities for foul play.

‘Kayla, would you like to go to a dinner party with me tomorrow night?’

Lost in unhappy thoughts about her failure to find the picture of Eliza, the question took Kayla completely by surprise. She looked up from her computer screen and blinked at Wes. Things had calmed down in the Marcombe household and were back to normal, with the exception that Nell was kept under constant supervision. Wes had been taking his turn at playing with his daughter after school and Kayla hadn’t expected him back so soon.

‘Sorry? A dinner party? Where?’

‘One of my oldest friends lives not too far from here and he and his wife are having a little get-together. They rang just now and they’ve asked me to bring someone.’ Wes smiled ruefully. ‘They’ve been saying that since Caro and I got divorced and I always come alone, so I thought it would be nice to surprise them this time.’ He shrugged. ‘If you’d rather not, I understand.’

Kayla pulled herself together and pushed Jago to the back of her mind for the moment. ‘No, no, I would love to. I mean, it would be great to meet some new people.’

Wes chuckled. ‘Yes, you must be sick and tired of us here at Marcombe. You never see anyone else.’

‘No, of course I’m not tired of you. I like it here.’
I could stay here forever,
she could have added. It was heaven on earth and the longer she stayed, the more she enjoyed it.

‘You’re sure you want to come?’

‘Yes, thank you. I look forward to it. Is it a formal do? Just asking so I know what I should wear.’

‘Nothing formal I don’t think. Actually, I never pay attention to what females wear, so I couldn’t tell you. But I’m going in dark chinos and a casual blazer if that’s any help? No tie.’

‘Oh, very helpful,’ Kayla answered sarcastically. ‘I wear that all the time.’

Wes laughed and shrugged. ‘Well, you look good in everything, so don’t worry too much about it.’

Kayla felt a blush spreading over her cheeks, then told herself not to be so silly. Sure, he’d given her a compliment, but he hadn’t sounded serious. She mustn’t read anything into it. He was just being polite.

But he had asked her to a dinner party and she was determined to look her best.

Kayla made him eat his words since he certainly seemed to pay a lot of attention to the outfit she finally chose to wear. A minuscule black silk skirt showed off her legs in sheer black tights. This was worn with an extremely tight sky-blue top which had Wes’s eyes glued to her for a full five seconds before he recovered, making Kayla smile inwardly. High heels made her about four inches taller and she had finished her outfit off by adding a long string of pearls. They were a twenty-first birthday present from her parents and she wore them tied in a loose knot at the bottom, with a pair of matching dangling pearl earrings.

‘Wow!’ he finally breathed. ‘You look far too nice to go to a mere dinner party. I should be taking you to some fancy restaurant instead.’