Haunted Read online

  “I have often seen him at White’s Club,” Charles Toddington interrupted.

  The Marquis turned his head to look at his friend.

  “You have, Charles? Would I remember him?”

  “There is no reason why you should,” Charles replied. “He is a rather unpleasant-looking chap, over-dressed, almost a dandy in appearance, and associated with the hard-drinking noisy crowd who make a nuisance of themselves in the card room.”

  The expression on the Marquis’s face was very eloquent before he turned back to Mimosa,

  “I can understand your grandfather feeling that his nephew was behaving in a foolhardy manner.”

  “If only Papa was alive, he could tell you far better than I can what Cousin Norton is like. But I remember his saying – that he was very vindictive.”

  “What did he mean by that?”

  “Apparently,” Mimosa answered, “when he was at Eton he expected to be chosen to row for his House and, when this did not happen, he bored a hole in the boat during the night and plugged it with some substance that dissolved in water. As soon as the boat was launched, it sank. Fortunately it was in a shallow part of the river – so that no one was drowned.”

  The Marquis stared at her as if he could hardly believe what he was being told and then he asked,

  “Was this known? Was he not punished for it?”

  Mimosa shook her head.

  “No, but Papa knew, and he said because Cousin Norton got away with it, he used to boast about how clever he had been and how he had paid out those who had prevented him from being one of the crew as he had wanted.”

  “If he does things like that,” the Marquis said dryly, “it makes your story of what has happened now seem much more convincing.”

  “I was afraid that you would – not believe me,” Mimosa said, “but because you were so brave and successful against the French – I felt that only you would be able to compete with the villainy of Cousin Norton.”

  Listening, Charles Toddington thought with amusement that the Marquis had had many compliments paid to him, but this was perhaps one that he would really appreciate.

  The Marquis had been listening intently to everything Mimosa had to tell him and he only said,

  “Tell me more.”

  She made a little gesture with her hands.

  “There is really very little more. I have not seen very much of Cousin Norton. In fact I have avoided him until he came to the funeral and then – to be honest – he frightened me!”

  “You must try not to be afraid,” the Marquis urged her.

  “How can I help it?” she asked. “Jimmy is so young – and the reason why I came to you was that I was sure that none of our relatives who live near, even if they believed me, would wish to become involved in anything so unpleasant.”

  “That I can understand,” the Marquis said quietly, “and now we have to decide what is to be done about you both.”

  Jimmy put down his empty glass and, as he did so, he said,

  “I don’t want to die, I want to be a soldier like Papa.”

  “I am sure that is what your father would want too,” the Marquis said, “and he would also want you to be very brave and prevent your sister from being too frightened by what is happening.”

  “I am not frightened!” Jimmy boasted.

  Then, as he met the Marquis’s eye, he added,

  “Well, only a little bit, after the stone from the top of the house fell so near to me.”

  “That is certainly something that must not happen again,” the Marquis said. “What I suggest. Lady Mimosa, is that you and Jimmy come to stay here while we consider what can be done about you in the future.”

  Mimosa’s eyes widened in surprise as she said,

  “Do you – really mean that we can – stay with you, my Lord?”

  “I think it is taking unnecessary risks for you to be in your own home if, as you tell me, you and Jimmy live alone.”

  She looked faintly embarrassed before she answered,

  “I know that after Grandpapa died – I ought to have asked somebody to come to stay with me, but there seemed to be nobody very suitable or who would be pleased to do so and, when things began to happen, I found it difficult to – think of anything else.”

  “Yes, of course,” the Marquis said soothingly. “But what I think you should do now is to send a carriage back for your belongings – I presume if you ask for what you want there will be a maid to pack them for you?”

  “Yes, indeed, my Lord,” Lady Mimosa replied.

  “Then suppose you sit down at that desk over there,” the Marquis suggested, “and write a note to one of your servants while I arrange for a carriage to go over and pick up whatever you have asked for, together with my valet who will make sure that nothing useful is overlooked.”

  “You are very kind,” Mimosa murmured.

  “And very efficient!” Charles added, smiling as he spoke. “In fact, you will discover, Lady Mimosa, that the Marquis is at his best when he is organising a campaign and that is what you have become at this particular moment!”

  “I-I hope so,” Lady Mimosa said fervently. “At the same time, my Lord, we would not wish to be an encumbrance or – a nuisance to you. When I came here, I never thought for a moment that you would – ask us to be your guests.”

  “If I am to believe everything you have told me,” the Marquis declared, “we must take every precaution to keep Jimmy safe and make certain that there are no more apparent attempts on his life such as you have already narrated.”

  “Thank you – thank you for being so kind,” Mimosa said, “and for not telling me that I was making a – mountain out of a molehill, which is what I was afraid you – might do.”

  The Marquis laughed.

  “This is certainly something very different,” he said, “but I think however serious it sounds we must try to keep our sense of humour.”

  “If I am going to stay here with you, my Lord,” Jimmy piped up, who was obviously following his own train of thought rather than listening to what was being said, “can I ride your horses?”

  “Jimmy!” Mimosa exclaimed quickly before the Marquis could reply. “That is not something you should ask!”

  “But he has the best horses in the whole country!” Jimmy protested. “You said so yourself!”

  Mimosa looked at the Marquis apologetically.

  “I am sorry, my Lord,” she said, “but Jimmy loves horses and because Grandpapa was so ill for so long the horses at home have grown old and there was nobody to agree that we should buy or breed any young ones.”

  The Marquis realised that she was embarrassed and to put her at her ease, he said,

  “I can assure you, Lady Mimosa, as my friend Major Toddington and I are here alone, and my stables are full, we should be delighted to have your help and Jimmy’s with my horses which in my opinion, never have enough exercise.”

  He saw Mimosa’s eyes light up and guessed that she was as excited about riding his horses as her brother was.

  Then, as Mimosa moved to sit at the desk and write a letter to the housekeeper at her home, Jimmy said excitedly to the Marquis,

  “I want to ride a really fast spirited horse! It’s very frustrating to go slow when one really wants to go fast!”

  Charles laughed.

  “I agree with you, young man. At the same time we would not want you to end up with a broken collarbone or a fractured leg just when we have to fight a battle on your behalf!”

  Jimmy looked excited.

  “Is that what you are going to do?”

  “It appears we have little choice,” the Marquis said dryly. “I hope, Charles, that you have some original ideas as to how we are to start. The main difficulty, as I see it, is to bring him out into the open.”

  The eyes of the two men met and they were both thinking that, once Norton Field was aware that the Marquis of Heroncourt was involved, he would be on his guard.

  Perhaps for the moment he would make no
further move to eliminate the young boy who stood in his way to the Earldom until the excitement over what had happened had died down and they had reverted to a false sense of security.

  “I know what you are thinking, Charles,” the Marquis muttered quietly, “and I am thinking the same.”

  He paused for a moment and then he said,

  “I have an idea!”

  “What is it?” Charles Toddington asked and Mimosa raised her head from the letter she was writing to gaze at him.

  “Now I think about it,” the Marquis went on, “we have to have a plausible reason for inviting Lady Mimosa and Jimmy to stay here. If Norton Field thinks that they have come here for sanctuary, he will obviously draw in his horns and sit waiting until they are bored when nothing happens and return home.”

  “I see what you mean,” Charles said. “Then what is your idea?”

  The Marquis did not answer him, but looked down at Jimmy and said quietly,

  “Now listen to me, young man, this is very serious and it concerns you. As I have just said, we have to have an excuse for having you and your sister here. What I am going to suggest is that you are staying here because you are not well enough to return home and that is what we must make people believe.”

  There was silence and then Jimmy asked,

  “What are you asking me to do, my Lord?”

  “I am suggesting that we all go riding,” the Marquis said, “and, when you have enjoyed galloping on what I promise you will be a very spirited horse, we will come back, but you will be riding on the front of my saddle and Major Toddington will be leading your horse.”

  Jimmy looked puzzled and the Marquis went on to explain,

  “You will have had a fall. It will not be serious, but you are slightly concussed. Do you know what that means?”

  “Yes, of course, my Lord,” Jimmy answered. “I fell out of a tree last year when I was nearly at the top. When I hit the ground, I saw stars and afterwards I had a terrible headache.”

  “Right!” the Marquis said. “Now you have to be very clever and, when I bring you back here after our ride, you are only half-conscious, your head hurts you badly and I shall think it is a mistake for you to return home until you have seen a doctor.”

  The Marquis turned to Mimosa who was listening intently and suggested,

  “Tear up your letter and start again. Say that Jimmy has had a fall out riding and you are therefore obliged to stay here tonight and probably longer until he is very much better. Then ask for what you need and the carriage will bring back your things later in the evening.”

  “I think that is – very clever of you, my Lord.”

  Then she gave a little cry.

  “You don’t think that – Cousin Norton will try to injure Jimmy while – he is here?”

  “If he does, we shall be ready for him,” the Marquis affirmed.

  He glanced at Charles Toddington as he spoke and they both knew that was what he was hoping would happen, since he would prefer to fight on his own ground rather than on anybody else’s.

  “Now,” he said, “I am going to order the horses. For the next hour, Jimmy, you can really enjoy yourself. After that, you have to show me that you are not only a good rider but also a good actor.”

  “I will try very hard, my Lord.”

  “You must not make any mistakes!”

  “No, of course not,” Jimmy said bravely.

  “The only person outside this room who will know that you are acting will be my valet. We will be relying on him to nurse you, for as he was with me in the war he is an expert at any sort of wound or injury.’

  “It will be exciting being here,” Jimmy commented, “but it will be rather boring if I have to stay in bed.”

  “It will not be for long,” the Marquis promised. “At the same time it is absolutely essential that we keep up the excuse for you not returning to your own home and staying with a neighbour who is almost next door.”

  As if he sensed that Jimmy was disappointed at having to be confined to bed, he suggested,

  “We will have to make sure that despite your injuries you are still capable of enjoying the very delicious dishes that my chef will provide for you. He is famous for his chocolate pudding which the Prince Regent complained the last time he came here made him fatter than he was already!”

  Jimmy laughed.

  “I love chocolate pudding!”

  “Which is something I much enjoyed when I was your age,” the Marquis told him.

  He pulled at the bell and, when the butler answered it, he asked,

  “Are the horses ready?”

  “Yes, my Lord. They’re waiting outside.”

  “Then send again to the stables because Lady Mimosa Field and her brother, the Earl of Petersfield, would like to accompany us. Make sure that the horses they ride can keep up with those that Major Toddington and I are riding.”

  “Very good, my Lord.”

  As the butler closed the door, Mimosa said,

  “I am quite certain, my Lord, that we are giving you a great deal of trouble and that is certainly something I did not intend.”

  “That may be true,” Charles Toddington said before the Marquis could reply, “but I for one am very grateful to you, Lady Mimosa.”

  “Grateful?”

  “Before you arrived my friend was complaining bitterly at the monotony of peacetime England. He was, although I am sure you will not believe me, comparing it unfavourably to the discomforts of the Peninsula War!”

  “That surely cannot be true!” Lady Mimosa said incredulously.

  She looked at the Marquis.

  Then she said,

  “But this is different. There you were fighting an enemy you could see and hear, whereas now it is far more difficult and might be even more dangerous!”

  “I cannot believe that!” the Marquis retorted lightly.

  “On the contrary I know exactly what Lady Mimosa is saying,” Charles said. “It is true that in the Peninsula there was no mistake about whom we were fighting or why. Now our opponent, while suspect, is actually not identifiable and certainly we have no idea what those who are helping him are like or even if they really exist.”

  Mimosa drew in her breath.

  “It is very – very frightening.”

  “We fought at the Battle of Waterloo,” the Marquis said firmly. “And I refuse to be intimidated by sneak-thieves or invisible murderers. If we, intelligent people, cannot match our brains against somebody whom I am convinced is mentally deranged, then I for one will be very ashamed of myself!”

  He spoke positively and Charles knew that he was in fact intrigued and even excited by the situation that he was now confronted with.

  *

  A little later they rode away from the house, moving under the trees in the Park towards the Marquis’s private Racecourse, which was on a flat piece of ground that led down to a twisting stream.

  Charles Toddington knew as they went that the Marquis was in a very different mood from the one he had anticipated when he had first suggested that they should ride together in order to eradicate his boredom.

  Now he was not only talking animatedly to Mimosa but he had an alert look about him that Charles recognised because it was how he had looked when they were in the Peninsula.

  He could never remember a day when they were fighting their way through Portugal and Spain into the South of France, when the Marquis had not been full of vitality and verve, encouraging his men and making them laugh even in the most unpleasant situations.

  He had evoked in every soldier he spoke to a confidence that, come hell or high water, they would be victorious.

  ‘It is the best thing that could have happened to Drogo,’ he told himself.

  He knew that, while the Marquis had lost a fiver, what really mattered was that he had been lifted out of the dismal attitude to life his house party had reduced him to into becoming, as Charles described it to himself, a Crusader with a definite aim and object to be achieved.r />
  They went twice round the Racecourse, the three older members of the group taking the jumps, while Jimmy was instructed to bypass them.

  He was a little disappointed, but the Marquis was taking no chances of his being genuinely injured, seeing that he was riding a horse that was larger, faster and more difficult to control than anything he could have ridden before.

  But Jimmy was obviously a sportsman and the Marquis admired not only the way he rode but his eagerness to do anything that anybody asked of him.

  Only when they were halfway home did the Marquis lead the way into a small wood.

  “Now, Jimmy,” he said, “this is where you change your role and show me how well you can act the part of somebody who has just had a very unpleasant and painful fall.”

  Jimmy gave a little sigh as if he could hardly bear to give up riding, but he said nothing and obediently dismounted.

  Then he patted his horse affectionately on the neck and waited for the Marquis’s instructions.

  “I suggest first,” he said, “that you sit down on the mossy ground and get the seat of your breeches dirty.”

  At first Jimmy looked surprised, then, as he understood, he grinned and did as he was told.

  “Now pick up a little dirt and rub it onto your forehead.”

  Again Jimmy obeyed him and Charles said in a low voice to Mimosa who was watching,

  “One thing you will learn about our host is that he has an amazing eye for detail. Nothing escapes him, a soldier’s unpolished button or somebody telling him a lie.”

  “He is magnificent!” Mimosa exclaimed. “And he is kinder than I could ever have expected. At the same time he is rather frightening!”

  Charles raised his eyebrows.

  This was not an adjective he had heard to describe the Marquis before.

  “Why do you think that?” he enquired.

  Mimosa considered the question carefully before she replied,

  “He is so – authoritative and the vibrations I feel coming from him seem – overwhelming!”

  Charles looked even more surprised than he had before.

  “I know what you mean,” he said, “but – ”

  He paused and then, as if she knew what he was thinking, Mimosa said with a smile,