you will prolong your stay in Jerusalem, Mr Holdsworth? We must not forget the library.’
‘Just what I’ve been saying, sir,’ Frank put in. ‘My mother would insist on it.’
‘In that case you must not refuse us, sir. By the way, did you tell Mr Oldershaw the sad news about our library clerk, Mr Soresby?’
Holdsworth shook his head.
‘Soresby?’ Frank said. ‘The sizar? What of him?’
‘I regret to say he stands accused of stealing a book from the library,’ Richardson said. ‘Such a promising young man, too, and with the world at his feet. To compound the matter further, he has run off.’
‘How very tiresome,’ Frank said mechanically. ‘Oh, and by the way, sir, Mepal says the Master is indisposed. Where will Mr Holdsworth stay? He had better not go back to the Master’s Lodge.’
‘If I am to be here for another day or two, I’ll find lodgings in the town,’ Holdsworth said.
‘No, no,’ Frank said. ‘I am sure Mr Richardson would not hear of it – eh, sir?’
‘The college would be delighted to entertain you, Mr Holdsworth. Leave it with me, and I shall see what can be done. We shall find you somewhere in New Building, I am sure.’ Richardson turned to Frank. ‘You will dine in hall with us, I hope, Mr Oldershaw? That is, if you are well enough. Perhaps you would prefer to rest after your journey from Whitebeach.’
‘Thank you, sir, I am perfectly well,’ Frank said testily. ‘I shall dine in hall. And Mr Holdsworth too.’
Richardson smiled. ‘Oh yes, of course – and Mr Holdsworth.’
39
‘Remember,’ Mrs Phear said, ‘you must not stir outside the college walls during the day.’
‘Why, ma’am, I can hardly forget with those jackals waiting at the gates.’
There came the sound of breaking crockery from the gyp room where Augustus and Dorcas were clearing away the tea things.
Mrs Phear screwed up her mouth. ‘Dorcas,’ she said, not troubling to raise her voice unduly.
Her maid appeared, wiping her hands on her apron, and curtsied clumsily.
‘What was broken? Who was responsible?’
‘If you please, ma’am, it was a teacup, and it slipped out of my hand, ma’am, I’m terrible sorry, I -’
‘You’re a wicked, clumsy girl,’ Mrs Phear observed without anger, as one expressing a fact. ‘You shall go without your dinner today. I have noticed before, an overfull stomach makes you inattentive and stupid.’
‘If you please, ma’am,’ Augustus said, from the doorway of the gyp room. ‘Please don’t be hard on her, it was my fault, she was handing it to me, and I -’
‘Be silent,’ Whichcote snapped.
Mrs Phear turned back to Whichcote and said in the sweet, soft voice she reserved for him, ‘I shall leave you, my dear. I must have my dinner and you will soon want yours.’
‘You must allow me to escort you, ma’am.’
‘At least as far as the gates.’ She smiled at him. ‘But mind you lock your doors here. The door of the study, as well as your oak. Your future is there.’
Followed by Dorcas, Mrs Phear and Whichcote went downstairs and into the sunshine. Mrs Phear paused on the way to admire the majestic spread of the oriental plane.
‘It is truly charming,’ she observed. ‘If you have to spend a few weeks in exile, there are worse places to be.’
They strolled through the arcade and across Chapel Court to the main gate. Mepal was not in his lodge but outside on the forecourt by St Andrew’s Street, engaged in conversation with two men wearing black.
Mrs Phear laid her hand on Whichcote’s arm. ‘Ah – your jackals, I fancy.’
They shook hands. But before Mrs Phear passed through the gateway, they heard quick, light footsteps behind them. Augustus ran up to them with a handkerchief that he held out to Mrs Phear with a low, swift bow, like a duck tucking its head underwater.
‘Found it on your chair, ma’am.’
Mrs Phear nodded to Dorcas, who stepped forward, head bowed, and took the handkerchief from Augustus. Whichcote saw the girl’s sidelong glance at Augustus, and his at her. Surely Mrs Phear’s beanpole and his own grubby dwarf could not be sweethearts? The very idea struck him as so bizarre that he almost laughed out loud.
When Mrs Phear had gone, Whichcote walked back to his rooms. He paused outside his staircase in New Building. As chance would have it, Frank was coming from the direction of the Jericho, looking across the garden as he walked. He did not see Whichcote until it was too late to avoid him.
‘I am rejoiced to see you in college,’ Whichcote said blandly. He was alert for any possibility of violence; he would not be caught off guard again. ‘Dare your friends hope that this means you are entirely recovered? I do hope so.’
Frank muttered something and tried to slip past him.
Whichcote moved to block him. ‘We shall be near neighbours. Augustus, go upstairs and wait for me outside my door.’ He waited until the boy was gone. ‘I have come into residence myself for a few days, or even a few weeks. I’m here in New Building – in G4. You must do me the honour of calling on me.’
‘I’ll see you damned first.’
‘That remains to be seen. If I were to tell the authorities what you did to that girl and bring witnesses to support the accusation, it is very probable that you would be damned before me.’
‘What do you mean – what in God’s name do you want?’
‘All in good time. I am sure we shall discuss this further. You may be interested to hear that I took the precaution of bringing the archives of the Holy Ghost Club when I came into college. They are exquisitely absorbing. For example, there’s your signature, all duly witnessed, in the membership book. You were pleased enough to become an Apostle, weren’t you? And you did so on the very night the girl died. On the very night that all these people saw you with her, about to seize her and deflower her. Yes, just before she died. The implication must be that the one led to the other.’
Frank seized Whichcote’s arm. ‘You blackguard,’ he hissed. ‘How dare you? Is this your revenge for Sylvia? And for me giving you a ducking?’
Whichcote stared at him but said nothing. Frank was larger than he was and Whichcote already knew the young man’s capacity for violence. But he also knew that power takes many forms. After a few seconds, Frank released his grip and took a step back.
Whichcote straightened the sleeve of his coat. ‘We shall talk later. No doubt you will want to run to your bear- leader, Holdsworth, and cry on his shoulder. You must not let me detain you. But I warn you, it won’t answer. You and I will have to come to an accommodation sooner or later.’
Elinor Carbury had a headache. She sat at her writing table and composed the third draft of her letter to Lady Anne Oldershaw. She hated herself for writing it. Life had made her do a great many things that encouraged her to hate herself.
There was a tap on the door, and Susan entered. She closed the door and stood with head bowed, waiting for her mistress to speak.
‘What is it?’ Elinor said, dipping her pen in the inkwell.
There was no reply. She glanced at her maid. There were tears running down her cheeks.
‘What is it?’ Elinor repeated, more sharply. ‘For heaven’s sake -’
‘Oh, ma’am, I have been so foolish.’ The girl cried harder. ‘So sinful,’ she gulped between sobs. ‘And you such a kind mistress! So generous! Oh, my heart could break.’
‘Do stop crying and tell me what it is,’ Elinor ordered.
Susan looked up. She said quietly, in her normal voice, ‘Oh, ma’am – I’m with child.’
Elinor had a brief and unwelcome vision of white muscular thighs pumping up and down in the wash-house. ‘You foolish girl. Whose is it? Ben’s?’
The maid nodded. ‘I couldn’t help myself, ma’am, he was so pressing. I’m sorry to trouble you, now of all times,
