“Oh, hello. Major,” I said with relief.
“I was wondering who was in the copse today. One doesn’t usually meet anyone at this time.”
“All taking their afternoon nap … or siesta perhaps they call it.”
“I expect so.”
“You’re just the one I wanted to see. I did want to have a word with you.”
“About Kate.”
“Yes. She interrupted us when I thought I was going to have the opportunity I wanted.”
“Something is worrying you, isn’t it?”
“Yes.”
“What? I think she’s getting on very well.”
“It’s difficult to shout. Could we dismount and sit down on that tree-trunk over there?”
“I haven’t much time …”
“I know. I heard you make your appointment this morning But this won’t take more than five minutes.”
I dismounted and he did the same.
He came close to me, and taking my arm led me to the fallen tree-trunk.
“What is worrying you?” I said.
His face was close to mine.
“You,” he said.
“What do you mean?”
“Why did you go and see Mrs. Campden?”
“Mrs. Campden?”
“Of Malton House, Bayswater.”
I felt suddenly cold with fear. I did not answer.
“You don’t deny you went. You have very beautiful hair, Miss Cranleigh. Unusual colour. It’s very noticeable. I knew who it was right away. And what are you doing at Perrivale? You’re not a governess. You are an inquisitive young woman.”
He turned my face to a tree. He held me there with one hand while with the other he produced a tie from his pocket.
For a moment I wondered why and then the awful truth dawned on me.
I had looked for my murderer and here he was. I had found him, but in doing so I was going to become another of his victims.
I thought of the sailor . of Cosmo . of Simon . and now I was the one.
“You’ve none but yourself to blame,” he said.
“I don’t want to do this. I hate doing it to you. Kate will grieve .. Why couldn’t you let sleeping dogs lie?”
A wild hope came to me. If he were going to kill me why didn’t he do it? Why did he talk like this? It was almost as though he were putting it off. He was speaking the truth when he said he didn’t want to do it. He was doing it because he thought he must . it was necessary because he was already caught up in a maze of murder.
I said: “You are planning to do to me what you did to the sailor … you’ll kill me and throw me over the cliff. Kate told me … about the sailor … I understand now.”
“You understand … you understand too much. I know what’s happened.
It was Harry Tench, wasn’t it? He’s talked. Oh, Miss Cranleigh, why did you have to meddle? “
I was suddenly aware that Goldie was walking away. I felt desperately frightened. He seemed to realize that he was wasting time. He might be thinking of Lucas who could come to the inn and wait in vain.
With a deft movement he released his hand. He needed them both to strangle me with the tie. I attempted to dodge away . but he was watchful of me.
Any minute now . It must not be. I had found the murderer. I had succeeded. I would not die and let the secret die with me. I must make a super-human effort to break away . to get to Lucas.
I was praying silently to Lucas . to Simon . to God.
I had to tell them. I had to save Simon . and Lucas was waiting for me.
He had the tie round my throat. Somehow I managed to get my two thumbs under it which relieved the pressure. I lifted my leg and kicked backwards.
Luck was with me. He was not expecting that. He let out a cry of pain; the tie fell from his hands. I had a second or two in which to act; and I did. I broke away. I was agile and I was fighting for my life.
I had to get out of the copse before he caught me. Instinctively I knew he would not dare attack me in the open country. Someone could easily come into view.
Through the trees I dashed. He was after me, fully aware of the necessity to catch me before I emerged into the open.
I could hear him close on my heels. The branches caught at me, but somehow I managed to keep a step or two ahead of him, just out of his reach. If only Goldie were here . if only I could mount her.
The trees were thinning. There was not far to go. I was going to make it.
I could hear him close behind me, breathing heavily. He was not a young man, I thought exultantly. I had the advantage of youth.
I was thinking: Lucas! How right you were. I should have been more careful. I had had a warning with the wine. Of course, he was going to drug me . and then throw me over the cliff . just as he must have done in the case of the sailor, Mirabel’s husband. I had had a warning and I had been too blind to see. But . I had found my murderer. Success had been thrust upon me and it had nearly cost me my life.
I was out in the open. I dare not stop. I went on running as fast as I could. Cautiously I glanced over my shoulder.
He was no longer there. I had escaped. And suddenly I saw Lucas galloping towards me.
“Lucas!” I panted.
“Lucas!”
He leaped from his horse. He took me in his arms and held me tightly.
“Rosetta … my love … what happened?”
“I’ve found him, Lucas … I’ve found him. He was going to kill me.”
“Rosetta … what… ?”
“He followed me into the copse. He was going to strangle me … and then he would have thrown me over the cliff … as he did the sailor.”
“You’d better tell me all about it. I thought you’d had an accident when Goldie arrived at the inn without you.”
“Goldie … yes, she wandered off.”
“I was looking out for you when I saw her trotting along. She came straight to the stables.”
“Oh … good old Goldie …”
“I’d better take you home with me.”
“No … no, I must tell you. There isn’t much time … or there may not be …”
“You’re distraught … I want to know everything that happened. Who . ?”
“Let’s go into the inn. Tell them I took a toss. I can’t let them know what really happened yet.”
“Who was it, Rosetta?”
“It was Major Durrell.”
“What?”
I put my hand to my throat.
“He had a tie … he was going to strangle me. It was round my throat. I thought I couldn’t stop him. But I … managed … somehow … and I got away. He couldn’t catch me. I ran faster than he did.”
He stared at my throat.
“There are bruises,” he said.
“Rosetta … what in God’s name is this all about?”
“I want to talk to you, Lucas. I’ve got the answer … I think. It hasn’t been in vain.”
I got up behind him and we rode back to the inn. My thoughts were in such a jumble that I did not know where to begin. I was deeply shocked, trembling violently, but I
