During the next few weeks, the family’s treatment of me remained much the same, though Georgiana and I were restored to our former friendship. Lady Courtney was hostile and never let an opportunity slip of belittling me. Sir Hugh occasionally called me Victoria, but, on the whole, he seemed to be getting used to coming across me unexpectedly, and the shock he had experienced when first meeting me, grew less each time. Although at times I was aware of him watching me in a strange way.
Bassett seemed cool towards me and I noticed that he paid greater attention not only to Millicent but also to Evelyn Corby. I was annoyed to find that it affected me a little. I was not jealous, I told myself, how could I be when I disliked the man so? Serves him right if he does end up with the simpering Millicent, I thought.
But I could not imagine that a girl like Millicent, with no thought in her pretty head beyond securing a man and making a good marriage, would make a man like Bassett Courtney happy. And somehow, even though I disliked him, I thought he deserved happiness.
Once, when he encountered me in the hall and it was difficult for him to avoid me, I found myself wondering exactly what he thought of the two young women beneath his roof—Millicent and me. And of Evelyn the constant visitor to Courtney Hall
I was sure, in spite of what Georgiana had said, that he felt much the same about me as I did for him, that the dislike was mutual, for why else should he avoid me ever since the episode in the treasure room. His concern for my welfare, I decided, was merely because he was a good landlord to all the villagers, and I came under much the same category, I was his protégée and he wanted no one to think that he could not look after me as well as his Uncle James had done.
It was strange to think that we had the same uncle and aunt and yet were not related. But some mystery tied me to the Courtneys I was sure of it now. Something to do with my mother, and, though I could not ask outright for it seemed to be a closely guarded secret, I was determined to find out one day what it was all about.
‘Do you think, Louella,’ Bassett said when we met in the hall, the frown never, leaving his face, ‘that you could find time to come for another ride with me one afternoon, or are you otherwise engaged with Dr Corby?’
‘Of course not, Bassett. I should like to come, thank you.’
Naturally, I did not want to go riding with him whilst he was in such a mood, but what else was there to say?
When the master commanded, all must obey.
‘Good,’ and he strode away without another word.
The proposed ride through the Courtney village this time, took place two afternoons later, but it held none of the pleasure of the first outing we had had together, which Millicent’s arrival had spoilt. I felt I would never again be at such ease with Bassett as I had been before that carriage had rolled into view.
Bassett remained morose and hardly seemed to remember that I was with him.
He sat erect and tall on his horse, his brow creased, his mouth a hard line and his eyes filled with some deep emotion I could not read.
It seemed now that I had only Georgiana and Charles as my friends in this household, which I was supposed to regard as home.
We returned to Courtney Hall and I was more miserable than I had been for a long time, if that was possible for I had not often touched the heights of happiness during my stay at Courtney Hall.
Bassett helped me to dismount and again held me for a moment or two and looked down at me as he had done near the stream on our first ride. But now there was no sorrow mingled with the anger, as I had seen before, now merely anger.
‘You have not enjoyed your outing. Miss Lloyd?’ The words were harsh.
My temper, for so long held in check, flared uncontrollably.
‘How can you expect me to enjoy it, when you have been like a—like a—grumpy old bear? I can’t understand you, any of you, except Georgiana.’
And I tore myself away from his grasp and ran from the stables towards the house. It was a long way and soon I was forced to slow to a walk. I risked a glance round to see what Bassett had done.
He was standing where I had left him, staring after me. Though it was too far away to see the expression on his face, I had the impression he was dejected, for his arms hung loosely by his side and his body slumped in a way I had never seen the arrogant Bassett stand.
I shrugged and entered the house. Why should I care what he felt when he had behaved so abominably this afternoon? But I was startled to find that I did care, and I was annoyed with myself for doing so.
Charles and Evelyn Corby were guests once more at the house that evening and now that Georgiana had found I was not in love with Charles and that there was good reason to hope that he was not with me, she lost no time in spending every possible moment in his company, and more often than not in mine also. For I was a good cover for her.
She knew her family would disapprove of her interest in the doctor, and was quite content, for the moment, to let them think that I was the object of Charles’ attentions. Consequently, the three of us spent, much time together and because none of the others guessed the truth, the idea that a marriage was imminent between Charles and me grew stronger. Georgiana, they thought was merely being a good friend and helping matters along in chaperoning me.
I was amused, for I saw no harm in it, to see that Evelyn was almost beside herself, in her quiet way, at the thought of her brother becoming involved with a girl and nearing marriage. No doubt she not only loved him jealously and possessively, but she realised her own future was at stake. A man’s duty was to his wife and future family before his sister, whatever sacrifices she had made for him in the past.
But I thought she still believed she held considerable sway with Charles and that if he mentioned marriage, she would begin her relentless campaign to discourage it.
She had now joined Lady Courtney and Millicent in their hatred of me. And hatred it was now, for there was no mistaking the viciousness in their remarks to me.
They ridiculed my clothes, my hairstyle, my upbringing, even Uncle James, saying he was a weak character who had lived almost in poverty all his life, marrying Virginia Lloyd, a country girl with no birth or breeding. My mother, being her sister, was presumed to be in the same category and consequently, so was I. But they hardly ever referred directly to my mother or my father. Only by such remarks referring to Aunt Virginia, and to home-breakers and such, was I aware that they were really referring to Victoria Lloyd, my mother.
And once I overheard Lady Courtney say to Millicent,
‘We shall indeed be fortunate if Dr Corby will marry Louella for she has little to offer any man. You need have no fear of her as a rival for Bassett’s affections, I assure you, my dear Millicent. My son has more sense than to fall for a girl of her breeding, unlike his father.’
Such remarks were unbearable at times, and looking back, I can hardly understand why I stood it all. I could easily have run away and found myself a post as a governess. But for some reason I stayed where I was.
Probably I realised that if I crossed the Courtneys too much, I should never keep a governess’s post for long, for their power to make or break a person was undeniable.
That evening after the dismal afternoon ride with Bassett, something happened which was to drive all other thoughts out of my head for some time.
We were seated in the drawing-room after dinner, when the gentlemen joined us.
‘We have just been telling Charles about the Courtney dagger, mother,’ said Bassett. ‘He is most interested to see it.’ He turned to Evelyn Corby.
‘Millicent, I know, is well acquainted with its history Miss Corby, but perhaps you have not heard of our famous dagger?’
‘Lady Courtney has related to me some of its history and the superstition surrounding it, yes, but I have yet to see it.’
‘Then you shall,’ he turned to his father. ‘ Since Miss Corby desires to see it, we shall not trouble her to go to the gallery. Perhaps you would fetch the dagger, father?’
‘Certainly, my boy, with pleasure.’ And Sir Hugh bustled off, proud to have the opportunity of showing off one of his treasures. In fact, the greatest treasure.
Whilst he was gone, the talk centred on the dagger.
‘Bassett, of course, being such a strong-minded young man,’ remarked Lady Courtney, the pride apparent in her tone when speaking of her beloved son, ‘does not whole-heartedly agree with the superstition. Miss Corby. He is too practical to believe in the dagger’s powers.’
‘I am inclined to agree with him, I’m afraid, Lady Courtney. I cannot see that a jewelled dagger, however beautiful, can have the power to change men’s fortunes in the way you have told me. It seems to me that because they parted with the dagger, they brought about their own downfall in believing so strongly in it. They thought disaster inevitable, and so did nothing to prevent it.’
‘Very true,’ said Bassett. ‘ Though the people who parted with the dagger cannot have believed the superstition, otherwise they would never have parted with it. Though mother says I am sceptical of its powers, which I am, I would never dream of parting with it, whatever its monetary value.’
At that moment, in contradiction to Bassett’s very words. Sir Hugh burst into the room.
‘The dagger—it’s gone,’ his voice rang through the room.
All eyes turned towards him, shocked.
Bassett was the first to recover.
‘What do you mean, father, gone?’
Sir Hugh spread his hands helplessly.
‘It’s just gone from the cabinet.’
Bassett strode from the room and with one accord we all rose and followed him.
‘Someone must have stolen it,’ decided Lady Courtney. ‘We shall find out who the thief is.’ And with a shock I saw she glanced at me.
We reached the treasure room. Bassett was already standing before the glass cabinet staring at the empty black velvet cushion, a puzzled frown on his face.
‘Peculiar,’ he murmured, ‘most peculiar. The cabinet is intact. Not a mark on it, the thief must have found a key.’
He turned to Lady Courtney.
‘Mother, you keep the third key. Mine is here,’ he held his key in the palm of his broad hand, having taken it from his waistcoat pocket. ‘And father has his.’
‘I will see if mine is in its usual place.’ And she left us.
‘Dear, dear, what can have happened?’ Sir Hugh dithered. ‘The dagger gone, misfortune will befall us now, for certain.’
‘Now, father, it may be all right. Don’t distress yourself,’ said Bassett, though the worried expression never left his face.
‘We must question the servants,’ said Sir Hugh. ‘ No one can get into the house and up here without us knowing. And besides, who knew where to find a key?’
Lady Courtney returned.
‘My key is here, but it was in a slightly different place to its normal position.’ Her voice rang down the long gallery, whilst the Courtney ancestors seemed to listen from their portraits.
‘Someone borrowed it and then returned it, hoping it would not be noticed.’
‘But who? An outsider would not risk creeping about the house like that,’ said Bassett.
‘Then it must be someone in the house,’ said Lady Courtney, triumphantly.
Millicent moved forward and laid her hand on Bassett’s arm raising her troubled eyes appealingly to his face.
‘Bassett, dear, I hate to say this, but—but …’ she whispered.
‘What is it, Millicent?’ Bassett’s tone was sharp with impatience.
‘I saw Louella come out of this room with the dagger this morning.’
‘No, no,’ I cried. ‘I have never touched the dagger.’
I was stunned. How could she tell such lies? I had known her to be my enemy, but this was beyond normal dislike. This was hatred, vicious and cruel.
‘Be quiet, girl,’ rapped Lady Courtney, whilst everyone else seemed shocked to silence. I felt Georgiana move to my side. But I hardly knew what this dreadful thing was that had happened to me. My instinct told me that my enemies had planned this mischief to disgrace me.
Georgiana took my hand and faced the rest of them.
‘Of course she didn’t steal it, how can you think such a thing? Bassett, you don’t believe it, do you?’
But Bassett did not answer her. He merely watched my face, an unreadable expression on his.
‘Georgiana, hold your tongue. How dare you contradict your cousin Millicent and side with that—that mischief-maker?’ Lady Courtney almost spat the words at me, she was so angry.
I could not speak. I was so shocked. I would never have believed that anyone hated me enough to play this sort of trick, and to tamper with Bassett’s prize possession. It was too much. But at least I knew what sort of person I was up against. Their mind was cruel and merciless, so great was their hatred.
Millicent must be the person, or at least party to it, for here she was telling the deliberate lie, and after all, who but perhaps Georgiana would believe my word against hers?
Upset by the loss of the dagger, Sir Hugh seemed to lose his sense of time and must have reverted, to the past.
He twisted his fingers together nervously.
‘Victoria, my dear, we must not upset mother so, you must go. Go now, go quickly. Please go.’
He became most distressed. His words made no sense to me, but for his wife, Bassett, and even Georgiana, they must have held significant meaning, for Lady Courtney drew a startled breath and turned pale, whilst Bassett led him gently from the room, and, with Sir Hugh still muttering, took him to rest in his room.
‘We had better return to the drawing-room to discuss this unfortunate affair,’ said Lady Courtney, regaining her composure. ‘And wait for Bassett.’
There was an uneasiness in the room whilst we awaited Bassett’s return. As I passed the mirror to take a chair near the window, I saw my face was deathly pale, my eyes frightened, and my mouth trembling. I felt close to tears, surrounded by scheming enemies. But I would not weep, I would not let these people break my spirit. I would fight them.
Before Bassett returned. Lady Courtney began to deride me in no uncertain terms.
‘You came to this house, Louella Lloyd, an unwelcome encumbrance on this family. You and your relations have caused nothing but trouble to the Courtney family for many years. Are you never to stop?’
‘Perhaps, if I knew what it is my family have done. But I have not taken the dagger. I swear it.’
‘Don’t make it worse by lying, girl. Why don’t you own up and return the dagger? Don’t you realise what may happen to us all now the dagger has left the Courtneys? Misfortune will befall us—and the thief. You’ll regret it, Louella Lloyd, you’ll regret it.’
But her goading was cut short by Bassett’s return.
Georgiana dashed to him, she was in tears now.
‘Bassett, do something, please. She didn’t do it. How could she?’
Bassett put his arm round her, and looked at me over her head.
‘Bassett, say you know she didn’t do it,’ she murmured against his jacket.
‘I—I don’t know, Georgiana.’
‘Bassett,’ she flung herself away from him. ‘How can you be so cruel? Are you, too, against her?’
And she returned to my side.
‘Well, I believe Louella. I’ll stand by her, even if you—if you throw me out.’
‘That’s what we ought to do with her Lady Courtney indicated me. ‘ Ungrateful brat. Throw her out, Bassett.’
‘No one is to be thrown out, mother, at all. We shall find the thief, never fear.’
‘But what will happen to us in the meantime?’ Lady Courtney wailed. ‘We shall lose all our money, or something dreadful will happen. Look what happens to your father every time he sees her. Look who he thinks she is. How do you think I can bear it?’
And Lady Courtney dissolved into tears in an attempt to persuade her son.
‘Get rid of her, Bassett, for my sake. Can’t you see she’s just like her mother, breaking up our home?’
This was too much. I stood up.
‘I don’t understand all this talk about my mother. If you won’t tell me, how can I? But I am not a thief. I have not touched the dagger. I didn’t even know where the keys were to the cabinet. Since you obviously no longer wish me to stay, I will leave at once. I have no desire to remain here either.’
‘There you are, you see, Bassett?’ screeched Lady Courtney, she was hysterical now. ‘She has the dagger, she’s trying to get away now. Stop her.’
What did the foolish woman want?
But Bassett took charge of the situation.
‘Go to your room, Louella, away from this painful affair, whilst I think what we must do.’
I went. But my heart was heavy with misery. No one, save Georgiana, believed me. Lady Courtney and Millicent had probably engineered the whole thing. Charles and Evelyn Corby had remained silent throughout the family quarrel, and no doubt thought me guilty.
Bassett had admitted he did not know what to think and that was condemnation as far as I was concerned.
The heavy weight of misery I had felt when first Uncle James had told me I was to live here, grew and grew until I felt it would suffocate me. These were unhappy hours indeed, and I could see no brightness in the future.
Night closed in and found me still seated before my bedroom window, gazing down across the shadowy lawn to the river. I had watched the sun sink lower and lower and the creeping shadows cover the lawn, the shimmering river grow dark and indistinguishable. Now I could hardly see, could no longer draw comfort from my beloved nature. The earth, the trees, the sky, the river never betrayed man as did his fellow beings. Their beauty remained always, giving pleasure, never seeking to destroy man.
But was that true? I asked myself. What of floods, droughts and tempests? Were they not the works of Nature against Man in his weakness?
I sighed. I was certainly alone in my weakness now. Even my brave Georgiana had not come to my room since Bassett had asked me to leave the drawing-room as his mother grew more and more hysterical.
At last I prepared for bed. Even Mary did not arrive to see if I had all I needed as she usually did. Was I to be ignored, shut away in disgrace?
I lay in the darkness and thought over the dreadful happening. Sleep was impossible. But I could not decide who was my real enemy. Lady Courtney? Possibly, for if she took the dagger, then it would not, in actual fact, leave the Courtney possession and she would not be inviting disaster to befall them, as would a real thief. Millicent? The same could be said of her. It was doubtful she would remove it from Courtney Hall. She would merely hide it in her room.
I sat up suddenly. Yes, it would be there, hidden in her room.
Without stopping to think of the consequences, so sure was I that I would find the dagger, I leapt out of bed, found my wrap and stealthily opened the door.
It was not late, I knew, and the rest of the household would still be up. I had plenty of time to search Millicent’s room.
I crept along the dimly lit landings until I came to Millicent’s grand bedroom. I slipped in quietly. I would have to be careful. A maid might come any time to turn back the bed, or Millicent might retire early.
Though that was unlikely, I thought. She will stay in Bassett’s company as long as possible, no doubt taking great delight in pouring her vicious lies about me into his ears.
I began to search methodically through the drawers, the wardrobe and even amongst the bedclothes. I turned towards a jewel case on her dressing-table and opened it. It was large enough to hold the dagger.
I heard a small sound at the door and spun round.
Someone stood in the doorway holding a candle.
I had been caught in the act.