Midsummer's Eve

I am afraid I was a little bewildered at our last meeting and you did not find me very sympathetic. Annora, we have to forget that. It's over. I still don't understand it, but I am trying to put it behind me.

I want you to know that if you need my help over this I am here to be of assistance.

Remember, I did study law to a certain extent. So you must call on me at any time you think I might be of use.

Don't worry. We will go on as though nothing has happened. I am sure this ridiculous claim will be proved to be false.

I hope we can be, as we always were, good friends.

Yours, Rolf I read both letters again. They were maddeningly obscure. What could have happened?

I must know. I would return to Cornwall without delay.

There was consternation throughout the household when I produced the solicitors' letter. Everyone was mystified.

"You see," I said, "that I must leave immediately.”

They all realized that. Uncle Peter said I should not travel alone. He would have come with me but for important business which he could not possibly fail to attend to. He was going to send Mrs. Eggham to travel with Eggham and me. Eggham was one of the grooms.

"It's a pity they haven't done better with the railways," he said.

"It's about fifteen years since there was all that fuss about a train that went from Stockton to Darlington. Of course we were all sceptical then, and after that we began to expect wonders. And now if you go from London to Birmingham you have to break your journey and take the coach. The carriage will be comfortable and Mrs. Eggham is a pleasant woman. When do you propose to leave?”

"Tomorrow.”

So I said goodbye to them and this time, although Helena expressed her sorrow at my departure she did not beg to come with me.

I set out with the Egghams who were to stay a night or two at Cador and then return to London.

The journey was uneventful and in due course I arrived at Cador. It was always an emotional moment to catch sight of those towers and perhaps particularly so now that they belonged to me.

It was early evening when we arrived. They had all been expecting me. Isaacs was in the hall with Mrs. Penlock and a number of the servants. Bob Carter was there also.

I was conscious of the suppressed excitement and I knew the cause. They were all aware that something momentous was happening.

"Mr. Tamblin told us you'd be coming," said Mrs. Penlock. "We wasn't quite sure which day but your bed is aired and everything's ready.”

"I had a rather disturbing letter from Mr. Tamblin," I said, looking from Isaacs to Mrs. Penlock. "Have you any idea what is wrong?”

They shook their heads. "We just know the lawyer wanted to see you, Miss Cadorson,”

said Isaacs.

"I thought something was wrong with the house. The roof... or something like that.”

"The roof is in good order," said Bob Carter. "I'd have seen to that.”

"So's everything else as far as we do know," added Mrs. Penlock.

"By the way, Mr. and Mrs. Eggham will want a room. They'll want to eat, too.”

"We reckoned as you'd have someone with you, Miss Cadorson," said Isaacs.

"And we'm prepared," added Mrs. Penlock.

"They will probably stay for two nights.”

"I'll have something on the table within the hour," said Mrs. Penlock.

I retired early. Travelling was so exhausting. I decided to go along to the lawyer first thing in the morning.

I rose early, breakfasted and prepared to leave the house. I rode down to the town.

I knew the Yorke, Tamblin offices well for they had once been Rolf's father's.

Mr. Tamblin was obviously relieved to see me.

"Come into the office, Miss Cadorson," he said. "How glad I am that you are here.

This is a most disturbing matter. Would you care for a glass of Madeira wine ...

or sherry?”

"No, thank you. I'd rather hear what is wrong.”

"Mind you, nothing is certain, but this woman could prove that she is right and that could mean you would be dispossessed of everything ... or almost everything.”

"Please tell me the worst.”

"A woman has arrived here. She is now staying at the Anglers' Inn. She is laying claim to Cador.”

"Laying claim? What do you mean? How can she do that?”

"Her story is that your father married her mother in Australia in 1814, and that she is his legitimate daughter and therefore heiress to his estates.”

"But that is ridiculous.”

"So I thought. But your father was in Australia at that time and she says she has proof.”

"Proof? What proof?”

"A certificate of marriage.”

"It's nonsense. My father married my mother ...”

"Her story is that he went through a form of marriage with your mother when he came back to England, but of course if as she says, he was already married to her mother, the ceremony he went through with your mother was no true marriage.”

"That is quite impossible. All those years ago! Where has she been until now? Why didn't she come forward? Why does she wait until he is dead before she does so? What has she been doing all these years?”