The adulteress

I was getting fanciful, and I felt an irresistible desire to get out of the house. I put on my cloak and went out. My steps took me toward Enderby. I wanted to see Gerard, to make sure that he had deposited the will at the solicitors. If I had his word for this I would sleep more easily.

I paused awhile at the haunted patch looking beyond the broken pales to that spot where he had seemed to rise up from the earth before I went on toward the house. There was definitely something eerie about it. It had such a repelling air that I almost turned and fled. The wind in the trees seemed to be moaning something. If I listened and let loose my imagination I could believe they were saying Go away. I had a feeling then that I should go away and I could go into town tomorrow morning and see Mr. Rosen. I could ascertain whether the will had been deposited with them and if it had been, plan to go home at once, my mission accomplished. Should I feel sorry for Uncle Carl in such a situation? I thought not. After all it was of his own making and he clearly wanted it as it was.

He could turn out both Jessie and Amos Carew if he wanted to. The agent could be replaced; and as for Jessie, well, I am sure it would not be difficult to find a good hardworking housekeeper who would run the house and servants as it used to be in the days of my great-grandparents.

While I was musing thus the door opened and a man came out.

He looked surprised to see me and I said quickly: "I wondered if Monsieur Gerard d'Aubigne was at home."

He said he would inquire and, taking me into the hall, went away.

Enderby certainly had what people called atmosphere. One was aware of it on taking the first step inside the place. The great hall with its vaulted ceiling and minstrels' gallery at one end and the screens to the kitchen at the other seemed full of shadows. I remembered that it had always looked like that. It was as though there were ghosts waiting to spring out. One was aware of an impending sense of doom in the house. Happiness never stayed there long, I had heard someone say. I knew my mother's childhood had not been an unhappy one; but that seemed to be the only period when people seemed to live normal lives within those walls.

While I brooded thus Gerard came down the stairs. He ran when he saw me and came toward me, his hands outstretched. He took mine and kissed first one then the other.

"I was expecting you," he said.

"Expecting me?"

"Yes, you wanted to make sure, didn't you? You were tormented with doubts. Should you have trusted me with such a mission? Oh ... Zipporah, have I not shown you that I will serve you with my life if need be?"

"How you do love to make everything dramatic. Did you deliver the will?"

"To Mr. Rosen senior himself. He studied it, approved and has it in his safekeeping."

"Oh ... thank you."

He smiled at me quizzically. "You can trust me, you know."

"I know it really. I am just a little anxious. I know we were laughing about it all ... but I've suddenly felt that it is not such a laughing matter."

"You will have some refreshment?"

"No. I have just had supper. I must get back now."

"Oh, stay awhile." He had taken my hand and was drawing me toward him.

I felt the house beckoning me ... almost as though it were waiting, drawing me in ... and I was afraid. All I had ever heard about Enderby seemed to be warning me. Was it a premonition? Perhaps.

"No," I said firmly. "I just wanted to make sure nothing had gone wrong."

He looked disappointed but resigned. "I will walk back with you," he said.

We came out of the house together and I could not suppress a feeling of relief as we walked away from it.

It was growing dark now. It reminded me of the first time we had met. We passed the haunted patch and he pressed my arm.

"A wonderful moment," he said. "That first encounter of ours."

"I don't know how to thank you for what you have done for me.

"There is no need for thanks. I would willingly do anything you asked me."

"That is being a little rash. How do you know what I might ask?"

"The more difficult the request the more I should enjoy it."

"I suppose at the French court you are well versed in extravagant conversation."

"Perhaps, but what I say to you, I mean."

"Well, I am grateful. And I think that now my mission is accomplished I should go home."

"Please don't say that," he said.

"I must go."

"Not yet. I have a feeling that this matter is not yet completed."

"Do you think my uncle is ... in danger?"

"It has occurred to me. Here is a rapacious woman .. . she thinks she will inherit a big estate. The only thing between her and it is that frail old man in his bed. Think of the temptation. Does Jessie seem the sort of woman who would resist it?"

"I don't know. She seemed rather fond of him."

"She has her lover. ... Do you think they plan to share Eversleigh between them?"