The adulteress

It was spring again. The days were long and we made good progress and it was an early afternoon when we arrived at Eversleigh. Jessie was waiting for us. She greeted me with something like affection and relief, and she looked more discreetly dressed than I had ever seen her. Her gown was a pale gray, rather simple, and her complexion was only very lightly touched up.

"I am so glad that you have come. I have been so worried. I told him that we should let you know but when he was able to understand he was rather distressed. He didn't want to upset you. I did not know what to do but when you sent your letter saying that you was coming I was so pleased. He couldn't read it himself. He's not fit. You'll see. You must be tired after the journey. Would you like to rest first ... ?"

"No," I said. "First I want to hear about him and see him."

"I am not sure when you can see him. It will depend on the doctor."

"The doctor is here?"

"He wouldn't have the local man. He sent for his own doctor. It's lucky for us that Dr. Cabel, having retired from practice, was able to stay here. He's here now."

"What happened?"

"It was some sort of seizure. I thought it was the end. Fortunately Dr. Cabel was already here. You see, he'd been ailing before. I suppose he was working up for this and I had said we must call in the doctor. He wouldn't have it, and at last he agreed to my sending for his old friend Dr. Cabel. They had been friends for years and Dr. Cabel had looked after him before. Well, he came, and he stayed, expecting trouble, so he was here when Lordy had his seizure. He's been here ever since."

"I'd better go and see my uncle."

"He must not be disturbed while he's sleeping. Well, he's sleeping most of the time, but he mustn't be excited. Do you mind waiting until the doctor comes in? He's just taking a little exercise at the moment. As soon as he comes in I'll tell him you're here. Let me take you to your room so that you can wash and change if you want to. Then we can talk about it ... and I daresay Dr. Cabel will allow you to go in for a few moments."

"My uncle sounds very ill."

"My dear." She gave me a little push, a reminder of the old days. "I thought it was the end. I did really. But let me take you to your room. It's the same one. That's all right, is it? And when you've washed the journey off you and had a bite to eat you'll feel rested."

It sounded reasonable enough but Jethro's message had been that something strange was going on. I decided to see him at the earliest possible moment.

I went to my room, washed and changed from my riding habit into a dark blue gown. Then I went down to the winter parlor, where some wine and cakes were on the table.

"I don't know how hungry you are," said Jessie, "but I thought you'd better have a stopgap between now and supper."

"I'm not hungry at all. What I want is to hear about Lord Eversleigh."

"You shall see him as soon as Dr. Cabel comes in. He can tell you more than I."

"How long has Lord Eversleigh been ill?"

"It's nigh on two months since the seizure."

"All that time! I wish I'd known."

"I wanted to tell you... ." She lowered her eyes and I wanted to shout at her: Then why didn't you? but I said nothing and waited.

Her eyes were on one of the cakes. She picked it up almost absentmindedly and started to eat it.

I said: "It is a big responsibility for you."

She stopped chewing and raised her eyes to the ceiling. "Lord bless you," she said, "you've said a mouthful. Still, I'm fond of him and want to give him my best. He's been good to me. It's the least I can do."

I felt nauseated and, as always in the company of this woman, a sense of something sinister which was all the more alarming because it was dressed up to look like normality.

I rose. I couldn't sit there any longer and I had no appetite for the wine and cakes to which she had referred as a stopgap.

"I'll walk round the garden," I said. "I feel the need to stretch my legs. I'll look forward to seeing Dr. Cabel as soon as he returns."

"He'll be wanting to see you."

I went straight out to the garden. I walked round awhile and then slipped through the shrubbery.

Jethro knew that I was coming and I guessed he would be on the lookout for me. I was right. He was.

"Oh, you've come, Mistress Zipporah," he said. "I'm right glad about that."

"Thanks for sending your grandson. What's going on at Eversleigh?"

"That's what I'd like to know. It's all a little odd ... if you'll forgive me saying so."

"What do you mean by odd?"

"I haven't seen his lordship since it happened. That must be well nigh on two months ago."

"Couldn't you slip in during those afternoons?"

"Well, I couldn't be sure of them. Amos Carew, he's more often at the house now."

"What. You mean he's moved in?"

"Not ... not exactly. He's still got his house ... the agent's house, you know. Oh yes, he's still there, but more often at the Court."

"You mean he sleeps there."

"'Twould seem so, Mistress Zipporah. I've seen him coming out in the morning."

"And that is since Lord Eversleigh's seizure?"