We'll meet again

How did I live through that day? The minutes seemed like hours.

I was so thankful that Violetta knew and I could talk to her frankly.

I followed the instructions. I went to the house twice. I even looked for the box. I don't know what I should have done if I had found it.

Probably I would have ignored Gordon's instructions and taken it to the cottage on Friday. I was half mad with fear for Tristan. What was he doing now? I wondered. What did he think of being away from home, away from me, from Violetta and Nanny Crabtree?

After I returned from Riverside Cottage, I stayed with Violetta.

I said: "I am not sure of Gordon. If Tristan died, he'd have Tregarland's.”

"Oh, Dorabella, he would never harm a child.”

"There would be much to gain and he loves Tregarland's. Perhaps we shouldn't have told him.”

"We did right to tell him. This is a highly dangerous matter. The box is of great importance. Oh no, this is the only way.”

"And if this means they kill Tristan?”

"This is the best way to bring him back safely. I am sure of that.”

I was not. I wished I could stop pictures coming into my mind. It was no use. We had to wait for the time to pass.

I felt an immense relief when Gordon returned.

He came to us at once.

He said: "I have a box, and I will tell you what has to be done.

Tomorrow morning, you will go to Riverside Cottage. You will take a shopping bag with you. In it will be the box. You will let yourself into the cottage by the back way as before and stay there for an hour or so. You will come out carrying the shopping bag as though it is rather heavy. In case you are being watched, you will give the impression that you are carrying something precious. Then, at the appropriate time, you will drive to the cottage on the moor as you did on that other occasion. You will go in and tell them that you have the box. You will show it to them. I feel sure that Tristan will be there.

He will be handed over to you in exchange for the box.”

"How do you know that they will give him to me?”

"There is no reason why they should not. They do not want him.

They only wanted to use him as a means of getting you to work for them.

Providing there is no hitch, they will hand over the child.”

"No hitch? What hitch?”

"None... if you obey orders.”

I was trembling with the desire to get on with it. I could not wait for the hours to pass.

Gordon had taken a box out of its wrappings. It looked exactly like the one in the sketch. I seized it. At least I should have something to offer them.

"Where did you get it?" I asked.

"You will hear more about it when this affair is over.”

"It won't be long now, Dorabella," said my sister. She put an arm round me. "All you have to do is obey instructions and all will come right.”

"Have you seen Captain Brent?" I asked Gordon.

"As I said, don't think about anything but what you have to do. I assure you this is the best way to save Tristan. You could never have found the box in the cottage because it was no longer there. Now please, Dorabella, listen to your sister.”

He gave Violetta a grateful and admiring look. I thought: he is right.

She is so sensible. She would never have gone to the kidnappers in the first place.

I did exactly as they said. I went to the cottage with my shopping bag on my arm. I stayed there for a while and, when I came out, I carried it very carefully. I put it beside me in the car and drove off.

The important moment was creeping nearer. How time lagged!

Three o'clock. Would it never be half past? Had the clock stopped?

I was ready to leave at four. I knew that Violetta was watching me from a window. I placed the bag containing the box on the seat beside me and drove into the road.

To my dismay, Simone was there.

"Just going out then?" she asked.

"Yes," I stammered.

"I wondered if you would give me a lift into Poldown?”

What could I say? I was going in that direction anyway. I wanted to tell her that I was going on an important engagement, but restrained myself in time.

I reached over and opened the door. She got in and almost sat on the shopping bag. Flustered, I grasped it.

"Let's put it at the back," said Simone.

"No ... no ... I'll take it." I settled it at my feet.

I was trembling. It was nothing to be alarmed at. She would leave as soon as we reached the town and I could turn into the road heading for Bodmin.

I was thankful that she did not ask where I was going. She said I must be feeling dreadful and she wished there was something she could do.

"I think we must hear something soon," I said.

"The police are clever," she added.

We did not speak much. There was nothing we could talk about with so much on our minds, and she knew if we spoke of that it would be painful.

I was glad when she left.

I drove on. That had delayed me only a minute or so, and I was in good time. I found the cottage with no problem.

Grasping the bag, I went inside. Then I heard a voice which made my heart leap with joy and fear.

"I want my mummy.”

"Tristan!”