Виктория Холт - The Devil on Horseback

It was uncomfortable hearing, and all the time I was thinking of the Comte.

Joel liked to walk with me after dark so that he could show me the stars in the sky-the lustre of Arcturus and Capella twinkling there, and when he pointed to Mars, conspicuously red on the horizon, it seemed ominous.

I recaptured the pleasure of being with him. He was never dull. We could discuss and disagree with the utmost amity.

It was afternoon, just after the midday meal. The household was always sleepy at this time. Most took a siesta, a habit I had never fallen into.

There was a tap on my door, for I was in my bedroom, and when I opened it Armand the groom stood there.

“Mademoiselle,” he said, I have received a message from my master.”

His master? The Comte of course. Hadn’t Armand come with us from the chateaw? Yes, Armand? “

“Monsieur Ie Comte wants you to meet him, and I am to take you to him.”

“When?”

“Now, Mademoiselle. He wants us to leave as quietly as possible. He does not want anyone to know that he is in the neighbourhood.”

“He is in Grasseville?”

“Just beyond the town. Mademoiselle. He is waiting for you there. I have saddled your horse and she is ready in the stables.”

“Give me a moment then and I will change into my riding habit.”

“Yes, Mademoiselle, but I beg of you be quick and let no one know where you are going. These are the Comte’s orders.”

“You can rely on me,” I said, excitement rising within me.

He went. I locked the door and changed hastily. I was lucky and saw no one on the way down to the stables.

Armand looked relieved when he saw me.

“I trust, Mademoiselle …”

“It’s all right,” I said. I saw no one. “

That is well. “

He helped me into the saddle and very soon we were riding out together.

We skirted the town. I scarcely noticed the way we were going, so excited was I at the prospect of seeing the Comte. All my probing into the future of the last few days was being turned topsy-turvy just at the prospect of being with him. How could I possibly contemplate marrying one man when the thought of another set my mind whirling in excitement.

We rode on. I had never been in this direction before. The nature of the countryside had changed. It was hilly and we made our way through rough woodland. Once or twice Armand pulled up sharply. I stopped with him.

He appeared to be listening. There was no sound in the wood but the gentle trickle of a stream somewhere near and the sudden buzz of a bee as it flew past.

Armand nodded, appearing satisfied and prodded his horse.

We came to a small house in the wood. Its stone walls were covered in creeper, and the garden about it was a jungle of overgrown weeds and bushes.

“Is this our destination?” I asked in surprise.

Armand said it was.

“Follow me. Mademoiselle. Well take the horses to the back of the house and tether them there.”

We went round to the back. Whoever lived here could not have tended the garden for more than a year. I looked about for the Comte’s horse, for it must be here since he had chosen it for a rendezvous, but I could see nothing.

It was a gloomy spot and instinctively I shrank from alighting.

“Why,” I asked, ‘did the Comte choose such a place? “

Armand lifted his shoulders as though to say it was not for him to question the Comte’s commands, only to obey them.

He tethered his horse and came to help me alight. I felt a sudden inclination to spur my horse and gallop away from this place. There was something evil about it. Was it because for the last days I had been thinking about the peace of Derringham?

Armand was tying my horse beside his.

“Armand,” I said, “you will come in there with me?”

“But certainly. Mademoiselle.”

It’s such an . unpleasant little place. “

“It is because the overgrown bushes and shrubs make it dark. It is different inside.”

“Whose house is it?”

“It belongs to the Comte Fontaine Delibes, Mademoiselle.”

“How strange that he should own a house here. It is not on his estate.”

“It was a hunting lodge at one time. He has such places all over the country.”

I looked away to the right where a mound of earth rose up from the ground.

“Someone has been digging here recently,” I said.

“I do not know. Mademoiselle. But. look. “

“Oh, it would seem so. Let us go inside.”

“But I want to see this. Look, there’s a hole. It looks-‘ a cold shiver seized me ‘it looks like a grave.”

“Perhaps someone wanted to bury a dog.”

“It is rather big for a dog,” I said.

Armand had taken my arm and drew me to the door. He took a key from his pocket and, opening the door, gave me a gentle push. I was standing in a hall which was dark and a terrible foreboding came to me.

The door shut and I said: “Armand, surely the Comte would not come to a place like this. Where was his horse? If he is already here…”

“It may be that he has not arrived yet.”

I turned to look at him sharply. A subtle change had come over him. I had never taken much notice of Armand before. He had merely been the groom who had come with us from the chateau. Now he looked uneasy . furtive even. Nonsense! I thought quickly. Imagination! He had been in the Comte’s service for many years. It had once been said in Margot’s presence and she had not denied it. He was the Comte’s good servant. It was the atmosphere of this place which was doing something to my imagination. Then that hole outside which had looked like a grave. Someone had been here recently to dig it, I should discover.

Armand had gripped my arm as though he feared I would try to escape.

It was a strange way for a groom to behave.

He pushed me ahead of him. I thought I heard a sound in the house. I looked up. There seemed to be a film of dust everywhere. It looked like a house in which no one lived. Then who had dug the hole in the garden?

I was aware of Armand’s heavy breathing, and suddenly a fearful premonition came to me. I had been brought here to die. The grave in the garden was for me. I had been led into a trap and willingly I had stepped into it. What thoughts can pass through the mind in the space of a few seconds! The Comte had sent one of his servants to bring me here. Why? To kill me? To bury me in that grave in the garden . to leave me there . forgotten. Why? He loved me. He had said so. Did he? How could one know? He had the devil in him, how often had I heard that said of him. He wanted Ursule out of the way and he had killed her. He had wanted to marry Gabrielle who had already given him a son.

Then what of me? I was to be the scapegoat. If I disappeared it would be said that it was I who had put that fatal dose in Ursule’s glass.

Nou-Nou would support that theory. The Comte would be free of suspicion. Oh, nonsense, nonsense! But he had sent for me and I was here in this fearful place where every instinct was telling me that I was staring death in the face.

I turned, looking for escape. Then suddenly a door opened. For a moment my eyes would not look. I do not want to see him. I could not bear that my dream world should come tumbling about my ears. If I was going to die I wanted to die in ignorance, refusing to believe that of which so many people had tried to warn me.

Armand was immediately behind me. I lifted my eyes. Standing in the doorway was a figure . strangely familiar. I just had time to recognize the short neck, the hat with the brim, the dark wig before he sprang forward and seized me. There was a blinding flash and I was lying on the floor. There was an excruciating pain somewhere . I was not sure where . for everything was ebbing away, the evil house, the sinister man who had watched me for so long, my frightening speculation, my own consciousness.

When I opened my eyes I was lying in my old bedroom in the Hotel Delibes. There was cramping pain in my arm, which I realized was bandaged. I tried to struggle up but was immediately giddy and sank back on me pillows.

“Lie still,” said a voice.

“It is better so.”

I did not know the voice but it was soothing.

There was a parched feeling in my throat and almost immediately a cup was put to my lips. I drank something that was sweet and soothing.

That’s better,” said the voice.

“Now lie quietly. It might be painful if you move.”

“What happened to me?” I asked.

“Try to sleep,” was the answer; and so listless did I feel that I obeyed.

When I awoke I saw a woman at my bedside.

“Do you feel better?” It was the same voice as before.

“Yes, thanks. How did I get here? “

“The Comte will explain. He said he was to be called when you awoke.”

“He is here, then?” I felt suddenly joyous.

He was at my bedside. He took my free hand and kissed it. Thank God I set Perigot to watch over you. He did a good job. “

“What was it all about?”

“You came near to death, my darling. That villain would have killed you … and we should never have known what happened. He would have shot you through the heart or the head, which was what he planned to do, and then buried you in that godforsaken place. Why did you go?”

“With Armand, you mean? Why shouldn’t I, when he said he was taking me to you?”

oh my God, I wish I could get my hands on him. But I will, I promise you. “

“But Armand has been in your service for,..”

“In Etienne’s service, I believe. To think that a son of mine . What people will do for lands, title, money . If I never have a son at all he’ll get nothing now. “

“Do you mean that Armand took me there to kill me on Etienne’s orders? ”

“It could only be so. Armand has disappeared. When he realized that someone was in the house to foil his attempt he made off with all speed.”

“And this Perigot?”

A good man. He has been watchful of you. “

A nan with a short neck and a dark wig? “

“I don’t know about his wig, but I suppose, now you mention it, he has a short neck.”

“So you sent him to guard me?”

“Naturally I sent someone to guard you. I didn’t like what had happened on that day when you were fired at in the lane. Perigot did his work well. He followed Armand to the house, saw him dig the grave and guessed what was happening. When he saw you leave from Grasseville with him he made sure he was at the house waiting for you when you arrived. Armand was ready to kill you and would have done so if Perigot had not been ready. So the bullet entered your arm instead of your body. Perigot is upset because he did not overpower Armand before the shot was fired, but he was waiting in the house and could only do what he did. If ever we get back to normal, Perigot shall have lands and wealth for what he has done for me.”

“Armand!” I murmured.

“Why Armand?”

“He must work for Etienne. He was always Etienne’s groom. They were more than master and servant. It was Etienne maybe with his mother’s connivance, and this I shall discover -who arranged for your little adventure in the lane, I am sure. At least that put me on the alert. I was determined to take every precaution. I knew that if I could trust anyone I could trust Perigot. I am going to send for him so that you can thank him personally for saving your life.”

He came into the room. He looked different without his tall hat and wig, much younger and the short neck was less noticeable.

He bowed and I said: Thank you for saving my life. “

“Mademoiselle,” he replied, “I regret I did not save you completely. I fear that you became aware of me, which showed that I did not make myself unobtrusive enough.”

“I couldn’t help but be aware of you when you were always there. And how could you have looked after me so expertly if you had not been?”

The Comte said: “We are both grateful to you, Perigot Your service to us will not be forgotten.”

“It is my duty and pleasure to serve you. Monsieur Ie Comte,” he said.

“I trust it will be so for very many years.”

The Comte was deeply moved and I felt all my fears dropping from me. I wondered why I had ever doubted him but of course that was the effect his presence always had on me.