Read Online The Lovegrove Hermit by Rosemary Craddock - Free Book Online

the room and went up to the Long Gallery to seek diversion from the collection.
    However, my curiosity had been aroused and I continued to wonder who had been in the closet – for that is what I thought might be on the other side of the door under the tapestry . It could well be that two of the servants were using the concealed room for a dalliance. A pretty word, that – all nymphs and shepherds and hey nonny nonny! I felt sure the truth was more mundane and perhaps sordid.
    I could not resist returning to the Tapestry Room about an hour later. I entered cautiously, listening at the door before I went in, but everything was quiet. Then I lifted up the tapestry and stood for a while at the inner door, but I heard nothing. Slowly I opened the latch and peered inside but to my relief no one was there. I noticed there was a crude wooden bolt to secure the room against intruders. It was scarcely a room at that – indeed, my supposition that it was a closet seemed correct as it was less than twelve feet by twelve and was illuminated only by one tiny window which rattled in the wind and let in a dim, greenish light through a veil of ivy.
    The furniture consisted of a huge chest that could haveserved as an altar when the house belonged to a Catholic family, and also a day bed, an old red velvet close stool, a small table and a chair. That was all, apart from the cushions ; and there were many of those, on the bed and on the floor. They had a crushed and crumpled look, as though in recent use.
    I searched the closet for some evidence of its recent occupants but found nothing but a solitary hairpin which might have been dropped by anyone at any time. Yet a musky scent lingered, especially on one of the cushions. Both Lady Denby and Louisa Thorpe were heavily perfumed but my suspicions were immediately directed to the latter. As to her partner in the liaison – here I felt sick; only one man was it likely to be and that was my poor susceptible brother.
    Before leaving, I moved the two heavy brass candlesticks from the top of the chest and raised the lid. It was half-full of old, musty damask curtains and a faded velvet counterpane.
    On my return to my room I encountered Sophie at her door, about to enter.
    ‘Have you had a pleasant morning?’ I asked.
    ‘Pleasant enough. Rowland and I played carpet bowls in the library.’
    ‘Alone?’
    ‘More or less but the door was open and we were interrupted a few times. Lady Denby came in for a book.’
    ‘Did she say anything?’
    ‘Oh, she beamed on us and said we seemed to be getting on very well.’
    ‘Yes, she would. How do you feel about Rowland?’
    ‘I like him better than I did. He’s quite good company and doesn’t sulk if he doesn’t win.’
    ‘I trust he knows how to behave himself.’
    ‘Of course he does. He hasn’t tried to kiss me, if that’s what you mean.’
    ‘Not quite, but don’t let him. So you spent the whole time on bowls?’
    ‘No, we tired of it after a while and went looking for the lost priest-hole, tapping the wainscot all round the house. Rowland says the other priest-hole is bigger than the one I went down and is supposed to open onto a passage to the priory ruins.’
    ‘I presume you didn’t find anything of interest?’
    ‘Of course not, but it was fun searching.’
    ‘Did you happen to see your father?’ I sounded as unconcerned as possible.
    ‘Papa? No, I don’t know where he was. Did you want to see him for anything?’
    ‘Not particularly. He’ll be at luncheon anyway.’
    So he was and after the meal I managed to speak to George briefly.
    ‘I trust you enjoyed your morning?’ I said sardonically.
    ‘You mean after seeing the collection?’ Well, rather boring if truth be told. What can one do indoors on such a day?’
    ‘What indeed? What did you do?’
    He shrugged. ‘Nothing of consequence. Why the questions ? I might well ask you what you were doing.’
    There was nothing to be gained from such an exchange. I could