Castle of Secrets Read Free Page B

her. He sent her to Draycot, so she could pick up the
stage coach from there.’
    ‘That was very
good of him.’
    ‘There’s
things said about him in the village,’ said Mrs Beal, between mouthfuls of pie,
‘and of course there was . . . yes, well, least said soonest mended  . . . but
I’ve never had anything but kindness from him. There’s many a master would have
washed their hands of a housekeeper, once she’d decided to leave.’
    Helena did not like the sound of yes, well, least said soonest mended   but for the present she was more
interested in her aunt.
    ‘Did she have
far to travel?’ she asked, trying to sound as though hers was a casual interest.
    ‘I don’t
rightly know. He didn’t say. “If I’d known, I’d have packed her up a hamper,” I
said. “I could have put her up some bread and cheese, and a piece or two of
chicken, and some of my apple pie.” I’d made one that morning, and it would
have helped her on her way,’ she told Helena . ‘But the poor lady went off with nothing. I’ve often
wondered about her, and how she’s getting on.’
    ‘She has not
written to you to let you know that she is all right, and to tell you how her
sister is?’
    ‘She won’t have
time for writing, any more than I have time for reading. Although she did write
letters now and again.’
    ‘Yes?’ asked Helena , her pulse quickening.
    ‘Yes, to her
niece. “She’s all I have in the world,” she used to say to me. A nice girl, by
all accounts.’
    ‘That was a
strange thing to say, if she also had a sister,’ said Helena .
    Mrs Beal
looked surprised. ‘So it was. She must have meant, all I have in the world
beside a sister.’
    Helena said nothing. It was
becoming clear to her that, although Mrs Beal was very friendly, she did not
have an enquiring mind. Thoughts of where the housekeeper had gone and what she
was doing had not troubled her. She simply accepted what she had been told.
    ‘And she did
not tell you she was leaving before she went?’ asked Helena . ‘How very strange.’
    ‘Folks do
strange things when they’re upset,’ said Mrs Beal sagely. ‘My sister once took
the cat with her when her daughter was knocked down by a carriage. She meant to
put a cushion in the basket, but she took Pussy Willow instead.’
    It was clear
to Helena that she would learn
nothing more from Mrs Beal. She ate her pie and finished her wine, feeling,
first of all her limbs, and then her fingers and toes grow warm.
    The
conversation turned to more practical matters. Mrs Beal told her about the
castle, and gave her instructions on how to find the main rooms. As they talked
of the housekeeper’s room, Helena learnt that, although Mrs Carlisle had taken breakfast and
dinner every day with Mrs Beal in the kitchen, she had had her lunch served in
the housekeeper’s room.
    ‘I think I,
too, will take lunch in the housekeeper’s room,’ said Helena .
    She would be
sure of one hot meal on the morrow, before she had to face the moor again.
    ‘If you want a
dish of tea at any time, just ring the bell. Effie will answer it.’
    The scullery
maid looked up briefly at the mention of her name, and then went back to
peeling the potatoes.
    ‘You’ll have a
bit of apple dumpling?’ asked Mrs Beal, when they had finished their
conversation.
    Helena readily accepted, and by
the time the clock struck a quarter to the hour she was feeling almost
cheerful.
    ‘I ought to be
going to the library. I have to see his lordship there at six o’clock , and it may take me some
time to find it.’
    ‘Effie can
show you the way.’ Mrs Beal turned round, but Effie was no longer there. ‘Never
here when wanted,’ said Mrs Beal, though her tone was not unkind. ‘She must’ve
gone to mend the fires. But you’ll soon find the library. Just go up to the
hall as I said, and it’s on your left.’
    Taking up a
candle, Helena ventured out into the
cold corridor once more, but as soon as the kitchen door closed behind