‘It’s no good,’ said Roddy, thrusting his hands deep into his pockets and scowling at the carpet. ‘He won’t come here again.’
‘Cheer up.’ Alex did his best to sound confident, although he was far from feeling it. ‘We’ll think of something. But we’ll do it better after a good night’s sleep.’
‘You’re right,’ said Eugenie, standing up. ‘There is one good thing. We might not have caught Goss, but at least we didn’t lose the necklace. It would have been the last straw if he’d managed to evade capture and get away with the jewels as well.’
‘Although — ‘ Although then we would have had a chance of catching him when he tried to dispose of them, Alex had been about to say. But he thought better of it. Eugenie’s remark had lifted both hers and Roddy’s spirits, and Alex did not want to cast them down again.
Roddy looked at him enquiringly.
Alex shook his head. ‘Oh, nothing,’ he said. ‘It’s late. We’re all tired. I suggest we leave any further discussion until the morning.’
Eugenie and Roddy, worn out from the night’s events, agreed.
‘Time for bed,’ said Eugenie, yawning. She stood up. ‘Good night, Alex.’
Alex bade her and Roddy goodnight, but when they went upstairs he did not go with them. Instead, he lingered in the drawing-room. It was no use him going to bed, he knew he would not sleep, because Cicely was engaged to Lord Chuffington. Try as he might to get it out of his head he couldn’t do it. It was on his mind the whole time. Despite all rational thoughts to the contrary, he still could not believe it. But why not? As Chuffington said, she was used to living in a manor house. No more living in a Lodge. No more faulty ranges. And no more having to work as a secretary in order to make ends meet.
But it seemed so unlike Cicely.
Fool! he told himself angrily as he strode over to the fireplace and stood looking down into the empty grate. You’re doing it again. Investing her with qualities she doesn’t have. First you convinced yourself she was an upper-class termagant who would have dismissed Katie for something she didn’t do, which was completely wide of the mark. Now you’re trying to convince yourself she wouldn’t marry for a position in society, and again you’re completely wrong.
What was it about Cicely that provoked such strong reactions in him? Why should he care if she married? Or who she married? He had never been interested in young women before - in a casual way, yes, or in a brotherly way, like with Katie, or a friendly way, like with Eugenie, but never in this distracted way, seeing things that simply weren’t there. If she wanted to marry Chuffington, why should it bother him? And not just bother him, cut him into little pieces?
He strode across the room and stood looking out over the lawns. What Cicely did with her life was up to her. There was nothing between them but an electric physical attraction - and yet in all honesty he had to acknowledge that for him it was more than that. The feelings which had been churning round in him for some time now were becoming clearer . . . but he must get over them. Cicely had made her choice. So all he had to do now was forget her.
Yes. That was all . . .
The door opened, breaking in on his thoughts. He looked round, and there was Cicely. Standing in the doorway, with the gas light from the hallway casting a golden halo round her, she looked more lovely than he had ever seen her. Her dark hair was soft and inviting, her slight curves appealing in her fashionably low-cut gown. Her skin was golden, and her eyes were full of beauty.
‘You can’t do it,’ he said.
He shouldn’t have said it, but he couldn’t let her throw herself away on Chuffington.
Her lips parted in surprise.
He couldn’t take his eyes away from them. She had the most kissable lips he had ever seen. And how he longed to kiss them again.
She seemed to know exactly what he was talking about. ‘It will work,’ she said.
It will work. Could she really believe that? he asked himself.
‘But how did you know?’ she queried.
His voice was tight. He made an effort to make it sound normal. ‘It was Chuffington. He told me.’
She looked perplexed. ‘But Chuff Chuff doesn’t know. I haven’t told him about my plan.’
‘Plan?’ Alex frowned. How could marriage be a plan? Unless they were at cross purposes. ‘What plan?’ he asked cautiously.
‘My plan for catching Mr Goss.’
Her words stunned him. Her plan for catching Mr Goss?
And then he was out of the strange state that had gripped him when he had seen her enter the room, and back in the real world. He gave a sigh, though whether it was of frustration or relief he didn’t know. He had been about to tell her that she couldn’t marry Chuffington; to sweep her into his arms and prove it to her with hot words and impassioned kisses; but her unexpected words had brought him back down to earth.
‘I can’t be sure, of course,’ she said. ‘Perhaps I should have said, I think it will work.’
‘Come in. Have a seat. I was surprised to see you,’ he said by way of explanation of his strange behaviour. ‘I thought all the houseguests had gone to bed.’
‘They have. But I wanted to speak to you, and I did not want to leave it until tomorrow, so I stayed behind. I have already seen two innocent young women blamed for Mr Goss’s crimes, and I don’t want to see it happen again. I won’t rest until he has been put behind bars.’
His surprise quickly gave way to understanding. ‘I feel the same. Unfortunately, I don’t see what else I can do,’ he said, sitting down opposite her. ‘Goss will not attend another party given at the Manor, nor, I suspect, any other party given by me. I haven’t given up hope of bringing him to justice, but at the moment I cannot see a way to do it.’
‘But I can.’
He looked at her with interest. ‘Go on.’
Cicely took a deep breath, and then began. ‘According to Gibson, who hears all the local servants’ gossip, Mr Goss is badly in need of money, and I believe he will soon strike again. He is deeply in debt and needs to get out of it as quickly as possible. It is my belief he will attempt to steal something of significant value when he goes to Marienbad.’
‘Marienbad?’ Alex raised his eyebrows. He did not know the name of the town.
‘It’s in Austria. It’s a spa town,’ she explained. ‘High society goes there to take the waters. They used to go to Bath, but Bath has fallen out of fashion and now they go abroad, to Marienbad, instead. Marienbad attracts all the best people. King Edward himself is a regular visitor.’
‘And you think Goss is likely to go there?’ he asked.
‘I know he is. Mrs Capstone was complaining about it only last week. "We are going to Marienbad at the end of August," she said. "As you know, we go every year. I do so enjoy it, and I’m convinced it does Herbert’s bronchitis good. My only regret is that the wretched Martin Goss will be there. His mother is the most charming of women, but Martin is a cad." So you see, I know he is going.’
Alex’s eyes became alert. He pushed himself out of his chair and strode over to the fireplace. ‘It has possibilities,’ he said, turning the idea over in his mind. ‘Distinct possibilities. Once out of England, Goss might well grow careless. It’s worth a try.’ He drummed his fingers on the marble mantelpiece. ‘But I don’t see how we are to know where and when he will strike.’
‘I have already thought about that. We will have to lay another trap.’
Alex looked at her searchingly. ‘I don’t see how we can do it. He won’t come to another of my parties, and I doubt if he will come to one of yours. We were both present when Eugenie’s necklace was taken, and it will be too risky for him to carry out another theft if we are there. ‘
‘That is not what I was thinking of.’
He looked at her enquiringly.
Taking a deep breath, Cicely began to outline her idea.
Alex’s eyes grew admiring as her plan unfolded. ‘It might work,’ he said. ‘Yes, it just might.’ Then his eyes becam
e penetrating. ‘But are you sure your cousin will help us?’
‘Positive. Sophie is an accomplished actress. If her mother would let her, she would go on the stage! She will relish the opportunity of playing a part.’
‘Then we’ll give it a try. But we will have to be careful. We must make sure Goss does not see us in Marienbad. If he does, he might not take the bait. Which means we will have to stay elsewhere.’
‘I will be staying with my Aunt Hilda in her villa on the outskirts of Marienbad, as I have already explained to you, and I suggest you stay at the neighbouring town of Karlsbad. The Hotel Savoy has a good reputation, and you should be comfortable there. That way, we will be able to escape Goss’s notice and he will not see us until it is too late - if indeed he sees us at all, which, if all goes to plan, he won’t.’
‘And when is he going to Marienbad?’ asked Alex. ‘Do you know?’
‘Yes. He will be going within the next few weeks.’
Alex nodded. ‘Then I suggest we get there as soon as possible, so that we can lay our plans.’
Cicely agreed. ‘I will write to my aunt straight away, so that she will be expecting me.’ She stood up. ‘But now, it is late.’
He stood as well.
‘I will bid you goodnight,’ she said.
He fought down an urge to stop her, and she walked out of the room.
The house party broke up amongst cries of thanks the following day, and Cicely, taking her leave of Alex with Alice and Mrs Babbage at her elbow, added her own to the general clamour.
‘Yes, indeed, thank you so much for having us, Mr Evington,’ said Mrs Babbage. ‘We have had a wonderful time.’
‘I’m glad you enjoyed it,’ said Alex.
He was all that was polite and urbane, but Cicely couldn’t help missing the intimacy of the previous day. There was nothing left of it now, however.
She remembered the closeness of Alex and Eugenie; the shared glances, the touches on the arm; and using the memories to bolster her defences, she took her leave with a befitting coolness.
‘Well, that was most enjoyable,’ said Mrs Babbage, recalling Cicely to the present. The three ladies began to walk down the road to the Lodge. ‘And how kind it was of Mr Evington to send our luggage home for us by motor car. He really is a most agreeable man.’
This talk of Alex’s virtues did nothing to help Cicely put Alex out of her mind, and she was grateful therefore when they reached the door of the Lodge.
‘You are sure you will not come and stay with us for a few days?’ asked Mrs Babbage.
‘No, thank you, it really isn’t necessary,’ said Cicely. ‘The repairs have gone well and the Lodge is habitable again.’
‘Then in that case, I will bid you farewell.’
Cicely and Alice took an affectionate leave of each other, and then Cicely went into the Lodge. After the turmoil of the previous week she was looking forward to a little peace and quiet before leaving the Lodge again, this time for Marienbad.
But before then she had plenty to do. Peace and quiet did not mean inactivity, and she set about checking the kitchen thoroughly to make sure that it had been properly repaired; for although she had paid one or two visits to the Lodge during the week, it was only now that she was home again that could she give it the scrutiny it really needed.
To her relief she saw that, apart from the fact that the kitchen now lacked a range, the room was as good as new. The hole in the wall had been closed up, and only a slight difference in the colour of the paintwork showed that a repair had taken place. Which left her with only one problem: the lack of a range.
She knew she would have to have one sooner or later, as the range provided all the hot water and all the cooking facilities for the Lodge, but she could not think how she was going to pay for it.
Ah well! she thought bracingly, she would just have to find a way of solving this problem as she had found a way of solving all her others. Fortunately, as it was summer, she could manage for a little while without one.
In the meantime, she had her visit to Marienbad to occupy her mind, and she settled down to make her arrangements.
Chapter Eight
Cicely felt her excitement mount as the steam train pulled into Marienbad station. It was three years since she had last visited the spa town, and she was looking forward to seeing her aunt and cousin again.
How fortunate she was to have such a generous aunt, she thought, as the puffing and blowing train ground to a halt. Not only had Aunt Hilda made her welcome whenever she had visited, but had always insisted on paying her fares. Without this generosity, Cicely knew she would never have been able to visit.
And there was Aunt Hilda now!
Cicely waved at her aunt, who was standing on the platform beside Cousin Sophie. Her aunt, seeing her, raised her hand in greeting, and Sophie waved wildly, full of the exuberance of youth.
Mrs Lessing was looking exactly the same as the last time she had seen her, thought Cicely as she stepped off the train, being a fine looking woman in her forties. Her mouse-brown hair was pulled back from her face and arranged in a simple knot at the back of her head. Her slim figure - the product of vigorous walks through the surrounding pine forests, which even now were perfuming the air with their fresh, clean scent - was encased in a high-necked blouse, a long skirt and a tailored jacket. Ever practical, she carried an umbrella, which was often needed in Marienbad, whatever the time of year.
Sophie, in contrast, was looking completely different to the last time Cicely had seen her. The three intervening years had brought about a definite change. Gone was the gawky fifteen-year-old schoolgirl, and in her place was a beautiful young woman with elegantly-coiffured golden curls and the most immaculate clothes. Her dress was definitely Parisian - probably, thought Cicely, a creation of Maison Worth - and had an unmistakeable air of chic. Setting it off was a plumed hat that was perched most becomingly on the back of her pretty young head. But for all her cousin’s new-found maturity, Cicely was pleased to see that she still had a mischievous sparkle in her eye, for without it the plan to catch Goss could not go ahead.
‘Cicely.’ Her aunt greeted her affectionately, kissing her on both cheeks. ‘It is lovely to have you here.’
‘It’s lovely to be here. I’d forgotten how beautiful Marienbad is,’ she said, looking round at the pine forests which could be seen rising all round the town and stretching off into the distance
‘You must have plenty of walks now you are here. You are looking a little peaky,’ said her aunt, surveying her closely. ‘But then, after your father’s death, it is not to be wondered at.’
‘Cicely!’ Sophie could not contain herself any longer. ‘It seems like an age since I last saw you. I am so glad you are here. And in such mysterious circumstances. Your letter said everything and nothing. What sort of help do you need? It all sounds very exciting.’
Cicely laughed at Sophie’s enthusiasm. ‘I will tell you all about it, but not on the station platform.’
‘Oh, no, of course not. We have to get a taxi to the villa, as we don’t have a motor car,’ she said, as a porter took Cicely’s luggage and loaded it onto a hand cart. ‘I keep trying to persuade mother to let me learn to drive but she says it isn’t suitable.’ Sophie looked at her mother in exasperation. ‘It seems to me that nothing interesting ever is.’
‘You, miss, are becoming fast,’ said Cicely’s aunt reprovingly. ‘Your father would turn in his grave.’