then it was very likely to be true.
And Lucy was surprised how much that mattered to her.
* * *
The warm, sunny weather continued and Lucy realised she was seeing Adversane at its best. The atmosphere in the house was relaxed, with the visitors left to amuse themselves for most of the day. Sir James and Lady Preston preferred to remain at the house with Ariadne after breakfast each morning, while the rest of the party went out riding. Ralph rarely accompanied them, attending to business during the mornings so that he could be free to spend the afternoons and evenings with his guests.
On the second day Caroline suggested they should all go for a walk. Lady Preston declined, and insisted that Charlotte should remain indoors at least until the midday sun had lost some of its heat. It was therefore late afternoon when the party set off, by which time Ralph had finished his business and was free to join them. Lucy was not surprised when Ariadne decided to remain at home and keep Lady Preston company, and Sir James also declared that he would prefer to spend the afternoon in the library with a good book. The others, however, congregated in the Great Hall, eager to be on their way.
‘Which way shall we go?’ asked Caroline as they stepped out of the house.
‘Oh, to Ingleston, if you please,’ cried Charlotte. ‘We drove through it on the way here, and there were such pretty shop windows that I should dearly like to browse there.’
‘So far?’ said Ralph. ‘It is nearly three miles. Are you sure you wish to walk such a distance?’
Margaret brushed aside his concerns.
‘Pho, what is three miles? We have plenty of time to be there and back before dinner. And you may treat us all to a glass of lemonade at Mrs Frobisher’s when we reach the town.’
‘We could take the route across Hobart’s Bridge,’ suggested Charlotte, pointing to the wicket gate. ‘It must be a good deal shorter.’
‘Past Druids Rock?’ asked Margaret. ‘Are you sure you want to go there, Charlotte?’
‘Oh, yes,’ she said blithely. ‘I have not been there since Helene died, but it holds no terrors for me.’ She giggled. ‘Although I confess I should not like to go there at night. It is haunted.’
‘Who told you that?’ asked Adam, frowning. ‘It is no such thing.’
‘Oh, not by Helene,’ said Charlotte quickly. ‘No, it is by spirits.’ She looked around, her blue eyes very wide. ‘The servants told me. They say that on moonlit nights you can hear the tinkle of fairy laughter at Druids Rock.’
‘That would be the packhorse bells,’ said Ralph prosaically. ‘The jaggers often cross the moors by the light of the moon.’
‘You are a spoilsport, Brother.’ Caroline laughed. ‘Don’t you know that ladies like nothing better than to be terrified by tales of hauntings and ghosts?’
‘Not when one is talking of Druids Rock,’ said Adam, repressively. ‘It does have very tragic associations.’
‘Perhaps we should walk somewhere else,’ murmured Judith Cottingham, casting an anxious look up at Adam.
‘No, no, if Miss Preston would like to go there we shall do so,’ said Margaret, putting up her parasol. ‘Come along, then, no dawdling!’
Ralph held out his arm to Lucy, saying with a smile, ‘We have our orders, it would seem.’
‘Do you mind?’ she asked, taking his arm.
‘Not in the least.’
‘I think, upon reflection that I might remain here,’ said Judith Cottingham, giving the group an apologetic smile. ‘It is still very hot.’
‘It will be cooler under the trees,’ Margaret pointed out, but Judith could not be persuaded and returned to the house.
‘Well, that is very convenient,’ declared Caroline, unabashed. ‘Now we have an equal number of gentlemen and ladies!’
They all paired off, Ralph’s sisters taking their husbands’ arms while Ralph escorted Lucy and Adam looked after Charlotte Preston. The trees lining the old ride still provided some shade, and when they emerged on the far side, a gentle breeze was sufficiently cool to make walking very pleasant.
The walk downhill to the town was accomplished in good time and it was a merry party that entered Mrs Frobisher’s store, where the grocer’s wife had set aside a room with tables and chairs for weary shoppers to refresh themselves with tea or cups of hot chocolate in winter, and barley water or delicious lemonade during the hot summer months.
It did not take long to stroll up and down the High Street, the ladies looking in the shop windows and the gentlemen falling behind to talk amongst themselves, but by the time they set off again the afternoon was well advanced.
The old road twisted its way steeply upwards through the trees to emerge high above the valley, where the path levelled out and the going was much easier. Their route took them towards the afternoon sun and as they approached Druids Rock it towered over them, shadowed and menacing. The uphill walk had separated the little party. Margaret and Sir Timothy were marching well in advance, followed by Adam Cottingham, who had given his arm to Lucy, while Ralph followed a short distance behind with Charlotte Preston, and Caroline and Lord Wetherell straggled along at the rear. As Adam and Lucy made their way around the base of Druids Rock they heard Charlotte’s youthful giggle behind them, followed quickly by Ralph’s deep laugh.
Adam smothered an oath.
‘How can he be so unconcerned?’ he muttered in a strangled undervoice. ‘I cannot—’
He broke off and Lucy turned to look at him, startled.
‘Whatever is wrong, Mr Cottingham?’
‘I beg your pardon, Miss Halbrook. Perhaps I should have kept silent, but it is unbearable. It is beyond anything that he should laugh here, where Lady Adversane died. How can he act so, knowing—?’
‘Knowing what, Mr Cottingham?’
He pressed his lips together, but then, as if the words forced themselves out against his will, he hissed, ‘Knowing that he is responsible for her death!’
‘Oh, surely not!’
She glanced over her shoulder, but Ralph and Charlotte were too far behind to have overheard. Adam continued to speak in a low, angry voice.
‘He was besotted with her, but she never loved him, never! And when his demands became too much she fled here to Druids Rock to escape him.’
‘Please, Mr Cottingham, I do not think you should say anything more. Especially not to me.’
Lucy withdrew her arm and began to walk on a little faster.
‘But don’t you see?’ Adam lengthened his stride to keep pace with her. ‘You are precisely the person I should speak to. You have the look of her. I noticed it immediately. Do you not see what is happening, Miss Halbrook? He is turning you into his dead wife.’
‘Nonsense,’
