The Downstairs Maid (47 page)

‘I taught the other one a lesson she couldn’t forget. I’m going to have what you promised me, you bitch, and then I’ll do the same to you as I did to …’

‘What do you mean?’ Lizzie couldn’t think what he meant but she sensed the evil in him and gasped, struggling and screaming again. ‘No …’

‘Let her go, you brute.’

Lizzie knew Emily’s voice even though she hadn’t seen her coming. She hardly understood what happened next, except that Emily must have attacked him from the rear. She had something in her hand and then Lizzie saw it was a garden hoe. They were only a few yards from the back of Emily’s house. She must have heard or seen something, come out and grabbed whatever was to hand. She was shouting at the top of her voice and wielding her hoe like a weapon, hitting out at Derek over and over again. He staggered back, looking bewildered, the blood running down his face. Emily’s first blow had taken him by surprise and the blade had cut him above his right eye.

‘I’ll kill you,’ he muttered and lunged at Emily, seeming to forget Lizzie in his desire to wreak revenge on his attacker. ‘If your pa hadn’t come that day in the field I would have shown you then …’

‘He means it,’ Lizzie said. ‘He’s evil …’

‘Bitches! I’ll teach you both a lesson.’

‘I know what you are,’ Emily said, keeping him at bay with her hoe. ‘You’ve always been a bully – and I think you had something to do with Carla’s murder. I saw you hanging about after her … What happened, did she turn you down? Is that why you killed her?’ She saw the guilt and shock in his eyes and knew she was right. ‘I’m right, aren’t I? Good grief … you did kill her …’

‘I’ll shut your mouth for good …’ He moved towards her menacingly.

‘You leave her alone, you wicked man,’ Lizzie said and rushed to help Emily.

Derek swore and lunged at her with his fist. It connected with her chin and she went down like a stone, lying unconscious as the battle raged about her. She was unaware when the newcomer arrived on the scene. Nor did she hear what was said as someone picked her up and carried her back to Emily’s house and laid her on the bed in the parlour.

Lizzie woke to see a stranger looking down at her. She gave a little cry of fear and then someone came into her view, placing a hand on her arm as she started up.

‘It’s all right, Lizzie,’ Sir Arthur said. ‘You are with friends now. This is the doctor and Emily is in the kitchen making us tea.’

‘She saved me …’ Lizzie shuddered. ‘That man … he was attacking me …’

‘We know,’ Sir Arthur said. ‘We think he must have mistaken you for Emily. He is her uncle and he already tried to rape her once before she came to work at the manor. Derek Black thought he was attacking Emily – and that was his mistake, because she had come after you. She discovered that you’d left your purse on her table and she was going to return it to you.’

Lizzie swallowed cautiously. She hadn’t left her purse behind. Emily knew the truth. Had she made up this story to protect Lizzie from the scandal that must result if the attack on her was made public?

‘She attacked him and then …’ She touched her chin. ‘He hit me and I don’t know what happened next …’

‘I happened to return to the cottage. There was something I wanted to tell Emily. I heard the screams and ran to help. It was just too late to stop you being hurt but in time to stop either of you being murdered. I heard his threats to you – and Emily suspects that he’s killed before.’

‘Do you mean Carla Bracknell? She was murdered in the spring of 1914. I remember it was just about the time Emily came to the manor and Granny was most upset that it should happen in our village. Do you think – could he really have done it? It seems so wicked …’

‘Emily has told us about her suspicions, which are only that – and also about the day he tried to rape her. She didn’t go to the police then, but she is willing to do so now. I saw him attacking you both and heard him say he would kill you both. I think her testimony and mine should be enough to convince the police to investigate further without them bothering you too much, Lizzie.’

Lizzie knew that they had got together to protect her. Emily would use her part of the story to have him arrested, but it was sure to come out that she’d been involved, though if Emily swore that he’d been trying to attack her, Emily, she might not get dragged into a scandal. After all, it had taken place near Emily’s cottage.

‘What happened after you arrived?’

‘He saw me and ran off. I considered you needed me and let him go. The police have been alerted and he will be arrested. We shall keep your name out of it as much as possible, Lizzie. Your brother arrived ten minutes ago. He was delayed and blames himself for not being here when he promised.’

Lizzie felt the tears slip down her cheeks. She wanted to tell them about meeting Derek and that it was her fault he’d attacked her, but she couldn’t find the words. Sir Arthur would think she was cheap and she wanted him to like her.

Emily came through then, bringing a cup of tea. ‘Your brother thinks you should stay here tonight, Lizzie. He will tell your mother that you fell and hurt yourself … it is all arranged.’

‘He won’t come back … Derek?’

‘He won’t get near the cottage,’ Sir Arthur said. ‘I shall have a man outside all night – and, believe me, Black knows what is waiting for him if he shows his face here. The penalty for murder in this country is still hanging. If they can prove he killed that poor girl, he will undoubtedly hang. And he would be arrested for assault if nothing more.’

‘It’s only our word …’ Lizzie faltered. The thought that Derek might hang was horrible despite what he’d done.

‘Oh, I think Emily’s testimony will be enough.’ Sir Arthur frowned. ‘Besides, the police have been watching him for some time. They believe he attacked two girls in Ely. The girls had been to the public house he owns and runs with Mrs Carter and were attacked on the way home. They didn’t report it for some days but when they did the police decided to keep an eye on him. Also, they know he’s been buying beer that was stolen from the brewery. Mr Black is going to be in a lot of trouble when the police catch up with him.’

Lizzie’s head was aching. She closed her eyes, shutting out the pictures that crammed into her mind. Derek had made her feel so dirty and she couldn’t help feeling that she was in part to blame – but if he’d killed one girl and attacked others perhaps he deserved to be punished.

‘I think Miss Lizzie would like to rest now,’ Emily said.

‘I shall leave something to help her sleep,’ the doctor said.

‘I’ll be back tomorrow,’ Sir Arthur said and smiled at her. ‘I’ll take you home then. Lizzie – don’t worry, your mama won’t blame you. You were quite innocent in all this …’

Lizzie didn’t answer as he went out, but she opened her eyes once she and Emily were alone.

‘I feel so awful … so dirty.’

‘I know. It makes you feel like that,’ Emily said and squeezed her hand. ‘He isn’t worth feeling pity for, Miss Lizzie. Believe me, he deserves to be punished. I should have gone to the police years ago, when Carla was murdered. I knew what he was – and I’d seen them together – but I didn’t dream he would do something like that, though I should’ve known what he was capable of. I can’t know for sure but when I accused him of it, the look in his eyes told me I was right. He tried to rape me and he hurt my father. I was lucky that a farmer I knew came to the rescue.’

‘It was lucky for me that you came out when you did …’

‘I thought I heard a cry.’ Emily frowned. ‘He must have thought you were me. If he’d come into the house when I was alone …’ She shuddered. ‘He has always wanted to get his own back on me for what happened that day.’

‘He was at the funeral,’ Lizzie said thoughtfully. Perhaps Emily was right. He couldn’t have expected to see her or to know she would go home with Emily. He’d probably hoped to get Emily alone when everyone had gone. ‘I did know him a little. We spoke a few times and – and he kissed me …’

‘Derek was always a charmer if he wanted to be. Don’t tell anyone about that kiss, Miss Lizzie. We don’t want you to lose your good name over him.’

‘Mama would be furious with me. I don’t think she would ever let me out of her sight again.’ She clung to Emily’s hand. ‘If you hadn’t followed me …’

‘I’m glad I was there.’ Emily smiled at her. ‘We’re friends and we’ll see this out together. Just rest and try to forget what happened. He isn’t worth it.’

Tears slid down Lizzie’s cheeks. She felt weak and sick and shamed and all she wanted to do was to hide her head under the bed-covers, but she knew she was going to have to face it all some time, because this wasn’t just going to go away.

Lizzie was conscious of the bruise on her cheek when Sir Arthur called to collect her the next morning. She waited a little self-consciously as he told Emily that the cottage was hers for as long as she wanted it – and that she could store her things in his barn just as Christopher had, if she didn’t want to stay there.

‘There is a Dutch charger among the things in store,’ he’d told Emily. ‘It is slipware and I think very amusing, though to those who don’t understand it might look crude and rather ugly. I think it is quite valuable and I would be prepared to offer you fifty pounds for it. You might perhaps get more if you placed it with a London auction house.’

‘That is very fair of you to tell me, sir,’ Emily said. ‘I recall seeing the charger but I thought it rather naïve and a little ugly. I should probably have sold it in the market for a few shillings. Fifty pounds will be very acceptable – if you are certain you wish to buy it?’

‘I should be pleased to do so,’ he said, ‘though, as I told you, it may make more in auction.’

‘I would rather you had it. And I should like to store some things in the barn until I can find somewhere else to live.’

Lizzie waited as they talked of Emily’s plans for the future. Then Lizzie kissed her cheek, thanked her for looking after her and went out to Sir Arthur’s automobile. He was driving a Daimler Phaeton with the fold-down roof up in place, because a cold wind was blowing. She shivered and he glanced at her, his expression reassuring.

‘No need to be nervous, Lizzie. Jonathan would have explained to your mama – and he blames himself for not being on time.’

‘Mama will not be pleased. I was already in trouble with her.’

‘Jonathan told me, but your crime was really not so very bad.’ Sir Arthur’s gentle smile made her feel better. ‘You ought to have been out before this, with friends of your own age, and it was unfair of your family to treat you as a child. You are a young woman, Lizzie, and it is only right that you want to try your wings … go dancing with a young man who was returning to the Front.’

‘Captain Manning was just a friend. We were not alone at the hotel – his friends joined us and we all danced with each other. It was harmless but I shouldn’t have sneaked out like that, because it led to another quarrel and Granny was upset.’

‘You mustn’t blame yourself for that,’ he said. ‘Lady Prior has a weak heart and it could have happened at any time. Besides, I think Lady Barton is more to blame. She quarrels ceaselessly with her mother.’

Lizzie acknowledged the truth of his words. Lady Barton had blamed Lizzie, but she had been the one making a fuss, which had upset Granny. Even so, Lizzie knew that she should not have gone to the dance. It had been pleasant but not worth risking Granny’s life.

Sir Arthur looked sideways at her once or twice as they drove to the manor. He told her about his plans for the future. His investment in the ill-fated mine had failed but he had made other sound investments and he expected to recoup his losses in time. He had set up a fund to help the smaller investors, who might have lost money they could not afford, because, he told her, he felt guilty for having sold them the shares in the mine, even though he’d believed it a wonderful opportunity at the time. It wasn’t his fault that the leases had been withdrawn, making the mine worthless. His agents told him that a corrupt minister had pocketed money to redirect the leases to another consortium, but he was unable to prove it. He ought, he confided to her, have stayed with the tried and trusted industries his grandfather had started up years ago.

‘It was an unpleasant lesson,’ he said, ‘but I am the wiser for it and I’ve done what I can to make reparation.’

‘You believed the leases were in place when you floated the shares.’

‘Yes, but I should have made certain,’ he said. ‘I shall not be as careless again, believe me.’

Lizzie felt calmer as she listened to his business ideas. He was giving one of his properties to be used as a convalescent home and talked knowledgeably about the war and the likelihood that it would drag on for some time. Despite conscription obliging many young single men to go to war, the country had suffered terrible defeats over the past months and he could see no end to the conflict.

‘I volunteered but they gave me a job in logistics, which means I shall have to do some extensive travelling in the next few months. I should have liked to serve in the forces, but it was thought I would be of more use arranging the transportation of food and munitions.’

‘I read in the paper that they’re still having trouble with getting supplies to the troops on time. Perhaps you could make a difference.’

‘I’m certainly going to try,’ he said, hesitated, then drew into a lay-by and stopped the car. ‘My job means I shan’t always be around, Lizzie – but if I don’t come to see you, I want you to know that I shall be thinking of you. I’m much older, perhaps too old for a young girl like you – but I’ve come to admire you and … if you wouldn’t object I should like to take you out to a party myself. I would arrange for it to be the kind of party of which your mama would approve …’

Lizzie’s cheeks were warm as she shot a shy look at him. ‘I should like that very much, Sir Arthur.’

‘I think we can drop the sir, don’t you?’ His smile warmed her. ‘I was a fool, Lizzie. I noticed you when I first came to the house but you seemed very young – and Amy bewitched me. I know now that I chose the wrong girl.’

Lizzie’s heart slammed against the wall of her chest. She knew she was blushing but she couldn’t keep the happiness out of her eyes as she said, ‘I’ve always liked you very much, Arthur. I was very angry when Amy behaved so badly.’