Читать книгу A Royal Wrong - Fred M. White - Страница 6

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Lady Letty was not sorry to be alone. She had a number of intricate problems to consider, and their solution threatened almost to be beyond her. She had no ready cash, nor could she command the assistance of friends with money. Otherwise, the thing had been easy. But now it was possible to do nothing but hide Amsted. And there was nobody but she who could do the hiding successfully. The situation was desperate, brimful of anxiety, one long vista of fear and danger. And the man she had most to dread was the man she had agreed to marry!

She could see him flitting about amongst the trees from one group to another, welcomed everywhere with flattering smiles. What a farce it all was! How promptly and contemptuously they would turn their backs on him should fortune frown on him to-morrow. But apparently no doubts of this kind assailed Stephen Du Cros. Presently some visitor engaged him in earnest conversation. The man's appearance was oddly familiar to Lady Letty. It occurred to her that he was the person she had seen in Du Cros's office, the man who had discussed her brother. Involuntarily, she drew nearer to them. The stranger was talking excitedly. She could catch Amsted's name.

"No," Du Cros said curtly. "Nothing of the kind. Please understand that this thing must be done in my way. I leave for Liverpool to-morrow night and shall not be back till the day after. You are not to go near Stanford in the meantime."

Lady Letty dropped into the shadows. She had learnt something. Amsted was free for the next four-and-twenty hours at any rate. If she could only accomplish her project so far as the special train was concerned! But that was out of the question. Hugh Childers might be sanguine, but this task was beyond his power. An irresistible impulse to know the best or worst came upon Lady Letty as she stood there. It was still with her after the guests had gone and she was alone in her room.

It was not far to Childers's flat; he could not have retired yet. There was no reason why Lucy Childers should not share the secret. The scheme would cost money, and she must be prepared for emergencies. Lady Letty had a few jewels she could dispose of, and these she hastily slipped into the pocket of her wrap. She went quietly down the stairs and out into the stillness of the night. Her step faltered a little and her cheeks flamed as she knocked.

Lucy Childers looked at Lady Letty in surprise.

"What has happened?" she asked. "Is there anything wrong at home?"

"Nothing worse than usual," Lady Letty said. "I waited till everybody had gone to bed and then came round to see Hugh. I had to see him before I slept. Perhaps he has told you."

Lucy Childers smiled. There were no secrets between her brother and herself. She knew many things that Lady Letty merely suspected. Hugh was in the drawing-room.

"I was just going to bed," Lucy explained. "Now, I will wait till you are ready to retire. No, I won't stay with you people. I shall be told everything afterwards."

Lucy softly withdrew. A somewhat awkward silence followed.

"I had to come," Lady Letty explained. "I was right in what I said about Stephen Du Cros and my brother. The man I told you of was at our house to-night. I overheard a few words they said. Stanford was mentioned, but they will do nothing till the day after to-morrow, which gives me some little breathing-time. Oh, Hugh, can you manage it—is there any way by which I can get to Stanford to-morrow night?"

Hugh was pacing up and down the room. He had put aside his own troubles and worries, and for the last hour had revolved Letty's perplexities in his mind. A plan was becoming more and more clear to him, until at last it was only a matter of detail.

"I believe I can do it," he said. "I have been studying the railway map. There is a point called Cranley, which is only eight miles from Stanford. Stoneleigh Cross will be reached by the special seventy minutes later than Cranley. But it is no great distance from Cranley to Stoneleigh Cross as the crow flies, and a speedy motor will give you half an hour at Stanford and allow time to get to Stoneleigh Cross, where the train will pull up for Lady Ringwood. To arrange for a motor to await you at the spot where you secretly leave the train is easy. We shall be there as soon as she is, and I'll smuggle you back again on board the train at Stoneleigh Cross. In fact, a rapid car and a chauffeur that knows the land will do all we need—if there is no delay or accident."

"That sounds promising," Lady Letty said. "There is a certain amount of danger, but with a clever head like yours it should be managed. But how about getting off the train? Do you propose to invent some excuse for my leaving openly?"

"I can't see my way to that," Childers said after a pause. "It is too risky. The great thing is to avoid arousing Du Cros's suspicion. Letty, your nerve is good? You are ready to take a risk? Your courage will not fail you at the last moment?"

Childers had dropped his voice to an impressive whisper. Lady Letty caught his excitement, and a little colour crept into her pale face.

"I fancy you may trust me," she said. "I am not afraid to ride any horse that looks through a bridle. I had to swim for my life once. When we went bird's-nesting together, I climbed the highest tree as well as you did, Hugh."

"That is perfectly true," Childers agreed. "I don't fancy there is much real danger, but it will be very horrible to contemplate in cold blood. But you won't be alone, because I mean to accompany you. On the whole I prefer to keep that part of the scheme a secret. How we shall leave the train without stopping it is a matter I would rather not discuss. I don't want you to dwell upon it; I don't wish you to realise the thing till the last moment. As to the motor, I will see to that. You can rely upon its being in readiness. You must trust me, Letty."

"Of course I trust you," Lady Letty exclaimed. "I am willing to place my life in your hands, Hugh. But there are a good many details to be settled yet."

"I have thought of most of them. We can't run the risk of telephoning to Lady Ringwood. Lucy will take an early train to see her and explain matters so far as it is possible to explain. Lady Ringwood, who is a friend of Adala Regnier, will telegraph to Stephen Du Cros, saying she has heard of the express party and asking to have the train stopped at Stoneleigh Cross so that she may join it there. As she is the wife of a peer, it is certain Du Cros will not refuse; on the contrary, he will be only too happy to oblige her. After that you will have to do what I tell you, and obey my instructions implicitly."

"It will require money," Lady Letty said.

"That is so," Childers admitted. "I have none. I suppose we shall have to pay some five or six pounds for the motor which will meet you near Cranley. That Lucy will arrange for. You had better give her the money so that she can pay in advance."

Lady Letty produced the jewels from the pocket of her wrap.

"This is all I have," she said. "Take these and pawn them. What would some of the friends that envy me say if they could see and hear me now!"

The clock on the mantelpiece struck the hour of three. Lady Letty looked up with a start.

"I must fly," she said. "Fancy being from home at this time in the morning! I cannot thank you, Hugh; I must do that on some more fitting occasion. I am leaving everything to you. I am putting myself entirely in your hands. Good-night."

Half an hour from midnight the next evening the fashionable party began to gather at Euston Station. Four carriages and two sleeping-cars gay in crimson and gold and flashing with electric lights had pulled up at one of the platforms. The whole equipment just as it stood had been borrowed, so the story ran, from an ostentatious American millionaire who had brought his special train with him from the States. It was an extravagant piece of snobbishness, but it had served its purpose. The 'smart set' was obviously impressed; the owner of the resplendent cars had been talked about. Everything in its way was perfect. There were lounges and enclosed balconies outside the carriages where it was possible in the daytime to sit or walk and admire the scenery. It was all typically American.

Stephen Du Cros bustled up, full of importance.

"I fancy everybody is here," he said. "We shall have supper at one o'clock. I have left the arrangements as to flowers and the music to the Carlton Hotel people. Those who want to sleep have a car for themselves. We shall stop for a few minutes at Stoneleigh Cross to take up Lady Ringwood. She had heard of the party and wired me to keep a place for her."

Childers listened to the statement with grim satisfaction. He could see his way clear, if he might depend upon Lady Letty's courage and determination. With noise and clatter and laughter, the frivolous group pushed their way into the train. It was a new sensation, and they proposed to enjoy themselves exceedingly. They were loud in their praises of the beauty and luxury of their surroundings. With a shrill whistle the engine started, and London was left behind. At the end of an hour the novelty of the situation was beginning to wear off, and supper was announced. Already one or two of the more careful of the company had gone to the sleeping-car. It was an elaborate supper of the most dainty kind; the flowers in themselves had cost a small fortune. When the supper was disposed of, the majority of Du Cros's guests began to wonder what form of amusement he had arranged for them.

"I am very sorry," he said, "there is nothing but bridge. Our accommodation is too limited for anything else. Will you take a hand, Letty?"

Lady Letty glanced at Childers. He shook his head, indicating the sleeping-car.

"I think not," she said. "I am so very tired. I shall turn in for an hour or two."

Du Cros raised no objection. He was less suspicious than usual, and still puffed up with pride at the success of the venture. A little later Lady Letty, at a sign from Childers, followed him beyond the glass door on to the platform outside. The train was gliding slowly along at a speed of fifteen miles or so an hour. It was cold and chilly where they were, and they seemed to have the whole world to themselves. Letty was shaking from head to foot with excitement.

"You are not timid?" Childers asked. "You are not afraid?"

"Only restless," Lady Letty said. "Don't worry about me; I shall be ready. The sooner it is time to act, the better I shall be pleased."

Childers drew a deep long breath. He grasped Lady Letty's arm.

"The time has come," he said. "Five minutes more and the thing will be done! I see you have no fear. See how slowly we are moving! There is a nasty curve here, and since that accident two years ago all trains slow down at this point. Are you ready? Get into this waterproof suit quickly. I borrowed it from a lady performer at the Hippodrome. Come, Letty."

It seemed like a dream and as short. Strong arms lifted Lady Letty clear of the handrail; she could see the gleam of water beneath her, and out there in the velvet darkness another gleam, steady as a star. It was the motor, the flashing headlights of which showed the way clear. Then a drop, light as a thistledown, a touch of cold, firm ground again, and a feeling as if she had all the world to herself.

She was absolutely and entirely dry! But what to do with the suit! Oh, yes! Hugh had told her to hide that.

The chauffeur stepped down from his seat alertly—the very model of a driver, discreet, alert, not in the least surprised.

"Stanford, miss," he said, "and on to Stoneleigh Cross within an hour? Quite easy, miss; and give you a clear half-hour at Stanford as well."