Castle In The Clouds, Chapters 25 & 26 (standard:drama, 2219 words) [13/21] show all parts
Author: Brian Cross	Added: Apr 09 2010	Views/Reads: 2340/1689	Part vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
The new butler returns and Veronica perceives she is a prisoner within the castle. Veronica is offered help by Dorothea, but can she trust her?

Click here to read the first 75 lines of the story

realise the danger here – what you have involved yourself in – and let 
me guess – on account of Gibbings, I suppose?' 

Veronica bit her lip, crossed her arms, she felt exposed to everyone,
including Dorothea. 

'He saved my life.' 

Dorothea smiled thinly. 'I'd vouch you could have saved your own.' 

'He didn't know that.' 

'But now you find yourself facing the ultimate peril?' 

Veronica shrugged, 'Perhaps.' 

'Ah, you concede at least that much – go to Gibbings Veronica, you have
perhaps an hour before Dawson returns. I know of this man, make no 
mistake, he does not have our culture, he does not possess Hambleton's 
geniality, he is hard-boiled and dangerous which is precisely why my 
brother employed him and make no mistake that he will adhere to the 
instruction of my brother and he will impose a strict regime; can I 
make myself any clearer?' 

Veronica felt the shudder that rocked her body in every nerve. 'I shall
seek out Gibbings Dorothea, but are you not also in peril? You 
dismissed your brother's offer outright.' 

Now Dorothea's eyes developed a dark sheen, just a suggestion of her
usual malevolence. 'But for you it might never have happened. You 
brought forth this infernal lust within him, which has ignited the 
madness that always existed, not only in him, but in the depths of our 
family.' 

Dorothea removed her hands from the arms of her chair, leaned forward
and placed them on her thighs. 'Now Veronica you have become part of 
it. Gibbings is your escape.' She hefted her arm wildly, not in 
Veronica's direction, rather in the direction of Gibbings' cottage. 
'And when Dawson returns, what then? That will be the real test of your 
character, will it not? I say no more.' 

Chapter Twenty Six 

Gibbings wasn't in the garden, and with conditions the way they were
Veronica wasn't surprised. She glanced around but the driving rain 
obscured her view. 

'Veronica -' she heard the shout hurry across on the wind and then
through the grey veil of rain saw Gibbings hurrying towards her wearing 
his dark, hooded coat. 'Veronica I've been watching, waiting,' he 
panted as rain lashed his face. 'I need to talk to you.' 

'At last -' Veronica wiped the rain from her eyes. 

'Not here,' he said grabbing her arm. 'I can barely hear myself speak -
my cottage -' 

'Then we need to hurry – you have taken long enough; I take it you are
now ready to speak about your problems?' 

'I am.' Gibbings led her to his door, ushered her through, he watched
the rainwater tumble from her hair. 'I'll get you a towel.' 

Veronica shook her head fiercely, 'You will do no such thing; you will
speak now of what troubles you.' 

'You should take your coat off while I speak, you're wet through.' 

'Yes and I will still be wet through when I leave, now go on,' she
gestured. 

Gibbings shrugged, gathered breath. 'I should explain I have relatives
in Inverness, though I come from the south. I met a northern woman, a 
schoolteacher, fell in love and married her. Not long after Alice gave 
birth to a baby, Alexandra.' 

Gibbings clasped his hands to his forehead, his eyes seemingly searching
the ground before he raised them to meet hers. 'Anyway, we were on a 
steamer bound for Inverness, the three of us, when in high seas she 
struck rocks and it seemed to me that in seconds the bow plunged – we 
were forced overboard, I managed to get little Alexandra into a 
lifeboat but I swam round for Alice and she'd gone – gone beneath the 
waves. 

'Last I ever saw of her.' He shook his head slowly, 'She didn't panic
you know, she'd been so calm - in a way that was the worst thing – she 
didn't deserve to -' Gibbings eyes were misty as he looked at her, his 
words slow and sadly reflective – 'that's what started me with the 
lifeboat crew – I wanted to help others -' 

'I'm sorry – I'm so very sorry.' Veronica stepped closer, biting her
lip. 'And your daughter? What of her now?' 

'My wife had a sum of money by inheritance; it was her wish that
Alexandra be educated at boarding school – for her to have a bright 
future. That sum has been whittled away by boarding fees but the small 
amount I get here goes to her upkeep, though it gets harder to support 
her each school term. It's why this job is so important; I couldn't 
afford to get on the wrong side of Llewellyn, though now -' 

Veronica snatched Gibbings' hand. 'Don't you see – I can help you. Oh
John, why didn't you tell me before? I can pay for your daughter's 
education outright.' 

Gibbings drew away, turned his back on her, forearm and forehead against
the door frame.  'I don't want your money.' 

'Why not?' Veronica demanded, 'Because I'm a woman?' 

'It's not right.' Gibbings swung round, saliva between his white teeth.
'It doesn't happen.' 

'John, it does happen, if you allow me to help, get rid of your dogmatic
values, we can be away from here -' 

'All right for you to say, but then what would I do?' 

She shook his shoulders, 'John, help me, I am trying to help you. I
could have turned and fled but I stayed to assist you. But now I need 
to pack my possessions, before the new butler Dawson returns – I have 
seen enough, heard enough to believe my very liberty is in jeopardy. 

'Listen to me – Thomas – Llewellyn is not sane. Dorothea is not sane but
he is worse, he has disguised his insanity whereas she displays hers 
openly.' 

Veronica drew breath, let go of his shoulders and took a step away, her
eyes never leaving his face. 'Time passes John, and all the while 
Dawson is returning with instructions to protect Llewellyn's 
possession.' 

Gibbings squinted, gave a slight shake of his head, as if unwilling to
accept the truth of her words. Finally he said, 'Is it that bad, can 
things be that urgent?' 

'Of course it is John, ' Veronica shouted as the rafters creaked with
the strength of the wind, 'have you not the least idea?' 

'Aye Hambleton has told me – and Dorothea, but I never thought -'
Gibbings broke off, swung and slammed his fist against the wall. 'Very 
well Veronica, you have stayed to help me – put yourself at risk. Hurry 
back to the castle, pack your possessions while I pack mine.' 

'Wait for me by the garden gate,' she said heaving open the door. 'We
will not take the main track out, we will cut across the island – if 
Dawson returns and spots us – I do not trust him.' 

'Hurry, Veronica.' The intensity in Gibbings' eyes was such that she met
them for several seconds before a quick nod of her soaked red head saw 
her turn and set off at speed for the castle. 

She was midway up the slope when she saw Dawson approaching the castle,
flogging the pony in a way Hambleton would never have done and with his 
return her heart sank to despair. In theory he could not detain her 
against her will, and yet in reality she knew he would. 

"Leave without your belongings," a small voice inside urged, but a
deeper, more powerful one ordered, "do not antagonise this dangerous 
man who acts for an insane one; stay calm, out-think him and bide your 
time." 

Veronica yearned to be free of the castle, wanted to join Gibbings and
flee to the mainland but the opportunity had passed; in truth, there 
had never been enough time. 

And Dawson, tethering the pony, had already spotted her; she felt his
unfeeling eyes following her to the castle entrance. 

* 

'You were a fool to return Veronica -' feeling the chill follow her into
the hall, Veronica started at the sound of Dorothea's voice, and 
turning, found her reclining on the green chaise-longue inside its 
entrance. 

'I have my possessions to pack,' Veronica retorted, head held high. 

'You think he will let you leave now?' Dorothea's derision stopped her
in her tracks, 'Dawson's instructions will be to contain you here 
pending my brother's return.' 

'He cannot detain me,' Veronica uttered without conviction. 

'You are a strong, determined woman,' Dorothea said grudgingly, getting
to her feet, 'and for that I respect you - but you will not easily 
force your way past this man-' 

Dorothea dropped the lids of her eyes, 'not without distraction -' 

'What do you mean by that?' 

'You would do better to dry yourself off than to ponder upon that now.
Dawson approaches up the slope; I can hear his heavy steps.' Dorothea 
ushered Veronica away. 'Dawson will pose problems only if you provide 
him with any and he will already have deduced your purpose in being out 
in such foul weather. It is better to avoid him as I intend to - as 
much as possible. Be ready for my call.' 

Veronica looked back uncertainly before leading the way out of the hall,
making her way to a room which now seemed more akin to a prison. 

She towelled herself dry, and then thought of Gibbings - waiting for her
by the garden gate no doubt, and in wild conditions. 

She wondered how long he would wait, wondered what he would do now - and
then pondered upon Dorothea's mystifying remark. Could she really 
expect any assistance from Dorothea? 

Alone in her room Veronica sighed, and heard heavy footsteps along the
passageway. 


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