Chapter 16
The following morning, as Mike had predicted, the rain was coming down steadily and there was a chill in the air. Breakfast was a light affair, Mrs Roseveare being too busy with the last minute preparations for the party to provide a cooked meal. After eating a large bowl of cereal, Sue went to offer her services and was soon given the task of helping to decorate the gallery, where the buffet was to take place. A marquee, for dancing, had been set up in the front courtyard the previous day and Jack, with Jason, was on his way to the barns to collect extra chairs and tables for those who wanted to watch the dancers. Just about everyone in the house party was involved and everything was coming together nicely. In the kitchen, the caterers were starting to set up and delicious smells were beginning to permeate the air making everyone's mouths water in anticipation. Mrs Roseveare was checking that the waiting staff were all still available, a back-up list of alternative people in her hand should they be short staffed.
Sue was having a quiet moment, waiting for more supplies, when she happened to look out of the window in the morning room and into the formal garden. There was a sheltered nook under the stairs leading up to the church and she saw Lionel and Frances, she was about to turn away when she thought about what had happened the previous day. Frances still didn't look well, there were dark circles under her eyes as if she hadn't slept well. Lionel had hold of her elbow and was thrusting his red face towards her as he spoke, spittle flying. Sue was usually very strict with herself about reading other people's conversations but for some reason today she felt that it would be important to know what was being said.
"You know what to do and you will do it," Lionel was saying. "I don't know what has got into you, we planned this. Your very future depends on you holding yourself together and doing what you've been told to!"
Frances drew herself up, "No! She said. "I don't have to, you can't make me."
"Can't I? It would only take one telephone call and you would be arrested. You might not mind about spending the next 30 years in prison but who would look after your brother then? Not me, he'd have to leave that fancy nursing home that I'm paying for and then what would become of him?" Frances sagged, her one act of defiance spent, she nodded her head sadly. "I don't suppose that I have any choice, if was just me I wouldn't care who knew but there is no-one left to look after my brother properly, I'll do it, I'll do what you want but I really hope that some-one will stop you." Lionel grinned, "And who do you think would be able to do that? You couldn't do it and who else would be bothered? Aunt Judith? She's as weak as you are!" He dropped her elbow, patted her cheek and walked off grinning. Frances rubbed her arm as she sat watching the rain and praying for a solution to the terrible mess she had got herself into.
Sue turned from the window determined to join Frances in the garden only to find a large box of decorations thrust into her hands, she gave a half smile and went back to work. When she next had the opportunity to look through the window, Frances was gone and though Sue looked frequently she didn't see Frances again. To make matters even more frustrating her work load prevented her from talking to Jack she kept seeing him in the distance as he put up lights around the formal gardens but any communication between them was limited to waves as they passed on their way to do different tasks. Sue felt frustrated but there was nothing that she could do, fate seemed to be working against her. Then, before she knew it, it was time to get dressed for the ball. Maisie, who generally helped Mrs Roseveare in the kitchen, proved to be skilful in hairdressing and had offered her services to the ladies to style their hair for the night. Sue had taken her up on her offer and was extremely pleased with the result. Maisie curled and pinned but still left a long curl to cascade over her shoulder because she thought that her 'young man' might like to see her hair down causing Sue to laugh. Finally it was time to join the party. Levi nudged her to let her know that some-one was at the door and Sue opened it to find Jack dressed in his best suit looking very smart and exceedingly handsome. Jack was transfixed at the sight of Sue and it seemed ages before he managed to get out "Wow!" He handed her a single rose and held out his elbow for her to hold which she took with a shy smile, "You look great!" she said "Your tie even matches my dress!" Jack looked down at his tie and across to her, "Oh so it does, Mrs Roseveare gave it to me. I'm beginning to think that that women has hidden depths."
They walked towards the drawing room where a trickle of guests had started to come up the main staircase. Thankfully, not long after a quick break for lunch, it had stopped raining allowing the guests the opportunity to wander the gardens which would make the ball less of a crush, even with the marquee. The morning room, which led into the drawing room, contained a temporary bar and Jack got them both drinks before going into the drawing room where they met up with their fellow house guests. Alex, in his role as host, introduced Jack and Sue to some of the people who worked on the estate. Once it appeared that all the guests had arrived Alex gave a short speech thanking them for their hard work over the previous year and wished them good fortune for the next year then, after giving a toast, the Bluebell Ball and the buffet were declared to be open. There were loud cheers from the crowd and guests started down the stairs into the gallery eager to sample the fare. Jack waited for a while, chatting quietly with Sue, Ana and Will until his hunger became obvious and with a grin offered to get Sue a plate of food, she accepted pleased that she wouldn't have to worry about Levi getting trampled. Will set off with him to do the same for Ana who had been called away by Jason leaving Sue and Levi alone. Suddenly, Sue's eye was caught by a movement to her left, looking up she saw Frances in discussion with Lionel. She didn't like what she read, she knew it would be foolhardy to leave without alerting Jack, especially after last time when she had gone into the tunnels on her own and got stuck but she had a strong feeling that something bad was about to happen. As Frances and Lionel left the room Sue told Levi to stay hoping that Jack, knowing that she wouldn't leave Levi alone, would be alerted and come after her.
To her surprise, or perhaps not considering all the weird things that had been going on in there, they went towards her bedroom. She was just tip-toeing past Jack's door when a large hand was thrust across her mouth and her arm wrenched behind her back. Panicked, Sue struggled but her attacker was stronger and she was quickly overpowered and dragged towards her room.
Jack, his hands holding two plates one of which was piled high with tasty goodies, wandered back to where he had left Sue to find only Levi, looking quite distressed, waiting for him. Quickly his eyes scanned the room but there was no sign of Sue. He told himself that perhaps she had gone to the bathroom but that sixth sense that he had where Sue was concerned told him differently. He went to find the others but no-one had seen her, they did a quick search of the marquee and public areas butwith no luck; Sue seemed to have vanished!