Lord of the Far Island by Victoria Holt (romance book recommendations TXT) 📗

I just could not believe I was awake and this was really happening.

"You must tell me everything, Ellen," said Rollo. "What happened at the castle? The boy brought you, I see."

"We came through a kind of cave."

Rollo poured something into a glass and said: "Drink this. It will steady you. I can see you've had a shock."

He put the glass into my hand but I couldn't drink anything. I set it down on the table.

I said: "There's a tunnel from here to the castle."

He did not express any surprise. "I was concerned about you," he said. "That's why I didn't want to leave the place. I felt that something was going on there and that you needed looking after. I couldn't get that affair of the boat out of my mind."

"You think someone was trying to murder me."

He nodded. "I'm sure of it," he said.

Not Jago, I thought. I won't believe it was Jago.

"I want to get away to the mainland," I said. "For a while at least."

"Of course. I'll row you over."

"I think I'll stay at the Polcrag Inn until I've thought all this over."

"It's clear, isn't it? You're the heiress to that Island, a prosperous community. It's real wealth. People will go to great lengths for the amount of money that represents, Ellen."

I laughed weakly. "I'm sorry," I said, "but I feel so bewildered ... so lost. Everything that has happened has been so strange. I . . . the Poor Relation to be so rich. I only recently discovered all this."

"Other people knew it and they acted accordingly."

"Why are you so kind to me suddenly?"

"I'm sorry for my past conduct. In any case, you were to be a member of our family. If Philip hadn't died. . . ."

I heard those words again: "What happened in Philip Carrington's bedroom. . . ." No, Jago, I won't believe it of you. I can't.

Rollo seemed suddenly alert.

"What's happened to the boy . . . the one you brought with you?"

I looked behind me. Slack was not there.

"He must be around," I said.

Rollo went to the door. I heard him calling Slack.

Now I was in the room alone I examined it with a sort of awed wonder. I went to the window and touched the curtains. This was more vivid than the dream.

What was I going to do? I should have stayed behind and talked to Jago. I would go back to him and tell him I must know the whole truth.

My mother must have been here often, for she had re-created every detail in the room in her picture. Why had it played such a part in my dreams? I was baffled.

I had found the room but of what significance was that? I had lived through the moment of doom when the door had opened and revealed Rollo.

There was something unreal even about him—something which was different. He was not the godlike creature I had seen when we were young through the eyes of his adoring younger brother. There was something different about Rollo.

The door opened and strangely enough the old feeling of fear began to creep over me.

It was Rollo again. His face distorted with angry annoyance.

"I can't find the boy . . . the mad boy," he said. "Where can he have got to?"

"He can't have gone back to the castle."

"Why did he run off like that? What was he saying?"

"Something about Silva. She was my half sister. He was saying something terrible had happened to her."

"What did he mean?"

"I don't know."

"He's crazy, that boy."

"I don't think so. His mind works in a strange way, that's all. He has what he calls fancies and powers."

"He's an idiot," said Rollo. "You haven't had your drink. You'll feel better for it, you know."

I took it up and sipped it.

"I want to go to the mainland," I said.

"I'll take you."

I stood up.

"Finish your drink first, and I'll get the boat."

"I've left everything at the castle."

"Why did you leave in such a hurry?"

"It seemed necessary then. Now . . ."

"You regret it?"

He was smiling at me and the room seemed to be dissolving about him. I could only see his smiling face.

"Yes, I think I was too hasty. I should have waited, should have talked to Jago. ..."

My voice seemed to be coming from a long way off. Rollo continued to smile at me.

"You're growing very sleepy," he said. "My poor Ellen."

"I feel very strange. I think I'm dreaming still. This room . . ."

He nodded.

"Rollo, what's happening?"

"You're getting drowsy," he said. "It's the drink. A little sedative. You needed that—and so did I."

"You . . . Rollo?"

"Come. We're going now."

"Where?"

"To the boat. That's what you want, isn't it?"

I stood up and swayed unsteadily. He caught me.

"Now," he said, "it will be easy. Your coming like this. It couldn't have been better. Curse that boy, though."

He put an arm about me to steady me and we went out of the room and into the passage. The cold air revived me a little.

"What happened?" I cried.

I heard Rollo laugh softly. "All's well. I didn't expect such luck. It'll be over soon. Come down. . . . Down the slope to the shore."

Something warned me. The doom feeling I had known in the dream was very strong.

"I don't think I want to go after all..." I heard myself say.

"Don't be obstinate. You're going."

"I want to see Jago first. Of course I must see Jago. I ought to have talked to him . . . asked him to explain."

I slid to the ground. I was lying among the bushes and I held on to these with all my strength.

"What's wrong with you?" Rollo was trying to pull me to my feet, but I clung with all my might to that bush. For a terrible realization had come to me. The dream had been right. My doom had come through that door, for my doom was Rollo.

The drink he had given me was drugged. I knew that now. This hazy sleeping feeling was meant