CONCLUDING Woman SERIAL by MARGARET SUMMERTON .sx ILLUSTRATED BY WALTER WYLES .sx the Sea House .sx Out of violence and fear love could still flourish .sx For now love was theirs .sx A MOMENT after the kitchen dresser had swung to and left us in the darkness of the secret passage , there was a sudden , blinding light .sx Ivor had switched on a torch .sx Esmond grunted :sx " Bolt the door .sx It'll give us an extra half hour while either Mark or Adkins gets hold of a crowbar .sx Then go ahead , shine the light backwards .sx " There was the long , sustained whisper of oiled metal moving , and then Ivor stumbled over my feet .sx My wrists , stinging with cramp , were free from Esmond's grasp .sx " Don't start making a fuss all over again Charlotte , there's a good girl , " Esmond said .sx " Save your breath .sx You've got a long climb .sx Follow Ivor .sx I'm right behind you .sx " The steps went on and on ; sometimes steeply , sometimes on a wide , low incline , and the depths of the treads varied .sx After ten minutes , Ivor had gone so far ahead that it was dark .sx My head struck rock , my feet misjudged the step and I fell with a scream .sx Esmond's arm came round my waist , but there was no resilience left in me to help him .sx " I can't breathe , " I whispered .sx " I'm choking .sx " " No , you're not .sx This is the worst patch .sx You've only about another hundred yards to go .sx Come on .sx " He heaved me upright , and half carried me to a point where the steps ended .sx IVOR had set the lamp on the floor .sx He stood over it , visible to his waist , the rest of him a formless shadow .sx We were in a cave .sx As Esmond put me down , I lifted my arm .sx I could just touch the roof .sx The air was a little sweeter but it was still heavy and my breath came in gasps .sx I would have given ten years of my life for sight of the sky .sx I began to beat my hands against the slime-covered walls .sx I cried out one word repeatedly :sx it was Mark .sx " Don't , Charlotte .sx You've got to stick it out for another few minutes .sx " With hands that had suddenly grown protective , Esmond turned me round , pushed the hair from my forehead .sx " You and Mark have got the rest of your lives to fix yourselves up .sx But this small piece of you belongs to me .sx If you don't stay with me until I get into the open , I'm finished , Charlotte .sx " " You've no chance , " I said , repeating Mark's words .sx " There isn't a yacht waiting for you .sx . " " Probably not .sx " He shrugged his shoulders .sx " But if I can get clear , make the beach , I'll find some sort of boat .sx . " I glanced over my shoulder .sx Ivor had moved a little out of the range of the light .sx " Why did you come in here ?sx If you're afraid of what he might do ?sx " I asked Esmond .sx " He wouldn't have given me a chance to do anything else .sx He'd have shot us all down , made his own getaway alone .sx " " What's he doing ?sx " " Don't panic .sx He's clearing the way ahead .sx Except for an air passage , the way out of this cave is blocked with stones and old rubbish .sx After that , there's a low tunnel , one last cave .sx . From there , out on the cliffs , the odds are against him , not me .sx I know every foxhole a darned sight better than he does .sx I'll leave you there , Charlotte , and you can double back to Mark .sx He'll have the door down by then .sx " He raised his voice that he had held to a whisper .sx " All clear , Ivor ?sx " AS he pushed me forward Ivor moved into the light .sx There was a glint of metal in his right hand .sx Esmond laughed , and in the same second pulled me back hard against him , a living shield between him and the threat of the gun .sx " Just as I thought , " he said shortly .sx " My insurance has paid off .sx " I froze against him , as Ivor , giant-size in that low cavern , moved one step , then another towards us .sx I felt Esmond's left hand move down to grapple in his pocket .sx Then he shouted :sx " If you want to kill me , you've got to kill her first .sx " " You're at the end of the line , Elliot , " Ivor said in a voice of steel .sx Esmond screamed :sx " You'll have to shoot her first .sx Lisa won't be so keen to have a double murderer on her hands , you'll find .sx " Their voices overlapped and were trapped in the echo .sx " Lisa's finished with you .sx You're a wastrel , a sponger , " Ivor hissed .sx " You never meant me to get out of here alive .sx . Webster .sx . and the boat , they were a pack of lies .sx . Mark was right .sx " Esmond was now gasping for breath .sx " Of course he was right .sx . You're going to die , Elliot , and the girl can go with you .sx . " The gun in Esmond's hand spat .sx The light was gone .sx In the sudden , blinding darkness I managed to wrench myself free of Esmond's grasp and dive to the ground .sx There was a tumult of noise and the spatter of fire .sx Something struck my arm .sx There was no pain after the first searing blow , only numbness , and sticky warmth trickling over my hand .sx For a moment I crouched there , dazed , then I stood up and shouted as loudly as the breath in my lungs would allow .sx Almost immediately I heard the scraping of heavy , stumbling feet , a voice choking in curses , a fall that sent stones tumbling .sx Then silence again , and after timeless seconds , a long-drawn-out gasp .sx " Esmond !sx Esmond !sx " The echo mocked my cry .sx I fumbled frantically in the darkness , bending double , brushing the wet , filthy floor with my hands .sx . Then I fell over the prone figure that was still moaning and dropped to my knees .sx I whispered :sx " Esmond !sx " not sure in the blackness whether it was he or Ivor .sx He breathed the first syllable of my name .sx I shifted his head to my knee .sx It was heavy , and when I felt his face it was wet .sx . or was it my fingers that were coated with my own blood or slime from the cave ?sx My hands on his shoulders moved down to his chest , and then dropped away as he gave a terrible scream .sx I bent my head until my face was over his mouth , trying to make words out of the senseless mumble that followed the cry of agony .sx But they made no sense .sx And then , behind me , I heard another sound :sx slow , dragging , tortuous .sx I froze , my body bent over Esmond , my hand grasping the gun that was , miraculously , lying on the ground beside my finger tips .sx Ivor was moving .sx THEN he was on me , his foot tripping over my leg ; my teeth bit my lower lip to stem the scream , and my free hand covered Esmond's mouth .sx Beneath the weight of his body I willed my limbs to stay stiff and waited to feel the touch of his hand that would tell him Esmond and I weren't dead .sx In that moment my finger found the trigger of the gun .sx Would I have pulled it ?sx I don't know , because the weight gradually heaved itself from me .sx Footsteps , scuffling , uncertain , dragged themselves away , and finally , there was utter silence .sx I lifted my shoulders , eased the burden on my knees , and waited .sx . I fought hard not to wake up .sx Desperately I clung to the remnants of unconsciousness , burrowing in the thinning layers , trying to ignore the pain in my arm and a voice that called my name .sx But the voice and the pain were winning .sx A hand on my shoulder scattered the last fragments and I cried out .sx The voice said :sx " I'm sorry , but it's time you woke up , Charlotte .sx " Odd , I thought , it sounded like Edwina's voice .sx I opened my eyes .sx The room was full of daylight .sx " There !sx You'll be perfectly all right know .sx " Her voice was relieved .sx I pushed myself up on the pillows .sx " What time is it ?sx " I asked .sx " Almost ten o'clock .sx " She glanced at my arm .sx " You're not to worry about that .sx It was only a simple flesh wound .sx Dr. Farnes stitched it up for you last night .sx " I was still only half awake .sx " Could I have a cup of tea ?sx " I said .sx " Ivy is bringing you your breakfast as soon as she can manage it , but she's all behind this morning .sx Nothing has been done properly .sx It's all extremely upsetting .sx " I stared at her .sx The memory of the afternoon and evening before came faltering back to me , in patches .sx I could feel the dazzle of the torches as Mark , Adkins and the others reached me in the cave .sx " Are you hurt , Charlotte ?sx " Mark had gently eased me upright , away from Esmond .sx Adkins had bent over the body that I had guarded , and a whole world of tortured waiting passed before Adkins said :sx " I'm afraid there's nothing else we can do for him .sx Mr. Halliwell , I suggest you help Miss Elliot back to the house .sx I'll follow you .sx " Even now , I could hear my own voice crying out , and Mark saying :sx " Hush , darling .sx He's dead .sx I've got to get you out of here .sx " I could remember nothing after that but a close-up of Dr. Farnes's face as he bent over me , and his cheerful voice saying :sx " Now don't worry , young lady .sx This isn't going to hurt you .sx You're going to have a nice , long sleep .sx " I twisted round , so that I could look fully at Edwina .sx Her face was grey and pinched , but from the light in her eye I could tell she was on the brink of reading me a lecture .sx I cried out accusingly :sx " Esmond need never have died if you hadn't given him away .sx You came straight back here yesterday afternoon and telephoned Inspector Adkins .sx How could you be so cruel ?sx " SHE shook her head at me , patiently admonishing , as if I were a child .sx " If you commit murder , Charlotte , you must be punished .sx " I said :sx " Why did you play that horrible cat and mouse game if you knew Esmond was there ?sx " " I didn't know he was there until I saw the way that dog behaved , that the dresser hinges had been mended and oiled , and the attic was bolted .sx When that meddlesome policeman forced himself on me in the morning with his story of Esmond being alive , I didn't believe him .sx " She leaned forward , said fiercely :sx " And do you know why I didn't believe him ?sx " I shook my head .sx " Because if he were speaking the truth it meant that all of you , and you in particular , Charlotte , had wilfully deceived me .sx Do you think it's pleasant to learn that a granddaughter to whom you've given nothing but kindness , whom you've tried to love , is sheltering the murderer of .sx . " She broke off , as if Danny's name was too precious to be spoken before me .sx For a moment her eyes closed and then she recovered herself .sx " I'd never have believed you were capable of such deceit .sx However , it is Mark I blame for the way you behaved .sx I shall never forgive him .sx He's to leave this house .sx . " I broke in on her tirade .sx " That's not how it happened at all .sx I found Esmond .sx Mark wanted to go to the police .sx I wouldn't let him .sx " " Let him !sx Let him !sx " she burst out .sx " A grown man should be the keeper of his own conscience , not at the mercy of a silly , sentimental girl .sx And a fine help he was to you !sx You might have been killed .sx " " Where is he now ?sx " I asked .sx " Where you'd expect him to be !sx Explaining his conduct to the police .sx " There was a fumbling at the door , and Ivy came in , breathless , awkward .sx When she'd gone , Edwina bent over me .sx " You've got an egg .sx I gave orders for it .sx And there's some honey .sx That'll do you good .sx " " I just want the tea , " I said .sx " Oh , no , " she protested .sx " You must eat a good breakfast .sx I can't promise you what the rest of the meals will be like today .sx Mrs. West has left , you know .sx