‘Thank you for the invitation, Marcus,’ she replied firmly, ‘but I’ve already made plans for the weekend.’
Marcus watched her changing expression, shutting him off, her thoughts already moving elsewhere. He was filled with the crushing angst he had suffered so often as a boy, when his mother’s secret violations had resulted in him feeling trapped, humiliated, contaminated, and at times suicidal.
A dangerous rage threatened to overwhelm him. He would not allow this sanctimonious little do-gooder, who had deliberately brought about her own inferior position in the world, who had money coming to her to sweeten her life, to make a fool of him. He would make it plain that he had no ulterior motive for inviting her to the wretched concert, and damn his mother’s evil designs!
‘As you please. Don’t forget the school choir is singing an anthem in church on Sunday. Be sure you don’t infect the school with head lice from your trips across the road.’ His words were clipped, the last discordant.
Turning sharply, he returned to his own side of the screen, leaving Jo utterly bewildered.
Standing inside the headmaster’s outdoor convenience, Marcus slammed his fists against the damp chilled brick wall, muttering under his breath, ‘You fool! You stupid, ignorant fool. It was too soon to make a move on her. She’s a colleague, a subordinate, for goodness’ sake. She had no choice but to refuse.’
Of his mother: ‘You bitch! You cunning, conniving bitch. It was your fussing and moaning which made me go ahead too fast, do the very thing which instinct told me would take time and careful planning.’
At himself: ‘You’ve got to get away again before the bitch wrecks your life. In London, you were in control. The nightmares had stopped. She couldn’t touch you, not in any way. You learned to respect yourself a little. You were your own man. But the minute she got you back she turned you into a frightened child again. Damn her! Look at yourself. See what she’s doing to you? A frail old woman. Making you manipulate a woman into bed who’d despise you if she knew the truth. Joanna Venner would hate you for being so weak, so gullible, so pathetic. She doesn’t give a damn about what her mother thinks of her. She broke free. You’ve got to break free. Stir yourself, man. Grow up again. Break free.’
Then he was weeping in despair. ‘Oh, God, help me, help me.’
Brought back to Penzance by his mother’s distressful letters over her bankruptcy, at one glance from her vengeful, pitiless eyes as she had slammed the door behind him, he knew he was her captive again. The very first time she had come to him had been at night. She had resumed her depraved habits. Now he had no self-respect, no hope. All he owned was the night.
Chapter Eighteen
After church on Sunday morning, Jo found someone waiting for her outside the churchyard.
‘Alistair, you’re a surprise.’
‘Hello, little thing.’ Her brother kissed her affectionately. Jo kissed him back, delighted he was here. In plus fours, white scarf, pipe peeping out of the breast pocket of his mackintosh, and driving hat and gauntlets, it seemed to Jo that Alistair was slipping comfortably into the role of an old-fashioned country squire.
‘I’ve brought a letter for you. Hop in the car. I’ll drive you to the farm.’
‘What makes you think I haven’t got a luncheon engagement?’ Jo said airily.
Alistair grinned. ‘Word is your vicar’s not at all sociable. It’s unlikely there’s anyone else in this place you’d dine with.’ His eyebrows rose as he glanced behind her. ‘Mind you, he’s a cut above the others here. Any chance… ?’
Jo turned round. Alistair was peering at a man emerging through the lychgate. His dark overcoat, equal in quality to Alistair’s more flamboyant apparel, his bearing slightly disdainful, made Marcus Lidgey a courtly figure.
Some of the females among the congregation were treating themselves to an appreciative perusal of him, in between speculating who the stranger was talking to the new teacher. He was on kissing terms with her!
When Marcus saw the stranger, with a hand resting familiarly on Joanna’s arm, his face darkened. Damn it! Did the woman have a suitor? This wealthy toff, with the arrogant air of a young man finding life treating him exceptionally well. In comparison, Marcus, who had quickly regretted his exhibition of pique towards Joanna, and to make amends had expressed sympathetic concern for the Vigus children before the service, felt he stood little chance with her.
Striding towards them, he lifted his hat to her, prepared to determine the measure of his rival.
Jo was pleased to introduce the refined headmaster to her supercilious brother. Marcus was relieved at Alistair’s identity.
Alistair raised his brows again, at the youth and stylishness of the headmaster. ‘I’m pleased my sister isn’t working among a lot of old fogies, Mr Lidgey. Lidgey, Marcus… let me see, the name is familiar to me somehow.’
‘Lidgey is a fairly widespread Cornish name, Mr Venner,’ Marcus said, dropping his eyes. ‘You have arrived to dine with Miss Venner?’
Jo shot Alistair a hopeful look.
‘Sorry, no can do. You’re not married, Mr Lidgey?’
Jo wanted to elbow Alistair in the ribs. He had always been bluntly nosey. Pity it did not occur to him to be courteous to Parmarth’s headmaster for her sake.
‘No, I am not.’
Jo examined Marcus’s face. Had Alistair offended him? He smiled very warmly at her. It was a nice smile, lifting away the tiredness around his dark eyes, making him more like the younger, hopeful version of him in the portrait in his sitting room.
‘Did you go to the recital, Mr Lidgey?’ she asked conversationally.
‘Yes, I did. There was a rather fine interpretation of Bruch’s Violin Concerto number one. I think you would have enjoyed it, Miss Venner. I hope the next time there is a musical treat, you will be able to find the time to accompany me.’
Jo regretted her curiosity. She could almost hear Alistair’s mind ticking over, wondering if there was anything going on between her and Marcus Lidgey. If there was, he probably would not approve. A headmaster would not merit a high enough position in his, or their mother’s, mind to commend him as a marriage partner for her. If she ever conformed to their idea of a suitable marriage, they would explain away her career as a spot of eccentricity. She could imagine their outrage if they knew she had a lover who was an itinerant half-gipsy.
‘I’m sure you want to get on,’ Marcus said graciously. ‘A very good afternoon to you both.’ He smiled at Jo again then walked away down the hill.
Alistair asked for details of his new acquaintance as he drove inconsiderately fast out of the village. ‘He’s got a good make of motorcar. How can a poor headmaster afford it, I wonder.’
‘He’s known better times. He’s very accomplished. He was in London before. He came back to Cornwall for his invalid mother’s sake. And before you start making silly assumptions, there is absolutely nothing between us.’
‘I certainly hope not, Jo,’ Alistair cried, bringing the car to a sudden halt, the engine spluttering out like a dying bronchitic. Jo was nearly thrown across the lacquered dashboard. ‘I’ve just remembered where I’ve heard of him.’
‘What are you talking about?’ Jo shook her hand irritably, hurt in her reflex action to save herself. ‘You very nearly caused me serious injury, you stupid fool.’
‘Never mind that, little thing.’ He rubbed her back to help her reclaim her breath. ‘I was up in London when the scandal broke. Lidgey was thrown out of a top music college over an affair with another tutor’s wife. There was quite a to-do. The husband shot himself. All very nasty. Stuff I heard in the club I couldn’t possibly repeat to you. Dear God, Jo, you must take very great care you don’t get involved with him. The man’s a degenerate.’
‘Really, Alistair, you must be exaggerating.’ Jo felt a disquieting mixture of shock from the Bentley’s violent stop and Alistair’s revelation about her superior. Could it be true? She had no notion why, but some of the signals she had witnessed
passing between Marcus Lidgey and Sally had made her feel uneasy. There had been moments, instances she had chosen to forget, when she had sensed that there was something not quite right in the Lidgey household.
‘I’m not mistaken,’ Alistair stressed. ‘Marcus Lidgey. It’s him. The right age. The right description. It was in the newspapers. It was said he had scuttled off out of the capital. What a fortunate thing I turned up today. He’s a very presentable man, knows how to lay on the charm to the ladies by the way he kept smiling at you. You don’t care for him, do you, Jo? Please say you don’t?’
She had never seen her brother more intense. A frosting of ice fell away from her heart, her very being warmed through, to finally be sure her brother cared deeply for her. ‘I can set your mind at rest, Alistair. It’s going to be rather difficult teaching under Mr Lidgey’s headship now. I often take tea with his mother.’
Alistair restarted the engine. ‘He hasn’t behaved improperly towards you, has he?’
‘No. He’s always seemed rather unassuming. Inclined to the occasional bout of capriciousness. Please don’t tell Mother or anyone else about this. She would laugh at me if the headmaster of the school I teach in was dismissed within weeks of me starting here, and I don’t think Mr Lidgey deserves to have the scandal follow him to Parmarth. He loves his mother so very tenderly.’
They were driving again. ‘Well, I suppose, as they say, better the devil you know. You can look after yourself, and although I want nothing to do with Mercy Merrick, she’s man enough, so to speak, to look after you. Promise me though, you’ll be wary of Lidgey from now on?’
‘Of course. Thanks, Alistair.’ Jo pressed her face against his arm. ‘I’m glad you understand my feelings.’
Silent for a while, Alistair asked quietly, ‘Doesn’t it feel odd living under the roof of Mother’s old lover?’
‘No. As we’re speaking plainly, if she hadn’t dallied with Bob Merrick, I would never have met Celia.’
‘Oh, her.’
‘Don’t be like that. She was like a mother to me.’ Alistair’s hand left the steering wheel to hold Jo’s for a moment. ‘I do try to understand, Jo. Mother hasn’t played fair with you. I hope Phoebe will be maternal towards our children.’
‘Oh, Alistair, you’ll make me feel emotional. Why couldn’t we talk like this before? You’re a good old stick, really.’
Alistair stopped the car beside the farm, grimacing at the base odours filling the air. ‘Mother’s been looking at property, Jo. Says she needs a retreat and Phoebe and I should have more time to ourselves.’
‘Oh, really.’ Jo considered this a move on Katherine’s part to enable her to carry on her affairs all the more freely.
‘Does Mother know you were coming here today?’
‘Um, yes.’
‘And did she send a message to me?’
‘Not exactly.’ Alistair cleared his throat and fiddled with his pipe.
‘Well, never mind.’ Jo rallied brightly. ‘It’s been a really lovely surprise, you turning up, Alistair. Will you come inside?’
‘Afraid not.’ They embraced. While Alistair reversed into the farm’s entrance to turn the car, Jo waited to wave him goodbye.
He stopped a moment and beckoned to her. ‘Oh, I nearly forgot to give you your letter. It was forwarded from your old address.’
* * *
‘Are you comfortable, Mrs Lidgey?’ Sally was settling her mistress for her afternoon rest.
‘If it’s the best you can do, I’ll just have to put up with it.’ Eleanor’s head pressed down heavily on the pillows. ‘Is Mr Lidgey in his study?’
‘Yes, working on a science project.’
‘He works so hard at the school and then worries over me. He could do with a rest too. Send him to me before you leave.’
Sally positioned a small hand bell, once part of a set that had belonged to the school, near Eleanor’s hand. ‘Beth will be here if you need to ring for anything.’
Sally went downstairs to the kitchen. Beth Wherry had almost finished the dishes. ‘When you’ve scrubbed the sink and draining board and done the preparations for tea, you can put your feet up, Beth. Then you’ve only got to listen out for Mrs Lidgey’s bell.’
‘Yes, Sally.’ Beth carefully put a plate in the rack above her head. ‘See you take a good rest yourself.’
‘You be careful you don’t wear yourself out taking on all that extra work for the Viguses. Luke’s practically getting a full-time housekeeper out of you.’
‘I don’t mind. I hated seeing the children suffer.’
‘The trouble with you is, you’re too kind.’ Sally envied Beth’s uncomplicated nature. The girl did not appear to mind drudgery. She was wiping the next dinner plate too slowly for Sally’s impatient nature, the circular movements done almost reverently. The high-quality china plate must seem precious to Beth; she was gazing at the delicate red and blue roses and gold leaf pattern round the edge with pleasure. When she finished here later this evening, she would return to the warmth and affection of her family, then attend chapel.
Sally stirred up the energy to walk to her widowed mother’s cottage, several dwellings away on the other side of the road. After giving her mother a third of her wages – Marcus paid her well – she was glad to let her mother wait on her.
‘Joanna Venner’s causing quite a stir,’ Mrs Allett remarked, as Sally settled at the hearth. Sally had inherited her fair appearance and feminine body and the inclination to be brisk and pithy. ‘You should have heard the minister going on about her this morning over what she’s done for the Viguses. I reckon he wants us chapel folk not to let someone who’s church do all the charity round here. But then she always was determined. She must have shook up Luke. He’s worked in that cottage like a miner. She wants to watch out for his roving eye though. Handsome man like he could have quite an effect on her, even though she’s bettermost of people like us.’
‘I hardly think she’s Luke’s type,’ Sally said disdainfully. She could not see Jo Venner paying clandestine visits to Luke’s wagon as she had once done. Luke had been a very satisfying, sensitive lover. Pity he had refused to let her join him on his travels. ‘Jessie only gets out of bed occasionally now, doesn’t do a thing for the children, but I expect they’re glad of that. I watched her from the schoolhouse sitting-room window the other day. She was lurching off down the road, half-dressed, drunk as a lord as usual. Don’t know where she was going. Don’t expect she knew herself, come to that.’
‘She’ll come to grief one day and it’ll be her own fault. Well, between Joanna Venner and the Wherrys, the kiddies should fare better. How’s Mrs Lidgey today?’
‘Same as usual. Bitchy one minute, quite pleasant the next. Her back’s getting worse.’
Mrs Allett fetched two cups and saucers from the crockery cupboard, pausing at the sink to gaze out of the window. ‘Russell’s heading this way.’
‘Oh, no,’ Sally moaned wearily.
‘You could do a lot worse, Sally.’ Mrs Allett expressed an opinion Sally had heard before. ‘He’s thirty-two, looking to settle down. I know he can be hard and touchy, but he’s not like Lew, still sowing his wild oats. He’s got a job at the moment and is the sort who’ll always seek work. He’s persistent, it shows he really cares about you. It’s time you thought about getting married. I’d like to have grandchildren before I’m too old to enjoy them. You could have your old bedroom. You wouldn’t have to squeeze in with Irene.’
‘I was hoping to do better than him,’ Sally snapped testily.
‘Who? There’s no one else in these parts for you.’
‘Afternoon, Sally,’ Russell said cheerfully, after Mrs Allett asked him to step inside. Sally felt like laughing. He looked gormless, unsure of himself now they were courting. However, he was manly and distinguished in a second-hand, navy-blue blazer and grey flannel trousers, his dark brown hair brilliantined. ‘Coming for a walk, Sally?’
‘I’ll put my coat on.’ She sprang to he
r feet, eyeing her mother pertly.
* * *
‘Lift me up and sit close to me, Marcus.’
‘No.’ Marcus had his hands inside his jacket pockets.
His mother detested slovenly habits. He was daring to be rebellious.
‘Little bastard.’
‘Not little any more, Mama.’
‘What’s got into you these past few days? Answering me back. Are you acquiring some backbone at last? I shall whip you.’
‘You are not strong enough, Mama,’ he said coldly.
Eleanor narrowed her eyes, snake-like. ‘Whist! Your bravado never lasts long. Tell me again what you said to Joanna after the church service.’
Marcus became tense. Meeting Alistair Venner had changed things. ‘I omitted to tell you that I met her brother. He was waiting for her. They are very close, as members of a family should be. It got me thinking again. What happened to my sister, Mama?’
‘You never had one, Marcus.’
‘So you say, but I remember her. I looked up her details, a long time ago. I’ve even been to her grave. Gabriella Lidgey. Died aged ten months. Why do you behave as if she never existed?’
‘I loathed her. I was glad she died. Come to me, son. My darling boy. Love your mama.’
There was little change in his closed expression but Marcus’s heart clenched painfully. He hid his disgust and the hatred that grew inside him with every passing hour. ‘Why didn’t it occur to me before? You had no use for her. Poor little Gabriella, but perhaps she was the fortunate one.’
‘I forbid you to talk about her ever again.’ Eleanor struggled to raise herself. ‘Come to me. Now!’
‘Never again, Mama. You can go to hell.’
* * *
It was the letter Jo had been hoping to receive. ‘It’s from a solicitor at Penzance, Mercy.’ Jo passed the typed sheet of white paper to her friend.
Mercy declined to take it. ‘What’s it say?’
‘It’s asking me to get in touch with him. It says I’ll hear something to my benefit under Celia’s will.’ Jo leapt up from the kitchen table, bringing Kip and Hunter, dozing at Mercy’s feet beside the fire, to rise and pace about expectantly. The cats, slumbering in the chimney, peeped out of offended eyes.
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