Listening to the Quiet

by Listening to the Quiet (retail) (epub)

  She had already spent money on the projects. It was market day at Penzance and she had travelled there early that morning on Mercy’s farm wagon to buy paint and yards of curtain material. Making a note of the measurements for the curtains, she was ready to go to Mrs Allett’s to ask her to make them up.

  Every few minutes her thoughts turned to Luke, hoping he would return soon, unaware of how close she had been to him a few hours ago. At times, the disappointment of giving up her career threatened to crush her, but she was looking forward to making her vows to Luke and taking over the care of the two children she had come to love.

  ‘I miss you so much,’ she whispered, remembering Luke’s smile, his touch, how complete she felt when he was near. Her teaching was a small sacrifice for what she would receive in return. She had made several more drawings of Luke and kept them in a folder. She turned over the pages. For some of the pictures he’d posed for her, in others she’d captured him unawares, in many different moods. Her favourites of him were drawn out on the moors, where he was at his best, relaxed, content.

  She realised someone was knocking loudly on the front door.

  ‘So you are in,’ Katherine said crossly when Jo opened the door. ‘Why didn’t you answer at once?’

  ‘I didn’t hear you. I’m busy, Mother, about to go out,’ Jo replied impatiently.

  ‘Wherever you are going it will have to wait. I have to speak to you. Well, show me into your sitting room.’

  When Katherine had been admitted into the hall, she swept off her gauzy summer hat and dropped it on the hall table.

  Sighing heavily – her mother was obviously set on a confrontation – Jo led the way into the sitting room. Katherine twirled round, eyeing everything.

  She sat down snootily on the sofa and crossed her ankles. ‘You have a good cleaning woman at least,’ she remarked, looking down her nose.

  ‘I do my own cleaning,’ Jo said tartly. ‘Do you want some tea?’

  ‘Of course, as long as it’s not some cheap, tasteless, local preference you have in. I’ve had to call for a taxicab to bring me here and it was an uncomfortable journey. When I telephoned Tresawna House for the motorcar, I was informed that Phoebe had the use of it. Off to Truro to do some shopping apparently.’

  ‘The motorcar belongs to Alistair. You can’t swan about in it as you please now. How is he?’

  ‘If you ever bothered to call at Tresawna you’d know. He’s in Scotland, which is why this duty call has fallen on me.’

  ‘I didn’t think for a moment you came to see me out of fondness. So, why are you here? If it’s to cause trouble you can take yourself off again.’

  Rising demurely, Katherine patrolled the room, flicking and prodding at things that had belonged to Celia. She weighed a Dresden figurine in her hand. ‘I’ve come to stop you ruining your life and I think, for once, your late friend would have agreed with me. Is this ornament made of paste?’

  Jo rescued the figurine, a favourite of Celia’s. ‘So someone’s run to you with the news of my forthcoming marriage. It’ll do you no good to argue with me. You can shout and scream, but I won’t change my mind.’

  The next moment Jo felt the full force of Katherine’s hand across her face. ‘You dare speak to me like that! I won’t have it, and I’ll never allow you to marry a common thief and drag the Venner name through the mud. Mardie Dawes told me how this Luke Vigus makes his living.’

  ‘I don’t care what she said to you,’ Jo shouted, hand to her stinging face. ‘I’m marrying Luke and you can go to hell! And Mardie won’t be able to cause any more trouble. She’s dead. Burnt to death in a fire at her home yesterday.’

  Katherine gazed at Jo. ‘Well, it’s good to know that one of my problems is finally over,’ she said without compassion.

  ‘Get out of my house.’ Jo pointed at the door.

  ‘You’ll receive a visit from Alistair in a few days. You had better not dare to defy him as you have me. Goodbye, Joanna. It’s unlikely I shall darken your doorstep again.’

  ‘You had better not,’ Jo yelled after her, ‘and heaven help the busybody who told you about the wedding when I get my hands on her.’

  Katherine collected her hat, and having had the foresight to wear walking shoes, set off for the village.

  Jo unconsciously turned the figurine over and over in her hands. With Mardie Dawes dead, Biddy Lean was the most likely culprit to have caused this trouble for her, but Biddy had probably not heard the news of the wedding yet. Only a few people knew. The vicar, the Wherrys and Mercy. It wouldn’t have been the vicar. Could it have been one of the others, thinking they were acting in Jo’s best interests? All of them had tried vigorously to get her to change her mind. Perhaps Lew had found out from Mercy and told Keane. Perhaps one of the Trevails had informed Katherine. Despondently, Jo acknowledged she did not trust even her friends in Parmarth.

  * * *

  ‘There’s a fine-looking lady at the front gate, sir. I think ’tis Miss Venner’s mother,’ Beth said, from the window of Marcus’s bedroom. She was putting away his laundered shirts in the chest of drawers. He had followed her into the room on the pretence of collecting some sheets of music.

  ‘I really don’t want to see her,’ Marcus said, peeping out from behind the net curtain. ‘Tell her I’ve gone out and you don’t know when I’m expected back.’

  ‘But it’s lying, sir.’

  ‘I know, Beth, but I’ve got a dreadful headache and I can’t face her tittle-tattle. Tell her you’ll leave a message for me. Run along and pop outside before she disturbs Mrs Lidgey’s afternoon rest.’

  ‘Yes, sir.’

  Marcus watched darkly as Beth reached Katherine Venner halfway along the concrete path. Sally had gone to fetch the grocery order at Pascoe’s store and he had taken the opportunity to speak to Beth alone. It seemed every time he spoke to the girl these days, Sally was eavesdropping on him. Now another chance had vanished thanks to the damned Venner woman.

  He heard her arguing with Beth but was unable to make out the words. The breath jammed in his lungs when she entered the house, practically pushing her way past a stunned-looking Beth. He dared not move in case the floorboards creaked and gave him away. Minutes later, he heard the front gate bang and saw Katherine Venner marching up the village hill.

  He dashed down to the kitchen, knowing Beth would head straight there. ‘What did she say? Why did she come inside?’

  Beth, face flushed in guilt, was clearing away the flat irons she had just used. ‘She was angry with me. I hate lying. I hope she didn’t realise I was. She wanted to phone for a taxicab. I said she could wait here till it came. I thought it was only right because she said Miss Venner was out as well, but she left in a huff. I think she’s going to wait outside the village. She should have made sure people were at home before she sent away the taxicab she came in.’ Beth blushed furiously and looked even more unhappy. ‘I’m sorry, sir. I shouldn’t have spoken about the lady like that.’

  ‘No, no, Beth, it was a fair thing to say. I’m sorry I’ve made you feel uncomfortable but it was only a little fib really. Now, I—’

  Sally could be heard hefting the box of groceries on to the back-kitchen table. Marcus sighed in frustration. ‘Well, I’d better let you get on, Beth.’

  Alone in his study, he paced up and down. He hoped the Venner woman was lying about Joanna being out, that she’d had the chance to demand she reconsider marrying Luke Vigus. But in reality, he knew Joanna’s determined nature made it unlikely any appeal her mother made would change her mind.

  It would have been wise to see Katherine Venner and establish if anything had in fact passed between her and Joanna, but he had been afraid. He loathed being chased after by a woman, especially one so blatant. Katherine Venner made him think of sex. He had been thinking about it a lot lately. Desiring it. Fighting the desire. It was a fight he must win.

  For the next few days he had to behave with utter decorum, with a cool, calculating mind. Everything v
ital to him was at stake.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  The telephone rang and rang in the schoolhouse.

  ‘Get that, Beth, for goodness’ sake. Don’t let it keep ringing,’ Sally shouted from the upstairs landing. She returned to Mrs Lidgey’s bedroom, where she had been massaging the old lady’s back, an extra duty she had been given every day.

  Denied the expert manipulation Dr Richardson had prescribed, Eleanor was hoping the simple massage Sally was able to apply would ease her pain, give her more mobility. She was lying face down on a bath towel on the bed, her head turned to the side.

  Her anger at Marcus’s continuing rebellion was making her fly into rages, and yesterday, when Sally had unwittingly caused a dart of agony to shoot up her spine, she had lashed out and struck her in the stomach.

  Sally had yelled out and retaliated in a fit of furious temper. ‘If that’s the way I’m going to be treated in this blasted house I’ll walk out this very minute. I’m sick and tired of being used and abused by the people living here.’

  ‘Calm down.’ Eleanor had quickly apologised. ‘I didn’t mean to hurt you. You’re talking about yourself and Marcus, aren’t you? I’m sure you must know that I realised you’d had an affair with him and that he cast you aside when he’d had enough of you. Men are like that and I’m afraid my son is no different. You’re right, we have been treating you unfairly. It’s time you had a little reward. Fetch my jewellery box.’ She had given Sally a pair of pearl-drop earrings.

  The earrings were more beautiful and expensive than anything Sally could hope to own, except for the promised brooch, but she was not grateful or pacified. The brooch held less appeal now and she was seriously considering giving up her job when she married Russell at the end of August. Unable to fathom the discordant relationship between Marcus and his mother, she’d had enough of this household.

  ‘Is that girl capable of taking a message, Sally?’ Eleanor asked.

  ‘Just about,’ Sally answered gruffly, ‘but I couldn’t go down with oil on my hands.’

  ‘Of course not. Is Marcus still hanging around her?’

  ‘Yes.’ Sally poured more lavender oil on her hands and began rubbing Eleanor’s shoulder. ‘Every opportunity he gets. I saw him give her a bunch of roses from the garden yesterday to take home. “For your mother,” he said. It didn’t fool me. He’s after her. It’s shameful.’ Sally’s belief was he would make do with Beth if he couldn’t have Jo Venner.

  ‘Oh, no, you’re wrong there.’ Eleanor swivelled her head round as far as she could. ‘Beth’s a child. He only likes women, and he couldn’t bring himself to go near a virgin. He’s got this thing about not touching the untainted.’

  Sally got on with her task but concentrated on her thoughts. Marcus had taken an instant liking to Jo Venner and he was showing even more interest since – it was obvious to Sally that Jo was sleeping with Luke Vigus – Jo had lost her virginity. Sally’s expression showed distaste. It wasn’t natural. What was the reason then, for Marcus spending so much time with Beth? Maybe she really should get out of this house.

  Beth was nervous of the telephone, but she memorised the message from the caller and passed it on to Marcus the moment he came home at the end of the school day. ‘Mrs Venner rang again, sir. She said, will you please return her call when you come in. She sounded like it was urgent.’

  ‘Thank you, Beth. I’ll do it later,’ he lied. He smiled down at his housemaid. ‘How are you? I hope you did not find Mardie Dawes’ funeral too taxing this morning.’

  ‘Oh, no, sir. It was very quiet.’ Beth lingered to chat with him, but as always kept busy with a little housework, this time polishing the hall mirror, where she could see his friendly reflection.

  ‘How many mourners were there?’

  ‘Just myself and my mother and a couple of strangers. It was all over very quickly.’

  ‘Good. You are very caring, Beth. Always willing to do what you can to ease another’s misery. I’d like to talk to you about something of that nature, if I may.’ Marcus saw movement on top of the stairs. Sally was glaring down on them. He whispered to Beth, ‘Later, when there’s a quiet moment.’

  ‘Of course, sir.’

  ‘Bring some coffee to my study in a little while, please.’

  Beth was making the coffee when Sally flounced into the kitchen. ‘Who was that on the phone just now?’

  ‘Mrs Venner. Miss Venner’s mother. Shall I make enough coffee for Mrs Lidgey too?’

  ‘Never mind that. You took your time telling Mr Lidgey about the phone call, didn’t you?’

  ‘Did I?’ Beth put the coffee pot down in surprise.

  ‘Oh, don’t go all gormless on me now. You know what I’m talking about. You’re always hanging about him. Spending ages when you take things into his study. Whispering together in corners. Your mother wouldn’t like it.’

  ‘Sally, I—’

  Beth was clearly upset by Sally’s harsh words but it only annoyed Sally more. The girl had always worn her soft fair hair in two childish plaits but had changed it to a more becoming, single plait. She’d bought a new dress of a more mature style than what she usually wore. She did not look so daft now. It could even be admitted she was rather pretty. Lew Trevail had started casting his eye in her direction, to which she was oblivious. It was different when she was near Marcus. She glowed. She had a tremendous crush on him.

  Sally should warn her that her feelings could grow out of control and she might end up looking a fool, or worse. She should be kind to the sweet, inoffensive girl, but she couldn’t stop her jealousy breaking out. ‘You’d better start pulling your weight round here, my girl, or I’ll tell Mrs Lidgey you’re hankering after her son and then you’ll be out of a job. Then what will your father say? And the rest of the village? You work your fingers to the bone elsewhere but I’m left to do all the dirty work here. You haven’t got to empty Mrs Lidgey’s pee and the rest of it. You haven’t got to hump her about every day, like I have, making my back ache.’

  Her neat chin wobbling as she tried not to cry, Beth gazed down on the spotlessly clean kitchen floor – the floor she got down on her hands and knees each day to scrub and polish. ‘I’m very sorry, Sally.’

  ‘I’ll take his coffee in to him this time. You keep your mind on your work from now on and I’ll say no more about it. Thank God it’s my evening off. I can’t wait to get out of this damned place.’

  Beth stayed petrified in misery until she heard Sally coming back, then she snatched up a dishcloth and wiped over the oven.

  ‘Don’t forget, Beth, Mr Lidgey is old enough to be your father.’ Sally slammed the back door on her way out.

  ‘Yes, Sally.’ Giving Sally enough time to walk round the side of the house and through the front gate, Beth ran to the outside toilet. Falling back against the door she sobbed into her hands.

  Not for one moment had she really considered Mr Lidgey in any other light than as her employer. He was a man she respected. Yes, she had noticed he was good-looking in a dark brooding way, but she had never thought to have him for herself. Had she somehow behaved wrongly towards him? If so, he was kind enough not to have mentioned it. He treated her rather like a child. Whatever she was doing, however, she was being unfair to Sally. That wasn’t right. But she couldn’t ignore Mr Lidgey when he was speaking to her. It would be bad manners. She cried over her dilemma.

  Five minutes passed before she dried her eyes on her apron and opened the closet door to return to her duties.

  ‘Oh!’ Her hands flew guiltily together in front of her body.

  Marcus observed her protective movements. ‘So this is where you are. I’ve been looking for you. Why have you been crying?’

  ‘I, um…’ She could only lie her way out of the situation, but one would not form on her lips.

  ‘Are you feeling unwell?’

  ‘Not really. I…’

  ‘Come inside, Beth. You look tired. I fear that lately we have been overworking you.’ />
  Nervously fiddling with her hair, she walked meekly in front of him to the kitchen. Marcus knew she would find it unsettling to be invited into the sitting room so he pulled out a chair at the table. ‘Sit down, Beth. I’ll get you a drink of water.’

  The glass of water was put into her hands and Beth thanked him quietly. She took a sip but only because it was expected of her.

  ‘What’s upset you, Beth? You can trust me. I won’t tell anyone.’ He lowered himself until their eyes were on the same level, speaking as if addressing his youngest, shyest pupil.

  ‘I’m afraid I can’t say, sir.’ It was too personal and she did not want Sally getting into trouble. Sally had only flown at her because she was overworked and tired.

  ‘It is something you can talk to your mother about?’

  Her mother was understanding. Astute and wise, the minister called her, always to be relied on to give advice with love and compassion. She wasn’t the kind of person to jump to ill-judged conclusions, she wouldn’t misinterpret Mr Lidgey’s kindness. She would tell Beth if she was doing anything wrong. ‘I’ll talk to her when I get home.’

  ‘Good girl.’ Marcus glanced at both doors, looked out of the window, making sure no one was about. Then he pulled up a chair and sat close to the girl. ‘I like talking to you, Beth. I’ll tell you why.’

  A little concerned at the sudden change in his manner, Beth eyed him nervously, steeling herself for what might come next.

  ‘The fact is you remind me of the little sister I had. Gabriella died when she was very young, suddenly in her sleep. She was the sweetest child, bright and full of life.’

  Beth smiled sadly, feeling honoured by his words.

  ‘Do you remember what I was saying to you earlier? About how kind and helpful you are? Beth, would you do something to help Mrs Lidgey? She’s suffering terribly and I have an idea to ease her pain, not her physical pain, but her emotional agony of losing Gabriella. I fear she will not be able to endure much more and you are my only hope.’