Porthellis

by Porthellis (retail) (epub)

  His hands moved to caress her intimately and she moaned with pleasure. She shivered as he ran his tongue round in a tiny circle behind her ear. ‘I don’t want her sleeping in our bed tonight.’

  ‘I’m sure I can get her settled down.’ She put a peck on his chin but when she tried to turn and kiss him properly on the mouth, he clamped his arms tighter, keeping his lips to her ear.

  He hissed, ‘I don’t know what you’re doing to prevent you having babies but you’d better stop it as of today. I want kids, sons, and lots of them.’

  Chapter 14

  It was a wet Tuesday afternoon and Matt, unable to rest on the Misty with the remainder of its crew before sailing again that evening for the pilchard grounds, was mooching around Newlyn’s ancient narrow streets. His mind was not on last night’s poor catch or the nets they had lost, or even on the fact that so far this week they hadn’t broken even with expenses.

  He had not long ago phoned his mother, as prearranged yesterday morning when he’d reluctantly allowed her to talk him into going off to work. He had spoken to Jeff about his worries over Hannah as they’d walked together to catch the bus to St Austell railway station.

  ‘There’s nothing you can do, boy,’ Jeff had said, surprised that Matt had thought about staying home. ‘Course you got t’go t’work, you’d only be in the way. ’Tis a woman’s thing. Your mother, Prim and Janet will look after her and the little ’un. ’Tedn’t as if the doctor says you’ve got anything to worry about, is it?’

  ‘No, but there’s something strange about Hannah, different. As if she’s cut herself off from everything, even me and Nathan. The doctor said she must have fainted yet he says she seems to be in shock. I don’t understand it. What could have upset her?’ Matt did not mention that he’d feared she was dying as he’d ran to the front door to alert a couple of boys out playing to get their mother to phone for the doctor.

  Jeff put a firm hand on his son-in-law’s shoulder. ‘’Tedn’t for we to understand. ’Tis for we t’work and keep a roof over their heads ’n’ leave the childbearing to the women.’ Jeff gazed gravely at the heavy grey sky, wet his finger and put it up in the air. ‘Betterfit you concentrated on this poor weather.’

  On the phone his mother had said that Hannah was fine, she was up and about, a bit quiet, but seeing to Nathan as before and doing a little sewing. Matt couldn’t help thinking his mother had kept something from him. He shook his head ruefully, trying to comfort himself with the thought that his worry was only natural; he loved and adored Hannah so much.

  Rainwater dripped off his woollen hat and fell uncomfortably down his neck but he did nothing about it. He left Newlyn behind and was on the road to Penzance, a restless sea and Tolcarne beach to his right where a couple of bleak-faced elderly holidaymakers strolled in mackintoshes. Not wanting to be close to people, he turned round and headed up a quiet back street, lighting a cigarette. He was so deep in his own melancholy, a trait in his character that surfaced occasionally in spite of his happy marriage and settled life, that it took several seconds for a loud yelping to register with him.

  Down a narrow alley he saw a young burly man in ragged colourful clothes, probably a tinker, kicking a small black and white mongrel dog. ‘Hey! Stop that!’ Throwing his cigarette down, Matt raced up to the man and pushed him away from the pathetic, cowering animal.

  ‘Bugger off! What’s it got t’do with you?’ the man snarled. ‘I’ll do what I damned well like, it’s my dog.’

  ‘You’re not fit to keep a dog. Keep away from it.’ Matt squared up to the man, making it clear he was prepared to fight if need be in the dog’s defence.

  The tinker stank of stale alcohol and he lurched for Matt’s throat with outstretched meaty hands. ‘I’ll teach ’ee to interfere!’

  Matt raised his fists and the tinker, seemingly suddenly afraid, let his arms fall to his sides, but he wasn’t looking at Matt, he was staring directly over his shoulder. Cautiously, Matt glanced round. His dark features tightened to see Daniel Kittow there. The little mongrel had scampered away and Daniel was holding it against his chest.

  ‘You heard what he said,’ Daniel snarled at the tinker. ‘Sod off now if you don’t want your face stamped into the road.’

  The man had lost his indignant bravado. He adjusted the wide-brimmed black and green hat on his greasy dark curls and said slyly, ‘Well, if you’ve taken a liking to the dog, gents, I’d be willing to sell un to ’ee.’

  Matt put his hand into his coat pocket to dig about for a two bob piece, thinking that if the dog proved good-tempered it would make a playmate for Nathan. It might even cheer up Hannah. He was sure she wouldn’t be able to resist its tiny pointed face and forlorn brown eyes.

  Daniel marched up to the tinker, kneed him viciously in the crotch and kicked him smartly on the chin as he keeled over. ‘We’re taking it,’ he spat at the man, finally grinding the heel of his boot into his hand. Matt was sickened as he heard the crunch of broken bone.

  ‘There was no need for that,’ Matt remonstrated with Daniel.

  ‘I’m not a good chapel man like you, Penney,’ Daniel said through clenched teeth. ‘I sort things out my own way.’ He kicked the man writhing on the ground. ‘Clear off or I’ll give you some more.’

  The tinker didn’t have to be warned twice. Using the nearby wall to help him to his feet, he shambled off, murmuring profanities under his breath.

  Daniel turned and went back the way he’d come. Matt walked at his side. ‘I suppose you’re proud of what you’ve just done,’ he said contentiously.

  ‘Of course,’ Daniel retorted. He eyed Matt sideways. ‘Heard you had the doctor to your house on Sunday.’

  ‘I did,’ Matt replied stonily, not offering any more information. He held out his arms. ‘I’ll take the dog now.’

  ‘I’m taking him,’ Daniel said, halting his long stride.

  ‘Hand it over, Kittow,’ Matt argued stubbornly.

  ‘Go to hell.’

  ‘I’ll not ask you again.’

  ‘You’re right about that, Penney, you won’t.’ A strange gleam entered Daniel’s eyes. ‘You can’t have the dog because where you’re going you won’t be able to look after him.’

  Instinct warned Matt to brace himself. ‘What’re you talking about?’ A snigger and a cough made him look round. As if they’d materialized out of the hostile air, Brinley, Eric and Merv were ranged behind him. Brinley was rubbing a palm over his clenched fist. Eric was stabbing the wall with the point of his gutting knife. Merv was swinging a giant-sized wrench.

  Matt turned his eyes back on his arch enemy. ‘Are you too afraid to face me fair and square, Kittow?’

  ‘No,’ Daniel returned almost gaily, tickling the dog under its matted ears while it tried to lick his fingers. ‘But when you can afford to pay for help, why dirty your own hands? It’s something my dear wife has taught me. Now your wife is a different matter.’ He smiled dangerously. ‘Hannah’s taught me other things.’

  ‘Why you rotten…’ Matt lunged for his foe but Brinley grasped his arm and twisted it behind his back until he cried out in pain. Matt struggled but he was no match for the massive fisherman.

  ‘Don’t finish with him until he begs for mercy,’ Daniel ordered his mob before walking off with the little dog.

  ‘Let go of me!’ Matt shouted as the three thugs slammed him against the wall. Brinley and Merv stretched out his arms and put their feet between his ankles to keep him off balance.

  ‘Aw, we will,’ Eric gave a toothless guffaw, breathing foul breath into Matt’s face, ‘when we’ve done what the skipper said. And me ’n’ Merv owe you for Saturday night.’ His knife flashed and a sharp pain seared Matt’s cheek. Blood splashed down the front of his coat and jersey. ‘Do ’ee reckon that pretty little missus of yourn will still want ’ee if we rearranges yer handsome face?’

  Matt strained against his attackers but to no avail. His one shout for help was cut off as Brinley smashed his fist into his mouth. He
howled in agony as the wrench slammed into the pit of his stomach. The knife, the fist, the wrench were used again and again. His guts felt as if they’d exploded, burning, twisting; his chest as if it had caved in. Blood obliterated his sight. The pain was torture.

  ‘Oh, God, help me… this can’t be happening… oh God, stop them…’

  His woollen hat was snatched off, his head jerked back by his hair. He felt a sting on his neck. Desperate fear that he’d never see Hannah again overrode his pain.

  ‘Don’t cut his bleddy throat!’ Brinley bellowed savagely, thrusting Eric away from the attack as if he was a piece of flotsam.

  ‘Skipper said not t’finish with un until he begged for mercy,’ Eric hissed like a barbarian, scrabbling for his knife where it had been sent clattering several feet away. Raising it in his fist, he rushed for Matt where he’d sunk to the wet ground, his hands instinctively trying to shield his head.

  ‘He didn’t mean it literally, you stupid bastard,’ Brinley thundered. He was feeling sick to his stomach. So far he’d been happy to follow all Daniel’s orders but he’d just remembered that Matt was Prim’s son-in-law, and by the way she spoke of her children he was married to her favourite daughter. If Prim knew he was partly responsible for the bloodied scrap they’d reduced the young fisherman to she’d turn against him and there would be no hope of them going off together with Josh as they’d planned after making love on Sunday afternoon. Brinley raised his fist at Eric and Merv. ‘He’s had enough. He won’t be fishing for weeks, maybe months. We’ve done our job, now let’s get back t’the boat before we’re seen.’

  Too afraid to argue with Brinley’s iron fist, the other two men wiped the blood off their weapons, hid them and started off down the alley. Brinley stood over Matt. He was doubled up against the wall, clutching his body, his dark eyes blazing with pain while he struggled to breathe. Blood smeared all his visible flesh; it made red rivulets down his clothes and was spreading out over the ground. Brinley shuddered; if he hadn’t stopped the assault, he and the others could have been running away from a murder charge.

  Matt could just make out the looming figure, standing there, staring down at him. ‘Help me,’ he pleaded, his voice barely audible, gurgling with the blood in his mouth.

  ‘I’ll phone for an ambulance,’ Brinley said then he hastened away after his mates.

  The attack had been witnessed by a housewife taking a short cut to the next street. When the huge man had disappeared from sight, she ran to Matt. Taking off her headscarf, she crouched down and dabbed at the blood on his face. ‘Try to stay calm, dear. I’ve phoned for help and the ambulance will be here soon. I saw who did it. I’ve called the police too. They’ll soon be behind bars.’

  It seemed as if a fullscale war was being fought inside Matt’s head. Pain racked his body, waves of agony surged through him, making him cry and groan. He tried to bring a hand to his throat. ‘I c-can’t breathe…’ He felt icy-cold, frightened.

  ‘Hold on,’ she said soothingly as if she was talking to a child. She took one of Matt’s battered hands in hers; there was nothing else she could do for him. ‘Help will be here soon.’

  Although the alley had been almost deserted earlier, a crowd of onlookers now quickly gathered, as if some primitive signal had been responded to.

  ‘Bloody hell,’ an old man gasped. ‘He looks like the sharks have had un.’

  * * *

  It was Lily’s birthday that day. Hannah had left Nathan with Prim and was on her way to Roscarrock with a present for the under-housemaid. Prim and Mrs Penney had advised against it but she was desperate to get away from the village, to shake off the crushing bleakness that had enveloped her since Daniel’s harrowing visit. She hadn’t told Matt about it, fearing an ugly confrontation between the two men. She had appeased Prim and Mrs Penney by phoning and asking Greg to collect her.

  ‘Thank you, Greg,’ she said as he opened the front passenger door of his black and cream Railton saloon for her.

  ‘Are you all right, Hannah? You look rather peaky.’

  She met the concern in his soft grey eyes with a quiet smile. ‘You know what I’m like, Greg. Pregnancy doesn’t suit me like it does most women. Remember how I scared you at Roscarrock when I was expecting Nathan?’

  ‘I shall never forget it.’ He rolled his eyes playfully. ‘Well, don’t faint again until we get there.’ He smiled mysteriously before getting in behind the steering wheel.

  Hannah recalled ironically how she and Greg had shared a mutual dislike of each other when they had first met. She hadn’t cared for his pompous ways and what she had seen as his unhealthy interest in Leah. He had been suspicious of why Mrs Opie had favoured her so much. Now they were the best of friends. And Daniel, who had been the closest friend she had thought she could ever have, hated her for spurning him and she hated him for his assault and his threats.

  He had put a different connotation on their brief dalliance. She had seen it as a few kisses with little chance of there being anything permanent between them. Daniel had always stressed he wasn’t the marrying kind. It had been good being close to him, nothing more. There had never been the sensuousness and unfolding desires she had experienced when she’d been with Matt. They had not nearly made love in the little cottage as Daniel had stated. She had allowed his hand to wander a little but had quickly stopped him. How could a man who had ruthlessly used whatever young girl took his fancy call that nearly making love? Hannah realized that she had never really known Daniel’s mind.

  ‘Good heavens, Hannah, don’t look so fierce,’ Greg said, thoroughly alarmed. ‘Anyone would think you wanted to murder someone.’

  ‘Sorry,’ she sighed. ‘I was just thinking.’

  ‘What about?’

  ‘Oh, nothing really. You know how we women—’

  ‘Get when you’re pregnant?’ he finished for her. ‘I hope I do.’ The smile was there again and Hannah felt that any minute now he’d give a burst of cheerful whistling. He caught her eye then raised his fair brows and grinned.

  ‘You’re trying to tell me something, aren’t you?’ she exclaimed. Her spirits lifted. ‘Leah’s pregnant! Oh, Greg, that’s wonderful. Congratulations. You must be thrilled.’

  ‘I am, but don’t let on to Leah that you know. She wants to tell you herself.’

  ‘Does Mrs Opie know?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘What did she say?’ Hannah hoped Mrs Opie had shown Leah joy over her baby.

  ‘Grandmother was thrilled to bits. She’s going to throw a party for us to announce the news.’

  The moment she was out of the car, Hannah popped down to the kitchen and gave Lily her present, a box of lace-edged handkerchieves on which she had embroidered Lily’s name. Lily thanked her with her usual gusto and proudly displayed the bead necklace Jowan had given her.

  ‘Pity he isn’t about so he can come to the little party I’m having this evening,’ she said excitedly. Just for today Miss Benson was overlooking her high-pitched voice. ‘Never mind. I’ll save him some of the cake Mr Patrick baked for me. Isn’t everyone here nice, Mrs Penney?’

  ‘Yes, they are,’ Hannah agreed, and she was consumed with a fierce sense of homesickness for the big house where she had once lived. ‘Well, I’ll leave you to it and go up and see Leah and Mrs Opie.’

  Leah was hovering about on top of the servants’ stairs, waiting for her. ‘Hannah, are you feeling better now?’ she asked sympathetically.

  ‘Yes, thank you, Leah.’ Hannah looked closely at her younger sister. Leah had a peaches and cream complexion and looked every bit the radiant mother-to-be. Overwhelmed with joy for her and suddenly full of emotion, Hannah burst into tears and wrapped her arms round Leah’s slim shoulders. ‘Oh, Leah,’ she sobbed.

  ‘Hannah, what is it? Are you ill again? Come and sit down.’ Leah led her to a chair in the hallway. She produced a hanky from her dress pocket. ‘Now, my love, tell me what’s the matter. Do you want the doctor?’

  ‘No.’
Hannah forced a watery smile. ‘I’m fine really. I’m just being silly.’

  ‘No, you’re not.’ Leah stroked her sister’s soft blonde hair. ‘You must have had a fright fainting like that. You’ll feel better at the end of the week when Matt comes home again. I’ve got a marvellous idea. I’ll ask Greg to drive us down to Penzance tomorrow, in time for when the boats come in. I’d love to see that myself. Would you like to go?’

  ‘Oh, Leah.’ Hannah burst into fresh sobs. ‘I’d like nothing more right now than to see Matt.’

  ‘Leah! What’s happening here? Have you upset Hannah?’ Feena Opie had wheeled herself out of the drawing room and was heading towards them.

  Leah was offended that she was thought to be the cause of Hannah’s distress. ‘Of course I haven’t,’ she snapped. ‘Hannah and I were having a private conversation.’

  ‘Don’t you speak to me like that, girl,’ Feena bristled, shocked that her timid granddaughter-in-law had addressed her crossly. ‘Bring Hannah into the drawing room then run and fetch some tea.’

  Leah was even more offended to be ordered about like a servant. She was thinking of a suitable frosty retort when the front door suddenly burst open and Jeff rushed into the vestibule.

  All three women froze in horror. His presence here now, on a working day, in his working clothes, spelled very bad news which his harrowed expression only served to confirm. Hannah clutched Leah’s hand. It had been to this same house that her father had come unexpectedly before to tell them Matt was missing, feared drowned. A terrible wailing sound came from her throat, making the hairs on the back of Leah’s neck stand up stiffly. The wail became a scream and Hannah thrashed her arms together until Jeff caught hold of her and shook her into stillness.

  ‘He’s in Penzance hospital. He’s hurt quite bad but he’s going t’be all right,’ Jeff shouted through the fog he was afraid had blocked off her mind.

  ‘Was it an accident on the boat?’ she whimpered.