A Castaway in Cornwall

by Julie Klassen

  Laura hugged her and went to thank the others who’d contributed to the feast.

  The Trenean family came bearing their instruments and began playing joyful music. When Jago finished his work, he went to join them, playing his hurdy-gurdy with skill. Newlyn watched him, admiration shining in her eyes, and Laura was delighted to see it. Delighted for them both.

  Alexander brought her a plate of food, and Laura ate every morsel, savoring the delicious, familiar tastes of home, and the beauty of the day.

  Eseld stepped near her and asked, “Are you enjoying yourself?”

  “Oh yes. Everything is perfect. Thank you for suggesting the party.”

  “It was Mamm’s idea.”

  Surprise flashed through Laura. “Was it?”

  “Yes. Though I eagerly seconded the notion!”

  Taking Eseld’s arm, Laura led her through the crowd to Mrs. Bray. Reaching her, she began, “Thank you, Mrs. Bray. Eseld tells me the party was your idea, and I sincerely appreciate it.”

  Looking self-conscious, Lamorna Bray glanced at her daughter. “Was it? Well, we were speaking of your return, and it just sprang to mind.”

  “It was definitely your idea, Mamm,” Eseld said. “An excellent one I heartily agreed with.”

  Mrs. Bray tried in vain to suppress a smile. “It was my pleasure. I wish you and your husband every happiness, Laura.”

  “Thank you. Will you come and visit us on Jersey? You would be most welcome.”

  “That is very kind. And I hope it goes without saying that you will always have a place to stay with us when you visit here. You will visit again, I trust?”

  “Yes. We hope to.”

  “Good.”

  Eseld returned to Perry’s side, but Mrs. Bray lingered near Laura. She shifted and bit her lip. “Laura, I know I was not . . . that I did not treat you as . . . warmly . . . as I should have when you lived here. I apologize. My dearest wish and indeed, duty, was to pave the way for a good marriage for Eseld. And having you here . . . with your eye-catching hair and ladylike graces . . . seemed like a threat to my plans. Now that Eseld is happily married, and you as well, I hope we can put all that behind us and start anew.”

  “With all my heart,” Laura agreed.

  “Good.” The older woman sighed in relief. “And I know I did not encourage it before, but I would be honored if you would call me Aunt instead of Mrs. Bray.”

  Laura blinked. Yet another surprise. “Th-thank you . . . Aunt Lamorna.”

  “You are more than welcome.” She nodded in apparent satisfaction and went to rejoin her husband.

  Heart overflowing, Laura stood alone for a few moments to reflect, enjoying the warmth of the sun and the sweet sounds of waves, Cornish accents, and congenial laughter. Across the tent, her groom stood talking with her uncle and aunt. His uncle and aunt now too.

  Seeing her alone, Treeve Kent walked over to join her. “Well, Mrs. Carnell, I wish you happy.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Kent. And thank you again for visiting us on Jersey.”

  “You’re welcome. I am glad things have worked out for you.”

  She cocked an eyebrow at him.

  “I mean it! You were right in what you said to me. But I am growing up, by and by. And I find the effort has had its rewards.”

  “In the shape of one Miss Kayna Roskilly?”

  They turned to pick her out among the crowd. There she was, laughing with her father. She looked beautiful in her green dress with a sprig of flowers in her dark hair, and an affectionate smile on her face.

  “She is lovely, is she not?” Treeve said.

  “She is indeed.”

  He squeezed Laura’s hand, held her gaze a moment, and turned to go.

  She watched as he walked over and bent to whisper in Miss Roskilly’s ear, causing the young woman’s smile to brighten. Another wedding in the near future, Laura guessed.

  Near them, Perry sat on a blanket with his arm around his wife, a besotted smile on his boyish face. How good to see the two so happy together. Even Mrs. Bray—er, Aunt Lamorna—looked contented and relaxed surrounded by her family.

  Family . . . Tears heated Laura’s eyes at the thought. She was deeply grateful she had been able to come back to Cornwall to see them. And with Aunt Susan too. Oh, Lord, thank you! Yet her gratitude was threaded with sadness, knowing they would soon have to leave.

  She felt Miss Chegwin’s gaze on her. The older woman crossed the tent to her, hand extended.

  Laura silently took it, and for several moments the two stood there, hand in hand.

  Mary tilted her head to one side. “I know yer happy with Alexander. But do I sense sadness as well?”

  “Yes, both. How can that be?”

  “That is life, my dear. Joy and loss in the same moment.”

  Laura nodded and squeezed Mary’s fingers. “I miss you, you know.”

  “And I you, up-country lass,” Mary teased even as tears glistened in her eyes.

  Then she brightened, saying, “Have you heard the news? Dr. Kent has asked me to serve as his chamber nurse. I am busier and happier than ever.”

  “Yes. And I was delighted to hear it.”

  They talked for a few minutes longer, then Laura embraced the woman and excused herself. She helped herself to two pieces of cake and went to find her uncle among the guests.

  She handed him one of the pieces. “Thank you, Uncle Matthew. For everything.”

  He accepted it with a smile. “I did little, in all honesty. Though I was happy to foot the bill.” He winked and fondly pinched her chin. “And happier still to be reunited with you, my dear girl.”

  “I am so very thankful to be here.” Laura looked over to where her former neighbors and, yes, friends gathered. Her uncle followed the direction of her gaze. Then she felt his pensive look return to her profile.

  “Have you decided where you will live?”

  Laura took a deep breath. “Alexander has agreed to captain a ship for Mr. Gillan. So for the foreseeable future, when I am not sailing with him, I will live on Jersey.”

  His expression turned wistful. “Sounds perfect. Though I shall miss you.”

  “I hope you are not too disappointed. We will visit as often as we can.”

  His eyes misted over. “I am glad to hear it.”

  The party continued for several hours, guests enjoying the good company, good music, and good food, and reluctant to see the occasion end. Alexander and Laura walked from person to person, thanking everyone for coming and accepting well-wishes and fond embraces in return. How touching to be welcomed back so warmly.

  The musicians continued to play, their notes harmonizing beautifully with the sound of the sea. For an instant, Laura closed her eyes to relish the moment and commit it to memory.

  Beside her, Alexander whispered, “Everything all right?”

  She took a deep breath and smiled up at him. “More than all right, my love.”

  Laura gazed around at the delightful scene, and her heart expanded with aching joy. Her whole family was together: Alexander, Aunt Susan, Uncle Matthew, Aunt Lamorna, and Eseld, along with dear Miss Chegwin, Jago, Perry, Kayna, and Treeve. Laura could not recall ever being happier.

  She leaned near Alexander. “Remember when you asked me to describe my favorite memory?”

  He nodded.

  “This moment is my new favorite.”

  He smiled deeply into her eyes. “Mine too.”

  Epilogue

  JULY 1815

  NORTH CORNWALL, ENGLAND

  A year has passed. And with it, the unexpected return of Napoleon Bonaparte, the bloody battle of Waterloo, and Bonaparte’s second and, hopefully, final abdication and exile. Now that peace has returned, Alexander and I have sailed back to Trebetherick to visit our friends and family as promised.

  I rise early in the mornings, as is my habit. Leaving Alexander still asleep in my old bed, I quietly dress and slip out of Fern Haven alone.

  As in former days, I walk along Gree
naway Beach, the golden crescent lapped by foaming blue-green water. Up, down, and over I go, stepping from beach to beach grass and from rock to rock pool. The call of a seagull draws my gaze skyward, and I look up to admire the beautiful heavens. I have so much to thank heaven for.

  Balmy summer weather reigns in Cornwall, and vibrant life is everywhere—gorse in yellow bloom lines the paths, and sea pinks dot the grassy cliff tops. Other dainty plants and flowers grow even on the hard rocks and sandy shore. Beauty amid harsh conditions. Life where nothing should thrive.

  Like these hardy plants, I am no longer simply surviving but am instead thriving.

  At the thought, I touch my slightly rounded middle. A new life is on the way, thank God. My family is soon to gain a precious little member. If it is a girl, we shall name her after our mothers. If a boy, after our fathers, or maybe our brothers.

  Standing on a rock, wind tugging at my bonnet, I realize I no longer feel like a castaway. Whether here in Cornwall or on Jersey or at sea, I am where I was always meant to be—close to my extended and growing family, and at Alexander Carnell’s side.

  I used to wonder if there was a plan in all the loss I experienced. Now I know the answer.

  Yes.

  Once, I feared I would never belong anywhere again. But I no longer ask myself if I am flotsam or jetsam, cast off and unwanted. I finally understand that in God’s hands, and now in Alexander’s arms, I am truly home.

  Author’s Note

  Thank you for traveling with me to North Cornwall within the pages of this book, and the real places of Padstow, Trebetherick, and Rock (formerly known as Black Rock). For this novel’s setting, I chose an area known for shipwrecks, some say second only to the Lizard Peninsula in the south of Cornwall. In fact, this stretch of coastline is sometimes referred to as “The Lizard of the North.” I enjoyed learning about the history and traditions of this region, which is now far more developed than it was during the novel’s time frame over two hundred years ago and is today a popular holiday destination.

  My husband and I had planned to travel there, but when the COVID-19 pandemic canceled those plans, Peter Long of the Elite Duchy Touring Company stepped in to help with setting research. I am grateful for his assistance and his knowledge of the area. I am also grateful for the helpful volunteers at the Padstow Museum for answering my questions by email.

  If you were surprised to read that more people on shore did not try to help those trapped on foundering ships, or that so many died in shipwrecks, remember that few people knew how to swim in previous centuries, and this period is before the creation of the Coastguard, or the proliferation of the rocket life-saving device and breeches buoy, etc. The first Padstow lifeboat was not established until 1827. Before that, shipyard gig crews, fishermen, and others did what they could to save those in distress, though many perished.

  Most of the characters in this novel are fictional. However, when I read that a legendary wrecker named Tom Parsons lived near Padstow, I decided to incorporate him into the novel. Tom Parsons’s Hut sits right on the coast path at Booby’s Bay and is owned by the National Trust. Little is known of Parsons, so beyond his name, the character is a figment of my imagination.

  Philippe d’Auvergne was an actual British official who led a spy ring from Jersey. I took the liberty of incorporating the arrest of his couriers into the novel, although in real life it happened earlier (1807). The names of most of his informants have also been changed—François LaRoche and Alan Carnell are fictional.

  St. Enodoc is a real place. From the sixteenth to the middle of the nineteenth century, the chapel was virtually buried by sand. To maintain tithing rights and consecration required by the church, the vicar had to host services there at least once a year, so he and his parishioners descended into the sanctuary through a hole in the roof. By 1864, the sand was removed and the church restored, primarily through the efforts of the vicar of St. Minver, Rev. W. Hart Smith. His son later wrote,

  The sands had blown higher than the eastern gable, the wet came in freely, the high pews were mouldy-green. The sand was removed, the little churchyard cleared, and the roof renewed. I remember the pains and energy my father spent to raise the money to restore the building.

  So although the character of Matthew Bray is fictional, he represents the campaigning clergyman who was finally able to bring about the chapel’s restoration—along with, of course, the help of skilled masons and other workmen. Also, while many shipwreck victims are buried in the area’s churchyards, old headstones are difficult to read. Therefore, the inscriptions used are fictional, though based on actual epitaphs.

  A note about the Cornish words used in this novel. You may have read that a woman named Dolly Pentreath was “the last Cornish speaker” before her death in 1777. However, other Cornish speakers were identified decades after Dolly died, and well into the nineteenth century. Nowadays, the Kernewek language is experiencing a revival, and I hope experienced speakers will view my no doubt imperfect attempt to include a few words as a tribute to this revival.

  When I read about the ancient Celtic ties between Cornwall and Brittany, France (especially the Cornouaille region), and their similar languages, I was intrigued and decided to incorporate that fact into the novel. The region has a long, colorful—and may I say, complicated—history that I don’t pretend to thoroughly understand, even after research. Warmest thanks to Alexandra Caucutt and Yves Marhic, Brittany residents, who kindly helped me with the French and Breton sections. Thanks also to author Louisa Treyborac. Any unintentional errors are mine.

  The list of “treasures” my heroine collected was inspired by the artifacts I saw at the Shipwreck Treasure Museum in the historic port of Charlestown, Cornwall, a must-visit for Poldark fans.

  To learn about England’s first purpose-built prisoner-of-war camp and those who worked and resided there, my husband and I visited the Peterborough Museum north of Cambridge with its excellent exhibits about the Norman Cross Depot and its impressive collection of crafts created by former (and primarily French) inmates. Also very helpful was the book The Napoleonic Prison of Norman Cross by Paul Chamberlain.

  Keen readers may notice a nod to Elizabeth Gaskell’s Wives and Daughters in the description of how a young Laura helped her physician-father with a patient. And Alexander’s prayer in chapter 19 was inspired by the beautiful prayers of Jane Austen.

  For sailing descriptions and terms, I owe a debt of gratitude to experienced sailors Heidi and Mark Green, and to Richard Woodman and his book A King’s Cutter.

  If you’d like to read more about the history and traditions of Cornwall, I recommend Cornish Wrecking by Cathryn Pearce and any of the books quoted in the epigraphs at the beginning of each chapter.

  Thank you to my editors, Karen Schurrer, Kate Deppe, Jolene Steffer, and Raela Schoenherr, and my entire team at Bethany House Publishers, including Jennifer Parker, who designed yet another gorgeous cover. Thanks also to my first reader, Cari Weber, as well as Anna Paulson, Michelle Griep, and my agent, Wendy Lawton.

  Finally, thank you for reading A Castaway in Cornwall. I appreciate you! For more information about me and my other books, please follow me on Facebook or visit my website, www.julieklassen.com.

  Discussion Questions

  1. Did you enjoy the novel’s seaside setting? Are you personally drawn more to the beach, mountains, woods, or some other setting?

  2. How did these opening Bible verses play out in the book?

  “What woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!’”

  Luke 15:8–9 NKJV

  3. Who would you say is the castaway in the novel? Alexander, Laura, or both? Explain your answer.

  4. Who was your favorite character? Least favorite? Did your opinion of any of the characters change throughout th
e course of the novel?

  5. Have you visited Cornwall? If not, are you more or less interested in doing so after reading this novel?

  6. Which historical tidbit (e.g., about smuggling, prisoners of war, Cornwall, Jersey, Brittany, etc.) intrigued you or made you want to learn more? Did anything surprise you?

  7. In chapter 16 Miss Roskilly tells Laura, “You have made no secret of wishing to be anywhere but here since you arrived. Why do you think you were never fully accepted?” Do you agree or disagree with her assertion? Was Laura’s original disdain of Cornwall and its customs the reason she’d never belonged? Or was the explanation more complicated?

  8. Alexander says he loves his brother and wants to help him even though they strongly disagree politically. Is this a relevant situation in today’s world? Have you experienced anything similar, striving to relate with family members or friends whose beliefs and views differ from your own?

  9. Laura was made to feel like an outsider by her uncle’s wife, Mrs. Bray. Through a second marriage or other circumstance, are you a part of a blended family? If so, has your experience been similar, or is it one of general acceptance and fondness?

  10. After experiencing loss (the deaths of her brother and parents) Laura’s trust in God wavered, and she doesn’t really believe God hears her prayers and acts in her life. Have you struggled to persevere in faith when it seems your prayers go unanswered? What would you say to someone struggling in this way?

  Look for Julie Klassen’s

  next historical romantic mystery

  coming in December 2021!

  In a grand hotel shadowed by secrets, a lady’s companion must face an old love and a murder where everyone is a suspect . . . including her. Will she lose her heart, and everything else as well?

  Read on for an excerpt

  from The Bridge to Belle Island,

  Julie Klassen’s latest historical romantic mystery,

  available wherever books are sold.