A Cornish Girl

by Gloria Cook

  ‘You’re in no position to hand out orders, Miss Kivell. You can wait until I tie Bowden up; don’t want him coming round and getting away. Then I’ll take you to safety and fetch the constable – and,’ he added with cynicism, ‘your brother from the church.’

  Rachel turned Alice away from the spectacle of her brother being bound up where he was sprawled. ‘You’ll soon forget about this.’ She tidied the woman’s shawl about her ugly face, glancing over her shoulder to see how Flint Retallack was progressing. He was swarthy and martial in appearance, with a strong jaw line, more hardy and masculine than James. James was by far the superior, polite and honourable and without the slightest hint of vulgarity. ‘Come along, Alice. We’ll wait outside.’

  Her heart gave a silent cry of emotion to be out of the putrid, evil atmosphere. The bitterly cold air was almost a relief; she prayed it would dissipate some of the mental and physical horrors she had experienced today. Flint Retallack joined them and pulled the door shut.

  Rachel knew it was out of the question to reach his home by way of the muddy track, but she was dismayed to have to parade all the way up the twelve-house terrace of Edge End, to run a gauntlet of curious eyes, of women, children, old people, and miners not on core, neighbours alerted by the disturbance. Flint Retallack answered all their questions, and was able to delegate the fetching of the constable and alert those in the church.

  Minutes later Rachel knew the merciful comfort of a seat beside the hearth in Mrs Retallack’s gleaming clean kitchen, waiting for a hot drink.

  ‘I’m sorry Alice and I are in an unfortunate condition, Mrs Retallack,’ Rachel said, shivering now and then. ‘I owe you and your son my deepest gratitude.’ Alice was perched on a brass box for kindling wood, leaning towards the warmth of the black iron cooking slab.

  ‘What are you going to do with her? With Alice?’ Flint demanded, keeping an unfriendly stance on his feet.

  ‘Well, she can’t go back to that hovel. It’s only fit to be burned down. She couldn’t look after herself anyway. I, um …’

  ‘You’ll what?’ Flint’s eyes narrowed in his leonine face. ‘She’s your responsibility now. Has that sunk in yet? Does it sit on your fine shoulders?’

  ‘Flint, don’t forget you’re speaking to a lady,’ his embarrassed mother chided.

  ‘She’s not gentry, mother, nowhere near it. The fact remains that she’s taken it upon herself to take control of Alice Bowden, and I’m interested to know what she’s going to do about it. Don’t suppose her men will want what they’ll see as an infested imbecile staying under their roof. They’ll want her put in the asylum.’

  ‘Hold your tongue,’ Rachel snapped, wincing as it hurt her throat, shooting an anxious glance at Alice, who was thankfully slurping down a mug of warm cocoa she’d just been given. ‘The poor soul has probably been frightened many times before by that threat. I am quite willing to do my best for Alice. A Kivell never shirks from their duty and we do have compassion whatever you and others may think.’ She meant every word, but if Alice were given a home at Chy-Henver it would make it even harder for her to see James alone.

  ‘Flint, you’re not helping,’ Mrs Retallack said, her round cheeks burning with embarrassment. ‘You get on in the small-holding until the constable comes to question you. The subject of Alice is best left to us women.’

  ‘Best left to Miss Kivell and Miss Kivell alone, don’t forget that, Mother.’ Throwing Rachel a last frosty stare, he went out.

  ‘Sorry about that,’ Mrs Retallack said, handing Rachel strong tea in a cup and saucer. ‘Flint has been very protective of me since we lost his father in an accident at the mine and his brother to consumption.’

  ‘There is no need to apologize, Mrs Retallack. I’m sorry to have intruded on you. My brother should be here soon and we’ll be out of your way.’

  ‘You’re not bothering me, Miss Kivell. I don’t get a lot of company unless at chapel or chapel meetings. Flint’s either working or out and about most of the time. It’s very brave, what you’ve done, very charitable. Your family aren’t much for having a faith, but you go to church, don’t you? You’ve set a fine example.’

  ‘I didn’t help Alice for that,’ Rachel replied. She only attended the church because James and his wife went regularly. She dismissed the picture of Charlotte Lockley, older than her husband, the one with money in the marriage, a slim, unsure, colourless, eager-to-please sort. It stirred unwelcome guilt to dwell on the lady. Charlotte Lockley was shy but friendly, and was devoted to James. ‘I’ve got to consider what’s the best for Alice. Are there any relatives who might take her in?’

  ‘None that I know of,’ Mrs Retallack disappointed her, eyeing Alice sadly. ‘She could go to the workhouse, I suppose, but I don’t think the poor soul would last five minutes there.’

  ‘I won’t let that happen to her. I could take her home with me, but it’s a household full of men, and people are always coming and going to the busy workshop. She might be frightened.’ Rachel genuinely wanted to see Alice cared for but she was desperate not to take on her care personally. She couldn’t take her along, bringing all the complications, when she went off with James, hopefully in the near future. She had an idea; it was a terrible cheek, but she ploughed on, ‘Will you consider taking her in, Mrs Retallack? I know it’s a lot to ask, but I’m worried Alice might not like it away from the village. I’ll provide for all her needs and pay you for your services. I’m not trying to shirk my responsibility, please believe me but … well …’ Blushing, she had run out of argument.

  ‘It’s no job for a lady,’ Mrs Retallack said, believing it was what Rachel had meant. ‘I understand. You’d hardly know where to start, Miss Kivell.’ She gazed at Alice, now snuggled up in her shawl, humming and staring into space. ‘She’s forgotten about her mother already. Her little mind is only ever on the moment. Once she’s cleaned up – and that’s going to be something of a battle – I don’t suppose she’d be much trouble, but my son wouldn’t like it.’

  ‘If you are prepared to show that much charity, cannot he?’ Rachel encouraged. ‘Surely you have the right to make this decision.’

  ‘’Tisn’t that.’ Mrs Retallack looked down.

  ‘He’d think I was putting on you? It wouldn’t be that entirely, Mrs Retallack. You’d be paid handsomely and I’ll pay a lump sum today. You’ll have some company. You sounded a little lonely just now. You could take Alice to chapel; what better for her soul?’

  Mrs Retallack took a sip of her tea, pondering. ‘Flint will say I don’t need the money. He provides for us both very well,’ she tagged on proudly. She gazed at Alice. ‘She’s quiet as a lamb, dear of her. Well, I suppose I could give it a try.’

  ‘Really? Alice would be so much better off here than anywhere else. She does look quite comfortable here, bless her. Is that an agreement?’ Rachel held her breath.

  ‘I’ll tell you what I’ll do. I’ll take her for a week and see how things work out, but mind you, Miss Kivell, if for some reason I can’t manage I’ll bring her straight to your door.’ In bustling mode, Mrs Retallack put on water to heat up. ‘Actually it would be good to have someone about the place. I’ll get Mrs Frettie Endean, the midwife, to help me scrub her up nice and clean. Alice can wear one of my nightdresses for now.’

  ‘Thank you so much. You have my word I’ll give you all the support you need.’ Rachel’s relief was so great, coming on the heels of her terrible ordeal, she felt light-headed, and now she seriously considered it, Alice really would be better off here among her own people. She mentioned what had happened to the bundle of clothes. ‘I’ll get my brother to pass in some more when he returns after taking me home. I’ll give him some money for you, Mrs Retallack, enough to also get some boots and shoes measured for Alice and to go to our Uncle Cardell, the apothecary, to get some treatment for her.’

  There was a knock on the front door. Rachel sprung up. ‘That’s Jowan now. Tell the constable he can speak to me at home. I’ll call and s
ee how Alice is tomorrow, if I may. I won’t disturb her now, I’ll creep away or she might fret if she sees me leaving.’

  ‘You’ll be very welcome here any time,’ Mrs Retallack said. ‘Now you go home and see to yourself, miss. You must be worn out.’

  ‘I shall summon the doctor.’ Rachel smiled. She appreciated the motherly advice and the way Irene Retallack treated her with respect. Her father, the late, notorious Titus Kivell, a murderous rogue, had taken two common wives in addition to his churched wife and had sired numerous children. She and Jowan were illegitimate. Generally this was overlooked due to them being placed well and hard working, but some looked down on them. She’d had to go through a private baptism to be allowed to join the church.

  At last she was on the way home up on the covered business cart, unheeding the lecture Jowan was giving her for ignoring Mrs Retallack’s initial advice. She had received a hug and a kiss from him at first, and now she leaned against his strong arm and clung to it.

  ‘Are you hurt?’ Jowan softened. The brother and sister were very close, and he was eager she would do well in life.

  ‘It will take a long while to get over all that’s happened.’ The only way she was going to get the gruesome picture of Judy Bowden’s hacked up corpse out of her mind was to see James. She really needed him.

  Also by Gloria Cook

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  She will do what it takes, for the sake of the children …

  Rosie Kilshaw is only fifteen when her mother Violet is killed in a tragic accident, but as the oldest of her siblings, she vows to keep her family together, no matter what the sacrifice.

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  This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorized distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.

  Epub ISBN: 9781473528826

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  Ebury Press, an imprint of Ebury Publishing,

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  London SW1V 2SA

  Ebury Press is part of the Penguin Random House group of companies whose addresses can be found at global.penguinrandomhouse.com.

  Copyright © Gloria Cook 2007

  Extract from A Home for Alice © Gloria Cook 2016

  Cover photography by Head Design;

  Background © Getty Images

  Cover: www.headdesign.co.uk

  Gloria Cook has asserted her right to be identified as the author of this Work in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988

  This novel is a work of fiction. Names and characters are the product of the author’s imagination and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental

  First published in 2007 as Out of Shadows by Severn House

  This edition published by Ebury Press in 2016

  www.penguin.co.uk

  A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

  ISBN 9781785032240