Vicki was staying the night at Hawksmoor House – Felicity wouldn’t show her face at such a gathering – and Laura was enjoying the night out. Spencer was in a very good mood and had made it plain that she was in for an exciting night when they got home. With Tressa and Andrew, they were standing round Celeste who was wearing a fan-pleated cocktail dress and enjoying playing hostess to the full.
‘I hope you’ll make your way down to Cornwall to see us again,’ Andrew said, his arm tight about Tressa’s tiny waist.
Celeste’s large dangling earrings swung as she nodded her head enthusiastically. ‘I’m sure I will some day. I’ve made many friends in Kilgarthen.’ Her eyes dancing, she turned to Tressa. ‘Perhaps when I see you again there will be another little Macarthur for me to coo over.’
Celeste had never once cooed over Guy but Tressa went a little pink when she admitted there would be a new arrival at Tregorlan Farm next year. ‘It’s just been confirmed.’
‘Congratulations,’ Laura interrupted, hugging Andrew and Tressa and feeling more than a little jealous. She could hardly wait to get home and do something about conceiving a child of her own.
‘It will be nice if it’s a girl next time,’ Tressa said, smiling proudly, and she squeaked when Andrew squeezed her fondly.
‘Come on, Spencer,’ Andrew grinned manfully, taking his glass from him to get a refill. ‘We’re waiting on you and Laura to catch us up.’
The rest of the company held their breath; Spencer wasn’t known for having a sense of humour and the remark could be misconstrued as a jibe at his virility, but he slipped his arm round Laura’s graceful shoulders and chuckled. ‘I’m doing me ruddy best, Andrew.’
They all laughed. The door opened to let in the umpteenth well-wisher and they looked to see who it was. Harry came in, his roguish face abeam, and he joined them. Andrew put Tressa on the other side of him, away from Harry.
Harry pretended he hadn’t noticed. He kissed Celeste’s cheek and gave her a bunch of flowers from Hawksmoor’s gardens. ‘I’ll be sorry to see you go,’ he said with all the graciousness of his mother. ‘You’ve given the village a certain something.’
‘Thank you, Harry,’ Celeste replied demurely, sniffing the bouquet. ‘How sweet of you. I hope your idea of taking the Uren children to the beach will be a resounding success next week.’
Harry had left all the arrangements to the Farrows and the Reverend Endean but he was looking forward to the outing. ‘Pity you’ll miss it, Celeste,’ he said, then after saying hello to Laura he ignored Spencer and the Macarthurs and took himself off to the bar.
‘Harry seems to have gone much quieter these days,’ Laura remarked. ‘He’s quite the reformed character.’
‘I wouldn’t bet on it,’ Celeste said, looking deeply at Tressa and making her glance down at the floor.
Ince and Johnny were waiting outside the pub for Les and Eve Tremorrow. It was a warm evening with the sun making the sky glow as it drifted slowly towards the horizon. Ince shuffled from one foot to the other. He looked relaxed in shirt sleeves and casual trousers, but he felt rather nervous, like a young man dragged along on a blind date.
‘She’ll be here in a minute,’ Johnny said, checking again in his little purse at how much money he had brought with him. ‘Eve’s a woman of her word.’
Ince returned Johnny’s words of comfort with an impatient sigh. ‘I’m not bothered if she doesn’t come at all.’
‘Don’t be like that, Ince. She’s quite a little lady, just your sort, if you ask me. And if you’re not bothered, why have you put all that aftershave on? You smell like a tart’s handbag.’
Whipping out his clean handkerchief, Ince wiped hastily at his face and neck. He had gone a violent red and a look of near panic shone out of his brown eyes. He wasn’t sure what he felt for Eve Tremorrow but he didn’t want her to think he was trying to be a gigolo.
Johnny smacked his hand. ‘Stop that, you idiot, I was only joking with ’ee. You want to be well turned out for her, don’t you?’
‘I haven’t been seen out and about for a while so I want to look my best anyway,’ Ince retorted grumpily, rubbing his hand as if it hurt.
Johnny was peering down the hill. ‘Here they come now. Stand up straight and put a smile on your blooming face, boy. You won’t get nowhere with her if you carry on looking so damned miserable.’
‘Why must you insist on putting me and Eve on a romantic footing?’ Ince hissed from the side of his mouth. ‘She’s my new boss’s granddaughter. I only want to be on good speaking terms with her.’
‘Bah.’ Johnny kneaded his fist in Ince’s side. ‘Sometimes you get on my ruddy nerves. I wish I was forty year younger. I would leave you standing in my dust.’
Eve approached on Les’s arm. They were walking slowly on account of Les’s age and her high heels. ‘The walk seemed much longer tonight,’ she said apologetically. ‘I hope we haven’t kept you waiting.’
Ince said nothing. He was staring into Eve’s face. She had put on a little powder and a dark pink lipstick and there was something different about her eyes. They stood out large and beautiful over her high cheekbones. She was wearing a pearl necklace and matching clip-on earrings. Her hair, sleek and glossy, framed her face to perfection. Ince was swept with a feeling of possessiveness for her.
‘We didn’t mind waiting, did we, Johnny?’ he said in his old familiar, friendly voice.
Johnny lifted his cap to Eve. ‘You look lovely, m’dear.’ Then he pulled Les away from her and before the crotchety old man could complain he said, ‘I’ll buy you a drink, Les.’
‘Good,’ Les muttered ungratefully. ‘My throat’s as parched as a desert and me head’s aching something awful. Make it a double.’
Ince ushered Eve through the bar door. He stood beside her as they faced the gathering. As each group saw them, voices stopped and folk nudged one another. Ince was back in circulation and here he was with the elusive granddaughter of old Les Tremorrow, the last woman they had expected to see tonight. The bar fell into silence and when the singing stopped, Bert Miller stilled his nimble fingers on the accordion keys. Eyes flicked from Ince to Spencer. Spencer must be feeling a fool. Here was firm evidence that his suspicions had been totally wrong.
Ince glanced at Eve. She didn’t seem the slightest bit fazed by their reception.
Les and Johnny came in after them. There was not much room in the bar and they had to squeeze past Ince and Eve. Les screwed up his scaly face, bristling his eyebrows. Staring at the array of stunned faces, he declared on a hearty grumble, ‘What a damned miserable party. Wouldn’t have bothered to stir me bones and come out if I’d known it was going to be like this.’
Celeste came up to the four newcomers, her face wreathed in smiles, both hands extended. ‘You’re very welcome. How lovely to see you again, Ince. I was afraid I’d miss saying goodbye to you. Now, what can I get you all to drink?’
Ada had come out of the snug to see why it had gone quiet. ‘Oh, Miss Pascoe,’ she said loudly and as though Eve was a very important guest. Playing lady of the manor, Ada swept up to her. ‘I didn’t know you were coming tonight.’
‘Good evening, Mrs Prisk. I want to get to know the villagers better,’ Eve said simply, more to the crowd than to the old lady.
Pockets of conversation broke out and Ince and Spencer’s eyes met over the tops of people’s heads. Spencer inclined his head and offered a small friendly smile. Ince did not reciprocate but held his gaze for several moments then looked at Laura. Laura thought it would be best if she took the first step towards mending the men’s broken friendship. Knowing many eyes would be on her, she left her group and went to him.
‘Hello, Ince. I haven’t met Miss Pascoe. Perhaps you’d like to introduce us.’
Ince wasn’t pleased to be the centre of so much attention, but sounding as normal as he could, he said politely, ‘Hello, Laura. Eve, this is Laura Jeffries.’
Eve put her handbag under her other arm and the two
women shook hands and exchanged the usual pleasantries.
‘Do come over to Rosemerryn Farm at any time,’ Laura said, hoping that Spencer would join her and take this opportunity to make amends with Ince. She couldn’t believe that Ince bore a grudge and would snub him. But Spencer, probably unsure of the situation, stayed put beside Tressa and Andrew. Although Eve chatted to her happily enough, Laura felt there was a reticence in the other young woman. Laura had heard how Eve had gone to Ince after Spencer had punched him. What feelings for Ince were running under that prim exterior?
After some moments, the usual polite conversation had been exhausted and Laura gave up and returned to Spencer. ‘Why didn’t you come with me?’ she asked, under the cover of sipping her gin and tonic. ‘You could have got talking to Ince.’
‘I’ll talk to him when he’s alone, not with an audience watching and listening,’ he replied, his tone guarded.
‘What do you make of Eve Pascoe?’
‘So that’s Les’s granddaughter, is it? I’ve never noticed her before. She looks interesting.’
‘Nothing more?’
Spencer knocked back the last drop of beer in his glass, his eyes on the slim, dark-haired woman. ‘Well, if I was looking around for someone, I don’t supposed would pass her over.’
Ince went to the bar with Celeste to fetch the drinks. After she’d given Mike the order, she challenged Ince pertly, ‘So, it looks like you’ll be settling down, Ince. Congratulations. She seems charming.’
Ince was worried at this jumping to the wrong conclusion. ‘There’s nothing between me and Eve, we’re only friends,’ he retorted in a churlish voice. ‘I’m starting work for Les on Monday. Johnny and I met them at the door and we came in together.’
‘Who are you trying to fool, Ince Polkinghorne?’ Celeste persisted, determined to wring his feelings out of him. It might even be something he needed doing for him. ‘From your manner the meeting was obviously prearranged. I don’t know Eve at all but she’s quite unlike anyone else I’ve met around here. I think that you think so too.’ She perused Eve’s neat form with female deliberation. ‘And I must say you seem right together somehow.’
Ince didn’t answer as he picked up the tray of drinks. Most people in the bar were on their feet but Eve, Les and Johnny had sat down in a quiet corner. Ince sat down beside Les and passed round the drinks, giving Eve a particular smile when he put a glass of port and lemon in front of her.
Les leaned towards him and hissed into his ear, ‘I don’t know what your bleddy game is, matey, but you can keep your eyes off she! I’ve only just got my granddaughter after all these years and I don’t intend to lose her already.’ The words thudded into Ince’s heart like a sledgehammer.
At eight thirty Pat banged a tablespoon on a table to gain attention and announced that the buffet was ready and people were to help themselves. A little later, Mike made sure everyone’s glasses were replenished and he banged his fist on the bar top for silence, then called on Celeste to give a speech. Celeste, who had never known a shy moment in her life, obliged, standing in front of the bar next to Bert Miller, where most people could see her.
‘I won’t make this long,’ she smiled all round the pub. ‘I’m sure you’d rather get on with the business of eating and drinking.’ Roars of approval went up and Mike banged once more. Celeste continued, feeling unexpectedly sentimental, ‘I’d just like to say that I’m so glad that Laura came down to Cornwall and settled here, giving me the opportunity to meet you all and make friends with you. I shall miss you but I will keep in touch with Laura and she can tell you what I’m up to, and as I love the village so much I’m sure this won’t be the last you see of me.’
There was a thunderous round of applause and Laura hugged Celeste and Bert played ‘For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow’ which was sung with abandon.
Les’s sharp remarks had taken more than the spring out of Ince’s step. He felt totally demoralised. Although Johnny kept prompting him, he didn’t have much to say, particularly to Eve. If he was going to work for the wretched old man, he didn’t want to do it under a cloud. The job would do for now, but he would look for something full-time and permanent. Perhaps even away from Kilgarthen. He downed his beer quickly and went to the bar and lingered there. Spencer was suddenly beside him.
‘Can I buy you a drink, Ince?’
Ince looked him in the eye. For a few moments, after Les had dragged him down again, he had felt all the old resentment against Spencer that he’d spent so much time fighting. But he knew rejecting Spencer’s approach would not bring him any joy, and he was desperate to find peace again. He didn’t hesitate before answering, ‘I’ll have another pint, please.’
Mike was in front of them on the other side of the bar the moment he saw Spencer arrive at Ince’s side, a stern look on his whiskery face. ‘Two pints, is it, gents?’
‘That’s right, Mike,’ Spencer replied, pushing their empty glasses forward. His grouchy character had caused him to clash with people in the pub before.
When Mike moved out of earshot to pull the pints, Spencer said in the humblest tone he could find, ‘If you’re drinking with me, does that mean you’ve forgiven me?’
Both men were embarrassed and wished they could be having this conversation somewhere else alone. Ince felt like a silly schoolboy. ‘Of course I’ve forgiven you, Spencer.’
Spencer wasn’t an earnest man but he spoke intently. ‘I’m really sorry for what I did, for what I was thinking. I was jealous of you and I was totally out of order. I was sorry the moment I got home but it took a while to come down off my pride. I kept your job open as long as I could. I was hoping you’d come back and work on the farm.’
‘Before today I wouldn’t have been able to face the farm.’
Spencer sighed, long and hard. ‘I’m sorry I hurt you so deeply, Ince. In case you’re wondering, Laura’s forgiven me. I’ve been making it up to her ever since.’
‘I’m glad to hear it. How’s Vicki?’
‘Missing you like hell. Why have you stayed away from her for so long? Did you think I wouldn’t let you see her?’
‘No, nothing like that.’
Mike put the two glasses of beer down in front of them and refused to take Spencer’s money. ‘On the house,’ he roared cheerily. ‘’Twould be worth a barrelful to see you two friends again.’
‘It was all my fault,’ Spencer admitted. ‘I can be a bloody-minded so and so.’
‘You can say that again,’ the landlord bellowed so loud he stopped the singing for a moment because Bert thought he was complaining about the choice of song. Mike waved to him to carry on playing then left the two friends to it.
‘Laura’s changing me,’ Spencer grinned at Ince. ‘I think you’d approve of my slightly better temperament these days. She watches me like a hawk to make sure I keep it up. You were going to tell me why you haven’t seen Vicki.’
‘I can hardly explain it. I fell into a sort of depression. I was envious of you and Laura. I was no longer in love with her but I thought highly of her and would have given anything to change places with you. I wanted so badly to have what you had. A wife, a child, the chance to have more children. And I wanted a home to call my own. It wasn’t your fault but I felt out of place living at the farm.’
‘It was my fault, Ince. You were my closest friend and almost as much a father to Vicki as I am. I made you feel unwelcome in your own home, deliberately at times, I’m ashamed to admit.’
‘I’d made up my mind to move in with Johnny before the fete. I was hoping that if I just worked at the farm things would get better. But it wasn’t just our difficulties that were making me unhappy. Les and Eve were having a sobering effect on me too. But after a struggle and a lot of barracking from Johnny I’ve put all that behind me now.’
‘So, can we be friends again?’
Laura watched as Spencer held out his hand to Ince. Ince shook it, and not caring if they were being watched, the two men embraced. She went over to t
hem and joined in the hug. ‘Oh, thank goodness. I was so afraid you wouldn’t make it up. Where do you both go from here?’
‘I was just about to invite Ince over to the farm to see Vicki tomorrow,’ Spencer said, kissing the tip of her nose.
‘Will you come, Ince?’ Laura asked, willing him to say yes.
‘Try keeping me away,’ he replied happily.
‘That’s wonderful.’ She danced about excitedly. ‘Come all day, as soon as chapel’s over, and bring Johnny with you. We’ll make it a special day for Vicki.’
All the serious and emotional talk had made Spencer thirsty. He emptied half his glass then turned to Ince. ‘Now we’re mates again, would you mind telling me what sort of effect Eve Pascoe has on you now?’
‘Yes,’ Laura said enthusiastically. ‘I want to hear all about her. Bring her over to the farm one day.’
Ince looked across the room at Eve. She was watching them, her face expressionless. When their eyes met she looked away.
‘There’s not much to tell,’ Ince said. ‘I can’t fathom her out at all.’
Ada had helped clear away the plates and was putting her coat on to go. She tapped Celeste on the shoulder and asked her to accompany her to the door. Outside in the freshening air, Ada produced a little parcel from her pocket.
‘I have a little something for you, dear,’ she said shyly.
‘Oh, how sweet of you. You shouldn’t have, Ada.’ Celeste took the parcel and kissed Ada on the cheek. She untied the thin ribbon wrapped round the parcel but Ada caught her hand.
‘Not here, dear,’ she whispered and there were gentle tears in her eyes. ‘Wait until you’re back in the cottage. It’s a little matinee jacket. I knitted it myself. You will let me know whether you have a little boy or a maid?’
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