Rosemerryn

by Rosemerryn (retail) (epub)

  When they got to the house, Eve froze. ‘I – I don’t want to go in there again. Not with…’

  ‘You stay here.’ Ince gave her a soft hug. ‘I’ll fetch your cardigan and bag.’

  ‘Thank you, you’ll find them in my bedroom.’

  Just to be sure that Eve hadn’t been mistaken, Ince looked in on Les. The old man didn’t look much more gruesome in death than he had when alive but there was a look of agony frozen into his face. Shaking his head sadly, Ince said a prayer then pulled the bedcover up over Les’s head.

  He went into Eve’s bedroom and noticed the small disarray on the dressing table. He smiled. He was sure Eve was fastidiously tidy with her personal things yet the stopper had not been put back into the perfume bottle, a brush and comb were askew and a small jewellery box was left open. He had breathed in that wonderful violet scent when he’d held her. It had been stronger than usual, she must have applied more. Was it for his benefit? He couldn’t see that it was for any other reason. He picked up a cardigan from the back of a chair and her handbag from on the foot of the bed.

  Eve was pacing the yard when he got back to her. She searched his face when he passed her things to her. ‘Did… you see for yourself?’

  ‘Yes, I did.’ He took her gently by the arms. ‘I’m very sorry, Eve.’ And he softly kissed her cheek. It was at that point that the tears she had been holding back burst like a dam and he gathered her to him. She sobbed wretchedly for some time. When she became quiet she stirred and he let her go.

  Taking a handkerchief out of her handbag she dried her eyes then used a comb and mirror to tidy her hair. Ince looked away discreetly. She tapped his arm. ‘I’m ready now. I’ve seen to the animals so nothing needs to be done here really until this evening.’

  ‘I’ll see to them then.’ He liked to touch her and it was a natural thing to do in the circumstances. He rested his hand on her shoulder. ‘Listen, Eve, after we’ve made the necessary phone calls, why don’t you stay with Mrs Prisk until Les has been taken away before coming back here? She’ll be glad to have you.’

  ‘Yes, I would like to do that.’ It hurt that she would be turning to Ada for a different reason today. ‘Oh, Ince, I only knew I had a grandfather a few months ago and I’ve lost him already. I’ve got no one now.’

  ‘You’ve got me, Eve. You know that, don’t you?’ He looked at her lowered lashes. ‘Don’t you?’

  She raised her face and gave him a watery smile. ‘Yes, Ince.’

  Putting his arm round her, he walked her to the village.

  * * *

  After arranging with the post office for a part-time assistant to work in the shop until Daisy had recovered, Laura shut up the premises and went down the hill to Ada Prisk’s house. She wasn’t worried about losing custom for an hour. She felt she couldn’t face any more gossip and speculation and would have closed the shop for the whole day but that would have been too much of an inconvenience for the villagers.

  ‘I’ve heard the terrible news from Mrs Farrow,’ Laura said in hushed tones to Ada at the doorstep. ‘Could I see Eve? Just for a few moments to pass on my condolences?’

  ‘Shocking, isn’t it?’ Ada replied, beckoning her to come in. ‘That’s two deaths in two days – well, two come to light. Apparently poor Bert had been dead for at least a few days. There’ll be a third, mark my words. These things always run in threes. I’m sure Eve’ll be glad to see you, Laura. It’ll show her that we care round here even though she is a newcomer. And it’ll take her mind off it too, poor little soul.’ The old lady made a wry face as she led the way to her spotless sitting room. ‘I’m running out of things to say to her. She’s a strange little thing. Doesn’t really talk much and soon clams up.’

  ‘I wish I knew her better,’ Laura said, unsure of the reception she would get. Eve didn’t seem keen to form a friendship with her; in fact Laura had felt traces of hostility from her. ‘Is Ince with her?’

  ‘He’s out making arrangements at the moment. He should be back soon. Good job it was a day he worked there. I think he’s just what Eve needs, don’t you? You can tell he thinks the world of her.’

  ‘What about her? Does she show any signs of liking him in the same way?’

  ‘Mmmm, judging by the way she looked when he had to leave, I think there is a hope of something there.’

  Eve was sitting in a fireside chair wrapped in Ada’s shawl. Ada had lit the fire for her and the room was warm and cosy. She stood up when Ada brought Laura into the room.

  ‘Laura’s come to see you, dear. I’ll make some fresh tea.’ Ada left for the kitchen.

  Eve gave Laura a half-smile. ‘Mrs Prisk’s been very kind. I’ve drunk gallons of tea since I arrived here.’

  ‘Ada’s got a heart of gold. She saved my life once,’ Laura added to make conversation. The atmosphere was stiff and formal and Laura was finding this difficult. ‘I was very sorry to hear about your grandfather’s death, Eve. If there’s anything I can do…’

  ‘Thank you.’ Eve moved to her chair. ‘I suppose we might as well sit down.’

  They sat down, shifting about to get comfortable, smoothing skirts. The clock on the mantelpiece chimed the eleventh hour on a long, mournful note. They waited for it to finish before speaking, both ill at ease.

  ‘How is Mrs Tamblyn?’ Eve asked formally.

  ‘She’s a lot better today but she’ll need several days of rest and quiet.’

  ‘And… Mrs Miller?’

  ‘I haven’t heard anything about her.’

  ‘It was a terrible thing to have happened.’

  ‘Yes.’

  They looked at the door, willing Ada to hurry up and come in with the tea. She could be heard talking to someone at the door.

  ‘Sounds like the butcher,’ Laura said half to herself.

  ‘Yes. How’s your little girl?’

  ‘Oh, Vicki’s fine, thank you.’ Laura looked at Eve to see if her visit here was welcome. It was hard to tell. Laura thought it would not hurt to confide something that might ease the strain. ‘I can’t be absolutely sure yet, but I think I’m expecting a baby.’

  Laura’s obvious joy and radiance melted the tiny bit of hardness Eve harboured in her heart for her. If she had a loving relationship with her husband and was so looking forward to having his baby, then Laura couldn’t be interested in Ince in that way.

  ‘That’s wonderful,’ Eve enthused, brightening. ‘Would you like a boy or a girl?’

  ‘I don’t mind. I’d just like it to be happy and healthy. I suppose Spencer would like a boy to carry on his name. I don’t think Vicki will mind either way. If all is well, she’ll be ever so excited when we tell her. She often talks about wanting a little brother or sister.’

  Now they were getting friendly, Eve said, ‘I was thinking of accepting your invitation to come to Rosemerryn tonight but I knew you had Mrs Tamblyn to consider. Now, of course…’

  ‘Do feel free to come at any time. There’s plenty of room for everyone.’ Laura thought she would test the water. ‘You and Ince could come together.’

  ‘We might just do that,’ Eve said, making it sound as if they were a close courting couple.

  Ada brought in the tea tray and Laura asked Eve the question both of them were dying to know. ‘Are you and Ince going out together, Eve?’

  Under the avid scrutiny of Laura’s beautiful blue eyes and Ada’s hawk-like features, Eve replied confidently in a rather ladylike voice, ‘Yes, we are actually.’

  * * *

  The rest of the hour Laura spent there was quite pleasant. As she was leaving, a man in working clothes called, asking to see the lady from Carrick Cross.

  Late in the afternoon the local bobby PC Reginald Geach, middle-aged, stocky, always looking for a cup of tea to recover from the physical exhaustion of his bicycle ride, was shown into Ada’s sitting room. Ince was there and he and Ada stood protectively either side of Eve’s chair.

  ‘Phew,’ the constable began, his well-fleshed chest heav
ing and blowing as he endeavoured to impart the information he had come with. ‘I’ve had a telephone call from the hospital, Miss Tremorrow.’

  ‘Miss Pascoe,’ Ada corrected him.

  PC Geach frowned over his notepad and gazed down on the small neat woman sitting so attentively. ‘You are Miss Eve Tremorrow, aren’t you, miss?’

  ‘Yes,’ Eve admitted, blushing as Ada’s mouth gaped. ‘Well, Miss Tremorrow. The preliminary report on the post mortem at the hospital on your grandfather, Mr Leslie Ernest Tremorrow of Carrick Cross et cetera, et cetera, is that he died of a brain haemorrhage. The pathologist stressed that your grandfather would have died despite anything you could have done for him. I hope that will be a comfort to you.’

  Eve shed a few fresh tears and assured the constable that it was. Ada offered the puffing constable a cup of tea but ushered him to the kitchen to drink it, to leave Eve alone with Ince. Tonight she was going to cook a meal for three.

  Ince lowered himself down in front of Eve. Smiling, he asked gently, ‘Are you ready to go home yet, Eve? I shall be leaving soon to see to the animals.’

  ‘I’m not going back tonight, Ince,’ she said, smiling warmly at him. ‘I’m staying here with Ada.’

  He lifted her hands in his. They were cold and he rubbed them with gentle thumbs. ‘I think that’s very wise. I’ll bring some things back for you.’

  ‘It’s not necessary for you to do that tonight, Ince. I’ve made other arrangements for the animals and Ada will lend me a nightdress.’

  Ince’s heart sank to his feet. Les hadn’t been dead twenty-four hours and already Eve did not seem to need him. He felt rejected. He let go of her hands and rose, moving a few feet away from her. ‘What arrangements?’ he said, careful to keep the hurt out of his voice.

  Her small face bright and eager because she was pleased with herself, she got up and went to him. ‘A man called while you were out. A Mr Arthur Waller, a goat breeder from Callington. He’d heard the news about Grandfather from Jacka Davey whom he’d met in Bodmin. Apparently Grandfather had been thinking of selling the goats to Mr Waller just before I got in touch with him. They were getting too much for him, Mr Waller said – well, we knew that, didn’t we? To save a lot of trouble I agreed to let Mr Waller take them until I know if Grandfather has made a will. He’s going to take the goat’s milk and the feedstock in return for their keep and he’s going to accommodate the pigs as well.’

  ‘Well, you’ve got it all worked out nicely,’ Ince said. ‘I take it from that that you won’t be staying on in Kilgarthen. I’m sure as Les’s next of kin you’ll come in for Carrick Cross. Obviously, you’ve already made up your mind to sell it.’

  Eve was puzzled by his curt words. She wanted him to hold her, give her his first full kiss here in this snug little room. She craved his closeness but he seemed to have deserted her, in spirit at least. ‘You don’t sound at all pleased, Ince. What’s wrong?’

  ‘I just thought you could have consulted me before…’ Ince made for the door. Some of the depression he had fallen into a few weeks ago had returned to him. ‘It doesn’t matter. Well, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to get home. Johnny will have my tea on the table.’

  ‘But Ada thought you’d eat with us.’ It came out in a sort of wail. One reason she had let Arthur Waller take the livestock was the extra time it would give her to be with Ince. Now he was beavering to go.

  Ince didn’t want to hurt Eve while she mourned but he felt he had suffered one rebuff too many from her. ‘I’ll come back tomorrow. You know where I am if you want me.’

  I want you now. I want you to stay with me, to hold me. But rather than voice the pleadings of her heart, she lifted her chin at his behaviour and looked into his dark eyes coolly. ‘Thanks for all your help, Ince.’

  Chapter 30

  Since their hopes that Laura might be pregnant, Spencer had not sought to make love quite so frequently, secretly afraid that he would hurt her. Ever mindful that Natalie had died giving birth to Vicki, he was constantly exhorting Laura to be careful and take plenty of rest. He wasn’t happy that she had taken on the added responsibility of having Daisy at the farm, while at the same time having to work again at the shop, but he kept quiet, knowing that if he appeared to be grumbling it would put more pressure on her.

  Although Spencer wasn’t so passionate with her, he still left Laura reeling before and after the dizzying moments of their completion. Tonight, she lay sweetly exhausted on the bed, hardly aware of the playful breezes from the open window dancing over her burning skin or the barn owl calling a melancholy tune through the warm night air. Slowly she became aware that Spencer was speaking to her.

  ‘Mmmmm?’ She rolled onto her side, pulling the silky rose-patterned bedspread over her damp glistening nakedness, putting a languid arm over the firm muscles of his stomach which was trickling with sweat.

  He repeated his question. ‘When will you know for sure if you’re pregnant?’

  ‘I mentioned it to Dr Palmer when he last saw Aunty Daisy. He said to wait until I’d missed two months then to go and see him. Well, I’ve done that and I’ll be seeing him at the next surgery.’ She smiled tenderly into his eyes. ‘I suppose he’ll want to run tests but I should think it’s pretty definite.’

  Spencer moved to face her, held her gaze for a moment, then in one gentle movement he brushed aside the bedspread and put his hand carefully and caressingly on her full rounded breast. ‘You haven’t had any morning sickness but you have the signs here, you’re swollen and tender.’

  As always, his touch filled Laura with a sweet, fiery ache. She moved closer to him and circled feather-light fingertips over his flesh. He shuddered deliciously, but held back the fresh desire pulsating through him; he wanted to talk – for a while.

  ‘The moment we know for sure we’ll tell Vicki first, right?’

  ‘Of course.’

  Laura hoped her smudge of guilt wasn’t obvious; she had told Eve Tremorrow. One of the things Spencer prized the most was his privacy, particularly family privacy. He was a closed book who would never willingly throw open his pages. Thankfully she hadn’t been assailed with hearty congratulations from Ada so it seemed the sombre young woman had kept the confidence to herself. Thinking of Eve reminded Laura of Ince. She did not realise how annoyed Spencer was when she changed the subject.

  ‘Have you seen Ince lately?’ She was heated now for a different reason. ‘Ohh, he gets me so cross.’

  Spencer pulled his hand away from her and lay on his back, staring impatiently at the ceiling. His wife was off again about a matter that greatly niggled her. It was driving him crazy having to hear about it constantly.

  ‘I know I don’t know Eve very well but somehow I know she’s just perfect for him,’ Laura prattled on, resting her chin on his chest and tugging at the strong fair hair there. ‘And now she’s even more available, with poor old Les dead and laid to rest, for some strange reason Ince has become distant with her. Goodness knows why! She believed they were actually courting. She told me and Ada so.’

  Raising her upper body, she leaned on her elbow and looked down on Spencer’s rigid face. ‘What’s the matter with him? Does he think Eve needs some space now that Les is gone? She needs him more, not less! You’re his best friend. You ask him what the heck he thinks he’s playing at. If I say anything he just shrugs it off and I can’t very well say anything to Eve. I haven’t had the chance to build a friendship with her. Besides, I’m rushed off my feet these days and haven’t got time to keep going down to Ada’s.’

  She had enough energy to keep on inadvertently annoying her husband, however. ‘Les left everything to Eve; she didn’t know he had nipped over to Tregorlan and made a will with Andrew’s help, but by the look of it she’s not planning to stay in Kilgarthen. She’s definitely selling Carrick Cross and is probably only staying with Ada until it’s all settled. That Arthur Waller is interested in it for his son who’s getting married. Eve can pack up and go any time and anywhere
she wants to. She won’t need to look for a job for a long time, if ever. Les had good savings and a big insurance policy apparently.’

  Laura’s chin was gradually dropping to his chest and Spencer was hopeful this latest outpouring about Kilgarthen’s greatest romantic non-event was coming to an end. But next she was sitting bolt upright, full of vehemence. ‘If she does go, Ince will regret it for the rest of his life. You must talk to him, Spencer, you simply must.’

  ‘You’re getting as bad as Ada Prisk herself,’ Spencer said thinly.

  ‘I just want to see everyone happy, like we are.’ Laura had at last said something that he wanted to hear.

  He asked in a friendlier tone, ‘How do you know so much about Eve Tremorrow anyway?’

  ‘Things I’ve heard, things I’ve been told. When will you speak to Ince?’

  ‘I’m not sure that I should, Laura.’

  ‘Why not?’

  ‘Eve Tremorrow’s a smashing little thing, in an old-fashioned way, but she wouldn’t do for me. Too much haughtiness for my tastes. I don’t think she’s right for Ince either and as far as I can see that’s the reason why he’s lost interest in her. He knows she’s too much of a madam for him.’

  ‘But Eve is really sweet when you get to know her,’ Laura pleaded.

  ‘I just don’t think we ought to interfere. Not so long ago you thought the woman might be married. What’s changed your mind about that?’

  ‘It was hard for her to admit she is illegitimate. If she had really been Eve Pascoe then Pascoe would have been her husband’s name.’ Laura shamelessly attempted to get her own way by caressing him in tender places. ‘Please, Spencer, just a few little words to Ince. Don’t forget what you did for Celeste.’

  Spencer sighed, the sound issuing forth like a low groan. He loved what she was doing but he knew her motives. ‘That was different. Celeste was in love with the man and she was carrying his child. Eve Tremorrow is as virginal as a church organ. I bet she thinks all men are dirty anyway.’