She tried to tell herself that her dislike of him was unreasonable, stemming as it did from the fact that he reminded her of Sir Robert Calnan, the man whose actions had led to her appearance at the London criminal court in what she now looked upon as her ‘other’ life.
Hugo Trevelyan did not depart from Trethevy the next day – or the day after and Eliza was dismayed to realise his charm offensive aimed at her employer was beginning to have some success.
The Army captain was still a guest at the rectory when, five days after his arrival Jory Kendall made one of his rare and unexpected visits to Trethevy. Having anchored his ship, Vixen, in the nearby cove he climbed the steep cliff path to reach the rectory and arrived bearing a gift of two very large sea bass, part of a number received from a fishing crew to whom he had given aid when their vessel broke a spar some miles out at sea.
Unfortunately, neither Alice nor David Kilpeck were at home when Jory arrived and it was left to Eliza to explain that they had both gone to visit the ruins of Tintagel Castle, with Hugo Trevelyan.
Finding it difficult to hide his disappointment, Jory handed over the fish to Eliza and accepted her offer of a cup of tea, at the same time asking, ‘Is this Captain Trevelyan someone Reverend Kilpeck has met through his ministry?’
‘He is an army man home on leave from somewhere – India, I think. Fortunately, he was near at hand when the pony bolted with the trap and Miss Alice in it.’ She went on to give Jory details of the dramatic rescue.
Thoroughly concerned, Jory said, ‘What a terrifying experience for Miss Alice, was she injured?’
‘No, Captain Trevelyan managed to stop the pony just before it reached the sharp bend at the bottom of the lane between here and Tintagel. If he hadn’t…?’
Eliza left the possible outcome unsaid and after a few moments of silence between them, Jory asked, ‘When did this happen?’
‘Almost a fortnight ago.’
‘I see. I suppose Captain Trevelyan came here today to check that Miss Alice was fully recovered from her experience?’
‘No, he was on his way to Padstow when all this happened. He called in here on his way back and Reverend Kilpeck invited him to stay. That was five days ago.’
Clearly disturbed by Eliza’s news, Jory said, ‘I have a feeling I have heard something about this Trevelyan, Eliza, but I can’t be certain. What sort of a man is he? Young? Old? Personable? He is obviously quick-thinking.’
Secretly pleased that Jory was concerned about the man who had recently come into her employer’s life, Eliza replied, ‘I suppose he must be about your own age, sir. He is good-looking, very good-looking, and seems to have led an adventurous life as a cavalry officer in other countries.’
After mulling over what he had been told, Jory said, ‘I wish he had been here so I could have met him, Eliza. Would you know whether he has a home in Cornwall?’
‘Yes, sir, it’s somewhere on the edge of Bodmin Moor, near a place called North Hill, I believe.’
‘Ah! Then it probably is the man I have heard about. We all have reason to be grateful to him for what he did in stopping the runaway pony, but I don’t think it would be advisable for Miss Alice to spend too much time in his company. Are you expecting them to return to the rectory soon?’
Intrigued by his words, Eliza replied, ‘Not until this evening, sir. Miss Alice had me make up a picnic for them all, but is there something I should tell Miss Alice about Captain Trevelyan, sir?’
Seemingly ignoring her question, Jory said, ‘I can’t remain here that long, Vixen needs to rendezvous at sea with another Coast Guard ship before nightfall.’
‘I’m sorry about that, sir, me and Miss Alice were talking about you only the other day and she was saying you must have forgotten about her, it being so long since you last called here.’
‘I have written to her, although, I must confess, not as often as I might have wished, but Miss Alice knows I could not forget her, even if I wanted to – and I certainly do not.’
‘Perhaps she might like to hear that from you, sir,’ Eliza said, aware she was saying far more than a loyal servant should. ‘Trethevy can be a very lonely place. One where it’s easy to believe you’ve been forgotten by the rest of the world. I think that’s what Miss Alice feels sometimes, and she knows no one of your family she could turn to for news of you.’
Aware that Eliza was trying to tell him something, Jory said, ‘You are quite the little sage, Eliza, and I am aware you really care for Miss Alice, as indeed I do. You are quite right, of course, I should have made time to visit Trethevy more often and to write more than the occasional letter, but life has been very busy for me. With so many of the Royal Navy’s ships in the Far East because of the war with China I have needed to perform both Naval and Coast Guard duties. Fortunately, those days are coming to an end. The war is over and when more of our ships have returned I will be employed solely on Coast Guard duties once more. That is part of the news I came here hoping to impart to Miss Alice today. My ship is long overdue for a refit. As soon as a suitable Royal Navy vessel is available to take its place I and my crew will be paid off and I shall return to a shore base. I am hoping it will be Padstow, from where I will be able to spend far more time on matters close to my heart – and Miss Alice comes top of that list.’
Arriving at a decision, he added, ‘Perhaps you could find me a pen and ink and some notepaper. I will write a note telling her about it.’
‘I’ll do that with great pleasure, sir. It makes me very happy to hear your news. I know Miss Alice is going to feel the same too.’ Then, hesitantly, because she realised she was acting far beyond her duties as a servant, she added, ‘Perhaps you will say something to warn her about Captain Trevelyan, sir. To be perfectly honest I don’t like him, but it’s not my place to say what I think about a family guest.’
Hastily hurrying off to find the writing materials for which Jory had asked, Eliza wondered whether she might have said too much, but she decided she could have done no less. Jory’s news and confirmation of his feelings for Alice gladdened Eliza’s heart, but she was worried about the influence of the personable young army captain upon her employer.
She hoped that Jory’s long overdue display of affection and interest for Alice had not come too late.
Chapter Three
WHEN ALICE RETURNED to Trethevy that evening her face was flushed and warm, in sharp contrast to her brother’s unnatural pallor and haunted expression.
When Eliza brought cool water and toiletries to her mistress’s room, she learned the reason why.
‘Captain Trevelyan is an absolute madcap!’ Alice said, laughing merrily, ‘He took the reins of the pony for the journey back from Tintagel and drove home at a breakneck speed that had me clinging to the seat like a leech for much of the time. I don’t think the pony has ever galloped so fast – not even when she bolted with me.’
Aware that this was not the moment to mention Lieutenant Kendall’s warning about the charismatic captain, Eliza said, ‘You are lucky the poor animal didn’t drop dead, it’s not used to going at such a speed twice in a couple of weeks. By the look of Reverend David’s face when he came in through the door he never enjoyed it very much, either.’
‘He actually called upon Captain Trevelyan to stop, but it only made him drive even faster and poor David seemed to lose his voice! Mind you, I am not saying I actually enjoyed it, but it was very exciting and I never doubted that the Captain was in control the whole time. After all, he is a cavalryman.’
Eliza kept her opinion of Captain Trevelyan to herself. She realised he had been showing off in order to impress Alice, and it would seem he had succeeded, but she did not argue with her employer. Instead, she said, ‘You missed a very special visitor while you were out. Lieutenant Kendall brought his ship into the cove and came up here with a present of two huge sea bass for you. I’ve gutted them and put them in the dairy. He also wrote a letter for you, I have it in my apron pocket. I thought you would prefer me to give
it to you here, in your room.’
Taking the letter from her pocket she handed it to Alice.
The letter comprised of two sheets of Reverend Kilpeck’s writing paper and had been sealed with red wax on which the crest of the Kendall family had been impressed by Jory’s signet ring.
Eliza was relieved at the disappointment displayed by Alice at not being at the rectory when Jory Kendall called. She had been concerned that her mistress might have become so infatuated with the army Captain that he had replaced the naval lieutenant in her affections.
Alice began reading the letter eagerly but her expression gradually changed and when she reached the end of the second page she looked up and said angrily, ‘How dare he tell me how I should behave and with whom! What right does he have?’
Gaining control of herself, Alice said, ‘I have seen almost nothing of him for absolutely ages, and now he writes to me as though he owns me.’
Trying hard to hide her dismay, Eliza said, ‘Lieutenant Kendall was very disappointed you weren’t at home, Miss Alice. He said he will soon be based on shore once more and hopes to be able to see far more of you. He also mentioned that he’d like to take you to meet his family.’
‘Yes, he says as much in his letter, but that excuses nothing.’ Folding the letter, Alice added, ‘For three years I have been closeted in Trethevy leading an almost nun-like existence, now, in the course of a few hours I have two men wanting to take me off to meet their families.’
‘Two men?’ Eliza asked the question although she had no doubt about the identity of the second man.
‘Yes, Captain Trevelyan has invited me to spend a few days at his father’s manor on the edge of Bodmin Moor. He invited Reverend David too, of course, but David has to officiate at a wedding this weekend, and has his services to attend to, so will be unable to come.’
‘So you won’t be going,’ Eliza said with some relief, ‘You can’t go with him on your own.’
‘Of course not, although I have no doubt he would behave with the utmost propriety should I do so, but I fully intend going – more than ever after reading Lieutenant Kendall’s letter – and you will be coming with me, Eliza, as both companion and personal maid. Captain Trevelyan has offered to take us in our own pony and trap, tying his horse behind the trap.’
‘When will we be going?’
Eliza was not at all certain she wanted to visit the home of Captain Trevelyan but she was relieved her employer had not considered travelling on her own with the dashing East India Company cavalry officer. She did not have the same faith as Alice in his gentlemanly behaviour.
‘Captain Trevelyan will be leaving on Saturday, Eliza, that gives us two days to make ready to go with him. It will only be a weekend visit so we need not take too much, but we will discuss it at more length in the morning. In the meantime we must prepare dinner. We will use the fish brought by Lieutenant Kendall, if there is sufficient to feed us all….’
*
Lying in her bed that night, Alice thought about the events of the day and tried to analyse her feelings about the two invitations she had received.
She had always found it rather hurtful that Jory had never invited her to his home, or asked her to meet any members of his large family. She had sometimes felt it might be because his was one of the great families of Cornwall, while she was a newcomer to the county and sister of a rector who held the living of what must be one of the smallest parishes in the whole of the diocese. In other words, that she would not be considered ‘suitable’, either for Jory, or as a guest in the Kendall home.
Alice had tried to tell herself many times that this was not the way Jory thought of her and the letter she had received from him today should have put her mind at rest on the matter, but his warning about becoming too friendly with Hugo Trevelyan had angered her, perhaps far more than was reasonable.
She believed the warning was the result of jealousy, although even that did not excuse him from writing to her as though he had a right to tell her how she should behave, or be perceived to be behaving.
At the same time, she was sufficiently intelligent to realise that she probably wanted to be angry with Jory. Angry enough to give her all the excuse she needed to justify going off to spend a weekend with the dashing captain and his father. Hugo Trevelyan had already explained that his father lived alone, Hugo’s mother having died many years before.
Had she received invitations from both men for the same weekend, she had no real doubts about which one she would accept. She had wanted to meet the Kendall family for a long time and until very recently had even nursed a hope that one day she might become a part of it.
Nevertheless, the thought of travelling to the manor of the dashing cavalry officer and staying at his home, excited her. She had led a very sheltered and humdrum life until now. She believed it was time she did something that might not necessarily meet with the approval of everyone who knew her.
Chapter Four
ALICE, ELIZA AND Hugo Trevelyan set off for the Cornishman’s home after lunch on Saturday. The handsome cavalry officer was in a jocular mood, urging the pony to a speed that had his two passengers clinging to their seats, but on this occasion Alice did not encourage him in his recklessness.
She told him firmly that he had given the pony more than enough exercise on their last outing and warned him that unless he drove in a more sedate manner she would take the reins and he could continue the remainder of the journey in the saddle of his horse, which was already showing signs of rebelling against the unaccustomed manner in which it was travelling behind the pony and trap.
Much to Eliza’s surprise Captain Trevelyan meekly accepted Alice’s ultimatum and slowed the pony’s pace to one that was far more comfortable for the two women. Somehow, his meek capitulation made Eliza even more uneasy than if he had disputed Alice’s warning.
It proved to be a lengthy journey, along lanes and roads that were, at best, indifferent, especially when their route took them across the bleakness of Bodmin Moor, where there was a wind that Hugo said was present for much of the year, day and night, his statement verified by the branches of the few trees that existed here bowing low in an acute angle, in deference to the power of the moorland wind.
Alice had never ventured this far from Trethevy during all the time she had been living there and she knew little of the moor, but she found the feeling of lonely space here awesome. ‘Is it as bleak as this where you have your house?’ she asked Hugo, somewhat nervously.
‘Good Lord, no! Helynn Manor is in a beautiful valley beside the River Lynher and well sheltered from the wind. There has been a manor house there for almost eight hundred years. Those who built it knew exactly what they were doing and studied the elements well before building something as substantial as a manor house.’
‘Is it a very large house?’ Alice queried.
‘Large enough,’ Hugo replied, ambiguously. ‘Far too large for my father to be living in on his own, especially since my sister is no longer around to look after him.’
‘You have a sister?’ Alice had never thought of Hugo as having brothers or sisters. His behaviour had led her to believe he was an only child, used to having his own way since boyhood. ‘Where is she now?’
‘Sadly she died while I was in India.’
‘Oh, I am so sorry! What was the cause of her death?’
‘According to my father she died of a broken heart, badly let down by a young naval officer from a good family near Lostwithiel.’
Apparently concentrating on guiding the pony through a flock of sheep grazing on either side of the narrow moorland track, Hugo spoke without turning his head to look at Alice, but Eliza believed he was fully aware that he had her employer’s immediate interest.
After a few moments silence Alice asked, hesitantly, ‘This naval officer … What is his name?’
Still not looking at her, Hugo replied, ‘Kendall. Lieutenant Kendall.’
‘Not Lieutenant Jory Kendall?’
‘W
hy yes, I’m sure that’s his name.’ Appearing surprised, he added, ‘Do you know him?’
‘Yes. At least, David and I – and Eliza – know a Lieutenant Jory Kendall, he is a naval man but was with the Coast Guard service when we first met with him.’
‘That must be him, he certainly spent a great deal of time on land for a naval man. Long enough to court poor Isabella and lead her to believe he would marry her, only to change his mind and forsake her in a most heartless manner. My sister’s death had a serious effect on my father, which is partly why I returned from India. I am his only son and am most concerned for him.’
Alice was only half-listening to what he was saying about his family affairs. She found it difficult to equate what Hugo Trevelyan had said with the Jory she knew, but Jory did come from Lostwithiel and, although she was aware he had four brothers, he had once told her in conversation that he was the only one of the brothers to leave home and join the navy.
‘Are you alright, Alice?’ Hugo was looking at her in apparent concern.
‘Yes.’ She made a great effort to pull herself together, she did not want to let him know she was upset, or that it was because of what he had said about Jory. Changing the subject abruptly, she asked, ‘How far are we from your home now? It feels as though there might be rain in the air and it would be nice to reach the house before it becomes any worse.’
Seated behind Captain Trevelyan and Alice in the trap, Eliza had listened to their conversation with utter disbelief. Of all the men she had ever met, Jory Kendall was the one she most trusted and respected. She refused to believe he was guilty of deceiving any girl to the extent that she would die of ‘a broken heart’.
She remained quiet for the remainder of the journey, thinking of what had been said.
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