Beyond the Storm

by E. V. Thompson

  ‘You must not give up, Eliza. I believe in you and I don’t have the slightest doubt that Miss Alice, Reverend Kilpeck and Tristram do too, just as Sergeant Grubb does. So if all goes as well as I hope it will, you’ll be able to tell her yourself.’

  ‘What do you mean? What can you do? The judge sentenced me to transportation and nothing can change that. Even Sergeant Grubb said so.’

  ‘Well, that is what he believed, but I intend trying to do something about it. First, I need you to tell me exactly what happened all those years ago to make the judge believe you were guilty of stealing that money. Tell me everything you can possibly remember about it and I’ll see if there is anything that can be done. In the meantime, while I am trying you will be staying here, in this cell alone and I’ll give the prison governor enough money to ensure you are given everything you need. Now, take your time and tell me what happened to you….’

  Later, having listened to Eliza’s account of all that had contributed to her arrest and conviction and promising he would do all he could for her, Jory was leaving the prison when he passed the communal cell where Eliza had been held prior to his visit. There was another quarrel going on and the noise and language was more foul than on any mess-deck occupied by sailors on a man-of-war.

  He realised these were the type of women Eliza would be incarcerated with on board a transport taking her to far-off Australia. Jory had known a number of officers and men who had served on board the transports and was aware that by the time they had arrived at their destinations they had become little more than floating brothels where convicted women had no rights and had been forced to accept they were there to be used by whoever wanted them.

  Jory determined that Eliza would not be subjected to such a fate. He would leave no stone unturned in his efforts to prove her innocence and succeed in having the conviction against her quashed.

  Jory had intended putting off finding Lady Calnan until the following day but after his visit to Newgate he decided to begin making enquiries about her straightaway.

  Back at the Admiralty he informed his colleagues of what he was doing and was told by a fellow officer that Lady Calnan had been involved in a much publicised divorce the previous year. He also knew that she was almoner in St Bartholomew’s Hospital and Jory decided he would try to speak to her there.

  The smart young naval commander in full naval uniform attracted a great deal of attention at the hospital and the staff were eager to be helpful. A messenger was sent off to inform Lady Calnan he was there and she immediately invited him to her impressive office.

  Lady Calnan was a woman of middle age, with an aristocratic bearing, but she looked very tired and Jory felt that she was probably a dedicated woman who threw herself wholeheartedly into the work she was doing, caring for the welfare of the poorest of the hospital’s patients and their families. He felt optimistic that she might prove sympathetic to his self-imposed quest.

  Reading from the visiting card Jory had given to him, the messenger introduced him rather grandly to Lady Calnan as ‘Commander the Honourable Jory Kendall’ and, standing up to greet him, she said, ‘I am pleased to meet with you, Commander, but what is a handsome young naval officer doing calling on an elderly woman like me?’

  Waving him to a seat on the opposite side of the desk, she added, ‘Are you perhaps here on behalf of the family of one of your ratings?’

  ‘No, Lady Calnan, it is a far more personal matter, and one I sincerely hope is not going to cause you any embarrassment.’

  ‘I am intrigued, Commander Kendall, it has been many years since anyone succeeded in embarrassing me. Do go on.’

  ‘It concerns someone you employed more than three years ago, a young housemaid named Eliza Brooks, I don’t know if you remember her?’

  The expression on the almoner’s face changed immediately, ‘Of course I remember her. Indeed, I doubt whether I will ever be able to forget the poor, unfortunate child. She was found guilty of stealing three guineas from my then husband, and sentenced to transportation. She never stole money from him, Commander, but took only what was owed her from a large sum of money he had placed on a bedside table, leaving the remainder there. It was not the action of a thief. Furthermore, if Robert had not tried to take advantage of her she would never have taken anything and would probably still be working for me. It was a case that should never have been taken to court especially since, as I understand it, the ship on which she was being transported was wrecked in a storm and she and all the other unfortunate women on board died. It is a tragedy I will have on my conscience to the end of my days.’

  Suddenly, Lady Calnan’s eyes misted up and she said, ‘There, I am showing emotions in front of a complete stranger so you have succeeded in embarrassing me, Commander Kendall.’

  ‘For which I apologise, Lady Calnan, but I am also able to offer you an opportunity to ease your conscience once and for all. Eliza did not die when the ship carrying her to Australia foundered.’

  The almoner looked at him in disbelief. ‘But it was reported in the newspapers at the time. There was a dreadful storm and a number of ships foundered. The vessel on which she was being transported was wrecked. I believe it was on the rocks of Lundy Island. Everyone on board perished.’

  ‘Everyone except Eliza. She was saved by a brave ship’s mate who, although he himself was lost, succeeded in tying Eliza to the broken mast of a ship’s boat and she was washed up on the beach in a Cornish cove. Although close to death, she was saved by the sister of a rector in charge of a small, coastal parish. Here, assuming another name, she has been working for the past three years as a personal maid. A very trusted and loyal maid.’

  ‘Is this true, Commander? Are you absolutely certain? If so, you have brought me news that will give me great joy and peace of mind, but why are you here to tell me of this now? What is your connection with Eliza?’

  ‘I was in charge of Cornish coast guards at the time of the storm and actually helped in the rescue of Eliza. I have met her many times since then because I hope to marry the rector’s sister for whom she has been working. Both I and Alice, her employer, have a great affection for the girl, partly because of the manner in which she came into our lives, but also for the many ways in which she has proved her loyalty time and time again, towards both of us. I recently took Eliza and the young man she hopes to marry to a fair being held in Cornwall and while there she was instrumental in arresting a couple who were picking the pockets of those attending the fair. Unfortunately Eliza was recognised by the woman pickpocket and as a result she has been re-arrested. At this very moment she is in Newgate prison, from where she will undoubtedly be transported to serve the sentence imposed upon her more than three years ago – unless it can be proven she has been victim of a miscarriage of justice.’

  ‘As indeed she was!’ Lady Calnan said, emphatically. ‘A grave miscarriage of justice, but how can I help?’

  ‘I discussed the case at some length late last night with an uncle who is a Judge of the Queen’s Bench. He has agreed that if I can provide him with firm evidence that a miscarriage of justice has occurred, he will take immediate steps to right the wrong and Eliza will be pardoned and freed. Would you be willing to sign a written statement declaring what you have just told me, that she took only what was owed to her and left a much larger sum – and also the reason why she took the money in the first place?’

  Jory thought she might draw the line at saying anything against the man who had been her husband at the time, even though they were now divorced but he was delighted when she said, ‘It was not the first time my husband had interfered with the maids nor, unfortunately, the last. I will happily, most happily, sign a statement to that effect and also give Eliza the character reference she should have had at the time of her trial. There is a resident lawyer in the hospital, we will call him to my office now and you can take my statement away with you. You will go with my everlasting gratitude and a sum of money which I hope may compensate Eliza in a small way fo
r my failure to give her support when it was so desperately needed.’

  Chapter Five

  TRISTRAM AND PERCY were clearing an overgrown corner of the rectory garden where it was intended to plant a shrubbery, supervised by a rather lack-lustre Alice when they heard the sound of horses and a wheeled vehicle making its way along the lane.

  It was twelve days since Eliza’s arrest and despite sending three letters to Jory, giving him details of the arrest and, in the last letter, actually begging him to find out details of what was happening to her, she had heard nothing.

  In desperation she had written to Lady Kendall too, asking whether Jory was in fact still at the Admiralty in London, informing her of the reason she wanted to know.

  She had received an extremely sympathetic reply from Lowena, saying her mother and father were taking a holiday on the Continent and expressing deep concern for Eliza, whom she described as being a ‘lovely young girl’ who had been highly praised by Jory.

  Lowena promised she would write to him and that she was confident he would do everything in his power to help Eliza.

  In the meantime, Alice was having problems with Tristram. At his request, when he had begun working at Trethevy she had kept the bulk of his earnings for safekeeping in the rectory and now she had refused to hand it over to him when he announced that he intended going to London to learn what was happening to Eliza.

  Instead, she had promised that when news was received from Jory she would take him to London, at the expense of Reverend Kilpeck and herself, to do whatever was possible to make life more comfortable for Eliza.

  Tristram had not been happy with her decision and Percy, concerned about what might happen to a young countryman in a big city like London, had warned her that Tristram was seriously contemplating leaving Trethevy and making his way to the capital, with or without money.

  Now, listening to the vehicle in the lane and grateful for the opportunity to straighten up and ease his aching back, Percy said, ‘That don’t sound like no farm wagon to me.’

  ‘How can you tell?’ Alice asked.

  ‘Because a farm wagon creaks and groans like my old bones,’ Percy replied, ‘and whatever’s coming along don’t. It’s squeaking and rattling like a carriage that ain’t used to such lanes as we’ve got hereabouts.’

  Whilst doubting whether the old man had sufficient knowledge of vehicles to differentiate between them merely by their sound, Alice was sufficiently intrigued to walk towards the gate to see what might be passing.

  To her surprise it was a carriage drawn by two horses and as it came to a halt in front of the gate, she recognised the Kendalls’ groom who had brought her back to Trethevy after her visit to Pendower.

  Tristram recognised both coach and groom too and believing, as Alice did, that it must be Jory with news of Eliza, he threw down the shovel with which he had been working and hurried to the gate to join her.

  It was Jory and as the groom jumped down from the carriage and opened the door he stepped out and gave Alice a happy smile. Opening the gate to go and meet him, Alice asked eagerly, ‘You have news of…?’

  She stopped and looked in amazed delight as Jory turned and helped an uncertain but very smartly dressed Eliza from the carriage.

  ‘Eliza! What has happened? How is it…?’ Suddenly lost for words, Alice rushed towards the young girl and the next moment was hugging her close. Both women were tearful, but, remembering Tristram, Alice stepped aside and the next moment Eliza was being held close by her future husband.

  ‘It seems there is a hug for everyone but me,’ Jory said, ruefully.

  Pulling away from Tristram, but finding his hand and holding it painfully tightly, Eliza said, ‘Commander Jory deserves the biggest hug of all! He’s proved that I never stole money from Sir Robert Calnan, and made them give me a written pardon to say I’d never done nothing wrong. He bought me these new clothes too, and says I can wear them for when I get married, but I’ve washed and ironed my maid’s clothes, Miss Alice, and I’ve got ’em with me.’

  ‘Oh Eliza, it’s so wonderful to see you back here and to know you have not changed one iota.’

  The statement called for another hug from Alice and, when it ended, Eliza said, ‘I am so happy you’re pleased to see me again. Like I told Commander Jory, I was afraid you might not want to have me at Trethevy again, after the lies I told you about myself.’

  ‘Eliza, I really don’t think I could manage without you now, and as for what you told me about yourself after you recovered from the shipwreck … I fully realise you could have done nothing else. You did not know me then and I might well have turned you over to the magistrate. I honestly believe that had I found myself in your situation I would have done exactly the same. Come, we will all go into the house and enjoy a cup of tea. Percy as well, as it is a very special occasion, then Commander Jory can tell us all how he was able to perform this wonderful miracle.’

  It took a long while for the full story to be told and, halfway through the telling Reverend David returned to the house and it had to be re-told.

  Jory disclosed that once his uncle was in possession of all the facts, he used his considerable influence to have a full pardon issued for Eliza and even managed to have a small amount of compensation paid to her from the public purse.

  Once she had been freed, Jory had bought her new clothes, then travelled with her to his parents’ home where, as she proudly stated, Lowena treated her more like a lady than a servant, and as soon as was possible, Jory brought her back to Trethevy.

  When all the explanations had been made and some of the excitement had died down, Tristram and Eliza were allowed to go off together for a while and Jory said he would like to take Alice for a short ride in the Kendall carriage. He would not say why, but he was unusually insistent and eventually a puzzled Alice agreed.

  After a whispered conversation between Jory and the groom, Alice was handed into the carriage and, with Jory seated opposite to her, the carriage set off.

  They had not travelled very far when the groom cautiously guided the carriage on to a track that was very badly rutted and, looking out through the glass of the carriage window, Alice said, ‘Where are we going? This track leads to Eval Moyle’s farm.’

  ‘That’s right.’

  Jory’s curt reply was accompanied by no explanation and Alice said, ‘Why are we coming here? If you have any score to settle with Moyle you are too late. He and his brother left yesterday to go to America.’

  ‘I know.’

  Once again there was no explanation and Alice said, ‘But if the Moyles have left, why are we coming here?’

  ‘Have you ever been to the Moyle farm before?’

  ‘No, there was no reason why I should, and a great many reasons why I should not! Have you?’

  ‘Yes, a long time ago, when a boat that was part-owned by Moyle was confiscated by the coast guards for smuggling and Moyle’s part in it was being investigated. There was insufficient evidence to implicate him but the boat was never returned. I was surprised that a man like Moyle should live in such a beautiful spot as this, but you’ll see it for yourself, we are almost there now.’

  Moments later the carriage halted in a small, sheltered valley, hidden from the road by a number of tall elm trees Here, in front of a rambling and decidedly tumbledown house, a stream gathered speed over and between rocks on its way down to the sea, which could be seen beyond a thick carpet of gorse that followed the course of the stream.

  Helping a still-puzzled Alice from the carriage, Jory said, ‘Here we are, this was the home of the Moyle family, what do you think of it?’

  ‘Well, the house is in keeping with a man like Moyle, but its position is not. As you said before we reached here, it is beautiful, really beautiful, and that view is magnificent. But why have you brought me here?’

  ‘Because it is important to me that you like it. You see, as soon as I knew the Moyles had put it up for sale, I asked my solicitor to buy it for me, keeping it a stric
t secret that it was I who wanted it, of course. As a result I purchased it for what is really a bargain price.’

  ‘You have bought it … but why? The house is in a dreadful state. You could not possibly live in it.’

  ‘That’s why I have an architect coming from London next week to look at the spot and design a house, a mansion, to be built in its place.’

  Stunned by the news of Jory’s purchase and the plans he had for the Moyle farm, it was only now that a ridiculous explanation came to Alice of why he might have brought her here.

  ‘It is all very exciting, Jory, but why is it so important that you should bring me here to see it today, of all days?’

  ‘Because this has been a very happy day for so many of us, Alice, and I needed you to see it because I hope you will come here often before the architect arrives, so you can decide what you want, and where.’

  ‘What I want? It is to be your house, Jory.’

  ‘Well, that is another reason I wanted you to see it all before the plans for the house were drawn up and approved. I don’t think I could live here alone, Alice, and if you are going to share it with me then it is important that you should have the house exactly as you wish it to be. Not only that, I wanted us to always be able to remember it was here that I asked you to marry me. So, will you, Alice Kilpeck?’

  For a few moments, Alice found it difficult to breathe, let alone talk, but when her breath returned, she said, ‘When you arrived with Eliza you complained that everyone was being hugged except you. Before I give you my answer I think we should remedy that….’

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