I reached the end of the passage and found a short flight of wooden stairs curving upward. No doubt the top floor had once been servants’ quarters, but I guessed that now Jonathon’s meager resources would run only to a minimum of staff. Doubtless somewhere below stairs there was a cook and maybe one or two other maids, but so far I had seen only Lucy.
I ventured up the stairs, but found the door above to be locked, and with resignation I retraced my steps.
There was indeed a cook, rotund and friendly, with a broad, good-natured face. She smiled as I entered the heat of the kitchens and continued to knead a piece of dough with strong fleshy hands.
‘Miss Catherine, is it?’ she said in a soft lilting voice. ‘You are the spitting image of old lady Llewellyn.’
I smiled. ‘Oh, you knew my grandmother then?’ I warmed to her immediately, and she gestured for me to sit at the table opposite her.
‘Love you, yes!’ She winked at me. ‘I’m almost as old as she was. Wouldn’t guess it, though, would you?’
I shook my head in awe. ‘No, I would never have guessed it.’
She laughed out loud, revealing blackened teeth, and unaccountably, I shivered.
She rubbed her hands on her snowy apron and delved into a cupboard behind her, producing a jar of biscuits with an air of triumph.
‘Have one of these, miss, fresh from the oven.’ She smiled at me as if I were still a child, and not wishing to disappoint her, I took one.
‘You’d best go on upstairs now,’ she said, nodding her head. ‘Master Garth wouldn’t like it if he found you below stairs talking to me.’
Reluctantly, I left the warmth and comfort of the kitchen and returned to the sitting room.
It was beginning to grow dark when I heard the ring of hooves against the cobbled yard. I hurried into the hallway, expecting to see Jonathon, but it was Garth who stood looking down at me, his face unreadable in the flickering candlelight.
‘The mist is coming down hard,’ he said, slipping out of his topcoat. ‘I’m very glad I didn’t decide to sail tonight.’
He went into the sitting room and held his hands out to the blaze of the fire.
I looked away from him, knowing that even from across the room his dark good looks had the power to thrill me.
After his first remark, he seemed to ignore my presence, and I sat down in a high-backed chair where I could observe him without being too obvious.
His shoulders were broad, straining at the seams of his coat as he moved, and his legs were muscular and lithe as he strode across the room.
The door banged open, and Jonathon, his cheeks reddened by the easterly wind, hurried into the room, going immediately to the wine decanter on the sideboard.
‘This is bad weather for man and beast,’ he said, filling his glass to the brim. Suddenly he turned on Garth.
‘Why did you not wait for me? I called to you several times.’
Garth looked at him in surprise. ‘I did not hear you. But then the wind was blowing a gale, so it’s not surprising.’
Jonathon filled his glass again. ‘I believe you chose not to hear,’ he said slowly, his eyes ice cold.
‘Don’t be foolish!’ Garth replied with asperity. ‘What could be gained by ignoring you?’
Jonathon turned away from his brother, unable or unwilling to answer.
I tried to change the subject. ‘I have not told you about Grandmother’s will,’ I began. ‘She has been very generous to you both.’
I might as well not have spoken for all the notice they took of me. Garth threw another block on the fire, and Jonathon was busy refilling his glass once more.
‘Come, let us not quarrel,’ Garth said calmly. ‘I will no doubt be sailing sometime in the next few days; I’ll be out of your way then.’
Jonathon shrugged. ‘It was not my intention to quarrel, but I object to being treated by my own brother as an outcast.’
His voice rose angrily, and he grasped the bottle of wine and left the room quickly with it under his arm.
I was undecided how I should react. Anxiously I looked up at Garth, trying to fathom his thoughts.
‘Don’t look so troubled, Catherine,’ he said absently. ‘Even the best of friends must have their quarrels.’
I nodded. ‘I understand that, of course.’ I searched in my reticule for a kerchief, wondering what else I could say.
‘Langland Hall is no place for you, Catherine.’ He spoke so suddenly that for a moment I was not quite certain I had heard him correctly.
There was no laughter in his dark eyes; he was deadly serious.
‘But I have no other home.’ I spoke without thinking, despising myself immediately for sounding so weak.
He raised his eyebrows. ‘What, no handsome young man waiting to marry you? I am surprised.’
I was becoming irritated. ‘Is it that you do not welcome me here?’ I asked sharply, glaring at him so that he was forced to answer me.
‘It does not concern me one jot either way,’ he said reasonably. ‘I am away at sea most of the time. Still, I say again that this is no place for you to be.’
I stood up angrily. ‘Do not worry, Garth.’ My tone was stinging. ‘I have not come empty-handed.’
He did not answer me, and his expression did not change by so much as a flicker of his eyebrows.
‘It is no concern of mine if Grandmother chose to give you a dowry.’ He allowed himself a small smile. ‘I am not seeking a wife, Catherine dear.’
I was exasperated. ‘You do not understand,’ I protested. ‘I have money as a gift from Grandmother to you.’
‘Give it all to Jonathon,’ he said casually. ‘His need is greater than mine.’
‘I do not understand your attitude one little bit.’ I felt the hot colour in my cheeks. ‘It is not sensible to refuse what is yours.’
He shook his head. ‘I can make my own way in life without handouts from a woman.’
‘Oh, very well!’ I said, my tone sharp. ‘Have it your own way.’
I swept past him and up the stairs, my heart pounding so hard I thought he would hear it. I could not remember a time in my life when I had been so angry.
My cheeks still burned as I unpinned my hair and kicked off my shoes, sinking weakly into a chair and trying to control the shaking of my hands.
There was a light tap on the door, and I made no effort to rise, believing it was Lucy bringing a warmer for my bed.
‘Come in,’ I said briefly, hoping she would not be long about her business. I wanted to be alone, to give myself a chance to regain some sort of composure.
Suddenly Garth was standing in the doorway, my reticule swinging from his hand, a strange expression in his dark eyes.
‘You left this downstairs; I thought you might need it.’
I was at a complete disadvantage, with my hair tumbled around my shoulders and my shoes cast off near the bed where I could not reach them.
‘Thank you,’ I said shortly, ‘but you need not have bothered.’
His eyes gleamed in the firelight, and as he came slowly toward me I could not have moved even to save my life. He put his hand at the back of my head and drew me slowly, deliberately toward him.
To my shame, my mouth was as eager as his. I clung to him like a drowning man clinging to a rope, and the moments stretched out into what seemed like an eternity.
He released me gently, a smile turning up the corners of his mouth. ‘Such fire behind those innocent eyes.’ He moved to the door once more.
‘Sleep well, my dear cousin.’
I was alone. I turned to the mirror, and in the flickering light my eyes were black, with purple shadows like bruises beneath them. My hair was tangled, and my mouth drooped like that of a tired child.
‘You fool, Catherine Llewellyn,’ I said savagely, and in disgust turned from my own reflection, slipping between the sheets, grateful for their coolness against the heat of my body.
At last, when I drifted off into an exhausted sleep, I drea
med of Garth, holding me high in his arms, carrying me off to the deck of an enormous ship. And when I awoke, there were tears on my face, though if they were of joy or sorrow, it was almost impossible to tell.
Four
It was with difficulty that I persuaded Jonathon to allow me to take the pony and trap into Swantown on my own.
‘My dear Catherine,’ he said patiently, ‘if only you will give me a few moments, I will take you there myself.’
I put my hand on his arm. ‘Please, it is a fine day with no sign of rain or frost. I promise I will take the greatest care.’
He shrugged at last and waved his hands as if giving up. ‘Very well, go if you must. You are the most headstrong young lady I have ever met.’
I gave him no time to change his mind but set off almost immediately down the cliff road. The air was clear and crisp, smelling faintly of spring, although in reality the winter was still upon us, relenting a little on this beautiful morning.
Across the bay, I could see the ships crowding together close to the harbour wall, like chicks around a mother hen. I wondered if Garth was on board his new schooner and if he could be making preparations for another voyage.
My heart dipped at the thought, even though I had scarcely exchanged a word with him after that foolish interlude in my room.
I was determined to put it all out of my mind. He no doubt thought it great sport to dally with me, seeing how inexperienced I was in the ways of men. I pressed my lips firmly together. He would find me foolish no longer.
The curving streets of the town came into view as I rounded the headland. Small cottages leaned drunkenly against each other, and on the corner the bulging windows of a tavern gleamed like eyes in the morning sunshine.
I coaxed the small pony into a faster pace. I had business to do with one Mr Sainsbury, a banker to whom Grandmother had trusted the handling of her estate just before she died.
‘He is a good man,’ she had said, nodding her head wisely. ‘And he will be near at hand when you are living at Langland Hall.’
Tears came to my eyes. Poor grandmother, little had she known of the hostility Garth would harbour against me and how he would turn his nose up disdainfully at her gift.
I found the office quite easily. It was well situated on a rise in the main street, flanked on one side by a tailor’s shop and on the other by an old wine store.
Mr Sainsbury’s brass plate gleamed in the sunlight, and the glass on the door was free of dust, giving me the impression that he was a fastidious man.
And so he proved to be when he ushered me indoors and settled me on the worn leather seat facing his desk.
‘Delighted to meet you, Miss Llewellyn. Your grandmother, rest her soul, communicated with me quite often in the weeks before her death.’ He seated himself where he could have an excellent view of my face, watching my expressions closely as he talked. ‘She handled her own affairs until she came to me. She was a remarkable woman.’
He pressed the tips of his fingers together. ‘And what can I do for you, my dear?’
I toyed with the lace of my kerchief, uncertain how to begin.
‘Come along; I will not eat you.’ Mr Sainsbury laughed with delight at his own joke. ‘Do you need money to replenish your wardrobe? If that is the case, you have only to speak up.’
‘It’s not that,’ I said slowly. ‘I was wondering if I could hand over Grandmother’s gifts to my cousins immediately.’
A frown appeared on his face. ‘That is out of the question.’ His tone was severe, reproving. ‘The understanding is that you administer the money as you see fit.’
I sighed. ‘‘Well, that’s that, I suppose, though it’s true I could use a little money.’ I smiled. ‘I’m sure you will approve if I tell you I need to buy drapes for the Hall.’
He allowed himself a thin smile now that my difficult request was apparently forgotten.
‘Yes, I do approve, and please feel free to come to me if at any time you need assistance and advice.’
I knew by his tone that the interview was at an end, and a few minutes later, I was outside in the sunshine, my purse considerably heavier. My spirits lifted; it would be fun to choose lengths of material to sew into curtains.
I patted the pony, reassuring myself that he was safely tethered to the stout branch of a tree, and walked happily along the road, glancing into the windows of various shops with childish enthusiasm.
I was beginning to feel hungry and a little tired by the time I had completed my purchases. Slowly I retraced my steps along the street, carrying a large parcel of velvet under my arm.
Suddenly I realised the pony was no longer tethered to the tree where I had left him. I stared in bewilderment around the narrow cobbled street; there did not seem to be any place for the pony and trap to be hidden.
Heavy clouds were rolling across the sky, the best of the day was gone, and it was growing a little chilly. I shivered, knowing there was only one solution to my problem: I must walk.
Soon I had left the town behind me and was out on the mountain road, struggling a little under the weight of the velvet. I wished now I had not been so eager to bring it home today.
I paused for a moment to recover my breath, moving the parcel from one arm to the other. It occurred to me that Jonathon would probably be very angry with me for losing the animal, but there was nothing I could do about it now.
As I climbed higher, the air became colder, and I noticed that the clouds were gone and the sun was setting in a bright ball of orange.
Suddenly I became aware of the steady beat of a horse’s hooves on the hard road. I scrambled quickly up on the small bank at the side of the cliff, leaning back warily against the cool rock. I had no wish to be run over in the gloom.
As a horse and rider appeared over the brow of the hill, I took one look at the broadness of the man’s shoulders and knew that it was Garth.
He reined his mount, staring at me in astonishment. ‘What on earth do you think you are up to?’ There was a note of censure in his voice that made my hackles rise.
‘Making for home; what does it look like?’ I said with more than a little sarcasm.
With a sigh, he reached down and caught me firmly around my waist, swinging me with ease into the saddle before him. His cheek was against my hair, and with a thrill I felt his arms hold me close to him.
He set the horse into a gallop, and the wind was sharp on my face, tugging at my hair so that it flew in all directions. I turned sideways, and before I knew what was happening, Garth had bent toward me and his lips were on mine, holding me almost against my will.
I tried to pull away from him, but he caught my chin in his hand, and again his mouth was on mine.
When he released me, I could see, far below us, the pointed teeth of the rocks. One false move and we would hurtle to our deaths.
A feeling of wildness filled me; I no longer wanted to draw away from Garth. Brazenly I wound my arms around his neck, clinging to him with all my strength.
For a moment we remained locked together. I heard the wind and the steady clip clop of the horse’s hooves, but above all, I could hear the wild beating of my heart. It came to me in a sudden moment of crystal clarity that I was in love with my cousin Garth.
‘We are almost home,’ he said gently, ‘though I would much rather we were heading for some remote spot where we could be alone.’
I stared up at him and saw his eyes flicker toward mine, and there was something cold about his expression.
‘I must make it quite clear I am not offering marriage, my dear Catherine,’ he said. ‘I find you attractive, but not so much that I would give up my freedom for you or for any woman.’
In silence we completed the ride, and when we were outside the door of the Hall, he lifted me gently to the ground.
‘Go inside and warm yourself with a little brandy,’ he said briskly, ‘and forget those moments on the road; pretend they had never been.’
I flung him a look of bitterness.
But his mouth turned up at the corners and, without a backward glance, he urged his horse forward in the direction of the stables.
Clenching my hands together to prevent myself from bursting into tears, I made my way indoors, shivering a little as I closed the large doors behind me.
Jonathon did not take the disappearance of the pony and trap very seriously.
‘Do not let it worry you,’ he said cheerfully. ‘Anyone in town would recognise the animal and set him on the right track for home.’
After supper, Garth and Jonathon retired to the study, and I settled down to try to read a book. Soon I could hear raised voices, and my heart beat unevenly as I realised the brothers were quarrelling.
I strained my ears, hoping to catch a word or two, wondering if I was the reason for their anger. The door opened so suddenly that I jumped nervously, and Garth strode into the room, his eyes seeming blacker than ever.
‘Were you and Jonathon arguing about me?’ I said, half afraid to speak lest he bite my head off. He looked down at me in surprise.
‘Oh, no, Catherine,’ he said bitingly. ‘It was something far more important.’
Colour flooded into my cheeks. ‘Do you enjoy being cruel?’ I said shakily, and he shook his head.
‘Cruel? No, I do not enjoy being cruel, but sometimes you ask for it, Catherine.’
‘What do you mean?’ I demanded, anger rising within me at his tone.
‘I mean that you have only been here a few days, and already you are disrupting the household.’
I drew away from him, startled by his reply. ‘I do not know what you mean.’ I said, ‘but I do not have to put up with your ill temper.’
I ran past him and up the stairs, slamming the door of my room shut behind me.
There was a knock almost immediately, and I made no answer, knowing it was Garth.
He came into the room, and I was furious with myself for not sending him away.
Sea Witch Page 3