It was so unexpected, happened so quickly, that she had no time to react. Pegasus skidded to a halt, front legs stiffened and hind quarters bunched beneath him. He let out a petrified squeal, rearing up and twisting sideways so that Marianne was propelled out of the saddle. There was no room for fear, just a strange detachment as she flew through the air and landed with a thud on the track. A malevolent hiss wheezed in front of her, and she raised her head to see the forked tongue flicker towards her before the distinctive zigzag markings of an adder slithered away into the deep heather.
Marianne did not move for several seconds. In her entire life on the moor she had never had such an encounter. She gulped hard, catching her breath and slicked with sweat. She knew she wasn’t hurt. Thank goodness she had not landed on a stone or boulder that could have broken a bone or knocked her unconscious. But the shock of the fall and coming, quite literally, face-to-face with the venomous snake, had momentarily stunned her. Pegasus snorted in distress, snapping her to her senses, and she scrambled to her feet. He was dancing in a circle, stamping the ground and his eyes rolling. Oh, no! He hadn’t been bitten, had he?
Marianne caught the reins, crooning softly and stroking the horse’s neck. He made a noise in his throat like a gurgling whinny and shook his head so that the bit jangled about his mouth. A mighty shiver trembled through him and his withers twitched several times, but he seemed calmer now and Marianne led him forward, eyes fearfully observing each leg. No sign of a limp, thank goodness. She nonetheless inspected each limb in minute detail before she was satisfied. But just in case, she would not ride him home, and would warn Joe to keep a lookout. A bite to an animal the size of a horse should not be dangerous, of course, unless it happened to be on the face where it could cause complications. But Marianne would not want Pegasus to suffer the discomfort of a bite when there were things that could be done to lessen the pain.
She led him forward, cursing herself for not noticing the adder before he did. It did not appear that any harm had been done, although Marianne’s own shoulder was starting to ache from where she had fallen on it. She would be bruised for several days, but she would not reveal that she had come off Pegasus’s back. Her parents would be deeply concerned by the news over Uncle Adam, and she would not want to worry them further. Besides, her pride would not let her admit that she had been unable to keep her seat, and her father might forbid her to ride out alone ever again. She clamped her jaw stubbornly – for she certainly was not having that! If she was not allowed to drive a motorcar, she was not going to have her wings clipped when it came to riding horses as well!
CHAPTER TWO
‘So, when will Hal be back?’ Rebecca asked over dinner that evening.
‘Soon, I imagine,’ Seth answered. ‘I would have gone myself, but my chest was playing up last week. Hal’s not really a businessman. His head’s too full of horses. But he’ll have to take over that side of affairs when I’m gone, so I thought he might as well start now.’
Marianne’s hand jerked as she lifted a spoonful of soup towards her mouth. It was the second time that day her attention had been drawn to the fact that her parents’ generation were in the autumn of their lives. Although her dear father was ten years Uncle Adam’s junior, the devastating circumstances he had unjustly suffered in his earlier life had left him with a weak chest which was manifesting itself more regularly of late.
‘You’re better now, though, aren’t you, Dad?’ Marianne said, trying to conceal her concern.
‘Indeed I am. But I’m sure a week in London’s smoke wouldn’t have done me any good. And I’d have been all alone in your mother’s little house if I’d happened to get worse. Hal has sent me a couple of telegrams to keep me informed, as you know.’
‘Difficult times, though,’ Adam put in gravely. ‘Hard to know what’s best for investments with the situation in Europe as it is.’
‘Exactly so. Perhaps we shouldn’t have sold those shares in the gold and diamond mines. They brought in a good return, but you know I’d been protesting against conditions for the workers for years, and when they still weren’t improved, well, we didn’t feel it was morally right to keep them, did we?’
Seth sought his wife’s hand and squeezed it tightly. Rose gave a deep nod of agreement and Marianne caught the loving glance they exchanged. Her parents shared a wondrous relationship, one she was convinced she could never replicate. Besides, she had never encountered a member of the opposite sex who had remotely appealed to her. Instead she spent her time caring for horses. Horses were simple. She valued her independence too much to share her life with another person – and she certainly did not want to be tied to a child like her sister Kate had been from such a young age!
‘Well, who knows what’s in store for any of us if there is a war,’ she was aware of Adam saying now.
‘I think it’s more likely a case of when rather than if,’ Seth pronounced gravely. ‘Personally, I can’t see the situation resolving itself without a massive conflict.’
‘Unfortunately I have to agree with you,’ Adam concurred.
‘Oh, men always assume the worst, don’t they?’ Rebecca said lightly, but Marianne could tell by her tone of voice that she was attempting to hide her own fears.
‘Just being realistic, my dear.’
‘Well, I just hope you’re both wrong,’ Rose stated. ‘The idea frightens me too much.’
Marianne’s eyes travelled over the sombre faces of the four older adults enjoying the first course of the sumptuous supper prepared by their housekeeper-cum-cook, Patsy. It seemed incongruous that they were discussing such serious matters over such a fine repast.
‘I don’t think we should spoil Uncle Adam and Aunt Becky’s first evening with all this depressing talk of war!’ Marianne announced, although she knew it was merely sweeping the dirt under the carpet. The subject was bound to be brought up again – only not that evening, she hoped!
‘Ah, the sensible voice of youth,’ Rebecca approved, and Marianne was relieved to feel she had an ally in her aunt. ‘We’re here to visit our dear friends and celebrate your special birthday, Rose. I do assume Hal will be back in time for the big day?’
‘He’d better be, or I’ll want to know the reason why, elder brother or no!’ Marianne declared. ‘Mind you, there’s a certain young lady who I believe may be detaining him in London.’
‘Oh, yes?’ Rebecca was all ears.
‘Our stockbroker’s daughter, would you believe.’
‘Do I detect a note of disapproval there, Seth?’
‘Not disapproval. She’s a lovely young woman. But she strikes me as a born city-dweller, while Hal lives for the countryside and the horses. I can’t see her wanting to come and live in the middle of Dartmoor.’
‘Adam left London for the country,’ Marianne noticed Rebecca put in a little defensively.
‘I left London for the sea,’ Adam corrected his wife with an indulgent smile. ‘And then for you, remember? If it hadn’t been for inheriting the estate from my disreputable cousin, we’d probably still be living at Morwellham rather than in deepest Herefordshire.’
‘We will visit the quay while you’re here, won’t we?’ Marianne asked excitedly.
‘But of course!’ Rebecca declared. ‘How could we possibly come all this way and not go to Morwellham? ’Twill always be my spiritual home. So much happened there.’ She broke off, and her eyes dropped wistfully. ‘’Tis so different nowadays, mind. Half the buildings are empty, and the few people who do live there are farm workers, rather than all the miners and quay labourers who far outnumbered them in my day. And it makes me so sad to see my parents’ cottage without them living in it any more. But I should still love to go. I can take some flowers to my parents’ graves at Gulworthy on the way. If ’twill be agreeable to you all?’ she concluded.
‘We shall look forward to it,’ Rose told her with genuine feeling. ‘I’m sure
Seth will be happy to drive us there, won’t you, my dear?’
‘I just think it was so romantic the way you and Uncle Adam met at Morwellham,’ Marianne put in dreamily. ‘The harbour master’s daughter and the sea captain, just like something out of a novel.’
‘’Tweren’t so romantic at the time, as I believe you know.’ For once, Rebecca appeared a touch embarrassed. ‘But we ended up with the happiest marriage anyone could wish for. Just like your mother and father. So. . . .’ She dipped her head towards Marianne and lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. ‘Anyone on the romantic horizon for you yet, may I ask?’
‘Ask away!’ Marianne laughed, not the least perturbed. ‘I intend to remain a spinster all my life and concentrate on making this the finest stud-farm in the whole country.’
‘Well, my girl, I hope everything turns out well enough for this dear country so that you are able to. But the way things are going at the moment—’
‘Oh, Dad!’ Marianne remonstrated, irritated that talk of war was creeping into the conversation yet again. ‘Stop being so pessimistic. I reckon you only think like that because you were in the army yourself once.’
‘That was totally different. I was a young man then, defending the Empire out in India. I was never involved in anything beyond a few skirmishes.’
‘Well, that’s probably all this will amount to. If it amounts to anything. And when it’s all over, perhaps I can do some travelling, too. You were so lucky being able to see India of all places! It must be so exotic.’
‘Sadly, I do seriously believe the situation will end in rather more than a few skirmishes. So you’ll probably have to put your plans on hold for a while, young lady, and find some other way to occupy yourself.’
‘Oh.’ Marianne’s voice landed disappointedly. The idea of visiting strange, far-away countries had momentarily fired her with enthusiasm, and she felt somewhat peeved at her father’s attitude. ‘You make it sound as if I waste away my days all the time. But you know how hard I work with the horses. I can train a horse as well as you or Mum or Joe. Well, almost, anyway.’
‘I know you can,’ Seth admitted, ‘when you’re not out on the moors with Pegasus.’
‘He needs the exercise. And Mum comes with me most days on Hermes. Tell you what Mum and I could do, mind. How about we organize another Suffragette rally?’
‘God forbid, that seems of little importance just now. You know I’m all for votes for women, and I supported you both last time. But under present circumstances—’
‘That was such fun, wasn’t it?’ Marianne interrupted him. ‘Mum driving round Tavistock in the landau with a huge Votes for Women banner and leading a whole procession of protestors. It was in all the papers!’ she concluded proudly.
‘Yes, but we were entirely non-militant,’ Rose insisted. ‘No breaking windows or anything like that. But it was five years ago, and I don’t think I’d have the energy for something like that nowadays.’
‘Well, I think we should concentrate on your birthday for now,’ Rebecca declared, neatly changing the subject. ‘Kate will be coming over, won’t she, with Philip and little Adam?’
‘Not so little now. He was seven at the beginning of the year. Richard and Beth will be coming, too, of course, but Joshua says someone needs to be at the farm all the time, and his wife wouldn’t want to come without him. Chantal’s in London and as you know, both the younger girls are married now and live away, so they won’t be coming. But do you remember Elliott and Ling Franfield?’
‘How could I not?’ Rebecca nodded with a merry smile, making Marianne feel more relaxed now that they were discussing happier matters. ‘Adam let them sail with him to France on the Emily for their honeymoon, if you remember. And before that, Ling and our Toby were quite friendly. What a pity he’s just set sail to America and won’t be back in time for your celebration. I’m certain he’d have liked to have seen Ling again after all these years.’
‘Yes, it is a shame,’ Rose agreed. ‘I should have liked all the children and grandchildren of all our close friends to have come, but it’s impossible for everyone to be free at the same time.’
‘We’ll have a wonderful time anyway, Mum!’ Marianne assured her. ‘Patsy’s already made an enormous fruitcake that she’s going to ice, and I’m going to help her in the kitchen.’
‘We all can!’ Rebecca clapped her hands in delight. ‘That’ll be such fun! I can make scones if you like. They were always my speciality.’
‘Well, if you ladies are going to be discussing menus,’ Seth interrupted, ‘perhaps Adam and I will leave you to it after we’ve finished eating. We can have a more worldly talk in the drawing room. Over a good vintage brandy, if you’d like, Adam?’
‘Ask a silly question,’ his good friend grinned back.
‘And you two can put the world to rights,’ Rose teased, ‘while we have much more fun!’
She glanced triumphantly around the table, catching her daughter’s eye. Marianne returned her happy smile. Making arrangements for her mother’s party held far greater appeal than contemplating the prospects of a threatening war!
But . . . the contentment on her face suddenly slipped away. For what if her father and Uncle Adam were right. . . ?
‘It certainly is so very beautiful here,’ Marianne sighed blissfully a few days later as she stood with her mother and Aunt Becky on the river bank at Morwellham Quay. ‘And so very peaceful.’
‘Too peaceful.’
Marianne lifted an eyebrow. She had detected a hint of sadness in Rebecca’s voice, but she knew this lively, surrogate aunt of hers would not be downhearted for long. Nevertheless, she sensed that the older woman was going to expand on her thoughts. She waited patiently while Rebecca turned her back on the river and Marianne watched her deep blue eyes move over the quiet village nestling at the foot of the towering, tree-covered ridge behind.
‘So hard to imagine this was once a thriving river-port.’ Rebecca’s voice was a rueful whisper. ‘Tons of copper ore would be piled on the quayside around the great dock waiting to be loaded onto ships for South Wales when they’d unloaded the coal. There were dockers and quay workers shouting instructions to each other, the rumble of carts and the overhead railway from the mine, sailors, miners, farm workers, copper agents and sea captains. Especially as the harbour master’s daughter, I knew so many of them. And then there was my dear Tom at the cooperage.’
Marianne met her mother’s glance at the crack in Rebecca’s voice. They both knew the story, of course, but they also knew that Rebecca sometimes liked to speak of her past, as if talking of it still helped even after all those years.
‘Uncle Adam doesn’t mind a bit when you put flowers on Tom’s grave as well as your parents’, does he?’ Marianne said gently.
‘No, he doesn’t.’ Rebecca flashed an adoring smile towards the sleepy inn where Adam and Seth had gone to enquire if they could purchase a cooling glass of ale. The inn provided refreshments when day-trippers from Plymouth arrived on paddle steamers on summer Sundays when the tide allowed – leisure craft being the main vessels to visit the river-port for well over a decade now. But this was a weekday and they weren’t sure if the inn was open.
‘When Tom died, Adam rescued me,’ Rebecca went on. ‘I was so young and lost in grief. But Adam was so understanding. A tower of strength. And he’s always treated Toby as his own son, no differently from Charlotte and James. So when he lost his hand in that dreadful accident, it just seemed so unfair.’
Her mouth, only faintly lined with the tell-tale signs of age, twisted slightly, and Marianne took one of her hands.
‘Please don’t upset yourself, Aunt Becky.’
‘Let’s go and get that picnic out of the car,’ Rose suggested. ‘I’m as hungry as a horse!’
‘You go on up,’ Marianne said diplomatically. ‘I’m sure you two would like a good old gossip without
me in tow all the time. I’d like to sit here by the river for a few minutes. The Tamar looks so lovely with the tide up.’
‘Don’t be too long, mind, or we’ll have eaten everything.’
‘With the feast dear Patsy packed into the hamper?’ Marianne laughed back.
She turned back to the river, listening to her mother and Aunt Becky’s fading chatter as they walked away, and then she flung herself onto the grass. The strong June sunshine was glittering on the water, refracting into a million spangles of dazzling brilliance, and Marianne tried to imagine Uncle Adam’s favourite ship, the Emily, slowly appearing around the meander in the river, her tall mast visible above the trees before the rest of her came into view. What a sight it must have been, with so many sailing ships carefully navigating the Tamar’s treacherous currents on the incoming tide.
Marianne released a nostalgic sigh. Virtually every one of the dozens of mines that littered the region was long gone. And it wasn’t just from the upper reaches of the Tamar that the large sailing ships had disappeared. Steamships were taking their place everywhere, rigged vessels like Uncle Adam’s beloved Emily becoming an ever increasing rarity.
But life never stood still, Marianne reflected wistfully. She herself was grown up, her sister and soul-mate a devoted wife and mother for many a long year, and her parents growing old far more quickly than she cared to contemplate. You couldn’t stop time moving on, and there were certain things you were powerless to influence, too. Like this war her father and Uncle Adam were convinced was inevitable.
Marianne plucked a blade of grass from the river bank and twisted it in her fingers, an unwelcome uneasiness settling in her heart.
CHAPTER THREE
‘A telegram for you, Captain,’ Patsy announced, holding out a silver tray to the old man as they all sat around the breakfast table.
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