‘Well I can’t think of any other reason why she should bring him all the way to Cornwall from London, can you?’
‘Not at the moment – but you can be sure I’ll find out.’
Chapter 48
THE NEXT DAY, when Mabel went to Roach Farm she told Agnes news of Nessa’s return to Cornwall, bringing a young vicar with her.
‘What’s she doing with a vicar?’ Agnes demanded, ‘and why has she brought him here?’
‘I think he started the school where Nessa’s teaching, in a poor part of London. I know she’s always said a great deal about him in her letters to Annie. Young Jenken told Goran he thinks she’s brought him home to get Annie and Piran’s approval for her to marry him.’
‘Has she, indeed? That’s not going to please Goran.’
‘Oh, I don’t know, he hasn’t said much about her lately so I expect he’s got over any feelings he might have had for her.’
Agnes said nothing further on the subject but when Mabel was leaving the farmhouse later that day, she said, ‘This vicar who’s come to Cornwall with Nessa Pyne … do you think you can get word to him that I’d like to speak to him?’
Curious, Mabel asked, ‘Why?’
‘I’ll tell you after I’ve spoken to him – if I think you need to know.’
When Mabel returned to Elworthy Farm she told Goran of Agnes’s request and he was as puzzled as she was about the reason why she would want to see him.
‘Will you go up to the mine and ask him if he’ll call on Agnes?’
‘Me? Wouldn’t it be better if you asked Jenken, or Harriet?’
‘No, you used to get on very well with Nessa and I’m sure she’d like to see you again.’
Goran was not as certain as his mother about Nessa wanting to see him, but he knew he would like to see her – and the man she was marrying – so that evening, after cleaning up and putting on the clothes he kept for the occasional special Sunday when he accompanied his mother to church, he set off for Wheal Hope and the home of Captain Pyne.
It was with a feeling of sadness that Mabel watched him walking away from the farmhouse. In spite of what she had said to Agnes she knew in her heart that Goran had felt very deeply indeed about Nessa and, although he said little about it, she believed he still did.
Annie opened the door of the house when he knocked and was very surprised to see him, but she immediately turned and called, ‘Nessa…! You have a visitor.’ To Goran she said, ‘Come in. Nessa and Sally are upstairs, going through one of Jennifer’s books with her but Father Michael is in the sitting-room with Piran.’
Goran followed Annie into the cottage’s living-room where Father Michael immediately rose from the armchair where he was seated as Annie announced the visitor.
‘So you’re the young man whose ingenuity and resourcefulness saved the life of her father. I was hoping I would meet you while I was here. Nessa will be pleased to see you, she speaks of you often.’
Father Michael advanced towards Goran with his hand extended and a warm and apparently genuine smile of greeting on his face, but Goran’s spirits sank. The priest was indeed young – and handsome. There was also a proprietary tone in his voice when he spoke about Nessa.
‘It’s actually you I have come to see, Father. Agnes Roach who owns the lands I farm has asked my mother to arrange a meeting with you. She can’t come here herself because she’s crippled with arthritis, but would like you to go to Roach Farm to see her.’
Father Michael frowned. ‘I don’t think I know this Agnes Roach, why does she want to see me?’
‘I know no more than I’ve told you, but Agnes is a very special woman and will have a good reason for wanting to speak to you.’
‘In that case, I will go and see her, of course. But where is this Roach Farm?’
‘I’ll take you there, it’s just beyond Goran’s farm. Hello, Goran.’
At the sound of the voice Goran had swung around and he saw Nessa standing in the doorway to the room. The sight of her left him totally lost for words for what seemed to him a long time, although it could have only been seconds.
‘Nessa … Hello!’
All the things he had imagined he would say to her if – or when – they met again had gone. She was as he remembered her, yet she had changed. She was taller, certainly, and there was an air of greater self-confidence and maturity than he could remember. She was also no longer pretty … she was beautiful!
‘Ma tells me you have both Elworthy and Roach Farms now and that you’ve made a huge success of both of them.’
‘They’ve done well, but I can’t take all the credit. The dues from Wheal Hope have allowed me to do things that wouldn’t otherwise have been possible. I … I’ve also followed your advice on learning two new words from the dictionary every day … well, most days, anyway.’
It was a foolish, almost inconsequential thing to say, he realized, but Nessa seemed delighted. ‘I wish all my pupils were as diligent! But it’s lovely to see you looking so well, Goran.’
‘And you too.’ There was so much he knew he wanted to say, but he felt tongue-tied and, anyway, there were others in the room. This was not the right time but looking at the handsome young priest once more he thought there might never be a right time.
Father Michael had been watching the meeting between Goran and Nessa with great interest. A keen and experienced observer of people, he realized there was a great deal of chemistry between the two of them – perhaps far more than either of them fully knew.
Speaking to Goran, he said, ‘When do you think would be a good time to call on this lady?’
‘Anytime, she doesn’t go anywhere these days.’
‘Then I’ll call on her tomorrow morning, if Nessa will take me there.’
‘Of course.’
Nessa made the reply to him, but her gaze had returned to Goran.
‘That should be fine. Why don’t you come to Elworthy on the way back? I can show you some of the things I’ve done there and what I plan on doing in the future.’
‘That would be nice. I could also look in on Harriet Bolitho, I promised to pay her a visit some time.’
‘Good, I’ll see you – see you both – tomorrow.’ Declining Annie’s invitation to stay and have something to drink with them, Goran pleaded falsely that he still had things to do at the farm before bedtime and left.
On the way back to Elworthy Farm he tried to analyse his feelings at meeting Nessa again after so long, but stopped short of admitting the truth to himself. Instead, he looked forward to seeing her again on the following day … but he wished he would be meeting with her alone, without having the handsome young priest with her. But he feared that Father Michael was now very much a part of her life. A life that had left Cornwall – and him – behind.
Chapter 49
WHEN NESSA ARRIVED at Roach Farm with Father Michael the following morning, Mabel Trebartha was also there. Goran had told her the night before that the two would be visiting Agnes that morning and she was determined not to miss them. She was curious about the reason Agnes wanted to speak to him, and also wanted to see Nessa’s vicar for herself.
She met the two visitors when they arrived at the farmhouse and was able to assess Father Michael before showing them into the room where Agnes was seated by a window that looked out over the farmland, a blanket tucked about her legs.
After introductions had been made, Mabel remained in the room, but her presence did not suit Agnes.
‘There’s no need for you to stay here, Mabel, nor Nessa, neither. Take her off to visit Goran at Elworthy, but before you go tell the girl in the kitchen to make some tea and bring it in here with some of those saffron buns she made yesterday.’ Waving a gnarled arthritic hand dismissively, she added, ‘Go on, away you go – the both of you.’
When they had gone, Father Michael, who had been amused by Agnes’s imperious manner towards Mabel and Nessa, said, ‘I was told you wished to see me, although I can’t think what it could be abou
t, unless it’s in my capacity as a priest?’
‘I can’t be bothered with all that nonsense! I’ve lived my life by Christian principles and when I meet my Maker I’ll be able to look him in the eyes and declare with all honesty that I have never knowingly done anyone a bad turn.’
Father Michael thought it highly probable that Agnes would do as she said … but she was still talking. ‘I’ve asked you here because I understand you started a very successful school for poor children, in London.’
‘It has been more successful than I ever dared hope, yes.’
‘That’s the reason I want to speak to you. I’d like to do the same here, down in the village and want you to tell me what’s involved; what I need to do – and to draw a plan for me of how you think the school should be built.’
Taken aback, Father Michael said, ‘Opening a school is a very ambitious project, Mrs Roach, and to actually have it built for the purpose is most exciting, but such a scheme would take a great deal of money—’
He saw the imperious gesture once more, this time to silence him. ‘I prefer being called Agnes, not Mrs Roach, and I am in the fortunate situation of having more money than I need for the few years I can look forward to on this earth. Goran’s hard work and enterprise and Captain Pyne’s mining dues have seen to that. My only family is a brother who has the mind of a child, unable to look after himself, let alone control the money I have and I can’t take it with me, so I would like to leave a school here as my memorial. It would give me a great deal of satisfaction. Will you help me?’
‘You are a remarkable woman … Agnes. Yes, I will be delighted to help you in any way I can – but I think this is the tea arriving and we will have need of it, there is a great deal to discuss….’
Knowing nothing of what Agnes and Father Michael were planning inside the Roach farmhouse, Mabel and Nessa walked together to Elworthy Farm and, on the way, the older woman did her best to discover more of the relationship between Nessa and Father Michael, but she learned little other than of the success he was making of the ragged school in the Old Nichol.
They had almost reached the farm when they saw a girl coming down the slope of the moor from the direction of Wheal Hope and, waving to her, Nessa explained to Mabel, ‘That’s Sally, one of the girls who started at the ragged school at the same time I began teaching there. She is a lovely girl but has had a great deal of unhappiness in her life. An orphan, she was cared for by her brother until he died in unfortunate circumstances and left her alone in the world. I have more or less adopted her and my uncle and aunt allow her to live in their home. I told her to meet me at your farm. I didn’t think Michael and I would be at Roach Farm for very long, but it would seem Agnes is going to keep him there for a while so it’s just as well she sent us off when she did.’
Sally met up with them before they reached the farm and when Jenken came out of the stable where he and Goran had been attending a riding-horse mare while it gave birth, he saw them approaching. Running back inside the stable he snatched up a curry-comb. As he used it to rake his hair into some semblance of order, he cried excitedly, ‘Your ma’s on her way here and Nessa and Sally are with her.’
‘Is that why you’re taking such a sudden interest in your hair? Well you’re not doing it for Ma or Nessa, so I will need to have a look at this Sally.’ As he was speaking, Goran hurriedly swilled blood from his hands in a bucket of water before trying hurriedly to bring some order to his own hair. ‘They couldn’t have arrived at a better time, go out and bring them in to see the foal, it’s a little beauty!’
Nessa and Sally came to the stable while Mabel went on to the house to make tea for them all and the two girls agreed the foal was indeed charming. Sally in particular was utterly enamoured of it and after they had all spent time admiring it, Goran said, ‘You and Sally stay here for a while, Jenken. Perhaps Sally can help you to make the mare and foal comfortable while I take Nessa into the house. When you’ve done that you can show Sally around the farm if she’d like to see it.’
When they were alone, Nessa said to Goran, ‘That was very kind of you to suggest Jenken show Sally around the farm, Goran. This is the first time she has ever left London and has never seen either live sheep or cows before. It’s all new to her and she’s loving every minute of it.’
‘It will be no hardship for Jenken. I realized last night when he told me you were here with Sally that he was smitten by her. I think it’s probably the first girl of his own age he’s ever really come into contact with.’
‘Wasn’t that very much the same for you, when you met up with Morwenna, Jennifer and me?’
Memories of that first meeting came back to both of them and there was brief moment of embarrassment before Goran succeeded in mumbling agreement and Nessa said hastily, ‘I expect you’ve met a great many girls since that day, after all, you must be one of the most eligible bachelors in this part of Cornwall now.’
‘I haven’t had time to meet girls,’ Goran said honestly. ‘It’s only since I’ve taken on extra workers on the farm that I’ve had any time at all to myself. Before then there weren’t enough hours in the day to do all that needed to be done.’
She wanted to ask him about the girl she had seen him with in the field that was being ploughed just before she left Cornwall for London, but bit back the question.
Goran also had a question. His was about her relationship with Father Michael, but he, too, said nothing, not wanting to hear what her answer might be just yet. Instead he showed her around the farm until they were joined by a flushed and happy Sally who said excitedly, ‘The baby horse got to its feet and walked around! It was wobbly, but it did it, even though it had only just been born – and Jenken let me stroke it. It … it’s lovely!’
Jenken stood back, beaming because he had been able to make the young London girl happy. Just then Mabel called to say there was tea and cake for them in the farmhouse.
They all chatted happily for about an hour until Harriet came into the farmhouse to join them. They were all still talking about the latest addition to the Bolitho family – another boy – when Father Michael arrived, having found his own way from Roach Farm. He reminded Nessa that she had promised to take him to a stables in a nearby large village where he hoped to hire a pony and gig, in order that he might take Nessa and Sally to Bodmin to meet with his brother and parents.
The fact that Father Michael wanted Nessa to meet the members of his family, just as he had met Nessa’s, tended to confirm that his visit to Cornwall was for the couple to meet each other’s families and it added to Goran’s misery about the situation.
Nevertheless, he declared it would not be necessary for them to have the expense of hiring such a means of transport, they could instead borrow a pony and trap he had on the farm which he would not be using in the foreseeable future.
There was a small reward for him when Nessa squeezed his arm and said, ‘Thank you, that is very kind of you, Goran. It’s nice to know you haven’t changed from the person you were before I went away.’
He could have told her there were a great many things about him that had not changed, particularly his feelings for her, but he realized that with marriage to the London priest seemingly imminent, it was something he could never tell her.
Chapter 50
WHILE NESSA WAS visiting Father Michael’s parents and brother, Goran was summoned to Roach Farm by Agnes. It was not unusual for her to send for him, she liked to be kept informed of all that was happening on the combined farms. However, on this occasion she had some surprises for him.
Seated on a chair in her kitchen, facing Goran across the table, she asked, ‘What do you know about the strip of Spurre land that extends into ours up on the slope to the moor?’
‘Not much, gamekeeper Grimble made sure of that, it’s just a nuisance having it there, that’s all.’
‘Is the soil any good?’
‘No better and no worse than ours, I’d say – at least, it would be if they put in some wor
k on it, but why do you want to know?’
‘Because Sir John came here and offered to sell it to me.’
It was surprising news and Goran said, ‘I thought he was looking to get mining dues from it!’
‘He was, but after Captain Pyne’s man was shot by Grimble he told Sir John he no longer intended following up the lode beneath his land – and Sir John’s becoming desperate. He’s decided to pass the estate over right away to the nephew who would one day inherit it anyway, but he needs money immediately.’
‘How much is he asking for the land?’
‘A thousand pounds. He asked for more but would settle for that.’
‘It’s far too much, the land isn’t worth half that.’
‘It would be if Captain Pyne changed his mind about working the copper lode that’s beneath it – and I don’t doubt that he would if we were to benefit from it and not Sir John. Another thing … there’s a very nice little cottage on the land. I used to visit it a lot when I was a girl and was friends with the daughter of the gamekeeper who lived there then. This farmhouse is far too big for me now and it seems arthritis might run in the family, because it’s beginning to affect Elworthy. We’d both be more comfortable in that little cottage. The garden is large enough to keep him busy and with a few chickens and a pig or two he’d be happy enough.’
‘I still think you’d be paying Sir John too much, but I suppose that if the price includes mining rights and Captain Pyne does extend his workings in that direction it would prove a good investment, and it would make working Roach Farm easier.’
‘Good, then I’ll go ahead and when everything’s settled you can take me up to the cottage and we’ll see what needs doing to it to make it comfortable for Elworthy, me and a couple of live-in servants. It will leave this farmhouse free for you to move into when you decide to marry.’
Bonds of Earth, The Page 24