From A Distance

by Gloria Cook

  ‘I’m sorry. That must have been a blow.’ A blow because this fascinating, obviously clever young woman would never reach her full potential. He wanted to ask her what she had wanted to study and lots of other questions too, but in more relaxed circumstances. ‘Would you care to walk back to Roskerne with Adele and I? We could dry the girls off and they could enjoy an afternoon in the garden. We could have lunch on the terrace. There will just be the four of us and my cousin Vera Rose.’ He’d soon send his cousin packing.

  The nanny took no time in replying. ‘Christine has been pestering me to take up Mrs Harvey’s invitation. Yes. Thank you, Jonny. We’d both like that.’

  Chapter Thirteen

  ‘You’d love it in Paris, Em.’

  ‘So you keep saying, Ben.’ Emilia frowned in concentration while making the final adjustment to her exhibit of roses in the flower tent. The village horticultural show was held behind the chapel, on land that had once belonged to the defunct Tremore Estate and was now owned by Ben.

  ‘They’re beautiful. There should be a rose named after you.’

  Em looked over her shoulder at him. ‘That’s a nice thing to say.’

  ‘You’re very much like a perfect rose in full bloom. Beautifully mature, exquisitely shaped, magnificent.’

  She missed the huskiness in his voice and thought he was teasing her. ‘And thorny?’

  ‘Mmm, you’re a little prickly now and again. I wouldn’t go as far as thorny. Your sharp edges are just another appealing part of you. You’re lovely, Em. I’ll always think so.’ He got closer and sniffed her. She chose rich rose scents but she also smelled of womanhood and promise. ‘And you always smell good.’

  ‘I do?’

  The desire in his eyes was also lost on her. Ben was desperate to get her to notice him, to feel for him as in the old days. ‘Doesn’t Alec say nice things about you?’

  Emilia didn’t answer. She attended to her display, formed in a dramatic circle and titled ‘Sunset Crown’. Ben edged even closer, saw her mouth tighten. He was pleased. ‘Where is he? I haven’t seen him yet?’

  ‘He’s not coming.’

  Ben gave an exaggerated lift of his eyebrows and sounded a little indignant. ‘Why on earth not? He never misses a village event. Besides, he’s the squire. People expect him to be here.’

  ‘He says he doesn’t feel like it.’ Emilia’s tone was dismissive.

  ‘I wouldn’t have thought he’d miss you picking up a trophy, even though it’s inevitable.’ Ben pressed a hand on her arm. ‘Alec’s being very difficult these days. Have you had a quarrel?’

  ‘Yes, over Lottie’s hair, of all things.’ Emilia was simmering in anger over the whole silly situation.

  ‘I want her hair to be left to grow long,’ he had said yesterday in the den, where she had been seeing to the farm books.

  ‘What are you talking about?’ She had laid down her pen, keeping her seat, his seat, behind the desk.

  ‘Lottie. I want her to look more like a little girl than some scruffy tomboy. And she should take dancing lessons with Faye.’

  ‘Lottie doesn’t want to take up ballet. She’d hate it. And long hair would be too restrictive for her. She’d hate it too. She likes to be active, Alec.’

  ‘It’s my wish, Emilia.’ He’d come to the other side of the desk, pressed his hands down on it and leaned towards her, a looming figure. ‘Don’t take her to the hairdresser’s again this year.’

  ‘Alec.’ She had pushed back the chair and stared up at him. ‘I’ll do nothing that will cause Lottie discomfort.’

  ‘She’s my daughter too,’ he had returned, heated, aggrieved.

  ‘I’m her mother. I will see to things like that for Lottie.’ Emilia’s expression had displayed inflexibility. The subject was closed.

  Alec had contracted his eyes in a way she had never seen him do before. ‘I insist! And I want her to dress in prettier, daintier clothes. I’ll ask her if she’s changed her mind about the dancing lessons.’

  Emilia got up and went round the desk to him. Alec faced her squarely. ‘You can insist all you like. Lottie stays exactly as she is.’

  ‘I’ve never ordered you to obey me, Emilia, but I will not back down on this.’

  ‘Nor will I.’ She had said the words slowly and decisively.

  ‘Allow a pair of scissors near the girl’s hair and there will be hell to pay.’ His voice had grown cold.

  Emilia’s temper had risen. ‘No, Alec. There will be hell to pay if you try to make me do anything that will upset Lottie. I don’t know why you’re making these ridiculous demands but they aren’t for her sake, are they? Watch yourself. You’re not the only one who can make threats.’

  In that instant Lottie came running into the den with Bertie and Hope, two of the farm’s Jack Russells. ‘Get those dogs out of here!’ Alec hissed at her.

  ‘The dogs can stay, my love, if you promise to sit quietly with them while Mummy finishes her work here,’ Emilia said firmly. It was the first time she had overridden Alec in this way, clearly taking Lottie’s side against him. Smirking, Lottie went to her and slipped her hand inside hers, then raised her chin defiantly at her father.

  Alec glared at her, then turned his full sight on Emilia. ‘So this is how it’s going to be, is it?’

  ‘Yes. It’s not me who’s being unreasonable.’

  He’d gazed icily, accusingly, at Emilia for some time and she’d felt the rift deepening between them. She knew she had been wrong to take sides against him in Lottie’s hearing – it wasn’t going to endear Lottie to him – but it was Alec who had put the distance between himself and Lottie. With a stern, critical sigh he’d stalked out of the den, banging the door after him.

  ‘Lottie’s hair?’ Ben exclaimed. ‘That’s a strange idea for a father to take an interest in. It’s up to a mother to see to that sort of thing.’

  ‘Did I hear you say Alec isn’t coming?’ Brooke joined them, making a point of not standing too close to Ben. He had talked enthusiastically about his French trip, had smothered her and Faye with presents, but had done nothing more to her physically than peck her cheek. If she looked at him and caught his eye, he’d glance away. Although his voice was caring and friendly, his body language was cool, and sometimes she fancied there was an element of sarcasm in the things he said and did. He behaved as a loving, interested father to Faye – up to a point. He had no excuse, like Alec, who was unwell, to treat his daughter as second best.

  ‘He’s in a mood,’ Emilia replied, having no care to show she was angry with Alec. He had reached the limits of her tolerance over his unreasonable notions about Lottie. Now he was ignoring Lottie and she was feeling hurt and rejected. She was presently with Tom and Faye but she was not enjoying the occasion as she normally would have done.

  ‘Alec’s always in some sort of mood,’ Ben said, happy to drive a deeper wedge between his brother and former fiancée. ‘He’s getting weird.’

  ‘He is not!’ Brooke said sharply.

  ‘He’s tiresome and morose,’ Ben persisted. He didn’t mind if he was upsetting Brooke. His return from Paris had found her unchanged – she had greeted him in the drive as if he was a visitor rather than her husband – and his patience was wearing thin. ‘He hasn’t left the farm or done any work on it since he came home from Tris’s.’

  ‘You’re being unfair, Ben,’ Brooke carried on crossly. ‘Alec’s still suffering the trauma of the accident. His leg was quite badly broken and he thought he was going to die. Something like that’s bound to be unnerving for a long time.’

  Emilia was in no mood to intervene and let them continue arguing.

  ‘You don’t know him like we do,’ Ben grunted.

  ‘Perhaps it’s the only way he can cope,’ Brooke argued. ‘He needs to see the doctor.’

  ‘He flatly refuses to see him. When the doctor turned up at the farm at Em’s request, Alec threatened to set the dogs on him.’

  ‘Well, that shows how disturbed he is. You s
hould show Alec some understanding.’

  ‘If you’re so concerned why don’t you go over to the farm and try to cheer him up,’ Ben delivered it as a challenge. With his wife out of the way he’d have Em to himself.

  Brooke glanced at Emilia to see how she felt about this. Emilia’s face was stern, almost uncaring. ‘Perhaps I will. I’ve looked at all the exhibits. If Alec could be made to come out of his shell a little it would do everyone some good. Good luck at the judging, Em.’ She left.

  Ben gazed at Emilia. ‘Don’t worry. I’m here.’

  Emilia looked through the crowds for Lottie, couldn’t see her and she left her roses to go to her.

  Lottie had wandered off to the chapel social room, which was joined to the chapel. She was hot and teasy and was seeking her grandmother, who was helping with the refreshments, for a glass of orange juice and a cuddle. By the door was a tall, black-haired man. He came forward, a strong limp in his right leg, which seemed very stiff and straight. His clothes were brighter than what men usually wore and he carried a jaunty hat. Lottie was old enough to know this man was extremely good looking.

  ‘Hello.’ His voice was cheerful and rang pleasantly. ‘Would you happen to be Miss Charlotte Harvey? Lottie Harvey?’

  Lottie pursed her lips. ‘How do you know me?’

  ‘I know your mother. She sent me a photograph of you.’

  Lottie was a quick thinker. ‘Are you—?’

  ‘I rather think I am. Is your mother in the flower tent?’

  ‘She was a moment ago. Does she know you’re coming?’

  ‘No.’ He smiled, and it was such a lovely smile that Lottie found herself smiling back. ‘I want to surprise her. I’ll go along and find her then.’

  Emilia was told where to find her daughter. She hurried past the tents and stalls, the ice-cream van, the seated brass band, the gypsy fortune teller’s caravan, greeting people quickly as she went. She was aware of Ben following her, then someone hailed him and drew him aside in urgent conversation. Ben was always much in demand as the wealthiest occupant and second largest employer in the village.

  She rounded the last tent. The social room came into view and she was at the top of a short gravelled slope.

  And there at the bottom was the man she loved so much.

  * * *

  Brooke looked everywhere for Alec in the house and farmyard and then the garden. She gasped in horror and panic when she reached the rose beds. Every rose planted in Jenna’s memory was gone. Emilia would never leave these precious roses this way, stripped and bare. It could only be Alec who was responsible. He needed to be found. He must have been half out of his mind to do this. Brooke ran back down the paths. The motor car and his horse were here, so Alec had left on foot. Then she knew where he’d be and her anxiety for him increased.

  She found him, a silent figure with his head bowed, in the churchyard by the Harvey plot. And there was Jenna’s little grave, completely covered with her mother’s tribute roses, a scene of poignant, matchless beauty. ‘Alec, what have you done?’

  Without looking up, he said in a voice choked with grief and some anger, ‘Everyone goes on doing what they normally do and behave as if she never existed. They’ve all forgotten her. My little girl will never go to the show. Look fabulous, don’t they? It’s what Jenna deserves.’

  ‘No one’s forgotten her, Alec.’ Brooke used gentle, soothing tones. ‘You know they haven’t. Especially Emilia. She’s going to bring her exhibit, her very best roses, here after the show. What’s she going to think about this?’

  ‘If she loves Jenna as much as she loves Lottie she won’t mind. Will she?’

  Although Brooke tried to draw him out, Alec would say no more. She went round the grave to him and linked her arm through his. ‘Are you going to stay here until Emilia arrives?’

  He shook his head.

  ‘What then?’

  For a long time he didn’t move or speak. Then he disengaged Brooke’s arm and took her hand and led her away. ‘Where are we going?’ she asked.

  ‘I don’t know,’ he replied.

  * * *

  Emilia couldn’t speak. She couldn’t move. The world had stopped existing. She was in another dimension, a beautiful place, where there was just she and Perry. Warm shivers of delight spread through her; she was engulfed in golden waves of ecstasy. The love she had for Perry and the love he had for her passed across the small distance between them and united them. She wasn’t aware of it but her eyes were wide and filling with tears of love, and her hands left her sides and reached out to him.

  With little difficulty, just a pronounced swing to his right side, Perry climbed the slope towards her, his gorgeous smile shining from his depthless blue eyes. When he was close enough he took her hands and whispered, ‘Darling Em. My dearest own darling Em.’

  And now her words came flooding out. ‘Perry! How? Why? I… it’s so good to see you! It’s so good.’

  Some people, including by their excited voices Jim Killigrew and the Annear children, came up behind her, and Elena Rawley came out of the social room, obviously to meet them, with a tray of refreshments. Perry gently, reluctantly, relinquished his hold, and said for the newcomers’ benefit, ‘Mrs Harvey, Emilia, it’s good to be back in these parts.’

  ‘It’s good to see you,’ she repeated, wondering if she was giving away her true feelings to the onlookers, who were sure to be gawping, wondering, like she herself was, why he was suddenly here. Surely her eyes were shining like stars? Surely they could hear her heart dancing in a new and excited rhythm? And see her hope, and her love for this man. At that moment she didn’t care if they did.

  ‘May I escort you somewhere? Perhaps to see the flower exhibits,’ Perry said, formal and polite, but smiling in an intimate way.

  They received many curious looks and one or two gasps of astonishment as the show-goers saw the handsome young man who had come among them again, walking at the side of the squire’s wife. Emilia ignored them. ‘Perry, why have you come? Not that I’m not utterly delighted to see you but there must be a reason. Is something wrong?’

  ‘Nothing’s wrong. Reggie Rule has gone to Switzerland to study for a few months. He offered me the use of his house at Highertown. I couldn’t refuse, Em. I had to see you.’

  ‘But Reggie’s already been away for a month and he’s gone away before. You didn’t come down then. Has something changed?’

  ‘Everything is the same for me. I’ve been miserable and lonely without you. I’ve missed you every hour of every day. I’ve concentrated on my work and with bringing up Libby. She’s somewhere here, by the way. Forgive her if she’s a little bit rude. She’s just thrown a strop. She didn’t want to come down to Cornwall but the housekeeper’s got shingles and needs to rest. When can we be alone, Em?’

  ‘How can we be with Libby staying with you?’

  ‘She’s to spend some time with Reggie’s niece. And I was thinking about our secret place on the moors. Libby’s vowed this is to be her only visit to Hennaford. She took the way Selina was treated here very badly. Of course, she was too young to know why and she can never be told.’

  Ben had got away from the owner of the local nursery, who had boringly chatted on about his vegetable produce and claimed jealously that if it wasn’t for Mrs Harvey’s roses he’d be certain to win first prize with his. Ben lifted his brows when he saw who was monopolizing Emilia outside the flower tent. He went over to them. He thought Perry Bosweld a fine chap, unfairly shackled during his stay in Hennaford with a game-playing tart of a sister – Ben had been a victim of her tormenting, seductive ways when she had flirted with him and then brushed him off.

  ‘Perry Bosweld! This is a welcome surprise. We didn’t think we’d ever see you again in this neck of the woods, did we, Em?’

  Emilia just smiled to herself, deliriously happy, dampening down the need to hold Perry’s hand.

  ‘Ben Harvey.’ The two men shook hands, a dark and handsome pair, owning the confidence of y
oung, well-off gentlemen. ‘Well, Ben, this county of my birth has been calling to me to return for some time, you know. It’s too beautiful to stay away from indefinitely. I might even come back and settle for good one day soon.’ He smiled down at Emilia.

  ‘Well, you are more of a sea and country sort than a town dweller. Isn’t he, Em?’

  ‘I totally agree with you, Ben,’ Emilia said, careful to keep the enthusiasm out of her voice. Perry’s arrival and him living close by again would cause terrible difficulties, not least discovery of their affair, which no doubt would resume, but she hated the thought of him being so far away at a distance. She wanted him near to her all the time. Gazing at him she realized how much she had missed him, that her life had been more than half empty.

  ‘I overheard someone mentioning that Alec is missing the show this year,’ Perry said, his eyes firmly on Emilia. She knew he was seeking a deeper explanation than perhaps that Alec was unwell.

  ‘Alec’s taking a long time to recuperate from an accident,’ Ben said. ‘Of course, you wouldn’t know he’d suffered a broken leg. The plaster’s been off a few days now but he doesn’t make much effort to get about.’

  Only to the churchyard, Emilia thought sadly. She’d stake her life he was there now. She bit her bottom lip, her heart going out to him. Here she was, happy to be with the man she loved more than Alec, and Alec was alone and miserable.

  ‘He seems to have gone a bit loopy,’ Ben said.

  Emilia’s emotions were in confusion and she didn’t add anything to Ben’s comment, but suddenly she was afraid that it was true.

  Jonny was wandering around the show on his own, catching the eye of the single girls, putting a sparkle in the eye of women of all ages and status. He was happy to allow villagers to chat to him and question him about his life at university, but his mind was elsewhere, and not where he’d intended to be right now, in London. He broke away for a cigarette, not wanting his clean-living father to give him a lecture. He slipped behind the candyfloss stall. A girl was standing at a distance with her back to him but he took no notice of her.