‘But growing fast, as you say. Yes, it’s right to think of her future.’
‘She’ll certainly need some decent dresses in the very near future. She’s no better dressed than the Negro children at the moment. Flemintina doesn’t care about these things. She fusses over the child and means well, of course. But she’s just not capable of understanding everything that a young lady of quality will need, far less provide her with them.’
Harding did not reply but she knew she had given him something to think about and she was secretly elated. He was thinking of how much more useful and necessary his wife was to him than he’d realised.
They made arrangements to travel to the settlement and within a couple of days had set off through the forest taking Lottie, Flemintina, Joseph and Westminster with them.
It was for the most part quite a pleasant journey with Harding and herself riding companionably in front. Flemintina and Lottie were in the carriage driven by Joseph with Westminster sitting beside him, toting a gun on his lap.
They didn’t talk much, but then they never had. As they neared the settlement, however, and Widow Shoozie’s tavern came into sight, Harding said,
‘Gav will be pleased to see Lottie. He seems fond of children.’
‘Yes, he will be happy for my sake too. I will take her straight to the store.’
Harding laughed.
‘I think it would be wiser to settle in at the tavern first and have a wash and change our linen.’
‘Yes, you’re right. Lottie will be too tired after the journey. Anyway,’ she continued, ‘I must concentrate on my shopping. That’s what I came for and that’s what I must attend to first. Plenty of time later to socialise with Gav and Abigail.’
As it turned out, the child was so tired she fell asleep as soon as her head touched one of Widow Shoozie’s pillows. They left her in Flemintina’s charge and, after freshening up, they rode the rest of the way along the path to the clearing and the settlement.
Regina felt a thrill of happiness. She enjoyed so much having him to herself.
‘I see there’s some ships in,’ Harding remarked. ‘That looks like the Mary Heron and there’s the Speedwell. I can’t see the name on the frigate.’
Dismounting in front of the store, they tied their horses to the hitching post. Harding said,
‘I think I’ll take a stroll down to the wharf. I see a few planter friends there I might have a word with. You go ahead. I’ll see you later.’
She nodded agreement and left him to enter the store. She had only taken a few paces inside when she stopped in surprise. There, over at the counter, talking together in between rummaging through a box of ribbons were two women, one in a plum-coloured gown with gloves of cream lace and matching lace at her elbows and bosom. Gold earrings dangled from her ears. The other woman was radiant in a turquoise taffeta hoop and silver quilted petticoat. Her hair was powdered and she was wearing face patches but there was no mistaking Mistress Annabella. The other woman was Nancy.
Regina hesitated. She had no particular wish to speak to either of them. Instinctively she shrank from social contacts. All the same, she realised that they were the only friends or acquaintances she had and in the light of what she had been saying to Harding, they could prove useful. Eventually she forced herself to approach the two women and when they noticed her, she gave a polite curtsy.
‘Mistress Nancy. Mistress Annabella.’
Annabella was the first to greet her.
‘Why, Regina! You are looking well. How has life been treating you? Do tell us all your news.’
‘I have been married to Mr Harding since he was widowed and we have a daughter called Lottie.’
‘Oh, good gracious alive!’ Annabella giggled behind her fan. ‘I hope you are able to manage him. I have never met such a stubborn man. Nor a …’ She suddenly snapped her fan shut and rapped it against her lips in mock reprimand. ‘I shall say no more. I dare swear you know Mr Harding well enough.’
‘Indeed I do,’ Regina said. ‘Are you back to stay for good?’
‘You’ll never guess,’ Nancy interrupted in her husky, amused voice. ‘We’re sisters! Or at least half-sisters. We’ve just found out. And she has fallen heir to the Cunningham plantation. I’m staying with her there now. We just sailed here today from the plantation to do some shopping. The plantation has it’s own wharf and its own boat and we journey here whenever we take the fancy. There’s everything at the plantation. You should see it.’
‘Mungo’s enjoying it,’ Annabella said. ‘Especially his visits to the settlement.’
‘So you are staying,’ Regina addressed Annabella again.
Annabella shrugged.
‘It depends on Papa. I’m not sure what’s happening yet. I don’t want to stay. I have a wondrously handsome mansion at home in Glasgow.’
Just then a little boy joined them.
‘May I watch the cockfight in front of the gaol, Mama?’ he inquired politely.
Annabella flounced round, skirts rustling and swaying.
‘Yes, yes.’ She shooed him away with a flurry of lace at her elbows. ‘On you go, do!’
But it was not before Regina was able to have a good look at the child and recognise without a doubt that he was Harding’s son.
14
NANCY murmured in a low voice to Annabella, ‘I told you there was a resemblance, but you wouldn’t believe me.’
Regina had gone a deathly white and Annabella pattered over in a shimmer of billowing turquoise and silver to offer her a chair. Ignoring it, Regina remained stiffly erect, although her whole world and all her plans had disintegrated. Nothing mattered any more except the fact that Harding had a son. If he found out about the boy he would make a will and leave Forest Hall to him. He would not care about her. And there would be nothing she could do. He could even bring the boy into the house now and there would be nothing she could do. She felt like an animal. All thought, all instinct now concentrated on survival. She had a vague impression of Annabella’s voice trying to carry on a light, bright conversation as if nothing was amiss but she ignored it too.
Eventually Annabella gasped,
‘Lord’s sake, why should you look as if you’ve been struck by a thunderbolt? It happened a long time ago and against my will, I might add. I was mightily distressed and angry at first but, losh and lovenendie, it does nobody any good to nurse vengeful thoughts. Forgive and forget, that’s always been my motto and it’s one I recommend to you.’
‘He doesn’t know,’ Regina said, half to herself.
‘Oh, good gracious alive, I dread to think what Mr Harding would have been like if he had.’ Annabella’s eyes sparkled roguishly and she made elegant, fluttering movements with her fan. ‘He pursued me with prodigious stubbornness as it was. I dare swear I could have been Mrs Harding now had I wanted to, but I did not.’
‘He mustn’t see the boy.’
‘Huh!’ Annabella flicked a glance heavenwards. ‘He would be the last one to notice a resemblance. Forgive me for being so blunt but I have always regarded Mr Harding as the most insensitive and unperceptive of men.’
‘He is sensitive enough to his daughter. He dotes on the child.’
‘Indeed!’ Annabella arched amused brows. ‘Well, well!’
Nancy eyed her cautiously.
‘Maybe Regina’s right. That man has always meant trouble. He might try to take Mungo from you if he found out.’
‘Pooh! He wouldn’t dare. I’d soon send him away with a flea in his ear.’
Annabella laughed, then with hoops rustling and seesawing, she turned back to the ribbon box. ‘There, I have chosen mine. Have you enough there, Nancy? Regina, are you purchasing any ribbons? There are some wondrously pretty ones here.’
Regina’s face hardened. How typical of this spoiled madam to think only of ribbons at a time like this. Blindly she fumbled in her reticule for the list of items she had prepared before leaving Forest Hall.
‘Ah,’ cried Annabella,
noticing, ‘you have a list. How well you are organised. Sometimes I write one,’ she giggled, ‘and then when I reach the store I cannot remember where I have put it.’
‘Regina was always conscientious,’ Nancy said. ‘I used to tell you. Slow but determined. Painstaking in her efforts, I used to say.’
‘So you did!’ Annabella’s merriment defied the sombre shadows of the store. ‘And haven’t your efforts been successful, Regina? Gracious heavens, fancy you being mistress of Forest Hall!’ Suddenly she rapped her fan against the counter and called loudly,
‘Boy! You are keeping ladies waiting.’ Then turning to Nancy, ‘Is there anything else you need while we are here?’
‘I cannot afford any more.’
‘Fiddlesticks, let Papa pay.’
Nancy groaned and rolled her eyes.
‘How many times must I tell you? I want nothing from your Papa.’
‘Your Papa, too.’
‘I have a husband now and I’m quite content to let him provide for me. He makes a comfortable living from the farm.’
‘Fiddlesticks and poppycock! You and Morgan must stay on at the Cunningham place. It’s much more comfortable.’
‘Annabella!’
‘Ah, here is the young fellow to serve us at last.’ Annabella tossed a heap of ribbons across the counter at him. ‘We shall have those. Wrap them up at once, sir.’
‘I think,’ said Regina, ‘I will just give my list to my brother to attend to.’
‘Ah, yes, Gav,’ Annabella said. ‘I believe Papa is well pleased with him. You are a fine pair indeed. By all accounts your brother is prodigiously conscientious too. Papa is upstairs in the counting house talking to him now.’
Regina lowered her eyes.
‘Oh! Then I shall wait until he has gone.’
‘Why, for God’s sake? You are not his servant now. You must join us on the boat for a dish of tea and a gossip after you have attended to your business.’
‘My husband will wonder where I am.’
Annabella fluttered up her hands.
‘Bring him along, do.’
Annabella’s flippant attitude troubled Regina. How could the stupid woman be so blind? It was vitally urgent to keep Harding away from the settlement now. She could not understand how Annabella was not able to see how desperately important this was. Regina’s peace of mind, her well-being, her safety, her very existence, she believed, depended on keeping Harding as far away as possible.
‘What about your son?’
Annabella dabbed daintily at one of her face patches.
‘Heavens above, Regina. You haven’t changed. You’re still monstrously long-visaged and intense. If it will ease you, I will instruct Big John and Betsy to take him picnicking and swimming down by the creek.’
‘Thank you. Now, if you will excuse me.’
They all curtsied nicely.
‘You will pay us a call then?’ Annabella’s blue eyes twinkled over her fan.
‘If my husband is agreeable,’ Regina murmured, then escaped from the dark store into the bright sunlight with as much dignity as she was able.
She had no intention of even mentioning to Harding that she’d seen Annabella. Her heart thumped painfully in her chest. Her mouth and throat were parched, her hands clammy. For a few minutes she stood in the brassy heat inwardly confused, not knowing what to do. Never before had she felt so alone. Nor was it the aloneness that gave her peace and strength but a vulnerability, a helplessness.
She thought it unwise to interrupt Gav if he was talking business with Mr Ramsay so she just stood, gazing around, wondering where else she could go. The sun glittered on the river making it wink and flash like blue diamonds. The wharf was untidy with hogsheads and jostling with Negroes and sailors, unloading one of the ships. Groups of planters stood around gossiping, though there was no sign of Harding. Arching round from the river, making the shape of a slice of melon, was the giant wall of the dense primeval forest, its edges dappled with sunlight and twittering with birds. Contained between the water and the trees, the log buildings and the bald earth of the settlement hardened with heat. Cabin doors lay wide open and shadowy movement could be seen inside as housewives flitted about attending to their duties. Outside children squatted and tumbled in the dust. A crowd of men and boys had gathered in the clearing in front of the jailhouse. From the crowd came excited shouts mingled with squawks and screeches that echoed clear as bells high into the air and all around. Above everything the blazing sun sent blinding yellow flashes from a vast sky of flawless, brilliant blue.
In desperation, Regina made for Gav’s house. At least she could wait there until Annabella and Nancy were clear of the store. Then she could return and make her purchases and perhaps also see Gav.
Abigail greeted her with polite words of welcome that did not reflect in her eyes or even in the hint of a smile.
‘Gav is across at the counting house.’
‘I know, but he is engaged with Mr Ramsay at the moment. I mean to return to the store in a few minutes.’
‘Sit down,’ Abigail said. ‘Can I offer you a cup of tea?’
Thankfully Regina took a seat and plucking her fan from her reticule she flapped it in front of her face.
‘Yes, it might help revive me. This heat is damnable. Mr Harding hasn’t called here by any chance?’
‘No, I haven’t seen him.’
‘Oh, God!’ She hadn’t meant the words to escape and when she heard them she lowered her eyes and flushed with annoyance at herself.
Abigail stared at her, looked as if she was going to speak, then decided just to make the tea instead. She placed a cupful in front of Regina. At first Regina didn’t notice. Her mind had wandered away down confused, distracted paths.
‘Your tea,’ Abigail said for the second time.
‘Oh! Oh, yes.’
‘Is there anything wrong?’
‘Wrong?’ Regina’s expression turned wary. ‘Why should there be anything wrong?’
‘You look anxious and worried.’
‘I’m perfectly all right.’
Abigail shrugged and Regina added,
‘The heat is very trying, of course. It always seems hotter here than anywhere else. I shall be glad to get back to Forest Hall.’ She sipped at the tea. ‘I have a daughter now. Her name is Charlotte. We call her Lottie.’
‘Oh?’ Interest flickered in Abigail’s face. ‘I’d like to see her. I’m sure Gav will too.’
‘I left her sleeping in the tavern. Flemintina, one of our slaves, is looking after her.’
‘It’ll be cooler there.’
‘Yes.’
In the awkward silence that followed, Regina drained her cup, then rose.
‘Thank you for the tea. I’d better go and see Gav now. I have a list of articles I want him to send to Glasgow for.’
Abigail followed her to the door.
‘I like your gown.’
Regina glanced down at the bottle-green silk hoop she was wearing with its fawn embroidered petticoat.
‘I wondered about the darkness of the colour.’
‘It suits you.’
Regina looked up to see if there was any malice in Abigail’s plain features but could detect none.
‘With your vivid hair and eyes,’ her sister-in-law went on, ‘you don’t need to bother about wearing vivid colours.’
‘Come to the tavern tomorrow morning with Gav if you want to see Lottie before we return.’
‘Yes, all right.’
Abigail stood in the doorway watching Regina sweep away, dust hazing behind her, until she disappeared round the side of the store.
Upstairs in the counting house Gav was alone. He had just had a long meeting with Mr Ramsay. It had not been the first and he’d gathered that Ramsay had talked with Mr Speckles too and many of his planter customers. It had been obvious to Gav from the moment that Ramsay arrived that he was not pleased with Mr Speckles, and had already received complaints and reports from customers.
Gav could not deny that Mr Speckles was spending too much time drinking. Ramsay had seen that the manager was missing from the counting house and, despite Gav’s evasions about his whereabouts, Ramsay had soon found him flopped helplessly over a table in the tavern.
‘He’s suffering very poor health, Mr Ramsay,’ Gav tried to explain. ‘That’s why he’s taken to drinking so much. He never used to be like that. When I came here first he was most conscientious.’
‘The state of his health is no concern o’ mine, Gav,’ Ramsay growled. ‘The fact o’ the matter is he’s no’ doing the job I pay him to do. You’re doing it.’
‘I’m not complaining, Mr Ramsay.’
‘Aye, but plenty other folk are. They say the man’s nothing but an embarrassment and a nuisance. They say you should be manager, Gav, and I’m inclined to agree with them. You’ve served me well, lad. Just like I always knew you would.’
‘I like it here. I have a good life.’
‘You’ve made a good life for yourself, Gav. You’ve worked hard and it’s time you were rewarded.’
He was naturally pleased and proud at Mr Ramsay’s decision to make him the official store manager. But it was a wretched situation, too, for it meant that Mr Speckles had to be sacked. Ramsay had gone to seek Mr Speckles out and tell him. Mr Ramsay had quite rightly said:
‘There’s no use me leaving word for him to come and see me. The man would never be sober enough to make the effort.’
The Tobacco Lords Trilogy Page 78