by Nancy M Bell
Bella obeyed, closing her eyes and thinking hard about Gwin and how much she needed to see him.
“Gwin Scawen, Gwin Scawen, Gwin Scawen! If it pleases you to heed my plea, please favour us with your presence. Your friends Bella and Sarie would like to speak with you,” Sarie said the words in a singsong voice. She waited a few moments and then repeated the request twice more.
“Why Mistress Bella and Mistress Sarie, such a pleasure it is to see you both,” Gwin greeted them from atop the central standing stone. “What is it you wish to speak with me about that seems so serious?”
Sarie glanced meaningfully at Bella. “It’s your tale, Bella, you’d best be the one telling it.”
“Have you seen Vear? Is he well? I miss him so much. Can you tell him how much I love him?” The words poured out Bella in a torrent.
“Yes, middling, he missed you as well, and yes I will relay your message,” Gwin replied. “But surely, this muddle of questions is not what you called me forth for?”
“No … it’s well, just … you know Vear and I were … well … close?”
Gwin nodded and tapped his heels against the stone, tipping his head to one side.
“I’m carrying his child … I’m pregnant.”
“Oh my, oh dear.” Alarm and something else chased across his weathered face. “Oh dear, this is a problem.” He hopped down from the stone and paced back and forth muttering under his breath.
“What is it? Will this make things worse for the selkie?” Sarie fell into step with him.
“It shouldn’t happen, there’s no record of this happening. Not like this at any rate. There’s the ones who go to live on shore as humans, but they always return to the sea when they get the chance … childer do come from those marriages, so I suppose…. But oh, the selkie has been forbidden to have any dealings with the mortal … how does this fit into that? Oh dear, oh dear.”
“I want to tell him he’s going to be a da. Surely, the Council will allow me that small thing?” Bella bent down to the piskie’s level.
“No, I don’t think so. And think of the big black one. If he knew you were with child he’d kick over the traces and ignore all the geasa imposed on him. Nothing would keep him from being with you and, oh, dear, it would not go well with him, at all at all.”
“What do you mean?” Fear settled like a cold brick in her belly. “They’d kill him for breaking the bonds of honour placed on him?”
Gwin nodded. “Either them or the higher ones would exact their payment for his transgressions. This is more than I can handle. Come with me, I must ask the advice of one of the higher ones.” He set off across the grass toward the gate. “Hurry, this cannot wait.”
Exchanging a puzzled look with Sarie, Bella followed the little man out of the garden and into the pony field lined with hawthorn trees. The girls hurried across the rough meadow and down into the small ravine overgrown with bushes and saplings. The small stream that ran along the bottom splashed over the rocks. Gwin turned abruptly and followed the rill where it tumbled down the side of the ravine. After a steep climb they emerged into a small glade clinging to the side of the narrow valley. Ferns grew in profusion and even the air was tinted green under the canopy of leaves overhead. Gwin approached a small rock-lined pool and spoke a name Bella didn’t recognize. It had an odd ancient ring to it.
Sarie gasped beside her and Bella looked up from the still surface of the water. Standing on the flat stone bordering the pool was a tall, unearthly beautiful woman. Long silver blonde hair fell in a water fall about her face. The eyes fixed on Bella were the blue of the shallow waters around the Isles of Scilly, and at the same time the intense blue of an October sky. Her robes shimmered and moved though there was no breeze in the quiet glade.
“Lady Belisama,” Gwin whispered and bowed. “It’s honoured I am to be in your presence.”
“Well met, small one,” the lady replied and laid a hand on his head in blessing. “What is the reason for your summons?”
“There is a problem, a grave problem, and I have no answer. We need the counsel of one who is wise as yourself, and one who understands the ways of the heart,” Gwin told her.
“And what is this grave problem, Gwin Scawen? Have you been up to mischief again?” There were undertones of laughter in her silvery voice.
“Not me, oh no.” He shook his head so emphatically his cap flew off. “Her.” He pointed at Bella.
“So, daughter of Eve. What is this problem?”
“I’m in love with the selkie, Vear Du,” she began.
“I’m afraid I cannot help you with that, my dear.”
“That’s not exactly what the problem is, although that is how it came about.”
“What exactly is the problem then?” The lady smiled gently.
Bella hesitated, but couldn’t think of a delicate way to say it, so she just plunged right in. “I’m knocked up, and the selkie is the father.”
“That is a dilemma, my dear. I must say I did hear all the ruckus about Vear Du and a mortal. I had no idea I would actually meet you. What is it you three think I can do to help you?” A small frown creased her smooth ivory brow.
“Not help exactly,” Gwin spoke up. “More advice is needed. Mistress Bella here wishes to tell the selkie of her condition. You know the one in question as well as I do and how he will react to this somewhat surprising news. What is your counsel in this matter? Should Mistress Bella inform our friend or no?”
“Ah, yes. I see where you would not be in a position to guess how the Council would react to such news. I agree, the selkie would be headstrong and hotheaded about this.” She paused and her eyes took on a faraway unfocussed look. Finally, she shook her head and looked down at Bella. “I’m most afraid you will not like my counsel, dear child. I honestly can’t see how informing Vear Du of your condition could benefit either of you. He will still be bound by the geas imposed upon him, and as you must realize, you can never be together as a family. It is just not possible. You must understand that broadcasting this information would do far more harm than good. To both of you.”
“How could it be worse for me than it already is? The whole village will be gossiping about it by now,” Bella demanded, still not ready to give up her dream of some kind of life with Vear.
“Because, daughter of Eve, you are what you are and the fact you are impregnated by a magical creature such as the selkie will be certain to bring you much undue and unwanted attention from those creatures who will not have your best interests at heart, or those of you unborn offspring. The best advice I can give you is to find a nice mortal and convince him to marry you and take on the child as well.”
“But I don’t want anyone else, I want Vear,” Bella wailed. Tears splashed down on her blouse.
The lady gathered her in her arms and stroked her hair. “You are no longer a willful child, Arabella Elizabeth Angarrick. You must learn to think like a mother now, putting the best interest of your child above your own yearnings. It is time you grew up and took responsibility for your actions. It will be best for the child to not know the circumstances of his conception. It may be very hard to explain, and cause the young one unnecessary hurt. He must believe the man you marry is his father. Otherwise, he will always yearn for something he can never have.”
Bella nodded and hiccupped. “I don’t want to hurt Vear any more than he already is. If you really think the best thing is for him to never know he has a child with me then that is what I will do.”
“Be strong, child. Life never gives us more than we can bear, even though we don’t think it possible at the time. Now, I’ve tarried here too long and I must be going. Think on what I’ve said, and take the advice to heart. One thing I can offer you for comfort is this. The offspring produced by your rather unconventional union is a child born of water and earth. The gnomes and earth creatures along with the undines and water creatures will always watch and guard him.”
“Him, you said him. I’m having a boy?” Joy spiralled
through her. She pressed her hands to her belly where Vear’s son nestled beneath her heart.
“You are.” The lady smiled and laid her hands on Bella’s head. “You are thrice blessed. Go gently.” The air shimmered and the lady stepped sideways and out of sight.
“Well, you have your answer,” Sarie spoke for the first time. “What are you going to do with it?”
“I suppose I must do as she says.” Bella sighed. “Thank you, Gwin, for helping me and asking the lady for advice. Who was she, anyway?”
“She is Belisama, the Lady of the Spring. She’s an aspect of the Great Goddess, although this spring and glade are her primary concern. Once each spring and well had its own Lady, now only a few will interact with the world of men,” Gwin informed her.
“Shall we go back now and let Mum know what’s going on?” Sarie started back down the path. “She’ll be half mad with worry by now.”
“Of course. She’s been so kind to me, I don’t want to cause her any more trouble than I’ve already been.”
Chapter Nineteen
“I’m sorry for being so much trouble, Da.” Bella sat across the table in the kitchen of her father’s house.
“Aye, daughter. I’ve thought long and hard on this and asked the advice of Father Boyle. He has come up with what I think is a workable solution.” Barney’s rugged face worked and Bella suspected there were tears in his eyes. For once he didn’t smell of the drink and unless she missed her guess, he was stone cold sober.
“What did he suggest?” Bella was suspicious of the old priest.
“There is a gentleman in the colonies looking for a wife. Not a love match, but a partner to help him with the running of his ranch, and a companion.” He raised his hand when she would have spoken. “Let me finish, girl. You would be expected to fulfil your marital duties as a wife. Father Boyle assures me the man is kind and honourable. It’s a better match than you could hope to make here.”
“Where is this honourable man located? Scotland? Australia? I don’t even know his name and you’re wanting to marry me off to him,” she protested.
‘His name is D’Arcy Rowan and he lives in Canada in the province of Alberta. Father Boyle knows the priest of his parish who speaks well of the man. He owns a grand bit of land and has no shortage of brass. You could do much worse, my girl. I offered to pay your passage, but Mr. Rowan has kindly provided for you. If you are willing, passage will be booked for you on the Empress of Canada, leaving from Liverpool and arriving in St. John, New Brunswick on the east coast of Canada. From there you will be met and taken to a train where a berth will be reserved in your name which will take you across the country to the west. From what I hear it’s a grand big country.”
Bella’s head whirled. Leave Cornwall? Leave Penzance, and Sarie? Every instinct screamed its resistance to the idea. She gripped the table and willed the contents to stay in her stomach. “What about Raven? I can’t just leave her.” It was the only thing she could think of to say. How can I go that far away from Vear? Her heart cried the words she could never speak.
Barney cleared his throat. “I’ll sign her papers over to Missus Waters. She’ll take care of her and you can rest easy the mare will have a good home for the rest of her life.”
“Thank you for that, Da. I just don’t know … Canada? It might as well be the moon….”
“Ye have no better options, girl. This Mr. Rowan knows he’s getting a package deal, two for one, like.”
Heat suffused her face. The idea of some man she didn’t even know having knowledge of her shame was humiliating. “What did he think of that?” Memories of Daniel’s reaction made her cautious.
“Turns out your being in the family way suits him just fine. Figures it’s a head start on a family. The man is a bit older than you, but not old, if you catch my drift. Shall I tell Father Boyle to send the telegraph? Mr. Rowan won’t wait forever for your answer.”
“Give me a bit of time. I need to talk to Sarie,” Bella pleaded.
Barney glanced at the old clock on the mantel. “Ye’ve got an hour. That’s all.”
* * *
“What do you think, Sarie?” Bella gripped the receiver so tightly her knuckles hurt.
“I’m afraid I have to agree with your da. You could do a lot worse. If Father Boyle’s friend vouches for the man he must be an alright bloke. It sounds a great adventure, actually. Crossing the Atlantic on a ship and then riding the train across almost the whole of a country. Have you looked at an atlas? It’s vast, you could fit the whole of Britain in it more times than I can count.”
“That’s just it, Sarie. It’s so far away….”
“Which isn’t such a bad thing when you think about it. You have to forget about Vear, you and the selkie can never be. The farther away you are, the easier it will be to forget him.”
“I’ll never forget him!” she protested.
“Fine, then. But you have to get on with your life, and you have to think about how you’re going to provide for that son of yours. Your prospects here in Cornwall are zero to none. Your man Daniel has been yapping to anyone who will stand still long enough to listen. I’ll miss you like everything. But remember what the lady said, you have to be strong and do what you must for your baby.”
“I’m all sixes and sevens. But, I know you’re right. When I went down to the grocer’s yesterday people would hardly look at me, let alone talk to me. Old lady Penveen made the sign of the cross at me, like I was a demon or something.”
“Aye, I’ve heard talk, Bella. It will be safer for you and the babe to be gone from here. Daniel’s been giving out about the black devil who stole you from him at the cave out on Lamorna and spirited you away to perform unspeakable acts with you. I’m that scared for you, I am.”
“I suppose I have asked for all of this. I’ll ring off and go and tell Da to have Father Boyle send the telegram. You’re going to have to help me be strong, Sarie. I’m scared half to death just thinking about it.
“I’ll write to you every day. And we can ring each other at Christmas and birthdays.” Sarie’s voice caught on a sob.
Bella’s throat constricted with emotion. “I’ll miss you so much. I’ll write every day too.”
“Ring me when you’ve talked to Barney. How soon do you think you’ll be going?”
“I have no blooming idea. Once I get some info you’ll be the first to hear. I’m going to ring off now and go find Da. Bye, Sarie.”
“Bye for now, Bella.”
* * *
It seemed D’Arcy Rowan was anxious to have his new bride by his side. Father Boyle’s telegram was answered within the week with a wire transfer of money for Bella’s passage and instructions on what to expect when the ship docked in New Brunswick. Her head spun with all the hasty preparations to be made. She refused to take the wedding dress Mary had finished for her union with Daniel. Instead, the old seamstress produced a smart outfit that could be repurposed after the big day. Sarie and Bella packed two big steamer trunks with things Bella couldn’t leave behind. She was astonished at the amount of items that were left scattered about her room. Finally, everything was either donated or given away. Bella stood in the near empty room which had been her haven for as long as she could recall.
“It seems so strange to think that I’ll never wake up in this room again.”
“Well, now, maybe you’ll come to visit with your rancher husband, you never know,” Sarie said.
“That’s hardly likely. But it is a comforting thought, to think this isn’t goodbye forever.”
“Bella, it’s time to go,” Barney called from the bottom of the stairs.
She picked up her valise and pocket book. A smaller trunk with the things she would need on the journey waited outside the front door. The larger trunks had been sent on ahead and would be stowed in the hold of the ship and transferred to the train for her. A motor car and chauffer would take from St. John to the train terminal at Moncton. She wouldn’t have to lay a hand on them until she
arrived in some place by the strange name of Edmonton where she would transfer again to another train which would take her to Calgary. It was to be first class all the way and the man himself would meet her at Calgary. It seemed Mr. Rowan had thought of every comfort for his new bride. Bella patted the bulge in her pocketbook. It was more money than she’d ever seen in her life. A mix of English pounds and odd looking Dominion of Canada dollars. The tags on her luggage read First Class; she fingered them feeling like a grand lady. A stirring of excitement awoke as she went down the stairs for the last time. Da was waiting for her in the small entry way.
“It’s goodbye I guess, Arabella. Be sure to let me know when the nipper gets here. The car Mr. Rowan ordered is waiting to take you up to Liverpool. I can’t imagine the expense he’s gone to. You best make it worth his while, girl,” he said gruffly.
“I’ll do my best, Da. You take care of yourself, don’t be bending your elbow up at the Arms every night. I love you, Da”
“I love you too, daughter.”
“I’ll write as often as I can,” Bella promised.
“I’ll look forward to it.” Barney gave her a quick hug before turning away and blowing his nose. He lifted the small trunk in one hand and took it out to the waiting car.
Bella hugged Sarie and then hugged her again. “I just can’t make myself say goodbye,” she whispered.
“I know, but you’ve got to go.” Sarie hugged her and then extricated herself. “Go on, now. Your car’s waiting. Go on!”
Bella wiped her eyes and managed a watery smile. Not trusting herself to speak she hurried down the steps and climbed into the back seat. The driver closed the door and she waved as the vehicle pulled away from the only home she’d ever known.
Penzance faded into the distance and Bella tired of gazing out the window. On the seat beside her was a basket with a lunch and refreshments. When she had eaten her fill the activities of the past few days and the stress of leaving caught up with her. She pulled the rug provided over her lap and leaned her head against the window, closing her eyes.