by Linda Finlay
‘Celebrating?’ Caja squeaked, almost falling off the chair with excitement.
‘Indeed. Your husband has just given permission for me to ask for your daughter’s hand in marriage,’ he said, beaming so widely Colenso felt sick.
‘Course I did. All we has to do now is set the date. June be a really good month for a wedding,’ he declared, rubbing his hands together.
‘But I haven’t said anything yet,’ Colenso began.
‘Forgive me, my dear. We are being somewhat presumptuous. You wish for time to think?’ Fenton asked, although from his expression he clearly thought it a foregone conclusion.
‘I do,’ she replied, seizing on the excuse. ‘It’s a big decision and I would like to give it careful consideration,’ she added, smiling at him sweetly.
‘Now come on, Colenso, ’tis no good playing hard to get,’ Peder scowled. ‘Mr Fenton, er … Henry here ain’t got all day.’
‘On the contrary, I’m happy to wait until Colenso feels happy to accept. I, myself, shall be busy for the next two weeks showing Mr Quinn around the works and quarries.’
‘Our Colenso could act as hostess for you,’ Caja offered excitedly.
‘Had Colenso felt able to accept my proposal today then, I agree, that would have been an excellent idea. However, under the circumstances, it wouldn’t be right or proper.’
‘But …’ Peder began. ‘Say something,’ he growled, glaring at Colenso.
‘Now, Peder, this has obviously come as a wonderful surprise to your daughter. She needs time to take in her good fortune,’ Henry Fenton said magnanimously. He turned to Colenso, for once staring her in the face. ‘Of course, when you accept, my dear, you can consider your debt repaid in full.’
Seeing his triumphant grin, she was seized with the urge to slap it from his face. Clearly he’d planned this all along, she thought, clenching her fists at her side. Oblivious to her turmoil, he continued.
‘In the meantime, Mrs Grim can hang those beautiful drapes and covers you’ve made. Although of course, I shall be saving the principal bedroom cover for a special occasion.’ He gave Colenso a smirk, his meaning so obvious she had to turn away.
‘Ooh Colenso, did you hear that,’ Caja gasped. ‘Imagine it.’ She’d rather not, Colenso thought, her stomach threatening to bring back the little food she’d managed to force down.
‘Now, regrettably, with the owner arriving tomorrow, I have things to attend to. Thank you for coming and I shall see you on the evening of Sunday 3rd, my dear, when I trust you will have the right answer for me.’
‘But I can’t make that …’ she began, thinking of her date with Kitto.
‘Of course, she can, Mr Fenton,’ Caja interrupted, almost curtseying to him as she left. ‘Thank you for a splendid meal.’
‘Don’t worry, Mr Fenton, sir. I’ll see Colenso gives you the right answer. She’s a good girl really.’
‘Not too good, I hope,’ he chortled. ‘Until the 3rd, my dear. The evenings are lighter now, so we can revisit that nice hotel to celebrate.’ He rang the bell, only for the housekeeper to appear immediately. From her expression it was clear she’d been listening to their conversation. ‘My guests are just leaving,’ he told her.
‘About time too, coming in here traipsing mud all down me clean floors,’ she muttered, leading them back down the hallway. With a sniff, she grudgingly took their outer garments from the big carved stand and held them out at arm’s length.
‘Wait till you has to iron me shirts as well,’ Peder hissed.
It was pouring with rain outside but the wet didn’t do anything to cool Peder’s temper. As soon as the trap moved away he turned to her and shook his fist.
‘Stupid idiot,’ he raged. ‘Didn’t I tell you to say yes when he proposed?’
‘You’ve let us down good and proper,’ Caja wailed. ‘To think, at this very moment, we could have been planning your wedding. And you could have been entertaining Mr Fenton’s important guest.’
‘Yes, and I would have been invited to dine with the owner of the works,’ Peder growled.
‘Well, he’s been spared the embarrassment of your dreadful table manners,’ Colenso retorted. Tired and overwrought, she’d had more than enough for one afternoon.
‘Why, you …’ he began, his hand going to his belt.
‘Leave it, Father,’ Caja cautioned. ‘Colenso’s a good girl. She’ll do the right thing and accept.’
‘She’d better,’ Peder grunted. ‘But in the meantime, you’re to spend your days learning to cook proper dishes. And I mean proper. No more guts of a gudderin gaverick. I want roast beef and all the trimmings like we had today.’
‘Then you’d better pay for it instead of squandering your money in the alehouse,’ she cried.
‘Money won’t be a problem when you accepts. We’ll have all we need, your mamm and I, soon as you wed,’ he boasted.
‘What do you mean?’ Colenso frowned.
‘Promised us a lump sum for you, Fenton has. One of them dury things,’ he grinned.
‘Dury? You mean dowry, Father,’ she told him. ‘But you’ve got it the wrong way round. It’s the father who pays the dowry.’
‘Not this time,’ Peder boasted, rubbing his hands together gleefully. ‘And I stood out for me pound of flesh, what with you being built sturdy, like.’
‘What? You mean you’re selling me, your own daughter?’ she spluttered, staring at him incredulously.
‘Always knew you’d come in useful for som’at.’
Just then, the trap lurched as it rounded the bend towards Cadgwith. Unable to take any more, Colenso leapt down.
‘Where the ’ell do you think you’re going?’ Peder bellowed. ‘I ain’t finished yet.’ But ignoring both him and the sheeting rain, she ran towards Mammwynn’s final resting place.
‘Oh Mammwynn, you’ll never guess what’s happened,’ she cried, throwing herself down on the wet grass. The rowans rustled and, knowing her grandmother was listening, she poured out her tale of woe.
‘To think Father intends selling me. Well, I won’t marry that man, I won’t,’ she cried. The rowans rustled as if in agreement. ‘I knew you’d understand,’ she told them, feeling calmer. ‘The question is what do I do now?’ The necklace pricked her, gently this time and she sat back on her heels and looked around.
In the weeks since she’d last been here the little patch had sprung to life. Herbs and flowers were beginning to flourish, along with the weeds that were threatening to choke them. Heedless of her bare hands, she began tugging at their roots. She worked until the plants were free and, as she did, she found her mind working too. Of course, she cried, jumping to her feet. All I have to do is play along with Father until Kitto returns. Then I’ll meet him at the fair and tell him what’s been going on. The necklace pricked gently again and she knew she’d made the right decision.
‘Thanks, Mammwynn,’ she cried. ‘I can’t tell you how much better I feel.’ As the rowans rustled in reply, she smiled properly for the first time that day.
With the rain having eased, she removed her turnover but kept on her gloves and began picking the tops off the new nettles. As well as making more unguent, she’d make nettle soup for the next day’s supper. After all, her father had told her to spend her time cooking something different, hadn’t he? she thought, grinning down at her laden shawl.
✳
An uneasy truce existed in the cottage as Colenso skirted round her father, meekly doing as she was told. In turn Peder, thinking he’d won, was trying his hardest to be nice to her.
‘We only want what’s best for you, Colenso,’ he murmured over supper the next evening. He took a mouthful of the soup and she tried not to laugh as he grimaced.
‘I know, Father, and I listened to what you said and spent today making this soup. Apparently, it’s the very thing to serve at dinner parties,’ she told him, crossing her fingers in her lap.
‘Oh, er, very nice, yes,’ he muttered, forcing down another spoo
nful. ‘Cors, when you weds Fenton, your mother will have a fancy kitchen to cook in too.’
‘Will you, Mamm?’ Colenso frowned, wondering what was coming next.
‘I will cos that nice Mr Fenton’s promised me a lovely new home,’ she beamed. ‘Can’t say I’ll be sorry to leave this place,’ she added, staring at the damp walls that had needed lime washing for years, the broken furniture and remains of her crockery set. ‘Might even get some new dishes.’
‘You can have all you want, Caja dear,’ Peder offered, waving his hands expansively. ‘When I’m the caretaker of that fancy new showroom, I shall need a smart house to come home to.’
‘Caretaker?’ Colenso cried.
‘Oh, didn’t I tell you? As well as one of them dury things, Mr Fenton is setting us up in a nice new cottage down by the works and giving me a promotion too. Seen how important I am to him,’ he bragged, puffing out his chest as was becoming a habit. ‘So you wedding him is the best thing for all of us.’
Seeing his excited face, Colenso almost felt sorry for the disappointment he had coming to him. But then she thought of the way he’d had no qualms about selling her, and hardened her heart.
‘Glad you enjoyed it, Father. You were right about me needing to expand my cooking repertoire so if it’s all right with you, I’ll wander up to Mammwynn’s plot tomorrow and gather some more Alexanders. They’ll go nicely with a parsley sauce.’ She looked at him expectantly.
‘Very well. I’m glad you’re taking this cooking seriously. As well as all your feminine wiles, the best way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. That drop of green stuff was very, er, interesting but needed more salt,’ he said, getting to his feet. ‘Now, I’ve an important meeting to go to.’
She helped her mamm clear away then stealing up to her room, she snatched up the tassel of bright red threads she’d so carefully counted and knotted together. It was growing gratifyingly thinner she noticed, as with trembling hands she removed another one. Only eleven remained. Eleven days and then she’d see Kitto again. Her heart raced at the thought of his treacle eyes lighting up when he took her in his arms. As long as she managed to keep up this farce with her father, all would be well. The alternative didn’t bear thinking about.
Quickly she undressed and climbed under the covers. Fenton could keep his fancy velvets, all she needed was Kitto to keep her warm. Cradling the polished heart to her chest, she closed her eyes and dreamed of the time she could marry the man she loved. Having worked on all that red, green and gold fabric, she knew the colours she wouldn’t be using for their handfasting ties.
Chapter 13
The day of the Cuckoo Fest dawned at last. Heart racing, yet trying to act normally, Colenso went downstairs to find her mamm, bag in hand, about to leave the cottage.
‘Ah, there you are. Why, you look positively blooming,’ she cried. ‘Don’t our Colenso look radiant, Father? Still, it is an exciting day, isn’t it?’
‘It certainly is,’ Colenso replied truthfully, turning away as her father gave her a searching look.
‘Well, must go,’ Caja continued, oblivious. ‘One of them fair people’s sons got his leg caught under a wheel when they were setting up in farmer John’s field last night. The father’s waiting outside to show me to their van.’
‘Not having no travellers in here,’ Peder growled. ‘Don’t know where they’ve been or what they’re carrying. If it were up to me …’
‘Well, it isn’t,’ Caja said, interrupting his mutterings. ‘Don’t worry, Colenso, I’ve a fair few patients to see today but I’ll be back in plenty of time to help you get ready for when Mr Fenton comes. In the meantime, heat some water, take a bath, wash your hair. You should know the drill by now,’ she laughed.
‘Soon as she accepts that proposal, you can stop running round after other people, especially gyp …’ but he was talking to thin air for Caja had already left, the door clattering shut behind her.
‘Didn’t you say you had to work extra hours today, Father?’ Colenso asked as he continued sitting in his chair staring at her.
‘Yep, Fenton wants to prove to that Mr Quinn how prosperous his works are. Still, he ain’t likely to tell off his prospective father-in-law, now, is he?’ he chuckled.
‘I suppose not,’ she gulped.
‘Suppose you’ll need all day titty whatsin to look your best. Though I has to say your mamm’s right, you do have a kind of glow about you this morning. Excited, are you?’ he asked, studying her closely. Feeling her face growing hot, Colenso turned away and began clearing their breakfast things from the table. He watched for a moment then shrugged and got to his feet. ‘Well, best be off and check the men aren’t takin’ flippin’ liberties. Wait ’til I’m promoted, they won’t know what’s hit them. Don’t worry, I’ll be home early to greet Mr Fenton properly when he calls.’
‘Oh,’ Colenso muttered, her heart sinking like a stone. Her father frowned.
‘Look at me when I’m talking to you, maid,’ he ordered. Reluctantly, she did as he said. ‘That’s better. I’ll be checking you looks your best when I gets back, so make sure you take that bloomin’ netting off yer top or I’ll be doing it for you. Understand?’ Wishing he’d hurry up and go, she nodded quickly and with a final searching look, he snatched up his cap.
As the door slammed behind him, Colenso let out a long whoop of delight. Excited at the thought of seeing Kitto, she wasn’t sure she could have kept up the Ferret farce in front of her father any longer.
Then reality hit her like a bucket of iced water. She’d planned to make her way to the fair before her father left work, but if he was coming home early, how was she going to avoid him? Sinking into a chair, she pondered her problem. Finally deciding there was only one way to solve it, she spent the morning titty whatsin as her father called it, enjoying the luxury of having the cottage to herself.
Feeling refreshed and knowing it would be hours before she ate again, she helped herself to a portion of salted pilchards from the earthenware bussa and sat down at the table to enjoy them with a heel of bread. How wonderful it would be when Kitto and she had their own home and they could dine together like this, she mused.
Kitto. She’d need to leave shortly if she were to evade her father. Running upstairs, she dressed in her Sunday best and tied her hair back with the yellow ribbon that matched her blouse. Then leaving the fancy silk top in the closet, she bundled up her few remaining things and hurried back down. Breathing a sigh of relief that her mamm was still out, she opened the front door and bumped straight into her father.
‘Oh,’ she cried.
‘I knew you was up to som’at,’ he snarled, pushing her back inside. ‘Thought you’d do a runner while my back was turned, did you?’ Snatching the bundle from her, he threw it across the room. He was obviously drunk as like some demented demon, he advanced, towering over her, his eyes red with rage. ‘Should have guessed, when I saw that rat Rowse getting off the boat earlier.’ So Kitto was back. Despite her father’s ranting, her heart sang with happiness.
‘You’re marrying Fenton, Colenso Carne, and that’s final. Do you hear me?’ he growled, jabbing his finger at her. Suddenly, she felt something snap inside her and all the frustration of the last weeks came flooding out.
‘I am not marrying Fenton, Father, and you can’t make me,’ she shouted.
‘Really? Well, we’ll see about that,’ he hissed, forcing her back until she fell into the chair. Deftly he removed his belt, snapping the leather straps together. She put up her arms to protect herself but instead of lashing out, he caught hold of her hands and bound them tightly together.
‘A fine sight I’ll look when Fenton arrives,’ she said, bravado masking her fear.
‘Ah, but he ain’t coming till tomorrow now as that Mr Quinn’s still there.’ Thank heavens for small mercies, Colenso thought, but his next words sent shivers of panic down her spine. ‘And as I said how distressed you’d be, he loaned me his trap to come home. So, maid, we’ll take a
little trip, you and me. I know the very place to make you see sense.’
Taking a bottle from his pocket, he sprinkled liquid on his grimy kerchief and held it to her face. She caught a whiff of something bitter before her senses began to swim. Vaguely she was aware of being pulled to her feet and pushed outside. As the fresh air revived her, she tried to lash out but her limbs wouldn’t work. There was that smell again, then a harsh laugh. Her father’s? She couldn’t be sure, for she was feeling woozy once more. Then she was tossed in the air, landing with a thump on a hard surface and everything went black.
‘Wake up, you good-for-nothing wench.’ Her father’s voice sounded as if it was coming from far away. She blinked, the light hurting her eyes as she felt herself being dragged off the back of the cart and falling to the ground. ‘On your feet,’ he growled. He grabbed her arm and she felt herself being frogmarched along a dark tunnel towards a speck of light. There was the smell of damp and she heard the crashing of waves, distant at first but growing ever nearer. Then she was squinting in the daylight, could feel fresh air on her face, smell the tang of salt.
As he started to untie the leather belt from her hands, she felt a glimmer of hope that was dashed when, with a manic laugh, her father thrust her arms behind her back and she felt them being tied again with ropes. Although she wasn’t fully conscious, the necklace began digging into her chest and she knew she was in danger.
‘Nothing like a dose of dread to concentrate the mind,’ her father hooted, thrusting his florid face in front of hers. ‘Now, I’ll leave you to have a good think. Be back for your answer when the tides turns. You’d better make sure it’s the right one or …’ he shrugged and gestured to the crashing waves. ‘Your life depends on it, Colenso, as does our future.’ With a mocking wave, he turned and walked away. Moments later he’d disappeared back into the tunnel, which she vaguely recognized as part of the underground warrens that ran from Grade down to this trig. Once used for collecting limpets at low tide, the caves were now commandeered by smugglers for storing their booty.