Ben shook his head decisively. ‘No. My answer is still the same. Matt sent this for you, not for me.’
‘What about our Morwen, then? She’d benefit by the money, and if you don’t take it, what’s to happen to the clay works?’ Hal was on safer ground now. ‘You’ll be putting a lot o’ families to hardship if the clayworkers have no jobs.’
‘Don’t bring me into it, Daddy,’ Morwen said quickly. ‘I’m touched that you and Mammie want to help, but it must be Ben’s decision, and whatever he says is right by me.’
‘You weren’t so backward in coming forward when you stood up for un in court!’
That was different. This was Ben’s pride at stake. She could see it as clearly as Richard Carrick, if her generous and loving family could not.
Richard cleared his throat. ‘May I make a suggestion to you all? Mr Tremayne, you mentioned investing your money in Killigrew Clay. I know that this has been your life for many years, and indeed for all your family, so I think this is by far the best idea, rather than give it as an outright gift to Ben. I could make all the necessary arrangements so that Ben would have access to the money immediately, and you would also reap dividends, of course.’
Hal was ready to agree to anything. The lawyer made it all sound feasible, but the thought of such a large sum of money began to feel like a millstone around his neck, and he was already wondering how rich folk coped with the responsibility of it all.
And if Matt could send them a sum to make Ben and Richard Carrick treat the matter so seriously, then how much was Matt really worth? It was something beyond Hal’s imagination.
‘I have a better proposition.’ Ben spoke before Hal could do more than nod his head. His voice was clear-cut, forcing them all to listen. ‘No family has been closer to me over the years than the Tremaynes. You’ve been my best pit captain, and now my trusted Works Manager. But it’s more than that. We’re bound together by love and respect. Because of that, there’s only one way I would accept your investment in Killigrew Clay, Hal, and that is for you to become my partner.’
Morwen gasped with delight, hugging Ben’s arm. The solution was so simple, and so beautifully obvious. Ben’s pride would be saved, and Hal would have security for his lifetime. He sank back against the sofa while he digested this undreamed-of idea.
‘As your legal adviser, I must say it’s a fine offer, Mr Tremayne. Whether Ben would want the name of the Works changed or not is another matter—’ Richard put in helpfully.
‘No!’
Hal and Ben spoke simultaneously, but it was Hal who got the words out first.
‘I’ve worked for Killigrew Clay all my life, and God willing, ’twill still be Killigrew Clay when I die! Mr Charles wouldn’t have it any other way, and no more would I. As to this partner business – I thank’ee, Ben, but I’m more than happy the way I am—’
The Tremayne women decided spontaneously that it was time to stop these dithering men from walking on tip-toe all around one another, when the way was so clear to them.
‘Daddy, if you turn this offer down, you’re a fool!’ Morwen said explosively, her eyes blazing down at him.
Bess turned to him at the same moment. ‘For pity’s sake, dar, is the fact that you’m a partner in Killigrew Clay going to stop ’ee being Works Manager? Who’s to know of it if we don’t tell ’em?’
‘That’s right!’ Morwen stormed on. ‘Mr Carrick himself was a silent partner in Killigrew Clay for years, and since this is so important to us all, I hope he’ll forgive me for telling ’ee so. Is there any reason why Daddy can’t be the same, Ben, and carry on with his Works Managing job, if ’tis what he wants?’
Ben shook his head. ‘No reason at all, if that’s what you’d prefer, Hal. We haven’t heard from you on this yet.’
Hal got to his feet. He was nothing if not his own man, and not his son-in-law nor the educated lawyer, nor his own two womenfolk were going to decide it for him.
‘What I say is that we all sleep on it. You may regret this offer tomorrow, Ben, and me and Bess have got to talk it over by ourselves without our Morwen trying to twist me around her finger. I’m happy enough to give ’ee the money and be done with it—’
‘And I flatly refuse to take it unless you become my legal partner, and take on whatever job you like to our mutual agreement,’ Ben retorted.
Richard cleared his throat again. These clay folk were among the most cantankerous and strong-willed of people, and he most definitely included Ben Killigrew in that description. But he couldn’t deny that he had a deep and abiding respect for every one of them in that elegant drawing-room.
‘Then may I suggest that we all give it serious thought and meet here again tomorrow, if that suits you, Ben? Does your own business need discussion today, or can that wait as well? This has taken rather longer than I imagined.’
‘My business can wait,’ Ben said shortly, realising as he said it that his interview with the lawyer now depended on the outcome of Hal Tremayne’s decision.
* * *
Hal and Bess were very quiet on the way home to the little house. As if by mutual agreement, they said nothing about their new status until they were safely indoors and alone.
‘Well, dar.’ Hal felt suddenly awkward, because they had never had such things to consider before now.
In the early days, they had been as poor as any other large family, when Hal had been the only breadwinner while Bess had the children. Then she, too, had worked for Killigrew Clay as a bal maiden, taking along each child in turn to work for the bosses in St Austell.
If anyone had said then how their fortunes would have changed, they would have laughed in total disbelief. But it was something that had to be faced. Money had come their way, and with it, the offer for Hal to be Ben Killigrew’s partner.
Bess’s mouth began to twitch. It was all so ridiculous, so impossible, so unbelievable…
Before she could stop herself, her shoulders had begun to shake, and the laughter was churning inside her, as much of a release as the tears of joy she had shed earlier, when she had first seen her beloved Matt’s letter.
‘Well, dar!’ she gasped. ‘How do ’ee fancy being a partner, then? Will ’ee swank about the town on Sundays and ride in a fancy carriage, and expect me to call ’ee Sir?’
He looked startled for a moment, then he caught her reckless mood, and swung her into his arms.
‘And will ’ee be my lady and dress in fine silk gowns instead of sewing ’em for others, and enjoy hearing other folks call ’ee Madam?’
They laughed in sudden glee like a pair of children, and just as suddenly the laughter died as they faced one another, arms still holding each other tight, chests heaving.
‘Is it right for me to do this, Bess? You’m the wise un between us. Tell me what ’ee think truthfully. I’d gladly give Ben the money and be done with all the fuss, but would our Matt want it that way?’
She looked at him with love softening her eyes; he was as dear to her as he had ever been.
‘I think our Matt ’ould be mighty proud of ’ee, dar.’
‘So you think I should accept this idea?’ He still wanted to hear her say it, to boost his own uncertainty.
Bess drew him down beside her on their own modest sofa. At that moment the comfortable piece of furniture seemed to epitomise their position. It was grander than the old wooden settle they had left behind at the cottage; nothing like as grand as that at Killigrew House. They were somewhere between the two, and it was where they belonged.
‘Hal, I’m thinking ’tis for the best. ’Twill be of help to Ben, whatever name you give yourself at the Works. But perhaps my reasons are a mite more selfish than that.’
‘You never had a selfish bone in your body, dar,’ Hal said gruffly.
Bess smiled. ‘I never had the means to give my children something that only rich folk can give them, either. Think what it will mean to be Ben’s partner, Hal. We’ll have an inheritance to leave to our sons, and that’s summat w
e never dreamed possible. That means more to me than being called a lady!’
Hal’s arms went around her and held her close. ‘You’ve always been a lady to me, dar.’ His voice slowed as he considered her words. ‘’Tis right what you say. Our Matt has done summat more special for us than he believed. And he being one of our sons, he’ll benefit in the end as well!’
‘That he will,’ Bess said softly. ‘The money will go full circle. Some of it, anyway.’
Hal released her, frowning in thought. ‘This needs some thinking out, Bess. Yes, I’ll agree to Ben’s idea of being his partner, though it still makes my stomach lurch to think on it! But we’ll see the lawyer privately once all this is settled, and see to making a proper Will for when the time comes.’
He caught sight of her expression and gave her a squeeze. ‘There’s no sense in shirking it. All rich folks have to make their Wills, dar, to provide for their children!’
She smiled again at that, although she didn’t like the thought of making a Will. But it needed sorting out between them, before they put their wishes to the lawyer. And long before they went to bed that night, they had made their decision.
Bess insisted that she wanted no share of the clay inheritance, declining such responsibility, and that all she would want was a decent allowance of money for her to live on comfortably in their adored little house.
How she would even exist without Hal was something she refused to think about, but this had to be a sensible discussion, and she tried to stay as unemotional about it as possible.
They reasoned that since Morwen would naturally inherit Ben’s half-share of the Works, they needn’t apportion any of it to her either, but would leave a special legacy for her to spend as she wished.
Apart from those sums, the entire half-share of Hal Tremayne’s interest in Killigrew Clay was to be divided equally between his three sons.
He had almost said four, and felt a swift sharp grief that Sam could not have lived to see this incredible day.
By the time the Tremaynes went to bed in their snug little house that night, they were quite determined in their minds what had to be done. And they both decided that the contents of Hal’s Will should be kept private between the two of them and Richard Carrick.
So much had happened so fast, and Bess was still dazed by it all. It was humbling to know that she and Hal could do what they had never thought possible – provide for their sons after their death.
In due time, Matthew, Jack and Freddie Tremayne would be equal partners in half-ownership of Killigrew Clay.
Even more dear to Bess’s heart as she finally drifted off to sleep, snuggled up against Hal’s broad back, was the knowledge that Matt had finally stretched out his hand to them from halfway across the world, and in doing so, had opened the gates to a new beginning for them all.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Richard Carrick was experienced enough to show surprise when he learned of Hal Tremayne’s wishes. The contents of the Will was known to no-one but the lawyer and the Tremaynes. The partnership between Hal Tremayne and Ben Killigrew was also to be a private one between the parties concerned, but once it was in the form of a legal signed document, the money from Matt was quickly put into Ben’s hands to do with as he wished.
Richard’s wife, Mary, was buzzing with curiosity as to why Richard should suddenly be acting for those common Tremaynes, who had never had a penny between them, but he was as tight-lipped as a clamshell, and refused to satisfy her probing.
Any mention of the Tremaynes had the effect of making Mary Carrick’s blood-pressure rise. She could still not forgive Morwen for taking Ben Killigrew away from her daughter, however much Jane protested in exasperation that she and Ben had never had any intention of marrying.
Although, seeing her daughter’s joy on hearing at last that her newspaper reporter husband was safe, Mary was forced to admit that Jane did seem to have found her match.
And that was another thing. That vulgar Yorkshireman, Tom Askhew, with his brash ways and hard flat vowel sounds… no doubt when he returned as something of a hero from the war he would be taking Jane and dear little Cathy back to that miserable northern county of his.
Cold and bitter though Mary Carrick had become, the thought of losing Cathy yet again was something to make her weep. Jane did her best to make her realise that it would certainly not happen at once!
Tom had not returned yet, and until she held him in her arms, she would not quite be able to believe it. And seeing the anxiety in Jane’s pretty eyes, Mary held her tongue for once.
* * *
In St Austell Ben was able to instruct a firm of road engineers to begin the repairs to the town streets. There had already been too much delay while his affairs were being sorted out, but now all the work required by Judge Manley could go ahead as rapidly as possible.
Plans for the new administration hall were submitted and approved, but most importantly to Ben and Killigrew Clay, there was no need now to delay the negotiations for the new railway.
Ben had expected some intervention from the Bodmin surveyors, but after the fiasco in which they guiltily held themselves more than half responsible, they were just as ready to get this whole sorry business behind them, and brought in an impartial engineer to assist them in a proper land survey so that work could begin immediately.
A more satisfactory new route was plotted, skirting the sharp drop of the moors on which the old one had been built, and taking a longer, more winding route, but one where there was no possibility of old tin workings putting the railway at risk.
Ben had a meeting with Lew Tregian, and asked him to insert a piece in The Informer about the new plans, and inviting comments or objections forthwith. Coupled with the approval of the surveyors and the engineer, the article carried a lot of weight, and Ben realised that the attitude of the town had changed towards him again.
Folk stopped to pass the time of day when they met him, and he and his young wife were once again acknowledged to be the most handsome pair in the town of St Austell.
Any invitation to Killigrew House was eagerly sought, though few were forthcoming, because of Morwen’s condition. Entertaining was mostly confined to the family now.
‘I know that I owe all my good fortune to Matt,’ Ben said thoughtfully one evening when the two of them had come home from visiting Morwen’s parents. ‘I just wish your father would let me make it public knowledge that he’s now my partner. He deserves the recognition, Morwen.’
She shook her head forcefully. ‘It’s not his way, Ben. Leave things as they are, I beg you. It’s enough for him to know he’s done what he could for Killigrew Clay. ’Tis in his blood, Ben.’
She smiled slightly, and he caught the movement. ‘What’s taken your fancy now, dar?’
‘I was remembering when I first saw you at the Works, years ago when you were home from your posh London school,’ she said softly. ‘I thought you such a snot-nose! You looked as though you never had the slightest intention of ever dirtying your hands with your inheritance! And now ’tis in your blood, the same as in Daddy’s.’
Ben laughed. ‘Yes, it’s in my blood. It’s a part of all of us, and that’s what makes it special. We’re moulded together by the clay, and that’s what makes us strong, Morwen.’
She drew a long deep breath. And God willing, there would soon be another Killigrew to carry on the dynasty Charles Killigrew had begun.
‘Do you think the rail tracks will be ready for the spring despatches, Ben? There’s so little time—’
‘I’m hoping so. Now that we need spare no expense, the men will be working all hours to get them ready. Even if we delay the despatches by a month or so, it won’t matter. April or May will make little difference, except that the later we despatch, the bigger load we’ll have to deliver to the port. Either way, we shan’t lose.’
He took her in his arms and held her close, and she felt a sweet tremor run through her. It was always so at his touch… but this time she had a more
precious reason for feeling so affected by his words.
April or May… the difference in the two months was very important to Morwen. In May their baby should be a month old… in April the days would be long and tedious, and she would be heavy and clumsy and longing desperately to hold her first-born in her arms… and wondering just how much longer she must wait.
As the first hint of the usual early spring began to make itself felt in the warm south of Cornwall, hopes of an end at last to the Crimean War were finding voice in every local and national newspaper.
A Peace Conference was to be organised, but was beset by frustrations and difficulties, and the main issue was over allowing Prussia to be included in the discussions. Prussia and the German Federation had not supported Britain and her allies in their struggle, and many officials insisted that they should be excluded from any further association.
‘What fools they all are!’ Ben said in disgust. ‘Our soldiers are still being killed daily as the war drags on, and they fuss over nations being present at a conference table!’
‘Isn’t it more delicate than that?’ Morwen asked. ‘I believe the Queen herself is in a quandary. Her eldest daughter is betrothed to the King of Prussia’s nephew, and the Prince of Prussia is the Queen’s and Prince Albert’s close friend. Yet politically they are forced to agree that Prussia should not be admitted to the discussions.’
Ben’s eyes had widened with pleasure and surprise.
‘You constantly amaze me, Morwen! Just where did you glean such information, may I ask?’
She laughed self-consciously. ‘I was not even aware that I had absorbed it! But when I read the London newspapers to your father, he does so love to hear about the Queen and the Prince and the devious games these important people play. He says wickedly that it’s more fun than playing a real-life game of chess, and I have become just as interested in the moves.’
Clay Country Page 31