A Village Scandal

by Dilly Court

  ‘Of course. I mustn’t keep you.’ Daisy followed him to the water’s edge. ‘I don’t suppose you learned anything that might be of interest.’

  He stopped and turned to give her a steady look. ‘If you mean have I heard anything about your husband – I’m afraid not. Although I have people making enquiries all along the coast. Occasionally a person is rescued from the sea and they can’t remember who they are or how they got there, but no such reports have come my way.’ He took her hand in his and kissed it. ‘But if I hear anything you can be sure that I’ll pass the news on to you straight away.’

  ‘Thank you, Marius.’ Daisy wrapped her fingers around his hand, unwilling to let go of the one person who might bring her news of Jay, either good or bad. ‘But you don’t think there’s much hope, do you?’

  ‘Never give up hope, Daisy.’

  She released him reluctantly. ‘Will you sail with them on the next voyage?’

  ‘No. I only went to see how the ship was being run, but I’m satisfied that Guppy and Ramsden have a good crew and can be trusted with the cargoes. My job is to make sure that the holds are never empty – that’s business.’

  ‘Yes, I see that.’

  ‘I have an office in Maldon now, and a couple more in the north, which I visit on a regular basis, but if you need me, send word to my clerk in Maldon. He’ll make sure that I receive the message and I’ll come as quickly as I can.’

  ‘Thank you, Marius. I just need to keep in touch – for business reasons, of course.’

  He pushed the jolly boat into the water and climbed into it. ‘Don’t worry. I’ll let you have the figures as soon as they’re ready and I’ll call on you whenever possible.’

  Daisy stood on the foreshore watching him row back to the Lazy Jane, and despite the comforting weight of the money pouch, she felt a sense of loss – as if she had just said farewell to an old friend.

  ‘Who was that, Daisy? Are you consorting with smugglers?’

  She spun round at the sound of her brother’s voice, and she laughed. ‘Toby, you made me jump.’

  ‘Seriously, though. Who was that?’

  ‘Marius Walters is my business partner, Toby. I haven’t had time to tell you about it, but he’s a shipping agent, and he’s chartered the Lazy Jane. He came to bring me my first share in the profits.’

  ‘Deuced funny time to call on a lady,’ Toby said, frowning.

  ‘Leave her alone, Toby.’ Minnie clutched his arm. ‘This is a party. You can cross-examine your sister in the morning.’

  ‘I think it is the morning already,’ Daisy said, chuckling. ‘Have you found the treasure?’

  ‘We’re not seriously looking.’ Toby glanced along the narrow beach. ‘I say we build a fire and get the fiddler and the chap who plays the concertina to join us. Dancing in the moonlight would be just the thing.’

  ‘And it’s such a lovely night,’ Minnie added, looking up at the myriads of stars. ‘Do say yes, Daisy.’

  ‘It’s a splendid idea. I’ll go and fetch the musicians.’

  ‘Stay here, Daisy,’ Toby said firmly. ‘Send the boy who’s been skulking in the shadows. He looks lost.’

  Daisy followed his gaze. ‘Oh, it’s Jack.’ She beckoned to him and called his name. ‘You remember him, Toby. He’s Jay’s younger brother.’

  Jack responded eagerly, rushing over to join them like an excited puppy. ‘You wanted me, Daisy?’

  ‘Yes, Jack. We’re going to build a bonfire on the beach, and I’d like you to fetch the musicians to play for us so that we can dance in the moonlight.’

  ‘Can I bring Judy and my mates?’

  ‘Yes, but if they misbehave they’ll be sent home. They can collect brushwood and dried leaves for the fire.’ Daisy smiled to herself as he scampered off towards the mouth of the tunnel. This would be a party to remember – but she dreaded to think what Marjorie would say if she learned that it had ended with a moonlit frolic on the beach.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Not only did Jack bring the three musicians and Judy – who was supposed to be looking after her younger siblings, but had somehow managed to escape her mother’s eagle eyes – he also brought his friends Danny Shipway and Alfie Green. They were followed by so many of the other guests that the narrow strip of beach was soon crowded. A huge bonfire was constructed and lit, and flames darted up into the night sky, putting the moon to shame. Ned and Charity had arrived soon after Toby and Minnie, followed by Nick, Dove, Linnet and Elliot, but to Daisy’s astonishment the last people to emerge from the underground passage were the general and his wife. Daisy glanced behind them, instinctively crossing her fingers in case Marjorie had followed them, but they seemed to have come on their own. Patience and Will were already searching for the prize and the rest of the Johnson family joined them. Somehow crates of beer arrived as well as bottles of wine and cider, and at this point Daisy would not have been surprised to find the punchbowl and glass cups laid out on the sand, but evidently these had been left behind.

  Then to her surprise she spotted the house servants having a party of their own further along the beach, together with the grooms and stable boys. What surprised Daisy even more was the fact that the rivalry between the Manor and Four Winds servants seemed to have been forgotten, and the housekeepers were chatting amicably, as were the two cooks, while the kitchen staff set out a picnic with the leftovers from the house party.

  Music filled the night air and Constable Fowler serenaded the ladies in his beautiful baritone voice, with the partygoers joining in the choruses of the various popular songs. Couples held each other close, whether the tune was a waltz or a jig, dancing cheek to cheek, and others wandered off into the shadows, free to do as they pleased without chaperones putting a stop to anything they considered inappropriate.

  Daisy stood at the water’s edge, staring at the inlet where the moonlight created a silver path across the rippling waves. It lured her like the song of a siren and she felt compelled to step onto it and glide towards horizon – out there it seemed possible that she might find Jay and bring him back to shore. Everyone had a partner to share the wonder of the starry night, everyone except herself. Daisy placed one foot into the water, but was restrained by a strong hand.

  ‘You can’t dance with wet feet, Daisy.’

  ‘Marius – how did you get here? I saw you row away.’

  ‘I changed my mind. The tide doesn’t turn for another three hours. I couldn’t leave you on your own, especially on such a beautiful night.’

  This made her giggle. ‘I’m hardly alone, Marius. Virtually everyone has joined us on the beach.’

  ‘You were alone in your heart. I couldn’t bear to see you suffer like that.’ He held out his hand. ‘Will you dance with me, Daisy?’

  She hesitated. ‘I don’t know. It wouldn’t be proper.’

  ‘When was the last time you danced?’

  ‘On my wedding day.’ Her voice broke on a suppressed sob.

  ‘But you are not in mourning, Daisy. It isn’t a sin to enjoy yourself once in a while.’

  Marius took her in his arms and whirled her round to the strains of a waltz. She looked up and met his sympathetic gaze with an attempt at a smile, and she did not argue. Waltzing on damp sand and rough pebbles was not like gliding around a highly polished dance floor, and at times it was necessary for Marius to hold her close in order to prevent her from falling or twisting an ankle. Daisy moved stiffly at first, but the canopy of stars and the warmth from the bonfire created a mystical and magical atmosphere that seemed to affect all those present, and gradually she began to relax and allow Marius to take control. She had borne the problems that beset her since Jay’s disappearance and now, for the first time, she allowed someone else to guide her footsteps, even if it was just a waltz.

  But the spell was broken by the sound of a harsh voice, one that Daisy knew only too well.

  ‘What do you think you’re doing, Tattersall? You’ve ruined my party and I’ll never forgive you for
this.’ Marjorie glared at Marius, who had come to a halt as the music ceased. ‘And who may you be, sir?’

  He acknowledged her with a curt nod of his head. ‘Marius Walters, ma’am.’

  ‘Marius is my business partner,’ Daisy added hastily.

  ‘Business? What business? What have you been keeping from me, Daisy Tattersall?’

  ‘You’ll pardon me saying so, ma’am,’ Marius said in a low voice, ‘but this is neither the time nor the place for such a conversation.’

  ‘You will keep out of it, sir. This has nothing to do with you.’

  ‘Marius is right,’ Daisy said angrily. ‘We will talk about this later, Mrs Harker, but for now I suggest you join in the party, or risk making yourself look foolish.’

  Marjorie raised her hand as if to strike Daisy, but Marius was too quick for her and he caught her by the wrist. ‘That won’t solve anything.’

  ‘I don’t know how you came to be here, but I want you to get off my property.’ Marjorie’s face was white in the moonlight and her eyes dark pools, her lips twisted into an ugly grimace.

  Daisy glanced over Marjorie’s shoulder. ‘This is my land, Mrs Harker, and I suggest you moderate your tone if you wish to make a good impression on the general, because he and his wife are coming this way.’

  Marjorie turned her head to look and her whole demeanour changed so dramatically that she might have become another person.

  ‘General and Mrs Tighe-Martin – I do hope you’re enjoying my party.’

  ‘It’s wonderful.’ Felicia Tighe-Martin grasped Marjorie’s outstretched hand. ‘Thank you so much for all your hard work in organising this amazing evening. We’ve never enjoyed ourselves so much, have we, Hereward?’

  ‘No, my dear, I don’t think we have. The treasure hunt ending on the beach was an inspiration. I feel twenty years younger.’

  His wife dug him playfully in the ribs. ‘I’ll remind you of that tomorrow when you’re stiff and aching from all this exercise. But, seriously, Marjorie, I must congratulate you. Your husband is a lucky man to have such a clever and charming wife.’

  Marjorie simpered and cast her eyes down. ‘You flatter me, Felicia.’

  ‘On the contrary,’ the general said firmly. ‘You may rest assured that I will put in a good word for Roland when his promotion comes up for review. In fact, I could do with you on my staff, Marjorie. With your organisational skills I’m sure we would win every battle.’

  Marius grasped Daisy by the hand. ‘Now is as good a time as any to make our escape.’

  She needed no second bidding and she followed him towards the folly. At that moment a great shout went up, followed by clapping and cheering.

  ‘Someone has found the prize,’ Daisy said breathlessly.

  ‘What did they win?’

  ‘A bottle of champagne – the last one in the cellar. Marjorie will be furious because she wanted to impress her guests by serving unlimited champagne. She simply didn’t understand that the funds wouldn’t stretch that far. Anyway, she’ll be the centre of attention now so she won’t notice that I’ve gone.’ Daisy held her hand out to Marius. ‘Thank you for everything. I’d better return to the house and make sure that all is well.’

  Marius shook his head. ‘You’ve done enough for that woman. I’m going to see you safely back to your cottage.’

  ‘You don’t have to do that. I’m quite capable of making my own way home.’

  ‘Of course you are, but it’s the middle of the night and you never know who might be wandering around the grounds. I won’t take no for an answer, Daisy.’

  It was obvious that he had made up his mind and it was useless to argue, besides which, she was exhausted and more than ready for bed. They negotiated the underground passageway in silence and walked arm in arm through the rose garden, across the deer park and over the field. When they reached the cottage Marius saw her inside, but he did not follow her in. He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek.

  ‘Get some sleep, Daisy.’

  ‘Will you get to the ship in time?’

  ‘Yes, don’t worry, but if I should happen to miss the tide I can always ask Mrs Harker to put me up for the night.’

  His dry tone and wry smile made Daisy giggle, and the slight tension that had arisen between them was eased.

  ‘Good night, Marius. Or should I say good morning?’

  ‘I think it’s almost dawn, so I’d better get going. I’ll see you again very soon, Daisy.’

  ‘Thank you for everything.’

  She waited until he was swallowed up by the shadows before closing the door. The cottage was quiet, with no sound coming from the room that Judy shared with her mother and three siblings. It had been an eventful evening, but Marjorie had been incandescent with fury. If she carried out her threat to evict them it would be the start of a bitter battle for Creek Manor, and one that Daisy intended to win. She climbed the stairs to her room, undressed as far as her chemise and stowed the pouch of money under the mattress before she fell into bed. She slept so heavily that she did not hear Mary when she entered the room.

  Breakfast next morning was a subdued affair. Daisy was still exhausted, but Mary and Hilda were suffering from the after-effects of drinking the fruit cup and several glasses of wine. Judy took the little ones into the garden to see if the hens had laid eggs, and there was a brief period of peace.

  ‘Are you going up to the house this morning?’ Mary asked, sipping her tea and wincing each time she moved her head.

  ‘Yes, of course.’ Daisy tried to sound more positive than she was feeling.

  ‘We heard the way she was speaking to you on the beach,’ Hilda said warily. ‘Do you think she’ll evict us all?’

  Daisy shook her head. ‘No, of course not. I’ve told her before that without a contract it was simply a verbal agreement. I own the manor house and this cottage.’

  ‘But she can afford a good lawyer,’ Mary added grimly. ‘That woman is ruthless. I’ve a good mind to go there and have a word with the general. If he knows what she’s really like he’ll have nothing more to do with her.’

  ‘It’s the girls I feel sorry for.’ Hilda nibbled at a piece of bread and butter, swallowing with difficulty. ‘Charity and Patience were really enjoying themselves on the beach, and that young man, the general’s son, is ever so good-looking.’

  ‘But he’s a soldier, Hilda.’ Mary pulled a face. ‘That won’t suit madam.’

  Daisy rose to her feet. ‘I’d better go and face her. Let’s see what she has to say today.’

  ‘Well, we can’t go on like this for too long,’ Mary said wearily. ‘It’s not the first time she’s threatened us. That woman needs to be taught a lesson. Just because she’s rich, she can’t rule other folk’s lives.’

  Before going to the manor house Daisy went to the beach. She told herself it was to see what state the revellers had left it in, but she also wanted to make sure that Marius had reached the Lazy Jane in time for her to sail. She half expected to see him camped out on the foreshore, but the only signs of the previous night’s merrymaking were the ashes of the two fires and some empty bottles that had been missed during the general clear-up. Daisy shielded her eyes and gazed out to sea, but there was no sign of the ship, and the Lazy Jane must be well on her way to Maldon. She sighed: it was time to face Marjorie and find out what mood she was in this morning. One thing was certain as she made her way back through the narrow tunnel – the secret passage was no longer a secret.

  She emerged into the rose garden and walked briskly, taking deep breaths of the keen sweet-scented air. The day promised to be fine and that would suit the guests, although Daisy had no idea of how long they intended to remain at the manor house. Julian and his colleagues must surely have to return to London, or wherever they were based, and that would be a relief. Julian Carrington was trouble and she was well rid of him. She could only hope that Charity had seen through his charming manner. It had seemed that she had a preference for Ned Tighe-Martin, but Chari
ty would have to contend with her mother’s disapproval should she choose him as her suitor.

  Daisy entered the house with a feeling of dread, but Molesworth greeted her with a pleased smile.

  ‘Good morning, Molesworth. Do you know where I’ll find Mrs Harker?’

  ‘Good morning, madam. I believe she’s in the drawing room. Miss Wendell said she was asking for you earlier.’

  ‘Then I’d better go to her.’ Daisy hesitated, turning to him with a smile. ‘How do you think it went last evening?’

  ‘It’s not for me to say, but in my opinion it was the best party ever held in Creek Manor. The old squire would have been proud of you.’

  ‘Thank you, Molesworth. I hope you all enjoyed it.’

  ‘We did, thank you, madam. A good time was definitely had by everyone.’

  James nodded in agreement and she thought she saw a glimmer of a smile in his eyes. She suspected that his evening had proved to be more than enjoyable, and judging by George’s downcast expression she sensed that he had been the loser in the game of romance. However, as she approached the drawing room she was beginning to wish that the party on the beach had not happened. Marjorie had been very clear that she wanted them out of the cottage, and Daisy was prepared for a fight. She knocked on the door, opened it without waiting for a response and walked in, head held high.

  ‘Good morning, Mrs Harker. I believe you wanted to see me.’

  Marjorie was seated at a rosewood escritoire, pen in hand, but she placed it back on the silver inkstand. She turned her head to give Daisy an inscrutable look.

  ‘I’ve come to a decision.’

  Daisy clasped her hands tightly in front of her. ‘And that is?’ She was expecting the worst, but to her surprise Marjorie’s expression lightened into a semblance of a smile.

  ‘Last evening, despite your attempts to make me look foolish, was an enormous success.’

  ‘That was not my intention,’ Daisy said icily. ‘We worked miracles considering how little time we had in which to prepare, and very little money for such a big event.’