Trevallion

by Trevallion (retail) (epub)

  Alex knew she was thoroughly enjoying herself but wasn’t so sure about himself. When he was seated with his replenished glass he took a gulp of the strong liquor. What Susannah said next made him choke on it.

  ‘And you, my sweet, are too much of a gentleman to have given in to the whoring bitch.’

  ‘I… I, no I didn’t, but—’

  ‘I understand that you are having repairs done to Trevallion. When you have brought it up to the mark, you will invite me there. I do not travel by boat any more but I shall come by car. It will be good to see it again.’

  Alex was heartily relieved Susannah had changed the subject and said enthusiastically, ‘I shall be honoured to have you there. It should be ready to receive people in another couple of weeks.’

  ‘Excellent. Two weeks to the day then. I shall put it in my diary.’

  Alex knew she was an active patron of the National Lifeboat charity but he wondered if she received many invitations. As if she had read his mind, she smiled slightly, revealing pointed teeth. ‘I don’t get out much nowadays and I shall look forward to it. I understand that most of the families who lived in the little creek below Trevallion in Roland’s day are still there.’

  ‘Yes, the Jenkins, the Grubbs and the Allens.’

  ‘Allen? I don’t recall any of that name.’

  ‘Trease Allen, the chauffeur, and his daughter Rebecca.’ Alex said the last name a touch more softly and Susannah noticed.

  ‘Oh, yes? And what is this Rebecca like?’

  Alex was colouring again. ‘She usually works on a farm on the estate but Abigail has commandeered her as a sort of lady’s maid. She’s good-natured, honest.’ He wanted to stop but Susannah kept silent and he had to go on. ‘She’s um, twenty years old.’

  ‘And has exquisite…?’

  Alex looked dumbstruck but Susannah wasn’t going to let him off the hook. ‘Go on, she has something exquisite about her, I’ll be bound.’

  He coughed. ‘Very long, thick black hair and dark eyes.’

  ‘Ah, I shall look forward to meeting Rebecca Allen.’

  Alex could hardly believe what he was doing. He had called on Susannah Bosanko hoping to find out more about her than her love letters and Jossy Jenkins could tell him, but she had expertly got him to talk about himself, quite intimately too.

  ‘Rebecca is my friend,’ he said, feeling he must qualify his relationship with her.

  Susannah gave a little nod. ‘Mmmm. Are there any Carlyons in the creek?’

  ‘Just one, the last of the family, the groom Joe Carlyon.’

  ‘Really? I have such fond memories of the creek.’

  ‘I shall be glad to stroll round it with you, Susannah.’

  ‘Stroll, you say? As if I’m halfway to being infirm. I may be heading towards my ninetieth birthday but I’m quite able to walk round that creek a dozen times in one afternoon I’ll have you know.’

  Alex felt chastened. He looked at his wristwatch. ‘Is that the time?’ he said. ‘I have to go, back to the quay to meet my boat.’

  Susannah beckoned him to her. He obeyed. ‘You will call on me again before the two weeks is up, Alexander.’

  ‘Yes, of course.’ She’d flustered him, almost terrified him, but he would come again.

  ‘You will kiss me.’

  The skin of her cheeks was cool and incredibly soft. She moved so her lips met his and despite her age and appearance he did not feel repulsed as he had with Abigail the night before.

  Chapter 18

  While Alex was out on the boat, Rebecca was required to help Joe exercise the horses. Joe made sure he was in the stable yard when she arrived and followed her about until she was forced to stop and speak to him. She had her mount, a smooth-coated grey pony named Claudius, saddled and Joe pulled down the foot she was about to put in the stirrup.

  ‘Keep still,’ he ordered quietly, putting his huge hands gently on her shoulders. ‘I’ve got something I want to say and you are going to listen to me.’

  Rebecca wasn’t given to petulant displays and stayed put without protest. She sighed wearily. ‘There’s no need to say anything, Joe. As far as I’m concerned the fight you had with Dad is over and forgotten.’

  ‘So you don’t want an apology then?’

  ‘It’s not necessary.’

  ‘Then why are you avoiding me? It doesn’t make sense.’ She had backed herself into a corner here. She could hardly tell him the truth. That she was hurt because he had ignored her when she’d got herself all dressed up, that she felt humiliated because that had been the reason for the fight with Trease. All she could say lamely was, ‘I don’t know.’

  Joe laughed, kissed her forehead and pulled her close to him in a cuddle. ‘Oh, Becca, you little idiot. We’re too close to fall out. Come on, my dear, let’s gallop the horses across the fields. Their limbs need stretching to the full and mine feel the same way this morning.’

  They trotted out of the stable yard and when they reached the first field of the estate they raced the horses until their breaths were ragged. High up on Verrian Farm they came to a halt and dismounted beside an old oak in the middle of a field. Joe leaned his back against the tree and Rebecca leaned against him, as she had done from childhood. Anyone seeing them would have thought nothing of it, it was just Joe and Rebecca together. But now she was this close to him again it revived her hopes that he would at long last notice she was an available young woman.

  ‘How’s Mrs Fiennes this morning?’ Joe asked, chewing on a long grass stalk. ‘I saw her down in the creek yesterday, she was trying to walk off a bad headache.’

  Rebecca ran a fingertip lightly over the back of his hand as she replied, ‘She was grouchy again. Her headache hadn’t returned but she was upset over something. She seemed reluctant to leave her room. Kept asking me if I was sure that the Major had left on the boat for Falmouth. Sounds like they’d had a quarrel or something and she didn’t want to see him.’

  ‘Aye, they don’t seem to get on too well. Anyway, ’tis grand so many of us are back in our old jobs again. I’m happy with the horses and Trease is happy with the cars.’ Now that the last bad feelings over the fight had been put to rest they could talk about Trease without hurt feelings. ‘I hope the Major decides not to sell the estate. I’d really like to work for him. He’s a good bloke, loyal to his men, if you ask me, and a decent sort of gentleman where women are concerned. Loveday’s got nothing against him and if he’s not too proud to take young’uns out with him in the car – well, speaks for itself. You can tell he’s got the same blood as the Captain had.’

  Rebecca nodded in agreement then her face darkened. ‘So has Stephen but he’s a horrid spoiled brat.’

  ‘That’s his mother’s doing,’ Joe said.

  ‘Some folk are saying that Mrs Fiennes is flighty, but I do like her. She went out of her way to make me feel comfortable in the first awkward moments I met the family. She’s kind and generous and is eager to mix with the creek folk. She’s even going to Margaret’s wedding on Saturday. I think she’s lonely and worried underneath her gaiety, and from what I can gather her future depends on what the Major decides as much as ours does. I hope the Kennickers won’t turn against her.’

  ‘I won’t,’ Joe said, flexing his hands and running them down his legs. ‘I like the woman.’

  Rebecca snuggled her head in closer to his chest. She closed her eyes and allowed the sun to warm her face. Up here under a beautiful summer sky lying like this against Joe’s solid flesh was heaven. It was no use trying to get Joe to notice her by wearing fancy clothes, perfume and make-up so she’d try a more direct approach. Taking one of his hands between hers, she held it tightly.

  Joe lifted their hands and rubbed his thumb along her chin. ‘I haven’t felt this content in ages,’ he said dreamily.

  ‘Nor me.’

  ‘I wonder how the Major’s getting on with the Lady Harriet. Took my breath away to see it sliding out of the creek this morning. I almost expected to see Cap
tain Miles at the bow.’

  ‘As long as the Major falls in love with the river, that’s all that matters.’

  ‘Be even better if he fell in love with some local lady. He wouldn’t be in a hurry to go back to Berkshire then.’

  ‘Whatever he decides to do, I’m quite confident he won’t sell the estate unless it’s to someone he can trust to look after it and keep all of us on as workers.’

  ‘He’s taken to you, Becca. Whatever you’re doing, just keep it up, the rest of us are relying on you.’

  Rebecca turned her head and laid the side of her face on Joe’s chest, fiddling with the buttons on his shirt. ‘It would be wonderful if he fell in love and reared a family in the big house. It must be wonderful to fall in love.’ She tilted her head and looked up at him. ‘Don’t you think, Joe?’

  He shrugged. ‘I s’pose so.’

  Rebecca lifted her face to him and hoped he would kiss her. She looked at his lips then into his eyes, then back at his lips. She wanted the feel of that wide full-lipped mouth on hers. But when she glanced up to his eyes again, he wasn’t looking at her at all. He was gazing over her head at the river. He pulled his hand away from hers.

  ‘There’s the River Princess on her way to Truro. Time we were going.’

  In desperation Rebecca kissed his cheek. Joe kissed her back in the same way then used his strength to lift them both to their feet. ‘Come on, maid, or you’ll have Mrs Fiennes after you.’

  He moved off to the horses and Rebecca looked down at the ground, crestfallen. ‘I might just as well be that dandelion there.’

  * * *

  When Rebecca got back to the gatehouse, she ran up the stairs to change.

  ‘Good morning, Miss Allen.’

  She jumped in fright and nearly missed her footing. ‘Mr Faull, you gave me quite a turn.’

  ‘Where are you going in such a hurry?’ he said, placing an arm on the bottom of the banister and leaning towards her. ‘To change, Mr Faull.’

  He eyed her casually. ‘Pity, riding clothes suit you.’ He smiled. It seemed to make his features melt and reform, making him even more handsome. He reminded Rebecca of one of the heroes in Stephen’s adventure comics, solid, utterly strong, able to overcome all opposition. Foolish thought, she chided herself and made to continue up the stairs.

  ‘Will you excuse me, Mr Faull. I’m running late.’

  Neville put a finger on her wrist and ran it gently up and down. ‘Only if you agree to come to the cinema in Truro with me one evening next week.’

  After her disappointment with Joe she wasn’t going to say no out of hand. ‘I’ll have to think about it.’

  ‘How can you refuse? Every young lady is an admirer of Rudolph Valentino. Don’t tell me you’re not.’

  ‘Charlie Chaplin, more like it,’ Rebecca said pertly.

  ‘You do have an evening off once a week, I take it?’

  ‘I have no set hours, Mr Faull.’

  ‘I could meet you outside your uncle’s house. I know where he lives. Shall we say seven o’clock next Thursday? I’ll treat you to supper at the Treleaven Restaurant afterwards.’ He looked at her appealingly. ‘I’ll bring my Aunt Mildred along with me.’

  ‘Rebecca! So, you’re back at last. Go and change at once and brush your hair. You look like a raggle-taggle gipsy.’ Abigail had appeared and looked irate.

  Neville Faull had his back to her. He grinned at Rebecca and mouthed the words, ‘Will you come?’

  Rebecca looked defiantly at Abigail. She knew Abigail would object to her going out with Neville Faull. She looked back at Neville and gave a brief nod then turned and ran up the stairs.

  ‘Leave her alone, Neville,’ Abigail said harshly, spinning him round by his arm.

  Neville smoothed the place on his expensive pinstripe suit where she had grabbed him. ‘Just saying hello, Abby. What’s wrong with that?’

  Neville Faull’s demeanour was as smooth and sleek as his voice, his suit and his hair. Abigail was tempted to slap the confidence off his impertinent face. ‘I know what you’re after and Rebecca’s not that sort of girl. I’m ordering you to stay away from her.’

  With the expression of a satisfied cat, he ran a finger along the neckline of Abigail’s dress. ‘You don’t mind me getting close to you though, do you, Abby? Would you like to meet me somewhere? I know some very discreet places we could go.’

  She was tempted. Neville was a very good lover, and his position as solicitor and on the rural council demanded discretion, so he wouldn’t advertise it if they carried on with their association. But if Alex found out he would pack her and Stephen onto the first train out of Cornwall – and besides, Faull wasn’t the only man around.

  She stroked his chest and moved his tie. ‘Better not, at least not until I’m settled down here.’

  ‘If Alex decides to settle you down here,’ Neville said cruelly, knowing how much she was relying on him.

  ‘Until I’ve got him to settle my son’s future then!’ she spat, turning on her heel.

  Neville looked up the stairs. He had been disappointed not to be able to see the Major today and try his hand at obtaining Susannah Bosanko’s generous commission, but he had achieved something else he desired. ‘I wonder if Rebecca needs any help changing into her dress.’

  Abigail came back to him. ‘Please, Neville. Don’t do anything to her.’

  He grinned like the Cheshire cat. ‘I wouldn’t dream of hurting such a sweet young creature.’

  * * *

  After lunch Rebecca and Abigail went into the sitting room to collect the box of lingerie bought for Margaret Grubb’s honeymoon. Rebecca hadn’t had time to go into Truro and buy new clothes with the ten pounds Alex had given her and she was wearing a dress that Abigail had given her. Loveday had altered it for her, making it less extravagant.

  Rebecca was feeling excited and rather daring after agreeing to go out with Neville Faull. ‘Margaret will be thrilled with this,’ she said, putting the lid on the box. They were about to go down to the creek to join the estate women in a little good luck celebration for the bride and to present her with their gifts.

  ‘Do you really think so, Rebecca?’ Abigail was worried that her gift might be seen as too risqué for a quiet country bride, even though she wasn’t exactly a maiden at the age of twenty-seven. ‘I’d hate to cause offence. Perhaps I should have bought her something for the kitchen like you have.’

  ‘It’ll be like a dream come true for her, to wear something like this on her wedding night.’ Neville Faull certainly wouldn’t expect his bride, or his conquests, to go to bed in Victorian cotton.

  ‘I hope you’re right.’ Abigail picked up the box and nodded at the table. ‘We’ll take that bottle along with us.’

  ‘Champagne?’

  Abigail was suddenly impatient at worrying about the Kennickers’ possible narrow-mindedness. ‘If they don’t want to drink it now they can keep it for the toast at the reception. Is Mrs Wright ready?’

  ‘Just putting her hat on.’

  The women met in Jenny Jenkins’ cottage, the biggest in the creek. It was spick-and-span but Abigail had the feeling it was always like this and that the old lady wouldn’t stand on ceremony even for her.

  ‘How are you today, Mrs Jenkins?’ Abigail asked, sitting down on an old-fashioned black-stained settle beside the wide fireplace.

  The old lady smiled and rubbed at the back of a knee swollen with arthritis. ‘I’m fine, Mrs Fiennes, but I’ve got this leg today, aching all over.’

  ‘Oh dear. What does the doctor say about it?’

  ‘Says ’tis my age and that’s the last word on it,’ Jenny Jenkins replied, taking a strong cup of tea from Ira. ‘’Tis nothing really. I’m some glad you could come to our little gathering.’

  ‘I was thrilled to be asked,’ Abigail said truthfully. It meant a lot to her to be accepted by the local women. When she could bring herself to face Alex again, she would mention it. ‘Perhaps we could all gather for tea
at the gatehouse one afternoon.’

  All the women smiled their acceptance. Abigail felt warm inside. They did not expect to go, it wouldn’t be fitting, taking tea with their mistress on her home ground, but they were honoured by the invitation. Abigail scored another point by asking to hold baby Miles George, a chore which she endured for a full five minutes.

  After the second round of tea, and jam and cream scones, the presents were given to the delighted bride. Margaret Grubb was a plain big-boned woman with an ordinary face covered in freckles and coarse red hair. It would take a lot of lace and frills to transform her into a traditional beautiful bride but she was thrilled with the sheer silky negligée set Abigail had bought for her.

  Abigail was amazed at the generosity of the gifts from the ordinary estate folk. Tea sets, sheets of fine linen, a canteen of cutlery, towel bales, kitchen utensils. She felt shy about the champagne but Rebecca held up the bottle and said loudly, ‘Who’s for a drop of this? This is also from Mrs Fiennes.’

  It was accepted with gusto and out came a tray of glasses, with a bottle each of sherry, gin and brandy. Jenny winked at Abigail. ‘Tedn’t only the menfolk who know how to enjoy themselves.’

  By late afternoon the Jenkins’ cottage was filled with much female laughter and giggling. Mild innuendoes about the wedding night abounded and Abigail relaxed and thoroughly enjoyed herself. As far as she was concerned, her contribution to the hen party had been a runaway success.

  When she wanted to leave, she shouted down Rebecca’s ear above the noise, ‘I think I’ll slip out and see what Stephen’s doing.’

  ‘Loveday checked on Tamsyn a few minutes ago. She and Master Stephen are playing happily in the creek.’

  ‘I suppose the boat will be back soon.’ Abigail didn’t want to leave the cottage at the same time as Alex arrived back in the creek.

  ‘No, they’ll be gone out for a spot of fishing,’ Jenny said. ‘My old man will keep them as long as he can.’

  Abigail felt too ashamed of her actions last night to risk it. ‘I think I’ll slip away now, Mrs Jenkins. You stay here, Rebecca, enjoy the rest of the party.’