Thoughts of the distressing events of the day jumbled about in her mind but one kept coming to the fore. There was something she wanted to know. ‘Alex?’
‘Yes, my love?’ he murmured, nuzzling closer to her.
‘Is it true? What you said this morning about Stephen not being your brother’s son? He was very upset.’
Alex sighed heavily. ‘I shouldn’t have said that. I never intended he’d find out. I’ll have to tell him I only said it in temper. I owe it to Ralph to look after the child he owned as his son. Ralph was impotent, he wasn’t capable of being a complete husband. He fell in love with Abigail and was delighted when she accepted his proposal of marriage. He didn’t expect her to stay celibate and he wouldn’t have minded too much if she’d kept to one lover but she took several. When she got pregnant, he talked her into having the baby because he loved children and it would make him feel more of a man in front of his male friends. I don’t dislike Stephen because he’s not Ralph’s. It’s because he’s such a horrid young swine.’
‘Stephen can be horrible, Alex, but he’s not as bad as you think. I feel sorry for him. You don’t understand children and I expect you’ve never tried to.’
‘No, I suppose you’re right. I’ll see him in the morning and tell him I’m sorry.’
‘I don’t think it’s going to be that easy, Alex. You see, Stephen asked Mrs Fiennes if what you’d said was true and she admitted it was. Loveday overheard them talking. She wouldn’t have told me but she fears there could be more trouble.’
‘I’ll do what I can to put things right between me and the boy first thing in the morning,’ Alex said irritably. His head was aching cruelly and he didn’t want to face the hurt he’d caused Stephen through the long night ahead. ‘I’m only really interested in putting things right with you, Becca.’
Her nightdress had slipped off her shoulder leaving her breast half exposed. Alex put his head there, the universal place to find comfort. He clung to her tightly. ‘Promise that you’ll never leave me, Becca?’
Rebecca thought of the plans she had made for the morning and the man she had intended to turn to for help in getting her a new job and a fresh start in life. Then she thought of the consequences for the man in her arms if she did just that.
Tears pricked her eyes as she whispered, ‘I promise, Alex.’
Chapter 30
Susannah Bosanko was writing a letter:
My dearest Alexander,
Why haven’t you come to see me? I haven’t seen you since the day of the St Mawes Regatta and that was two weeks ago. To my regret we had so little time to talk then. It’s such a bind that Trevallion House is not connected to the telephone.
I shall wait three days for a reply to this letter or I will call at Trevallion and root you out.
Yours ever affectionately.
She signed the letter with a scratchy version of the S.B. that had appeared on Roland Trevallion’s love letters then rang for her maid.
‘Hilda, post this letter without delay and purchase a box of Fraser’s Superior Mints on your way back.’
‘Yes, ma’am.’ Hilda curtsied and dutifully took the letter. She hurried to the servants’ hall to collect her coat then slipped into the kitchen to alert the rest of the staff. When Miss Bosanko asked for Fraser’s Superior Mints it meant she was in a particularly foul mood and heaven help anyone who crossed her.
* * *
Neville Faull was at his office desk opening his mail. He always did this in a deliberately unhurried way, tossing aside the serious-looking letters, especially those marked urgent, and opening up any interesting personal ones first. He had made two haphazard piles when he came across one written in a firm open hand.
‘Definitely from a female,’ he drawled, sniffing the envelope for perfume.
‘What was that, Mr Faull?’ Miss Penmere, his secretary, asked from across the room where she was lifting files out of a cabinet.
‘Nothing of importance, Miss Penmere,’ Neville replied, a full grin on his face. Taking a silver paperknife, he slit the top of the envelope open carefully, lingering over the task as he made guesses at the identity of the writer. He took out a single sheet of white paper and read its contents swiftly with his brows raised and mouth half open. Then he pushed the letter into his pocket and sprang up from his desk.
‘Miss Penmere, ask Mr Drayton to take over my appointments for this morning.’
‘But Mr Faull—’
‘I have to go out,’ he shouted on his way through the door.
* * *
The Fiennes were officially moving into Trevallion today. Not so Rebecca. Despite Alex’s pleas she had resolutely refused to live in at the big house and was back home in Allen Cottage. There would be female staff living at Trevallion and she was no longer needed as a chaperone. If she had to stay in the creek to prevent Alex from killing or crippling himself she would at least keep some independence. She now found herself in the position of Major Alexander Fiennes’ personal assistant, whatever that meant. Trease was doubly proud of her and the other Kennickers had congratulated her, thanking her for what they believed she had done towards making the Major decide to keep Trevallion and live there.
She cleared up the mess Trease had made getting his breakfast then carried the bag containing the few belongings she had used in the gatehouse upstairs to her room. She put the bag down on her narrow little bed, where not long ago Alex had slept after his drinking session with Trease. It was a relief to be home and to be able to sleep in her own bed again.
She put her hairbrush and comb on the dressing table, and shook out her dressing gown and hung it on its old hook. She had brought none of the things that Abigail had given her but next out of the bag came a dress she had bought with the money from Alex. She put it on a clothes hanger and hung it behind the curtain of a small alcove that served as a wardrobe. The dress suited her perfectly and she had received many compliments while wearing it. The same was true of the one she had on her back now, which along with other items was also bought with Alex’s money. Rebecca liked her new clothes but they made her feel he owned a part of her.
In her new role as personal assistant she would have little to do as Alex did not need any such thing. He just needed to see her every day to stop him going berserk again. Dr Pearn warned he might be very near the edge for several months to come.
During the last week she had thought over her decision to pack and leave after Alex’s panic-stricken assault on her and realised that, while she hated being restricted, she would always love Kennick Creek and was happy to live here for the foreseeable future. But this turn of events meant she would not be able to see Neville for ages and he would probably soon find someone else to dally with. She knew nothing would have come of her relationship with him but she had wanted it to last as long as possible. Tired from the tensions of the last few days, Rebecca threw a pair of shoes dolefully at the floor. Neville must have read her letter by now.
She’d told Alex she wanted to give Allen Cottage a thorough cleaning and catch up on her father’s washing and wasn’t expected up at Trevallion until the afternoon. Changing into her old clothes, and enjoying the familiar feel of them, she made a start on Trease’s room, lamenting the state he’d got it into since her few weeks at the gatehouse but happy to be doing it. She checked his cupboard and drawers and was pleased to find no hidden bottles of liquor.
As she put the final rub to his washstand, she heard someone coming up the stairs. ‘I’m in your room, Dad. I’ve given it a spring clean and it certainly needed it. I can’t understand how you managed to get it into such a mess,’ she said, backing out of the room and holding the door open. ‘There, what do you think?’
‘I think you’ve done a wonderful job, my dear,’ a man said from behind her, his arms winding round her waist.
She twisted round. ‘Neville! What are you doing here? How did you know where to find me?’
‘I’ve just received your letter, Rebecca. I drove to the gate
house at once and the roadmender told me where I could find you. What’s all this about the Major having a brainstorm and you not being able to see me? What on earth’s been going on here?’
‘A brainstorm was the only way I could think of to describe what happens to the Major sometimes.’
‘Sometimes? You mean it’s happened before? Has he seen a doctor?’
‘Yes and the district nurse is keeping an eye on him. It’s to do with his war memories, all his men getting killed. He feels guilty about being the only one left alive. When he gets upset he has terrible nightmares and relives his experiences.’
‘I see,’ Neville sighed thoughtfully. ‘That can be pretty terrible.’
Rebecca knew Alex and Neville despised one another but she wasn’t surprised that Neville didn’t sneer at Alex’s attacks. ‘You men who fought in the war, you’re all sympathetic to each other, aren’t you? The Major was understanding about my father’s drinking when he first arrived here.’
‘I’ve seen men shoot themselves because they couldn’t bear to go on any longer. I’ve heard of another who slaughtered his entire family in one moment of madness. No man came back unchanged, that’s certain.’
‘Including you, Neville? You were very young. The Major told me you won a medal.’
‘Did he now?’ Neville looked away, somewhat embarrassed, then as if in retaliation he said, ‘I bet he didn’t tell you he won the Military Cross for bravery in trying to rescue one of his men single-handed while under heavy fire.’
‘No, he didn’t,’ Rebecca said humbly. She pushed Neville’s arms away. ‘We can’t stay up here. If my father came in he’d go mad.’
‘Let’s go downstairs then. He couldn’t accuse me of trying to seduce you down there. I came here to see you and I’m not going just yet.’
‘Would you like a cup of tea?’ Rebecca asked, leading the way into the kitchen.
‘Why does everyone think a cup of tea is the answer to every problem in the world! I’m sorry, Rebecca, but I don’t understand what Major Fiennes’ state of mind has got to do with you holing yourself up here on the property.’
‘I’m the only one who can get him to calm down. He seems to rely on me, says he feels safer when I’m around. Dr Pearn says it’s very important that he doesn’t have another attack in the near future or he could do something so terrible he’d end up in a mental institution. I can’t take the chance of that happening, Neville. You haven’t seen him. It’s terrifying.’
‘I’m sure it is, but you can’t go on like this forever.’ Neville’s handsome face creased with concern. ‘Rebecca, I don’t like this. What if Fiennes hurts you? You could be taking a big risk.’
She shook her head firmly. ‘There’s no chance of that. The Major would never hurt me. You don’t think my father would let me near him if there was any risk of that, do you?’
‘Well, maybe so,’ Neville returned doubtfully. ‘But surely he’d be all right if you came into Truro once a week. You could make it during the daytime. I’d bring you back, you wouldn’t have to be away for long.’ He tried to hold her again but she moved away.
‘This is so difficult. I can’t take the risk of seeing you, Neville.’
Against her protests, Neville pulled her close. ‘Is he having funny turns because you’re seeing me? Is that it?’
‘Only the last one. I will see you again if you want me to but not until he’s stronger, when his mind is clearer. When he’s settled in at Trevallion—’
‘Settled in? So he’s decided to stay on then?’ Neville had resigned himself to the fact that if Alex Fiennes decided to sell the estate then it wouldn’t be to someone he had recommended. He was philosophic about the lost commission and saw no reason to bother informing the vile old lady in Falmouth that he had failed. According to Rebecca the Major had been in touch with Susannah Bosanko direct anyway. But he was uneasy at the thought that he might have competition over Rebecca.
‘Yes, he has, but I don’t know his long-term plans,’ Rebecca replied. ‘When he’s stronger I’ll tell him gently that I’m seeing you again.’
‘How long will that take?’ Neville asked impatiently.
‘I don’t know. A few weeks, months—’
‘Months! I couldn’t stand the wait. I care for you, Rebecca. I wouldn’t be here now missing a very important meeting if I didn’t. I’ve never done anything like this before. You’ve got your own boat, we could meet somewhere on the river. You suggest a place and I’ll be there.’
‘No, not yet. If you’d seen him the other night…’
‘Very well,’ Neville said angrily. ‘But that doesn’t mean I can’t come here. Fiennes has asked the office to look into some possible business ventures for him, boatbuilding, china clay, tin, etcetera. I’ll have an excuse to be on the estate and if I happen to see you I’ll damn well speak to you and that’s that!’
‘Don’t make things difficult, Neville,’ she begged. ‘If anything happens to the Major it will affect Trevallion and if he has just a small bad experience I’ll be tied here even longer.’
He caressed her hair then held her face tightly between his hands. ‘Don’t worry, darling, I know how to be professional. Just don’t ask me to stay away from you for good.’ He kissed her long and hard and Rebecca nestled in against him.
‘Are you happy I came?’ he murmured.
‘Yes, very happy.’
When Neville left Allen Cottage, he drove on to Trevallion. If the Major found out he’d been here and not called on him he’d know he’d been to see Rebecca and might go barmy again.
‘What do you want?’ Alex snapped at him as Emily Jewell, the fourteen-year-old daughter of an estate farm labourer, nervously showed him into the study. ‘Thank you, Emily.’ Alex smiled at the girl. ‘If you’re not sure what to do next, ask Mrs Wright.’
‘Yes, sir.’ Emily bobbed at the knee and ran out of the room.
Neville closed the door, which Emily had forgotten to do. ‘So you’ve moved in here, Major Fiennes? Mr Drayton will be pleased. He’ll be able to carry on with the little gardening interest he’s taken on here.’
Alex returned Neville’s sarcasm. ‘What about you, Faull? It’s spoiled your hopes for a little commission from selling this place for a hotel. What are you doing here now?’
‘I called at the gatehouse with some information you asked for about local investments. I think you’ll find the boatbuilding the most interesting to you.’ Neville had a folder under his arm. It had been lying on the seat of his car and was quite empty. He was gambling that Alex was in no mood for talking business; from the bruises and cuts still visible on his face, he looked in no fit state for anything much. ‘Perhaps the moment is not opportune,’ he said in the voice he reserved for wealthy elderly ladies in bereavement. ‘You are obviously not well.’
Alex stared at him stonily and Neville retreated to the door.
‘I’ll call again next week, Major. I do hope you feel better soon.’
* * *
‘The Major’s sulking in Captain Miles’s study,’ Ivy Gummoe, wife of Percy the caretaker, paused in her dusting to inform Rebecca as she stepped inside the big house.
‘Has someone upset him?’ Rebecca asked, sighing. She’d have stern words with Neville if he’d caused any trouble.
‘No, I don’t think so. That Mr Faull was here this morning but he left almost at once. He made young Emily come over all strange, she thought he was so handsome. Percy and I have been given a lovely room, Rebecca. It will be much better than living in that cold draughty cottage we had. I don’t think I could have faced another winter there. Want to have a look-see later on?’ Ivy’s small urchin face was alight with joy and Rebecca was pleased for her.
‘I’d love to, after dinner tonight, eh?’
‘S’pose you must be feeling some pleased with yourself,’ Ivy remarked, dusting the long hall table with gusto. ‘You’re somebody important now. Don’t know why you didn’t want to move in here, could have had the best
room in the house so I’ve heard. Still, I suppose home’s home and that’s all there is to it.’
‘The Major is my employer, Ivy, just like he is yours,’ Rebecca stressed.
‘Oh, don’t look like that.’
‘Like what?’ Rebecca asked, getting impatient with Ivy’s chatter.
‘All mournful looking. Where’s that nice smile we’ve been seeing of late? You were beaming on regatta day.’
‘I’ll see you later, Ivy.’
Rebecca went into the study. One look at Alex’s face brought on the compassion she felt for him. It was easy to feel vexed with him when she was apart from him but it was different when they were face to face. He was lounging at his desk, his chair turned away so he could stretch his legs. His shoulders were hunched over, his head held stiff, his eyes staring at nothing.
She went up close to him. ‘Are you all right, Alex?’
‘Mmmm, I suppose so,’ he said wearily. He lifted his head and searched her face and Rebecca was certain that he wanted to ask her if she had seen Neville Faull.
‘Did you eat your lunch?’
‘You sound like that bloody nurse,’ he said tersely.
‘If you’re going to speak to me like that I’ll go to the kitchen and chat to Loveday,’ she threatened but kept a calm voice.
For the first two days after his nightmare she had taken the full brunt of his moods, which had changed more quickly than unsettled weather. It had taken great patience and strength of will to cope with him. Nurse Uren, who was unshakeable no matter how badly he behaved, advised Rebecca not to pander to his every whim and not to be afraid to give him a good ticking off when she felt he needed it.
Alex had learned to sidestep her. He got up and wandered round the room. ‘I wonder how Stephen is getting on with his first day at Truro Cathedral School. Miles was schooled there. I’m going to get Stephen his own pony. Did I tell you?’
‘Yes, several times.’
Alex had tried as many ploys to get Stephen to talk to him as he had in trying to get Rebecca to live at Trevallion. While Rebecca’s promise not to leave the creek gave him a measure of peace, Stephen had been unrelenting in his unforgiveness; he was only sorry to be going to boarding school during the week because he’d miss the creek, riding and rowing with Joe and, most of all, Tamsyn. He was disgusted with his mother. When Abigail had been told by Alex of his decision to stay, she seemed to forget his cruel behaviour and had talked only of the exciting future they would have.
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