Trevallion

by Trevallion (retail) (epub)

  ‘No, they are not! Why do you want to know, you evil old bitch? Get out of here at once!’

  ‘I’m going now but let me tell you this. A creek girl tried to cross me once before and lived to regret it. No one will keep me out of this house for good, least of all you, a so-called lady who’d be happy to service a tomcat. Trevallion is mine by rights. It should have been mine years ago and I mean to have it!’

  Susannah rang for her car to be brought round. The moment she was gone, Abigail dashed up the stairs and into Alex’s room. He was coming out of his adjoining bathroom with just a towel round his waist.

  ‘Abigail!’

  ‘You’ve got to stop that evil old woman coming here,’ she cried, close to tears.

  Alex led her to a chair. ‘Sit there and tell me what happened.’ He threw on a dressing gown while Abigail took several deep breaths. ‘Is she still in the house, Abigail?’

  ‘No, she’s gone. Alex, that woman said Trevallion should be hers. What does she mean?’ Abigail held out her wrist. ‘Look what she did to me. She was demanding to know if you and Rebecca were sleeping together. She went berserk. She said a creek girl had crossed her before and she’d made her sorry. Alex, you’ve got to do something. She threatened both me and Rebecca and God knows what she’d like to do to you. What if she tried to hurt Stephen? She terrified me. I can’t get that evil look in her eyes out of my mind.’

  Alex went to a window and saw Susannah’s car disappearing through the towering trees. ‘Don’t worry, Abigail, I’ll make sure she doesn’t come here again. I wish I’d never looked that old woman up. It’s a pity Roland Trevallion didn’t burn his love letters.’

  ‘Love letters?’ Abigail joined him at the window. ‘What are you talking about?’

  Alex told her about the love letters written by Susannah Bosanko and their hiding place. ‘There was also a will in the hiding place, Abigail.’

  ‘A will? This is all very mysterious. It doesn’t mean anything, surely. You are the rightful heir to Trevallion, aren’t you?’

  ‘Legally, yes, but perhaps… Abigail, I’m going to ask you a delicate question and I want you to tell me the truth. What exactly does Joe Carlyon mean to you?’

  Chapter 33

  That evening Rebecca went to the kitchen to talk to Loveday. She found her in the washroom where she was adding water to a bowl of cold strained tea.

  ‘Hello, Becca. I’m just putting this black silk dress of Mrs Fiennes’ in to soak. She spilt coffee on it this afternoon when that dreadful Miss Bosanko was here.’

  ‘I’ve just been talking to the Major about her,’ Rebecca said, an expression of distaste on her face. ‘He told me he’s going to write to her and tell her she mustn’t come here again. Apparently she was very rude to Mrs Fiennes and she ruined the end of our lovely day out with the children.’

  ‘I’ll thank the Lord for that,’ Loveday replied with feeling, pushing the soft material gently into the cold tea. ‘Emily told me she and Ivy heard raised voices coming from the drawing room. If you ask me, that old woman is evil. I’m glad Tamsyn’s never come across her.’

  When the silk dress was fully immersed, Loveday dried her hands and looked deeply into Rebecca’s face. ‘There was another visitor here today.’

  ‘Oh?’ Rebecca replied hopefully. Neville had called twice recently and each time she had not been at the house and had missed him. ‘Who was that?’

  ‘As if you didn’t know, my girl. Here,’ Loveday dug into her apron pocket. ‘He asked me to give you this.’

  Rebecca took the sealed envelope. It was Trevallion stationery and her name was written on it. She recognised Neville’s writing from documents in the study. Her face brightened up and Loveday made a smug sound.

  ‘I had a suspicion you were seeing him. All those extra calls on the Major were just excuses to see you then.’

  Rebecca studied Loveday’s face. ‘I take it you don’t approve.’

  ‘I can understand how a man like him would turn a young girl’s head but I thought you were more sensible, Becca. I don’t trust him one iota. Just you be wary of him, my girl. You could end up being very sorry.’

  Loveday didn’t mention that Neville Faull had seemed almost distraught that he had missed Rebecca for a third time. He had begged Loveday to let him into the study so he could write a quick letter to her. It seemed he was actually fond of Rebecca, but Loveday had taken it upon herself not to encourage her.

  ‘I’ll leave you to read it in peace and check on the vegetables for dinner,’ she said.

  Tamsyn skipped into the kitchen looking for her mother to ask if she could stay on at Trevallion for the evening. She and Stephen had already eaten and were busy in one of the spare bedrooms laying out the model railway. He wanted her to stay long enough to help him complete a new complicated piece of tracking.

  Emily and Ivy were laying the dining table and the kitchen was empty. A saucepan of cauliflower was boiling over on the big black range. Tamsyn called out, ‘Mum!’ There was no answer and she went over to the range and twisted her small face as she decided what she ought to do. Her mother had warned her many times not to go near an oven while something was cooking on the top, but Tamsyn felt she was grown up enough to lift the lid off the bubbling saucepan to stop its contents boiling over. She lifted up the lid but burnt her fingers and crying out in pain she snatched her hand back. Her elbow caught the handle and tipped the saucepan over. Boiling hot water and cauliflower tipped over her, scalding a path all the way down one side, and she screamed in agony.

  ‘Tamsyn!’ Loveday cried as she came through the doorway. ‘Tamsyn! Oh, my God, my baby!’

  Rebecca had slit Neville’s letter open but at Tamsyn’s first scream she dropped it. She rushed into the kitchen and found Loveday trying to pick Tamsyn up in her arms and Tamsyn fighting her off, rolling around on the floor, screaming and screaming.

  ‘She’s been scalded!’ Loveday shrieked at the top of her voice. ‘What shall we do? Help me, Becca!’

  Rebecca ran back to the washroom and grabbed a bucket of cold water. Shoving Loveday out of the way so forcefully she ended up on her bottom, Rebecca snatched a big jug off the table and began to pour the cold water over Tamsyn’s squirming body.

  Alex ran into the kitchen. ‘What’s happened?’

  Rebecca was in tears like Loveday. ‘Take hold of her, Alex. I’ve got to get as much of this cold water as possible over her. I daren’t throw the bucketful over her, it might send her into shock.’

  Alex held Tamsyn as best he could against her struggling and screaming. Emily and Ivy ran in at the same time. They went to Loveday and held her tightly. She moaned and wailed, hot tears skimming down her face and dripping off her chin.

  ‘Let Becca and the Major see to her for now,’ Ivy said wisely. ‘Tamsyn will need you later.’

  When the last jugful of water had been poured over the desperate little girl Alex said grimly, ‘We must get her to the infirmary immediately.’

  ‘I’ve already sent Gummoe for Trease to bring a motorcar round,’ Abigail said. She was standing in the doorway, clearly shaken, and clinging to her, his face white with shock, was Stephen.

  ‘Thanks, Abigail,’ Alex said. ‘Can you fetch a sheet and a blanket?’

  Abigail nodded and tried to take Stephen with her but he refused to budge and she went off quickly by herself. Rebecca watched as Stephen edged closer to his friend.

  Tamsyn’s screams had turned to whimpers. Loveday had stopped struggling to get away from Emily and Ivy and was staring down numbly at her daughter. The skin visible on Tamsyn’s right side was an angry red.

  ‘Don’t come any closer, Stephen,’ Rebecca said softly when he was a foot away.

  Tears suddenly spurted from his eyes and he let them fall unchecked. ‘T-Tam… sh-she’ll be all right?’

  ‘We’ll get her to the infirmary, Stephen,’ Alex said gently. ‘She’ll be well cared for there.’

  ‘Mum,’ Tamsyn whimpered.


  Loveday started, as if she had come back to life. ‘I’m here, my handsome,’ she sobbed. ‘Just lie still against the Major, he’s going to look after you.’

  ‘Come and hold her hand, Loveday,’ Alex said soothingly. He held up Tamsyn’s left hand, which was unhurt.

  Loveday did as he bid her, kissing Tamsyn’s hand and murmuring reassurances to her.

  Abigail returned and passed the bedclothes to Rebecca.

  Percy Gummoe rushed into the kitchen a moment later. ‘Car’s ready, sir.’

  ‘Right, we’ll get going then. Tamsyn’s gone quiet and I think she’ll stay like that. We’ll wrap her carefully first in the sheet and then in the blanket and she can lie across her mother and Becca’s laps. She’s in shock and must be kept warm. I’ll drive them myself’

  ‘I want to go, Uncle Alex,’ Stephen implored with a fresh outpouring of tears. ‘Please let me go. Mother, say I can go. Tamsyn will need me. I’m her blood brother. She’s my chum. I must go too.’

  ‘Trease can take one of the other cars,’ Alex said, glancing at Abigail.

  ‘We’ll all go,’ Abigail said quickly. ‘We’re all one big family now.’

  The cars sped through the narrow lanes and on to the main road to Truro in the darkening cool night air. When they reached the infirmary Alex took Tamsyn off the women’s laps and carried her into the gaunt dark-stoned building. Medical staff quickly took her from him. As he gave a nurse some details, Rebecca came up behind him, her arm around Loveday.

  ‘Take a seat, Mrs Wright,’ the nurse said kindly. ‘Someone will come and tell you what’s happening as soon as we know exactly what Tamsyn’s condition is.’

  A long wait began.

  ‘It’s all my fault,’ Loveday sobbed into her cardigan sleeve. ‘I should never have left the kitchen with food cooking on top of the oven. Oh, my poor baby.’

  Rebecca held her close and fought to hold back her own tears. Alex crouched in front of them and held both their hands. Moments later they were joined by Abigail, Stephen, Trease and Joe. Joe had heard the commotion from the stables where he had been doing his evening round and had jumped in the motorcar with the others.

  ‘How is she?’ he asked Rebecca.

  ‘We don’t know anything yet,’ she replied, her voice choked.

  ‘Sir?’ Joe inquired of Alex.

  Alex rose to his feet and Abigail pulled up a chair where he had been and held Loveday’s hand. Stephen sat down beside Rebecca and put his head on her shoulder. He stared at the opposite wall and every few moments Rebecca rubbed his hand in comfort. The three men walked away to where the women and boy couldn’t hear them talking.

  ‘It’s not good,’ Alex said huskily, his voice full of pain for the suffering little girl. ‘She’s been scalded all down one side of her body.’

  ‘Oh no,’ Trease wailed softly, rocking on his feet. ‘The poor little maid. She’s Stanley’s little girl. How could this have happened? She won’t… die, will she?’

  Alex ran a hand through his hair. ‘I… I shouldn’t think so… Oh, God,’ he murmured under his breath, ‘not this little girl too.’

  Twenty minutes ticked by agonisingly slowly. The group stayed close together, in an overbearing atmosphere of disinfectant, chloroform, ether and their own fears.

  Loveday stopped sobbing and stared at the ceiling, lowering her eyes only when someone walked up or down the corridor or came out of a doorway, desperately hoping it was someone come to tell her of Tamsyn’s condition or to say she could go to her. The others tried unsuccessfully to think of something to say to comfort her. But the men had seen too many burnt men on the battlefields, dead or horribly scarred, and Rebecca, Abigail and Stephen had seen Tamsyn thrashing about in agony.

  More time passed. Stephen wanted to ask how long the doctors would be but he knew this was not the moment to make a fuss and he bravely kept quiet, planning all the things he would do for Tamsyn when she was better. He’d ask Mrs Wright if she could stay at the big house when she was well enough to leave hospital and he’d lay out the model railway so she could watch the trains rocking along the tracks. He’d read all his Bonzo dog comics to her; Tamsyn adored Bonzo dog. He’d get her all the sweets and lemonade she wanted. He’d ask Uncle Alex to buy her a pony of her own. Tamsyn would love to have her own pony and in the meantime of course he’d look after Motley for her. He thought hard about what he’d do for her and tried to get the picture of her suffering on the kitchen floor out of his mind.

  A senior nurse came to speak to Loveday and the group crowded solemnly round her. ‘At this point, Mrs Wright, the doctor wants you to know that he’s confident that Tamsyn’s life is not in danger.’

  ‘Thank God, thank God,’ Loveday moaned. ‘But how badly hurt is she, nurse? Can I go to her now?’

  ‘You can go to her in a little while. I can’t say much more at this point but it’s not as bad as we first thought. You did the right thing by dousing the child in cold water right from the start. It took away the heat and stopped the burning or things would have been much worse. I have to get back now. The doctor will come and talk to you as soon as he can.’

  ‘Thank you, Becca,’ Loveday said, mopping up her tears. ‘If it hadn’t been for you…’ She looked up at Alex’s grave face. ‘And thank you, sir. You were such a help. You’ve been so kind. And you too, Mrs Fiennes.’

  ‘We’re all in this together, Loveday,’ Alex said firmly and Abigail nodded in agreement and squeezed her hand. ‘We’ll stay for as long as it’s necessary,’ she said.

  Another nurse appeared and offered Loveday a cup of tea which she declined. People drifted up and down the corridor, moving in and out of the doors, medical staff, ancillary staff, visitors and patients. The daylight had gone and gaslights were lit. Another hour had passed when a door at the end of the corridor was opened and Loveday sprang to her feet.

  ‘Mr Drayton!’ She ran to him. ‘Oh, Mr Drayton, thank you for coming.’

  Robert Drayton took Loveday’s outstretched hands in his. ‘I had to come the moment I heard, Mrs Wright. How is Tamsyn?’

  As Loveday told Robert what she knew, Trease remarked to Joe, ‘I wonder how he found out.’

  Rebecca was wondering that too. She thought about Neville’s unread letter and thought it likely he’d written to say he intended coming to Trevallion tonight and on finding out about the accident had driven straight to Mr Drayton. Her assumption was proved right when Neville came through the same door a few moments later.

  ‘I’m sorry to hear about your daughter, Mrs Wright,’ he said, pausing where Loveday and Robert were talking quietly. When Loveday had thanked him for his concern, he moved past the couple and went straight to Rebecca.

  ‘Darling, are you all right? The servants told me what had happened and I thought Mrs Wright would like to have Mr Drayton with her.’

  Rebecca glanced at Alex. His face was tight, his dark eyes blazing.

  ‘You did the right thing, Neville,’ she said awkwardly.

  Neville took Rebecca’s hand and informed Alex curtly, ‘I didn’t call at Trevallion to see you.’

  ‘Becca may see whom she wishes,’ Alex said acidly, then he turned his back on them.

  Rebecca pulled her hand out from Neville’s. It wasn’t proper what with Alex’s mood and with her father glaring at them.

  A middle-aged doctor, wearing uncomfortable-looking formal clothes covered by a spotlessly white starched coat approached Loveday. He exuded an air of confidence and superiority.

  ‘We’re preparing to take your daughter up to the ward, Mrs Wright. You may thank the person responsible for being so quick off the mark with the cold water that her scalding is in the main only superficial. I’m reasonably confident there should be very little scarring. We’re more concerned with the shock she’s received but we don’t foresee any complications from that. We’ve given her a painkiller and she’s very drowsy. She’ll soon sleep for hours. A nurse will come in a few moments and take you to her.’


  ‘Thank you, doctor,’ Loveday said, sniffing back more tears. ‘She’ll make a good recovery? Is that what you’re saying?’

  ‘She’s going to endure a rough time in the next few days but ultimately I’m confident all will be well.’

  Loveday suddenly keeled backwards. Many hands shot out to catch her but Robert Drayton caught her and supported her strongly. He sat her down gently and when he was sure she wasn’t going to faint he looked the doctor directly in the eye.

  ‘I shall go to the ward with Mrs Wright,’ he said with quiet but absolute authority. ‘I am her fiancé and Tamsyn will shortly be my stepdaughter. They are my family and they need me.’

  Loveday’s head shot up to look at Robert. Rebecca expected an outraged denial from her but when the look of shock vanished from her face it was replaced by acceptance, pride, admiration and inner happiness.

  While the gathering gazed in astonishment at Robert, the doctor nodded and said, ‘Of course.’

  ‘I want to go too,’ Stephen interjected, pulling himself up from his forlorn state to his fullest height. ‘I’m Tamsyn’s brother and she needs me.’

  ‘I don’t think you are her brother,’ the doctor said, smiling sympathetically, ‘but I’m sure you’re a special friend. The important thing for Tamsyn now is that she gets plenty of rest to ensure a quick recovery. I’m sure as a special friend you will understand that she can’t have everyone round her bedside tonight. Perhaps in a day or two. I’m sure Mrs Wright will tell her how concerned you are when she’s fully awake tomorrow.’

  Stephen nodded and his chin fell on his chest. Alex took him by the shoulders and turned him round. Stephen’s temporary assertiveness crumpled and he cried bitterly in Alex’s arms.

  ‘I’ll see that Mrs Wright gets home when she wants to leave, Major Fiennes,’ Robert said firmly. Then he took Loveday by the arm and they followed a young nurse who had appeared to take them to the ward.

  Abigail suddenly burst into tears too. Rebecca went to comfort her but Joe was there first and no one took offence as he put his arm round her shoulders and led her away.