Trevallion

by Trevallion (retail) (epub)

  Alex’s eyes sprang open. She was aware of his surprise as she kissed him. ‘Why did you do that?’ he asked huskily when she lifted her face away.

  ‘Because I wanted to.’

  She kissed him again, harder and longer to show she meant it. Kissing Neville had been good, it had stirred her to her first full passion. But kissing Alex was pure bliss. She felt more than mature and full of feminine longing. She was totally sure she wanted him, all of him. She didn’t have to wonder if making love with Alex would be fulfilling. Her whole being longed for him and if he wanted her too, no matter what he felt for her afterwards, she wanted her first time to be with him.

  Alex was stunned at her kissing him like this. He responded immediately; kissing Rebecca like a lover was something he’d wished for a long time, long before his assault on her. Despite his battle trauma and gloomy personality he’d wondered what she’d be like to kiss as far back as the journey in the trap from Truro railway station. She had seemed so natural, a quiet, beautiful young woman, lacking pretensions in her shabby clothes. He’d never been the sort of man to bother his female staff and he’d known from the start Rebecca wouldn’t have countenanced anything like that anyway. He’d hoped his nightmarish existence wouldn’t follow him to Cornwall, but with the appearance of Miles in his dreams it had been even worse. It had been such a comfort to secure Rebecca’s friendship. After she’d forgiven him for the lunatic assault and he’d got her to promise to stay at Trevallion, he’d thought that at best she only felt a maternal tenderness for him. When Neville Faull had turned up at the infirmary and made no secret of the fact that they were still meeting, he’d found it hard but he’d accepted it and resolved to pick up the pieces if Faull used and cruelly dropped her. He was sure they’d arranged to meet when Faull returned from London, so why was she kissing him like this now?

  ‘Are you sure about this, Becca?’ he breathed, holding her face gently away from him. He had to be sure her kisses meant what they seemed to, what he’d give anything in the world to happen. He didn’t want her to make a terrible mistake. ‘Isn’t there someone else to consider?’

  She replied with the truth and said it boldly. ‘I’ve never been sure of anything more, Alex. There is no one else I want like this, only you.’

  He pulled her down to him and kissed her in the way they both wanted. Fully, possessively, passionately. He drew his hands through her hair, kneading and caressing it, making it feel like an act of intimate lovemaking in itself. She could feel his life force flowing through him, the energy, the vitality, the spirit which had been missing in him for so long.

  They forgot all about their life’s tragedies, their uncertain futures, the river and Trevallion. They lay down together and very soon were totally lost in each other.

  Chapter 36

  That evening Joe Carlyon went to the big house as requested by the Major and was disconcerted to be shown into the drawing room. If he’d known it wasn’t going to be a short conference on the running of the stables in the study he would have tidied himself up and put on his suit. Abigail was there and a look of shock and guilt passed between them. What did the Major want? Was he going to rebuke them over their relationship? They were both immediately on the defensive.

  ‘What’s this all about, Alex?’ Abigail asked abrasively from the chair where she was preparing to light a cigarette.

  ‘Come in and sit down, Joe,’ Alex said in an amiable tone by the drinks cabinet. ‘What would you like to drink?’

  Joe shuffled his feet but stood his ground. ‘Drink, Major?’

  ‘Yes, drink. Scotch, brandy, sherry? I have some beer.’

  ‘Um, nothing for me, sir. I… I don’t understand.’

  ‘You will shortly, Joe. There is one other person to come and then I’ll tell you why I’ve asked you here.’

  ‘And who’s that?’ Abigail demanded, rising from her chair dramatically. ‘I don’t know what you think you’re playing at, Alex—’ She was stopped by a fourth person entering the room. ‘Rebecca…’

  Rebecca smiled and crossed the room to Alex, who put his arm round her. They gazed lovingly at each other for a moment and Abigail said sarcastically, ‘Well, we don’t have to ask if you two enjoyed your day out together. Does this mean we are to expect an announcement?’

  ‘That’s right, Abigail,’ Alex replied proudly with a contented look on his face. ‘This afternoon I asked Becca to marry me and she accepted.’

  Various expressions crossed Abigail’s face as she took in this news but Joe lost his nervousness and went to the couple to shake their hands.

  ‘Congratulations, Major, Becca. I couldn’t be more pleased. I’ll not hide the fact that the whole estate has been hoping there might be something between you both and that it would come to this. It’s a pity that Trease isn’t here. He would have been as proud as punch.’

  ‘Thank you, Joe,’ Rebecca said, accepting a kiss on the cheek from him and thinking sadly of her father.

  ‘I’m sorry to break in on your felicitations,’ Abigail said harshly, waving her cigarette about in its holder. ‘But where does this leave me and Stephen? And why have you brought Joe here tonight? You could have waited until tomorrow to tell him your good news.’

  Rebecca looked at Abigail with sympathy. She felt she shouldn’t really be here but Alex had insisted she had the right as his future wife.

  ‘To begin with, Abigail, Becca and I don’t intend to live here so you need not worry that she will be usurping your position as mistress of Trevallion. But on that position I will be laying down a condition. We are going to marry as soon as possible and until the house we’re planning to have built at Perranporth is ready, we’ll live in the gatehouse. We want our privacy and in that way you will have full rein here. I’m going to sell all my assets outside Cornwall and start various business ventures locally in which Becca will play a major part.’

  Joe kept quiet, not understanding why he was here and being told of the Major’s plans before the rest of the estate workers.

  Abigail was looking at Alex with suspicion. ‘This is all very touching but what is the condition you are talking about? Where does all this leave my son? Is he to have Trevallion one day or not?’

  ‘Yes, he will, Abigail,’ Alex answered evenly. ‘On one condition, that you and Joe marry and provide the boy with some sort of family life.’

  ‘Alex!’ Rebecca gasped. ‘You can’t make a condition like that.’

  ‘I can and I will,’ Alex said coolly.

  ‘But, sir,’ Joe’s face had gone a sickly colour, ‘Mrs Fiennes would never want to marry me.’

  ‘Why not, Joe? She’s happy to lie in your bed or anywhere else you choose to carry out your affair – and before you raise your hands in protest, I will have you both know that your relationship is public knowledge.’

  ‘This is outrageous!’ Abigail shouted across the room. ‘I won’t be told what to do like this. How dare you make such a condition, Alexander Fiennes. If you have any feelings for Stephen, why can’t you just turn Trevallion over to him when he comes of age and leave it at that?’

  Rebecca was about to speak but Alex put a finger to his lips. She kept quiet but shook her head. When Alex had said on the river bank that he was going to put a proposition to Abigail and Joe, this was the last thing she had expected.

  ‘I’ve decided on this course to protect the Trevallion estate as Miles Trevallion would have wished and to protect Stephen. I want there to be no more gossip about the two of you and if you get married people will think you have fallen in love and are doing the decent thing. Stephen will have a home, a mother and a stepfather he gets along with quite well.’

  ‘But if we do as you want what will the other young gentlemen say at the boy having a stepfather who is only a groom?’ Joe asked. He was looking at Alex as if he thought he’d gone mad.

  Alex’s eyes were on Abigail when he answered and she seemed to shrink in size. ‘Abigail has already forfeited her place as a socialite by her p
ast behaviour. Stephen loves the creek and I think he’ll be reasonably happy with the arrangement. He won’t have a groom as a stepfather, Joe, because I intend to make you general manager of the estate. I’m confident that you will learn quickly how to manage things and I trust you completely as I’m sure Captain Miles did. Also, in this way it’ll make sure that Abigail doesn’t marry some unsuitable lounge lizard who might suck Stephen’s inheritance dry. Stephen will be able to take charge of Trevallion when he’s twenty-five and until then I shall keep some control, along with Robert Drayton, as extra protection. You will have thirteen years between you to turn Stephen into a responsible young man and a worthy heir to Trevallion.’

  Abigail looked thunderstruck and Rebecca fought back the desire to go and comfort her. At that moment, because she was Alex’s fiancée, the gesture wouldn’t have been appreciated.

  Alex looked at the pinched faces of the lovers. ‘You can take it or leave it. If you decide to leave it then you, Abigail, will be no more than a lodger here, with no inheritance to come to Stephen except the large sum of money already written into my will. And you, Joe, will remain as groom. I shall install a general manager to run the estate.’

  ‘You are a hard man, Major Fiennes,’ Joe said coldly.

  ‘I prefer to think of it as practical, Joe,’ Alex returned, unshaken.

  ‘You are despicable!’ Abigail suddenly screamed, throwing her unlit cigarette across the room and making Rebecca jump. Abigail ran to Joe and took hold of his arm. ‘You’ve made me sound like a harlot but I’ll have you know that Joe and I do care for each other. If we decide to marry, it will be because we want to.’

  ‘Aye,’ said Joe, puffing out his chest and holding Abigail protectively.

  ‘I’m glad to hear it,’ Alex said softly.

  Abigail turned with as much dignity as she could muster and swept out of the room on Joe’s arm. The door was closed loudly.

  ‘You were a bit hard on them,’ Rebecca said.

  Alex was thoroughly unrepentant. ‘I had to be, darling. They deserved it the way they were carrying on. Abigail was risking her reputation down here without a thought of what it could mean to Stephen or the Kennickers. Jossy himself asked me recently to put a stop to their goings-on. This seems to be the best way for everyone concerned. Joe will make an excellent head of the estate and as he seems able to satisfy Abigail’s appetites, she’s less likely to wander elsewhere.’

  ‘Alex! Really.’

  He smiled and went over to her, and kissed her lips. ‘You’ve lived a rather sheltered life, my love. Straight talking is not so shocking in society.’

  ‘I must be thankful for a quiet upbringing then,’ she said, cuddling into him.

  ‘Nothing could spoil you, darling Becca. I do love you.’

  ‘Do you think they’ll get married, Alex?’

  ‘Joe will probably be the one to have reservations, but what choice does Abigail have if she wants to be lady of this house? She’ll talk Joe round if need be. I think she was telling the truth when she said they care for each other. I asked her a while ago what she felt for him, because I wouldn’t want to force her into a marriage she would hate. That wouldn’t help Stephen. She told me to mind my own business though she did seem concerned for Joe. She was afraid I would throw him off the estate. But I’ll tell you one thing, Becca Allen,’ – he grinned with a wicked glint in his dark eyes, a sign of his newfound confidence since she’d given him her love – ‘I’ll get you to the altar before Abigail does Joe and maybe even before Robert Drayton does Loveday Wright.’

  * * *

  Rebecca was in Allen Cottage packing up her belongings to take to the gatehouse. She glanced out of her bedroom window and saw Neville coming up the path. She ran down the stairs to meet him. She was expecting him to come today, a week after his trip to London.

  ‘Hello, Neville.’

  ‘I’ve just read your letter, darling. I came as quickly as I could. You should have got Robert Drayton to get in touch with me in London. I would have come back straightaway. I’m so sorry about your father’s death. How are you bearing up?’

  ‘I’m all right, Neville,’ she said, turning her face so his kiss landed on her cheek. ‘Come inside.’

  She led him into the kitchen where he tried to hold her but she nipped smartly aside. ‘Would you like a cup of tea?’

  ‘Only if you’ve got one made,’ he replied, frowning. ‘You seem different, Rebecca. Is there something wrong?’

  ‘I’ve got some news for you, Neville,’ she said, pouring him a cup of tea which he ignored.

  ‘Yes?’

  She squared her shoulders but couldn’t help going a little pink. ‘I’ll come straight to the point. The Major and I are getting married.’

  ‘What the hell – I don’t believe it!’ His mouth fell open and he couldn’t speak for a minute. When he found his voice again it was full of hurt. ‘He certainly stepped in smartishly the moment I turned my back. Good God, Rebecca, what are you doing? You can’t marry half a man. You can’t spend the rest of your life wiping the nose of a damned lunatic.’

  ‘It’s not like that,’ Rebecca returned emphatically. She’d known this was going to be difficult. ‘Alex is so much stronger and more capable these days. A lot has happened since you’ve been away and he’s coped wonderfully. He’s put the war in the past. He’s got everything in perspective. Alex has made plans for the future and I’m happy to be a part of them.’

  ‘I thought I meant something to you, Rebecca.’

  ‘You did, Neville. But with Alex it’s different.’

  Neville caught her by the arms and held her fast. ‘In which way different? What’s different about him?’ He searched her face for answers then groaned. ‘My God, he’s made love to you, hasn’t he?’

  Rebecca looked back steadily. ‘We made love together.’ Neville let her go. He ran his hands through his fair hair and sighed heavily to check the urge to cry. He had thought of Rebecca every minute of the week he’d spent in London. She had affected him in a way no other woman had before. He had come to adore her. He had desired her and very nearly won her completely, but when she had changed her mind about making love with him, rather than making him angry or feel rejected or become even more determined that one day he would have her, it had made him think deeply about her. She was as honest and forthright as she was beautiful. She sought neither status nor position. There was something pure about her. As the week had worn on and the longing to see her again and just hold her in his arms had grown, he had even begun to consider whether he could take her as his wife. A marriage simply to benefit his career and place in society was no longer very appealing.

  And now he was too late. Alexander Fiennes had something in his character that he did not, and whatever it was, it had made Rebecca succumb to him. All he could do now was to bow out as gracefully as he could.

  ‘Well, that’s that then,’ he said, his voice thick with emotion. ‘I can’t compete with that. You must think a lot of him to have given yourself to him. Now it’s up to me leave you to your future life, but it’s damned hard, Rebecca, damned hard.’

  ‘I’m sorry, Neville, but it wouldn’t have worked out for us.’

  He looked at her for some time. ‘Oh, I don’t know, Rebecca. You’ve straightened out a moody shell-shocked industrialist and you came a long way to reforming a caddish solicitor.’

  Neville met up with Alex on the way back to his car. It seemed Rebecca was right about Alexander Fiennes; he had changed. He looked calm and confident and there was more than a touch of arrogance in the way he looked at him He kept his hands in his pockets and seemed disinclined to speak, as if Neville’s presence on Trevallion was of no concern to him.

  Neville was feeling bitter. It would take only the slightest provocation and he’d raise his fists and beat this superior looking dark-haired major into the Trevallion dirt.

  ‘I congratulate you, Fiennes. I received a letter from Rebecca saying she wanted to see me. Mr Drayton
told me her father had drowned in the river. I thought she was in need of my comfort. You pulled yourself together in the nick of time because very soon Rebecca would have been mine.’

  ‘Sent you packing, did she?’ Alex asked drily.

  ‘Yes, she did. You’ve got yourselves a wonderful woman there. Rebecca is a matchless creature, and you don’t deserve her. You bloody upcountry people come down here and take all our best things.’

  ‘I know exactly what Rebecca is like. No matter where her husband comes from, you wouldn’t have been good for her, Faull.’

  ‘Well, I certainly don’t think you are, Fiennes,’ Neville bellowed. ‘I believe you’ve manipulated her into agreeing to marry you!’

  ‘You can believe what you like. I love Rebecca and you may depend on it I’ll look after her with my life.’

  * * *

  Tamsyn was tucked up on pillows on the settee in Loveday’s tiny sitting room, her small face peeping over a blanket. Stephen was there. His headmaster had given him permission to spend the first week of her release from the infirmary at home. Loveday came into the room and started to fuss with the blanket.

  ‘Now just you mind you don’t let Motley in here, Master Stephen,’ she said in a no-nonsense voice. ‘A big dog jumping all over her will hurt her and she could get an infection from him. I’m just popping up to the big house to make sure Ivy’s got the lunch under control. I’m trusting you to look after Tamsyn until I get back.’ Loveday wasn’t working at Trevallion full time now and Alex had advertised for a replacement cook.

  ‘You can depend on me, Mrs Wright,’ Stephen said stoutly.

  ‘I’ll be back in a little while, my handsome,’ she told Tamsyn. ‘Just you stay put. If you want anything, I’m sure Master Stephen will get it for you.’

  ‘’Bye, Mum.’ Tamsyn gave a small wave with her good arm.

  ‘You’re lucky to have a mother who loves you so much,’ Stephen said. ‘Mine is more preoccupied than usual. If I as much as ask her a simple question she says, “Go down to the cottage and see Tamsyn, darling. I’ve got a lot on my mind.”’