Trevennor’s Will, page 31
‘Doctor? No, I believe me sister’s living here and I wondered if I could see her.’
‘Sister? What’s her name?’
‘Mary Ellen Leddra. I’m her brother, James.’
Mrs Christopher gasped and clapped her hands to her bosom. Tears filled her eyes.
‘She does live here, doesn’t she?’ James asked in alarm.
Mrs Christopher could only nod.
‘Has something happened to her?’
‘She’s dead,’ Mrs Christopher whispered. ‘I’m afraid she was found… I’m sorry…’
‘Dead? But how? What happened?’ James shook his head disbelievingly. ‘I don’t understand.’ His face set grim, he put his hand on the door frame and lifted a foot over the doorstep. ‘Can I come in?’
Mrs Christopher nodded and showed James into the main kitchen where the rest of the servants were gathered in a stunned huddle. They had been discussing Mary Ellen’s sudden death when James had knocked on the door.
‘This is Miss Mary Ellen’s brother,’ Mrs Christopher informed them, drying her tears on a well-pressed handkerchief. ‘She told me she had a brother.’ She turned to James and motioned him to sit at the huge table. You’re a sailor, I can tell by your appearance.’
James ignored the invitation to sit down. ‘What happened to Mary Ellen?’ he whispered, bitterly regretting now that he had not called on her the last time he had come to Gwithian.
‘It only happened a short time ago,’ Mrs Christopher explained, looking about guiltily as though she was afraid she might be overheard. ‘The doctor’s just left. She died in her sleep, so the doctor said. It’s what Miss Deborah, she’s the lady who owns the house jointly with her brother since Mr Trevennor died a few weeks ago, well, she suggested that to the doctor and he agreed with her.’
‘Suggested? You don’t sound convinced that’s the truth.’
‘Well, Dorcas there,’ Mrs Christopher pointed to a maid who was peeping through a door that led to the rest of the house, ‘she saw Miss Deborah at Miss Mary Ellen’s bedroom door, calling to her that she wanted to speak to her about her little maid, Morenwyn. Dorcas went into Miss Mary Ellen to draw back the curtains and let in the fresh air, that’s how Miss Mary Ellen likes – liked to start the morning, in a nice bright room, and to see if she wanted her breakfast in bed. But Dorcas had a bad fright. Miss Mary Ellen was dead, all gone blue in the face, but as warm as you and me. Dorcas was so shocked she couldn’t call out or move for ages, she just sat there with Miss Mary Ellen and that’s when she saw this in her hand.’
Mrs Christopher held out a tiny scrap of lace. ‘It’s from Miss Deborah’s dress, the new one she only wore for the first time today. Dorcas ran to me at once. I told the mistress and she sent for the doctor. We wanted to see what he would say but he wasn’t much interested and soon left. All of us here think Miss Deborah could have done away with Miss Mary Ellen and we were just discussing what to do about it. We’re all for walking out on the Kempthornes but we don’t want no trouble from Mr Edmund. He might even accuse one of us of killing Miss Mary Ellen but not one of us would have harmed her, she was always pleasant to all of us.’
James had listened to the housekeeper with his head in his hands. ‘I should have come before,’ he groaned, sinking down on a nearby chair. ‘I didn’t know whether to or no with Mary Ellen moving out of St Ives to this grand house. I thought she might not have wanted a ragbag brother turning up and spoiling things for her. I’m off to sea again in a day or two and it didn’t seem right to just go off. I thought I’d come and ask at the kitchens about her. I never expected…’
‘I’m so sorry,’ Mrs Christopher said, biting her lip. ‘If only Nick Nancarrow was here. He’d know what to do.’
James looked up sharply. ‘Nick Nancarrow?’
‘Do you know Nick?’ Mrs Christopher asked, her face showing that her hopes were rising.
‘Aye, I do, he saved my life a few weeks ago. My ship went down on the rocks at Trevellas Porth.’
‘When was this exactly?’
James pinpointed the day and Mrs Christopher frowned. ‘Wonder what he was doing there? That’s two days after Mr Trevennor died. Nick disappeared straight afterwards and didn’t reappear until the funeral.’
James looked about uneasily and Mrs Christopher raised an eyebrow, but he had nothing more to say, he had promised not to mention seeing Nick with his young woman friend and had said too much already. ‘Do you think this Miss Deborah will let me see Mary Ellen and my niece?’
‘I don’t know. She’s a terrible woman,’ Mrs Christopher bleated, beginning to cry again, and the other servants echoed her last remark.
Wenna Sweet, the cook, continued, ‘Since the body was discovered, Miss Deborah’s ordered Morenwyn’s nurse to sit with Miss Mary Ellen and has kept Morenwyn close beside her. We’ve all been keeping an eye on her, we don’t trust her, you see. We’re waiting for Mr Edmund to come home.’ Wenna Sweet coloured. ‘That’s the little maid’s father. He adores her and would never hurt her. Then we thought we’d all leave.’
James looked at each of the servants and they all nodded it was their intention to leave. ‘Well, if there’s the smallest chance that woman might hurt my niece I won’t let her stay in this house.’ He got to his feet with a loud scraping of chair legs.
Mrs Christopher’s face creased with worry.
‘But—’
‘Quick!’ Dorcas said from the doorway. ‘She’s trying to get Morenwyn to put her cloak on. She says she’s taking her out to meet her mother!’
James pushed past Dorcas and ran the length of a long passageway to confront Deborah Kempthorne. Morenwyn was wailing that she didn’t want to go outside and Deborah was pulling and pushing her, insisting that she should obey.
‘She’s not going anywhere with you!’ James cried.
‘Who on earth are you? How dare you enter my house!’ Deborah shrieked.
‘My name’s James Leddra, brother of the little maid’s dead mother and that makes her my niece. I’m not satisfied with what the doctor said about Mary Ellen’s death and I’ll not have Morenwyn staying under this roof or going anywhere with you.’ Morenwyn ran to Mrs Christopher who picked her up and hurried her away to the kitchen, the rest of the servants putting themselves in one united body in front of them.
‘You have no right to come in here and say such things or make demands. The child is my brother’s child and in his absence I am in charge of her. Get out of my house at once, all of you,’ she screamed at the servants. You’re all dismissed! And leave the child here with me.’
‘Not on your life,’ James said menacingly. ‘She’ll not meet the same fate as her mother did today at your vile hands, woman.’
‘I could have you jailed for saying such a thing to me. Get out! Get out all of you!’
‘Aye, we’re only too happy to go,’ Mrs Christopher said bitterly, peeping over the other servants’ shoulders. ‘And we’re taking Morenwyn with us. You’re a cruel, evil woman, Deborah Kempthorne, and I pray justice will be done and you’ll come to a bad end.’
‘I’ll have you hanged for kidnapping. Now get out! Get out! Get out!’
When James, Mrs Christopher, Morenwyn and the rest of the servants were assembled outside the front gate of Trevennor House, James said, ‘That woman is mad, if you ask me.’
‘Mad and evil,’ Mrs Christopher said with passion.
‘Will she come after us?’
‘No, I don’t think she’ll be able to. I’ve seen her get in a rage like that before and it will bring on such a bad headache she won’t be good for anything for hours. I’ve got a suggestion to make, James Leddra. We can’t stand like this out in the cold. Let’s go next door to the parsonage. The curate’s wife is a good and sensible woman, she’ll know what we ought to do and Morenwyn will be happy and safe playing with her little ones.’
Charlotte Thomas was not shocked to see so many people trooping up to her front door looking for refuge. She had half expected the servants at Trevennor House to walk out en masse since the Kempthornes had moved in but she was shocked at their tale of Mary Ellen’s death. Perran was out on parish business but she took charge with confidence, knowing she could appeal to Edmund Kempthorne’s better side when he finally came back. She knew he would be devastated that his sister could have murdered his mistress. She sent a stable boy with a letter to the constable at Hayle informing him of the suspicious death.
The servants of Trevennor House were uncomfortable standing about in the parsonage parlour, so Mrs Christopher sent them to the kitchens to help with the parsonage staff’s duties, warning them sternly not to go outside the house. Morenwyn, who was fidgety and anxious, was taken upstairs with her nursemaid by Charlotte and settled in the nursery with her own brood.
When Charlotte returned, Mrs Christopher said, ‘We can’t thank you enough, Mistress Thomas. You don’t know what it’s been like these past few weeks, Mr Trevennor would turn in his grave.’ And she burst into tears.
Charlotte comforted her and looked at a thoughtful James Leddra. When she caught his eye, he apologized. ‘Sorry, ma’am, but I was wondering if the portrait in the hall of Trevennor House is of the late Mr Trevennor.’
Yes, it is,’ Charlotte answered. ‘It was painted many years ago when Mr Trevennor was a young man. Why do you ask?’
James had Charlotte and Mrs Christopher’s full attention. You’re all friends of Nick Nancarrow’s, aren’t you?’ he said uncertainly.
‘Yes,’ Mrs Christopher replied, frowning in curiosity. ‘I’ve known him since he was born and raised here in Gwithian. His father was Mr Trevennor’s coachman and Nick grew up to be very close to my late master. What’s this all about, James Leddra?’
‘I saw someone with Nick on the day of the shipwreck, a tall, pretty woman with the same features and same colour eyes and hair as the man in that portrait.’
Mrs Christopher was puzzled then stunned. She looked at Charlotte in disbelief. ‘Miss Isabel!’
‘She told me her name was Jenna Stevens but there was no mistaking she had a lady’s bearing and a good voice under the one she used. Nick asked me to keep quiet about seeing them together.’
‘Miss Isabel’s alive!’
Charlotte thought things over out loud. ‘Mr Trevennor spoke privately to Nick just before he died. Nick disappeared soon afterwards. Miss Isabel was said to have died the same day but her body was never found. Gyver Pengelly said he saw her body but he can’t be trusted. You know a ring was missing from Mr Trevennor’s bedchamber on the day of his death, Mrs Christopher, and you assumed one of the Kempthornes had taken it but it was returned to its place on the day of the funeral, the day Nick was back. And our gardener said Gyver Pengelly was spouting about Nick having a fine woman when they wrestled that day behind the alehouse.’
Mrs Christopher took over. ‘And Nick’s been acting some peculiar making up to the vile woman, but I always knew I could trust him. It must have something to do with Miss Isabel.’
‘His way of protecting her?’ Charlotte said. ‘If the coach crash wasn’t an accident… if Deborah Kempthorne is capable of murdering Mary Ellen and seemed to be trying to harm Morenwyn…’
‘I don’t know what you’re talking about,’ James Leddra said, ‘but it sounds like there’s been some strange goings on here.’
‘We don’t know all there is to it either,’ Mrs Christopher said.
‘Where can I find Nick Nancarrow now?’ James asked, heading for the door.
‘He’s got a job over at Tehidy but he hasn’t been there last night or today. Deborah Kempthorne sent one of the stable boys over to send for him at once but I told him to report back to me seeing as Miss Mary Ellen was dead. I know about a… certain friend he sometimes keeps company with at Crantock, he could be found there, a quiet house tucked in on its own down from the village by the sand dunes.’
‘I’ll find it,’ James said, preparing to leave the room. ‘I’ll go there now. He ought to know what’s been going on here, to keep away from Trevennor House. Will you ladies be able to cope if Mr Kempthorne turns up demanding to see his daughter?’
‘We can deal with Mr Kempthorne,’ Charlotte said. ‘He’s different altogether from his sister. He loves Morenwyn and would do nothing to harm her. I’m sure I can get him to agree to letting her stay here until this matter is cleared up. Can you ride, Mr Leddra?’
‘No, ma’am, I aren’t too good on me land legs, never rode a horse afore.’
‘Get one of the stable boys to saddle up my mare. You can ride behind him, she’ll get you to Crantock in a short time.’
‘If that Jenna Stevens is there, ask her if she’s really Miss Isabel Hampton,’ Mrs Christopher said in a small, frightened voice. ‘And if she is, tell her to be careful. Mr Edmund may be better than his sister but if you ask me they Kempthornes are an evil pair.’
Chapter 25
‘So you’ll be leaving us soon,’ Benjamin said, his quiet voice much softer than usual.
Isabel gently smoothed damp red hair away from his tawny eyes. He looked sad and small and so vulnerable today. She placed the lightest kiss on his cheek. ‘What makes you say that, Benjamin?’
He gave her a weak smile. ‘Well, there’s been a lot of coming and going for a start, Nick leaving last night and then arriving so suddenly again. I’m very sensitive to the mood of this house and to Kitty’s moods. I’m not always sleeping when she thinks I am and I’m more aware of what goes on than she believes. I usually say nothing because I don’t want her to worry that I’m worrying over something.’
‘Oh, Ben, you’re one of the strongest people I’ve ever met.’ She looked sadly around the room; she would miss her daily visits here. She was surprised at the intensity in his dark eyes when she looked back at the boy.
‘Jenna, if that’s your real name, am I as strong as Nick to you?’
Isabel glanced down Benjamin’s frail body and back to his fine face. She used her own voice this time. ‘You’re as strong as Nick but in a different way.’
Benjamin’s eyes grew slightly larger and he blinked his fine lashes. ‘I’m honoured to hear you say that, a lady paying me a compliment.’
‘I’m no one special, Benjamin.’
‘You are to me. I’ve fallen in love with you,’ he said, his voice dropping and his cheeks flushing, but he looked directly into Isabel’s eyes.
‘I’m honoured to have you say that to me,’ she said, her eyes misting over. She kissed him softly again.
‘Well then, I’ve said it, I was determined I would before you left,’ and Benjamin seemed to grow older and more pleased with himself with every word. ‘I’m so glad to have been a part in your adventures, whatever they are. Will you tell me now? What your real name is and the real reason for Nick bringing you here?’
Isabel stroked his cheek tenderly, soft and warm from his blush and his delight at his announcement. ‘Of course I will, it’s something I’ve wanted to do since I first met you. My name is Isabel Hampton. I live at Truro and my uncle lived at Gwithian. A few weeks ago he was very ill and I was on my way to see him but the coach I was travelling in was run off the road. That’s when I met Nick properly for the first time. He saved my life then and saved it again today.’ She went on to give Benjamin a full account of her life since the fateful day her uncle had died.
Benjamin’s eyes were alert and excited when she’d finished. ‘I wish I could have seen you beat down that Gyver Pengelly fellow,’ he chuckled but added in concern, ‘Everything else must have been quite awful for you, Isabel.’
‘Not all of it. The worst thing was the deaths of my friend, Phoebe Antiss, my maid Ginny, and the two coachmen, and my not being there when my uncle died and was buried. But without all this happening, I wouldn’t have met people like Charlie Chiverton and Mundy Cottle, and you and Kitty.’
‘And Nick.’
She looked straight ahead and not at the boy for a moment. ‘And Nick.’
‘Do you think love can’t cross the divide, Isabel?’
It was her turn to redden. Benjamin had a way of talking and looking at a person as if he was reading their innermost thoughts. ‘What divide are you talking about, Ben?’
‘The one between you and Nick.’
‘But Nick and I are friends now, we no longer hate each other.’
‘I wasn’t talking about that. I know you’re in love with him and very deeply. I’ve listened to you talk about him and watched your face when his name’s mentioned. You wouldn’t have missed those two nights and three days on the cliffs with him for the world, would you?’
‘How well you have come to know me.’ She added wistfully, ‘There’s no hope for Nick and me, there can be no future for us together. We could never cross the class barrier to begin with.’
‘It’s thoughts like those that are part of your problem,’ Benjamin said, looking at her deeply. You don’t have to have this heartbreak, you know, Isabel.’
Isabel was about to ask him to explain himself when Nick entered the room. ‘We’ll have to go soon, Jenna.’
‘Isabel,’ she corrected him. ‘I’ve just been telling Benjamin all about myself.’ She kissed the boy’s hot brow. ‘I’ll come back to see you very soon, Ben, I promise you.’
He smiled, a small light movement of his soft features that was specially for her. ‘I’m so glad Nick brought you here. You’ve brightened up my life in a way you’ll never know, Goodbye, Isabel.’
‘Goodbye, Benjamin. See you in a little while.’
‘She’s a remarkable woman,’ Benjamin said to Nick the moment she’d left the room. ‘Don’t you think?’
‘Aye, she is,’ Nick agreed, somehow feeling embarrassed under the boy’s inscrutable eyes.
‘And growing more beautiful every day.’
‘That too.’ Nick shuffled his feet.
