Trevennor’s Will, page 35
Nick stopped walking. ‘You’re dancing to a different tune, aren’t you?’
‘I was listening to the wrong one back-along. I should have known better.’
They walked on to the house, Kitty humming gaily to herself, Nick in a stony silence.
‘I won’t have your dog in the house, even if she is as gentle as a lamb.’
‘Cassie wouldn’t come inside anyway, she likes to run free.’
Inside, she asked his dour face, ‘Well, are you going to see her?’
‘You know I always make my way back to Gwithian when I’m in these parts,’ he replied, scraping back a chair and flopping down at the kitchen table.
Kitty glared at his boots. ‘Anyone would think I didn’t have a scraper outside my back door. But Laurence Trevennor is not there now.’
Nick thumped the table. ‘Then I’ll go visit his grave!’
Kitty was not going to fish any longer. ‘So, you did fall in love with Isabel then?’
‘’Tis none of your damned business!’
Kitty saw to the fire and banged plates on the table.
Nick winced. ‘I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have shouted at you. I’m upset over Ben.’
‘Benjamin allowed Isabel to make him happy, Nick, just like little Morenwyn is. You should see them together, there’s laughter at Trevennor House again, would be more if Isabel’s life was complete… with the man she loves. You don’t need me to tell you how she feels about you, do you?’
‘No… well, I was hoping she cared for me after the time we spent in Penpol Creek and here in your kitchen. It’s not as easy as that, Kitty.’
‘Some things are as easy as just reaching out and receiving them, Nick.’
* * *
Nick next called on Mundy Cottle. Mundy clucked all over him and made him sit down, hurrying to fetch her cooking pans.
‘I’m not hungry, Mundy.’
‘Eh? What’s the matter with you then, boy?’
‘I’ve just come from Kitty’s at Crantock, she fed me well to bursting before I left.’
‘Oh, I see,’ Mundy said, not hiding her disappointment. ‘Perhaps your little dog would like a bite to eat. It doesn’t have to stay out there.’ She threw a biscuit outside for Cassie.
‘And how’s she at Crantock then?’ There was always a slightly disapproving tone in Mundy’s voice when she spoke of Kitty.
Nick gripped the back of a chair, tipping it backwards and forwards impatiently. ‘She’s becoming an honest woman later this year, she’s getting married.’
‘I’m glad to hear it, ’tis one step in the right direction to walking the straight and narrow. Sit yourself down for goodness sake, Nick. You haven’t been here five minutes but you’re already eager to be on your way.’
Nick did as he was told with a heavy sigh. ‘Have you heard that her brother, Benjamin, died?’
‘Aye, bless un. Only knew about un from what you told me. He sounded a good little boy, God rest his soul. Still, no more suffering for un now.’
‘Aye, it was quiet there without him, even though he never made a sound. It’s quiet in here today with your children all out.’
‘Most of ’em are at work, the rest out doing chores, probably playing before they come back in. I have another little maid calling here now, you know.’
‘Oh?’ Nick had a good idea who she was. ‘Morenwyn’s her name, a handsome dark little thing she is too, she loves to play with my young’uns. She comes with Jenna – Isabel I call her now. Some funny goings on all that was. You did a good job looking after she though, must have been really frightening at times. Isabel talks about you a lot.’
‘Does she?’ Nick sounded impatient. Was Mundy going to dig away at him like Kitty had?
Mundy picked at her nails. ‘Aw, glad to get her off your hands, were ’ee then?’
‘I was glad when the whole thing was over but as far as I’m concerned Isabel and I are friends.’
‘I’m glad to hear it. She’s a fine handsome woman. The folk of Gwithian are some glad to have her living there and taking care of her late uncle’s interests instead of that other lot. You going on to see her later?’
Nick raised his eyes in exasperation. He knew he had better not say no. ‘Probably.’
Mundy moved off to her cupboards and started taking out food. ‘I’ll make you a meal anyway… she didn’t get married like she planned, you know. P’raps when you get to Gwithian you ought to stay around for a bit…’
* * *
Charlie Chiverton was sitting outside his shack, puffing on his pipe, unperturbed by the sharp wind whistling round him, whittling away on a piece of stick. He held up his craftwork.
‘’Tes goin’ to be a sheep, ’tes fur the little maid—’
‘Living with Isabel in Gwithian,’ Nick finished for him as he dismounted from one of his horses.
‘Knaw about that, do ’ee?’
‘Aye, I’ve heard about nothing else all day. I’ll help myself to a mug of your terrible coffee but I don’t want anything to eat.’
Charlie looked at Nick’s two horses. ‘Tradin’ goin’ well, is it?’
‘Aye.’
‘Fine animals, too good fur packhorses. You must cause a stir everywhere you go.’
‘I try to keep myself unnoticed.’
‘A fine lookin’ man like thee will ’ave some job doin’ that. Nice lookin’ dog you got there. There’s a few scraps knockin’ around somewhere if she’s ’ungry.’
Nick threw Cassie a crust of bread and poured himself a mug of coffee.
‘I ’eard the Kempthorne woman went to the rope just as she deserved,’ Charlie said, using the point of his knife to dig out the appearance of fleece on his work. ‘Talk ’bout she’s ’ardly died down round ’ere yet.’
‘Aye,’ Nick said grimly, sipping the bitter coffee and making a face for two reasons. ‘I watched her swing. Stood right at the front of the crowd so she could see me. She died kicking and screaming, cursing me and Isabel and anyone to do with us. I reckon Hell itself won’t be prepared for that woman.’
‘’Tes all over now. Time to put it in the past.’
‘I don’t waste my time thinking about her,’ Nick said, settling back on the shack’s steps.
‘Well, there’s plenty of other women to be thinkin’ about. Did I tell ’ee Isabel comes over ’ere to see me?’
Nick breathed out heavily. ‘You did.’
‘Isabel’s a fine lookin’ woman too, some different to the one you brung ’ere last year.’
‘Yes, I know, I’ve seen that for myself,’ Nick returned irascibly.
‘’Ow come thee went off on yer travels again then?’
‘Charlie!’
‘She didn’t git married, you know, but you could have put a spoke in that idea like the one I put in Gyver Pengelly’s back if thee’d ’ad a mind to. I think thee did. Why didn’t ’ee then?’
‘I’m beginning to wish I’d never come back!’
‘Gah! I knew you’d come back and not just because you usually do. Well, what are you wasting yer time ’ere fur? Would serve ’ee right if she didn’t keep waitin’.’
Nick put his hands up in exasperation and got up. ‘Keep your horrible coffee, Charlie Chiverton. I’ll come back and see you another time.’
‘Just a minute. I’ve nearly finished here.’ Charlie held up the perfect figure of a sheep. ‘There, you might as well take this and give it to the little maid.’
‘What makes you think I’m going to Gwithian?’
Charlie pushed out his lips and looked down his nose at Nick. ‘Where else would you be goin’?’
* * *
When Nick reached the little bridge at Gwithian he saw the tiny figure of Meena Rowe coming along the middle of it. She lifted up her head and gazed at Nick from the confines of a black bonnet that looked much too big for her.
Nick grinned. ‘Didn’t you see me coming, Meena?’
‘Course I did, but I got better things to do than gawp at travellers. I’m on my way to Jimmy, to give him his crib. Men! They forget everything and want a woman running after them all their lives.’
Nick had dismounted and Meena turned up her tiny face for him to kiss.
‘I don’t want anyone running after me, I like to take care of myself.’
‘We’ll see.’
‘What does that mean?’ Nick asked, becoming defensive.
‘Back this way, aren’t you?’
Before Nick could argue again that he always came back to Gwithian, Meena pointed at Cassie perched across the back of Nick’s other horse. What’s the matter with your dog? Got a broken paw?’
‘No, she likes a ride every now and then.’
Meena moved closer. ‘Mmmm, looks half starved to me.’ Then she turned on Nick. ‘So do you. We’ll expect you for supper, will have a nice bit of local mutton stewing then, I know you’re partial to its taste.’
‘Meena,’ Nick exclaimed, ‘I’m not hungry. In fact I’ve eaten so much today I don’t care if I never see another morsel of food for a week. How’s the family?’
‘They’re all right, if you’re intent on changing the subject.’ Meena lifted her chin and tightened her shell-like features.
‘And the baby, Joshua?’
‘He’s thriving, not much of a baby now but you can soon see that for yourself.’
Nick was feeling uncomfortable under Meena’s all-seeing eyes. ‘Would you like a ride to the fields, Meena? I’d like to see Jimmy again.’
‘You can see him by and by, I reckon you got other folk to see first.’
Nick waited for his fourth barrage on Isabel that day but Meena was already walking away. She called over her shoulder, ‘See you at supper then, Nick, but if you’ve got other plans, another time will do… and you don’t have to come by yourself.’
Nick waved to the tiny old woman and watched her thoughtfully until she was out of sight. She hadn’t mentioned Isabel residing permanently in the village, she’d judged correctly that he knew already. It seemed all his friends were resigned to his fate, but did fate have the same mind?
Chapter 29
Nick moved on and saw Morenwyn in the parsonage garden playing with the four Thomas children, sheltered from the wind by the boundary wall. They were all wrapped up well against the cold and had two nurses in attendance. Nick leaned on the wall from the saddle and called Morenwyn’s name.
‘Nick! Nick!’ She came running, the nurses and the rest of the children following on her heels. ‘Are you coming in to play with us?’
Nick had an assortment of five small faces all looking up at him, the youngest child just about able to toddle on its chubby legs. Morenwyn had grown in height and was even more pretty. ‘Perhaps later, princess. Here, I’ve got something for you.’
‘What is it?’ a boy aged about six asked bluntly. He put his arm round Morenwyn protectively.
‘It’s all right, Barnabas.’ Nick grinned at him as Morenwyn’s nurse nodded her approval. ‘It’s Nick Nancarrow, remember? I’m Morenwyn’s friend. I’ve got something for her, from another friend, Charlie Chiverton.’
‘Has he made something for me?’ Morenwyn asked, standing on tiptoe to see.
‘Is it another animal for her?’ Barnabas demanded, reaching up his hand.
‘Aye, it’s a sheep this time.’ Nick passed it to the nurse who gave it to Morenwyn who was immediately surrounded by her playmates.
Morenwyn passed through them and dropped Nick a perfect curtsey. ‘Thank you for bringing it to me, Nick.’
Nick smiled to himself; he knew who had taught her to do that. ‘I’ll come back later, Morenwyn, and show all of you my new dog.’
He met Charlotte Thomas as she was leaving Trevennor House. ‘Nick! How good to see you. How are you? You’re looking well.’
Nick looked deeply at the attractive young lady. ‘I am, thank you, Charlotte. I’ve just been talking to Morenwyn and your children over the garden wall.’ He glanced discreetly at Charlotte’s swollen middle. ‘If it’s not indelicate to mention it, I see congratulations are in order.’
‘Again,’ Charlotte added emphatically with a twinkle in her eye. ‘I was just having a word with Mrs Christopher. She’ll be delighted to see you. I’m on my way home to tell the nurses it’s time the children were back inside.’
‘A bit of cold weather won’t hurt them. Never did me any harm.’
‘No, you’re the living proof of that,’ Charlotte replied with a smile.
Nick wanted to ask a question in his usual confident manner, but he had had too many searching and knowing faces peering back at him today and it came out all hesitantly. ‘Is, um, Isabel not at home?’
‘No, she is not.’ Charlotte watched Nick’s face closely and saw it fall. ‘But she’s not far away. She’s taking a walk along the beach. These days she’s just like you are, Nick.’
‘Eh?’
‘Always wanting to be outdoors. She’ll be back in time to take tea with Morenwyn.’
Nick looked down as he shifted his feet. ‘I’ll go in and have a word with Mrs Christopher then.’
More shouts of ‘Nick!’ and offers to fill him with food greeted him in the large busy kitchen. He relented because he knew he wouldn’t win and ate a yeast bun fresh out of the oven while being watched by all the adoring female staff.
‘I shall get as fat as a cat if I keep this up,’ he grumbled. ‘Aren’t you women satisfied unless you’re plying a man with food?’
‘No, but then,’ Mrs Christopher looked at him pointedly, ‘food is not the only way to a man’s heart. Miss Isabel is out walking.’
‘Mistress Thomas told me,’ he sighed heavily.
‘She never married that sea captain or whatever he was.’
‘I know that too.’ Nick felt the women he was with were beginning to close in on him.
‘She’s some good to us, Miss Isabel, we wouldn’t know what to do without her, would we, Cook?’
Wenna Sweet agreed and put another fat yeast bun on his plate.
Nick broke it in half, intending to give it to Cassie when he was outside again. ‘Morenwyn’s growing well and looking very happy,’ he said conversationally.
‘Oh, she is,’ Mrs Christopher said enthusiastically. ‘Miss Isabel is like a proper mother to her. Will make a good mother to her own one day.’
Nick looked all round the kitchen. He had a good idea what they were hoping he would say. ‘I might have enough time to see her briefly before I go on again.’
‘Oh, you haven’t got business elsewhere, have you?’
‘I thought I might ride over to Tehidy and see how the coach horses I was training are getting on. I did rather go off and leave them suddenly.’
‘You mustn’t leave us yet, Nick, you’ve only just got here.’ Mrs Christopher was looking outside. Your dog is getting restless. I think she’d like a run along the beach. What do you think?’
Nick got up suddenly. ‘Oh, very well, I’m going! I’m beginning to feel crowded in here and I’ve had enough ear-bashing for one day.’
‘Shall I give the order for the stable boys to see to your horses?’
Nick gave Mrs Christopher a long thoughtful look. ‘Better not. I might be riding off again quite soon.’
As soon as he’d gone, Mrs Christopher turned to the maid. ‘Dorcas, tell the stable boys to put Nick’s horses in their old stalls.’ Then she and Wenna Sweet went to the larder to prepare a feast.
* * *
Nick ordered Cassie to lie down and keep quiet. He watched Isabel at a distance from behind the security of a sand towan. Gwithian’s beach was much longer than Crantock’s but straight and wide and he had spotted her instantly. She was at the water’s edge, moving back as the tide rolled in more and more with each thundering wave, her hair streaming out in a honey-coloured mass. Cassie edged forward and Nick put up a restraining finger. What was Isabel thinking about? Her times spent here with Laurence? Regret that she had not married Richard Grenville? The time spent with himself on that fateful journey that had changed her life so much?
Isabel was thinking about Nick. She thought about him every day and every night. Mostly she thought about the two nights she had slept with his arms round her, strong and warm, making her feel safe.
She hadn’t seen or heard from him for over a year now, and she still felt the biggest part of her life was missing. If only she hadn’t fallen in love with him. Phoebe Antiss would have said, ‘Granted he’s tall and handsome and possesses brilliant eyes and some wonderful wild ways, but he’s not the only man in the world, dear heart. You’ll soon meet another.’ Isabel had given herself time to see if this was true, but her feelings for Nick had only grown stronger, her need for him cutting into her with a deeper longing.
There had been a steady stream of young gentlemen flocking to Trevennor House when news of her broken engagement had got round the social circles. She was an heiress and after her enforced adventures something of a curiosity. When she had not returned their interest, many had still clamoured at her door besotted by Kitty, not caring about her background and profession, and Kitty had taken a fancy to one in particular and agreed to marry him. Kitty wanted to settle down and have a family. So did Isabel, but only one man could fill that need.
One day Nick would come back to Gwithian… wouldn’t he? He always had before. He had grown very fond of Morenwyn, surely he would come back to see her. No one seemed to know where he had gone and what he was doing, not even Charlie Chiverton. Why didn’t he write? Send just a little note to tell someone he was keeping well? It was such a long time. Surely he would come… She had waited for him before like this out on the beach and cliff.
Isabel didn’t hear the small white dog yapping its way towards her. A big wave rushed in and soaked her feet and she ran backwards, splashing her cloak and dress. ‘Oh dear, what will Mrs Christopher say? She’ll scold me for getting my good shoes wet.’
‘Tell her ’tis none of her business.’
