White Water (44 page)

Maria had her doubts but she would try to persuade Felicity and Allan that they were making a mistake.

She rode home in a moody silence and for the first time in his life Matt was heartily glad to see Heron and be rid of her company. She found the household in a delightful uproar which did nothing to soothe her frayed nerves. She had slept badly on the journey home and was in no mood for Minnie’s starry eyes or the sight of Ellie cradling the twins, one on each arm.

Without further ado, Maria sent for Allan and her interview with him was short and, on Maria’s side, sharp. She demanded that Felicity go back to Lucas and Allan for his part refused to allow it. He remained calm and reasonable and explained that in his view it was a better solution to the problem. He was sorry for Lucas but he pointed out that Felicity had never given Lucas a firm answer — too much had been taken for granted. Now Felicity had made her choice and he was happy to endorse it. He asked her forgiveness for their haste and for not consulting her first. She did not give it and the discussion ended abruptly.

Maria then talked to Felicity who was unhappy to find Maria so hostile to their plans but she, too, remained reasonably calm. Her arguments were the same as Allan’s. She believed that what she had suggested was best for the twins.

‘And do you pretend to love Allan?’ Maria demanded.

‘I do not pretend it, no, but I believe I can learn to love him. Did Eloise love him?’ Maria, taken aback, hesitated and Felicity went on. ‘I believe I shall love him more than Eloise would ever have done. I accept him as he is, with no money and few prospects. Eloise wanted him for what she would gain. I shall be forever in Allan’s debt for ensuring my children’s future and I shall do my utmost to repay him. He shall have my head, and my heart and my body, I shall make him happy, Maria. Nothing will make me change my mind. I shall wed Allan on the twentieth of November. I should dearly like your approval and your blessing — it would mean a great deal to both of us. But we shall wed with or without it, Maria. Oh do forgive us. Allan is
so
happy. I have never seen him so alive and confident. He feels that at last he has made a good decision; that he has broken the mould of his past disasters and can make a success of the rest of his life. Don’t you see, Maria, the change in him?’

Maria had seen it but she made no comment.

‘He has lost that haunted look,’ Felicity went on. ‘He is rid of the Gillises. He is rid of the guilt of Martin’s death. Rid of Eloise’s ghost. Oh Maria, when you see him with the twins — he loves them, you see. Already he loves them! Be angry with me, if you must, but I beg you not to cast a gloom over
his
new-found joy. We acted hastily. I don’t wonder you are angry. You had made generous plans for us. But give us this chance, Maria. If you oppose him, and this fails, I believe he is truly a lost man.’

Maria was touched by the impassioned plea and suddenly her anger left her. She looked at Felicity with a new and grudging respect. Perhaps the girl was right. And perhaps her anger was partly pique at having the matter so neatly taken out of her hands. She tried to be honest with herself. Would she ever have found a suitable girl for Allan? She still blamed herself for hurrying him into a betrothal with Eloise. No, she thought, Eloise had been
their
mistake; hers and Hugo’s. Was she likely to make a more successful choice next time? She no longer had Hugo to advise her. It might all be for the best, who could tell? She sighed. She was tired and she did not want to strive any more. Hugo had gone. Allan was the new master of Heron. Felicity was to be his wife. Marriage was not easy. It was fraught with difficulties and disappointments. She could not envy them their future. She pulled herself up abruptly. This will not do, she told herself. Be honest with yourself. You are tired and confused. You are lonely and you long for Arnsville. This is your chance also. Let them have their way and you can leave Heron in younger, maybe wiser, hands. You have lost this fight, Maria. Face the fact and surrender gracefully. By giving them their chance of happiness you do the same for yourself. She sighed again. Felicity waited. Then Maria thought of Hugo and the joy they had given each other. Allan and Felicity believed they had the chance of just such a joy. They were clutching at the chance with both hands. Did she have the right to deny them their chance? She took Felicity’s hands and put them to her lips.

‘Only love him,’ she said, ‘and you have my blessing.’

*

The wedding was a very quiet affair for several reasons. The family was still mourning Martin and Hugo. The relationship with the tinners was still uneasy, although negotiations were going on between management and men to reopen at least one drift. There was no money to spare for a lavish wedding and the presence of Martin’s sons was causing plenty of gossip among their neighbours. The family were all invited but Adam Jarman was suffering from a badly infected leg, the result of a dog bite, so he land Abby were unable to attend. Beatrice and her husband accepted with alacrity. Piers came home from school. It went without saying that all at Ladyford would be there.

The only guest to be invited came at Lorna’s insistence and that was Nat Gully who stood to one side self conscious in his shabby clothes but with a scrubbed and shining face.

The little group gathered at the church porch for the exchange of vows and rings. Felicity wore a simple dress of pale rose taffeta with Maria’s pearl head-dress. Allan was in dark blue. Maria still wore black but most of the visitor were soberly dressed with black ribbons on their arms.

Nat Gully watched Lorna standing demurely beside the bride and grinned at the transformation. She looked almost ladylike until, catching his eye, she winked conspiratorially and he knew she was the same tomboy she had ever been. Harum scarum Lorna, he thought. Whom would she marry? And Piers, twelve years old and so solemn. A few more years and he would be a man. The vicar was gabbling through the service as though time was money, his grey head bobbing occasionally to emphasize a word. Allan looked happier than he had ever been and Nat though him well suited to this calm grey-eyed girl, Felicity whatever had happened between her and Martin. And Nat knew it all — told him by Lorna in strictest secrecy — a confidence he would honour.

He had no friends or relations so who was he to tell it to he thought a trifle ruefully. Not that it was a secret Everywhere he went folk asked him about the truth of this matter and he shook his head and pretended ignorance.

There were no little ’uns at the church, he noticed. The wet nurses from the village had been hired to give an eye to them all under one roof at Heron. Nina’s two and Beatrice’s youngster and the twins … The bridegroom kissed the bride and they moved into the church for the breaking of bread and sipping of wine. Nat thought it all highly entertaining and watched from a safe distance. If
he
had
a family it was this one, he mused. And he liked them Even poor dumb Nina. He thought of her quick darting hands and mobile face and the expressive dark eyes. She didn’t need speech, that one. And such a smile. It fair dazzled a man! And Oliver was due back from sea, so Lorna had said. A nice family, the Benets. They had paid him handsomely for the fox and would make use of his services again, no doubt. Ah, now they were passing the holy wine or whatever it might be. And breaking up the bride cake. Soon be done and they could all go back to Heron and enjoy the food. Nat was looking forward to that. He hoped Brin was behaving himself, tied up at the church gate. There was no sound from the little dog. He had been rather subdued since the fox bite and Nat hoped he was properly cured. The salve was a good one, but dogs had been known to die of the bite of a fox — as though the dratted fox liked to have the last word!

Funny things, families, he thought, as he watched the bride and groom kiss and the congratulations begin. Loving each other one minute, hating each other the next. All these smiles and tears and all for what? You’re born and you wed and you give birth and you die in your bed if you’re lucky. So many mouths to feed and souls to fret over. He was glad he was single. He’d have no wife but he could fend for himself. He’d have no little ’uns but they were no great loss. Love you and leave you, that’s what children did. No, this pantomime was not for him.

He grinned. Ah, now they making a move. He slipped out and collected Brin and was away up the hill before the rest of them had quitted the churchyard. He didn’t intend to bump his way up to Heron in a creaky old wagon while he’d two good legs could do the journey quicker! He cut across the fields and through the coppice and by the time the rest of the wedding party approached he was ensconced in a corner with Brin beside him. He had a mug of cider in one hand and a chicken leg in the other.

CHAPTER TWENTY

Maggie woke up the next morning with a sore head and sick stomach. She lay in bed a while, tossing and turning in great discomfort and misery until she was finally forced to get up. Outside, the October sky was heavy with cloud and a wind sent the leaves scudding against the house like a whispering voice. She shivered, stretched and scratched. She was stiff and sluggish and depressed. The bowl of cold water was uninviting and she dipped in the edge of the towel and wiped her face briefly, letting the cold cloth rest for a moment against her forehead. It gave her no relief so she wiped her face dry and went quietly downstairs to the kitchen where her clothes lay beside the dying embers of the fire. Snatching up the bellows she blew some life into what remained of the fire, added a handful of wood chips and blew again. The flame grew until the chips glowed and when they caught alight she added a few larger twigs and lastly a log. While the fire increased, she half filled the smallest kettle and hung it over the flames and then poured herself half a mug of wine. A pinch of grated nutmeg and another of cinnamon and a generous spoonful of sugar completed the concoction. When the kettle boiled she would top it up with hot water. It might not cure her headache but it would warm her body and relax her stiff limbs.

Oh Maggie, she told herself, you are nigh on fifty. What can you expect? By the comforting warmth of the fire, she pulled on her clothes and then sat beside it, eyes closed. Some of her misery left her. Forty-nine was not
so
old. There were footsteps and then Melissa joined her. She had dressed upstairs.

‘I heard you come downstairs,’ she confessed, ‘and knew you would make up the fire. You look pale. No, don’t rouse yourself. I’ll make myself a mug of hot lemon. What are you drinking?’ She sniffed the proffered mug and laughed. ‘At this hour? You must have the constitution of an ox! But it went well yesterday, didn’t it? Felicity looked beautiful.’

‘Aye. ’Tis a strange match but it might work. She looked — thoughtful, would you say?’

Melissa nodded, preparing her drink.

‘I thought so too. No doubt thinking it should have been Martin, God rest his soul. But poor Maria, in those sombre clothes! I wish she had worn something brighter. The green silk would have looked well. Or even the russet, but black!’

‘She is in mourning, remember.’

‘But a wedding! I thought it a pity but there — ‘tis no concern of mine and now she has no one to advise her. She will mourn Hugo forever. She will want to. That way she will keep his memory fresh in her mind.’

‘My heart aches for her.’

‘And mine.’ She pulled up a stool and sat beside Maggie. ‘Is your head bad?’

‘My head, aye, and also my belly, my back, my legs and arms, my spleen, my lungs — ’

They both laughed.

‘And Nina looked bonny,’ said Melissa, ever the girl’s champion.

‘She looked most striking,’ Maggie agreed. ‘’Tis her dark eyes and golden skin. The gown became her. And the children were all well behaved. No tears and no tantrums. It went well. Quiet but pleasant enough.’

‘Not like Hugo and Maria’s wedding,’ said Melissa. ‘Now that
was
a day to remember.’ Her eyes gleamed at the memory. ‘Everything was perfect. Fine weather, crowds of well wishers — the town went mad with delight! And the feast after up at Crockern Tor and so many guests! The old hall fairly shook when the dancing began.’

Maggie shook her head. ‘Aye, that was the way a Kendal should wed. I think every tinner this side of Dartmoor came, and everyone else who had even the slightest connection with the place.’

Melissa smiled. ‘And Minnie was with child again, and Piers and Lorna not even a twinkle in Hugo’s eye!’

‘Oliver had just left to go to sea. He was so young.’ Melissa nodded. ‘I thought I would never see him again. I almost hated Maria.’

‘Maria?’

‘He was in love with her. She was free then.’

‘But Hugo — I mean surely she was betrothed to — ’

‘Not then. Something happened between them — between Oliver and Maria. I never knew exactly how it happened but Oliver wanted to wed her and she refused.’

‘Because of Hugo. I see.’

‘No one else knows except Thomas. I have never spoken of it.’ She shrugged. ‘It all seems a lifetime away now and insignificant but then — Oliver was heartbroken. Soon after Oliver left Maria wed Hugo.’

‘He is happy with his Nina,’ said Maggie. ‘They are a happy family.’

Melissa did not answer, deep in thought. Maggie’s head thumped painfully but the nausea had left her. She cast around in her mind for a way to change the subject.

‘I wore my green silk,’ she said, ‘and felt so grand though ’twas a mite too tight and I was bursting at the seams. It never did fit me as it should have done. And we made nigh two hundred pies and Lord knows how many pasties!’

‘You were still at the bakery, then. Do you ever miss it?’

‘Not a lot. I’m happy wherever I am. Life’s too short to let it be otherwise.’

‘You should tell Maria that. She is so intense, poor Maria.’

Maggie shook her head. ‘Don’t pity her,’ she said. ‘She had the one thing in life she cared for — Hugo. ’Tis more than many of us have had.’

Neither of them spoke of Simon but he was in both their thoughts. There was a loud knock at the door and they exchanged indignant glances. Maggie groaned and put a hand to her head and Melissa went to the door and opened it. A small boy, of ten or eleven years, stood outside.

‘Who are you?’ she asked. ‘Bothering folks before the day’s rightly begun. Well, speak up, lad. I’m not going to eat you.’

For all his bold knocking, he was a shy lad and now stood twisting his fingers. ‘I’m told to give you a invitation,’ he said. ‘The new owner of Maudesley says you are to come to visit him at eleven o’clock. He says all of you to come and visit.’ He screwed up his face in concentration. ‘He says all of you at Ladyford to come and — ’

‘Aye, I’ve heard it,’ said Melissa. ‘And I’m no wiser than I was. Who is this new owner who sends a young lad to rouse us up at this hour of the morning?’ She glanced over her shoulder towards Maggie. ‘Do you hear this? We’re invited to visit at Maudesley — ’

‘He’s a foreigner,’ said Maggie. ‘They’ve no manners, any of them — family excepted,’ she corrected herself hastily.

The boy said, ‘At eleven o’clock.’

‘We heard you. Who is this new owner? What is his name and which county does he come from?’

‘Ask him where he earns all his money!’ cried Maggie and Melissa smiled.

‘I don’t know anything,’ said the boy hurriedly. ‘I don’t know his name or where he comes from. He just said to give you the message.’

‘He speaks English then?’

‘Aye.’

‘Wait there.’

Melissa closed the door. ‘I’d best ask Thomas what we should do. I’d dearly love to see the house now ’tis finished but I mislike his arrogant ways. Tell them to visit at eleven, indeed!’

Thomas, woken from his sleep, was reluctant to accept the invitation but felt it would be discourteous to refuse.

‘Mayhap ’tis their way in his country to be so peremptory,’ he said. ‘We’d best go this once and then the niceties have been observed. If we don’t like the fellow we need not go again. On the other hand we may like him and he is our nearest neighbour apart from Heron. Aye, say we will go.’

And he slipped back under the sheets and was almost immediately asleep again.

Melissa relayed the decision to the boy and gave him a large slice of gingerbread.

‘Mind you will
all
go?’ he insisted. ‘Every man jack, he said.’

Melissa stared at him. ‘He said that? Then he
does
speak good English. We shall all be there, tell him. And now be off!’

*

Maudesley was greatly improved. No one could deny that. The windows gleamed with leaded glass and the new roof looked serviceable without looking hard. The decorative brickwork infilling the timber frame extended as far as the new oriel windows on the first floor. Everywhere stone had been replaced with carved wood and intricate mouldings. The party from Ladyford paused to look at it, prepared to be critical, but in all honesty they could not fault it. The effect was of tasteful elegance.

‘Well, we cannot sit here all day admiring it,’ said Thomas and he urged his horse forward. Melissa rode beside him. Jacob drove the wagon and Maggie, Nina and the children rode with him. Thomas had taken their host at his word. It was ‘every man jack’ of them! The driveway had been freshly gravelled and the gardens had been cleared. Gone were the piles of timber, bricks and tile. All was neat. Even the autumn leaves had been swept from the grass. At the far end of the garden they caught sight of gardeners, busy with a bonfire. A maid opened the door to them and led the way into the Hall.

It was unfurnished apart from sheepskin rugs on the floor, but three rich wall hangings covered the white walls. A small table had been set up containing wine, glasses and a plate of biscuits. At the far end of the room a tall man stood at the window, looking out. The maid said, ‘I’ll tell the master,’ and crossed to him. She said, in English, ‘They are here, sir.’

He turned and smiled, and for a moment they all stared blankly at the new master of Maudesley — because it was Oliver!

‘Oliver?’ whispered Melissa in disbelief but Nina, with a gasp, ran forward and threw herself into his arms.

‘Oliver?’ said Melissa again. She turned to Thomas, still unable to understand what was happening. Thomas, smiling broadly, took her hand gently. ‘He said he would come back a rich man! I believe he has done!’

Melissa’s eyes widened. ‘Oliver — has all this? Has bought — has done — Maudesley belongs to Oliver?’

He nodded.

She turned from Thomas to Maggie who was as dumbstruck as
she
was. ‘Oliver owns Maudesley? Oliver is a rich man? I must be dreaming. Maggie, prick me! Thomas! I can’t believe it!’

‘’Tis true though,’ cried Maggie. ‘Oh what a trick to play on us — and it worked so perfectly. Our faces!’

The room echoed with their excited cries, laughter and even a few tears.

‘Mama!’ cried Oliver. ‘Say you are glad to see me.’

‘Glad? Dear God, there are no words strong enough.’ He hugged her until she protested that her ribs were in danger and then Thomas, too, received a bear-like hug.

‘And you look so grand!’ cried Maggie when it was her turn for a hug and a kiss. ‘Dear me, I feel I should curtsey. Look at this cloth! ’Tis beautiful. And a jewelled belt!’

‘Wait ’til you see the gifts I have brought,’ cried Oliver. ‘I cannot tell you how I have longed for this moment. Every day has been an agony for me. Ever since we took our prize — and what a prize! A Spanish galleon laden with the spoils of her
own
maraudings! Can you enjoy the sweet irony of that, Papa? They were returning home with
their
ill-gotten gains and
we
take them, lock, stock and barrel! Not without a fight, though. God’s nails and that
was
a fight. That was a battle and a half. I have a scar on my leg to prove it and a limp when I’m tired but was it worth it? All this — ’ He swung round, arms outstretched ‘ — and more! Oh, the Queen has had a small share of it. The dues have all been paid. ’Tis all above board now and no one can take it from me.’

Nina watched him, not understanding much of what he said, for in his excitement he spoke so fast, but she
did
understand that he was home and safe.

Thomas accepted the wine which the maid was pouring somewhat inexpertly. ‘And will you stay home now?’ he asked.

‘Indeed I will. I swore to myself that if I survived that nightmare, rich or poor, I would never go to sea again. And I do not need to.’

‘And the scars?’ said Melissa.

‘Healed long since, Mama. I was very fortunate. Five of our men were killed, seven maimed — but the Spaniards paid dearly for the havoc they wrought us. Don’t look that way, Mama. They had killed many to seize what they had taken. Such treasure! Gold and silver, jewels, jade, ivory, satins and silks, even furs. Sixteen of us survived but only three of us had shares in the venture. Oh, the mariners were paid generously. We could afford to be generous.’

‘And the other two?’ asked Thomas.

‘They have gone off again in search for more!’ He laughed. ‘Good luck to them, I say. After we’d shared the money and all the cargo we sold the galleon to a Dutchman. But now I’ve done with adventuring. Rest assured I shall not go to sea again. I have such plans. You shall hear them all later.’

Della tugged at Nina’s skirt, anxious to see the rest of the house.

‘Aye, go and explore, my pretty little dove,’ said Oliver. ‘This is your home now. Your new home.’ He swung her into the air, spun her round and hugged her. ‘You and Jason and Mama and me — we will all live here in Maudesley. I chose it so that you will be able to see Grandmama, Grandpapa and Maggie whenever you wish. Ladyford is so near.’

Della pointed to Jacob, who grinned self-consciously.