An Indelicate Situation (The Weymouth Trilogy) (15 page)

‘It’s that
scaly
Rowley
-
Jones again,’ he muttered
, irritably
. ‘
Of all the b...bad luck.
I am b...beginning to wish that I’d never set eyes upon the b...bothersome, vexing prigstar.’

Maggie smiled at him in a way that she hoped would look reassuring. She did not feel that there was much more to be said about it all, just then.

Mrs William, determining that she was most certainly the Berkeleys’ chief guest, managed to delay the appearance of her o
wn conveyance until
everyone else had taken their leave but, unable to delay it any longer by dint of her husband’s increasingly urgent hints, she finally
accepted
the i
nevitable and agreed that unfortunately
, they really ought to go. However, finding that Miss Brewer had
already
departed, due
, apparently,
to a
most
persistent
sick
headache, she immediately decided that Mr Brewer’s poor horses should not be expected to undertake
any
further journeys
up the hill. After all,
Maggie and Mr Staveley being the only
two
guests remaining without a conveyance of their own,
it w
ould be no inconvenience to either of
them
to
make the short trek back in
to town
on foot
.

If this had been me
a
nt as a
sligh
t by Mrs William
it was destined to pass the two intended victims quite by. It was a lovely evening, after all, and Maggie, mindful of Mr Staveley’s singular dislike of riding in a carriage, was more than happy to accompany him in
a gentle ramble down the hill,
despite wishing that it was
Mr Wright
, and not him,
at her side.
Indeed, it was disappointing that
Mr Wright
had not himself suggested that Mr Staveley replace him in the carriage. Perhaps Mrs William had required her husband to escort her.
So, after
declining the kind offer of a carriage
from their
hosts
and accepting
their
fond farewells
-
fonder, certainly, than the farewells just then meted out to Mrs William, a
nd
probably expressed
with slightly more
sincerity
-
and some brief instructions as to the best way down to the quay, Maggie and Mr Stavel
ey set out together to enjoy an
evening s
troll
.

‘I hope you do not m...mind, having to beat the hoof like this, M...Miss Owens,’ remarked Freddy. ‘After all, it is a little inconsiderate of my cousin to
deny you the p...pleasure of a drive.’

‘I do not mind at all. I had much ra
ther walk
. I am perfectly happy to spare the poor horses yet another hard pull up that hill.’

They left the gravel driveway behind them
and set off across the grass
.

‘What a beautiful property Mr and Mrs Berkel
ey own, Mr Staveley,’ she continu
ed
, conversationally
. ‘I cannot conceive of anywhere more perfect than Belvoir – and so conveni
ent for the town as well. I did
n
’
t see too much of the house, of course, although what I did see was as elegant as
could be
. But the gardens – those tropical plants – I have never seen anything like them in my life before.
What a joy it would be to live in a property such as that.
I must admit, I am exceedingly jealous of everything
about it
.’

‘So you liked the tropical p...plants did you, M...Miss Owens? I like them, too
, and am trying to learn a little about them on my travels
. I am used to seeing them in their p
...p
roper situations, of course
, b...but
there
y
ou get the sm...smells and
sounds
as well
– cicadas singing non
-
stop from all the b...bushes – they m...make a
rhythmic whirring sort of a noise, quite soporific
, in fact
– and the songs and calls of strange birds an
d animals. You can see some devilish
p...pretty creatures in the tropics. I think you would like them.’

Maggie thought for a moment. It would all seem very strange.

By this time they had reached a fork in the pathway, with one route quite obviously leading directly down to the quay and the other taking a higher orientation
across
the top of the hill.

‘Shall we walk over the top of the cliff, M...Miss Owens? Only it is so b...beautiful up here in the sunshine it seems a shame to return straight into town.’

Maggie had no objections to make. After all, there was nothing in particular for her to return home to and she was quite enjoying their little ramble
now that
the sun
had lost its ferocity
.
So they branched off the route suggested by Mr Berkeley and found themselves taking a narrow trackway which led – so they
discovered
– to the crest of the hillside known as ‘The Nose’. The hillside itself was not memorable
. It was
covered,
in the main,
in hummocky grasses
and low growing shrubs, their symmetry distorted by the wind. B
ut once they had reached the other side they were rewarded
by
a most magnificent view northwards across Weymouth bay and on
to the
shini
ng white cliffs
which led to Lulworth cove.
Just
below them was the River Wey, lined on both side
s by tall-
masted ships
,
the quayside, even at this time, still busy with people, scurrying around like so many
worker
ants. The King’s floating bathing machine
remained anchored at the end of the pier, despite His Royal Highness now being far too unwell even to think of returning to use it, at least for
a while
.
They could see
the warehouses
on the f
a
r side of the river, and
, beyond these, the elegant curve of grand terraces which fronted onto
the
Esplanade
,
with
the
creamy margin
of the
broad sandy
beach
in front
. The whole scene was beautifully
set in a landscape of rolling green hills
, with the Ridgeway beyond
.
By this time t
he blue sky of the afternoon was becoming a little watery and pale. A fine, high cloud had
started to form over the hill
s. It fringed the
clifftops
with a curtain of soft colou
r, reflecting pink and purple from
the
slowly
setting sun.

Maggie
could feel the beauty all around her. It made her tingle
.

‘Oh
, my goodness
,
’ she exclaime
d,
quite mesmerised
. ‘What a
n utterly
delightful surprise
,
Mr Staveley
.
How
absolutely
beautiful it looks
–
I
could stand and look at
it for hours
.
The
terraces down there. The
y look like little dolls’ houses
– so pretty – and the countryside and cliffs beyond
– and that
incredible
sky
. I must admit, I hadn
’
t
really
appreciated just what splendid countryside we find ourselves
in
hereabouts
. I have not experienced the countryside over much
at all
, I suppose. I was born and brought up in London and never really thought of it
before
.’

‘
It is certainly m...most fine. And h
ave you seen over there, M...Miss
Owens?’ Mr Staveley was
pointing across the bay. ‘Have you noticed th
at white horse, cu
t into the h
ill? The horse has a man upon hi
s b...back
– see?
I understand it to
represent
the King.
He i
s reputedly m...most fond of Weymouth.
He will be m...most disappointed
if he is
not to see the town again.’

‘Yes. It must be so sad for the old gentleman not be able to live where he wishes. At least you and I have
some
choice about where we go
.’

‘
Choice? Well
– a m...modicum of choice, I suppose.’

‘You think not?
Perhaps you
’
re right. I daresay that there is actually very little upon which we have a totally free rein. Maybe it’s just as well. We should have no
-
one else to blame, after all, whenever anything happened to wrong.’

They shared a smile and took a final
lingering
look at the view. Then, a little reluctantly, they set off down
the hillside
together
and past the barracks
to the
bustling
quay
side
below
.

‘You’re concerned about something, Kathy.’

Mr Berkeley was sitting with his wife one
wet
evening shortly after this, helping her to wind wool in the parlour. Kathryn indulged in a
thoughtful
sigh, and nodded.

‘You are right, of course, my love. I find myself in a quandary, you see.’

‘A quandary that I can help you with at all?’

‘Maybe,’ cautiously
. ‘Though I daresay you would take the masculine part. You gentlemen are all the same.’

Andrew gave her a little smile.

‘You intrigue me more and more. So you are in a quandary about – let me guess – a little affair of the heart, maybe?’

Kathryn looked back at him sheepishly.

‘All right, all right,’ she acknowledged. ‘I cannot hide anything from you
-
I
can
see
that
,
Drew.
It is
actually
about Miss
Owens
. I am very concerned for her. I fear – well, I fear that she is becoming attached to
Mr Wright
. It will turn out badly for her, I know it.’

‘Miss
Owens
– the governess?  But why do you concern yourself about Miss
Owens
, Kathy? Do you not think she can look after herself?’

‘No, I do
n
o
t, as a matter of fact. She is passionate and alone. She needs somebody to love and
Mr Wright
will take advantage of that
, I a
m
sure
of it.’

‘I
expect
he will. But is that anything to concern you?’

Kathryn frowned at him.

‘Of course it is
, you horrible man. She will ruin herself. I cannot just stand by and watch her as she does
it
.’

‘But why ever not? It might be entertaining.’

‘Now Andrew, you are funning me but it is not funny
at all
. She is yet a young woman. She has lost her father and her position in the world. She is making a big mistake in her life. I just feel that I should warn her – show her that somebody cares – but I fear that she w
ill
not
listen to me.’

Andrew
suddenly
realised why she felt concerned
. She could see it in his face.

‘Oh, I have it – she reminds you of yoursel
f, doesn’t she? You were alone
-
your papa had died – you needed someone to love and that devil of a husband of yours turned up
to
sweep
you off your feet
. But believe me, Kathy
-
William will not try to shoot her. He is far too much a coward for that.’