Stay with Me (30 page)

Holy Trinity Church was packed for the funeral of William Hustwick, such was his standing among Hull's shipping and trading fraternities. Greta, being known from her earlier days in Hull, accompanied Peter, but Lena took her place among the general mourners, the three of them having decided this was the best course at the moment. Taking her place alongside Peter could have led to speculation and rumour, which they thought best avoided.

Peter spent the following fortnight dealing with his father's estate and residences and getting to know what needed most urgent attention as far as the business was concerned. At Greta's insistence he came to her house for a meal each evening. It not only ensured he saw Lena but enabled him to relax in feminine company.

One evening three weeks later, as he arrived, Greta showed concern for him.

‘Peter, I think you should get away from that office for a while. You are looking very pale.'

‘There's so much to see to. I had never before realised how much Father had kept from me.'

‘Leave it for a couple of days and go to Raby. You love it there, it will help you forget work for a little while.' Sensing his hesitation, she added, ‘Knowing your father as I did, I doubt he would expect you to lead a sombre existence on his account.'

Peter nodded thoughtfully, but before he could mention what was in his mind Lena came into the room. He immediately brightened and Greta, seeing this, was glad for him.

‘How has your day been?' his fiancée asked.

‘Middling.' Without expanding on his reply, he added, ‘I'm considering taking a couple of days off. We could go to Raby and I'd take you on the river as I once promised?' The suggestion hung for a moment then he added quickly, ‘And Greta will come as chaperone so the staff can't start spreading rumours.'

‘That would be wonderful.' Lena smiled.

‘A splendid idea,' agreed Greta.

‘Then I'll send word to Mrs Nevill to expect us.'

Two days later, with valises packed into the carriage, Peter picked up the reins and drove the two young ladies out of Hull. The brilliant sunshine lightened their mood and soon laughter filled the air.

The rumble of carriage wheels brought Tom hurrying from the stable block to take charge of the horse and carriage at the front of the house.

When Lena stepped from the carriage she paused and let her eyes run over the house and on towards the river. A feeling of well-being and contentment filled her. She smiled warmly at Peter as she took hold of his arm and hugged it to her. ‘Thank you for bringing me here,' she whispered.

‘You like Raby then?'

She gave a little shake of her head. ‘No, I love it.' ‘Then this is where we shall live.'

‘Those six months can't pass quickly enough for me!'

‘Let's go in.'

They followed Greta who had already gone into the house where Mrs Nevill was waiting to welcome them.

Peter's friend, Graham Shackleton, with whom he shared the boat, arrived the following morning and the four of them spent an enjoyable afternoon on the river. Lena felt even more at home as a result, for, although this coble was a far cry from the merchant ships she had been used to seeing in Whitby, it at least brought her closer to the life she craved.

 

The following week a terse letter from James arrived at Peter's office, informing him that the
John Carnforth
would sail into Hull on the following Wednesday under the command of Captain Elijah Webb and a crew who were familiar with the timber run to the Baltic port of Riga. Peter could have chosen to appoint a new crew from Hull, but in the circumstances did not insist.

When Peter brought this news to Lena she felt a strange sensation in the pit of her stomach. Although she had known all along that the arrival of the
John Carnforth
would reawaken memories of her old life, she still experienced unease at the announcement.

‘Do you want to see her arrive?' asked Peter.

‘Does James say he is coming?' she queried tentatively.

‘No.' Peter's answer had a deciding effect on her. A potentially unpleasant confrontation had been avoided. Lena's apprehension disappeared.

‘Then of course I'll come! She is named after my father. I will certainly welcome her here.'

 

At about the same time, in Whitby, James was informing Olivia and Alistair that he and Ralph would shortly be sailing for Hull on the
John Carnforth
.

‘Do you expect to see Lena?' Olivia asked coldly.

‘I don't intend to,' he replied. ‘This is purely business, with an eye to the future. I want to see how the ship handles.'

Olivia nodded with satisfaction. ‘If by any chance you do see her and exchange words, you can tell her how utterly disgusted I am and that I want nothing more to do with her. Our friendship is dead.'

‘Olivia!' cried Alistair, shaken by his sister's venom, though he too knew he would have adopted the same attitude if challenged.

‘Don't you soften,' she snapped. Only now, confronted by this possible contact with Lena, was the width of the gulf between them apparent. Since Lena's sneaked departure Olivia had had turbulent thoughts about their relationship. So close for so long, almost closer than sisters, the bond between them had appeared unassailable - but it had been shattered by what she saw as Lena's betrayal of their intimacy and disloyalty to Alistair. There could be no forgiveness for that.

Olivia watched the
John Carnforth
slip between the two piers and meet the first swell of the sea. She was filled with pride; there was an air about this ship, the first built entirely under James's orders. She seemed to promise good things for the business. The
John Carnforth,
along with the three ships already in service, would help fulfil James's dreams and point the way to the purchase of further vessels and a prosperous future. She knew James wished for this and, although she herself had little interest in the mercantile world, she would naturally give him her moral support and encouragement. He and Ralph were standing at the ship's rail, arms waving in a vigorous farewell. She waved back.

Alistair, standing beside her, watched with an air of indifference. He had little interest in the sea and ships, in spite of his boyhood when his father had tried to direct him that way. He wondered now if his antipathy towards a mercantile life had lost him Lena? Then gave a little shrug of his shoulders. What if it had? Oh, yes, he regretted that she would not be his wife, but wasn't it better this rift had occurred now rather than later? She would be hard to forget, but the first step had been taken when he had confronted her in Hull. As he saw it now, that wound could never be healed. But what if life in Hull with Peter Hustwick was not the idyll she sought . . .? He shook such ideas from his mind. He must get on with his own life; pursue his ambition to be a good and caring doctor.

He felt a touch on his arm.

‘You were far away, Alistair.'

He gave a small smile. ‘So I was.' He offered his sister no more and she did not press him.

‘Let's go,' Olivia said, taking his arm after one last glance at the ship with its sails spread to catch the wind. ‘Safe voyage,' she whispered.

 

The
John Carnforth
made good time, running with a favourable wind and good sea. As she sailed into the Humber, Captain Webb came to join James and Ralph who were enjoying the views along the river. ‘She's a sturdy ship, sir, and handles well.'

‘I thought so too, but I'm glad to hear a seaman of your calibre praise her.'

‘Can't do anything else, sir. She's a wonder.'

‘A good first voyage to the Baltic and she's yours to command.'

Captain Webb could not hide his surprise but it was soon replaced by one of appreciation. ‘Sir, I thank you for your confidence. You know little about me as yet.'

‘More than you think, Captain. We checked your record sailing out of the Tyne, and Ralph and I have seen how you have been handling the crew - firm but fair. Their respect is not always easily won, especially when a captain is not from their home port, but you've won theirs.'

‘Thank you again, sir.'

 

‘There she is, Peter!' cried Lena excitedly. ‘Isn't she beautiful? '

He smiled at her enthusiasm and obvious love for this vessel, a love that in fact extended to anything sailing the seas. ‘Almost as beautiful as you,' he whispered, close to her ear.

Lena smiled at him. ‘Father would have been so proud of her.' She concentrated on taking in every detail as she watched the
John Carnforth
draw nearer and nearer.

‘He's there!' Her voice was low but its sharpness jolted Peter.

‘What?'

‘James . . . by the rail . . . he and Ralph.' Her face tightened. ‘Why did he have to come? There was no need, was there?'

‘Not so far as I was concerned. Maybe he's come to offer an olive branch?'

‘Not very likely.' She sighed.

‘Give him a chance if he does.' Peter took her hand and started along the quay. Lena would have pulled away and left, but, guessing she might do this, he gripped her hand tighter.

The vessel was brought skilfully to the quayside. Immediately the gangway was run out, James strode purposefully down it.

Peter held out his hand in greeting but James refused it.

‘I trust you had a good voyage?' Peter said courteously.

‘We did,' was the terse reply. ‘Everything is in order as per our contract. The ship is now in the hands of Captain Webb. Negotiate any instructions regarding the voyage with him.' He showed no sign of acknowledging his sister.

‘Sir,' said Peter sharply and with some contempt, ‘do you blatantly ignore a lady?'

‘Who?' rapped James.

‘Me!' Lena challenged him. She was glad of Peter's reproof to him but would do her own talking.

‘Oh, you,' said her brother with derision.

‘Yes, me! Come now, brother, can we not be civil at least. Tell me, how is Olivia?'

‘Olivia? You feel concern for her then?'

‘Yes, I do. She was my dearest friend.'

‘Ah, you use the right word - was. She gave me a message in case I saw you.'

‘And you weren't going to give it me?

‘Oh, yes, I was, because you deserve to hear it. She wants nothing more to do with you, ever.' He smirked to see her pained expression then.

Even though it was what she might have expected, Lena had retained the smallest of hope of a reconciliation with Olivia at least, but now her hopes were dashed. It was a grievous blow and left her in the mood for retaliation.

‘As I told you before,' James announced haughtily, ‘keep away from Whitby, and don't ever come near my firm - there'll be no more dealings between Hustwick's and Carnforth's.'

‘
Your
firm?' Lena's voice rose. ‘You're no true Carnforth, and never can be. But one day the firm you ursurped will come back to its rightful owner - the last true-blooded Carnforth!'

Three weeks later, on the day of the
John Carnforth'
s expected return to Whitby, her mission for Hustwick's completed, Jude had been posted on the cliff as a lookout. After making a positive identification of the ship, bearing in towards Whitby, he raced though the streets to the office. His sudden appearance brought everyone to their feet. The clerks hesitated, but as James and Ralph rushed out they called to the men to leave their work if they wished. They needed no second bidding and hurried to the quay where they knew the ship would dock.

But James and Ralph could not wait that long. They dodged their way quickly between the folk on Church Street and, panting hard, climbed the one hundred and ninety-nine steps to the cliff top. They hurried through the churchyard without giving the ancient building beside it a second glance. Even the magnificence of the ruined abbey was lost on them today. Gulping in air, they stood on the edge of the cliff.