The Four Swans (4 page)

`Darling, I’ve been an old maid long enough. Besides, you must consider my good name. Already the county is scandalized because we’re living in the same house without the benefit of chaperone during your convalescence. The grannies are insisting that you hasten to make an honest woman of me.’

So the date had been agreed, and then the nature of the wedding. `It is no good being ashamed of me,’ Caroline had said. `It’s embarrassing that I have so much money, but you knew that all along, and a big wedding is one of the consequences.’

As Elizabeth had predicted, most of the county, or that part of the county within reasonable travelling distance, was there. Heavy rain in the night had been followed by a bright day with the puddles in the streets glinting like eyes where they reflected the sky. Caroline wore a gown of white satin with the petticoat and facings covered with a rich gold net, her hair held with a coronet of seed pearls. Her uncle from Oxfordshire gave her away, and after the wedding a reception was held at the Assembly Rooms in High Cross,

Elizabeth’s persuasions had finally resulted in George’s agreement to go with her, and he very quickly spied his old enemy standing with his wife near to the bride and groom. In his present mood it was almost more than he could bear, to go up and pass close beside them, but only Elizabeth noticed his hesitation as they went on.

Ross Vennor Poldark, owner of 100 acres of rather barren and unproductive farmland on the north coast, sole proprietor of a small but highly profitable tin mine, one-time soldier and perpetual nonconformer, was dressed in a black velvet coat cut away at the front to show the grey suede waistcoat and the tight grey nankeen trousers. The waistcoat and the trousers were new but the coat was the one his father had bought him for his twenty-first birthday and which he refused to replace, even though he could now well afford to. Perhaps there was a subtle pride behind his refusal, pride that in fourteen years he had, neither fattened nor grown more lean. Of course the cut was out of date, but those who observed that, Ross thought, had no claim on his opinion or consideration.

Nevertheless he had insisted that his wife, Demelza, should have a new gown, even though she herself protested it unnecessary. Demelza Poldark was now twenty-five, a young woman who had never been a raving beauty but whose eyes and smile and walk and general exuberance of spirit always drew men’s attention like a magnet among iron filings. Childbearing had not yet coarsened her figure, so she was still able to wear a tight-waisted frock of green damask embroidered with. silver trimmings. It had cost more than she could bear to think, but which she still constantly thought about. In it she looked as slight as Elizabeth, though not as, virginal. But then she never had.

The two neighbours and cousins by marriage bowed slightly to each other but did not speak. Then the Warleggans passed on to the bride and groom to shake their hands and wish them a happiness which George at least begrudged. Enys had always been a protege and a creature of Ross Poldark, and while still a struggling . and impecunious mine surgeon; had turned away from the rich patronage of the Warleggans and made it plain where his loyalties lay. George observed today how sick Dwight was still looking. He stood beside his tall radiant red-haired wife, who topped him by an inch and who looked the picture of youth and sophisticated happiness, but himself thin and drawn and grey at the temples and seemingly devoid of muscle and flesh within his clothes.

They moved on again and, spoke for a while with the Reverend Osborne and Mrs Whitworth. Ossie as usual was dressed in the extremity of fashion, and his bride of last July had got a new outfit of a snuff brown, which did not suit her because it made her dark skin look darker. For the most part she kept her: eyes down and did not speak; but when addressed: she looked up and smiled and answered politely, and it was really not at all possible from her expression to perceive the misery and revulsion that was burning in her heart, nor the nausea caused by the cellular stirrings of an embryonic Ossie in her womb.

Presently George moved away from them and drew Elizabeth towards a corner where Sir Francis and Lady Basset were talking. So the-pleasant conversazione of the wedding reception went on. ‘Two hundred people, the cream of the society of mid-Cornwall, squires, merchants, bankers, soldiers, fox-hunters, the titled and the landed, the untitled and the moneyed, the seekers and the sought. In the melee Demelza became separated from Ross, and seeing Mr and Mrs Ralph-Allen Daniell, went to speak to them. They greeted her like an old friend which, considering they had only met her once, was gratifying, and, considering that on that occasion Ross had refused to oblige Mr Daniell by accepting a magistracy, even more pleasing. Standing near them was a sturdy, quietly dressed, reserved man in his late thirties, and presently Mr Daniell said `My Lord, may I present to you Mrs Demelza Poldark, Captain Ross Poldark’s’ wife: the Viscount Falmouth.’

They bowed to each other. Lord Falmouth said : `Your husband has been very much in the news, ma’am. I have yet to have the pleasure of congratulating him on his exploit.’

`I am only hoping, sir,’ Demelza said, `that all these congratulations will not go to his head and induce him to embark on another.’ Falmouth smiled, a very contained smile, carefully poured out, like a half measure of some valuable liquid and not to be wasted.

‘It is a change to find a wife so concerned to keep her husband at home. But we may yet have need of him and others like him.’ `Then,’ Demelza said; `I b’lieve neither of us will be lacking.” They looked at each other very straightly.

Lord Falmouth said : `You must come and visit us sometime,’ and passed on

The Poldarks were staying the night with - Harris Pascoe, the banker, and over a late supper in his house in Pydar Street Demelza said

`I”m not, sure that I’ve done good for you with Lord Falmouth, Ross,’ and told of the interchange.

`It’s of no moment whether you’ pleased or, displeased him,’ Ross said. ‘We do not need his patronage.’

`Oh, but that is his way,’ said Pascoe. `You should have known his uncle, the second Viscount. He had no appearance but was arrogant withal. This one is more easy to treat with:’

`He and I fought in the same war,’ said Ross, `but did not meet. He being in the King’s Own and a rank superior to me. I confess I do not take greatly to his, manner but I’m glad if you made a good

impression on him.’

`I do not at all think I made a good impression,’ said Demelza. Pascoe said: `I suppose you know that Hugh Armitage is a cousin of the Falmouths? His mother is a Boscawen.’

`Who?’ Ross said.

`Hugh Armitage. You should know Lieutenant Armitage. You rescued him from Quimper gaol.’

`The devil ! No, I don’t know. I suppose. we spoke little on the way across.’

`It should make the family feel somewhat in your debt.’

`I don’t really see why. We didn’t at all set out to rescue him. He was one of the lucky few who made use of our entry to escape.’ `Nevertheless you brought him home.’

`Yes … we brought him home And useful enough in navigation he was on the way…’ `Then we are in each other’s debt,’ said Demelza.

`Did you speak with the Whitworths?’ Ross asked her.

`No. I have never met Morwenna, and I did not ever very much care for Osborne.’

‘At one time he appeared to have a distinct taking for you.’

`Oh, that,’ said Demelza, wrinkling her nose.

‘I spoke with Morwenna,’ Ross said. `She’s a shy creature and answers yes and no as if she thinks that makes a conversation. It was hard to tell whether she finds herself unhappy.’

`Unhappy?’ said Harris Pascoe. ‘In a four-month bride? Would you expect it?’

Ross said: `My brother-in-law, Demelza’s brother,’ had a brief and abortive love attachment for Morwenna Whitworth before she married. Drake is still in deep depression over it and we are trying to find some sort of life for him that he will accept. Therefore it is of interest to know whether his loved one has settled comfortably into a marriage Drake says she bitterly opposed.’

`I only know,’ said Pascoe, `that for a cleric he spends f-far too much on this world’s attire. I don’t attend his church but I understand he is careful about his duties. That at least makes a welcome change.’

After Demelza had gone to bed Ross said:

‘And your own affairs, Harris? They prosper?’

`Thank you, yes. The bank is well enough. Money is still cheap, credit is readily available, new enterprises are growing; up everywhere. In the meantime we keep a careful watch on our note issue

and lose trade thereby – but as you are aware I am a cautious man and know that fine weather does not last for ever.’

Ross said : `You know I am taking a quarter interest in Ralph

Allen Daniell’s new tin smelting house?’

`You mentioned it in your letter. A little more port?’ `Thank you.’

Pascoe poured, into each glass, careful not to create bubbles. He held the decanter a moment between his hands.

‘Daniell is a good man of business. It should be a useful investment - Where is it to be built?’

`A couple of miles out of Truro, on the Falmouth road. It. will have ten reverbatory furnaces, each about six feet high by four broad and will employ a fair number of men.’

‘Daniell cannot have w-wanted for the money himself.’

`No. But he has little knowledge of mining and offered me a share and a say in the design and management.’

‘Good. Good.’

`And he does not bank with the Warleggans.’

Harris laughed, and they finished their port and talked of other things.

`Speaking of the Warleggans,’ Pascoe said presently. `Something of an accommodation has been reached between their bank and Basset, Rogers and Co., which will add to the strength of both. It is not of course anything like an amalgamation, but there will be a friendly co-ordination, and that could be of some disadvantage to Pascoe, Tresize. Annery acid Spry.’

`In what way?’

`Well, their capital strength will be five or six times ours. It is always a disadvantage to be much smaller than one’s competitors, especially in times of stress. In banking size has a curious magic for the depositor. It’s some years now, as you know, since I took my three partners, because of the danger of being overshadowed by the other banks. Now we are a 1-little overshadowed again.’

`You have no one to call in to redress the balance?’

`Not in the neighbourhood. Outside, of course but the distances are tool great between here and, say, Helston or Falmouth for the easy or safe transport of gold or notes.’ Pascoe got up. `Oh, we shall stay as we are, and come to no hurt, I am sure. While the wind blows fair there, is indeed nothing to hurt anyone.’

II

In another part of the town Elizabeth was combing her hair at her dressing table and George, sitting by the fire in a long lawn robe, was as usual watching her. But now, in this last week or so, since that talk, there seemed to be some easing of the nature of the surveillance. The screws were off. It was as if he had been through some nervous crisis, the character of which she barely dared to guess, and had now emerged from it.

`Did you notice,’ George said, `did you notice how Falmouth avoided us?’

`Who, George Falmouth? I didn’t. Why should he?’

`He has always been unwelcoming, cold, grudging.’

`But that is his nature! Or at least his appearance, for he is not really so in truth. I remember when we were first married I met them at that ball and he looked so cold and forbidding that I wondered what I had done to offend. And all he did was chide me that now we all had the same names - two Georges married to two Elizabeths and we might become confused as to our bedmates !’

`Oh,’ said George, `he approves of you; but nothing I or my father may do will gratify him. He is perpetually antagonistic and has become, worse of late.’

`Well,, his wife’s death has hit him hard. It is sad to be left with so young a family. And I don’t believe he is the re-marrying kind.’

‘He would only need to crook; his finger; for a hundred girls to run. Such is the lure of a title.’

The contempt in his voice made Elizabeth lift an eye to him and then look away. The Warleggans were hardly insusceptible to such a lure, if one ever came their way.

`He’s not content to be lord of his lands beside the Fal but wishes to be lord of Truro also. And none may be allowed to stand in his light!’

Elizabeth said: `Well,’ he is lord of Truro, isn’t he - so far as possessions and influence are concerned. No one disputes it. It all works very peaceable, I believe.’

`Then you believe wrong,’ said George. `The town and the borough are very tired of being treated as a rich man’s chattels. We have never been a corrupt borough in that the voters receive payment, but his behaviour makes the corporation a laughing stock.’

`Oh, you mean in elections,’ Elizabeth said. `I never did understand elections.’

`There are two Members, and the corporation elect them. Hitherto, this corporation has been glad to elect the Boscawen nominees - indeed until recently two minor Boscawens held the seats - there’s nothing amiss with that, for we are all of much the same political complexion, but it is essential that for their self-respect, the burgesses should be given the appearance of choice - indeed that they should be given the actual choice, however unlikely it is that they would in the event choose to run counter to Falmouth’s wishes.’

Elizabeth began to plait her hair. ‘I wonder that George gives this unnecessary offence. His uncle, I know, was a great autocrat but

’

`They all are.’

Elizabeth thought she had some idea why George Evelyn, the third Viscount, and indeed the Boscawens generally, kept the Warleggans at a distance. She knew the infinite pains to, which Nicholas, George’s father, and indeed George himself, had been to, ingratiate themselves with the Falmouths; but apart from the natural prejudice which an old and now titled family could be expected to have against a thrusting new one, their interests covered too much of the same ground. The Warleggan influence increased constantly; it might not obviously clash with Boscawen interests but it ran alongside them. Also the Boscawens were used to treating either with their equals or with their inferiors; the Warleggans were neither: they represented the new rich who did not yet fit into a , recognizable sector of society. There were, of course, other new rich, especially in London, but some adapted more, quickly than others. In. spite of all their efforts, Elizabeth saw that the Warleggans did not adapt quickly.