The Stranger From The Sea (43 page)

And a younger brother? Little perhaps in proportion, but he would scarcely be anything but wealthy. What did one wish for one's daughter? Certainly not, certainly
never,
position at the expense of happiness.

But what were the other choices open to her? (Unless she really wanted to, did she have to make
any
decision so soon, while only rising eighteen?)

Was she in fact going to be
asked
for any decision? Perhaps Lord Edward brought many such young ladies here. Perhaps the week would end with the announcement of his betrothal to the Hon. Helena Fairborne, daughter of Lord Fairborne of Tewkesbury. (He was being very attentive to her at this moment.) Or to Miss Florence Hastings, a cousin of the Earl of Sussex. Or did one have to think of the house party in matrimonial terms at
all?
Why should young people not meet without so much absurd speculation?

'Please?' she said to Powys-Jones.

'You've got a soldier husband, I'm told. And a nephew, what, in the 43rd? Damn fine lot, Craufurd's Light Division. Black Bob, they call him. Saved the day at the Coa. Though Wellington was angry with Bob that day. Your husband still abroad?'

'No, he returned home a few months ago.'

Powys-Jones grunted his disappointment. 'You must come and visit me after you've done here. Tis but a day's ride west into Radnorshire. Or mayhap in a coach you would be more comfortable with a day and a half.'

'That's kind of you, Colonel. But you will observe I am with my daughter.'

'You must have been a child bride, ma'am, but God damn the world, bring her as well! I have two lazy sons who'd maybe smarten up a bit at the sight of her. Or you. By damn, or you, ma'am
-'

'My husband is expecting me
-'

'Oh, fiddle to husbands. After ten years of marriage, what are husbands for? Just to give you a name and a position and a place to live. Pieces of furniture, that's what husbands are
-'

'But must you not be one yourself?'

'Was, ma'am, was. Then the lady took it on herself to fly away with my cousin: stupid young oaf; I hope he's got what he deserves. As for tomorrow
...'

'Tomorrow?' Demelza raised her eyebrows at him. 'Who mentioned tomorrow?'

'I did this minute. You shall come a drive with me.'

‘I
s that a command?'

‘
Yes.'

'As one of the 43
rd?'

·By damn, yes, if it pleases you.'

'Colonel, I could not. Think of my reputation.'

'Your reputation, ma'am, in the
company of an officer and a gentl
eman, will be in safe hands. Have no fear.' 'And you think our hostess would approve?' 'I'll make damn sure she does.' 'And my daughter?'

'What has she to do with it? Don't say she has such care for her mother. No child is so unnatural.' 'She's devoted to her father.'

Colonel Powys-Jones shrugged. 'Still damned unnatural. Hate family ties. People, in my view, ma'am, should procreate and then separate.'

'It sounds like making cream.'

'Cream?'

'Cornish cream. You heat it up and then you separate it.'

'I know what it is you want, ma'am.'

'What?' Demelza asked provocatively.

The Colonel hesitated and then did not dare say what he was going to say. Instead he looked injured.

'You don't
trust
me. That's the truth of it. You think I am some blackguard from the Welsh marches with designs on your honour, that you do!'

Demelza took a piece of bread. 'As to the first, no, sir. As to the second, haven't you?'

The Colonel sputtered a litde food into his napkin trying to conceal a laugh. 'By God, yes.'

Dinner went elegantly on.

All through the meal Lord Lansdowne had chatted at intervals with Clowance. He led her on, encouraging her to talk of her likes and dislikes and putting seemingly interested questions about life, and her life, in Cornwall. It was, she told herself, the natural good-mannered exercise of a practised host. Only the peculiar circumstances of their visit suggested to her that - since Edward lacked parents - it might also be the inquiring mind of an elder brother concerned to discover more about this young provincial girl Edward was interesting himself in. Was Lord Lansdowne - like Major Trevanion -
in loco parentis?
Would she - like Jeremy - presently be shown the door?

Having talked considerably about her father - on which they were in splendid accord, since they both thought so well of him - conversation moved to her brother, and Clowance mentioned his interest in steam. Amusement getting the better of her shyness, she told of the fishing trips which had puzzled them all, and what he had been really about.

Henry Lansdowne smiled with her. 'When he knew the truth, your father was not at all displeased?'

'I do not know whether he has yet heard! But had my brother asked permission before going I doubt whether my father would
have given it. We are all a littl
e nervous as to the risk.'

Lord Lansdowne said: 'In the winter this house is heated by steam. I have recently had it installed.'

'Really,
sir? I will tell Jeremy. He'll be excited to know it.'

'In the morning I will take you into the cellars and show you how it works. Then you may explain to your brother.'

'Thank you, my lord. That is very kind.'

Lansdowne took a half spoonful of syllabub, savouring it for flavour.

'When this war is over, Miss Poldark, I believe we shall be on the brink of great new developments. The French have undergone a political revolution. Even if Napoleon falls they will never be able to restore the
ancien regime.
Or put the clock back. We in this country, partly by our inventiveness, partly as a result of the war, are undergoing a mechanical revolution of which steam is an important part. I believe it will transform England. All Europe is crying out for our manufactured goods. When they are allowed to buy them there will be a great wave of prosperity runnin
g through England. Even though ti
mes are so bad, so desperate in the Midlands and in the North, it will change. And although there will be many to decry such developments I believe the ordinary man, the working man, the farm boy who has left home to work in the factories - I believe they will
all
have some share in this prosperity. There will of course still be misery and poverty and injustice, but I believe the
level
will rise. Not only the level at which people live but the level at which people
expect
to live. We are on the brink of a new world.'

Clowance smiled at him. 'I'm sure my brother would be happy to hear what you say, sir. I'm sure he would agree with it all.'

'Perhaps one day,' said Lord Lansdowne, 'we shall meet.'

Which was very gracious of him and suggested that he did not find his dinner companion objectionable to his taste.

The following day was wet, but on the Tuesday, with cloud and sun alternating over the
great park, Colonel Owen Powys-J
ones returned to the attack and had his way by taking Mrs Poldark for an extended drive. But Demelza also had her way and Clowance came with them. Not only Clowance but Lord Edward Fitzmaurice as well.

They went in an open barouche - not at all what Powys-Jones really wanted; he had had ideas of driving Demelza at a cavalry gallop behind a pair of greys in some light curricle or other; but with four of them it was all far too sedate, and a coachman into the bargain. However, he soon recovered his temper.

'Here, by God,' he said, 'here on this hill your Cornish folk under Hopton and Grenville gave as good as they got in a fine stand-up affray against that damned Presbyterian, Waller, but Grenville died and tis doubtful to this day who was the victor - though Waller it was who withdrew. They say both sides was so exhausted
‘
twas a matter of chance which retreated first. Now if we get back into that carriage I'll take you as far as Roundway Down where the Roundheads were really given a beating. Prince Maurice had ridden hard from Oxford and arrived just in time to turn the scales.'

Edward Fitzmaurice said to Clowance: 'We were not here in those days.'

'Which days?'

'Of the Civil War. I think the estate belonged to a man called Bridgeman. Our family has only been here about sixty years. The house was then unfinished. My father really made it what it is today.'

'Are you Irish?' she asked.

'Why?'

'The name of Fitzmaurice sounds . . .'

'The Pettys were drapers in Hampshire. But a clever one became a professor at Oxford and
be
went to Ireland and acquired an estate there. His son married the daughter of the Earl of Kerry and
their
son inherited, and so the two names became linked and have not since been separated
...
But tell me of your own.'

'My own name? Poldark? I do not quite know. Someone came over with the Huguenots and married into a Cornish family called Trenwith. And then
...'

'So we are very much the same, Miss Poldark.'

'Are we?'

'Are we not?'

'Well, no; for you have great properties and great possessions. We have little of either.'

'I meant in that the families are blended in rather the same way. But I would point out, Miss Poldark, that the properties and possessions belong to my brother. I am relatively poor. My own house, Bremhill, you must come and see tomorrow
-'

'Har - hum!' Colonel Powys cleared his throat. 'We are waiting for you, Fitzmaurice.'

'I beg your pardon.' Lord Edward whispered to Clowance: 'Have you ever practised archery?'

'No. Never.'

'We have a range. No distance from here. I wonder
...'
'What?’

'If they would excuse us from this longer trip
...
Colonel Powys-J
ones.' 'Sir?'

'I wonder if you might excuse us from coming with you to Roundway. I had thought - '

'Gladly, dear boy
-'

'What is this?' asked Demelza alertly.

'Mrs Poldark, it happens we are very near the archery range, and I thought your daughter might like to try an arrow or two. I confess I am merely a beginner myself and could very well instruct myself as well as her. But you and

Colonel Powys-Jones could proceed to Roundway as arranged and pick us up on the way back —'

'Arche
ry,' said Powys-Jones, rubbing h
is chin. 'Ah yes, archery. Where is it?'

'Just over the next lull. My brother Henry is proficient at it, and it is, I believe, a skilful s
port, but I have had littl
e time to play.'

'You have a lawn or something?'

'Oh yes, we have a special lawn. It is all set up. If you would care to take Mrs Poldark as planned to Roundway
...'

Machinery worked for a moment or two inside the Colonel's shaven head.

'Then we shall all go,' he announced in his usual military way, commanding the expedition.

'Go where?' asked Demelza.

'To try our hand at archery. Damned good idea, I would say.'

'Sir, there is simply no reason for you and Mrs Poldark to alter your arrangements,' said Edward, clearly put out. 'I had only thought that for myself and Miss Poldark
...'

'Nonsense,' said the Colonel. 'Very interested in archery myself. Very agreeable exercise. How about you, ma'am?'

'Well,' said Demelza, astonished at the Colonel's change of front, for she had thought this division would have suited his purpose, and feeling some sympathy for Edward's wishing to have Clowance to himself for a few minutes, 'Well
...
I confess I had hoped to see Roundway. You have told me yourself, Colonel, of this battle, and I had been much looking forward to seeing the site and hearing your further description
...'

'Go tomorrow,' said Colonel Powys-Jones.

'But, Colonel, today is a delightful day for a drive.'

'Nonsense . . . Beg pardon, ma'am, but look at those clouds. Any moment now, might be heavy rain. Then where should we be? No
...
Archery. Agreeable exercise. Ever tried it, ma'am?'

'No. I know nothing of it.'

'Then you shall be instructed too. Very simple sport, shooting an arrow. Litde or no skill required.'

In curious disarray they proceeded to stroll up the hill, Edward biting his thumbnail in chagrin, Clowance walking sedately beside him, fanning her face gendy with a pink glove, Powys-Jones extending an arm like an angle iron for Demelza to lay her finger-tips on, and the coachman and the barouche making a detour up a narrow track to be ready for them when they next had need of him.

It was only when they came upon the archery lawn that the mystery of the Colonel's change of mood was solved. Edward took out the bows and arrows from the pavilion and proceeded to fire a few practice shots at the target and then invited them to try. Instruction, it seemed, was a very intimate affair. Demelza could see that Edward, while touching Clowance frequently in the course of his teaching, was indeed behaving impeccably. Colonel Powys-Jones was not. His object clearly was to hold Demelza altogether within his arms while one hand held hers in the bow guard and the other guided her to pull back the string of the bow. Since the instructor was an inch shorter than the instructed the attempt was not a great success, except for the Colonel himself. The first of Demelza's arrows went winging up into the air and missed the target by some forty feet. Starlings rose.

Having her hat pushed out of place, Demelza took it off and dropped it on the grass.

'Really, Colonel, I think twould be better
-'

'Nay, hold still, look you. You almost got it then. Allow me.'

The lesson went on, with Demelza taking what evasive action she could. Clowance's second arrow was dead on target but died and took the ground ten feet short.

'Bravo!' said Edward. 'A truly splendid attempt! If we
c
an get the bow a little higher’

'Let Mama have another try.'