Bride of Pendorric (14 page)

I looked up into Lowella Pendorric’s painted face and I thought exultantly: But Roe is not really like his father and his grandfather, and the gambling, philandering Pendorrics. If he had been in his

father’s place he would have married the farmer’s daughter, as he married me—for what had I to bring him? In ten minutes we were strolling along the cliff path, the warm sea-scented wind caressing our faces.

I had no wish to lead an idle life. On the island there had always been so much to do. I had been my father’s housekeeper as well as his saleswoman. I pointed out to Roe that I wanted to do something. ” You might go down to the kitchens and have a little chat with Mrs.

Penhalligan. She’d appreciate it. After all, you’re the mistress of the house. “

” I will,” I agreed, ” because Morwenna wont mind in the least if I do make suggestions.”

He put his arm round me and hugged me. ” Aren’t you the mistress of the house, anyway?”

” Roe,” I told him, ” I’m so happy. I wouldn’t have thought it possible so soon after …”

Roe’s kiss prevented me from going on with that. ” Didn’t I tell you?

And talking of having something to do . as Mrs. Pendorric you should take an interest in village activities, you know. It’s expected, as I guess you’ve gathered from the Darks. I tell you, Favel, in a few weeks’ time you’ll not be complaining of having too little to do, but too much. “

<” I think I’ll begin by getting to know more of Mrs. Penhalligan and perhaps I’ll call on the Darks. This afternoon, by the way, I’ve promised to have tea with Lord Polhorgan.”

” What, again? You really do like that old man.”

” Yes,” I said almost defiantly, I do. “

“Then enjoy yourself.”

” I believe I shall.”

Roe studied me, smiling as he did so. ” You certainly seem to hit it off.”

” I feel that he’s really rather a lonely old man, and he seems sort of paternal.”

R Roe’s smile faded and he nodded slowly.

“You’re still grieving,” he said.

“It’s so hard to forget. Roe. Oh, I’m so happy here. I love it all;

the family are so kind to me, and you . “

He was laughing. ” And I’m kind to you too? What did you expect? A wife-beater?”

Then he put his arms about me and held me close to him. ” Listen, Favel,” he said. ” I want you to be happy. Dt’s what

I want more than anything. I understand what you feel about the old man. He’s paternal. That’s what you said; and in a way he makes up for something you miss. He’s lonely. You can bet your life he’s missed a lot. So you like each other. It’s understandable. “

” I wish you liked him more. Roe.”

” Don’t take any notice of what I’ve said. It was mostly said jokingly. When you get to know me better you’ll understand what a joker I am.”

” Don’t you think I know you well then?”

” Not as well as you will twenty years hence, darling. We’ll go on learning. about each other; that’s what makes it all so exciting. It’s like a voyage of discovery.”

He spoke lightly, but I went on thinking of what he had said, and I was still remembering those words when I passed under the great archway on my way out that afternoon, until I heard footsteps behind me and turning saw Rachel Bective, a twin walking sedately on either side of her.

” Hallo,” called Rachel, ” going for a walk?”

” I’m going to tea at Polhorgan.”

They caught up with me and we walked along together. ” Hope you’re prepared,” warned Rachel. ” It’s going to rain.”

” I’ve brought my mac.”

” The wind’s blowing in from the southwest, and once it starts to rain here you begin to wonder whether it’s ever going to stop.” Hyson came to the other side of me so that I was in between her and Rachel;

Lowella skipped on ahead.

” Do you go round by the cliff path to Polhorgan?” asked Rachel. ” It’s at least five minutes shorter.”

“I’ve always kept to this road.”

“We’ll show you the short cut if you like.”

” Don’t let me take you out of your way.”

” But we’re only going for a walk.”

” Well, thanks—if it really won’t” ” Lowella,” Rachel called. ” We’re going down Smugglers’ Lane to show your Aunt Favel the short cut to Polhorgan.” Lowella wheeled sharply round. ” Good. It’ll be lovely and squelchy down Smugglers’ Lane.”

” It won’t. There hasn’t been that much rain.” ‘”” e turned aside

from the road and took a steep narrow path j on either side of which the hedges had run so wild (hat some-Hi times we had to go in single file. ^| Lowella found a broken-off branch and went ahead of ug^l beating the overgrown hedges and shouting: ‘“Beware thei awful avalanche. Beware the pine-tree’s withered branch, t’ Excelsior!” ” ” Oh Lowella, do be quiet,” begged Rachel. ;

* Of course if you don’t want me to lead you to safety, say , so. ” 5 ” Hyson reads to her when they’re in bed at night,” Rachel : told me,” and she goes on repeating what appeals to her. ” ^ ” You like reading, don’t you? ” I said to Hyson. ‘( She merely nodded. Then she said: ” Lowella’s such a;: child. As if this is anything like the awful avalanche! ” ; The path ended abruptly and we stepped’ on to what looked ] Eke a ledge. Beneath us—a long way beneath us—was the f sea, and beside us towering above rose the shaley face of the ?

cliff with here and there a bush of gorse or bracken clinging ; to the brown earth. ] “It’s perfectly safe,” said Rachel Bectiv . “Unless of! course you have a phobia about heights.”

I told her I hadnt and added that we were several feet j lower than we had been on the coast road. ;

” Yes, but that’s a proper road. This is just a path, and a j little farther on its gets even narrower. There’s a notice saying j use it at your own risk, but that’s for visitors. Local people ; all use it.”

:

Lowella went on ahead, pretending to pick her way. i ” Wouldn’t it be super if we had a rope attaching us all,” she cried. ” Then if the Bride fell over the cliff, we’d haul her up.” , ” That’s kind of you, but I don’t intend to fall.”

“’ She’s still the youth who bore ‘mid snow and ice the banner with the strange device,” ” murmured Hyson. | ” Excelsior! ” cried Lowella.

“Isut it a smashing word!” She ran on, shouting it. Rachel looked at me and shrugged her shoulders.

In a few seconds I saw what they meant about the path’s narrowing; for some two yards it was little more than a shelf; we walked rather gingerly in single file; then we rounded a part of the cliff which projected over the water, and as we did so I saw that we were almost at Polhorgan.

” It’s certainly a short cut,” I said. ” Thanks for showing me.”

” Shall we go back the same way?” Rachel asked the twins. Lowella turned and was already on her way back. I heard her shouting ” Excelsior ” as I went on to Polhorgan.

Lord Polhorgan was delighted to see me. I fancied the manservant treated me with rather special deference, and it occurred to me that it must be rare for his master to become so friendly in such a short space of time.

When I went into his room Nurse Grey was with him, reading to him from The Financial Times.

” Please don’t let me interrupt,” I said. ” I must be early. I’ll go and have a walk in the garden. I’ve always wanted to explore it.”

Lord Polhorgan looked at his watch.

“You are punctual,” he said, and waved a hand at Nurse Grey, who promptly folded the paper and rose. ” Never could abide people who have no respect for time. Unpunctuality is a vice. Glad to see you, Mrs. Pendorric. And I’d like to show you the garden, but I can’t manage it these days. Too steep for me to walk; too steep for me to be wheeled.”

” I’ll enjoy it from the window to-day,” I answered. ” Nurse Grey must show you, one day.”

” I’d be delighted to,” said Althea Grey.

“Tell them to bring in the tea. And Nurse, there’s no need for you to stay. Mrs. Pendorric will do the honours, I’m sure.” Nurse Grey bowed her head and murmured: ” I’ll hurry on the tea then.” Lord Polhorgan nodded and the nurse went out, leaving us together. ” Tea first,” he said, ” and we’ll have our chess after. Sit down and talk to me for a while. You’re settling in here now. Liking it?”

” Very much.”

“All well at Pendorric?” He shot a quick glance at me from under his shaggy brows.

” Yes.” I went on impulsively: ” Did you expect it to be otherwise? ” He evaded the question. ” It’s never easy settling in to a new life.

Must have been very gay—that island of yours. Find it quiet here?

”

” I like this quiet.”

” Better than the island?”

“When my mother was alive I was completely happy. I didn’t think there was anything in the world but happiness. I was sad when I went away to school, but after a while I was used to that and being back was more fun than ever.”

He gave me a look of approval. ‘
You’re a sensible young woman. I’m glad. Cant stand the other sort. “

” Nurse Grey seems a sensible young woman.”

” H’m. Too sensible perhaps.”

” Can one be too sensible?”

” Sometimes I wonder why she stays here. I don’t think it’s out of love for her patient. I’m what’s known as an old curmudgeon, Mrs.

Pendomc. “

I laughed. ” You cant be such a bad one, since you admit it.”

” Can’t I? You forget, when a man’s made money, he’s invariably surrounded by people who are anxious to relieve him of it—or some of it.”

” And you think Nurse Grey…?”

He looked at me shrewdly. ” Handsome young woman .. fond of gaiety.

Not so much to be had here. “

” But she seems contented.”

“Ay, she does and all.” He nodded shrewdly.

“Often wonder why. Perhaps she thinks she won’t be forgotten … when the great day comes.” I must have shown my embarrassment, for he said quickly; “A fine host I am. Why, you’ll be making excuses not to come and see me if I don’t watch out. Shouldn’t like that… shouldn’t like it at all.”

” I wouldn’t make excuses to you. You’re forthright and say what you mean, so I would try to do Hie same.”

” We’re alike in that,” he said, and chuckled. The tea arrived and I poured. This had become a habit which was a further indication of the rate at which our friendship had developed. He seemed to taike pleasure in watching me. While I was serving tea I saw Althea Grey walking through the gardens down to the beach. She had changed her

uniform for brown jeans and a blouse the colour of delphiniums, which was a perfect foil for her fair hair, and I guessed her eyes matched the blouse. She looked back suddenly and, seeing me, waved; I waved back.

” It’s Nurse Grey,” I explained to my host. ” She’s off duty for a few hours I suppose.”

He nodded. ” Was she on her way down to the beach?”

” Yes.”

” Polhorgan Cove belongs to me by rights but I was soon led to understand that the natives wouldn’t think very kindly of me if I made it a private beach. There’s a gate and hedges shutting off the garden;

but you go through the gate right on to the beach. “

” It’s rather like Pendorric.”

” The same arrangement. Pendorrics own their beach and I own mine, but I don’t think half the people who scramble over the rocks at low tide know that.”

” If the beaches were fenced off it would mean people couldn’t walk along for very far; they’d have to keep coming up and making a detour.”

” Always believed that what was mine was mine and I had a right to say what was to be done with it. I was very unpopular when I first came, I can tell you. I’ve grown mellow. You learn as you get older. Sometimes if you stand out for your rights you lose what might mean more to you.”

He was momentarily sad, and I fancied that he looked a little more tired than when I had last seen him.

” Yes, I think there’s a lot in that,” I said.

” There you were, with your mother and father on that island … perfectly happy, and I don’t suppose you owned the house you lived in, let alone the ground all round and a private beach.”

” It’s true. We were very poor and very happy.”

He frowned, and I wondered if I had been tactless. He went on rather brusquely: ” Nurse Grey goes down to the beach a great deal. Do you use yours much?”

” Not so far. But I shall, of course. I’ve hardly settled in yet.”

” I’m taking up too much of your time.”

” But I like coming and I enjoy playing chess.”

He was silent for a while, and then again he led me back to the subject of my life on the island.

I was surprised that he could be such a good listener, but while I talked he remained attentive and fired so many questions at me in his rather brusque manner that I went on talking about myself.

When the tea had been cleared away I drew up the exquisite little table on which we played; it was a dainty piece of French origin with inlaid ivory and tortoise-shell squares; I put out the ivory chessmen, which were as beautiful as the table, and the game began. When we had been playing for about fifteen minutes, to my surprise I had him at a disadvantage. I was delightedly pursuing my strategy when, looking up, I saw that he was in considerable discomfort. ” Sorry,” he muttered. ” Please forgive me.” He was groping in his pocket.

“You’ve lost something?”

” A little silver box. I always keep it near me.”

I stood up and looking about me saw a small silver box on the floor at his feet. I picked it up and gave it to him. His relief was apparent as he quickly opened it and took a small white tablet from it. This he placed under his tongue. For some seconds he sat back gripping his chair.

I was alarmed because I knew that he was ill, and I got up, going to the bell to call the manservant, but seeing what I was about to do.

Lord Polhorgan shook his head. I stood uncertainly. ” Better in a minute,” he muttered.

“But you’re ill. Shouldn’t I …?” He continued to shake his head while I stood helplessly by. In about five minutes he began to look a little better and it was as though a tension had been eased.

He drew a deep breath and murmured: ” Better now. I’m sorry.”

” Please don’t be so sorry. Just tell me what I can do.”

” Just sit down … quietly. In a few minutes I’ll be all right.” I obeyed, watching him anxiously. The gilded French clock over the ornate fireplace ticked loudly, and apart from that there was silence in the room. From far away I could hear the gentle swishing of the waves against the rocks.