Sea Mistress (39 page)

‘Never mind all that,' Matthew spoke belligerently, on the defensive now. ‘None of that makes no odds now except that you could still lose your good name.'

‘You are wrong,' Ellie said, ‘it's quite obvious that Paul Marchant hasn't taken you into his confidence.'

‘I don't know what you mean.'

‘I mean he signed some papers, he not only restored his wife's fortune to her but he cleared me of any involvement in the whole sorry business.' She smiled suddenly, ‘I'm afraid you don't come out of it so well.'

‘Why, what did he say about me?' Matthew felt his throat become dry.

‘Just cut your losses, Matthew, go away and don't let me see you around here again or my conscience might trouble me, I might find it necessary to inform the authorities about your little schemes.'

‘You're bluffing, you'd implicate Marchant too, if you did anything so rash.'

‘Try me,' Ellie lifted her chin and stared directly into his eyes. He moved to the door, he knew he was defeated. He felt anger burn within him. He paused and turned towards her. ‘Don't think you've got away with this, I'll get what's rightfully mine if it takes me a lifetime. You'll never know when I'll turn up, Ellie Hopkins, but I'll be there, just biding my time.'

Ellie followed him to the door. ‘On your way out of the yard, tell Smithers he no longer has a job at Glyn Hir, there's a good man.'

Matthew threw her a venomous look. ‘Damn you! Do your own dirty work.' He strode away, impotent anger boiling within him, he felt like reaching out, taking Ellie Hopkins by her frail throat and strangling the life out of her.

Boyo was in the yard, he looked up at Matthew with indifference and then turned away again. Matthew went over to him, turned him round and smacked him square on the mouth. The boy fell to the ground; looking up, dabbing at the blood on his already swollen lips. He got to his feet. ‘I owe you for that, Matthew, and one day you are going to know all about it.'

‘Fat chance! Tell your boss that's for her,' he said and then he walked out of the yard, away from the stink of the tannery, heading for town.

‘Good riddance to bad rubbish,' Martha said angrily. ‘How dare he come here and make trouble like that.'

‘I don't think we'll see him again.' Ellie sank into a chair. ‘I should have realized about Smithers though, I caught him hanging around the barn when I had the contraband hidden there, at the time I thought it was just idle curiosity. Well, I can't have him working here any longer.'

‘Instant dismissal, that's what's called for.' Martha folded up her sewing and put it away. ‘It's too bad when you can't trust the people who work for you.' She took off her spectacles, handling them with care, they were new and she treated them like a prized possession. She had even worked an embroidered case especially to hold them. ‘Pity Daniel was away at college, he'd have given Matthew Hewson short shrift.'

‘I have to deal with these things myself,' Ellie said, ‘at least until I can get away from the tannery for good.'

‘You mean to sell up then, one day?'

‘I'll have to. If I'm to go with Daniel to wherever his job takes me, I can't have the worry of the tannery too.'

‘I think you should train Boyo to run the place, good man that, got brains and he's got spirit, I like that.'

‘You're right,' Ellie said. ‘It's a fine idea, I should have thought of it myself.

‘Aye, it would give the boy a good chance to better himself, he hasn't had many chances in that young life of his, has he? Something else you want to think of, too, my lady, the year is almost up, the year of mourning for your husband. Soon you must take off your widow's weeds, buy some decent colourful clothes for heaven's sake! Just look at you, black skirt, black bodice, even jet beads, you will be an old woman before your time if you don't watch out.'

Ellie smiled. ‘All right, don't nag me, Martha, I am quite aware of the time passing, indeed, I'm counting the days until Dan comes home from college.'

There was a knocking on the front door and the sound of Rosie's hurrying feet across the hall.

‘Good heavens, you are popular today,' Martha said in a resigned way that belied the curiosity in her eyes.

Ellie rose to her feet with a smile when the door of the sitting room opened to admit Bridie with Collins behind her. ‘What a terrible smell!' Bridie said coming forward and kissing Ellie's cheek. ‘How do you manage to live with it?'

‘We won't have to for much longer,' Ellie laughed.

‘Don't tell me you are house-hunting, too,' Bridie said warmly. ‘Collins and I are going to move to Clydach, I'll buy a small cottage, somewhere easy to keep warm and clean.'

Ellie smiled, Bridie's idea of a small cottage was probably something with five bedrooms and servants' quarters. ‘Sit down, please, make yourself comfortable. Tell me, what can I do for you?'

Bridie looked towards where Ellie was sitting. ‘I've come to give you the note Paul signed and to say goodbye, I doubt we'll see much of each other once I move away.'

‘Clydach isn't that far, I could always come up to see you. As for the note from your husband, I've already made use of that.' Ellie smiled at the surprise in Bridie's eyes. ‘I pretended I already had it in my possession, Matthew Hewson was quite put out, believe me.'

‘Matthew Hewson is home?' Bridie asked. ‘Perhaps I should track him down, ask him what he knows about Paul's reluctance to return to Swansea.'

‘I doubt he'll tell you anything,' Ellie said, ‘not unless you offer him a hefty bribe, money seems to dominate Matthew's every thought.'

‘Do you know where he lives?' Bridie asked and Ellie shook her head. ‘I've never cared to find out, I'm sorry, Bridie.'

‘Ah, well, we'll see. Paul will get in touch when he's good and ready. In the meantime, let's just enjoy each others company while we have the chance.'

The evening shadows were closing in when Ellie stood in the doorway, waving to her departing guests. Ellie sighed, it was a good time of year with winter losing its grip on the land, the trees budding, the earth coming to life once more. And soon, very soon, she would be sharing her life with Daniel.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

April was nervous. She stood in the window of the farmhouse and stared out into the garden bright with daffodils and to the fields beyond. It was lambing time, Jamie was very busy but he was prepared to give up some of his precious time in order to have tea with his stepdaughter's new friend.

‘Do you think we'll have enough cake?' Fon bustled into the spotless kitchen, her slim figure encased as always in a crisp white apron. ‘I don't want your young man to tell folks we don't eat well up at Honey's Farm.' She smiled and pinched April's cheek. Before April could reply, Jamie came into the kitchen, his hair sparkling with droplets of water, he looked fresh and clean and wholesome. He kissed April's head and hugged Fon in a bearlike embrace.

April shook her head at them but she understood their need for shows of affection well enough. Fon and Jamie had lost both their sons and tried to compensate for the loss by being extra loving to each other as well as to Cathie and April. Her own mother, as far as April remembered, had been a stoic, independent sort of woman who showed no-one affection. She had died when April was just a small girl and Jamie and Fon had taken April into their home, treated her like a daughter. Yet April had always felt there was something lacking. Now she had Boyo, she knew what it was, it was someone of her very own to love.

‘He's coming.' Cathie bounced into the room, ‘I saw him through the window. He's got his best suit on,
duw
, he looks like a dog's dinner.'

April glanced around the room, it looked bright and cheerful, a fire gleamed in the black-leaded hearth, the brasses shone and April knew she must give Fon full credit for that. The back door stood open, the fresh March breezes ruffled the white cloth on the table, April waited until Boyo knocked and then she allowed Cathie to move to let him in, not wanting to appear too eager.

His face was reddened though if it was because of the breeze or embarrassment, April couldn't tell. He took off his cap and twisted it in his hands and for a moment there was silence.

‘Come in and welcome lad,' Jamie's big shoulders were bent forward as he shook Boyo's hand. ‘Make yourself at home.'

Boyo sat stiffly on the edge of the chair, his glance swept towards April and she smiled tremulously.

‘How are your family, lad?' Jamie was attempting to make conversation but it was the worst question he could have asked. Boyo went even redder. ‘I'm an orphan, sir, came from the workhouse. Jubilee Hopkins took me in when I was young, gave me a roof over my head. Jubilee and Ellie are the only family I've ever known.'

‘Tough start for any young man,' Jamie said.

April glanced at him, she was grateful to Jamie for trying to put Boyo at his ease but Boyo was shifting awkwardly in his chair.

‘Why don't you show Boyo over the farm?' Jamie said. ‘Tea won't be ready for a while, will it Fon?'

‘Not for half hour or so, there's plenty of time. Take a shawl, April,' Fon cautioned, ‘it's quite chilly out in the fields, mind.'

It was good to be in the fresh air, walking side by side with Boyo April wanted to reach out and take his hand but she didn't quite dare. She glanced up at him and he turned his head and met her eye. ‘I suppose I've cooked my goose, now, with your father, I mean.'

‘No of course you haven't.' April knew at once what was worrying him. ‘The fact that you grew up in the workhouse won't bother Jamie one little bit, he wouldn't stop us getting married, don't you worry.'

She flushed suddenly, ‘We will marry one day, won't we?' Boyo turned and faced her. ‘Of course.' His eyes were blue, very blue against the brownness of his skin. She wondered briefly what his origins were, perhaps his parents came from abroad, Italy or Spain. She found the idea exotic. She held out her hand, her heart beating swiftly and he took it, curling his strong fingers around hers. She felt a thrill run through her as, linked, they walked away from the farmhouse and towards the open fields.

‘Do you think you've done the right thing?' Fon asked, turning from the window to look at Jamie. ‘Isn't sending them off alone like that asking for trouble?'

‘I trust April to be a sensible girl,' Jamie said.

‘I know but I'm still worried, what sort of future would April have with a boy like him, he has nothing.'

Jamie took her in his arms and tipped her face up to his. ‘He has his pride,' he said gently. ‘He's earning his keep, he's neat and clean, she could do a lot worse.'

Fon sighed, ‘I suppose so.' Fon sniffed the air. ‘Good heavens! I'd better take the scones out of the oven, they'll be done to death!' She bent over and lifted the tray of scones and placed it on the window-sill to cool. Perhaps it would be rather nice when April was wed, one less to wash and feed in the busy household. It was time, after all that the girl spread her wings.

She well remembered the time April had threatened to leave the farm. She had applied for a position at Glyn Hir Tannery as a maid but fortunately the post had gone to an older girl. April had sulked for a few days and then forgotten all about her intention to leave home.

Cathie came in from the garden where she had, apparently, been keeping watch. ‘They're coming back,' she announced. ‘He's holding her hand, dad, soppy thing.' Fon hid a smile, Cathie was at the age when she wanted nothing to do with boys. According to her they were noisy, smelly creatures.

When the couple came into the kitchen, April was flushed, her eyes shining. Fon felt tears come to her eyes, April's delight was an innocent emotion, something so beautiful, so young that Fon all at once felt old and jaded.

‘Sit down, Boyo,' Fon smiled at him. ‘The scones are hot from the oven and I've got a nice pot of jam put away for a special occasion and I think this is it.'

‘Did you enjoy your stroll around the farm?' Jamie took a seat at the table next to Boyo, leaning on one strong arm, talking as though man to man.

‘It's an eye-opener,' Boyo said. ‘I didn't realize how tiny the lambs were. And the cattle, they are so docile, makes me feel a bit guilty really.'

Fon put the plate of scones on the table, ‘Why should you feel guilty?'

‘Well, I see only the skins,' Boyo spoke awkwardly, ‘it's not very nice.'

Fon nodded. ‘But then, you don't kill the beasts, that's all done at the abattoir.'

‘True enough,' Boyo agreed. ‘Still, it's much better seeing the cows alive and grazing in the fields than having to work with the skins all day long.'

‘Perhaps one day you'll be a farmer,' Jamie said but without too much conviction. Farming had to be born and bred into a man, the long hours, the back-breaking work, the toiling in rain and shine, it was not the idyllic life many townies supposed it to be.

Boyo smiled. He really was a good-looking boy, Fon realized as she took her seat next to April. ‘Ellie, Mrs Hopkins has plans for me,' Boyo spoke proudly, ‘she wishes me to train up to take over the management of the tannery when she gets wed.'

‘Ellie Hopkins is getting wed?' Fon asked, her interest aroused. Boyo flushed bright red. ‘Sorry, I shouldn't have said anything, it's all a secret, just for the time being.'

‘Well my mam and dad won't say anything,' April said comfortingly. Boyo smiled at her, obviously besotted.