Sweet Rosie (7 page)

Binnie was drowsing, half-asleep when he heard the rumble of wagon wheels. He opened his eyes reluctantly and saw Jo waving at him, her bonnet hanging over her back, her hair ruffled by the breeze. She was a beautiful woman and had grown more beautiful since her marriage to John but she did not come anywhere near Hortense when it came to looks and sensuality.

‘Our guests are here, Hortense!’ he called. ‘Get the maid to bring the drinks on to the porch, will you, honey?’

Josephine sat beside him on the swing, her skirts flowing from her slim waist. The couple had no children, even though they had been married for more than two years. But that did not seem to bother either of them. Perhaps it was the sort of life they had chosen for themselves, travelling about the country, seeking out the best potters as well as possible sites for new pottery buildings.

‘How was the trip up country?’ Binnie asked and John, who had settled himself in the rocking chair, looked up at him.

‘I saw Joe, you know, the Indian fellow.’

Binnie felt his gut shrink. Joe, the husband Llinos had chosen for herself, knew of Binnie’s past. He was aware that back on British shores Binnie had a wife, had once had a child. Had he spoken of it to John?

‘Not much of a one for small talk, is he?’ John’s words were reassuring. Josephine leaned forward, her elbows resting on her knees tomboy fashion.

‘The poor man had just lost his mammy, John, show a little charity, won’t you, honey?’

‘Didn’t trust the man,’ John said. ‘Too tight-lipped for my liking and a half-breed to boot. What business has he got marrying into a respectable white family?’

‘Isn’t that rather a biased view, John?’ Binnie said edgily. ‘Joe has always been good to Llinos and to her father. He nursed the captain as though the old man was his own father.’

‘Aye and the gossip had it that he killed the captain to get his money, have you forgotten that, Binnie?’ John was out of sorts, determined to be argumentative and Binnie, not caring to get involved, turned to Josephine.

‘Glad to be home?’

‘Well, sure, it’s good to see Mammy and Daddy again but I don’t think I could settle down here for the rest of my life the way you and Hortense have.’

‘It’s about time we thought of settling down, Josephine.’ John’s tone was sharp. ‘After all, the time is slipping by. We should have a brood of kids round us by now.’

Ah so that was the rub, John wanted one way of life and Josephine another. Binnie suspected that John’s wish to have children was born more from a wish to consolidate his position in the McCabe family than because he loved kids. He scarcely bothered with Binnie’s sons, not even talking to them like human beings. But perhaps he was doing him an injustice; men like John who came from a privileged background felt that an heir was important.

Hortense came out onto the porch and hugged her sister. ‘You’re looking well.’ She patted Josephine’s stomach. ‘Got a wee ’un in there yet?’

‘No, sis, not yet.’ Josephine looked away. ‘Not for a while yet, if I have my way.’ She lifted her arms above her head. ‘I want to live a little, can’t folks understand that?’

‘I don’t believe you!’ Hortense pushed her sister playfully. ‘I think John here is shirking his duty.’

‘It’s not me that’s shirking my duty.’ John was truculent. ‘Tell my wife that it’s a woman’s place to provide her husband with a son.’ He looked away across the dry grass beyond the house.

‘And it’s a husband’s place to stay faithful to the woman he’s supposed to love,’ Josephine said. She moved away from the little group and stood at the rail of the veranda. ‘If he stopped scattering his seed any place he could find a willing woman perhaps I would think about having children.’

The dark-skinned maid stepped out of the house, a tray of cordial in her strong hands. She placed the tray on the table and looked at Binnie.

‘You need anything else, sir?’

‘No, Justine, that’s fine, thank you.’ Binnie held out a drink to John before realizing that he was staring at the retreating back of the maid.

Justine was a beautiful young girl, her skin glowing with health, her dark eyes filled with laughter. She was good with the boys and unobtrusive around the house but Binnie had never looked at her in the way John was doing.

‘You’re too late,’ he whispered in John’s ear. ‘Dan has already got his eye on her for that harem of his.’

‘So what?’ John said quietly. ‘These girls are not above a bit of variety, especially when it’s with a young, vigorous man.’

Binnie turned away. John sometimes disgusted him with his easy ways. At first, he had believed John to be a gentleman. The way he spoke was cultured, his table manners were impeccable but sometimes, as now, Binnie did not like him very much.

Hortense missed nothing of the exchange. She was angry but Binnie knew her well enough to understand her silence. Hortense would never hurt her sister by lashing John with her tongue in public.

Josephine was no fool either; she looked at her husband knowingly. ‘Fancying that little girl now, are you, John?’ She spoke casually, as though nothing about her husband surprised her any longer.

‘A man can look, Jo.’ John sounded like a small boy caught with his hand in the cookie jar. ‘Looking can’t do any harm.’

‘Putting your dirty thoughts into action can though, can’t it?’ Josephine sat beside her sister and changed the subject abruptly.

‘Your boys are growing like sticks. When I saw them over at Mammy’s they were like young gentlemen, so polite and considerate.’ She touched her sister’s arm. ‘You must be so happy, Hortense, so pleased with all you’ve got. Don’t ever let anything or anyone spoil it, you understand?’

Hortense looked puzzled. ‘I sure won’t, honey, but why should anything spoil what me and Binnie have here?’

‘I’m just saying.’ Josephine looked up at Binnie and he had the distinct impression she knew more about him than was comfortable. The women fell into desultory chatter about household affairs and John nodded to Binnie.

‘Come down to the bar for a drink, I want to talk man-talk to you.’ He looked at his wife. ‘All this small talk is so boring.’

Binnie had no wish to go with John but Hortense looked at him meaningfully. ‘You go, hon, get away from the house for a while.’ He knew she wanted to talk to her sister alone about the way John was treating her.

He sighed and picked up his hat. ‘Right, let’s just walk down to Maggie’s place, it’s not far.’ The last thing he felt like was indulging John. In any case, he would rather drink in the comfort of his own home than put up with the other man’s bad mood. Still, it would be a kindness to get him away from the women at least for a time.

‘I’ve had enough of married life,’ John said when they were out of earshot of the women. Binnie looked at him.

‘I think I got that message loud and clear, so did the womenfolk.’ He spoke in a level tone but anger was beginning to burn in his gut. ‘Do you think you’re wise showing it so openly? After all, your job, your home, your comfortable existence all rest on keeping Dan’s girl happy.’

‘Is that what you think about your marriage?’ John asked. ‘You pretend to care for Hortense because her father provides so well for you?’

‘Hey, now don’t go pushing me too far!’ Binnie said. ‘I love my wife and I work hard for her and my kids. Dan gave me a job and I earn every penny I get.’

‘And I don’t?’ John said tersely.

‘I’m not saying that.’ Binnie told himself to calm down, there was no point in spoiling his day arguing with John when he was in such a foul mood. ‘I’m saying be careful, that’s all.’

‘Like you are?’ Something in the way John said the words made Binnie pause in his stride.

‘What do you mean by that?’

‘Come off it! I know you are living a lie. You’re not married to Hortense at all, you are married to some Irish woman back home.’

Binnie’s mouth was suddenly dry. ‘Rubbish! Who told you that?’ Binnie’s mind was spinning. John had met up with Joe but the man was not the kind to indulge in malicious gossip.

‘No, it wasn’t Joe.’ John had guessed his thoughts. ‘It was one of the servants he had with him. The man knew you, knew, what’s her name? Ah yes, Maura, that’s it. I might have heard something about the marriage when I was back in Swansea but I never caught on about you until now.’

‘Why would this man tell you anything about me?’ Binnie asked.

John smiled. ‘For a few dollars some people will do anything. Anyway, don’t try to pull the wool over my eyes, Binnie, it’s too late for that. I knew all along you were hiding something about your past and at last I’ve put two and two together.’ He smiled but there was no humour in his face. ‘Don’t worry, old man, I won’t say anything to spoil the luxury of your life out here though I might want you to cover up for me once in a while.’

‘Cover up?’

‘Yes, cover up. I’ve found a woman, someone I’m in love with and I’ll need you to lie for me from time to time. As you say, it doesn’t do to upset Dan McCabe.’

Binnie doubted John would ever love anyone except himself but at the moment he needed to be discreet, just until he had thought the matter through. Damn John Pendennis! He was trouble for anyone he came in contact with. Binnie pitied the woman John was supposed to love.

The two men continued the journey in silence. Binnie felt he was stuck in a cleft stick: he would have to lie for John because the alternative was too dreadful to think about.

‘All right,’ he said, though the words almost stuck in his throat. ‘I’ll cover up for you but I’m warning you, don’t push me too far.’

‘Or what?’ John smiled. ‘You’ve got no choice in the matter, Binnie my man, you are really and truly in the mire!’

In that moment, Binnie Dundee knew what it was like to want to kill with his bare hands. Instead, he glanced at John. ‘I suppose there’s no harm in you having yet another affair, it will all fizzle out in time.’

‘No it won’t,’ John said. ‘The other woman is Melia, Josephine’s sister.’

Binnie looked at him aghast. ‘Are you mad?’

John did not reply. Binnie frowned. Why on earth would John begin an affair with Melia? He could have married her in the first place if he had wished. But it was nothing to do with him; he had better keep out of it. The less he knew about the affair the better.

All the same, there was a bitter taste in his mouth. His future happiness, the life he treasured with Hortense and his sons could all be ended by one word from John Pendennis. The thought was like the knell of doom and Binnie turned his face away from John, ashamed of the tears that were blinding his eyes.

CHAPTER FOUR

Llinos was missing Joe so badly that she felt she would die of a broken heart if he did not come home soon. She was sitting in the dining room having a late breakfast with Charlotte and attempting to make bright conversation.

‘It’s a bit warmer today,’ Llinos said. ‘I think Lloyd will enjoy his walk.’

‘Lloyd’s gone out then?’ Charlotte said, helping herself to more toast. ‘I think it’s a bit cold myself but my bones are old bones.’

‘Nonsense!’ Llinos refilled her cup with tea. ‘A walk will do Lloyd good, he’s indoors too much. Anyway, I suppose Eira finds it educational to show him the old buildings in the town.’

‘She’s a very careful girl, I’ll give her that,’ Charlotte said.

‘Or else she’s got a sweetheart,’ Llinos said. ‘I think the visit to the park later is not to feed the ducks but to meet up with a young man.’

The door opened and Watt peered round it anxiously. ‘Am I too late to share some of that gorgeous smelling bacon?’

Llinos smiled. ‘You’re quite safe, we haven’t eaten it all.’

He sat beside her and frowned in concern. ‘You’re looking a bit pale, Llinos, are you all right?’

‘I’m fine, don’t worry about me.’ The truth was she felt tired this morning. No, not tired, worried sick about Joe. She longed for him to be back home with her. Until she had him safely in her arms she could not be sure she would ever see him again.

‘More to the point, what’s wrong with you, Watt?’ She could read him like a book and recognized the line between his brows.

‘I think you’d better stop Eira taking Lloyd out for walks, at least for a while.’ He took a large helping of bacon and eggs; his worry, whatever it was, did not seem to put him off his food.

‘Why?’

‘You know the people who used to work for Eira’s father, well the little girl has caught the whooping cough and it can be dangerous, especially to young children.’

Llinos felt a sharp pang of fear; Eira had been taking goodies to the family on a regular basis and she obviously intended to go visiting the family today.

‘Whooping cough! Are you sure, Watt?’ Llinos tried to swallow the dryness that was in her throat. She glanced at the clock. It was an hour since Eira had left the house, surely she would not stay out much longer.

‘Don’t worry,’ Watt said. ‘I’ll try to find her and bring her home.’ He rose to his feet, a slice of toast in his hand. ‘I won’t be long.’

Charlotte shook her head. ‘As Watt said, don’t worry, Llinos, I’m sure everything is going to be all right. Eira is a sensible girl.’

‘I wish Joe was here.’ Llinos sighed. ‘I need him so much. Did you notice any change in him before he went away, Charlotte?’

‘Well, I thought he was a little quiet after losing the baby. But that’s nothing unusual, is it? Men grieve in a different way to we women.’ Charlotte paused. ‘Look, why don’t you go and do some work, I’ll call you if you’re needed.’

‘I couldn’t work, not worrying about Lloyd as I do. I wish I had never agreed to him going out, as you said yourself, it’s very cold today.’

‘Well go into the drawing room, design some patterns, occupy your mind, Llinos, that’s the best thing to do now.’

Rosie looked in round the door. ‘Shall I clear the breakfast things away, Mrs Mainwaring?’ she asked quietly.