by Dilly Court
Rose opened her eyes, gazing sleepily at Phoebe. ‘Are we there?’
At the sound of her voice Teddy began to whimper, and Ivy awakened with a start. ‘What’s the matter? Why have we stopped?’
‘We’re here,’ Phoebe said, suppressing a sigh. In a moment of weakness she had given in, allowing Rogue to take control of the situation. The die was cast and now she would have to go along with whatever he suggested. She took Teddy in her arms. ‘Come along, sweetheart. Let’s get you indoors.’
Rose climbed stiffly from the vehicle. ‘Where are we?’
‘I don’t know exactly,’ Phoebe said truthfully. ‘And I don’t much care. I can’t imagine that Caspar would find us in a million years. This place seems to be quite isolated.’
Ivy clambered down the steps, staring at the black and white building with the first rays of the sun kissing its golden thatch. ‘Who lives there?’
‘It belongs to the Paxmans,’ Phoebe said shortly. ‘Let’s go inside and see if Mrs Merrydew has put the kettle on.’
‘Mrs Merrydew?’ Rose hurried along beside her. ‘Have you been here before? Is there something you haven’t told me, Phoebe?’
‘No, of course not. It’s just that Rogue, I mean Paxman, mentioned the fact that this couple look after the house while he’s away in London. It’s a long story, it seems, and I’ve only heard a tiny bit of it.’
‘Well, blow me down,’ Ivy said breathlessly. ‘It looks like a palace to me. He must be a rich man to own all this.’
Rogue met them at the front door. ‘Come in. The main part of the house is still under dust sheets, so we’ll go straight to the kitchen.’ He led the way through the wainscoted entrance hall, and Phoebe could not help noticing the thick coating of dust on the ancient floorboards and the wide oak staircase, leading to a galleried landing. She wondered vaguely what it was that Mrs Merrydew did with her time; dusting and polishing did not seem to be a priority.
The hallway narrowed to a passage with closed doors on either side, and at the far end they came to a room which, Phoebe thought, must have been the hub of the home in its heyday. The smoke-blackened ceiling beams were studded with large hooks from which strings of onions, bunches of herbs and joints of ham would once have hung. Phoebe could imagine the room filled with the aroma of frying bacon and freshly baked bread, with the farmer’s wife feeding an army of itinerant workers at harvest time, but now it was a quite different scene that met her eyes. The flagstone floor was barely discernible beneath a coating of sawdust and caked mud. There was a chill in the air despite the fact that a fire burned in the range, and a pervading smell of rotten vegetables and rancid fat made her wrinkle her nose. A burly man wearing a tattered shirt and nankeen breeches slouched in a chair by the rusty range, which was in desperate need of a good clean and a coat of blacklead. ‘Get up, Merrydew,’ Rogue said angrily. ‘I don’t expect to find you lazing around at this time of day.’
Merrydew heaved his bulk from the chair. ‘Sorry, master. We wasn’t expecting you.’
‘That’s obvious. This room is a disgrace.’ Rogue glanced around with an expression of disgust. ‘What have you to say for yourself, Mrs Merrydew?’
Merrydew’s wife had been standing quite still as if turned to stone by the shock of seeing her employer so early in the day. Her mobcap was tilted to one side revealing strands of lank, greasy brown hair, and her clothes including her pinafore were all filthy. She attempted a gap-toothed smile. ‘I weren’t expecting you, master,’ she whined. ‘I got nothing in fit for the young ladies to eat. We live simply when you’re away.’
Rogue stared pointedly at the debris that littered the pine table. Dirty plates, used cutlery and empty beer bottles were scattered over it together with the remains of what looked liked several past meals. ‘You don’t seem to have done much work, Mrs Merrydew. I’ll swear that piece of pork pie was in the exact same position six weeks ago.’
She uttered a cackle of laughter. ‘Oh, sir. You are a one.’
Teddy began to fidget in Phoebe’s arms and his mouth turned down; a sure sign that he was about to voice his disapproval at being kept waiting for sustenance. Ivy held her arms out. ‘Let me take him, miss. I think I can probably manage to give him something myself, but he’ll need fresh milk and some sops.’ She gazed at the general mess and clutter in the room with a frown. ‘Don’t look like we’ll get much to eat here.’
‘Oy, you.’ Mrs Merrydew took a step towards her. ‘That kind of talk ain’t called for. We wasn’t to know we’d got visitors arriving at the crack of dawn.’
‘There should be milk at least,’ Rogue said firmly. ‘I pay a cowherd’s wage. Where is the fellow?’
Merrydew licked his lips, casting a warning glance at his wife. ‘Had to sack him, master. He were a lazy good-for-nothing.’
‘So who tends the animals now?’
‘I do it meself, master.’ Merrydew backed towards the door. ‘I was just having a cup of tea afore going about me business.’
Rogue gave him a withering look. ‘You’ve let the place go to rack and ruin, Merrydew. We’ll talk about this later.’
‘Yes, master. But you don’t understand …’
‘One more word from you and you’ll be looking for another job.’
Merrydew shambled out into the scullery and a gust of fresh air wafted into the kitchen as he opened the back door. Phoebe was beginning to regret her decision to allow Rogue to bring them to this dire place, but he seemed to sense her distress. ‘It’s not usually like this,’ he said with an apologetic smile. ‘Mrs Merrydew will go now to collect the eggs and then she’ll make breakfast.’
‘Yes, master. Anything you say.’ Mrs Merrydew bobbed a curtsey and was about to follow her husband when Rogue called her back.
‘I expect this mess to be cleared up and the rest of the house made habitable. Call in some help from the village, but get it done. The ladies will be staying for a week or two, and I want them to be made as comfortable as possible.’ He put his hand in his pocket and took out a handful of coins. ‘Merrydew can take you to market later. Get whatever you need.’
‘Yes, master.’ She scuttled from the room, following her husband out into the back yard.
‘I’m sorry,’ Rogue said apologetically. ‘I haven’t been down here for some months, and things seem to have got out of hand.’
Phoebe picked up a none-too-clean cloth and dusted a chair so that Ivy could sit down. ‘Perhaps there’s some bread,’ she suggested tentatively. ‘The Merrydews must eat something other than pie.’
‘There might be a loaf in the larder.’ Rogue went to investigate but as he opened the cupboard door a cloud of bluebottles flew out and buzzed angrily around his head. He covered his mouth and nose with his hand. ‘Good God. Something must have died in there.’ He shut the door quickly. ‘This isn’t good enough. I’ll sack the pair of them.’
‘Please don’t do anything rash,’ Phoebe said anxiously. ‘They know we’re here and if you send them away they’ll spread the news, and soon everyone in the area will be aware that you’ve brought three women and a small child to the farmhouse. If Caspar does come looking for us this is the first place he’ll look.’
For the first time since she had met him Rogue looked genuinely discomforted. ‘You’re right, of course. I’ll sort the Merrydews out later, but now the main thing is to see you all settled.’
‘We’ll look after ourselves,’ Phoebe said, glancing at Rose and receiving a nod of approval. ‘If you could just show us where we can sleep tonight, we can do the rest.’
‘I don’t think we can trust Mrs Merrydew to make us comfortable,’ Rose said, giggling.
Ivy had been attempting to keep Teddy quiet, but he was obviously working up to a loud howl. ‘He’s hungry,’ she said apologetically. ‘He’s teething too. No wonder the poor little chap’s miserable.’
Rogue frowned thoughtfully. ‘Give me a few minutes while I investigate the rooms upstairs. I want to make sure they’re habitab
le, and I might have something to help the boy. After all, he is my nephew.’ He left the room hastily, as if half expecting Phoebe to argue the point.
She shrugged her shoulders. ‘Strange as it seems, he’s right. He’s as closely related to Teddy as I am. I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to that.’
Ivy unbuttoned her blouse and put Teddy to her breast. ‘I thought he’d never go.’
Rose laid her shawl on a chair and began untying her bonnet strings. ‘I don’t trust that Merrydew hag to clean this place properly. We’ll be poisoned if she’s allowed to cook for us in this midden.’
‘I couldn’t agree more,’ Phoebe said wholeheartedly. ‘It looks as though we’re going to be stuck here for a few days, so we’ll start as we mean to go on. We’ll need lots of hot water, soda crystals and lye soap.’ She rolled up her sleeves. ‘Where do we start?’
‘I’ll brave the larder,’ Rose said, pulling a face.
Phoebe picked up an empty sack that had been left on a heap of what appeared to be discarded clothes. ‘I’ll clear the table. Anything that’s rotten or too dirty to wash goes in here.’
‘I’ll help when Teddy’s had his fill,’ Ivy said, shifting to a more comfortable position on the hard wooden seat. ‘But if someone could make a pot of tea I’d be more than grateful.’
Rose uttered a cry of triumph. ‘Consider it done, Ivy. I’ve found a caddy filled with tea, although we’ll have to wait for the milk. But there’s something in the back of the larder that might interest you.’ She backed out of the cupboard, clutching the tin caddy and brushing a cobweb from her hair.
Phoebe swept an armful of rubbish into the sack. ‘What is it?’
‘Right at the back,’ Rose said breathlessly. ‘It’s too dark to count how many, but there are several kegs and I’d know that smell anywhere; it’s Pa’s favourite tipple.’
‘Brandy.’ Phoebe and Ivy spoke as one.
‘Yes. Brandy. What does that suggest to you?’
Phoebe’s breath caught in her throat. ‘Contraband.’
Rose laid her finger on her lips. ‘Hush, keep your voice down.’
‘You don’t think that the Paxmans are smugglers as well, do you?’ Phoebe’s breath hitched in her throat. Just as she had begun to think more kindly of Rogue, something came up to make him appear even more of a villain.
‘Why not?’ Rose picked up a chipped brown teapot and warmed it with water from the kettle. ‘They’re crooks, Phoebe. Why shouldn’t they be into smuggling as well?’
‘It makes sense,’ Ivy said, nodding her head. ‘That’s probably what Merrydew does for them while they’re up in London. He and that slut of a wife of his organise the contraband and store it here on the farm.’
‘I can hear him coming,’ Rose said, tipping the hot water into a slop bowl. ‘Don’t let him see that we know anything. Act normally.’
Chapter Nineteen
ROGUE STROLLED INTO the room, and Phoebe bowed her head, not wanting him to see the look of suspicion in her eyes. Everything made sense to her now. It explained why he had kept the farmhouse. It was in an ideal position for such nefarious goings-on, and everything he had told her must have been a pack of lies. He must think her a simpleton to fall for such a tale.
‘See what I found.’
The triumphant note in Rogue’s voice forced Phoebe to look up. He was holding a silver rattle set with a strip of red coral. ‘For teething,’ he said, smiling. ‘This was given to me by my maternal grandfather and it’s been passed down through the family for a good few generations. I know that Ned would want his son to have it.’
Ivy took it from him. ‘Ta, ever so.’
Phoebe looked away, concentrating on the task in hand. She had almost managed to convince herself that the relationship between her half-brother and the Paxmans did not exist, but being here, in the family home, it was impossible to ignore the fact that Teddy was one of them. It made her even more determined to take him away from this den of iniquity. He would be brought up by a God-fearing Italian family who would teach him the difference between right and wrong.
Rogue tapped her on the shoulder. ‘Phoebe.’
‘What do you want? I’m busy.’
‘I can see that, but I’ve found two rooms that are reasonably clean, although the bedding needs airing. I’ll leave it to you to sort that out, but you really mustn’t do all this.’ He encompassed her attempts to tidy the kitchen with a sweep of his hand. ‘This is Maggie’s job, and I’ll see that she does it.’
Ivy held the silver rattle in front of Teddy and he made a grab for it, shoving the coral into his mouth and gnawing on it like a dog with a bone. ‘See this, Phoebe,’ she said, smiling. ‘It’s just what the little fellow needed.’
Rogue nodded in approval. ‘I’m glad to see it in use again after all these years.’
‘It belongs to you,’ Phoebe said coldly. ‘You will want it one day for your own children.’
He regarded her with a quizzical smile. ‘Until then I’m sure it’s in safe hands. I want to keep it in the family.’
Phoebe covered her ears with her hands. ‘Stop it. Stop saying these things. Teddy is a Giamatti. I won’t let you turn him into a criminal like you and your brother.’ She broke off, realising that they were all staring at her as though she had gone mad. Stifling a sob, she made for the back door. She needed to get out of this disgusting rats’ nest. She needed fresh air. She vaguely heard Rose calling out to her and the footsteps that followed her, but she ignored both of them as she ran from the house. She found herself in a stable yard where the cobblestones were covered in green lichen and littered with straw. A horse whinnied at her as she passed its stall but she raced on, heading towards the double gates and the open expanse of green fields beyond. She would have continued until she was as far away from the Paxmans’ dwelling as her legs would carry her, but a painful stitch in her side forced her to stop suddenly. She bent double, gasping for breath.
‘Phoebe!’
She stiffened at the sound of Rogue’s voice. ‘Go away.’
‘Are you all right?’
‘Leave me alone. I wish to God I’d never met you or your hateful brother.’
‘Many people say that.’
She straightened up, turning to face him. ‘You think this is funny?’
He shook his head, his expression suddenly serious. ‘No, of course not. I’m genuinely sorry that my brother’s inexcusable treatment of your mother has caused you so much distress.’
‘You’re just saying that.’
‘No. I mean it, although looking at Teddy I can’t help feeling that some good has come out of this.’
‘He’s still a baby but one day he’ll be a man, and I don’t want him to grow up like you and your brother. I want him to be a decent human being and have a proper job.’
‘Like making ice cream?’
Phoebe clenched her hands at her sides. If she had been a man she would have punched him. That would wipe the smile off his smug face. ‘Making ice cream is a respectable trade. It’s better than terrorising the neighbourhood with threats of violence and worse in order to extract money from innocent people.’
His smile faded. ‘Is that how you see me?’
‘You’re not exactly Robin Hood, are you? You don’t take from the rich and give to the poor. You take from the poor and make yourself rich.’
‘If you hate me so much, why did you come with me last night?’
‘I’ve been asking myself that question and the answer is simple. I was more scared of Caspar than I am of you, but I wasn’t thinking straight. Now I’ve brought my good friends here to your den of thieves, and I’ve delivered Teddy into your hands. I hate myself for being so weak, and I hate you for bringing me here.’ She ended on an involuntary sob, glaring at him with tears of anger and frustration running down her cheeks.
He was silent for a moment and then he moved closer, taking her in his arms and devouring her lips in a kiss that almost robbed her of her senses. Sudden
ly her knees weakened and her whole body melted against his as if they were one being. She slid her arms around his neck but only to stop herself from falling. Her mouth opened beneath the pressure of his lips and despite her pain and anger she found herself kissing him back with a passion she could not have imagined. This was another world; she was another being. She was not Phoebe Giamatti who allowed Gino to kiss her gently and sweetly as if bestowing a favour upon him; she was not the Madonna-like creature that Rogue had imagined. In his close embrace she was a woman with fire in her blood; she was an elemental. There was nothing in heaven or earth that equalled the desire that welled up and threatened to overpower her. Horrified at herself, she broke away from him. ‘Go away,’ she breathed. ‘I loathe you, Rogue Paxman. I detest you and everything you stand for.’
Visibly shaken, he remained motionless, staring at her as if seeing her for the first time. ‘I don’t believe you, Madonna.’ He turned on his heel and went striding off in the direction of the house.
Left alone on the edge of the field, Phoebe sank down onto her knees covering her face with her hands. How long she remained in that position she did not know, but eventually she clambered to her feet and walked slowly back to the farmhouse. She could not believe that she had allowed him to hold her in his arms and that she had returned his kisses with equal fervour. Was she now a fallen woman, just like Ma? She could not answer her own question. Her feelings were a jumbled maelstrom of emotions that mixed anger, passion, desire and disgust in equal quantities. She must ensure that such a despicable act could never be repeated. They might be compelled to take shelter in this terrible place, but she would never again allow him to put her in such a position.
