by Anna Jacobs
Jeffrey nodded. ‘Interesting. Do go on.’ He slipped a coin into the man’s hand.
‘Well, since passengers had booked to sail with us, this new ship has been put into operation early. You might not have noticed the smell of new wood, you being ill. Anyway, they’ve shuffled the passengers about and all the cabins are taken. It was felt that people would prefer to continue their journey as planned, even if in more crowded conditions, rather than waiting weeks or months for another ship.’
‘Yes, something was mentioned, but I hadn’t realised I’d have to share a cabin.’ He’d been saying farewell to his friends, sharing a drink or two, hadn’t taken everything in. ‘Surely there is somewhere else free? I don’t mind paying extra.’
‘I’m afraid the cabins are fully occupied until we get to Suez, sir. Then I believe you’re going on to Bombay. You’ll probably manage to get a cabin of your own for that leg of the journey.’
‘It’d be the same with the steerage class passengers, I suppose.’
‘Yes, sir. They were summoned to board ship early, those who could make it. Otherwise quite a few of them would have to travel on another ship. Is that all, sir?’
‘Yes. Thank you for that information. I like to know where I stand.’
When the steward had gone, Jeffrey smiled. So fate had stepped in to make sure Cara Payton got her comeuppance. Well, well.
His wife was looking so white, Fergus thought it best to take her down to their cabin. ‘Cara’s not feeling well, Ma. Will you look after Niamh for a while? And Pa, will you keep an eye on the boys, please?’
‘Of course I will.’ Patrick ruffled Mal’s hair affectionately.
Fergus led Cara towards the companionway and went down the stairs first, keeping an eye on her, because she seemed a bit dazed.
When she stumbled and fell, he caught her in his arms and she clung to him for a moment or two, her body soft and warm against his. In the cabin, they sat on her bunk and he asked again, ‘Why should Barrett say anything about you?’
She swallowed hard. ‘Because he’s spiteful and enjoys getting people in trouble. Because … if he believes I flirted with his uncle and yet treated him scornfully, he’ll be furious. He’s … rather fond of himself. He looked at me as if he hated me. I know he means to hurt me, I just know it.’
‘Shh, now, shh.’ But she continued to weep, so he pulled her into his arms and held her close feeling very protective.
He wasn’t sure what he could do to stop this fellow spreading lies, but there must be something. Cara didn’t deserve to be hounded. Why the hell had fate put that young man on this particular ship?
‘I’m sorry, Fergus. I shouldn’t have married you. I don’t want to spoil your life. And the boys! Niamh, too. What will a scandal do to them all?’
He doubted the fellow would tell people about Cara immediately – well, he hadn’t spoken out straight away, had he? Maybe it’d be possible to speak to him, persuade him that his uncle had lied about her.
He sighed and shook his head slightly. No, people tended to believe their relatives rather than outsiders.
If necessary, if the worst happened and word spread, they’d all have to change their names and go to New South Wales, or New Zealand even.
That was when he suddenly realised he loved Cara. How had that happened? He hadn’t expected it at all.
She was still nestled against him and he dropped a kiss on her shining hair. ‘Try to stop crying, love,’ he said. ‘We have to decide what to do.’
She made a valiant effort. ‘I’m so sorry to bring trouble on you, Fergus.’
‘I keep telling you, you have done nothing to be sorry for. And whatever comes of this, I’m glad we got married. Truly, I am. I’ve come to care for you.’
Her mouth fell open in surprise at that. ‘You … care for me?’
‘Yes.’
She closed her eyes for a moment or two, as if overwhelmed by that, then whispered, ‘I care for you, too, Fergus.’
He kissed her cheek, knowing he had to move slowly, even though he wanted to kiss her properly, touch her.
She didn’t flinch from him, though he remembered in the early days, she’d flinched from any man touching her, even Pa. She was gazing at him in wonderment, looking like a child who’d been given a present.
‘I’ll try speaking to this fellow first. Maybe I can convince him that you were not to blame. Can you tell me more about him? What’s he like?’
‘Jeffrey is very selfish, thinks of no one but himself. He’ll enjoy hurting me. You’ll be wasting your time.’
‘I have to try.’ Somehow, in spite of all the obstacles, he intended to prevent Barrett from blackening his wife’s name.
Jeffrey went up on deck again later to stand by the rail, trying to work out what to do about her.
A steward came up to him. ‘Excuse me, sir. You’re Mr Barrett, aren’t you?’
‘Yes.’
‘I have a message for you.’ He held out a folded piece of paper.
‘Thank you.’
Jeffrey opened it. Could I please speak to you in private? Fergus Deagan.
The officer had called Cara ‘Mrs Deagan’. He wouldn’t mind speaking to this Deagan fellow in private. She’d probably told him lies and Deagan didn’t know what his wife was really like. He smiled, anticipating the shock, the upset.
He’d teach her to mix with decent people!
‘I’ll speak to Mr Deagan in my cabin.’ If Newland was there, he’d ask him to leave for half an hour.
Fortunately, the cabin was empty.
When Rémi saw Fergus following a steward across the deck towards the first class cabins, he guessed at once that something was wrong and didn’t hesitate to stop them.
‘I need to speak to Mr Deagan for a moment.’
‘I’m on my way to see Mr Barrett.’ Fergus’s voice sounded sharp, full of anger.
‘It won’t take a minute.’ Rémi turned to the steward. ‘I can show Mr Deagan to the cabin afterwards.’ Money exchanged hands, enough to bring a smile to the steward’s face.
‘What’s happened?’ Rémi asked.
‘I need to stop a man called Barrett from blackening my wife’s name.’
‘He’s sharing my cabin.’
‘What’s he like?’
‘Not very nice. So it may be useful to keep me informed of what’s going on. I’m on your side, whatever it is.’
Fergus stared. ‘You’re on my side without knowing what’s wrong?’
‘Of course I am. We’re friends, aren’t we?’
‘It’s, um, a bit delicate.’
‘Barrett isn’t the delicate sort, to judge by his boasting. Look, Fergus, if I can help you with anything, anything at all, I will, so don’t hesitate to ask.’
Fergus remembered suddenly that Rémi had trained as a lawyer and decided to ask his help. ‘Please keep this to yourself.’
‘You have my solemn promise.’
‘It was Barrett’s uncle who attacked Cara. Barrett probably believes she led him on.’
‘Ah. That’s why she was looking terrified.’
‘Yes. She’s sure he means to make trouble for her.’
Rémi gave his friend a sympathetic look. ‘What rotten luck he’s on this ship! She doesn’t deserve his spiteful treatment. I’m sure she was innocent.’
‘You are? Just on my word?’
‘Partly on your word, but also because I’ve had quite a bit to do with the other sort of women, the so-called ladies who break their marriage vows. I took advantage of that, I’m afraid, because I enjoy bed play. But Cara’s not at all like them. She wouldn’t lead anyone on.’
Rémi thought quickly, then added, ‘Look, if necessary, you should tell Jeffrey you’ll bring in your lawyer and sue him if he says anything about your wife. I’d be happy to act as your lawyer.’ He raised one eyebrow.
‘Are you sure?’ Fergus asked.
‘Sure that I want to help you? Yes, of course. And I’m also sure things w
ill go better for you if you seem to have a lawyer. Definitely. I’m not at all certain we can stop him, though.’
‘No. That’s what Cara says. She thinks he enjoys making trouble.’
‘Don’t tell him it’s me who’s your lawyer unless you have to. I may be able to pick up some useful information from him since we’re sharing a cabin. I’ll get drunk with him, or pretend to, because I don’t have much of a head for boozing. We’ll see what comes of it.’
Moved by this offer, Fergus shook his hand. ‘Thank you.’
Rémi laid one hand on his companion’s shoulder, then pointed. ‘Good luck. It’s that cabin.’ He walked away.
Fergus took a deep breath and knocked on the door.
‘Come,’ called a voice.
He walked in to find Barrett sitting down, so waited, expecting to be offered a seat. But he wasn’t. That said a lot about the man.
‘Is that woman really your wife?’
Fergus turned as if to leave.
‘Hoy! I haven’t finished with you yet.’
‘I’ll not stay to hear my wife spoken about in that tone.’
‘You will, or I’ll tell everyone about her past.’
‘Oh? And how would you be knowing about her past?’
‘My family is friends with hers. I know exactly what happened last year. The point is, do you? And are you really married to her?’
Fergus was astounded at this. ‘Of course we’re married!’
‘Then you need to be told about her past.’
‘That your uncle raped her, do you mean?’ He used blunt words and could see that he’d shocked the other man by saying it out loud.
After a moment Barrett said, ‘She lied to you. She seduced him.’
‘Oh? Are you sure of that?’
‘Of course I’m sure.’
‘How old is he, this uncle of yours?’
Barrett stiffened. ‘What the hell has that to do with anything?’
Fergus moved a step forward, feeling furious but holding back his rage. Just. ‘Tell me how old your uncle is and I’ll explain.’
‘He’s sixty-three, if you must know.’
He looked at Barrett, who was going thin on top already and looked as if he ate well. Fergus took another guess, ‘Is he plump? Balding?’
‘Yes …’
‘And he has a wife?’
‘My aunt? Yes, of course. Look—’
Fergus didn’t give him time to speak. ‘Then ask yourself this: why would a gently brought up girl of twenty-one, who’d never been in trouble before, wish to seduce an elderly, plump, balding married man?’
Barrett’s mouth opened and shut like a fish out of water. Eventually, he stuttered out, ‘What has that – to do with the matter? My uncle wouldn’t lie about such a thing.’
‘Well, she must have had some reason to seduce him, don’t you think? What benefit would she get from it?’
Barrett frowned at him. ‘How should I know the way a woman like that thinks? Maybe she was just a bitch on heat.’
Fergus was across the cabin in seconds and grabbed Barrett by the throat, making him squeak as he shook him hard. ‘I told you before: be careful how you speak of her.’
Barrett pushed him away.
Fergus let go and stepped back, then moved towards the door. ‘I’ll leave you to think about what I’ve said. But if you attempt to blacken my wife’s name, I’ll make you sorry.’
At the door, he stopped again. ‘Think about this, too. You’ve known her since she was a child, haven’t you?’
His companion nodded.
‘You’re a good-looking young fellow, surely more attractive to a woman her age than your uncle. If she was that way inclined, she’d surely turn to a person like you first, not an old man, don’t you think? Did she ever try to seduce you?’
‘Well … no. ’
‘I believe Cara. Her aunt Lavinia does too. She told Cara that your uncle had fumbled with her body, too, more than once. But since he was a dear friend of Cara’s father and uncle, they wouldn’t believe any wrong of him.’
Barrett was silent, his expression now more that of a sulky little boy who’d had his game spoiled than the face of a grown man.
Fergus gave him a minute, then added, ‘I took legal advice about the situation when we married. If you do anything whatsoever to blacken my wife’s reputation, I’ll bring in my lawyer and sue you.’
‘Don’t you threaten me. I’ll complain to the captain.’
‘I’m not threatening you in any way. As my lawyer will point out, if necessary.’
‘Ha! A man of your class with a lawyer? I don’t believe that for a minute. And how will you reach him from here anyway?’
‘He’s on the ship already.’
‘Who is he?’
‘That’s my business, unless you cause trouble for us. Cara is my wife and I care deeply about her. I will not have her hurt again by a member of your family. Remember that.’ Fergus turned and left.
He didn’t know how he’d kept his hands off that vicious fool.
Unfortunately, he didn’t trust that the man had enough sense to think logically about what had happened, let alone keep quiet. There was something strange about Barrett.
When he got back to the cabin, Fergus found Cara sitting there, her face pale. She looked more composed now, to his relief.
‘What did he say to you?’ she asked before he could even close the cabin door.
‘He tried to tell me you seduced his uncle. I made it plain I didn’t believe that, and said I’d take it amiss if he tried to spread that slander.’
‘Thank you.’ She sighed. ‘I don’t think we can stop him, though. He likes upsetting people, likes to think he has power over them.’
‘I had a quick word with Rémi on the way there. He believes you and has offered to act as our lawyer, if necessary.’
‘That’s so kind of him.’ She squared her shoulders. ‘Then I can do nothing except … carry on. Hope. Pray.’
‘And if the worst happens, you must deny what he says. Unfortunately, I can’t stay with you. I have a rehearsal later, and there may be new passengers who wish to join in the entertainment.’
She clapped one hand over her mouth. ‘Oh, no!’
‘Something else wrong?’
‘Jeffrey has a good voice.’
‘Then he’ll be welcome to join the concert party. In public, I’ll treat him as I treat any other person, as long as he’s polite to you.’
‘Now, let’s go and eat our meal, then confront the dragon at rehearsals, if we have to.’
‘I’d better stay out of it.’
‘No. You’re already in the chorus. You must face the world, as I said before, with your head held high.’
But she ate very little. And he didn’t try to force food on her.
Some instinct told him things were going to be difficult. There was something odd about Barrett, he was … Fergus sought for a word, and could only come up with ‘unstable’. He’d met men like Barrett before. Weak in themselves, but bullying others when they could. Always unpredictable. As if something wasn’t quite right in their minds.
Would the fellow keep his mouth shut about Cara?
Fergus didn’t feel optimistic, but he tried not to let her see that.
14
That afternoon the weather continued fine, so the same part of the foredeck was separated from the rest by a canvas screen. First, anyone else who wished to perform in the concert was asked to attend an audition. After that, those already selected would start to run through their pieces.
Rémi was getting ready to help in the auditions when Jeffrey entered their cabin and flung himself on his bed.
‘Are you in the concert, Newland?’
‘Yes, I’m singing in the choir. I’ve not got a good enough voice to sing solo.’
‘I’m not a bad singer. I thought I might do a solo piece, help entertain the masses.’
‘You’ll need to get permission from the director
of music to do that. But that won’t be hard if you have a good voice. I’m only his assistant.’
‘Bit of luck he’s on board, eh?’
Rémi started towards the door. ‘I’ve got to go. I don’t want to be late.’
Barrett called after him. ‘What’s this director’s name?’
He pretended not to hear and made his way out on the deck to join Fergus. He was relieved to see Cara standing with the choir, looking pale but determined, and stopped beside her to say quietly, ‘Well done. We won’t let him hurt you.’
She tried but failed to summon up a smile. ‘Thank you.’
He saw her stiffen as the fellow sauntered into the canvas enclosure. Barrett stopped to look round, frowning as if he hadn’t found the man he was searching for.
Fergus waited a moment or two longer, then raised his voice. ‘We’ll start the auditions now, if you please, ladies and gentlemen.’
Barrett gaped across at him, before turning to the lady next to him and murmuring a question. Her response clearly shocked him.
Fergus continued, ‘I’d like to welcome the newcomers. Can we try you out first, please, ladies and gentlemen? After that we’ll start rehearsing our pieces.’
Barrett turned to walk out but the elderly lady next to him grasped his arm and Rémi heard her say, ‘No need to be nervous. Mr Deagan knows his business.’
Rémi walked across to join them. ‘I’m sure you’ll enjoy this, Barrett. It promises to be one of the best amateur concerts I’ve ever been involved with.’
‘Mr Barrett, would you like to show us what you can do?’ Fergus called, trying to speak normally.
Barrett hesitated, then walked across to the lady at the piano, ignoring Fergus. ‘I don’t have any music with me, but do you know “Home Sweet Home”?’
‘I know the tune but I don’t have the music, I’m afraid.’ She looked at Fergus.
‘I can play it for you, Mr Barrett. I don’t need music.’
For a moment he hesitated, then nodded agreement.
Fergus sat down at the piano. ‘Sing a few notes, so I’ll know which key to play in.’ He listened and joined in softly. ‘Right. When you’re ready, Mr Barrett.’
The man stood there and sang. Even his expression changed while he was singing. He had a pleasant voice and had chosen a song which suited it. Damn him! Fergus thought. This would be easier if he had no good qualities, if they didn’t have to work together.
