by Dilly Court
Rose took one and tasted it. ‘Delicious,’ she said, nodding. ‘I’ve never tasted anything like it, but it’s very good.’
‘I think you’ll be comfortable in the blue room,’ Bennett said thoughtfully. ‘If there is anything you need, just ask Jenifry. She’ll look after you.’
Later, in her room Rose discovered that Jenifry had unpacked for her and had laid out fresh clothes. ‘There’s warm water on the washstand, miss. If you’ll give me your gown, I’ll rinse it through for you and hang it in the drying room.’
Rose nodded her head. ‘Thank you, Jenifry. That’s very kind of you. I’m afraid the smell of the prison still clings to the material.’
‘Is it very bad there, miss?’ Jenifry avoided meeting Rose’s curious gaze. ‘I wouldn’t like to think of Mr William being treated like a common criminal.’ Bright spots of colour flamed her cheeks. ‘I mean, he be a nice gentleman and none of us believe that he killed Mr Gawain.’
‘It is what one might expect a prison to be,’ Rose said carefully. ‘But it won’t be for much longer. I’m certain that justice will prevail and my brother will be exonerated at the trial and released.’
‘You might like to rest awhile, miss,’ Jenifry suggested, turning her head to gaze out of the window while Rose took off her soiled gown. ‘Dinner is served when the master returns from the quarry. I’ll come and tell you when it’s time – that’s if you wish me to.’
‘I do. Thank you, Jenifry.’ Rose handed the garment to her. ‘I would be grateful if it could be laundered as soon as possible. I travel light.’
‘It shall be done, miss. I’d do anything to help free Billy, I mean, Mr William.’
Rose was suddenly alert. Intuition told her that there was something more than a casual acquaintance between her brother and Jenifry. ‘Just a moment, please.’
‘What is it, miss?’ Jenifry paused in the doorway.
‘You seem to care what happens to Billy, and yet you could only have met him briefly.’
Once again colour suffused Jenifry’s face. ‘Not exactly, miss. He’s been here a good few times since Mr Gawain started at the university. They be good friends and got up to such larks, although it isn’t my place to say so.’
‘I get the impression that you like my brother, Jenifry.’
‘It bain’t my place to think good or bad of my betters, miss.’ Jenifry opened the door. ‘Is there anything else I can do for you?’
‘No, thank you, but I would be grateful if you would show me to the dining room when dinner is about to be served … This is a very big house and I fear I might get lost.’
A wide smile transformed Jenifry’s face, and in that moment Rose could see what might have attracted her brother to the maidservant. ‘It will be my pleasure, miss.’ Jenifry left the room, closing the door quietly behind her.
Rose sank down on the bed. ‘Billy, what have you done?’ she said softly. ‘I hope you haven’t been flirting with the poor girl.’
An hour later, washed, dressed and with her hair brushed and confined in a chignon at the nape of her neck, Rose was seated by the window as the last vestige of daylight faded into darkness. Pinpricks of light from the village and the vessels moored in the harbour twinkled merrily like dozens of tiny fireflies. She turned with a start at the sound of someone tapping on the door. ‘Come in.’
Jenifry stuck her head round the door. ‘The master is in the drawing room, miss. He requests the pleasure of your company.’
‘Of course.’ Rose stood up, smoothing the creases from her skirts. ‘Lead on.’
She followed Jenifry downstairs, and was feeling apprehensive but also extremely curious as she entered the drawing room.
Bennett was seated by the fire, but he stood up and made the necessary introductions.
Vere Tressidick was younger than Rose had imagined. Compared with Bennett’s dark, brooding looks and powerful personality, Vere seemed pale and slight. His clean-shaven face and small neat features gave him a boyish look, but his grey eyes were shrewd and calculating and his thin lips suggested a stubborn streak. He wore his light brown hair cropped short like a military man and he held himself erect, as if attempting to make himself appear taller.
‘How do you do, Miss Perkins?’ His voice was surprisingly deep and his tones clipped. ‘It is a pity we meet in such dire circumstances.’
‘How do you do, sir?’ Rose inclined her head. ‘I have great hopes for my brother’s acquittal and I have great faith in Mr Sharpe.’
‘Indeed.’ Vere did not sound impressed. ‘We will have to wait and see. One can never be certain of the outcome in a case like this.’
‘But you don’t think Billy killed your brother, do you, sir?’
‘No, I do not, but I am neither judge nor jury, and the Pennecks are a slippery bunch.’ He turned to his cousin. ‘Are they not, Bennett?’
‘They are, but they are also well known to the judiciary in these parts. I am confident that I can make a good case for Billy. The evidence is all circumstantial and there are no reliable witnesses. Scully might have some useful information when he arrives on Monday,’ Bennett added casually. ‘I sent him to Oxford to see if Toby and Edric can offer any more information. I am not beaten yet, Vere.’
Rose looked from one to the other, sensing tension between the two cousins. ‘I’m truly grateful to you both and I am very sorry for your loss, Mr Tressidick.’
‘Thank you, Rose.’ Vere treated her to a hint of a smile. ‘And you must call me Vere. We three have come together to prevent a miscarriage of justice.’
A knock on the door preceded James, who entered to announce that dinner was served. Vere proffered his arm to Rose. ‘We don’t employ a butler,’ he said as if an explanation were needed. ‘We live quite informally, as you will discover.’
‘As do we,’ Rose replied truthfully. ‘I think your house is quite the most beautiful residence I’ve ever had the pleasure to visit.’
A genuine smile lit Vere’s pale eyes. ‘I think so too, even though I say so myself.’
Next morning Rose ate her breakfast in solitary state. Vere, so James informed her, had left early for the quarry and Bennett had gone to the stables. She was not very hungry and the silver serving dishes filled with crisp bacon, devilled kidneys and buttered eggs might have tempted her at any other time, but she managed to eat a slice of toast, washed down with a cup of coffee. James stood in front of the laden sideboard, staring into space, but she could feel his silent disapproval. She finished her meal and stood up. ‘My apologies to Mrs Vennor, James. I’m afraid I haven’t done her excellent food justice, but I have little appetite this morning.’
He looked straight ahead. ‘I’ll pass the message on, miss.’
‘I’ll fetch my bonnet and mantle.’ She was about to walk past him but he moved swiftly to bar her way.
‘Jenifry will do that for you, miss.’ He opened the door for her. ‘If you’d like to wait in the hall I’ll send her to you.’
‘Thank you, James.’ She realised that she had offended his sense of propriety, and that the servants had their own set of rules quite as rigid as those of their masters. She went into the hall and she did not have long to wait.
Jenifry appeared pink-cheeked and breathless from exertion. She set a portmanteau on the floor at Rose’s feet. ‘Mr Bennett packed this himself, miss. It contains clothes and such for Mr William.’
Rose shrugged on her mantle. ‘Thank you, Jenifry. I’m sure my brother will be relieved to have some clean clothes at last.’
‘I would have suggested it myself,’ Jenifry said shyly, ‘but it weren’t my place to say so. Gentlemen don’t generally think of such things.’
‘I know that Billy will appreciate the thought.’ Rose put on her bonnet.
‘The carriage is outside,’ James announced, opening the double doors with a theatrical flourish.
Rose suspected that the servants were enjoying the drama of the occasion, which must be the talk of the village. She was ab
out to pick up the case, but then she realised her mistake and stood back as James swooped upon it and carried it to the door. She stepped outside and was met by Bennett, who greeted her with a disarming smile.
‘You’re ready to go. That’s excellent.’ He handed her into the carriage and climbed in beside her. ‘Tell me about Billy,’ he said as the vehicle lurched into motion.
Startled, Rose stared at him. ‘What do you want to know?’
‘I’ve only met him on a couple of occasions, apart from visiting him in prison, and I know that Gawain thought a lot of him, but you can tell me what sort of son he is, and if he is a good brother to you and Cora. These are small details, but I want to build up a picture of Billy as a person when I defend him in court. A good son and a loving brother would have more appeal than a wayward, selfish sort of fellow. The fact that Billy is studying theology at Oxford, and is in his last year at university, should help, but he and his friends were involved in a drunken brawl, and that won’t go down too well with the jurors. I’m afraid that Billy’s friendship with the Penneck brothers will also go against him.’
Rose leaned back against the squabs. The full impact of the case against Billy hit her with the force of a physical blow. Until this moment she had thought that simply being there to cheer and comfort him was enough. It had not occurred to her that a jury might see a very different young man standing before them than the brother she knew and loved. Her mouth was dry and her heart was racing as she struggled to find the right words to describe him in the most favourable light. ‘He might have fallen amongst bad company,’ she said passionately, ‘but Billy is a good man.’
Bennett’s winged eyebrows drew together in a frown. ‘That’s just it, Rose. Billy is young and he is easily influenced. The Penneck brothers are his equal in years, but they’ve been in trouble since they were boys. Their story is that they staggered home immediately after the fracas, and their father is prepared to swear to that in court. I’m hoping that Toby or Edric might have some slight recollection of what occurred. If not, then it will be up to me and my powers of persuasion to convince the jury that Billy could not and would not have killed Gawain.’
Rose gulped and swallowed, turning her head away to gaze out of the window with unseeing eyes. ‘I had hoped it would be more straightforward. Now I’m really scared.’
He reached out to take her hand in his. ‘It’s not going to be easy, but you have to trust me, Rose.’
The firm pressure of his fingers on hers was reassuring. She twisted her lips into a semblance of a smile. ‘I do, Bennett.’
Billy was in a bullish mood, although Rose detected a feverish glint in his eyes that did not bode well. He seemed inordinately pleased with the change of clothes and the prospect of being able to shave, although the warder made certain that Bennett had the cutthroat razor in his possession when they left the cell. ‘Can’t be too careful,’ he said, pocketing the silver coin Bennett had pressed in his hand. ‘The rest of the Portmorna gang be in the gaol now.’
‘What do you mean by that?’ Bennett demanded angrily. ‘My client isn’t a member of a gang.’
‘That’s as maybe, sir. I only goes by what I hear.’ The warder shifted from one foot to the other. ‘The revenue men brought the Penneck brothers in last evening. Caught red-handed, they do say, and up before the judge on Monday, like your boy.’
Rose clutched Bennett’s arm. ‘I thought Billy was going to trial on Wednesday.’
The warder puffed out his chest. ‘It’s Monday for certain, maid. Date of the Assizes was changed.’
‘Why wasn’t I told of this?’ Bennett demanded angrily.
‘It bain’t no business of mine, sir. You’d best speak to the Governor if you have a complaint to make.’
‘Indeed I will. Take me to him now.’
‘I doubt he’ll see you, sir.’
‘Nevertheless you will show me to his office and he will hear me out.’
The warder glanced anxiously at Rose. ‘Bain’t no place for a maid.’
‘I’ll wait in the carriage,’ Rose said hastily. ‘Do what you must, Bennett.’
The warder escorted her from the prison and she went to sit in the carriage. It was an anxious time and she could have cried with relief when she saw Bennett emerge from the gaol. She waited impatiently as he crossed the prison yard and the coachman leaped to the ground to open the door.
‘What did the Governor say?’ Rose asked anxiously, barely giving Bennet time to climb in and take his seat opposite her.
‘It can’t be helped. The Assize judge was taken ill and died of apoplexy, and his successor was already attending a session at Truro on Wednesday. The whole thing had to be moved at great inconvenience to everyone, especially to us.’
‘Will Edric and Toby get here in time?’
‘I believe a telegram was sent.’
‘But it will be all right?’
Bennett leaned out of the window. ‘Home, Yelland. We’re done here for today.’
There was no visiting at the gaol on Sunday and Bennett shut himself away in the study, working on Billy’s case. Rose attended church with Vere and was aware of the curious glances she attracted from the villagers, although it was obvious that everyone knew exactly why she was in Portmorna.
Gryffyn Penneck was waiting outside when they left after the service. He stepped out in front of Vere and stood, cap in hand, staring down at his booted feet. ‘I need your help, sir.’
Vere drew himself up to his full height. ‘If it concerns your sons you must realise that you are wasting your breath, man.’
Gryffyn raised his head, and his lips trembled. ‘They are but boys, sir. They will go to prison for a long time. It were a keg of brandy or two, that’s all it were.’
‘In days gone by they would have been hanged for such a crime or transported to Australia. Your sons have disgraced your name, and they deserve whatever punishment is meted out to them.’
‘At least they weren’t in the dock for murder.’ Penneck curled his lip, turning his attention to Rose. ‘Your brother will hang for what he done, miss. Be sure of that.’ He turned his back on them and walked off.
‘Don’t listen to him,’ Vere said, taking Rose by the arm. ‘Justice will be done.’
Rose barely slept that night for worrying about the outcome of the trial next day. She was afraid for Billy, should the case go against him, and a feeling of helplessness made it even harder to bear. She was up early, but when Jenifry failed to arrive with her morning cup of tea and the hot water for the washbowl, she decided to get dressed. Bennett had reluctantly agreed that she could accompany him to Bodmin, and she was both excited and nervous as she went downstairs, but the sound of voices in the entrance hall made her stop and glance over the balustrade. The front door was open and Bennett was talking to a messenger.
‘It isn’t possible,’ Bennett said loudly. ‘You must have it wrong.’
‘Indeed I don’t, sir. I had it from the bailiff himself. I tell you it happened last night. There’s no denying the facts.’
Rose descended the stairs at a run. ‘What’s happened, Bennett? What’s wrong?’
Chapter Nine
The messenger vaulted onto his horse and rode off. Bennett stood motionless, staring after him.
‘What’s happened?’ Rose asked anxiously. ‘Tell me, please.’
He turned to face her, a deep frown etched on his brow. ‘There was a breakout from the prison last night. The Penneck brothers and Billy escaped, by what means I have no idea, but it doesn’t bode well for any of them. It will be seen as an admission of guilt.’
‘Oh, no!’ Her hand flew to her mouth. ‘Why would he do such a thing?’
James had been standing to attention by the front door, but he stepped forward, clearing his throat nervously. ‘Excuse me, sir. It may be nothing, but there be no sign of Jenifry this morning. Mrs Vennor wondered if she was took to her bed poorly, but she’s nowhere to be found.’
‘I thought there was s
omething, at least on her part.’ Rose cast her mind back to her conversations with Jenifry. ‘Do you think she’s involved in this?’
‘She’s the least of my worries.’ Bennett nodded to James. ‘Have my horse saddled and get some of the estate workers together. We’ll go in search of them.’
‘Begging your pardon, sir,’ James said in a low voice, ‘but if it were so well planned I dare say they be in France by now, or well on their way.’
‘I’ll take a chance on that. I’ll ride into the village and speak to Jenifry’s mother, and you can head a search of the woods. They might have gone to ground.’
‘Aye, sir. It will be done.’ James let himself out of the house and Bennett was about to follow when Rose caught him by the arm.
‘What can I do?’
‘Stay here. Scully will be arriving this morning. Keep him here until I return.’
‘I’d rather go with you. I could reason with Billy and persuade him to return to prison and await his trial.’
He gave her a long look. ‘I’ve no real hope of finding him, Rose. I’m going to talk to the local fishermen and try to find out if any small craft are missing. James is right. The most likely way of escape would be by boat, and the Penneck brothers are both experienced seamen.’
‘I can’t believe that Billy would run away like this.’
‘You saw the state he was in. He knew that the odds were against him.’
‘But you said you were confident of getting an acquittal.’
‘I have to be confident of my own abilities, and I’m still of the opinion that it is possible, but Billy wasn’t thinking straight. Prison does that to a man. I’ve seen it happen many times.’ He laid his hand on her shoulder. ‘I’ll do everything I can. I promise you that.’ He snatched up his top hat, gloves and riding crop and hurried out onto the carriage sweep.
