by Dilly Court
‘Well, it’s no good to us with a broken wheel.’ Rose gave her sister an encouraging smile. ‘Come on, Corrie. We’re near the village and maybe we can hire a vehicle to take us to Bodmin.’
‘No need, miss.’ Jory tugged at her sleeve. ‘Danny Gerrans and his brothers have mended the wheel.’
‘If you’re joking it’s not funny.’ Rose hurried after him as he ran on ahead, and as she turned the corner she saw four burly youths crowded round the cart.
‘That be Dan’l,’ Jory whispered as the tallest of them stepped forward.
‘This be yours I’m thinking.’ Danny stood arms akimbo.
Rose was not in a mood to play games. ‘How much do you want?’
‘How much have you got, lady?’
She did a quick calculation in her head. It was nearly seven miles to Bodmin and Cora was unwell. They needed the cart, but paying the boys would mean that she did not have enough to pay for their return fare to London. ‘One shilling,’ she said hopefully.
‘Not enough. The wheelwright would charge a lot more.’
A commotion in the lane behind them made Rose turn to see Maisie waving to her. ‘Cora’s fainted. Come quick.’
Rose took a handful of coins from her purse and thrust them into Danny’s hand. ‘Take that, but I need one of you to harness the horse to the cart.’
He signalled to his brothers. ‘Do what the lady says, boys.’
‘And you look strong. Come with me.’ She hurried back along the lane to where Cora lay prostrate on the ground. ‘Lift her gently, please, and carry her to the cart.’
Daniel held his hand out and she added a sixpenny bit. They would get home somehow, but the import-ant thing was to take Cora somewhere she could be nursed back to health. There was only one place that sprang to mind.
The sight of Portmorna House lazing in the afternoon sunshine brought tears of relief to Rose’s eyes. She had used the last of her money to pay for the extended hire of the horse and cart and her purse was now empty, but more importantly she knew that Cora would be safe and would be well-cared for. It had been a tedious journey. Hero had plodded along at his own pace but now, seeming to sense that a comfortable stable was within reach, he pricked up his ears and broke into a trot, coming to a halt outside the front entrance. Rose relaxed with a sigh of relief. This was not their home, but she was certain that Vere would not turn them away. She handed the reins to a groom who had come running from the direction of the stables.
‘Look after the poor animal,’ she said tiredly. ‘He’s served us well.’
She was about to climb down from the driver’s seat when the front door opened and James hurried down the steps to offer his assistance. ‘We weren’t expecting you, miss.’
She allowed him to help her to the ground. ‘Is Mr Tressidick at home, James?’
‘No, miss. He’s at the quarry office. Shall I send for him?’
‘That won’t be necessary. I’ll go myself, but first I’d like to see my sister settled. I need to speak to Mrs Vennor.’
Maisie leaped from the cart, landing on the dusty gravel with a display of red flannel petticoats. ‘Miss Cora needs a doctor,’ she said breathlessly. ‘She’s burning up with fever.’
‘It’s just a chill,’ Rose assured James, who had taken a step backwards. ‘You can carry her into the house without fear of catching anything.’
‘Just so, miss.’ James lifted Cora in his arms and carried her into the entrance hall. He hesitated. ‘Where shall I take her now, miss?’
The sound of approaching footsteps made Rose turn to see Mrs Vennor coming from the direction of the back stairs. Her thin cheeks were flushed and she did not look too pleased. ‘I wasn’t told we were expecting guests.’
‘I know, and I’m sorry to arrive unannounced and uninvited, but my sister was taken ill. We were supposed to travel back to London today, but as you can see she is not capable of undertaking a long journey.’
Her apology seemed to go some way to appease Mrs Vennor, but a deep frown was etched on her forehead. ‘The guest rooms are not prepared and I haven’t yet found a suitable replacement for Jenifry.’
‘I don’t want to put you to any trouble. If you would be kind enough to provide the bedding my maid will make a room ready for Cora, and we will share a bed. Maisie can sleep on the floor if necessary.’ Rose crossed her fingers behind her back. She was banking on Mrs Vennor’s pride as a good housekeeper to refute such a suggestion.
Mrs Vennor puffed out her cheeks. ‘I’ve never heard of such a thing. Your rooms will be ready directly, even if I have to make up the beds myself. James, carry the young lady to the drawing room.’
‘Thank you,’ Rose said gratefully. ‘That’s most kind.’
‘I’ll have some refreshments sent to the drawing room.’ Mrs Vennor beckoned to Maisie. ‘You will come with me.’
Maisie cast a sideway glance at Rose and she nodded. ‘Yes, Maisie. Do everything you can to help.’
Mrs Vennor started in the direction of the back stairs, but she hesitated, glancing at Rose over her shoulder. ‘Does the master know you are here?’
‘Not yet. I intend to walk to the mine office and tell him in person.’
‘The groom could do that for you, miss.’
‘No, thank you,’ Rose said firmly. ‘That won’t be necessary.’ She followed James to the drawing room.
He laid Cora gently on the sofa. ‘Will that be all, miss?’
‘If someone could be sent for the doctor I’d be very grateful.’
‘Yes, miss. Right away.’ James seized the opportunity to leave them, closing the door softly behind him.
Rose kneeled beside Cora. Her eyes were closed and her breathing ragged. ‘Cora, can you hear me?’
When there was no response Rose began to worry. Until now she had thought that the malady was a chill or an affliction of the nerves, but it was obviously more serious. If only Mama were here, she thought, taking Cora’s hot hand and holding it to her cheek. Aunt Polly would probably know what to do, or even Big Bertha. Rose had never felt as helpless as she watched her sister struggling for each rasping breath. She stroked Cora’s hand and kept talking, although it was mainly trivial nonsense. She said anything that came into her head in an attempt to bring her back to consciousness, but then she lapsed into silence. Perhaps a temporary release from the trauma that Cora had experienced at Gerard Barclay’s hands would help to mend her bruised body and restore her spirit.
‘We’re the Sunshine Sisters, Corrie,’ Rose whispered as the door opened and Maisie clattered in with a tea tray.
‘Mrs Vennor is getting your bedchambers ready,’ Maisie said importantly. ‘She’s put me in charge of the sickroom, if that’s all right with you, miss.’
Rose perched on the edge of the sofa. ‘Of course, you’re the best person to stay with my sister while I go to find Mr Tressidick.’
Maisie grinned. ‘He’ll think you’ve changed your mind, miss.’
‘Well, I haven’t,’ Rose said firmly. ‘Which is why I must see him before anyone tells him that we’re here. I don’t want him to be under a misapprehension.’
Maisie poured the tea, slopping some of it in the saucer. ‘This is a swish drum, miss. You’d live like a queen if you was to marry Mr Vere.’
‘It’s not all about money. I think Mr Barclay proves that.’ Rose accepted a cup of tea but shook her head when Maisie offered her a slice of currant cake. She had eaten almost nothing that day but her appetite had deserted her. Uppermost in her mind was the need to see Vere and explain what had brought them to Portmorna House. ‘You can have the cake, Maisie. I’ll eat later.’ She gulped the rapidly cooling tea. ‘I must go down to the village, but I’ll be as quick as I can.’
‘Is it all right if I eat all the cake, miss? I don’t think Miss Cora will want any.’
‘Enjoy it, Maisie. Mrs Vennor will be offended if she finds a single crumb left on the plate.’ Whether or not that was true it did not seem to matter. Rose h
ad her mind set on catching Vere before the gossips had time to pass on news of their arrival.
Vere was seated at his desk with a pile of papers spread out in front of him. His clerk had been reluctant to let Rose disturb his employer but she had stood her ground, and he had given in.
‘A young lady to see you, sir.’ The clerk ducked out of the room before his employer had a chance to remonstrate, leaving Rose standing in the doorway.
Vere looked up, frowning at the interruption, but his expression changed when he saw her and he stood up, scattering papers onto the floor. ‘Rose, this is a surprise. You’re the last person I expected to see.’
‘I’m sorry to turn up like this,’ Rose said awkwardly. She was hot and the wind had whipped her hair into a mass of tangled curls. Her straw bonnet had been ruined by the rain the previous evening, and her clothes were travel-stained and creased. She knew she was not looking her best.
‘Won’t you take a seat?’ Vere rounded the desk to pull up a chair. ‘May I offer you some refreshment?’
‘No, thank you.’
‘What brings you here today, Rose? Didn’t you succeed in persuading Cora to return home?’
She sank down on a hard wooden seat of the chair beside his desk. ‘I hardly know how to tell you, Vere.’
‘Take your time. I can see that it must be serious if it brought you here.’ He leaned against his desk, his arms folded and his head on one side as he waited for her to speak.
She began haltingly at first but with growing confidence. He listened intently without interrupting. ‘So you see, I didn’t know where to turn. Mrs Vennor sent for the doctor and I fear we will have to trespass on your hospitality until Cora recovers.’
He leaned forward to clasp both her hands in his. ‘Of course you must stay. You did exactly the right thing.’
‘I wasn’t sure whether we’d be welcome after what passed between us.’
‘If you need me as a friend then that is what I will be. I’ll do everything I can to help you, and Cora will have the best possible treatment. I’m truly sorry that Barclay turned out to be such a swine. The poor girl must be heartbroken.’
‘She is in a terrible state.’
‘Your father should be told.’
‘No, that wouldn’t do at all. He’s virtually disowned us all. We tried to keep Billy’s trouble from him, but of course he found out, and he thinks that what Cora and I have done is unforgiveable. If he knew the rest I doubt if he would ever get over the shock.’
‘If he is a man of God he should be more forgiving. I’m sorry, Rose, but if I were a father I hope I would treat my children with more understanding and kindness, and I am far from being a holy man.’ He straightened up. ‘Come, I’ll take you home in my carriage. Portmorna House will be your sanctuary for as long as you need it, and you need not fear that it puts you under any obligation to me.’
Rose stood up, facing him with a heartfelt smile. ‘Thank you, Vere. You are a true friend and a good man.’
He pulled a face. ‘I hope I’m a good friend, but I don’t claim to be a good man.’
Chapter Eighteen
Dr Quinn looked grave as he moved away from the bed where Cora lay mumbling incoherently.
‘What ails her, Doctor?’ Rose asked urgently. ‘I’ve never seen her like this.’
‘Your sister is undoubtedly a very sick young woman,’ he said, shaking his head. ‘I cannot be certain, but lung fever would seem to be the obvious diagnosis. Take away the cotton sheets and let her lie between woollen blankets to purge the fever. I’ll call again tomorrow.’ He closed his medical bag and left Rose to carry out his instructions.
She managed to accomplish the difficult task with help from Maisie, but their ministrations did not seem to make much difference and, if anything, Cora’s condition seemed to worsen. Rose was unwilling to leave her side, but Maisie managed to persuade her to go down to dinner.
She joined Vere in the dining room and took her seat beside him at table.
‘How is the patient?’ he asked, filling her glass with wine.
‘Not well at all, in fact I think she’s getting worse.’ Rose took a sip. ‘She’s burning up with fever.’
‘Dr Quinn is a good fellow. He might be a bit old-fashioned in his ways, but he treated us as boys and saw us through the usual ailments. Bennett and I are still around to tell the tale.’
Rose swallowed another mouthful of wine. The mention of Bennett’s name had caused her heart to miss a beat and she turned her head away to hide the blush that flooded her cheeks. ‘I shouldn’t have left her side.’
‘You must look after yourself, Rose. If you fall ill you’ll be no use to Cora.’ Vere frowned as the door burst open and a young girl clattered into the room carrying a tureen, which she dumped on the table in front of him.
‘Soup, sir.’
He frowned. ‘Where is Tamsin? Don’t tell me that she’s been sent packing, too?’
The girl bobbed a curtsey, almost toppling over her crossed feet in the attempt. ‘She be gone, sir.’
‘I don’t recall seeing you before.’ Vere lifted the lid and sniffed the savoury aroma.
‘I be Kensa Penneck, sir.’
‘You’re related to Day and Pasco?’ Rose said eagerly. ‘Has your family had word from them recently?’
‘No, miss. I don’t know nothing.’ Kensa backed towards the doorway and fled.
Rose served the soup. ‘I seem to have scared her.’
‘I don’t know what Mrs Vennor was thinking of, sending a girl like that to serve at table.’
‘It seems to me that Mrs Vennor has too much to do, Vere. She’s cook and housekeeper, which is all right in a small establishment like our old vicarage, but you need to have both to run a house this size.’
‘I’ve never given it much thought. Normally we’re quiet and she has only me to consider.’
‘We’re putting you to such a lot of trouble.’ Rose gulped down the remainder of her wine. ‘We’ll leave for London as soon as Cora is well enough to travel.’
‘It’s no trouble,’ Vere said quickly. ‘You mustn’t think that, Rose. Of course you must stay until Cora is fully recovered, and if there’s anything I can do to help you must let me know.’
She smiled, emboldened by the wine. ‘You could engage a housekeeper so that Mrs Vennor can concentrate on her excellent cooking. She needs more help, and I don’t mean children like Kensa Penneck.’
‘You’re right about the need to take on more staff. I’ll speak to Mrs Vennor in the morning.’ Vere tasted the soup and nodded. ‘She is a good cook. I’m afraid I’ve taken too much for granted. I really must mend my ways.’
‘It’s just a question of organisation. I imagine you have more than enough to think about with running the mine.’
‘That’s true, and of course the tragic business with Gawain is never far from my mind.’ He paused with his soup-spoon halfway to his lips. ‘I still don’t believe that Billy was the culprit, but I’d like to see an end to all this.’
‘Perhaps I could speak to Kensa. She might tell me something that she would be afraid to pass on to you.’
‘As far as I can make out Scully has spoken to everyone in that family and has come up with nothing new.’
‘I’m determined to clear Billy’s name. With your permission I’ll have a quiet word with young Kensa. I can’t stand by and do nothing.’
‘You have no need to ask, Rose. For as long as you are here I want you to treat this house as your home.’
His plain features were transformed by the sincerity in his smile and Rose was deeply touched. ‘Thank you, Vere. Thank you for everything.’
After an excellent meal, despite Kensa’s clumsy attempts at serving the food, Rose said good night to Vere and went upstairs to relieve Maisie. She sent her to the kitchen to have her supper and took her place at Cora’s bedside, watching over her as the shadows lengthened. When it was too dark to see she stood up, stretched and went over to the window wher
e there was a table with candles waiting to be lit. She was about to strike a match when her attention was caught by a movement on the gravel carriage sweep. A lone male figure was striding towards the stable block, and although it was too dark to make out the details she knew instinctively that it was not one of the servants. At first she thought it was Vere, but she could not be certain, and it seemed odd that he would be venturing out this late in the evening. Then, whoever it was disappeared into the deep shadow and the only movement was the sweeping flight of bats as they soared into the sky in their search for food. There was still a faint light in the sky to the north, but stars were beginning to appear overhead, and a silver pathway of moonlight stretched from the shore to the horizon. It looked, she thought, as though it were possible to walk across the Channel to France.
A faint moan from the bed brought her back to earth and she lit a candle. Cora was tossing about restlessly and gabbling senselessly. Rose felt her sister’s brow and was alarmed. She sat by the bed, talking in a low voice in an attempt to calm her, but she doubted whether Cora was able to understand. Maisie came to see if there was anything she could do, but Rose sent her to bed. She kept up her vigil until at last she dozed off to sleep.
She was awakened suddenly, and it took her a few moments to remember where she was, but on checking Cora she found her to be sleeping fitfully. Rose sat upright in her chair, straining her ears for a repeat of the sound that had woken her. She stood up, moving stiffly to the window. It was still dark but there was a thin strand of light in the east and she realised with a feeling of pure relief that the night was almost over. The candle had long since guttered and gone out, but soon it would be the dawn of a new day.
She leaned her head against the cool glass windowpane, and it was then she saw him. Whether or not it was the same man was impossible to say, and this time he was coming from the direction of the stables. She craned her neck to see where he went next, but whoever it was disappeared from sight, and she thought for a moment that she had imagined the whole thing, or it could be one of the male servants returning from a tryst with a local woman. There could be all manner of explanations. She yawned and stretched before returning to her chair at Cora’s bedside. Dr Quinn would come as promised and she much hoped he would see some improvement in her sister’s condition. At least Cora seemed no worse. Rose leaned back in the chair and closed her eyes.
