Ragged Rose

by Dilly Court

  ‘But how does all this help Billy?’ Rose said impatiently.

  ‘Yes, Scully.’ Bennett was suddenly serious. ‘Go on. What’s your theory?’

  ‘I visited the girl’s mother again. She’s a comely widow with a liking for a tot or two of gin. She lets slip that her girl is safe, although she was quick to try and cover up her mistake. A couple more drinks and she admits that Jenifry is still in Cornwall, and she begs me not to let on. Naturally I says that me lips are sealed.’

  ‘I feel sorry for the poor woman.’ Rose glared at Scully. ‘You took advantage of her, Mr Scully.’

  ‘What would you have me do, miss? Would you rather I gave a widow woman the benefit of me charms and was rewarded by some vital information, or would you rather I left her with her secret and let your brother remain an outlaw?’

  ‘That’s enough, Scully.’ Bennett sent him a warning look. ‘Miss Perkins understands the situation.’

  ‘So what are you saying, Scully?’ Vere said quickly. ‘Do you think that Penneck was taking supplies to his sons?’

  ‘That’s what it would seem, sir. It’s worth further investigation, if you ask me.’

  ‘It seems strange that they have not gone far.’ Vere turned to Bennett. ‘What do you think?’

  He frowned. ‘Maybe we didn’t give them credit for being smarter than taking off for the Continent. They wouldn’t have been able to speak the language and would have had difficulty in earning a living. If old man Penneck has been supplying them with essentials they could remain hidden out in one of the coves for years.’

  ‘Then we must go there,’ Rose said eagerly. ‘You have ships that carry the china clay. Couldn’t we use one of them to go to this place?’

  ‘Of course, it’s a possibility, but we would want a smaller craft.’ Vere drummed his fingers on the top of the desk. ‘Our vessels are too recognisable and too large to get close enough to a rocky shoreline to make a safe landing.’

  ‘We need a fishing boat, like the one Penneck owns,’ Bennett said thoughtfully. ‘But we’d be up against Day and Pasco. Their knowledge of the waters round here is far better than yours or mine, Vere. If they got wind of what we were doing they’d make a run for it. We have to catch the boys and bring them to justice, or Billy won’t stand a chance of acquittal.’

  Rose clapped her hands. ‘I can’t believe it’s really happening. When will we do this?’

  ‘I’m afraid you won’t be involved directly, Rose,’ Vere said with an apologetic smile. ‘It’s far too dangerous.’

  ‘Bennett?’ Rose turned to him holding out her hands. ‘You won’t leave me out, will you?’

  Chapter Nineteen

  She had won. It was a small victory, but Rose felt triumphant, and slightly nervous, as she sat in the stern of the fishing boat Scully had procured for them. It was a moonless night, and the darkness was almost as suffocating as the oily smell of mackerel from the last catch. She covered her nose with her gloved hand, but refrained from making any comments which might set her apart as a fussy female. It had been a struggle to persuade Vere that she would make a useful contribution to their party. He had stressed the fact that the Penneck brothers were desperate men. Scully had backed him up wholeheartedly, giving Rose the impression that he had little respect for her abilities, or perhaps he disliked women in general. She suspected that he had been thwarted in love, but whatever had caused his antipathy it had now become personal. It was Bennett who had been her champion, and for that she would be eternally grateful. He was the only man she had ever known who treated her as an equal. Vere obviously placed her on a pedestal, like a marble statue, but Bennett saw her as an intelligent, if slightly wayward, woman.

  She huddled up in the boat cloak that Mrs Vennor had found in one of the cupboards at Portmorna House. Although it was May, it was cold on the water, and the lugger ploughed through the waves, enveloping them in a fine mist of salt spray. Scully was at the tiller while Vere and Bennett handled the sheets and trimmed the sails with surprising expertise. The small craft tacked across the bay, keeping within sight of land. As they drew nearer the cove, Bennett and Vere lowered the yard, unhooked the clew, and handed the sail round the front of the mast. They took the oars and rowed towards the shore, beaching the vessel stern first, and they both leaped overboard to haul the boat up the beach.

  Rose was about to clamber after them when Scully scooped her up in his arms, and carried her onto the damp sand, setting her down just above the waterline. She opened her mouth to thank him, but he laid his finger on his lips and shook his head. She acknowledged the warning with a nod, and fell in behind Vere and Bennett as they headed for the cliffs.

  They came to a halt at the foot of the cliff face, which towered above them, its craggy contours silhouetted against the star-studded sky. The clouds had parted and everything around them was blanched by moonlight. Bennett turned to Scully, lowering his voice to little more than a whisper. ‘Where did you spot the light?’

  Scully pointed to the right side of the clifftop. ‘Might have been a signal or maybe there’s a cottage up top, but that was where Penneck seemed to be headed. He weren’t gone for more than half an hour, so it couldn’t have been too far.’

  ‘We’ll go single file.’ Bennett jerked his head in the direction of the steep path. ‘No talking.’

  Vere laid his hand on Rose’s shoulder. ‘You should stay here.’

  ‘We need her,’ Bennett said softly. ‘The woman might pay heed to what Rose says. We want Billy to come without a fight. He won’t harm his sister no matter how desperate he might be.’

  ‘I’m coming with you.’ Rose picked up her skirts and headed for the narrow gap where the path snaked up the steep cliff.

  Bennett strode past her. ‘I’ll go first.’

  There was little point in arguing, and Rose kept up with his long strides as best she could, although she was hampered by her petticoats and her thick, linsey-woolsey skirt. Scully and Vere caught up with her and Vere proffered his hand, but she shook her head and he continued along the path, pausing occasionally to look back, as if to make sure she was still following. Rose reached the top not long after them, but she was exhausted by the effort and her leg muscles were screaming in silent agony. The others were conferring in sign language, having spotted a faint spiral of smoke rising into the night sky, although there was still no sign of habitation. Scully and Bennett went on ahead, leaving Vere and Rose to follow at a safe distance. There was nowhere to hide as they trod a rough pathway along the clifftop, and the land shelved steeply as they crested the rise. Then, in a hollow surrounded by gorse bushes and a tangle of brambles, Rose saw a cottage. It looked like a tiny doll’s house that had been wedged into a crevice, and a few feet from the front door there was a steep drop to the jagged rocks below. The shutters on the ground floor were closed, and a tell-tale plume of smoke from a single chimney was the only sign of life.

  Bennett came to a halt. ‘Vere, stay here with Rose. Scully, come with me.’ He walked on, moving slowly and stealthily towards the building.

  Rose clasped her hands, praying silently that this was where Billy and Jenifry were hiding out. The wind soughed around them, and the sound of the waves breaking against the rocks was loud enough to drown the crunch of booted feet on the stony path.

  Vere placed his arm around her shoulders. ‘I should go with them,’ he whispered. ‘Will you be all right if I leave you here?’

  ‘I’m fine,’ she said, nodding. ‘Scully seems to be beckoning to you.’ She had no intention of being left behind, and she waited until Vere was several paces ahead before following him. As she drew nearer, she could see that the cottage had quite literally been built into the cliff face, and there was only one way in, with no escape other than an upstairs window. She held her breath as Bennett tried the door. Finding it locked, he took a step backwards and kicked it in. He barged into the cottage followed by Scully and Vere.

  Angry shouts and the sound of a scuffle echoed round the cove.
A woman screamed, and a broken chair flew through the open door, landing with a splintering crash at Rose’s feet. She sidestepped it and edged towards the entrance, but she had to leap for safety as two men, locked in combat, tumbled out of the cottage and landed on the patch of turf. Flailing arms and legs and flying fists were accompanied by grunts and groans, as punches hit home. She stood motionless, unable to do anything other than look on in horror as blood flowed freely. A final blow rendered one of them unconscious, and she realised that Scully was the victor. She hurried forward to help him to his feet. ‘Are you hurt?’

  He brushed a grimy sleeve across his bleeding nose and lips. ‘Never felt better, miss.’ He staggered back into the building, leaving Rose alone with the prostrate figure. She did not recognise the young man, but with his shaggy, blood-stained beard and long hair she doubted if his own mother would know him. She stepped over him and went inside to find Vere and Bennett standing over a second man, who was lying on the flagstone floor, groaning. It was not Billy.

  ‘Are they the ones you were looking for?’ she asked anxiously.

  ‘It’s the Penneck brothers all right,’ Bennett said with a satisfied smile. He flexed his bruised fingers. ‘I haven’t had such a satisfying bout of fisticuffs since I was at university.’ He slapped his cousin on the back. ‘You did well, Vere. It’s quite like old times.’

  ‘But what about Billy?’ Rose protested. ‘You two might have enjoyed a fight, but where is my brother?’

  ‘He made a run for it.’ Jenifry’s tearful voice from the narrow staircase made them all turn to look at her. ‘He jumped out of the window. I told him to stay, but he wouldn’t listen.’ She collapsed on the bottom step, burying her face in her hands.

  Rose went to comfort her. ‘Where would he go?’

  ‘The young idiot.’ Bennett rushed out of the cottage and disappeared into the darkness.

  ‘Why did you follow us?’ Jenifry sobbed. ‘We were getting on well enough, and Billy had just got himself work on a fishing boat. We could have stayed here for ever.’

  ‘And what about them?’ Rose jerked her head in the direction of the semi-conscious man. ‘Did you want to spend the rest of your life protecting two villains?’

  ‘They’re not bad,’ Jenifry sobbed. ‘They done nothing wrong.’

  Pasco opened his eyes and swore loudly, as Vere hefted him onto a chair. ‘This man murdered my brother, and he allowed Billy to take the blame.’

  Jenifry sniffed and hiccuped, wiping her eyes on her nightgown. ‘I don’t believe it. Pasco is our friend. He wouldn’t do such a thing.’

  ‘We have a witness who will swear it in court,’ Rose said gently. ‘Pasco is the killer, but don’t you see that it proves Billy is innocent?’

  Vere produced a pair of handcuffs from his coat pocket and clipped them around Pasco’s wrists. ‘I had the forethought to borrow these from our local police constable,’ he said with a wry smile. ‘I hoped they’d come in useful.’

  Rose glanced at a familiar pair of shoes that had been put to dry on the hearth. ‘Those are Billy’s. He won’t get far barefoot.’

  ‘And he’s only wearing his drawers.’ Jenifry clapped her hand to her mouth, eyes wide with horror. ‘What will folk say?’

  At any other time, Rose might have smiled at Jenifry’s overt fear of public censure, but she kept a straight face as she helped the trembling girl to her feet. ‘Why don’t you go upstairs and get dressed? We’re taking you home.’

  ‘I’m going nowhere without Billy.’

  ‘Bennett will bring him back, you may depend on that.’

  ‘If he don’t, I’m staying here. You can’t make me go, if I don’t want to.’ Jenifry raced upstairs and slammed the bedroom door.

  ‘Here’s the other one.’ Scully gave Day Penneck a shove that sent him staggering into the room. ‘This one confessed to witnessing the murder, boss,’ he said, grinning widely. ‘He’s going to speak up in court, ain’t you, mate?’

  Day blinked and swallowed hard, keeping a wary eye on his brother. ‘He forced me to say it, Pasco.’

  ‘We’ll deny everything,’ Pasco said, curling his lip. ‘You can’t prove nothing. It be your fellow’s word against ours. And there’s two of us.’

  ‘I wouldn’t count on it.’ Vere moved a step closer, fixing Pasco with a hard stare. ‘The word of a well-known scoundrel against that of an educated gentleman is not going to impress a judge, Pasco. You’ve had your chances, and you’ve proved yourself worthless. You’ll take the consequences.’

  Rose snatched a crust of bread from the table and tossed it at Pasco. He caught it, staring at her in astonishment. ‘I ain’t a monkey in the zoo, miss. Why throw bread at me?’

  ‘He caught it in his right hand,’ Rose said triumphantly.

  ‘What has that got to do with Gawain’s murder?’ Vere demanded.

  ‘Ask Bennett. He’ll explain, but my brother is left-handed. He couldn’t have struck the fatal blow.’

  Pasco glared at Rose, curling his lip. ‘She’s off her head.’

  ‘We should get these two back to Portmorna, Mr Tressidick.’ Scully made a move towards the door. ‘The sooner they’re in clink, the better.’

  ‘We can’t leave without Bennett,’ Vere said, frowning.

  ‘I won’t go anywhere until I know what’s happened to my brother.’ Rose faced them angrily. ‘He’s the victim in all this.’

  ‘That’s true,’ Vere said softly, ‘but we’re doing our best for him, Rose. It’s a pity he ran off like that. It doesn’t help his case.’

  ‘What would you have done in similar circumstances? Billy is frightened and confused.’

  ‘Bennett will make him see sense.’ Vere turned with a start as the door burst open and Bennett entered the room. ‘Where’s Billy?’

  ‘He had more than a head start. I lost him.’

  ‘Thank the Lord.’ Jenifry walked slowly down the stairs. She was fully dressed and smiling. ‘You won’t catch him now.’

  ‘Are you completely mad?’ Rose said angrily. ‘Haven’t you heard a word that’s been said?’

  ‘I dunno know what you mean, miss.’

  ‘My brother is innocent, and we can prove it. He has to stand trial so that he can be acquitted honourably.’

  ‘I don’t understand.’

  Bennett held the door open. ‘The tide is on the turn and we need to leave now, or we could be stuck here for hours. Scully, you’re in charge of Day, and I’ll see that Pasco doesn’t escape. You can look after the ladies, Vere.’

  ‘I ain’t going nowhere.’ Jenifry clutched the newel post with both hands. ‘I’m not leaving without Billy.’

  ‘Do you think you’re the only one who cares for him?’ Rose turned on her like a fury. ‘Billy has to give himself up, or he’ll never be free, and you’re not helping.’

  ‘I love him,’ Jenifry whispered.

  ‘Then you’ll return to Portmorna with us.’

  ‘But Billy will follow.’

  ‘That’s what I’m hoping.’ Regretting her sharp tone, Rose slipped her arm around Jenifry’s shoulders. ‘He’ll be a fugitive for the rest of his life if he goes on like this. He must be made to see sense, and I think he’ll listen to you.’

  Bennett met Rose’s anxious glance with a smile and a nod. ‘Well argued, lady lawyer.’ He grabbed Pasco by the collar and propelled him out of the cottage, following by Scully and Day, who needed little persuasion.

  ‘It’s time to go,’ Vere said urgently.

  ‘Jenifry?’ Rose extended her hand. ‘Trust me. You can’t imagine the lengths to which my sister and I have gone in our attempts to help Billy. You and I are on the same side.’

  ‘If you say so, miss.’ Jenifry’s shoulders drooped and she bowed her head, as if the fight had gone from her. She allowed herself to be led from the comparative warmth of the kitchen into the chill of early dawn.

  The sun had risen by the time they reached Portmorna. Bennett and Scully marched the Penneck brothe
rs off to the police constable’s house, and a tearful Jenifry was reunited with her mother.

  Mrs Tregony wrapped her arms around her errant daughter. ‘You’m a daft little maid, Jenifry. Look what trouble you’ve caused.’

  ‘I’m sorry, Ma, but I love Billy.’

  ‘And now no decent boy will want to wed you. You’ve ruined yourself and us, maid.’

  ‘No, Ma. Billy will marry me; he said so.’

  ‘He’ll be dangling at the end of a hangman’s noose if they catches him.’

  Rose had been about to take her leave, but she could not let this go. ‘Billy is innocent, Mrs Tregony. We have a witness who will swear that it was Pasco Penneck who killed Mr Tressidick.’

  Mrs Tregony’s eyes widened. ‘Is that so, miss?’

  ‘It is so, ma’am, but Billy has to return and stand trial.’

  ‘D’you hear that, Jenifry?’ Mrs Tregony held her daughter at arm’s length. ‘You must make him see sense.’

  ‘How can I, Ma? I dunno where Billy has got to.’

  ‘He’ll come for you, maid. If he loves you he’ll be back, and then it’s up to you. If you run away again that’s how you’ll spend the rest of your life.’ Mrs Tregony handed her daughter a scrap of cloth. ‘Wipe your eyes. You’ve got work to do.’

  ‘I think we all need to get some sleep, but what your mother says is true, Jenifry.’ Rose patted her hand. ‘Billy won’t let you down. He’s a good man.’ She glanced over her shoulder at the sound of footsteps and saw Vere standing in the doorway.

  ‘Time to go, Rose. I sent Scully to the coach house with a message for Yelland. He’s just arrived with the carriage to take us home.’

  ‘You go with them,’ Mrs Tregony said, giving Jenifry a push towards the door.

  ‘But, Ma, I’ve lost my position at the big house.’ Jenifry shot a sideways glance at Vere. ‘I don’t expect my behaviour to be overlooked, sir.’

  ‘I have nothing to do with that side of things,’ Vere said, shrugging. ‘It’s up to Mrs Vennor.’

  ‘We can’t manage on the small pension I gets from the mine, sir.’ Mrs Tregony faced him with a steady look. ‘It’s little enough to keep me, let alone the two of us. Jenifry has to find work, no matter what she thinks.’