“You take it very calmly, Laura. I am excessively disappointed.”
Laura was again silent, lost in thought. Only two days had passed, it was true, yet she had expected at least to hear from Mr. Templeton by this time. He could have been overtaken by the rainstorm as he rode to Charmouth—surely he was now ill. Were he merely detained on his mercy errand, he would have sent word. Did the wild weather on Tuesday lend a romance to their meeting that was not really there? No, she thought, from their very first meeting, there was a strong feeling of mutual interest between them. Certainly some indisposition or even an accident was keeping him from her.
Laura looked at her brother, walking ahead of them down the street. What pleasure she would have in introducing them to one another!
Elspeth sighed crossly. “You are not entertaining me this morning, Sister.”
They went along the path a little way, to where Edward awaited them, and Elspeth looked out into the harbour.
“What a pretty little bay,” she said. She sniffed and pulled a face. “It smells of fish!”
“A shocking occurrence by the sea,” said Edward, looking at Laura who had to hide a smile. He pointed to the breakwater. “Ah, the Cobb. A magnificent structure, is it not, Elspeth?”
“That great thing puts me in mind of a fearsome serpent!”
“Nonsense, Elspeth. In no time at all, you will be walking along the lower walkway—not everyone has Laura’s confidence in walking along the top.”
“That is all very well for you to speak so, Edward. You lack my delicacy.”
“You waste your delicacy on your brother, my dear.”
“Sometimes I wonder if you care for me at all, Edward.”
“I like you best when you are sensible, Elspeth,” he said.
Elspeth dabbed at her eyes. “I wish to return to the inn.”
Her brother and sister acquiesced and turned back. Only the distractions of the tea shop and haberdasher’s were permitted to delay the party’s return to the safety of their sitting room.
By the following day, Edward was restless from so little activity and proposed a walk with Laura upon the cliffs as far as Charmouth. Elspeth subsided onto the sofa, bemoaning the dangers.
“So wild a proceeding for a young lady! It is four miles, at the very least, and a stiff climb at the beginning. You will pay a penalty, Edward.”
“I will pay it without complaint,” he said.
She settled for sending the carriage to meet them at Charmouth.
Laura and Edward ascended the steep street; then crossed the fields towards the top of the cliff. Soon they found a spot where the view over Lyme opened before them. The captain, too proud to let his sister indulge him, had forced the pace. Now he drew breath sharply.
“Let us enjoy this spectacle for a few moments,” he said.
“I have tired you, Edward.”
“I will do very well, Laura, if you will just help me to sit here by this rock.”
She helped Edward to lower himself onto a patch of tough straggly grass, where he leant against the rock, facing the view of Lyme Bay. He patted the ground next to him.
“Thank you but that grass looks prickly. Perhaps we might turn back soon, Edward.”
“I will be thinking I am with my other sister, if you continue to be so assiduous in your care of me.”
“Never that!” She pointed out at the sea beyond the breakwater. “Look there, Edward! Are they not the fishing boats returning?”
“I believe you are right.” He took out the small spyglass from his pocket, unfolded it and studied the boats as they came back to harbour.
“That dark weedy patch in the bay would be a splendid spot for fishing.”
“Oh, yes,” she said absently.
He swept the glass further across the bay. “I will show you how the fishermen are using the tide to sweep them back towards the harbour.”
“Mmmm.”
Edward lowered the glass and looked at Laura sharply. She was gazing around her unseeing, and he wondered if she thought of the mysterious Mr. Templeton. She felt his gaze and stared at him defiantly, until he laughed and raised the eyeglass again. The path was well back from the unstable cliff, and wound through scrubby foliage so that she could not see far. Leaving him to enjoy his amusement, Laura looked around a great clump of gorse and a longer view of the path opened before her.
She was caught by a kind of breathless laughter, for, some distance ahead, she discerned a familiar figure walking in her direction. Knowing how little her brother would like another man to watch him raise himself clumsily from the ground, she said, “Edward, there comes one whom I would wish you to meet.”
He looked into her face and chuckled.
“Hush!” she said and helped him to his feet, bending to retrieve his stick from the ground.
“Laura, I did not think to see you blush so!”
“I am not blushing, as well you know.” However, her eyes shone.
Laura watched as Edward folded his spyglass with irritating deliberation.
“Come,” she said, standing at the bend in the path, looking back at Edward as he came to her. She stepped a little aside so he could get a good footing on the path.
Only then did Laura turn. She could see how the path continued to wind through the gorse. Laura stared. The path was deserted. Quite simply, there was no one to be seen in the entire stretch of the trail before them. Laura gave a small half-laugh of surprise, of embarrassment, of bewilderment. Edward began to speak, stopped, and she sensed his desire to laugh, so she turned away and frowned out across the sea of heather, her bonnet screening her face from his scrutiny, while the sea birds swooped and squawked above.
“You’ve merely made an error,” the captain said, the laughter not altogether extinguished from his voice.
“It was something else I saw,” she said, sounding somewhat bitter when she wished to sound wry. “A tern or perhaps something larger, a rabbit.”
She felt little amusement in her own jest. She felt herself to have something in common with that furry creature just then. She knew her brother would be holding back a witticism or two.
“You are very good to me, Edward.”
“You deserve more than my paltry supply of goodness.” She felt the sympathy now, in his look, as he surmised her disappointment.
“Come,” he said. “Let us on to Charmouth. I believe we are suffering from an excess of fresh air and bird squawks.”
They finished their walk in awkward silence. Edward’s thoughts were engaged with the new impression that his sister, at the age of thirty, was at last in love. There seemed no other explanation for her fancied sighting of the man on the cliff path. The whole matter seemed unsatisfactory; he wished to make this gentleman’s acquaintance as soon as might be.
The carriage awaited them in the yard of the Charmouth inn, and Laura entered it at once. If Mr. Templeton was in the village, she had no intention of revealing herself. A basket of refreshments had been prepared with slices of freshly baked pound cake, some bread and cheese and a flask of wine. With shaking hand, Laura poured herself a glass and took a small bite of a slice of the cake, its faint aroma of Madeira failing to please her in her unsettled state. The captain stood alongside the carriage, enjoying a tankard of ale and a hefty slice of beef pie brought out from the inn, while Laura sat well back from the window.
Edward made up his mind to keep the incident upon the cliff secret from Elspeth.
On their return, they found Mrs. Evans was already interesting herself in her sister’s arrangements.
“My dears, I have discovered from the servants here that no Mr. Templeton, no tall clergyman, has been seen at the inn this past week.”
“That is peculiar,” said Edward. “A young man who has walked into town will require refreshment somewhere. Perhaps he went to the Three Cups.”
“That cannot be it,” said Laura. “On Saturday, he joined Mrs. Gurdon and me as we walked down to the sea wall and afterwards for r
efreshments in her sitting room just along the passage here.”
“So we have an acquaintance in common with Mr. Templeton, Laura?”
“Naturally, Brother. Did you imagine I had struck up a conversation with a stranger in the street?”
“Of course not. Nothing is simpler, then,” said Edward. “We must call upon Mrs. Gurdon, who may be able to solve the puzzle of the gentleman’s whereabouts.”
“No, no, Edward,” said Elspeth, crossly. “Mrs. Gurdon has been very ill for several days. Otherwise, I should have scarcely forgiven her neglect of me.”
Edward turned to Laura. “How then is it possible that the servants here claim no knowledge of the gentleman?”
“I cannot explain it.”
“Your maid may have some news of him.” He rang the bell and asked for Sarah to attend them.
Sarah was able to enlighten them on Mrs. Gurdon’s condition, having had a gossip with that lady’s maid. The old lady had taken a fit of apoplexy three days before but was recovering. However, she was still frail and very much wandering in her mind. The physician had said she was to have no visitors yet.
“Did your conversation with your new friend touch upon Mr. Templeton, Sarah?”
“Mr. Templeton, sir?” She shook her head. “I know of no Mr. Templeton.”
“Of course you know of him, Sarah,” said Laura. “He is the gentleman with whom I was speaking three days ago, on Tuesday, near the Assembly Rooms, on that very windy morning.”
Sarah shook her head stubbornly.
“There weren’t no gen’leman, miss, not as I saw.”
All three stared at the girl in silence and disbelief. Her chin stuck out and a pout appeared as she repeated, “There weren’t no gen’leman—there were no one, save my mistress and me in all the street. I’m not lyin’, miss. You tell me when Sarah Jones ever told you a lie.”
Laura felt very strange, as though silence filled her head, leaving her unable to think; it was like a noise that throbbed in her temples.
Elspeth said, “We know you for an honest girl, Sarah. That will be all. You may go.” The girl tripped to the door, glancing back once to see Laura sitting still and strange-looking.
“Let us all have a glass of wine,” suggested Elspeth. “Edward—would you be so kind as to assist our sister?”
Edward went across to the table and poured the wine. Elspeth looked significantly at Laura, who continued to sit enveloped in silence.
“Let me help you,” said Elspeth, arising from the sofa. She placed a glass of wine convenient to each and sank back upon her cushions. She looked at the light shining through the claret, imagining how well she would look in ruby-coloured satin, cut low in the bosom, with a long blonde curl straying over her shoulder. She took a sip.
“Laura, dear, you forget your wine!” she said.
“Thank you,” said her sister belatedly. Her numbed senses began to return to her and she swallowed a mouthful. As she began to think clearly again, she realised why it was that Sarah had not seen Mr. Templeton—and began to speak. “I became confused and forgot—”
Elspeth interrupted her sharply. “This must stop, Laura!”
“What must stop?”
“This talk of Mr. Templeton has given me a headache. Every day I wait for him to present himself and he does not! He has taken himself off without notice—after you have been meeting him alone! Where was Sarah when you saw him on the shore?”
“I met him alone but it was not by intention.”
“You have met him three times, you say, and yet I, your sister, know not even what he looks like, and your maid—who accompanied you on your walk—has never even heard of him! I am deeply shocked.”
“How do you dare—” began Laura, to be cut off by her brother’s words:
“You are being hasty, Elspeth. I think it best if you apologise to your sister.”
“I—who am the wronged party—ought to seek pardon?”
“These are wild criticisms levelled at a sister who has never been anything other than a lady.”
“When I hear that Laura has done no wrong, I will take back my words and not before.”
“Then kindly refrain from remark for a few moments, at least.”
Ignoring Elspeth’s huffy shrug, Edward turned to Laura. “Will you tell me the history of your meetings with Mr. Templeton?”
“Nothing could be simpler or more innocent. Mrs. Gurdon presented him to me at Number 54—no, it was in the street. Mrs. Gurdon greeted a gentleman by name and introduced him to me. We all walked down to the sea and then together back to the inn, where we took refreshment in Mrs. Gurdon’s room. Mr. Gurdon was absent.”
“You were gone a fearful long time, Laura.”
“Time passed rapidly. I had never encountered a gentleman before whose conversation so interested me and I know he … Mrs. Gurdon all but fell asleep in her chair. I parted with Mr. Templeton outside her door.”
He nodded. “So ends your first encounter?”
“Yes, indeed. On Sunday I went to church with Mr. and Mrs. Gurdon. Sarah came with us, but I sent her back with them immediately after the service concluded, on Elspeth’s own request.”
“You were gone an age then, too, Laura!” cried Elspeth. “I particularly wanted your opinion on the alterations I was proposing to my new muslin.”
Laura ignored the interruption. “I walked a little along the river path, Edward. I encountered Mr. Templeton on my way, quite by chance—he had attended the early service in Charmouth—and we walked together for a short time.”
“A short time, she calls it!”
“Pray forgive me if your sartorial emergencies did not distract me from a fascinating conversation.”
“What is my conversation, pray? I fancy it is not dull!”
Edward frowned at Elspeth. “Pray continue, Laura,” he said.
“I was walking with him no more than an hour. It wanted ten minutes to one when I returned.”
Edward nodded, encouragingly. “And the third meeting was on Tuesday, on the beach?”
“Not on the beach itself—it was much too windy. I met him at the bottom of the street, above the sea wall. We were expecting him to call so that I might present him to Elspeth, but not before midday. I wanted to get out of the inn for a while—I felt so confined. I momentarily forgot that Sarah had gone to shelter in Swan’s.”
Elspeth gave a loud, impatient sigh but Laura continued.
“I forgot because I was taken by surprise—quite shocked when Elspeth said nobody had seen Mr. Templeton. On Tuesday, Sarah was whining about the cold—quite ridiculous for she was dressed warmly. She is incapable of enjoying the sights and sounds of the ‘vasty deep’ as she puts it.”
“This was the moment when Mr. Templeton arrived upon the scene?”
“Indeed, yes. We talked for a few moments. Mr. Templeton made his excuses against his visit to us here at the inn, and left me.”
Elspeth took a sniff of her smelling salts. “It begins to be perfectly plain, Laura. Mr. Templeton has left the district or, if he remains, it is with no intention of meeting with you or your family again.”
“I know in my heart he would not have done so.”
“Forgive me for saying so, dearest, but you have so little experience in these matters. The gentleman enjoyed a brief flirtation and has taken fright as he realises that you think him a serious suitor.”
“You insult my intelligence, Elspeth.”
“Not at all, my love.” Elspeth’s air of wisdom infuriated Laura. “Cleverness never will protect one’s sensibilities from hurt. You are not the first lady to mistake the meaning of a few compliments from a gentleman.”
Laura jumped up and went across to the window. “I am not claiming to be engaged to him! I have met him just three times.”
“Exactly! He was very interesting, no doubt, but you had not time to get to know him.”
“To know his heart perhaps, but I understand his character. He is incapable of the decei
t and cowardice of which you accuse him. He may well change in his inclinations but, if he engaged to present himself, only his inability to do so would prevent him, and he would find some means to explain his absence.”
Elspeth patted her lace collar. “If Mr. Templeton is so very nice in his observances …” She paused, eyebrows raised in query. “Where is he?”
Laura looked stricken, her complexion paled. “An accident has befallen him, as you will see.” She left the room.
Elspeth turned to Edward, sunk in gloom in his chair. “What are you brooding about, Brother? The simple truth is that the wonderful Mr. Templeton has taken to his heels. Am I wrong?”
“It is only too plain that you are correct.”
CHAPTER 4
HOW STRANGE A MYSTERY, SHE thought, I cannot unravel it. These thoughts were in Laura’s mind even as she opened her eyes the next morning. She yawned and blinked her eyes, heavy with weariness. She sat up, threw her shawl around her shoulders and fished about for her slippers, staring into the dim room. Why were my relations so reluctant to enter into the puzzle? she thought. Of course, they believe me deceived in Mr. Templeton’s interest—and immodest in pursuing the friendship. What had Elspeth said, in that smug tone of voice? Oh, yes, “Forgive me, my dearest, but you have so little experience in these matters.” How galling! I well know the difference between the sympathy of character that leads to friendship and that which leads to—well, love.
Laura lit her candle and opened her journal to read about that first encounter.
Saturday 6th September, 1806
This day has been marked by a most interesting adventure.
Mrs. Gurdon, who is staying here at the Lion, asked me to accompany her to No. 54 Broad Street, where she wished to sign the register of visitors. I was delighted to have this amusing companion, for neither age nor her apparent frailty has diminished her spirit.
We signed our names in the important tome, and chatted for several minutes with the lady of the house, before descending to the street.
The Imaginary Gentleman Page 3
