The Summer Maiden

by Dilly Court

  ‘You need a good manager, not one like Parkinson. I confronted him with what you told me and he admitted it. I’ve given him notice, but don’t be tempted to take him on again. I can suggest one or two candidates and you will be able to choose the one you think will be best for the position.’

  Caroline was about to thank him when the door burst open and a worried-looking clerk rushed into the office. ‘I’m sorry to interrupt, sir. But I thought you would want to see this telegram.’

  Phineas stood up to take it from him and scanned its contents. ‘I’ll deal with this, Simms.’ He waited until the door closed. ‘The Colville Star is laid up in Dover with engine trouble. I have to leave immediately.’

  ‘Maria is on board.’ Caroline leaped to her feet. ‘I’m coming with you.’

  He hesitated and then nodded. ‘All right, but I’m going straight away.’

  ‘I should tell my family.’

  ‘I’ll send someone with a message.’ Phineas grabbed his hat from the stand behind his desk and jammed it on his head. ‘Are you sure you want to do this?’

  ‘I don’t want you to bully her into coming home.’

  Phineas opened the door, holding it to allow her to pass. ‘As if I would.’ He issued a stream of instructions to the surprised clerk as they left the building.

  It was late afternoon by the time they reached the port and discovered the Colville Star was berthed. Phineas strode up the gangway with Caroline hurrying after him.

  ‘I don’t need permission to come aboard,’ he snapped when an unfortunate seaman tried to stop him. ‘I own the damn ship.’

  ‘Begging your pardon, sir.’ The man backed away. ‘I ain’t never seen you afore.’

  ‘Well, you have now. Is Captain Barnaby on board?’

  ‘Aye, sir.’

  ‘I know my way.’ Phineas headed for the master’s cabin with a purposeful stride.

  Caroline caught up with him, catching hold of his sleeve. ‘Wait a moment, Phin.’

  ‘What’s the matter?’ He turned to her, scowling.

  ‘Take that look off your face,’ Caroline said severely. ‘You’ll scare Maria and ruin any chance we might have of persuading her to return home.’

  He hesitated. ‘I won’t allow her to ruin her life.’

  ‘It’s her choice.’

  Phineas knocked on the door and entered without waiting for a response. ‘Barnaby, I want a word with you.’

  Captain Barnaby looked up from the log book, dropping his pen on the desk as he rose to his feet. ‘Mr Colville.’

  Caroline pushed past Phineas, placing herself between them. ‘Where is Maria, Captain? I’d like to see her.’

  ‘She’s in her cabin, I believe.’ Barnaby fingered his tie nervously. ‘I can explain everything, sir.’

  ‘You will, indeed, and I’m relieving you of your command.’

  ‘That’s a bit harsh, isn’t it?’ Caroline protested. ‘Let me speak to Maria. She should have a say in all this.’

  ‘Her cabin is in the passenger accommodation,’ Barnaby said hastily. ‘I’d better show you the way.’

  ‘There’s no need.’ Maria stood in the doorway. ‘I saw you both coming on board.’

  Caroline grasped her hand. ‘Are you all right?’

  ‘Of course I am. I wasn’t kidnapped, Carrie. I chose to come with Theo.’

  ‘What were you thinking of?’ Phineas demanded angrily. ‘Your poor mother is distraught.’

  ‘My mother gave me up when I was a baby.’

  ‘She didn’t want to. You know that.’ Caroline squeezed Maria’s cold fingers. ‘She loves you. We all do.’

  ‘I believe you,’ Maria said slowly. ‘But I love Theo and he loves me.’

  ‘It’s true.’ Barnaby moved to Maria’s side. ‘I’m sorry for behaving in such an ungentlemanly way, Mr Colville. But we had no choice.’

  ‘Of course you did.’ Phineas clenched his fists at his sides, flexing his fingers. ‘You could have asked her to wait for you, man. You could have observed the proprieties and married her when you returned to London, but you took advantage of an inexperienced young girl. You turned her head and ruined her reputation at the same time.’

  ‘No, Phin.’ Maria clutched Barnaby’s arm. ‘I didn’t have a good name to lose in the first place. You’re forgetting that I am a bastard. Don’t flinch – it’s the word that all those good God-fearing people at home use behind my back. I may be young and naïve but I’m not stupid.’

  ‘Nobody thinks you’re stupid,’ Caroline said quickly. ‘We were worried about you. If you’d decided that this was all a mistake it would have been terrible.’

  ‘Not to mention the worry you put everyone to,’ Phineas added.

  ‘It wasn’t a mistake.’ Maria looked up at Barnaby with an expression of pure adoration.

  Caroline could see that Phineas was unimpressed. ‘Hear them out, please,’ she urged. ‘Don’t turn this into a battle of wills.’

  ‘I’ve no intention of doing that, Caroline.’ Phineas turned to Barnaby, fixing him with a hard stare. ‘Let’s put an end to this charade now. You must both return to London, and, if you insist on getting married, it will be done properly.’

  ‘But I can’t leave the ship, sir,’ Barnaby protested. ‘We’ll be putting to sea again when the engine is repaired.’

  ‘You will stay on board tonight and I’ll send a relief captain to take over your duties. Maria will accompany us.’

  ‘But I don’t want to leave Theo.’ Maria’s bottom lip trembled and her eyes reddened. ‘I think you’re trying to separate us, Phin.’

  ‘Only for tonight,’ he said, moderating his tone. ‘Barnaby can travel to London tomorrow.’

  ‘Does this mean that I’m no longer captain of the Colville Star, sir?’

  ‘Is that more important to you than marriage to my cousin?’

  ‘Don’t push them into saying things they’ll regret later,’ Caroline said softly.

  ‘Don’t interfere.’ Phineas lowered his voice. ‘I need to discover this man’s true feelings towards my cousin.’

  ‘I heard that,’ Maria cried passionately. ‘You have no right to come here laying down the law. I will do as I please.’

  Barnaby shook his head. ‘This has gone far enough. Your cousin is right, Maria. I’ve been selfish and I was wrong to take you away from your family, especially on such a short acquaintance.’

  Maria’s hands flew to cover her mouth and her eyes widened with shock. ‘What are you saying, Theo?’

  Caroline placed her arm around Maria’s shoulders. ‘Don’t upset yourself. We all want what is best for you, and I think Phin is right.’

  ‘He is, I’m afraid,’ Barnaby said reluctantly. ‘I’ll do anything that will make you happy, Maria. And if that means resigning as captain of this ship, it’s a price I’m willing to pay.’

  ‘Fine words, but hardly practical.’ Phineas leaned over the desk and closed the log book. ‘I didn’t say anything about your resignation, Barnaby. You’re a good captain and you’ll be even more reliable when you have a wife and family to support, but if you are sincere in your desire to marry my cousin, you will take what comes.’

  Barnaby nodded. ‘I will, sir.’

  ‘Theo, no.’ Maria’s voice broke on a sob. ‘I know how much this ship means to you.’

  ‘You are far more important to me. Go with Mr Colville and Miss Manning, and I’ll join you as soon as I can.’

  ‘Go and get your things, Maria,’ Phineas said firmly. ‘We’ll catch the first train back to London.’

  ‘How do I know you’ll keep your word?’ Maria eyed him warily.

  ‘You’ll just have to trust me.’

  It was close to midnight when they reached Victoria Station, and Caroline decided that it would be best to accompany Maria and Phineas to his house in Princes Square. Her family had had enough disturbances that day and she did not want to add to them by waking them up at such a late hour. Maria had been unusually quiet during t
he journey, but Caroline’s decision brought a smile to her lips for the first time since she had left the ship.

  Mrs Morecroft had gone to bed, but their old rooms were in readiness for them, almost as if the redoubtable Moffie had been waiting for their return. Caroline fell into bed and closed her eyes.

  She was awakened next morning by Maria, who was fully dressed. ‘Get up, please, Carrie. I don’t want to go down to breakfast on my own.’

  Caroline sat up, brushing her hair back from her forehead. ‘What time is it?’

  ‘Eight o’clock, and I can hear Grace and Mrs Morecroft chatting away in the dining room. I don’t want to face them without you to support me.’

  ‘All right. Give me five minutes and I’ll be with you.’ Caroline swung her legs over the side of her bed. ‘No, make it ten minutes. I need a wash.’

  It was almost half-past eight when Caroline entered the dining room, followed by Maria. Grace was seated at the table, drinking coffee. She replaced her cup on its saucer.

  ‘So you’ve decided to come home, Maria.’

  The tension in the room was tangible, making Caroline apprehensive. She had hoped the reunion between mother and daughter would be a happy one, but Grace’s expression was not welcoming. ‘Maria realised that you might be worried,’ she said tactfully. ‘There’s no harm done.’

  ‘I’m sorry if I’ve disappointed you, Mama,’ Maria said miserably. ‘Theo and I fell in love.’

  Grace rose to her feet, her features pinched and pale. ‘You silly girl. Haven’t you learned anything at all from my plight?’

  ‘That’s not fair,’ Maria protested. ‘This isn’t anything like what happened to you.’

  ‘Is it not?’

  ‘Perhaps we should all sit down and talk this over calmly.’ Caroline took her seat at the table, hoping the others would follow suit, but mother and daughter faced each other like combatants in the ring.

  ‘You stupid little fool,’ Grace hissed through clenched teeth. ‘You allowed yourself to be despoiled by a man who had little thought for anything but his own pleasure.’

  Maria collapsed onto the chair next to Caroline. ‘That’s not true.’

  ‘How do you think you came to be born?’ Grace paced the floor, wringing her hands. ‘I was seduced by a man who gave me compliments and made me feel that I was the only one for him, and then he walked away.’

  ‘I – I’m sorry,’ Maria faltered. ‘But that won’t happen with Theo.’

  ‘No? Where is he now? Phineas told me everything before he went to the office this morning. It wouldn’t surprise me if your sea captain sailed away, leaving you sullied and disgraced.’

  Caroline jumped to her feet. ‘Stop it, Grace. This is so unfair. You can’t say things like that.’

  Grace turned on her in a fury. ‘Have you any idea who Maria’s father was?’

  ‘No, of course not.’

  ‘Then I think it’s time I told you and my daughter the truth.’

  Chapter Seventeen

  Caroline sank back on the chair she had just vacated. ‘Go on then, Grace. Since you’re so eager to confess. Who was it?’

  ‘Yes, Mama,’ Maria added. ‘Tell me, please.’

  ‘No. Not yet. I think it’s time to make a clean break and I want everyone to hear it from my own lips. I’m sick and tired of being labelled a harlot by my family.’ She glanced at the clock. ‘I want Freddie to be present as well, because I’m not going to repeat myself. Once the secret is out that will be the end of it.’

  ‘Why must Freddie be told?’ Caroline asked, frowning.

  ‘Because then he might leave me alone. I’m not going to be his “muse”, as he calls it. If he wants me it must be done properly, with respect. That woman and her evil son must go, and I want a divorce from Elias. If Freddie is sincere he will have to place a wedding ring on my finger and make me a respectable woman.’

  Maria stared at her mother as if seeing her for the first time. ‘Do you love Freddie?’

  ‘Love isn’t always about romantic trysts and fluttering hearts. I like Freddie – he makes me laugh, and he’s a kind man. I think we would do well together, but I’m not prepared to live as a kept woman.’

  ‘In that case, I suggest we send for Freddie and ask him to meet us at the Captain’s House.’

  ‘Perhaps we’d better include Phin,’ Maria added in a whisper. ‘You said you wanted everyone to know, Mama. Do you want Grandmama to be there, too?’

  ‘I never want to see my mother again,’ Grace said bitterly. ‘She disowned me twenty years ago. She allowed my father to give me to Elias Quick, and for that I can never forgive either of them.’

  Mrs Morecroft appeared suddenly in the doorway. ‘Do you young ladies want some breakfast?’

  ‘A cup of coffee would be more than welcome, Mrs Morecroft,’ Caroline said before Maria had a chance to refuse. ‘I don’t think another hour or so is going to make any difference after twenty years, do you, Grace?’

  ‘Carrie!’ Maria whispered. ‘Can’t you see she’s upset?’

  ‘I can, but there’s no need for us to starve because of it.’ Caroline nodded to Mrs Morecroft. ‘Some bread and honey would be marvellous, too.’

  ‘Of course, miss.’ Mrs Morecroft sniffed and tossed her head, and was about to leave the room when the sound of someone rapping urgently on the front door make them all jump.

  ‘I’ll see who that is.’ She hurried from the room, leaving the door ajar.

  ‘I wonder who it could be at this early hour?’ Maria glanced anxiously at her mother, who had come to a sudden halt, standing rigidly as if she had been turned to stone.

  ‘It’s Elias,’ Grace whispered. ‘I’d know that voice anywhere. How did he know I was here?’

  Caroline leaped to her feet as Elias rushed into the room.

  ‘You crafty bitch.’ He grabbed Grace by her arm. ‘You thought you could hide away in London, did you? Well, you were wrong.’

  ‘How did you find me?’

  ‘I went straight to the Colville office and it cost me a half-sovereign to get this address from that Parkinson fellow. He’d been sacked by that cousin of yours and was just leaving when I arrived. He was more than happy to tell me what I wanted to know.’ He twisted Grace’s arm so that she howled with pain.

  ‘Let her go,’ Caroline cried angrily.

  ‘You’re hurting her,’ Maria screamed as Elias dragged Grace across the floor.

  ‘She’s my wife,’ he snarled. ‘And she’s coming with me. I’ve got the law on my side, but if you try to stop me I’ll break her bones. Don’t think I won’t.’

  ‘He will,’ Grace sobbed. ‘I don’t want to go with you, Elias.’

  ‘You ain’t got a choice, my dear.’ Elias pushed her into the hall, turning his head to give the others a warning glare. ‘Follow me and she’ll get the worst of it.’

  Caroline moved swiftly to the front entrance and was in time to see Elias bundling Grace into a waiting cab. ‘Waterloo Bridge Station.’ He climbed in after her and clamped his hand over her mouth to mute her cries for help.

  ‘What will we do?’ Maria sobbed. ‘We can’t let him take her away like this.’

  Mrs Morecroft had emerged from the kitchen wielding a rolling pin, but she allowed it to drop to her side. ‘Now we’ll never know what she was going to tell you girls.’

  ‘I think that’s the least of our worries,’ Caroline said grimly. ‘That man is a maniac. He should be locked up.’

  ‘If only Theo were here,’ Maria sobbed. ‘He would have stood up to him. He has a sword and a pistol in his cabin. He’s not afraid of anyone.’

  ‘Well, he isn’t here.’ Caroline spoke more sharply than she had intended and regretted it when she saw the ready tears spring to Maria’s eyes. She gave her a hug. ‘I’m sorry. Of course Theo would stand up for you and your mother, but he’s not here, so it’s up to us to do something.’ She frowned, thinking hard. Where would Quick take Grace? There could be only one answer. ‘Wolf To
r Farm. He’ll take her there, I’m certain.’

  ‘Oh, no! Not that dreadful place.’ Maria clasped Caroline’s hand. ‘We’ll never get her away from him now.’

  ‘Get your things, Maria,’ Caroline said firmly. ‘We’re leaving right away. We’ll send a message to Phineas and tell him what’s happened. We’re going to Devonshire.’

  ‘I can’t,’ Maria wailed. ‘I’m getting married.’

  Caroline took her by the shoulders and gave her a shake. ‘Theo will wait, but your mother is in real danger. Who knows what cruel punishments Quick will inflict on her? It’s your choice, Maria.’

  ‘If your man loves you, he’ll understand,’ Mrs Morecroft said, nodding. ‘You only have one mother, miss. Do you want to lose her for ever?’

  Maria’s lips trembled and she shook her head. ‘We were just getting to know one another, but Phineas might send Theo to Australia without me. He’ll be gone for months.’

  Caroline threw up her hands. ‘Well, I’m going to find Freddie and tell him what’s happened. Stay here if you wish, Maria, but if it were my mother I know what I’d do.’

  ‘I will come,’ Maria said slowly, ‘but first I must tell Phin, and he’ll have to explain things to Theo.’

  Mrs Morecroft tut-tutted, tucking the rolling pin under her arm. ‘I’ll just put this back in the kitchen and then I’ll fetch your luggage, Miss Colville.’

  ‘It’s lucky I left some clothes here,’ Caroline said, making for the stairs. ‘I’ll throw a few things into a valise and then we’ll go to the office. I’ll send a message to Bearwood House to let Freddie know what’s happened.’

  They arrived at the office to find that Phineas was out on business and not expected back until noon at the earliest. Caroline scribbled a message to Freddie, and the desk clerk agreed to have it delivered to Bearwood House as a matter of urgency.

  ‘Will you wait for Mr Colville’s return, miss?’

  ‘Yes, we will,’ Maria said hastily. ‘I have to see Phin. He’s the only one who can tell me when Theo is due to arrive in London.’

  ‘Might I suggest you wait in Mr Colville’s office?’

  ‘Yes, that’s what we’ll do.’ Maria hurried off without waiting for Caroline’s response.