by Iris Gower
It was almost a week later when Binnie helped Dan and John prepare for their journey to Albany. Four carts with drivers had been mustered and loaded early that morning with foodstuffs and drink, the drink carefully disguised in the form of a water cask. Dan was like a child about to embark on a treat. Binnie watched him, wondering at the older man’s zest for life. But then Dan was a straightforward sort of man, if he had any complexities of character he hid them well behind a bluff exterior. Dan took all life had to offer with both hands and Binnie envied him his tranquil mind.
He smiled as he saw Josephine walk up to John and touch him on the arm. When he turned, she reached up and kissed his cheek. He spoke and then smiled and Binnie knew that one day, perhaps very soon, John would have his wish and marry into the McCabe family.
As the carts rumbled away, he thrust his hands into his pockets. He was in charge now, the responsibility for the pottery and the well-being of the McCabe family was in his hands. He felt pride run through him; the boy who had grown up with nothing now had everything he could wish for. Everything that was except a quiet conscience. Well, he would have to live with his guilt. What man ever lived who had nothing to hide? He turned away from the dust ball rising from the trail and went into the house.
‘It’s wonderful to be together again, Eynon. It was a good idea for us to go out for tea.’ Llinos looked across the table of the elegant coffee shop and smiled at her friend. Eynon was looking older, his pale hair held streaks of grey. He was still a young man but he seemed to have the weight of the world on his shoulders since the death of his wife.
‘It’s pure selfishness on my part,’ Eynon said, with a flash of his old humour. ‘I wanted some company and you were there.’ He sobered. ‘You are always there when I need you, Llinos.’
‘How’s the baby?’ Llinos quickly changed the subject.
‘Jayne is just fine,’ Eynon said. ‘Elizabeth and the nurse spoil her of course, but she remains good-natured, hardly ever crying and never cross in the way babies are supposed to be. Jayne is the joy of my life.’ His pride was evident in the timbre of his voice.
He held out his hand to cover hers. ‘I know you long for a child, Llinos, but it will happen. One day, when the time is right, you will be a mother and a damn good one at that.’
She sighed. She was beyond hope in that direction. As her monthly curse continued with monotonous regularity, she gave up expecting anything else. Perhaps she was destined never to be a mother. But she was not here to feel sorry for herself, she was with Eynon in the hope of bringing him out of his shell a little.
‘Now, my dear friend, tell me what’s on your mind because something is.’ She smiled. ‘You didn’t bring me here just to make small talk.’
‘No,’ he said. ‘The truth is, I’m thinking of selling the pottery. Indeed, I’ve already had an offer for it, a very good offer.’
Llinos stared at him open-mouthed. It was unthinkable that Eynon should give up the pottery. Her sense of loss was almost like a blow.
‘Oh, Eynon, no,’ she spoke in a low voice, reaching out to touch his hand. ‘I can’t bear to think of some other man living next door, running the Tawe Pottery. It just doesn’t seem right.’
‘I’ve had enough of it,’ Eynon said. ‘My dream of the perfect porcelain body proved to be just that, a dream. I’ve wasted enough time and money on it as it is.’
‘But your goods are selling well enough,’ Llinos protested. ‘In fact you have the biggest share of the market. You’re even beginning to export pottery to other countries. You can’t give it all up.’
‘Yes, I can.’
‘Who is going to buy it?’ Llinos asked at last.
‘A consortium of Swansea businessmen. The pottery needs a body of men to run it, it’s just too much for me, I admit it.’
Llinos bit her lip. Who were these men and what would the sale of the Tawe Pottery mean for her own, smaller business? Would it be swallowed up in the name of progress?
‘Look, Llinos,’ Eynon spoke softly, his tone begging her to understand, ‘I have my daughter to think of. I need to conserve the small capital I have left. I can’t afford to speculate, not now I’m a father. Jayne is all I have and I intend to devote myself to her. Please, my dear, don’t make this more difficult than it already is.’
‘I’m sorry.’ Llinos forced a smile. ‘You must do what you feel best. I’m just being selfish wanting you to stay, wanting everything to remain the same. All I hope is that someone as honest and decent as you buys the Tawe Pottery.’
‘Everything will run along as smoothly as ever, I’m sure,’ Eynon said. ‘There are good people working in the sheds: managers, potters and painters. The only difference will be that I no longer have the responsibility of the place.’
Llinos picked up her gloves. ‘I’d better be getting back,’ she said slowly. She covered his hand with her own. ‘I’ll miss you, Eynon, I will really miss you.’
He stood beside her and helped her on with her coat. ‘I’m probably not even going to leave the area, Llinos, and, even if I do, I won’t be moving to the back of beyond. We will still be able to visit each other.’
Out in the street Llinos took a deep breath, wondering at the way life was forever changing. She was still young, she should welcome change, not fear it like an old woman.
A voice rang out, shattering the silence: a crude, harsh, all too familiar voice bringing a feeling of dread with it. It was the voice of Bert Cimla.
‘There she goes, see her, bold as brass, wife of a murdering foreigner!’ He was standing beside her then and she stared into the bearded face halfhidden by the greasy cap, feeling sick.
Eynon put his arm around her. ‘Clear off.’ He pushed Cimla’s shoulder. ‘Get away from here before I take my riding crop to you.’
People turned to stare, Llinos was frozen to the spot, unable to think, only to feel. The old hatreds rose up within her: this was the man who had killed her mother. How dare he stand there accusing her of murder?
‘She walks the streets as though she owns the place,’ Cimla shouted. ‘Strange how yet another one has died up in that house, a poor innocent girl who did no harm to anyone. Cursed, they are, the Savage family should be wiped out, none of them are any good.’
A crowd began to gather and Llinos edged closer to Eynon. She saw faces all around her, hostile faces and she knew that many of the townspeople agreed with Bert Cimla; the prejudice against Joe had hardened since Meggie’s death.
‘Come on, let’s go home.’ Eynon caught her arm and began to lead her away. A clod of earth flew through the air, striking Llinos on her shoulder. The blow did not hurt but the act frightened her. How could she be hated so much by the people of the town where she had been born?
‘Run out of town they should be, the lot of them!’ Cimla called after her. ‘That Indian fella is a murderer and this woman is his whore! What decent lady would marry his kind? Just answer me that, Llinos Savage!’
Eynon turned around, his face red with anger. ‘Shut your mouth, you scum! I’ll have you arrested and thrown in jail for your insolence. I know who you are, Bert Cimla. Gwen Savage died at your hand and we all know it.’ He raised his riding crop. ‘Now get out of my sight before I give you the hiding you deserve.’
He hurried Llinos away down the street and she clung to his arm for support. She was trembling but with anger more than fear. She had longed to lash out at Bert Cimla, to tear at his grimy face, to slap him until he closed his evil mouth.
‘Forget it,’ Eynon said firmly. ‘The man is obviously demented, no-one will take the least bit of notice of him.’
But they would, Llinos knew it all too well. Joe had been branded a murderer once and it was all too easy to lash the townsfolk into a frenzy of hate against him. Suddenly she felt defeated. Perhaps she and Joe should follow Eynon’s example, sell up the pottery and move where no-one knew or cared about them. But no, that would be giving in to the gossips, allowing folk to believe the worst. In spite of he
r brave thoughts Llinos felt tears run cold, like ice, along her cheeks and she was too weary even to brush them away.
John rode his animal alongside the McCabe caravan and watched as Dan pulled up beside him. ‘Great country this, eh, John?’
‘It is.’ John breathed in the fresh, scented air, felt the sunshine on his face and smiled. ‘I don’t think I could live at home in the cold and rain ever again.’
‘You asked my girl to marry you and she turned you down then?’ Dan chuckled. ‘Women don’t know their own mind half the time.’
‘Oh, Jo does,’ John said wryly. ‘She knows mine too, that’s why she wanted to put me in my place.’ He glanced at Dan. ‘But I’ll win her over yet you’ll see.’
‘I know you will, son, you’re made of the right stuff.’ Dan stood in the saddle and pointed up ahead. ‘There, boy, you can just see the faint haze on the horizon. That’ll be a herd of buffalo. We must be nearly there.’
John felt a twinge of excitement. Albany, even the name had the power to enchant him. One day he would make his fortune in Albany. He would build the biggest and best pottery in the whole of America. And when he did, when he was rich enough, he would go home to Cornwall just for long enough to destroy Treherne and all he stood for. He sighed in contentment. For now he was happy to live his young life, to explore new worlds. One day, he vowed, he would be as powerful a force in the land as Dan McCabe. He smiled; beside him would be the woman he loved.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
‘WE JUST HAVE to get rid of the old man and soon!’ Saul was pacing around the room, his hands gesticulating wildly as if to add emphasis to his words. ‘If I am to be the major shareholder in the Tawe Pottery I have to make a show of money and I can’t do that until I get my hands on the old man’s property.’ He sank into a chair and rubbed his eyes. ‘I’ve racked my brains, Lily, and I still don’t have the answer.’
Lily watched him, admiring his strength, his single-mindedness. If she could ever consider herself in love then Saul was the man. As to the physical side of it, she could put up with that. Saul, and the prospect of a bright future with him, was worth it.
She looked out of the window of the house they had rented. The garden was small but the street was clean and broad; the house, she thought with satisfaction, was situated in one of the better areas of the town. Polly had been most impressed when she saw it.
Lily glanced quickly at Saul. He did not approve of Polly and said so in no uncertain terms. Still, Lily felt she had some rights since most of the money for the rent had come from her savings. Saul was keeping all he had to buy out the pottery.
‘You’ll think of something soon, Saul,’ she said comfortingly. ‘Would you like me to get you something to drink?’ Without waiting for a reply, she rushed on. ‘You know, we really should get a maid, she would be a chaperone, too, at least until we’re married. After all, as owner of a pottery you can’t afford a scandal, don’t you agree?’
‘Not now, Lily!’ Saul said. ‘And yes, I would like a drink.’ He stared at her and his face softened. ‘Well, on second thoughts, perhaps you’re right, you are looking a bit tired, managing this place on your own. Get Polly to come in, at least we know her, but make it plain it’s only a temporary arrangement.’
‘That’s a very good idea.’ She spoke meekly, smiling to herself at the ease with which she had manipulated him. ‘I’ll go to see her in the morning.’
‘In the meantime, woman,’ Saul smiled, ‘bring me a drink and then we’ll get ourselves off to bed. I might think more clearly when I’ve had a rest.’
‘Right, love, whatever you say. All I want is to please you, my dear.’
As she brought him the drink, he caught her hand. ‘You are a fine woman, Lily. I’m not one for sweet words but I do appreciate you.’
‘I know.’ She knelt beside him and he ruffled her hair. She closed her eyes, imagining all the money they would have when his father was out of the way. It would be a good life, better than anything she would have had with Watt Bevan. She snuggled up to Saul; he was her future, her destiny. Saul would take care of her always.
Polly called her all sorts of a fool. ‘He’s using you, Lil,’ she said. ‘I know he’s a good-looking man, rich and ambitious but is he worth dumping your good job and your lovely room here for? We was doing all right as we were.’
‘Oh, come on, Pol,’ Lily coaxed. ‘I love Saul, you know that. Come and live with us. Please, Poll, I need the company, Saul is out a lot and that big house scares me sometimes.’
‘All right then, I’ll do it, for you.’ Polly hugged her. ‘But don’t forget, you still wants him to marry you, you can’t put up with things as they are for long or he might go off the idea.’
‘Once he settles this business matter, we’ll get wed. Now come on, pack up your things and let’s tell the landlady you’re leaving.’ Lily smiled. ‘That will cheer her up no end.’
‘I’m not telling her nothing!’ Polly said. ‘I owe her four weeks rent.’
Lily laughed. ‘Come on, slip out while she’s in the kitchen, let her stew, the old crow!’ Giggling, the two girls left the lodging house and Lily looked back at the window of her room. The curtains billowed in the breeze and, for a moment, she wondered if she was doing the right thing. Then Polly was taking her arm. ‘Come on, slowcoach! Let’s get away from here before anyone sees us.’
Saul was late returning home that night. As soon as Lily heard the door slam, she gestured to Polly to go up to bed. ‘He’ll want to talk,’ she said. ‘I do hope he’s not in a bad mood.’
Polly slipped silently from the room. She was as agile as a cat and twice as cunning, but she was the only friend Lily had and Lily loved her.
‘I’m fed up with all this waiting.’ Saul threw his coat onto the back of the chair and sat down. ‘Get me a drink, Lily, I’m parched with talking. I’ve been trying to persuade the other men in the consortium to wait a bit for me to get the money together.’
She brought him a drink at once. ‘Why not just ask him for it?’
‘He wouldn’t see me. Oh no, he’s been taken in by Llinos Mainwaring and that husband of hers. He’s living in the lap of luxury, pretending he’s a young man again with a new bride. He’s nothing but an old fool and I hate him.’
‘He is a fool not to care about you, Saul, you are the most wonderful man in the world and you deserve better. Don’t worry, you’ll think of something, I know you will.’
‘Come here.’ He took Lily in his arms. ‘You think up a plan. I know you’re a bright girl and you’re familiar with the way things work up at the Savage household so what do you think we should do?’ He kissed her neck and Lily shivered. What would she do if anything happened to him? She realized now how much she had come to depend on Saul; her life would be empty without him.
‘I don’t know what to say, Saul, but I don’t want you taking any risks, do you hear me? I’d die if I lost you, you know that, don’t you?’
‘I know.’ He smiled at her and she thought again how handsome he was.
‘Well, what can we do then?’ His tone was suddenly belligerent, the drink was having an effect. Lily bit her lip. ‘I’ll think of something, don’t worry.’
Lily sank down into a chair and chewed her fingernail thoughtfully. ‘I know!’ she said excitedly, ‘I’ve got an idea!’
‘Go on, I’m listening,’ Saul said, downing his drink and handing her the empty glass. She refilled it quickly.
‘Look, what if we rile up the townsfolk, get them really mad, turn them against Joe and Llinos? I could make up a story about them, say I only left because they were up to all sorts of evil magic and such. I could say that’s why Captain Savage died and that stupid maid, too!’
‘I don’t know, who would believe you?’
‘Most people. You know how superstitious they are around here. Everyone is suspicious of the Indian as it is, it won’t take much to convince them. I’m sure Polly and I could make a good job of it. I hate that foreigner
and I’ve no time for Llinos either. I would be the first one to throw a stone, believe me.’
‘Go on.’ Saul was interested, his drink was forgotten as he looked at her, waiting for her to speak.
Lily was alert now, her mind clear. ‘Folk think I befriended Meggie so they won’t be surprised if I’m angry and suspicious about her death. I think I could cause enough fuss to make people believe I saw Joe give Meggie the poison because she saw too much of the goings on in the house.’
‘Might work.’ Saul rubbed his finger along his jawbone. ‘We could get Bert Cimla involved, he hates the entire family. From what I hear he was having a go at Llinos, making a spectacle of her in the street. A right rabble-rouser, is that one.’
Saul looked at her with growing enthusiasm. ‘While they are quelling the mob, I can slip in the back way and get rid of the old man.’
Lily was worried but she was afraid to show it. She had imagined the mob setting fire to the house, burning all the occupants. She did not fancy the idea of Saul actually doing the deed himself. Still, she had better humour him. For once she took the lead. She looked into Saul’s face and slid her hands gently along his cheeks.
‘I think we should celebrate. Come on, Saul, it’s time we went to bed.’
Llinos lay in the crook of Joe’s arm, her body tingling with happiness. Whenever he made love to her she felt renewed, as though she were a young girl again instead of an old married woman. Well, not all that old, she was still in her twenties, young enough yet to have many years of marriage and lots of children. Hope rose within her, she would be a mother yet, she just knew it.
She turned to rest on her elbow and looked down into Joe’s face. She thought he was asleep but he felt her scrutiny and his eyes opened.
‘Why are you staring at me like that?’ He smiled, his teeth very white against the sheen of his skin. ‘Are you wondering what sort of bargain you’ve got?’
Llinos bent and kissed him, her hair swinging over his face. He held her cheeks between his fingers. ‘Are you?’
