Homecoming Girls (2 page)

Jewel swept towards them, her rose-coloured watered-silk gown rustling and the feathers in her headdress gently tossing and quivering; she and Clara had been Elizabeth’s attendants, and as they had walked down the aisle of St Mary’s Church she had been conscious that she was turning heads with her oriental looks, her dark almond-shaped eyes and high cheekbones. She was aware of her beauty, but it meant little to her. She had no vanity or pretensions, but was liberated and worldly.

She took Clara’s arm now. ‘Come, cousin,’ she said. ‘Let these two lovebirds enjoy their dancing. It might be for the last time; they will be so busy playing house and embroiled in matters of housekeeping that there will be no time for such pleasures.’

Elizabeth’s husband, Patrick Goodson, not yet used to Jewel’s
particular brand of humour, frowned a little and glanced at Elizabeth.

‘She teases.’ Elizabeth laid her hand on his arm and arched her fine eyebrows. ‘She is jealous because I have caught the most eligible man in town and there is no one left for her.’

‘I say!’ Patrick flushed, but was flattered nevertheless.

Jewel gave him one of her inscrutable glances, which confused him even more. He was not a handsome man, being rather thin, with angular features, but Elizabeth had declared him to be masterly in discourse and an accomplished conversationalist. Jewel had not yet heard him say anything to convince her of this, but one thing was for sure: he was very rich, and Elizabeth, having being brought up thriftily by wise and prudent parents, was quite prepared to help him spend his wealth.

‘So, Clara,’ Jewel said softly as she led her cousin away. ‘Now that Eliza has tied herself down, what shall we do? Some adventure is called for, I think.’ She drew Clara’s arm affectionately into hers as they strolled towards the foyer lounge. ‘Something to keep you occupied now that your sister is otherwise engaged.’

‘I am bereft!’ Clara said tearfully. ‘Oh, I’m pleased for Elizabeth, for them both, please don’t think that I’m not, but we’ve—’

‘I know,’ Jewel murmured. ‘You’ve always been a twosome, but now – well, you’re just like me,’ she added brightly. ‘You’re now an only child. You’ll be spoilt and indulged by your mama and papa just as I am by mine.’

She looked across the room and raised a hand to Georgiana and Wilhelm, who were chatting to other guests. They were not her birth parents but had adopted her after her father died. Edward Newmarch, whose features and mannerisms were now indistinct in her memory, had been the brother of Martin, the twins’ father; they, she always considered, really were her own flesh and blood in spite of her mixed-race background.

After Edward Newmarch’s death in America, Georgiana,
who had travelled to that country in search of a new life, had brought Jewel to England to meet her relatives who lived in the northern town of Hull; they were followed by American-born Wilhelm Dreumel, who found that he could not live without either of them, married Georgiana and adopted Jewel. They settled in the town, but were well travelled, making frequent journeys to America and the Netherlands where Wilhelm’s forebears were born.

‘I don’t think that you’re spoilt, Jewel,’ Clara said. ‘But your parents are very liberal, are they not? They have taken you with them on most of their travels.’

‘Mm, but not recently,’ Jewel mused. ‘Oh, I’ve been to Europe – Italy and France and the Netherlands of course – but I haven’t been to America for, what, ten years, and then we went to Dreumel’s Creek, not to California as I wanted to.’

Clara smiled. ‘Gadabout,’ she murmured, and then sighed. ‘Imagine having a town named after you. Yet Uncle Wilhelm is so unassuming.’

Jewel nodded. ‘He is. He’s a darling. But of course it was his land, that’s why it’s called after him. It was shown to him by a half-breed Iroquois trapper; Papa purchased it and then he found gold. It’s quite a large town now, but back then it was a deep hidden valley surrounded by mountains, with the creek running through it. That’s what Mama says, at any rate, but I can barely remember it even though I lived there for a while. I was only three or four at the time, and then when I was taken back I was ten and the town had grown. Papa goes regularly, of course, as he has business and property there.’

Jewel’s age was a contentious subject. Even her birth date wasn’t known. Her mother, Tsui, was Chinese and had lived with Jewel’s father Edward; then inexplicably she had left him, giving no reason why and no indication of where she was going. Twelve months later a Chinese woman had brought baby Jewel to her father’s house and told him that Tsui was dead, the child was his – which he never doubted – and that if he didn’t take her she would be sold.

Georgiana had decided on a date for Jewel’s birthday
after the child had cried inconsolably during the twins’ fifth birthday party. She had chosen 14 May in the hope that the sun would always shine on that day and they would be able to picnic in a park or by the seaside. After discussion with Martin Newmarch regarding the dates of Edward’s departure to America and her meeting him there she had decided that the year of Jewel’s birth was probably 1853.

‘Dan and Thomas are coming over,’ Clara said now, as she spotted the sons of her mother’s best friend walking towards them.

‘Oh, for heaven’s sake,’ Jewel muttered. ‘Can we escape? If we’re seen talking to them here, everyone will put two and two together and start asking us when our nuptials will be!’

‘We all know that Dan adores you,’ Clara laughed, ‘and that Aunt Ruby would love to have you as a daughter-in-law.’

‘How ridiculous!’Jewel said scathingly. ‘We do nothing but bicker when we meet, and, besides, I have absolutely no intention of becoming anyone’s daughter-in-law. Much as I love Aunt Ruby,’ she added.

‘Ladies!’ Dan gave a sweeping exaggerated bow to greet them, whilst his younger brother smiled sheepishly. ‘How charming you both look. Absolutely delightful.’ He bent over Clara’s hand and put it to his lips and then turned to do the same to Jewel, who put both hands behind her back.

‘Stop acting the goat, Dan,’ she scoffed. ‘Posturing doesn’t suit you. We prefer it when you are your usual forthright self.’

‘Like you, you mean?’ he retaliated. ‘There’s no one more forthright or direct than you, Jewel. But I meant it.’ He turned to Clara. ‘You look beautiful, Clara,’ he said in a softer tone to that reserved and gentle young woman, who flushed and looked away.

‘You’re embarrassing her,’ Jewel reprimanded him. ‘It isn’t what we expect from friends we’ve known all our lives.’

Thomas spoke up. ‘Well, you do both look nice, and – and don’t you think we look handsome, all toffed up in our best?’

Clara nodded in agreement. The young men did look handsome in hired tail suits with yellow spotted cravats and
carnations in their buttonholes. Jewel glanced slyly at Thomas and then said lazily, ‘I’m not sure if I don’t prefer you with sawdust in your hair, Thomas, but yes – I suppose!’

‘Take no notice,’ Dan told his brother. ‘She’s no idea of style.’ He grasped Jewel’s hand, which she had dropped to her side, and before she had chance to protest said, ‘Come on. I’ll show you how to dance,’ and led her away.

‘I wasn’t aware that you could dance,’ she said as they returned to the ballroom, where a circular waltz was taking place. ‘And besides, you haven’t marked my card. I might be booked.’

‘I can’t,’ he replied, looking with some trepidation at the dancers. ‘And I know you’re not booked. I saw you run off with Clara before anyone could ask you.’

She hid a smile. Dan knew her so well. ‘Let’s wait,’ she said. ‘The polka is next and it’s more fun.’ She gazed across the room, avoiding his eye. ‘I want to tell you something, anyway.’

He looked down at her. His heart skipped a beat whenever he saw her. He’d been fascinated by her since their first meeting when they were only children. He had watched her constantly, gazing at her dark eyes and long black shining hair, and listening to her strange way of speaking, although that accent had gone now. His mother had eventually told him that he must stop staring at her; she was just an ordinary little girl but from another country and with a foreign mother. But the attraction never went away. He was completely smitten, totally enthralled and bewitched by her, even though he knew that his ardour was not returned. To counter his feelings, he pretended a wry nonchalance and occasional antagonistic stance towards her, which fooled nobody.

‘What?’ he asked.

‘What?’ She frowned.

‘You said you had something to tell me.’

‘Mm,’ she murmured, and waited for the waltzers to come off the floor. ‘Yes, I do, but the polka is about to start. Do you know how to do it?’

‘No,’ he exclaimed. ‘Of course I don’t.’

‘Then follow me,’ she said as the music began. ‘There are only two steps to remember so it’s quite easy. Take my left hand with your right. Raise your left foot behind the right, then a little jump with the right foot, then the second step, hop with your left heel, then the toe – what’s the matter?’

‘It’s impossible,’ he spluttered. ‘I’ll look an absolute fool.’

Jewel laughed. ‘No, you won’t. No more than any of the other men. Look, they’re enjoying themselves.’

‘Well, I’m not,’ he grumbled and grabbed her arm. ‘Come away. This is not what men do. Not men like me anyway.’

‘Spoilsport,’ she said. ‘You’re hopeless,’ but she allowed herself to be taken off the floor.

Dan wiped his forehead with a handkerchief. ‘It might be all right for Elizabeth’s new husband to cavort like an imbecile on ’ballroom floor but it’s not in my nature.’

‘No,’ she said thoughtfully. ‘I suppose not. But you were the one who asked if I’d dance.’

I didn’t want to dance, he thought. I just wanted to put my hand on her waist and hold her hand, but I can’t even do that right. ‘What did you want to tell me?’ he asked sullenly.

‘Oh, I suppose it could wait.’ She bit on her lip as she considered. Perhaps she should wait until she’d mentioned it to Clara.

‘Go on,’ he said, anxious now. ‘What?’

Jewel gave a huge sigh. ‘Well, I’m bored. We’ve had all the excitement of preparing for Elizabeth’s wedding, but what’s next?’ She shrugged. ‘It’s all right for you and Thomas. You’ve got an occupation, a business to run. But I haven’t. So I’ve been thinking. I’m considering going away.’

Dan took a breath. ‘Really?’ he said casually. ‘You’re always away. You’ve only just come back from Amsterdam.’

‘That’s not far. You can get there in two days.’ She turned to look at him. ‘I was thinking of a longer trip. To America. And I want Clara to come with me.’

‘Are your parents going?’ Dan was both agitated and alarmed. If Jewel went back to America, the place of her birth, she might never come back.

‘No,’ she replied nonchalantly. ‘I shall make the trip alone. Or with Clara if she’ll come.’

‘You can’t!’ he said vehemently. ‘That’s a crazy idea.’

‘No, it’s not. Why shouldn’t I? I’ve travelled a lot. I know what to do. Women do travel alone. Much more than they used to, although Mama went to America when she was not much older than me. Not a word to Clara, mind. I really shouldn’t have told you. Not until I’d asked her.’

Surely Georgiana and Wilhelm won’t allow it, Dan thought desperately. ‘Clara won’t agree,’ he said abruptly. ‘She’s too quiet, too insecure.’

‘I don’t believe that for one minute. You obviously don’t know her. Anyway, if she won’t or can’t, I’ll travel alone.’ She gazed at him from deep, unfathomable eyes. ‘I’m going, Dan. Don’t doubt me.’

Jewel regretted telling him, yet she had felt compelled to. She knew how he felt about her, even though he had never voiced his feelings. But she had wanted to warn him of her impending departure. She wouldn’t have wanted him to find out from someone else and be taken by surprise; she owed him that at least, and maybe whilst she was away he would transfer his affections elsewhere.

There would be many a young woman who would be pleased to have Dan’s attention. He was a handsome man and had good prospects, though he was inclined to be moody. He and his brother Thomas and their father, also called Daniel, owned a manufacturing business that made wooden toys and furniture. They lived in the Land of Green Ginger, an ancient area of Hull, behind a toyshop run by their mother, Ruby, and had expanded their business enough to supply toyshops in the neighbouring towns of Beverley and York.

Jewel turned away, and he caught her arm. ‘Allow me at least to escort you back,’ he muttered between his teeth.

She nodded. ‘But not a word, Dan.
Please
.’

He didn’t answer. He was too wound up. He led her back towards where Clara and Thomas were in conversation, gave a cursory nod of his head and left them.

‘What’s up with him?’ Thomas asked with a grin. ‘Trod on his toes, did you?’

‘Trod on his pride, I think.’ Jewel laughed. ‘I always say something to upset him. I can’t do right for doing wrong; isn’t that how the saying goes?’

Thomas raised his dark eyebrows. ‘Aye, I believe so. Don’t worry about it, Jewel. He’s a bit crabby at times. Ma says he gets it from our da’s parents. She says they were a dowly pair.’

Jewel shook her head to commiserate, but she knew Dan’s moods were not just inherited; they were also down to her and her attitude towards him. But she could no more share anything but friendship with Dan than she could fly to the moon.