The Gossamer Cord (22 page)

“They will be wondering where I am.”

“I’m afraid they will. Was your sister expecting you back?”

“I am usually with her when she has had her rest.”

“I hope she doesn’t get too anxious. Yes. I am sure it is on the turn.”

“How long do you think before we can attempt the journey down?”

“I am not quite sure. Some little time yet. I want to make certain that it is safe before we do so. It isn’t very comfortable sitting here, I’m afraid.”

“I am sure being submerged in the cove would have been far more uncomfortable. If you had not come along…”

“Shush,” he said.

“I was just going to say what a happy coincidence for me.”

We were silent for a while, then I said: “Tell me about your coming to Tregarland’s all those years ago.”

He paused and I had the impression that he was thinking he had said too much already. He was, I guessed, by nature reticent.

However, he went on: “It’s all rather vague to me. We were in a little house near dockland. When we arrived at Tregarland’s it was as though some genii had transplanted us to a castle. My mother told me that Mr. Tregarland was a distant connection. I’ve never found out what that connection was. I think it must be very remote. Anyway, Mr. Tregarland’s wife had died. There was a son, slightly younger than I, and she was going to keep house there. She was not to be treated quite like a housekeeper and she could take me with her to be brought up there. It seemed like an excellent arrangement for us at least, and I am sure for Mr. Tregarland. My mother is one of the most capable people I have ever known. Life became luxurious suddenly.”

“And has been ever since?”

“Well, people soon get used to comfort, particularly children.”

“And you have made the estate your mission in life.”

“I have worked hard at it.”

“And Dermot?”

“He is inclined to take everything for granted. The place will be his in due course.”

“But you will always be there.”

He did not answer for a moment. Then he said, as though talking to himself: “A place of one’s own could make one very contented. To stand in the fields and say, ‘This is mine.’ Do you see what I mean?”

“I do.”

“I am very interested in Tregarland’s. Proud of it, you might say, but…”

“My father, who knows a great deal about these things, says you manage it excellently.”

He looked pleased.

“He has his own estate.”

“Yes, it has been handed down from generation to generation, as I suppose Tregarland’s has. I have a brother, Robert, who is being trained to take over one day.”

“And Tregarland’s will go to Dermot and his sons.”

“But Dermot does not feel about it as you do.”

“No, but it will be his.” There was the faintest trace of bitterness in his voice.

“But you will always be there. How could they manage without you?”

“Oh, Dermot could find a manager.”

“And you?”

“I cannot say.”

“What you really want is a place of your own.”

“Yes, that is what I want.”

“Do you think…?”

“I shall ever have it? To use a well-worn phrase, that is in the lap of the gods.”

“You told me a little time ago that when something is important to you…like climbing the cliff…you are determined to do it. That must apply to wanting your own place. So you must not think of failure.”

He turned to me and I saw that smile again.

“I tell you this,” he said, and his jaw was firm. “I am going to do everything I can to get it.”

“I shall wish you luck—although at the same time I can see it would be a bitter blow for Tregarland’s.”

After that we fell silent and neither of us seemed eager to break it.

I watched the waves. I could see the cove from where I sat. The sea was gradually receding. It would soon be time to do the difficult descent.

The way down was hazardous. It took time and great care. Gordon Lewyth went ahead of me. Sometimes he held my hand, at others he made me cling to his coat.

I was full of thankfulness for his fortuitous appearance and admiration for the manner in which, through his childhood memories of the rocks, he had brought us to safety.

Eventually we stood side by side in the cove. It was wet and soggy and the sea was very close. A great joy swept over me. It was so good to be alive.

We looked at each other and, in those seconds, I thought he was going to kiss me, for he swayed toward me and then moved back.

I said tremulously: “I know I’m supposed not to, but I am going to say thank you. I have rarely felt so grateful to anyone in the whole of my life.”

He looked embarrassed.

“Come on,” he said. “We shall be very late. We’ll have to pick our way carefully across the sand. It will be slippery as the tide has just gone out. Mind the rocks.”

“I will,” I said, and we walked side by side along the beach.

There was a great deal of fuss when we reached the house. I had been expected back three hours earlier. They were all in the hall—Dorabella, Dermot, Matilda, and the old man. I could not fail to see the excitement in the latter’s eyes.

Dorabella came to me and hugged me while she scolded.

“Where have you been? We’ve been frantic.”

I explained while Gordon said nothing.

“He was absolutely wonderful,” I finished. “I could never have climbed the cliff alone.”

I saw Matilda’s lips twitch as she regarded her son with pride.

“I am so glad…so glad,” she said.

“Whatever made you walk along the beach?” demanded Dorabella. She had been really scared and wanted to go on blaming me.

“It was silly, but I didn’t think…”

“Well, you are back now,” said Matilda. “Both of you must be exhausted…and chilled.”

“I’m hot now actually,” I said.

“Nevertheless, I think you need a good strong drink. Brandy, don’t you think, Gordon?”

Gordon thought it would be a good idea.

I was briefly reminded of that other occasion when I had taken brandy with Jowan Jermyn in Smithy’s.

They all sat round while we drank, and I described exactly what had happened. Gordon had lapsed into his habitual reticent manner while I did the talking. Dorabella sat close to me, and every now and then she would touch my arm as though to reassure herself that I was still there. I found that very endearing.

I repeated how wonderful Gordon had been, how he had so cleverly hauled me up to him, how we had sat on the ledge in the cliffs which he remembered from his childhood days, waiting for the tide to recede before we scrambled down.

“I could never have done it alone,” I said. “I did not know which way to turn.”

“You could have been drowned,” whispered Dorabella.

“I think that is very likely. I have to thank Gordon.”

Gordon said: “Oh, you would have clambered up somehow.”

“Good old Gordon,” said Dermot.

“It was a miracle that he came along in time,” said Matilda. “And he is always so calm in any emergency. Most people would have panicked and dashed off to get help and, by the time that came, it could have been too late.”

“I was lucky to know the cliffs so well,” said Gordon.

“And I was lucky that you saved my life,” I added.

“Yes,” said Matilda firmly. “It was a wonderful rescue, and I’m proud of you, Gordon.”

I caught the old man’s eyes. I could not read the expression there. He said: “Well, my dear, we are all happy that we have not lost you. It will be a warning to you. Don’t take risks with the sea.”

“I shall be very careful in future, I assure you.”

Dorabella said: “I feel exhausted by all this. I shall have my meal in bed and Violetta must have hers with me. I want to get used to the idea that she is safe. Otherwise I shall have nightmares.”

Dorabella looked very pretty, sitting up in bed with her hair falling about her shoulders.

She demanded to know
everything
, for she was sure there was more than I had told the others.

“Fancy Gordon,” she said. “One doesn’t see him exactly in the role of gallant knight, does one?”

“He was very practical.”

“It’s so romantic.”

“You should have seen us climbing the cliff. Most inelegant, I am sure, and far from romantic.”

“Now, Vee, of course it was romantic. Damsel in distress, gallant young man rides by.”

“He was walking.”

“It was like Sir Lancelot.”

“I did not know he ever rescued anyone from drowning.”

“Well, one of them must have done. And what was he like? He must have been different. He’s always so aloof…what did he
say?
”

“We talked a bit.”

“What about?”

“Nothing very much really.”

“You can’t be all that time sitting on a ledge talking about nothing much. Come on, tell me, or I shall be very cross and that is bad for my condition.”

“He told me a little about his childhood before he came to Tregarland’s and how, when he was a boy, he explored the cliffs, which was a great help to us then, and how he would really like a place of his own.”

“A place of his own?”

“Well, he only works here, doesn’t he?”

“What does he want a place of his own for? He runs this one.”

“It will be Dermot’s in due course. A man such as he is, who cares about the land, would naturally want his own place.”

“He didn’t…er…make any approaches?”

“Approaches? Gordon? What do you mean?”

“Well, a man and woman in those circumstances…barriers come down and all that.”

“You are talking about Gordon Lewyth. Your mind runs on one thing. I am not the frail little piece of femininity that all men wish to protect. I am plain, no-nonsense, usually able to look after myself.”

“It did not seem like it this afternoon. He does like you, I’m sure. Even if he didn’t before, he will after this. People always like those whose life they save. Every time they look at them they are reminded how wonderful they were and how the saved one must be eternally grateful.”

I laughed.

“Where were you going anyway?”

“I was coming back to Tregarland’s.”

“Naturally. But where had you been?”

I hesitated. I did not want to tell her I had been with Mrs. Pardell. I was still not sure how she felt about Annette. Perhaps I would tell her later…choose my moment. To talk about the death of her predecessor might upset her in her present state.

“Oh, just for a walk,” I said.

“And what about this Jermyn man? You haven’t seen him yet.”

“No.”

“Well, you usually do when you come here.”

“Perhaps I will.”

“Do you know, Vee, you are a dark horse. Grim Gordon risks his life for you. Then there are secret meetings with the family’s enemy. That’s two of them. I believe you are a
femme fatale
.”

“Oh, no. That is your role.”

“We are really one. You know that. We are different, of course, but that is because we are one person. I used to think that the foolish side was myself and the sensible side you. But not after this afternoon. Who was silly enough to get caught by the tide? I shall taunt you with that throughout our lives, whenever you put on one of your superior acts. When did I ever do anything so foolish as that?”

“I’ll consider it. I am sure I shall be able to come up with something.”

She put out her tongue at me and laughed. She was so happy and I knew it was because I was safe and back with her.

She went on: “I am longing to hear more of the enemy.”

“You are thinking of that silly old feud. Jowan Jermyn is not an enemy.”

“He will have heard by now of your adventure. News travels fast here. We may be something of a backwater, but our communication service is superb. I have discovered that lots of people here are related to each other—many sisters and cousins are working for the various people around. So news is circulated quickly. Most things we do are recorded as soon as they take place. We are all living in glass houses, so that adventure of yours on the cliffs will be headline news, or would be if they had newspapers. Mr. Jermyn will know of it by now and gnashing his teeth because he was not the one to make the gallant rescue.”

“What nonsense!”

“Promise me you’ll go and see him tomorrow…when I am having this ridiculous rest of mine…you go to the meeting place and see if he is there. You must promise me. In my condition I have to be humored.”

We were laughing again.

“And when you come back, I want you here with me…to tell me every detail.”

I promised.

The next afternoon, true to my promise to Dorabella, I decided I would go to the field and see if Jowan Jermyn were there. I did not believe Dorabella was right in believing that he would already have heard of my adventure, but he might know that I had been in Cornwall for a few days. In any case, there was no harm in riding to the field. If he were not there, I would just ride around and tell Dorabella that I had kept my promise.

I went to the stables. Jack was not there. A young man was grooming one of the horses. I had seen him before and I knew he was Seth. He was about nineteen or twenty and had large gray eyes which seemed to be looking at something the rest of us could not see. I had heard that there was something strange about Seth. He was “piskymazed,” said some. “Something missing in the top story,” said others. He was always referred to as Poor Seth, but all admitted that he had a way with horses.

I said: “Good afternoon, Seth.”

He nodded in acknowledgment and went to Starlight’s stall. He was muttering something to her, patting her as he led her out. I noticed the loving way he touched her and I saw her response. Oh, yes, he had a way with horses.

He started to saddle her. Then suddenly, he looked at me with those strange eyes and said: “Be careful, Miss. What did happen yesterday…”

He had a slurred way of speaking, as though his tongue were too big for his mouth, and I had some difficulty in hearing him.

“Master Gordon…” he said. “If ’e ’adna been there…”

“Oh, yes,” I said. “He saved my life. There was no way I could have escaped from the cove if he hadn’t come to help me.

“ ’Twere ’er again, Miss.”