The Loving Cup (34 page)

I
'm not lucky at cards. And I'm terrified of losing money!'

'Unlike your brother, there.'

'Yes.
Perhaps it is because of him!'

'There's a Faro board on that table. This one looks as if it may be
Vingt-et-un.'

'Let's sit here, then. I've never played Faro and I remember at
Vingt-et-un
one may be timid in one's bids!'

The party divided up cheerfully. Stephen took Clowance to the Faro table, promising he would teach her the rules. On her other side was Anthony Trefusis who swore he had never met her before and clearly enjoyed sitting next to her and patting her hand when an excuse arose. They drew at each table for banker; and Unwin Trevaunance, who had been over to Place House today but was very willing to join in the fun, drew one and Lord Devoran the other. The latter instantly disowned the responsibility of being banker and handed it to Lady Harriet, who laughed and took her seat. George had dropped hints all round about keeping the stakes low, on account of the young ladies present, so the games at each table began on an easy note.

George himself did not play, and invited John Trevanion to walk with him on the terrace outside, an offer which Trevanion had no excuse to refuse.

The time was already after seven, and George was concerned to keep the front of the house in view for when his last and most important guest arrived. Mr Rose should be escorted straight upstairs, where he could wash and change out of his travelling clothes if he so desired before descending to join the company. Supper was to be at nine, so he could come down about eight-thirty, before the tables broke up. This would be the perfect entrance.

'The church,' he said to John Trevanion, 'is still a matter for discussion. St Michael Caerhays is so
small.'
- 'Yet it
is
the family church,' said the major. 'All my family, the girls of the family, have been married there, my parents, my wife are buried there; many of my ancestors for five or six hundred years.'

George said:
I
do not think this is an occasion for a small, wedding.'

'Well, you know my finances better than I do, Warleggan. These things always cost a pretty penny.'

I
still don't feel it is excuse enough for something paltry. Valentine is my only son. I have many social connections. Lady Harriet's family must at least be invited. It is impossible to ask people to travel a distance to a wedding and then expect them to sit in the churchyard!'

it has been done before now! What is the alternative?'

'St Mary's, Truro. I have a residence in the parish.'

John Trevanion made an irritable gesture. 'Your so-called Great House can hardly compare with Caerhays Castle for the reception afterwards!'

'Your castle,' said George with a reciprocal sneer, 'will hardly be flattered if you only have thirty or forty guests to receive.'

They turned about and paced back the way they had come. 'Oh, come, my good man,' said Trevanion, 'do we
have
more than sixty relatives and important friends betwixt us ? Let sixty be invited to the church and another sixty to the .reception after. Who cares a damn whether they witness the ceremony so long as the food and the wine be good after?'

George noticed a servant, an oldish man called Blencowe, busying himself furtively among t
he grooms and the horses. A portl
y, stooping little man who could read and write, he was the least ill-educated of George's servants and sometimes undertook errands with Tankard; he was one of the three George had instructed to be on the alert in case there was a denunciation and a sequel to the denunciation. The other two - strong young men - were posted inside the house. He took out his watch. Seven-thirty. The chaise should be here any time now so long as the coach was punctual. So long as a horse did not cast its shoe or the brakes burn out or there was some other stupid delay.

He hoped Mr Rose was not still unwell. Anyway he was sure that if Mr Hector Trembath valued his connection, nothing would stand in the way of his arriving with his guest in tow.

III

'What of your experimen
ts with steam ?' Cuby asked.
'What,
now?
They have been abandoned, of course. The
army does not encourage amateur scientists headng up water in boilers. They are interested only in
real
explosions 1'

'...
And that young man at Wadebridge; the one you had been visiting when we met in the music shop
...'

I
saw him yesterday; but he has had little time to pursue his interests. D
r Avery, his partner, has died,
and he has succeeded to the practice. And now he is just married - to a lady about ten years older than himself. No doubt he will begin his experiments again soon. I do not think he is the sort of man to allow love to ruin his life.'"

'Surely you are not either!'

'Well, does it not depend when it is to happen?' Jeremy whispered. He picked up his second card.

'When what is to happen?'Cuby asked. ,

‘
I
stand,' he said to the banker. 'You know what I am asking about,' he said to Cuby; 'your wedding to Valentine.'

She flushed,
I
suspect quite soon.'

Not much had altered. Affection for Lisa was no protection against the stab in the heart. 'You
suspect
so!'

'Well
...
yes
...
Do I take another?'

'No.
Count your ace as eleven. So what is the month chosen for the happy event?'

'September or October, my brother thinks.'

The skin of her neck and arms was like toffee cream. You knew how it would taste.

'Thank God it will soon be over. You will be wed in glorious matrimony for the rest of your life to a man you do not love.'

'Ssh
!’
she said.

The banker drew twenty, and Jeremy pushed over his money. 'Miss Trevanion wins!' he called, and then
sotto voce:
'as always.'

'And do you think
that
is winning?' she asked under her breath.

'Winning for your side, for your family, for your brother; as we have already agreed
...
Here, don't neglect your money!'

I
am not likely to, am I!'

'What better subjects than love and gambling? Lucky at cards, unlucky in love.'

At the next deal Cuby picked up a deuce and a three. She said: 'I'll wager you have no need to be unlucky in love in that
beautiful
uniform. I never saw my own brother in anything so fine.'

'Do you mean Augustus?'

'No, my other brother, George. The one who was killed at Bergen.'

Jeremy had picked up two queens. It seemed appropriate. 'I'll stand.'.

Cuby whispered: 'What are the words if you want another card?' 'Hit me.' it sounds silly.'

'Miss Trevanion will take another card,' Jeremy said to the banker.

She was given an ace, which remained face up on the table. She looked at Jeremy. He nodded. She nodded. The fourth card was a five. The game went on. At the end of the round Cuby again picked up her winnings
...

Outside the sun was just catching the pointed tree tops, sending arrows of light speeding over the front of the house. It was like Agincourt. George looked at his watch. Almost eight.

I
think we should go in,' said Trevanion sulkily, who had already paced too far for his own pleasure. 'There is a chill in the air, and I left off my velvet waistcoat yesterday.'

Pigeons were fluttering in the woods, moving from tree to tree before they settled for the night. They were multiplying too fast, George thought. At least
they
made excellent pies. What could have happened to the damned coach? The chaise had not returned, so presumably the coach had still not arrived at the Norway Inn.

'Have you settled on your own plans?' George said sharply.

'My
plans?'

'For a year next September.'

'No - er - no. Certainly not. Not yet. I shall spend some time in London visiting relatives. I have some residual property in Grampound, as you know. Something there could be enlarged tor my use. Though I may not continue to live in Cornwall permanendy.'

'Now that peace has come many new opportunities are opened up.'

. Trevanion's lip curled. 'To travel? Only the rich can travel.'

'You have connections in high places.' 'A few. No doubt we shall see.'

The vexed question of Cuby's mother had still to be settled, but George did not feel he could be too insistent about that. Valentine was perfectly capable of ordering his house as he thought best, and of dealing with one widowed lady.

it will soon be time for supper,' George said. 'You go in. I have some business to attend to.'

When the younger man had disappeared George went down the steps and crooked a finger at Blencowe. The man came trotting.

'Has Nankivell not returned?'

'No, sur. We been keeping watch.'

'The coach must have broken down, I suppose. One would not have thought it beyond Trembath's wit to hire a post-chaise if there was going to be a long delay.'

'No, sur. Maybe something's gone wrong betwixt post-'ouses.'

'That I too had thought of, Blencowe.' 'Yes, sur.'

George glowered at his servant and went in. Now that Trevanion had mentioned it, he too was growing chill.

The tables broke up at a quarter to nine, and supper was served soon after. Outside the long afterglow was fading, and indoors candles were lighted to illuminate the long table and the food and wine spread upon it. It had not been the sort of game the big gamblers liked. Anthony Trefusis would not have come had he known the stakes were going to be so low. But as a result, though no one was feeling too exultant at their gains, no one was feeling too set down by their losses, and this made for a more generally jolly supper table.

Stephen, who had won about eight guineas, was feeling quite above himself. His enjoyment of Clowance was in its very earliest stages, when every moment could be savoured. The money he had made from his last venture was warming his hands and earning credit at the bank; his abounding good health and vigour had at last got the better of the weaknesses of convalescence; and he was being entertained with his wife at the home of one, of the richest and most influential men in the county. He was hungry and thirsty for the good things on the table and for all the good things life had to offer. There was nothing better than this moment, and every so often he squeezed Clowance's hand to tell her so.

‘
I
been thinking,' he whispered.

'What?'

'You realize, being invited here when Valentine's not home - it means we're accepted in a new way. I expect it's me being married to you that's done it; but it's significant.'

'Well, it's better to be friendly.'

'Not just that. Clowance, I wonder if twould be fitting if I spoke to Sir George tonight - later on if the opportunity arises.'

'About what?'

'Business. I just opened this bank account with Carne's; but it would be little inconvenience to bank in Truro - at Warleggan & Willyams. I was wondering whether to transfer - to mention that I'd like to transfer.'

'Tonight? Oh,
no,
Stephen.'

'Why not?'

'Yours is a very small account so far. I think Sir George, fond though he is of money, would only wish to talk business at a party like this if it were really big business.'

'Mine may be big business someday.'

'When it is
...
But even then
...
Certainly not tonight.'

Stephen looked at her with a trace of annoyance, then his face cleared.

'Ye know these things better than I do, dear heart. I shall not go against your advice.'

George glanced at them from the end of the table; at her flowering fairness. So someone had got her at last. No longer the tempting maiden. Used goods. But she looked no different. The bloom was still just the same, the same candid innocence. Strange if it was
her
husband who was led away tonight. A worm of sexual malice moved in him. From the day he first saw her trespassing in his house, barefoot, carrying a sheaf of foxgloves, he had felt her physical attraction — a rare thing for him. As with Morwenna Chynoweth many years before, there would be extra pleasure in hurting someone he felt for in that way and knew was personally unattainable.

Someone was talking to him; it was Unwin Trevaunance, booming away about something, across Clemency Trevanion, whom Harriet had put next to him.