The Loving Cup (37 page)

Music beamed. 'Reckon the mine be doing proper, eh? Proper job, that, proper job.'

Ben did not answer.

Music said: 'That's 'andsome organ, Ben. 'Andsome, 'andsome. How do it work?' 'Like any other organ,' said Ben. 'Ar.' Music angled his long body every way to suggest he was about to sit down on the playing stool, but he received no encouragement.

'They d'say every man ja
ck as works at Wheal Leisure’ll
get a bonus come Michaelmas. Wish I could work at Wheal Leisure.'

'You're better off where you be,' said Ben. 'Horses you know 'bout. Copper and tin you don't.'

'Copper and tin, copper and tin,' said Music, and went on saying it because he liked the sound of it.

Katie reappeared with a steaming bowl. 'Drink this, Ben. This'll put a bit o' coal on the fire.'

‘
I
think my fire's best doused and put out,' said Ben.

'Don't you get so sad for yerself! My dear life, a brother of mine talking like that!'

'Copper and tin,' chanted Music. 'Copper and tin.'

' 'Ere, Music,' said Katie in alarm. 'Aren't you promised back at dusk to see to the stables?'

Music peered out of the window.
‘
Tis dusk and dark, I see. Wind's moaning too. Shouldn't be astonished at more rain.'

'Aren't you promised back?'

'Ais. I didn't mind to remember.'

'Then off you go at once! Off quick! Else you'll be in dire trouble! That Grieves man
...'

'Eh, well, maybe I'd best go.' Music looked around but did not pick up his parcel,
I
'd best be off, Ben.'

'Bye,' said Ben. 'And I've to thank you for yer 'elp.'

'Aw
...'
Overcome at being thanked, Music retreated from the room, knocking his head sideways on the door lintel.

Rubbing his head and muttering, he groped his way down to the empty shop, but before he could go out Katie came clattering down after him.

'Music. I want a word with you.'

'Ais, Katie?'He beamed.

'You stole that
'sparagus!'

'What?'

'You 'eard what I said!'

'Ais
...
Well, twas just standing there.'

'Standing where?'

‘
in the garden, like. Where it always be.'

'And no one telled you you could pick'n?'

'No. I just thought...'

'So you
stole
it!'

'Twas not seeming like that.'

'b
ut
I
t
was!’

Music continued to rub his head. 'Last week in me time off I went for the mushrooms. All down they fields where they belong to grow
..."

'You wouldn't find 'em. Tis too early.'

‘
I
searched and searched. Tis 'igh summer. I thought to find some.'

'Well you won't yet. But ye'll be in real grief if you steal things!'

'There was more there. More 'sparagus. Don't b'lieve Mrs be too fond of 'n. Oft times it d'go to seed and no one eaten of 'n.'

'That don't matter, Music' She took his arm. 'What. d'you think Dr Enys'd say if he knowed you'd been stealing to give to him?'

Music hung his head.

'Well?'

'Don't know, Katie.'

‘
I
do. E'd say, what, Music doing that? and 'im going church Sundays regiar! Him in choir too!'

Music did not speak. Under his shame was a burning pleasure that she cared enough.

'So afore yo
u go, I want you promise me ye'll
never steal again.'

'What?'

Katie repeated her sentence. 'Because if ye do and someone catches you, ye'll lose yer job and go jail. Understand?'
‘
Ais.'

'So do you promise?'
I
promise.'

'Faithful? Cross yer 'eart.'

‘
I
promise,' Music said again. 'Cross me 'eart and spit to die.'

'There now, so be off with ee. And if Grieves be waiting tell 'im what ye've been about. 'Elping a man that's fallen down. Don't say he were drunk! Say 'e'd fell down and say who twas. And say e's my brother, see. The underground cap'n of Wheal Leisure Mine! That's excuse 'nough, or I'll know the reason why!'

'Ais, Katie, I'll mind to tell 'im. An' Katie
...'

'Yes?'

'That beer I gave ee to drink that time at Trenwith. Twas not on purpose. Twas not that way 'tall
...'

'Aw, forget it, ye great loofa’
,' said Katie, and reached up - though she was so tall she hadn't far to reach - and kissed him. 'Now be off with ee, do.'

A little later as a waning moon lifted and lightened the clouds, a tall gawky long-necked figure could be seen skipping across the fields towards Trevaunance Cove. Sometimes he ran and sometimes he hopped, always on his toes, Dr Enys's instructions quite forgotten, and sometimes he gave a little chirrup at the top of his contra tenor voice, and then he would walk a few steps and leap high in the air and then again begin to run.

It seemed to Music Thomas just then that a new life had dawned for him. It did not occur to him to wonder why Katie should think she had so much influence with Saul Grieves.

I

A letter from Jeremy reporting his safe return, saying there were rumours that the regiment might be moved from Brussels to Antwerp. One from Geoffrey Charles telling of his decision to resign from the army and to join Amadora in Madrid. Whether they would then come home for the baby to be born in Cornwall he was not sure. Amadora, he kne
w, fancied staying in Madrid unti
l afterwards, and he could well understand this feeling.

A letter from George Canning saying there might be a change in his plans. Lord Liverpool had offered him the Embassy in Portugal.

'He has promised to do everything in his power to raise the importance of this mission to something much above the ordinary, to make it a worthy task. The Portuguese Regent will shortly be returning from exile, and much tact and good will will be needed to ease the strains arising from his return. I confess I am sorely tempted - not for the pomp and circumstance but because my parliamentary career is in ruins, and George badly needs the su
n. Even if I refuse this I feel |I
must take my son abroad somewhere. Compassion, like Charity, begins in one's own home.

I
f I should agree to go, would you not come with us? I am certain I could persuade Liverpool, through Charles Ellis, to offer you some position which would justify your accompanying me. Perhaps for a six month period. Since you know Prince John, you would undoubtedly be
persona
g
rata
with him and his family. Why do you not come and
h
elp to ease the situation; and bring your wife - whom I have never met but about whose beauty and charm I have heard so much?' 'Oh, no,' said Ross, when Demelza looked up from the
letter inquiringly.
I
would not go without you and I would not go with you.' 'But George Canning
...
is a dear friend. But I think that, having accompanied the Portuguese Royal Family in that Armada taking them to Rio six odd years ago, I have done my duty in their respect. Prince John has no mind of his own - or changes it as often as the wind. And when his mother was taken aboard ship to go to Brazil they had to fight with her.'

'Why, did she not want to go?'

'No, she is crazed - has been for years. It just happened she was in one of her violent moods.'

'Why,' said Demelza, 'why do so many kings - or queens - go insane? Or is it that there is an epidemic at the moment?'

'You might ask why do so many kings - who are brought up to rule - turn out to be incapable of ruling?'

Demelza returned the letter to Ross, if he goes, it will be left to you to argue for all the things you want
...
reform, help for the poor
...'

'No, no—there are others far more ardent than Canning.'

'But are these "others" members of the government?'

He patted her hand. 'Not so. There are some who call themselves Radicals. I find much in common with their aims, for they want progress without revolution.'

'Shall you then become one of them ?'

He smiled,
I
don't think I wish to become anything. In any case, my race is almost run-'

'Oh, Ross, do not be so silly! You are so fit and well, and by some standards you are still quite young!'

'Sorry, I meant really only in a parliamentary sense. I all but resigned at the last election, then stayed on to see the end of the war.
Both the Falmouths have been pati
ent with an eccentric like me, but I wouldn't expect the present Lord Falmouth's patience to stretch to accepting
the views I might voice at any t
ime now. Instead of peace bringing plenty it has brought poverty to many in England. Now no government has any excuse not to try to alleviate it. We cannot suppress for ever.'

'And do the Whigs think this also?'

'Some only.' Ross stuffed the letter in his pocket, got up. 'Have you seen Caroline today?'

'No, last eve. Dwight was better but still without appetite. Seriously, Ross.'

'Yes?'

'You have seemed more content—this last year or so you have seemed more
content than I have known you -I
mean for such a long period. It seems almost ever since Harry was born. Of course you have been to London twice, but you have come home more quickly.'

'Well, I have been little in Parliament. It was chiefly on this Mining Commission, as you know.'

'A
t least you have not become restl
ess - not
seemed
restl
ess. Do you think it will last?'

Ross laughed. 'Do you want it to last?'

'Yes, of course. Nothing could be nicer. But what you've just said - is it - d'you see it as the beginning of something new?'

Ross was some time in replying. 'No. I am not really a political animal. I could never attend great meetings and make speeches in favour of reform. If there were action of some
sort...'

'Yes,' said Demelza, 'that is what I would be afraid of.'

He patted her hand again,
I
would try to keep it legal.'

'By the way,' said Demelza presently, 'those nice things Mr Canning said about me: "your wife about whose beauty and charm I have heard so much" - that is what they call blarney, I suppose?'

'Not necessarily.'

I
wonder how he could possibly have "heard so much".'
I
have no idea,' said Ross.

II

Valentine Warleggan returned that day. He had spent a few days in London with a friend, but George's annoyance at the delay was solved when he learned that the friend was titled.

George said nothing that night, but the following evening before supper he asked Valentine to come to his study to taste
a new canary wine he had recentl
y had shipped in. Valentine went along, thin and lean and bony and tall and slightly knocked in one knee but vigorous and handsome and sardonic with it.

He made an educated comment or two upon the wine, knowing this as only a preliminary to whatever it was George wanted to talk to him about.

And sure enough they had hardly finished the second glass before George said:

I
had hoped you would have return
ed for your vacation promptl
y this summer because I wanted to announce the engagement.' 'The engagement?' Valentine peered into his glass.
'
Your
engagement, of course. Your engagement to marry Miss Cuby Trevanion. I had thought we should give a small engagement party on Midsummer's Day, the
24th
June, when this could be formally announced, with notices in the papers - including
The
Times
-
to follow. Unfortunately you have not given us time to arrange this now, so I suggest Sunday the
17th
July.'

‘Ah, yes,’ said Valentine.

They sipped their wine in silence for a while.

'With Cuby's consent?' Valentine asked.

'Of course. It was al
l arranged, as you know, almost
twelve months since; but John Trevanion has prov
ed to be
such an unreliable fellow, s
o unscrupulous when he gets his
hands on money, that I have twice had to put the date off
because I could not be sure he
would adhere to his side of the
bargain. Of course it would a
lways be possible to invoke the
law;
but law
suits between t
he nearest relatives of a newly
married couple are distasteful and create a bad impression
when they get in the press; so I have bided my time and
sought to make the agree
ment even more watertight. This
has now been done, and nothing more
can
be done. I believe
that out of very sha
me he will not make any serious
attempt to evade the conditions of the marriage settlement
In any event the delay ha
s been timely. You are now well
past your twentieth birthday. Cuby is twenty-two. It has worked out very well.' 'Ah, yes,'
said Valentine.

George turned the two guineas over in his fob pocket. 'The wedding can be in September. Early September I had thought, so that you can enjoy a full honeymoon before returning to Cambridge. I shall wish you to complete your studies at Cambridge; another year will do that, by which time John Trevanion has agreed to leave Caerhays Castle. You can then enter into residence without the encumbrance of an older brother-in-law.'

'Ah, yes,' said Valentine.

'The matter of your mother-in-law I will leave to your own good sense. Personally she strikes me as a sour creature. I suppose she is a disappointed woman - widowed too young. She is reticent, distant, self-contained; but I do not think she will be a serious obstacle to your convenience. If she were to be that I believe you could persuade her to leave.'

'Cuby is very attached to her family,' observed Valentine.

'Tr
ue. But, once married, you will
be the master of the house. As I say, I cannot see if you play your cards aright that you need be concerned about Mrs Bertesworth.'

'Ah,
’
said Valentine.

George was becoming a little restive at this lack of response but he said no more for the moment. Eventually Valentine said:

I
hear you had a card party while I was at college.'

George grunted. It was a very sore spot.

'The Trevanions came. It was then that I made final arrangements for the engagement announcement and the wedding date. Since then, when you did not arrive in time, I have had to write postponing the date of the engagement party.'

Valentine said suddenly: 'Do you think Cuby is
happy
about it?'

'Happy? What do you suppose? Women are always glad to marry; and she is doing very fine for herself; for as long as she lives she will be the chatelaine of Caerhays. She is extravagantly proud of her ancestry and of this
Castle
: wed to a handsome and well-circumstanced young man, she will be realizing her dearest dreams!'

'As a point of interest, Father, how well-circumstanced
would
that be?'

George picked up the decanter and poured himself another half glass. He didn't offer his son any more. 'Well enough. I should see that you have an adequate allowance.'

I
have heard, sir, that you would expect me to supervise your new interests in the china clay industry.'

'Who told you that?'

I
forget. Did you not tell me yourself?'

'Certainly not
...
Well, you would not wish, I assume, to become nothing more than a country gentleman at twenty-one. Any responsibilities you undertook for me in eastern and south-eastern Cornwall would be paid for in a way that would supplement your normal income. You could be more affluent or less affluent according to your personal choice.'

'Ah, yes,' said Valentine, for the fourth time.

George said: it may also interest you to know that I am investing in the manganese production of north Cornwall. Indeed it seems likely that this market could come completely under our control. There are all sorts of interesting -indeed exciting - prospects for the future.'

'Ah, yes.' Valentine crossed and uncrossed his legs. 'Forgive me, father, if I seem to labour a point, but has Cuby ever said she is in love with me?'

The only sound for a
few
moments was the buzzing of a bluebottle against the window pane.

'What d'you mean?' his father said irritably. 'In
love?
Why should she say anything of the sort? In particular, why should she express any such sentiments to
me
?
It is to
you
that she would address herself!'

'Well, she has not done so to me.'

'That in all likelihood is because you have not given her the opportunity! You have a somewhat cynical approach to life which must be vexatious to young ladies who have lived a sheltered existence. But what does all this matter? There is time enough yet for such exchanges. When next you meet you can very easily provoke the conversation into such a channel.'

'Time enough,' said Valentine, grasping quickly at the opening he had been looking for. 'Yes, that is what I was thinking, father. Time enough
...
We surely have time enough to look on this engagement with a little more care. It has been hanging fire for more than a twelvemonth, and a little longer can do no harm. Being up at Cambridge I have had very little opportunity for conversing with Cuby. I should like to do so with a degree of gradualness. It would be more to the point to announce the engagement about Christmas and. arrange a - a marriage for when I come down from Cambridge next year.'