Charles Leroy got off the overnight train at Paddington and walked out into the street. He was at once assailed by the noise of the city; he had forgotten how noisy the capital could be with its thousands of inhabitants rushing about their daily lives. The road in front of him had come to a near standstill; a waggon had lost a wheel and was canted over at the roadside, its load of fruit and vegetables sliding into the street. The shouts and oaths of other drivers mingled with calls of the street vendors, the cries of ragamuffin children escaped from school, who darted fearlessly amid hooves and wheels to snatch apples from the tilting waggon, and the bellows of the waggoner as he tried in vain to stop them.
For a while Charles stood there, appalled at the uproar. How could people live in such a turmoil of sound and bustle? Even Truro, a city he knew well and which he was always glad to leave at the end of a day, was quiet compared with the clamour of London. What on earth am I doing here? he thought as he surveyed the chaotic scene. I must be mad.
He had come because AliceAnne had asked him to. Two months ago such a thing would have been unthinkable. He would have been unlikely to ask what she wanted, let alone listen seriously to her reply. The change, he realized, was due to Sophie’s influence. She had taught him to pay attention to his daughter, to treat her as a real person with likes and dislikes, interests and ideas, rather than a child who should be seen and not heard; his mother’s view. Since Sophie had left Trescadinnick almost three weeks ago, the house had seemed cold and dark, as if someone had quenched a light, leaving only lingering gloom. The music had ceased, there was little laughter and conversation in the dining room was stilted and stiff.
Charles had come to a truce with Thomas, each treating the other with the uneasy courtesy necessary for living under the same roof, and Charles knew how much Thomas missed Sophie. Several times he’d heard him hopefully asking Louisa if there was a letter from his granddaughter. There had been one, announcing her safe arrival in Hammersmith, but since then there had been no word to any of them. Once AliceAnne had also heard him ask and she too had waited with hope as her grandmother looked through the post that had just arrived, before shaking her head and saying, ‘No, I’m sorry, Papa, nothing today.’
‘I wish the stupid girl would write to him,’ Louisa grumbled to Matty when she came to visit her father one afternoon. ‘He really does miss her, and it’s all a storm in a teacup.’
Hardly, Matty thought with some bitterness. You’ve never been told to marry someone you don’t want to! But she didn’t speak her thought aloud. After all, it wasn’t Louisa’s fault that Thomas had tried to force her sisters into marriage. Louisa had been allowed to marry her James and been very happy for the seven years they’d had together before a sudden seizure had carried him off, leaving her a widow with a stepson to bring up. Louisa had never wanted to remarry; she had transferred her devotion from her husband to his son.
Charles had seen how his daughter blossomed under the attention given her by both Sophie and Hannah, and gradually realized how neglected the little girl had been previously. Recognizing it was his fault for leaving her to the care of Mrs Paxton and a strict and elderly grandmother, he started to spend more time with her and was surprised how much he enjoyed her company. It wasn’t a chore, or a tiresome demand on his time, and he began to take pleasure in discovering his AliceAnne. He found he could make her smile and that he loved doing so. Her smile, so reminiscent of Anne’s, always brought an answering one of his own.
He kept his promise and began teaching her to ride Oscar, and to the delight of both of them she was unafraid and learning fast. As the evenings closed in, he would go up and find her in the schoolroom, and there they played the card games Hannah had taught her. But what AliceAnne enjoyed most was to curl up beside him on the old sofa before the schoolroom stove and read with him, turn and turn about, as she had with Sophie.
It was when they were sitting like this one evening that AliceAnne had suddenly asked, ‘Papa, is Aunt Sophie coming back?’
‘I don’t know, AliceAnne,’ Charles replied with a sigh.
‘She said she would at Christmas and it’s nearly Christmas now, isn’t it?’
‘She did, but I’m not sure if she’s going to come after all.’
‘But, Papa, I do miss her...’
‘Yes, I know,’ said her father.
I miss her too, he thought, and realized it was the first time he had admitted this to himself. He missed Sophie in a way that he hadn’t thought possible. He missed her cheerfulness at the breakfast table, a time when previously he had insisted on quiet while he drank his coffee and contemplated his day. He missed her ready wit, always having an answer, and her refusal to be bullied by anyone, even the indomitable Thomas. He missed seeing her seated at the piano after dinner, the lamplight gleaming on her hair as she played, and the brilliance of her dark green eyes when she glanced up and smiled as he turned her music.
‘And if you could, Hannah would come too, wouldn’t she?’ AliceAnne was saying. ‘I like Hannah.’
‘Of course you do,’ he said, returning his attention to her.
‘So will you?’
‘Will I what?’
‘Will you write to Aunt Sophie and ask her to come at Christmas?’
Thinking about Sophie, Charles had missed the little girl’s question. ‘I’ll think about it,’ he found himself saying. ‘Now, your turn to read.’
Charles did think about it and the more he thought, the less he wanted to write. Supposing Sophie simply ignored his letter. If that happened he wouldn’t even know for sure that she had received it. It would be difficult to explain in a letter how much it would mean to AliceAnne that Sophie should be with them for Christmas. He could tell her that Thomas was missing her and had asked him to write and remind her of her promise, but that, he thought, could well be counterproductive. Sophie, being Sophie, certainly wouldn’t come if she thought she were being ordered to do so.
He thought of discussing the idea with Louisa, but was almost sure she would advise against it. She had been delighted when Sophie had taken herself off, back to London. In the end he went over to Treslyn House to consult Matty.
‘Do you think she would come if I wrote to her?’ he asked his aunt. ‘We didn’t part on good terms.’
‘I don’t think Sophie is one to bear a grudge,’ Matty replied. ‘She was angry at the time, but she may well be regretting the way you parted as much as you do.’
‘Well, I do,’ acknowledged Charles. ‘But the real reason that I’m concerned is because AliceAnne is so disappointed. She was hoping that Sophie would come back for Christmas.’
Matty smiled. ‘Of course it is,’ she agreed. ‘And we must do all we can to make sure AliceAnne isn’t disappointed any more.’
‘So what do you suggest?’ Charles asked when he had explained all the reasons why he was reluctant to write.
‘What do I suggest?’ Matty thought for a moment and then said, ‘I suggest you go up to London and see her.’
‘Go to London?’ Charles was incredulous. ‘How can I go to London?’
‘On a train, Charles?’
‘Yes, well, I know that. What I mean is, why should I go all that way when she may not even let me into her house?’
‘I doubt if Sophie will leave you standing on her doorstep, or shut the door in your face.’
‘But she may not be very pleased to see me, even so.’
‘No, she may not,’ Matty agreed. ‘But you won’t know unless you go, will you? She might just be waiting for a chance to come back herself.’
‘It’ll take at least three days,’ Charles said. ‘I’m not sure I can be away that long.’
Matty laughed. ‘Yes, it will, but I doubt if the estate will fall to pieces without you in that time.’
‘Well, I’ll think about it.’
‘You do that, Charles. But I suggest you don’t leave it too long to decide or you’ll be too late. Now, tell me, how is my father? Is the doctor still pleased with his progress?’
‘We haven’t seen Dr Bryan for several days now,’ Charles replied. ‘But Mama says Grandfather seems to be improving. She says he’s certainly eating more and his colour is healthier. He’s not that chalky-white he’s been recently.’
‘That’s good to hear,’ Matty said. ‘Tell Louisa and Papa that I’ll come over tomorrow for a visit. And what about AliceAnne? How’s she getting on with her riding?’
There was no further mention of a visit to London to see Sophie, and Charles had returned from his visit to Matty with his thoughts in turmoil. When he went up to say goodnight to AliceAnne that evening she asked him if he had written to Sophie.
‘No, I haven’t,’ he replied, ‘but I’m going up to London to ask her to come. All right?’
He was rewarded with a hug and a beaming smile. ‘Oh, Papa, are you? I know she’ll come if you ask her!’ Charles was not so sure, but his decision had been made and he returned AliceAnne’s hug.
Louisa was not in favour of the visit. ‘Why you want her to come back here, even for a short visit, I can’t imagine,’ she said. ‘She’s just like her mother, nothing but trouble!’
Thomas, however, was delighted he was going. ‘Good idea. Sort out the trouble between you and bring her back. When do you leave?’
‘In a couple of days,’ Charles answered. ‘There is business I have to settle here first.’
When Matty arrived on her visit the next day and heard that Charles was indeed going to London to see Sophie, she took him to one side and said, ‘If it makes it easier for her to come and stay with me, rather than back at Trescadinnick, tell her she’ll be more than welcome.’
Charles had promised to do so and now here he was, braving the London streets, looking for a hansom to take him out to Hammersmith. He walked up the road until he found a cab and having given the cabby the address, settled back, trying to compose his thoughts and wondering just what sort of welcome awaited him.
When the driver set him down, Charles looked up at the house where Sophie lived and had spent her childhood. It was one of a terrace, three storeys high, set back a little from the road behind a low stone wall. Its tiny front garden was winter-bare but neat and tidy. He walked up the path to the green-painted front door with its shining brass knocker and drawing a deep breath, knocked on the door.
It was not Hannah who answered, as Charles had expected her to, but Sophie, flushed and bright-eyed. The words of welcome that had been on her lips died as she saw who stood on her doorstep. ‘Oh, Charles,’ was all she said.
‘Hallo, Sophie.’
For a moment they looked at each other and then Charles said, ‘May I come in?’
Sophie stood aside at once and said, ‘Yes, of course. I’m sorry, it’s just I was so surprised to see you.’
Charles stepped into the house, saying, ‘You were expecting someone else.’ It wasn’t a question, it had been quite clear from her reaction to seeing him there.
‘Yes, well, a friend said he might call.’ Turning, she called back into the house, ‘Hannah, come and see who’s here.’
Charles had noticed the word ‘he’ and wondered who this friend might be, someone whom Sophie had been ready to greet with such a heart-stopping smile.
Hannah emerged from the kitchen and seeing Charles still standing in the hall smiled her welcome. ‘Mr Charles,’ she said, ‘this is a surprise. Miss Sophie didn’t tell me you was coming.’
‘Miss Sophie didn’t know,’ said Sophie. ‘It’s a surprise to me as well.’
‘Well, don’t leave him standing in the hallway, Miss Sophie. Let me take your coat and hat, sir. Now, you take Mr Charles into the parlour, Miss Sophie, and I’ll bring in some tea.’
Sophie led Charles into the parlour, a small but cosy room, brightened by a wintry sun pouring in through windows that looked out onto the street and the cheerful fire burning brightly in the grate.
‘Do sit down, Charles,’ Sophie said, waving a hand towards one of the fireside chairs and moving to take the other. ‘And tell me why you’re here. Has something happened to my grandfather?’
‘No, no,’ Charles assured her. ‘Indeed, he seems to be making a recovery. My mother is very pleased with him. The doctor hasn’t been to see him for nearly two weeks now.’
‘I see,’ said Sophie, wondering whether to tell him why, but deciding against. ‘Well, that’s good news, isn’t it? So why have you come, Charles?’ Her voice was calm, almost indifferent.
‘I came because AliceAnne wanted me to.’
‘AliceAnne!’ That did provoke a reaction.
‘She misses you very much, Sophie, and she asked me to write to see if you were coming to Trescadinnick for Christmas as she hopes.’
‘So, why didn’t you?’
Charles sighed. Sophie wasn’t making it easy for him, but he had come this far and he persevered. ‘Because we parted on such bad terms, Sophie. I wanted to apologize for what I said to you. It was said in the heat of the moment, but it was unforgiveable.’
‘Yes, it was,’ agreed Sophie, but then she smiled ruefully. ‘But I answered you in kind, so the fault is as much mine as yours.’
‘I needed to see you, face to face,’ Charles said. ‘A letter wouldn’t have been enough.’
‘Well, here you are,’ Sophie said. ‘It was generous of you to come so far.’
At that moment Hannah came into the room with a tea tray and a plate of cakes. She set it down on the table and then said, ‘And how is everyone at Trescadinnick, Mr Charles? They are all keeping well, I hope.’
‘Yes, thank you, Hannah,’ answered Charles. ‘And I’m hoping you’ll be coming to see for yourself very soon. I’m here to ask Sophie to come back for the Christmas season. Everyone misses her, but my grandfather and AliceAnne in particular.’ He turned back to Sophie. ‘I do hope you’ll come, cousin,’ he said. ‘Your Aunt Matty has invited you to stay with her if you’d find that more convenient.’
‘That’s kind of her,’ Sophie said, ‘but—’ She broke off as there was a loud knocking on the door.
Hannah went to answer it, but Sophie stood up too, her face bright with expectation.
Charles heard a man’s voice in the hall, and then the door swung open and Nicholas Bryan strode into the room. Sophie greeted him with outstretched hands and as he took them in his own, his eyes met Charles’s startled gaze and narrowed in a smile. Releasing one of Sophie’s hands, he led her back to her chair by the other before saying, ‘Good morning, Mr Leroy. What a surprise to find you here.’
‘The surprise is mine, Doctor,’ Charles said coldly as he got to his feet. ‘I hadn’t realized you and my cousin were on such terms that you visit her in London.’
‘Well, it is hardly any of your business, is it?’ Nicholas said smoothly. ‘I’m sure Sophie doesn’t need your permission in her choice of friends.’
‘No, indeed,’ agreed Charles. ‘But is it not unusual for a gentleman to call on a single lady alone in her own home, without acquiring the permission of her guardian beforehand?’ His stressing of the word ‘gentleman’ was too marked to be ignored, and Nicholas Bryan’s lips tightened.
‘And you are her guardian?’
‘No, I am not. But her grandfather is, and to my knowledge he has given no such consent.’
‘You, Leroy, are a pompous fool,’ began Nicholas, ‘and I’ll have you know—’
‘Nicholas, please!’ Sophie broke in, jumping to her feet. ‘And you, Charles, that’s enough.’ Sophie glared at them both. ‘I wish you would not discuss me as if I weren’t here.’ She turned to Hannah, who was standing open-mouthed in the doorway. ‘Thank you, Hannah. I think Mr Charles will be leaving directly. Perhaps you could find his hat and coat.’
Hannah went back into the hall and Sophie returned her attention to Charles. How she wished he had left before Nicholas arrived. How she wanted him to leave now, so that she could have her last hour with Nicholas alone before he caught his train. She had stopped Nicholas blurting out about their engagement, but now she would definitely have to commit to Christmas at Trescadinnick. She and Nicholas had discussed the idea the previous evening, but had come to no firm decision. The only way to get rid of Charles now was to agree to visit; then she could break the news that she was going to marry Nicholas when she got there.
‘Thank you for coming, Charles,’ she said. ‘You may tell my grandfather and AliceAnne that I should love to spend Christmas at Trescadinnick and will write of my arrival very soon. And please thank Aunt Matty for her invitation, and say that though I shall stay at Trescadinnick, I’m looking forward to seeing her.’
It was his dismissal and Charles, with a curt nod, took it as such. ‘Then I’ll see you in Cornwall,’ he said, and walked into the hall to where Hannah stood, holding his coat and hat. He thanked her politely as she opened the front door, and went out into the street. As the door was closing behind him he heard the sound of laughter coming from within, turning his heart to ice.
Back in the house Sophie said, ‘Thank you for the tea and cake, Hannah. I’ll call you if we want anything else.’
When Hannah had left the room, Nicholas stepped forward and pulling Sophie into his arms, said, ‘We don’t have to wait to tell them now.’ He ran his hands gently up and down her back and feeling her shudder of pleasure, kissed her hair. ‘That pompous ass, Leroy, will be going hotfoot to tell them.’
‘Oh, Nicholas, don’t speak of my cousin like that,’ begged Sophie.
‘Well, he is one,’ Nicholas said, unrepentant. ‘And he’s jealous.’
‘Jealous?’ echoed Sophie. ‘Of course he’s not jealous. Why would he be?’
‘Because he can see you love me, not him.’
‘But he doesn’t want me,’ protested Sophie. ‘He told me so in no uncertain terms. And anyway, he doesn’t know we’re engaged.’
‘I think he can guess. He may be a pompous ass, but he’s not a fool. I’m sure he’ll be telling them back at Trescadinnick about our meeting here and suggesting your grandfather refuses his permission. They’ve no time for me, you know.’
‘Oh, Nicholas, how can you say so? They hardly know you as I do, but they do know you’re a good doctor and a good man.’
‘You know,’ Nicholas suggested thoughtfully, ‘we could get a special licence, and be married almost at once, before you visit at Christmas. There’d be nothing your grandfather could do about it then.’
‘Oh no, Nicholas,’ cried Sophie. ‘I couldn’t do that. It would be dishonest and they would be extremely hurt. There have been too many rifts in the Penvarrow family. I don’t want to be the cause of another.’
‘You won’t be causing the rift, Sophie. If there is one it will be their fault, not yours.’
‘Even so, you have to remember that when we are married I shall be living just down the road from Trescadinnick and will be seeing them all the time.’
Nicholas smiled, but made no comment about where they would be living once they were married, simply saying, ‘As you wish, Sophie, of course.’
When he had gone, Sophie sat down by the fire and thought about the morning. At least if she spent Christmas at Trescadinnick she would be able to see Nicholas every day. If she stayed up in London, it might be several weeks before he could come and visit her again, and though they could write to each other in the meantime, and had promised to do so, it would not be the same.
Hannah came in to take the tea tray, but before she picked it up Sophie said, ‘Come and sit by the fire, Hannah. I’ve something to tell you.’
Warily, Hannah sat down. ‘Are we going back to Cornwall for Christmas, Miss Sophie? Miss AliceAnne will be pleased.’
‘Yes, we are, but that’s not what I wanted to tell you.’ She looked across at her oldest friend, her eyes bright with joy, and said, ‘Guess what, Hannah? I’m so happy! I’m to be married.’
‘Married?’ It was a question, but Hannah wasn’t really surprised. She had watched with dismay Sophie’s growing attachment to the young doctor over the past few days, and had been afraid she was being wooed for entirely the wrong reasons.
‘Yes, Dr Bryan has asked me to be his wife and I’ve accepted. Isn’t that wonderful? Aren’t you delighted for me?’
‘I’m pleased if it really makes you happy, Miss Sophie,’ replied Hannah. ‘But I have to say that I think it has all been very quick. Are you really sure?’
‘Of course I’m sure,’ said Sophie hotly. ‘I love him and he loves me!’
‘Does he? Or does he just love your inheritance?’
‘How dare you, Hannah?’ rasped Sophie, her face a mask of anger. ‘How dare you suggest such a thing!’
‘I dare, Miss Sophie, because I’m afraid it may be the case.’
‘Well, I’ll thank you to keep such thoughts to yourself. You have no place to tell me what to do.’
‘I’m not telling you what to do, Sophie. But as a friend, I am telling you what I think.’
‘Well, don’t! It has nothing to do with you,’ snapped Sophie. ‘And I can tell you this, Hannah, you are not a friend, you’re a servant, and I’ll thank you to mind your own business.’
‘In that case, Miss Sophie,’ Hannah said, getting to her feet and picking up the tea tray, ‘I’ll take this out to the kitchen. While I’m preparing the lunch, I shall consider my position.’
Sophie stared at her. ‘What do you mean, “consider your position”?’
‘Exactly what I say, Miss Sophie. I have known you from a baby, but I haven’t never been spoken to like that by anyone and I won’t take it now. When you are married you’ll have your own household with your own servants and you may speak to them as you choose, but I shan’t be one of them.’
‘Oh, and where will you be, then?’ demanded Sophie.
‘I shall be living in my own home with my husband.’
‘Your husband!’ exclaimed Sophie. ‘Who’s going to marry you?’
‘The man what’s already asked me and I turned down to stay with you,’ replied Hannah calmly, and with that she went out of the room, leaving Sophie to stare after her in stupefaction.