Isabel had been surprised on meeting Kitty. She had been able to tell from Nick’s smirking face that he was expecting it. He probably thought she had visualised a gaudily dressed, heavily rouged, common looking older woman with a voluptuous figure. But Isabel had hardly given the physical aspects of the woman she was being taken to a thought as she’d walked the cliffs, registering only that Gyver Pengelly had said Nick had lain with her.
Kitty was only three years older than Isabel at twenty-four, with tawny-brown eyes set in a pert pretty face. She wore a neat dress in pastel shades finished at the top with a snowy white lace fichu over an almost curveless figure. Her glossy natural red hair was worn in a ‘sheep’s head’ of close curls and she shared Isabel’s preference for wearing little jewellery. Kitty looked more like a clergyman’s daughter than a woman who sold herself to gentlemen.
Nick had known that Isabel must be feeling at a disadvantage in her shabby clothes and sand-whitened shoes but as he looked at her, standing stiffly upright, her hands clasped before her, he was struck again by the change in her. The three days since the accident had turned her into a vibrant ethereal looking creature.
He’d lifted a palm in her direction. ‘Kitty, this is Jenna Stevens.’
‘Welcome to my house, Jenna,’ Kitty said, her face open and friendly.
‘Thank you,’ Isabel replied, using her own voice.
Kitty’s eyebrows shot up at the unexpected cultured tone and she turned to Nick for an explanation. Nick looked at Isabel with a mixture of contempt and amusement; trust you, he seemed to be thinking, to make sure Kitty knows at once you’re not one of us.
‘Actually, this is Miss Isabel Hampton of Truro,’ he said, keeping an even voice. ‘The late Laurence Trevennor’s supposedly late niece. But for now we must think of her as, and call her, Jenna Stevens.’
Kitty’s face worked with curiosity and there was a trace of excitement in her soft accent. ‘I heard he’d passed away, but you didn’t go over the cliff as was supposed then, Miss Hampton?’
‘It was contrived to look that way,’ Isabel said. She was pleased Kitty had called her ‘Miss Hampton’, it put them both in their rightful places and she knew Nick did not find it agreeable.
‘Well, I suppose there must have been a good reason for it,’ Kitty said, looking from Isabel to Nick and back at Isabel, ‘but it can wait until later. Please sit yourself down and make sure you’re comfortable. I’ll get you something to eat and drink.’ Then to Nick, reproachfully, ‘I don’t suppose you’ve bothered to make the poor maid a dish of tea, have you?’
Nick made a face and sat at the table, making a show of keeping his elbows off the flower-patterned lace-edged tablecloth. He’d been maliciously amused at Kitty calling Isabel a ‘poor maid’ but Isabel was wearing the face of a dignified lady and he couldn’t tell if she’d been offended. Kitty was willing enough to give people their place but she never stood on ceremony for them.
‘Benefit you took they boots off, Nick Nancarrow,’ Kitty scolded. ‘Never thought to use the scraper outside the door, did you? I can never keep a clean floor when you’re about.’ She put a small square table at Isabel’s side and covered it with a lace cloth. ‘I was some sorry to hear about Mr Trevennor passing away, Miss Hampton,’ she said quietly, with genuine sympathy.
‘Thank you, it was a great shock to me,’ Isabel replied, keeping her eyes averted from Nick who was watching her closely.
‘And losing your friend and servants like that too – must have been really awful for you.’ Kitty eyed her shrewdly. ‘By the look of you, you’ve been travelling rough since the coach crash. You must have been hurt. How are you now?’
‘I do have a few aches and bruises left from the accident but nothing serious. My feet are rather sore.’ A sudden thought made Isabel ask a sharp question. ‘Did you know my uncle by any chance, Kitty?’ She heard Nick’s angry intake of breath and shot him a reproachful look. She didn’t consider it an unreasonable question to ask this particular woman. Uncle Laurence had been a widower a long time.
‘No, I’ve never been over to Gwithian, but Nick used to talk a lot about your uncle so I feel I know him in a way. From what I’ve heard, he was a very good man, a real gentleman. You must have cared for him very much.’
‘I did,’ Isabel whispered, suddenly choked by her loss. Embarrassed at displaying her feelings, she looked down at her lap and put a mental block between herself and the two others in the room.
Nick felt ashamed; it did not settle easily on a man so determined to stay emotionally free. Isabel had lost the last relative who had loved her and cared for her wellbeing and not once over the past three days had he told her he was sorry as Kitty had done. And at times he had treated her as badly as Gyver Pengelly would a stray dog. They had become quite close, sharing an unusual kind of comradeship on the cliffs, and then only a short time ago in the little cove he had behaved despicably towards her. He looked at her bowed head and couldn’t blame her for hating him.
Kitty left Isabel to her grief and moved quietly about putting cups and saucers and plates of tiny cakes on the two tables. Then she took a position at the larger table which put her between Nick and Isabel. She was aware of the strained feelings between them.
‘Where’s Talland?’ Nick asked, breaking the mood.
‘Out chasing about the dunes, I expect,’ Kitty answered fondly. Wonder you didn’t see him. He’s too much like you, Nick, he likes to be wild and free and out of doors.’ She turned to Isabel with a warm smile. ‘Talland’s my dog. He’s a handsome great thing, a brown and white hunting dog, big and friendly and very protective.’
‘I shall be glad to make his acquaintance,’ Isabel said, putting aside her misery and smiling back. ‘I’ve always enjoyed the company of dogs.’
‘Talland’s a good dog but nowhere near as noble and strong as Gutser was,’ Nick chipped in, using a tone that implied the two women could not know very much about the animals.
‘In your mind no dog in the world could match up to that creature you once had, Nick Nancarrow,’ Kitty retorted, offering Isabel more tea and going to the kettle to refill the pot. ‘Gutser! What a name to call a dog. It’s about time you got yourself another one and next time choose one without a vicious streak in its nature.’
‘I’ll not hear a word against Gutser,’ Nick said, banging his hand on the table. ‘He was the best friend I’ve ever had. I never saw a finer looking hound in my packman days and he’d have guarded me with his life.’
Isabel thanked Kitty for the tea and caught her eye with a glint in her own. She said, conspiratorially, ‘Gutser is just the kind of silly name a man would call a dog.’
The two young women laughed together.
Nick had not liked this; he and Isabel had engaged in a class war on the way here and now she had called Kitty successfully to her side in a gender war. Looking disgruntled, he said, ‘Well, I can see you two are going to get along all right.’ Pushing the plate of cakes away, he added moodily, ‘Get rid of this fancy stuff and put some proper food on the table.’
‘Yes, m’lord,’ Kitty teased him with a mocking curtsey. ‘If you’ve spent the last three days in his company, all I can say is you have my sympathy,’ she told Isabel. ‘What with his moods, his pride and his bad language.’
Isabel smiled, poignantly. ‘It has been quite an experience, but I probably owe Nick my life.’
Kitty included them both in a look full of questions. ‘Do you now? Well, I daresay you’ll let me in on what’s happened and your reason for being here. Then after that you’ll no doubt welcome a hot bath, a change of clothes and a soft bed to rest on.’
Nick said, ‘Just a good meal, a wash and shave for me, Kitty. Then I’m leaving. I have to get back to Gwithian for Laurence’s funeral and I have things to do there.’
‘I won’t be able to go to Uncle Laurence’s funeral!’ Isabel said, her face stricken.
‘I’ll say goodbye for you,’ Nick said softly, looking kindly at her. ‘Then when you’re able, you can do it for yourself.’
Kitty was amazed at their tale of the Antiss coach probably being deliberately run off the road and Laurence Trevennor’s concern over Isabel’s life and safety. She readily agreed to have Isabel stay with her until Nick had scrutinized the Kempthornes. But she said, ‘Shame on you for dragging her across the cliffs, Nick!’
‘I’m glad he did,’ Isabel intervened. ‘I had no idea how beautiful they are. And I’m grateful to you, Kitty, for being willing to give me refuge.’
Isabel stayed in the kitchen, warm and comfortable, as Nick went upstairs to wash and shave. He came back in clean clothes and she was dismayed to realize that he kept some of his personal things at Kitty’s house. It spoke of a lasting relationship between the two.
When he made to leave, he kissed Kitty’s cheek and both of Isabel’s hands, giving her a lingering look before promising to get word to them on his observations at Gwithian in a few days’ time.
Although that night she slept in a soft bed with fresh linen, Isabel was restless. The sea could barely be heard with the house situated behind the sand dunes and having thick walls and she had got used to having it in the background. But she knew what she really missed was having Nick’s arms round her.
A great weariness and delayed shock from her many traumas overwhelmed Isabel after Nick had left and for the first two days she stayed mainly in the little bedroom given to her. Kitty tactfully left her alone but stayed about the house all day.
Isabel made up a full story of her life as Jenna Stevens, of being a lady’s maid who was visiting a friend while her mistress was overseas. In this way, if anything of her true character slipped out, her manner of employment would explain it. Kitty told this story to her curious neighbours and it was readily accepted.
Nick had left the money Laurence had given him with Isabel, and Kitty had new clothes made up for her. The day after the funeral, she cheered Isabel up by bringing home from the village the few items that were to be her new wardrobe. The clothes were a good fit but Isabel wasn’t particularly interested in them. After spending three days in the late Mrs Chiverton’s shabby dress, the cut and quality of clothes didn’t seem important any more. Isabel dressed and showed Kitty the effect for her to admire lest she was thought to be ungrateful then Kitty said she had to go out again for a little while. There was a slight look of challenge on Kitty’s face and Isabel supposed she must be going to see one of the ‘gentlemen’.
‘You’ll be all right for an hour or so, won’t you, Jenna? Whatever you do, make sure Talland doesn’t get inside the house and go near the room next to the sitting room. I’d prefer it if you didn’t go in there yourself,’ she said briskly as she got ready. ‘The little table’s laid in the kitchen for tea for you. I know you like to rest in there,’ she smiled.
You are very kind but you don’t have to wait hand and foot on me, Kitty,’ Isabel said. ‘I know I would have expected it not so long ago but that side of my life is over with now. I want to learn to do things for myself. I’ve done a little cleaning and after watching Nick I have a rough idea how to lay a fire.’
‘Very well,’ Kitty said, pushing down the fingers of her mittens. ‘When I come back I’ll begin by teaching you how to cook. You can help me with supper.’
Isabel had only to put the boiling water into the teapot to make tea for herself. After doing this she sat and sipped and lingered, thinking back, as she often did, of the time she had spent alone with Nick. She wondered what he was doing. Whether he would soon have news for her. Whether he thought of her. When he would come back to Crantock.
She washed and dried her crockery and returned it to the kitchen dresser. She put the dish towel to dry above the fireplace. She plied the fire with more fuel, swept the hearth, and tidied up everything she possibly could to impress Kitty and express her gratitude. With nothing further to do, she thought of Mrs Chiverton’s clothes still lying in a forlorn heap on her bedroom floor. She had insisted to Kitty that they mustn’t be thrown away and Kitty had left them there, thinking she would change her mind. But Isabel felt they should be laundered and returned to Charlie and she wanted to do the task herself. She went upstairs to fetch them. When Kitty came home she would ask her advice on how to wash them.
As she passed through the hall, she heard a noise in the room next to the sitting room. She stopped, frowned and listened. There it was again. She’d thought Kitty’s insistence on not letting Talland into the room was because she probably had her best furniture and ornaments in there. But Kitty had asked her not to go in there herself. Isabel was greatly curious. Was there some sort of secret behind that door? For a moment she thought her cousins had found out about her and were lurking in the house. But surely they would walk boldly up the path and bang on the front door. Isabel was suddenly worried that Talland had somehow got into the room. If he had broken anything, Kitty would think she had been careless in letting the dog in there and be cross with her.
Isabel opened the door slowly and called Talland’s name.
There was no answering bark or scampering of heavy paws but a small voice said ‘Hello’ and Isabel clutched the door in terror.
‘Who’s there?’ she said shakily.
‘Come in,’ the small voice said.
She went into the room and her eyes opened wide. Lying on a small bed was a child whom she could just make out in the darkened room. Isabel went closer.
‘Hello,’ the child said. ‘You must be Jenna.’
Yes, but who are you?’ she breathed, staring at a boy with a slightly pale face lying on a bed of sheepskin and covered with one light cover.
‘I’m Benjamin, Kitty’s brother. Hasn’t she told you about me yet?’
Isabel realized he shared Kitty’s features, the same tawny-brown eyes and red hair. He was a handsome child even though his face was not perfect and he possessed a beautiful smile that had a haunting quality.
‘I thought I’d heard Kitty talking to someone else,’ Isabel said, smiling down on Benjamin, ‘and supposed it was Talland. Now I come to think of it, it was an odd way to talk to an animal. And now I realize that the plates of food, the same as she’d given me to eat, which I thought she was putting down outside for Talland, must have been for you.’
‘Speaking of Talland,’ Benjamin said, ‘would you go back and shut the door, please. He mustn’t come in here. Then perhaps you’d like to sit awhile and talk to me.’
‘I’d be delighted to,’ Isabel said.
She carefully moved a chair nearer Benjamin’s bed and sat down. The room was furnished as a bedroom. Isabel could think of no reason for Kitty not telling her about her brother and what this room was used for.
‘Have you been ill, Benjamin?’ she asked gently.
‘All of my life, Jenna. My bones are too soft and they break easily, that’s why I look like this.’ He lifted the cover delicately and Isabel could see his middle was extended and his four limbs had obviously been broken often. ‘I have to stay on this bed now for my own safety. I expect you think I’m about eight or nine because I’m so small but actually I’m fourteen.’
‘Well, you’re a very handsome fourteen-year-old,’ Isabel said smiling, finding Benjamin easy to talk to. ‘Have you and Kitty always lived in this house?’
‘No, we came here about five years ago after Kitty came into a windfall. Before that we lived at New Quay, across the river. Kitty’s so good to me, she’s done everything for me since our mother died many years ago. Kitty said you are a friend she met back-along. I hope you can stay, Jenna. It will be nice having someone else to talk to.’
‘I shall gladly come in here and talk to you, Benjamin. I don’t know how long I’ll be staying but it will be at least for a few more days. Is there anything I can do for you? Fetch you a drink or something?’
‘No, thank you. Kitty does everything for me. She has to, you understand, with my condition; she knows how to move me. I usually have a nap in the afternoon, that’s why the curtains are drawn. You get a good view of the River Gannel from the window.’
‘I’m glad you have something interesting to look out at. Am I disturbing you? Would you rather I go and let you have your rest? I can come back later.’
‘I want you to stay,’ Benjamin said firmly. ‘’Tisn’t every day I get a beautiful girl alone in my room.’ Isabel laughed and didn’t hear the door open and close. Benjamin’s eyes told her someone had entered the room. Isabel got up and turned to face Kitty, blushing to the roots of her hair. Kitty was obviously furious with her.
Isabel moved away from the bed. ‘I’d better go, Benjamin, I’ll… um, come and see you again.’
‘Good bye, Jenna,’ Benjamin said in his small husky voice. ‘Don’t forget to come back, I’ll be expecting you.’
Isabel went out and closed the door after her. She could hear Kitty settling her younger brother down to sleep in the gentlest of tones. She returned to the kitchen and waited to face Kitty.
When Kitty entered the kitchen, her face was dark with anger. She folded her arms and glared at Isabel.
Isabel gulped. She felt she had breached Kitty’s hospitality but she still couldn’t understand why she couldn’t have been told about Benjamin.
‘Why didn’t you tell me you had a brother?’
‘What gives you the right to go into a room I specifically asked you to stay out of?’
Isabel frowned. ‘I heard a noise. I was worried that somehow Talland had got into the room.’
‘Do you realise what Talland could have done to Benjamin if he’d gone into the room with you!’ Kitty shouted angrily, clenching her teeth. ‘He’s a friendly dog and if he’d jumped up on Benjamin he would have broken every bone in his body! He would have killed him! Benjamin can break a bone simply by sneezing or moving too suddenly.’
Isabel stared stupidly at Kitty for a moment in sheer amazement then said coldly, ‘If you are so concerned about Talland getting into Benjamin’s room, why do you have a boisterous dog about the place?’
‘You may have noticed that I don’t allow him into the house. I’m a woman living alone except for a disabled brother. Talland protects us at night and gives peace of mind.’
‘I understand that now, but if you had told me about Benjamin in the first place instead of being so secretive this wouldn’t have happened. Why didn’t you tell me? Did you think I would hurt him?’
Kitty unfolded her arms and sighed. ‘I’m sorry,’ she said tightly. ‘I just get so worried about Benjamin. I was going to tell you about him when I found the right moment. The first two days you were here you were resting and grieving for your uncle. I thought you’d stay in the kitchen until I got back today and then I was going to tell you. I wanted to prepare you. I didn’t want you going into the room and showing Benjamin any shock or pity. I simply won’t have him upset.’
‘What did you think I was going to do, Kitty? Run screaming in horror from the room. You must think I’m as shallow as Nick did at first. Perhaps I ought to leave here. Nick shouldn’t have brought me here to intrude on your life. I’ll go to my fiancé’s aunts. They’ll be angry at my deception but they’ll let me stay with them until Captain Grenville returns. If I tell my magistrate acquaintances about my uncle’s fears, my cousins will not dare to make a move against me, if indeed they mean me any harm.’ Isabel’s eyes were filled with tears. She couldn’t take any more of being made to feel that she was a high-minded lady given only to cruelty and injustice. She got up and made to leave the kitchen.
‘Don’t go, Jenna,’ Kitty said. You’ve made me feel very ashamed. Please sit down and let’s talk. I’m very sorry for upsetting you.’
Isabel was doubtful. ‘I’m sorry too, sorry that I disobeyed your house rule and that my uncle’s suspicions have meant imposing on Nick and his friends. It doesn’t seem fair that you’ve all been put out.’
‘We’re both upset, Jenna. Let’s have some fresh tea and start again on a new footing.’ Kitty gave a wry smile. ‘Benjamin wants you to stay, don’t forget. He’s expecting to see you again.’
Isabel thought of the gentle-faced boy; she wanted to hear his unique voice and see his smiling face again. She sat down once more.
Kitty made the tea and joined Isabel at the table. ‘Benjamin is all I have. He’s the reason I work as I do. Our father deserted us when Benjamin was born and when our mother died I couldn’t go out to work for long periods because he needs so much attention. There was a gentleman, he took a fancy to me and offered a way out of our predicament. I didn’t think twice, I was only fifteen years old and all that mattered was Benjamin living in comfort and safety and having money to pay his medical fees. I saved for years to have this place built and the gentleman was very generous in helping me to furnish it. He died three years ago and two of his acquaintances approached me to take his place. They’re both married and the arrangement suits me well. They live fairly close by and they each send someone to collect me and bring me back. It means I don’t have to leave Benjamin for long. He still has to have the doctor regularly and I’ll do anything I can to care for him properly. When Nick asked me if you could stay here, my only reservation was how you would react to Benjamin. I’m sorry if I upset you, Jenna. But I didn’t know you. I had to do it my way. When I saw you in Benjamin’s room, I was so afraid you’d upset him or had tried to move him. Even though I could see you were chatting comfortably, I overreacted. Do forgive me.’
Isabel had been staring at her cup and saucer while listening attentively. She looked up. ‘I feel a little ashamed myself, Kitty. I think I overreacted too.’
‘I think I know why in your case.’ Kitty touched her hand and smiled understandingly. ‘You went through a bad time with Nick up on the cliffs, didn’t you? I know how stubborn he can be. He wouldn’t have been slow in telling you how he felt.’
‘He wasn’t horrid to me all the time,’ Isabel said loyally.
Kitty nodded. ‘I’ve realized that too. Are we friends now? Will you stay?’
‘I want to, Kitty. I feel safe here, but it doesn’t seem fair. Now I know you have Benjamin in the house – what would happen to him if my cousins find out I’m here? They might hurt him.’
‘Why should they think you’re not dead? Everyone else seems to without question. Why shouldn’t I have a house guest? Why shouldn’t folk believe you’re an old friend of mine? Even if you’re seen and someone realizes you’re a lady, well, I mix with the gentry, they’ll only think you’re something to do with one of my gentlemen. Furthermore, I just can’t believe your uncle’s suspicions. It’s too fanciful. My first gentleman rambled on like that when he was dying, thinking folk were in the room when they weren’t, imagining he was being poisoned. I like having you here, Jenna, honestly. I trust you with Benjamin now that you are aware of his condition and it will be good to know there’s someone in the house to keep him company when I’m out. What do you say?’
Isabel gave a mighty sigh of relief. ‘Put like that, I’ll be happy to stay, Kitty.’
‘I think there’s one more thing we ought to clear up while we’re bringing everything out in the open. What do you feel about my line of work, my gentlemen?’
‘I’m not shocked or horrified if that’s what you mean. I think it’s a pity you have to do it but I admire your courage and your love for Benjamin. Others might have left him to fend for himself. If it wasn’t for your dedication, I don’t expect he’d still be alive now.’
‘No, he wouldn’t. Now that’s settled, let’s get some vegetables out of the spence so we can make a start on your first cooking lesson.’