Kitty was out on the beach when Talland barked and ran away from her. She watched the tall fair-haired man who was waving and running towards her but did not go to meet him. He had a dog with him, not quite fully grown, a smooth-coated creature, mainly white, with a long face. Talland chased it round the beach in a circle then it stopped to make friends.
‘So you’ve come at last,’ Kitty said, keeping her eyes on the dogs. ‘I thought I might have heard from you at Christmas but winter’s come and nearly gone again, Nick Nancarrow.’
His face was pained. ‘I don’t know why but I went into the churchyard first to visit little Jeremy and it was a shock to see Benjamin’s grave there beside his. When did it happen, Kitty? If I’d have known…’
Kitty walked along the bank of the Gannel. ‘There was nothing you could have done, Nick, and I didn’t know where to send word to. Benjamin died about a month after you left, peacefully in his sleep.’
Nick put his arm round Kitty’s shoulders and kissed her forehead. ‘I’m sorry, Kitty. Thank God he didn’t suffer at the end. How are you coping without him?’
‘I’m getting used to it, all my friends have been very good to me. I’m just grateful I had Benjamin for so long. What have you been doing with yourself – apart from getting a new dog?’
‘I took up as packman around the county and beyond.’
‘But not down this way?’
‘No.’
Kitty looked back at Talland scampering about with his new friend. ‘So, what’s the dog called? He’s an ugly little thing, hope he hasn’t got a vicious streak in him like Gutser had.’
‘It’s a she and her name’s Cassie and she’s as gentle as a lamb,’ Nick said petulantly.
‘I’m glad to hear it and I’m glad you’ve given her a decent name.’ Kitty eyed him critically. ‘Getting lonely, were you?’
Nick ignored the question. ‘Things the same as usual with you?’
‘No, actually I’m getting married at the end of the summer.’
‘Are you indeed! Not James Leddra by any chance? I knew he’d taken a strong fancy to you.’
Kitty scoffed. ‘A woman doesn’t want to marry a man who’s like a ship passing in the night.’
‘One of your gentlemen then?’
‘No, someone I met… when I was staying at a friend’s house last year.’
‘Are you deliberately trying to be mysterious, Kitty?’
‘No,’ she replied. ‘He’s a gentleman, I first met him while I was staying with Isabel after Benjamin’s funeral. I shall be selling the house here if you’re interested.’
‘What would I do with a house?’ Nick said, gazing up the river.
‘You have the money, you’ve been putting your earnings away for years and never spending much. You must have a tidy sum if you decide to settle down.’
Nick grunted and sighed. ‘How is Isabel?’ he said, as he sighted the turning into Penpol Creek.
‘She’s living at Gwithian now.’
‘For part of the year?’
‘For good.’
‘Oh? Does Grenville mind? Then I suppose he’s at sea for most of the time.’
The tide was out and the rock pools were getting too wide to skirt round so Kitty turned back, bringing the sea wind fully in their faces. Against the noise of the surf she said glibly, ‘Isabel didn’t marry him.’
Nick walked straight into a pool of freezing cold water. ‘Damnation! Why not?’
‘She wasn’t in love with him.’
‘I knew that, it doesn’t explain why she didn’t marry the man.’
‘Oh, Nick,’ Kitty said despairingly, ‘Isabel’s changed. She sees things in a different light now, you should know that too.’
‘What’s that supposed to mean?’ He kicked at the hard sand, sending it towards the two playful dogs.
‘Don’t growl at me, Nick Nancarrow. Those few weeks spent in hiding from the Kempthornes changed Isabel so much she couldn’t possibly go back to her old way of life. Why don’t you go over to see her?’
Nick stopped walking. ‘You’re dancing to a different tune, aren’t you?’
‘I was listening to the wrong one back-along. I should have known better.’
They walked on to the house, Kitty humming gaily to herself, Nick in a stony silence.
‘I won’t have your dog in the house, even if she is as gentle as a lamb.’
‘Cassie wouldn’t come inside anyway, she likes to run free.’
Inside, she asked his dour face, ‘Well, are you going to see her?’
‘You know I always make my way back to Gwithian when I’m in these parts,’ he replied, scraping back a chair and flopping down at the kitchen table.
Kitty glared at his boots. ‘Anyone would think I didn’t have a scraper outside my back door. But Laurence Trevennor is not there now.’
Nick thumped the table. ‘Then I’ll go visit his grave!’
Kitty was not going to fish any longer. ‘So, you did fall in love with Isabel then?’
‘’Tis none of your damned business!’
Kitty saw to the fire and banged plates on the table.
Nick winced. ‘I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have shouted at you. I’m upset over Ben.’
‘Benjamin allowed Isabel to make him happy, Nick, just like little Morenwyn is. You should see them together, there’s laughter at Trevennor House again, would be more if Isabel’s life was complete… with the man she loves. You don’t need me to tell you how she feels about you, do you?’
‘No… well, I was hoping she cared for me after the time we spent in Penpol Creek and here in your kitchen. It’s not as easy as that, Kitty.’
‘Some things are as easy as just reaching out and receiving them, Nick.’
Nick next called on Mundy Cottle. Mundy clucked all over him and made him sit down, hurrying to fetch her cooking pans.
‘I’m not hungry, Mundy.’
‘Eh? What’s the matter with you then, boy?’
‘I’ve just come from Kitty’s at Crantock, she fed me well to bursting before I left.’
‘Oh, I see,’ Mundy said, not hiding her disappointment. ‘Perhaps your little dog would like a bite to eat. It doesn’t have to stay out there.’ She threw a biscuit outside for Cassie.
‘And how’s she at Crantock then?’ There was always a slightly disapproving tone in Mundy’s voice when she spoke of Kitty.
Nick gripped the back of a chair, tipping it backwards and forwards impatiently. ‘She’s becoming an honest woman later this year, she’s getting married.’
‘I’m glad to hear it, ’tis one step in the right direction to walking the straight and narrow. Sit yourself down for goodness sake, Nick. You haven’t been here five minutes but you’re already eager to be on your way.’
Nick did as he was told with a heavy sigh. ‘Have you heard that her brother, Benjamin, died?’
‘Aye, bless un. Only knew about un from what you told me. He sounded a good little boy, God rest his soul. Still, no more suffering for un now.’
‘Aye, it was quiet there without him, even though he never made a sound. It’s quiet in here today with your children all out.’
‘Most of ’em are at work, the rest out doing chores, probably playing before they come back in. I have another little maid calling here now, you know.’
‘Oh?’ Nick had a good idea who she was. ‘Morenwyn’s her name, a handsome dark little thing she is too, she loves to play with my young’uns. She comes with Jenna – Isabel I call her now. Some funny goings on all that was. You did a good job looking after she though, must have been really frightening at times. Isabel talks about you a lot.’
‘Does she?’ Nick sounded impatient. Was Mundy going to dig away at him like Kitty had?
Mundy picked at her nails. ‘Aw, glad to get her off your hands, were ’ee then?’
‘I was glad when the whole thing was over but as far as I’m concerned Isabel and I are friends.’
‘I’m glad to hear it. She’s a fine handsome woman. The folk of Gwithian are some glad to have her living there and taking care of her late uncle’s interests instead of that other lot. You going on to see her later?’
Nick raised his eyes in exasperation. He knew he had better not say no. ‘Probably.’
Mundy moved off to her cupboards and started taking out food. ‘I’ll make you a meal anyway… she didn’t get married like she planned, you know. P’raps when you get to Gwithian you ought to stay around for a bit…’
Charlie Chiverton was sitting outside his shack, puffing on his pipe, unperturbed by the sharp wind whistling round him, whittling away on a piece of stick. He held up his craftwork.
‘’Tes goin’ to be a sheep, ’tes fur the little maid—’
‘Living with Isabel in Gwithian,’ Nick finished for him as he dismounted from one of his horses.
‘Knaw about that, do ’ee?’
‘Aye, I’ve heard about nothing else all day. I’ll help myself to a mug of your terrible coffee but I don’t want anything to eat.’
Charlie looked at Nick’s two horses. ‘Tradin’ goin’ well, is it?’
‘Aye.’
‘Fine animals, too good fur packhorses. You must cause a stir everywhere you go.’
‘I try to keep myself unnoticed.’
‘A fine lookin’ man like thee will ’ave some job doin’ that. Nice lookin’ dog you got there. There’s a few scraps knockin’ around somewhere if she’s ’ungry.’
Nick threw Cassie a crust of bread and poured himself a mug of coffee.
‘I ’eard the Kempthorne woman went to the rope just as she deserved,’ Charlie said, using the point of his knife to dig out the appearance of fleece on his work. ‘Talk ’bout she’s ’ardly died down round ’ere yet.’
‘Aye,’ Nick said grimly, sipping the bitter coffee and making a face for two reasons. ‘I watched her swing. Stood right at the front of the crowd so she could see me. She died kicking and screaming, cursing me and Isabel and anyone to do with us. I reckon Hell itself won’t be prepared for that woman.’
‘’Tes all over now. Time to put it in the past.’
‘I don’t waste my time thinking about her,’ Nick said, settling back on the shack’s steps.
‘Well, there’s plenty of other women to be thinkin’ about. Did I tell ’ee Isabel comes over ’ere to see me?’
Nick breathed out heavily. ‘You did.’
‘Isabel’s a fine lookin’ woman too, some different to the one you brung ’ere last year.’
‘Yes, I know, I’ve seen that for myself,’ Nick returned irascibly.
‘’Ow come thee went off on yer travels again then?’
‘Charlie!’
‘She didn’t git married, you know, but you could have put a spoke in that idea like the one I put in Gyver Pengelly’s back if thee’d ’ad a mind to. I think thee did. Why didn’t ’ee then?’
‘I’m beginning to wish I’d never come back!’
‘Gah! I knew you’d come back and not just because you usually do. Well, what are you wasting yer time ’ere fur? Would serve ’ee right if she didn’t keep waitin’.’
Nick put his hands up in exasperation and got up. ‘Keep your horrible coffee, Charlie Chiverton. I’ll come back and see you another time.’
‘Just a minute. I’ve nearly finished here.’ Charlie held up the perfect figure of a sheep. ‘There, you might as well take this and give it to the little maid.’
‘What makes you think I’m going to Gwithian?’
Charlie pushed out his lips and looked down his nose at Nick. ‘Where else would you be goin’?’
When Nick reached the little bridge at Gwithian he saw the tiny figure of Meena Rowe coming along the middle of it. She lifted up her head and gazed at Nick from the confines of a black bonnet that looked much too big for her.
Nick grinned. ‘Didn’t you see me coming, Meena?’
‘Course I did, but I got better things to do than gawp at travellers. I’m on my way to Jimmy, to give him his crib. Men! They forget everything and want a woman running after them all their lives.’
Nick had dismounted and Meena turned up her tiny face for him to kiss.
‘I don’t want anyone running after me, I like to take care of myself.’
‘We’ll see.’
‘What does that mean?’ Nick asked, becoming defensive.
‘Back this way, aren’t you?’
Before Nick could argue again that he always came back to Gwithian, Meena pointed at Cassie perched across the back of Nick’s other horse. What’s the matter with your dog? Got a broken paw?’
‘No, she likes a ride every now and then.’
Meena moved closer. ‘Mmmm, looks half starved to me.’ Then she turned on Nick. ‘So do you. We’ll expect you for supper, will have a nice bit of local mutton stewing then, I know you’re partial to its taste.’
‘Meena,’ Nick exclaimed, ‘I’m not hungry. In fact I’ve eaten so much today I don’t care if I never see another morsel of food for a week. How’s the family?’
‘They’re all right, if you’re intent on changing the subject.’ Meena lifted her chin and tightened her shell-like features.
‘And the baby, Joshua?’
‘He’s thriving, not much of a baby now but you can soon see that for yourself.’
Nick was feeling uncomfortable under Meena’s all-seeing eyes. ‘Would you like a ride to the fields, Meena? I’d like to see Jimmy again.’
‘You can see him by and by, I reckon you got other folk to see first.’
Nick waited for his fourth barrage on Isabel that day but Meena was already walking away. She called over her shoulder, ‘See you at supper then, Nick, but if you’ve got other plans, another time will do… and you don’t have to come by yourself.’
Nick waved to the tiny old woman and watched her thoughtfully until she was out of sight. She hadn’t mentioned Isabel residing permanently in the village, she’d judged correctly that he knew already. It seemed all his friends were resigned to his fate, but did fate have the same mind?