ALICE AND ELIZA left Helynn Manor via the kitchen door the next morning when dawn was ushering in the new day, brushing away the last scattering of stars from the waking sky.
Harnessing the pony to the trap took longer than they would have wished but after only a few initial errors it was done and they led pony and trap from the stables, keeping on grass as much as possible until they felt they were out of hearing of those in the house.
Once in the trap they hurriedly left Helynn behind, driving the pony at a sharp trot, relying upon memory of the previous day’s journey to guide them back to Trethevy. Although neither woman spoke their thoughts aloud, they were constantly in fear of hearing the sound of Captain Hugo Trevelyan coming in pursuit of them.
Much to the relief of both women, their memories served them well and they chose the correct roads and lanes, helped by the occasional granite signpost erected at major highway junctions.
They arrived at the rectory mid-morning, to find Tristram alone there. Reverend David had taken Percy with him intending to visit the poorhouse after the service, where the oldest resident, a friend of Percy, was dying.
In her mistress’s room as Eliza was unpacking clothes, Alice said, ‘It is such a relief to be home again safely, Eliza, it was the most dreadful night I have ever experienced in the whole of my life. Quite unbelievable!’
Putting unwanted thoughts aside of the nightmares she still occasionally had about some of the nights spent in prison and on the hulk in her ‘other life’, Eliza replied, ‘Are you going to tell Reverend David about what happened there?’
‘No,’ Alice replied firmly. ‘Certainly not immediately. He would only fuss about it. I will say that Captain Hugo’s father was unwell and we felt we were giving them unnecessary extra work. It will mean leaving a great deal unsaid, but I will not be telling an untruth.’
Eliza accepted that it was the best way to deal with the matter, but she asked, ‘What will you tell him of the rumours we heard about Lieutenant Jory?’
Alice had been brushing her hair but, lowering the brush to the dressing table, she said unhappily, ‘I don’t know. He will have to be told something to explain why I am no longer welcoming Lieutenant Jory to the rectory – and I really do feel I could not face him again. He has behaved in a deceitful manner that I find truly hurtful. He allowed me to become very fond of him. Perhaps I read too much into his attentions to me but he must have realised my feelings towards him, and actually encouraged them at a time when he would have been courting poor Isabella Trevelyan. It is quite unforgivable.’
‘I think you should listen to his side of the story, Miss Alice, I wouldn’t take the word of anyone at Helynn about anything, there wasn’t one of them right in the head!’
Giving her maid a fleeting wan smile, Alice said, ‘I agree with your assessment of the occupants of Helynn, Eliza, it must be one of the most bizarre households in the land, but they all had the same story to tell about Lieutenant Jory and poor Isabella Trevelyan. I found that quite as upsetting as anything else that happened during our visit to Helynn.’
Eliza still refused to believe what had been said at Helynn about Jory Kendall, but she knew Alice was genuinely upset by what she had been told and did not pursue the matter. Nevertheless, her mistress’s change of attitude towards the naval lieutenant might affect her and Tristram.
‘If Lieutenant Jory is no longer welcome at Trethevy does it mean Tristram and me won’t be able to go to the Camelford fair? Reverend David said he could stay here for the nights both before and afterwards if he was going to take us to the fair and bring us back again in his carriage. Will he not be coming now?’
Alice was aware that although Eliza was careful not to reveal her true feelings towards Tristram to her employers, she was very much in love with him in her quiet but intense manner and it was a romance which met with the approval of both Alice and her brother.
‘The arrangement has been made and we will not change it. When is the fair?’
‘This week, on Saturday.’
‘So soon? It would be difficult to change anything now, even if I wished to, but I will need to find somewhere to go for that weekend, I really do not wish to meet with him again.’
‘Perhaps … perhaps me and Tristram ought to change our minds about going to the fair if it’s going to make things difficult for you.’
‘No. You and Tristram have both been looking forward to Camelford fair for months, you must go. I will think of something. Now, if you have finished unpacking, I think I will have a little rest. You must do the same too, neither of us had any sleep last night. Check that all is tidy for Reverend David’s return, then take a rest in your room. You were a tower of strength at Helynn in very difficult circumstances, I do appreciate it, thank you.’
*
Reverend Kilpeck did not return with Percy until that evening. Tintagel poorhouse’s oldest resident had died during the afternoon and David had spent some time discussing with the churchwardens a funeral befitting a centenarian who had long been the oldest inhabitant of the parish.
By the time the two men reached Trethevy Alice and Eliza were up and about and, after expressing surprise that Alice had returned from Helynn after such a short visit and hearing the story she and Eliza had agreed together for their unexpected return, David said, ‘I have some news for you too, both good and bad.’
‘Tell me the good news first,’ Alice replied, ‘I am not in the mood for bad news right away.’
‘After you left yesterday we had a visit from Dean Fitzjohn and his daughter Ursula …’ – Edgar Fitzjohn, Dean of Windsor, was the distant relative who had been instrumental in appointing David to the living of Trethevy – ‘… It seems he was at University with Reverend Wallis, vicar of Bodmin and both he and Ursula are holidaying with him for a couple of weeks. They came here yesterday evening and were most disappointed you were not here, but their host, Reverend Wallis, would like us to have dinner with him on Tuesday, at Bodmin vicarage.’
Showing the pleasure he felt at having received such an invitation, David beamed at Alice. ‘Bodmin is one of the most important and lucrative livings in Cornwall and Reverend Wallis is an important churchman. He could be a considerable influence in my future, I accepted the invitation, of course, trusting you would be home by then. I hope you approve?’
‘I am absolutely delighted, Ursula and I were childhood friends, as you know, how is she?’
Alice was grateful for the opportunity to move away from the subject of Hugo Trevelyan and her visit to Helynn, but she was taken aback by the enthusiasm with which David answered her question.
‘Ursula has grown into a beautiful girl, very beautiful, she is intelligent too and well-informed on Church affairs. I found her most enjoyable company.’
Aware that David had been attracted to a girl for possibly the first time, Alice was thrilled for him. ‘What a pity I wasn’t at home when they called, but I look forward to meeting with Ursula again after all these years.’
‘Well, you will have your opportunity on Tuesday, I said you would be very disappointed at missing her – at missing both of them – but as I was quite certain you would be home by then, I agreed we would both spend the whole day with them, remaining until after dinner. It will be the first time we have been away from the Trethevy rectory together for a long time.’
‘I look forward to that very much, David. Very much indeed.’
She meant it, not only for the prospect of a day out with her brother. David had never before shown such enthusiasm at meeting a girl. Indeed, he had rarely shown enthusiasm for anything outside his calling. She thought that Ursula, who had always been a plain, rather serious girl, must have grown into someone rather special to have this effect upon him, but David was talking again.
‘Now, you must prepare yourself for the bad news. I am afraid this is not good. Eval Moyle has returned from America and is back on his farm.’