Sunday dawned bright and clear and after breakfast I put up a basket of biscuits and homemade jam. I also took a few eggs from Mrs Jenkins’ well-stocked larder. For the menfolk I had purchased three different neckerchiefs and a pretty embroidered hankie for Aunt Tilly. I took pleasure in using part of my newly-earned wages on these little gifts. While I was at it I also bought two ounces of sweetmeats for Billy and Cilla to have later.
Billy arrived mid-morning and we all sat in the garden and played with Beth until I heard the cart arriving out at the front of the house. As we clattered off I looked up and saw the doctor watching from his bedroom window. There had been no medicaments to be made up today though I wished otherwise.
Beth was very excited at this venture out and her spirits lifted ours so by the time we got to Southease we were all very jolly. I had dressed her with care and she had a new sun bonnet to match her pretty dress – a parting gift from Cecilia, with a crisp white overskirt to help keep the dress clean. She was also wearing some tiny little slippers – a great novelty which she was constantly admiring. As we pulled up outside the cottage I was very thankful that we could focus on Beth rather than be forced to notice other things.
The kitchen had been tidied up and even the windows cleaned. The dog was banished to an outhouse from where he maintained a mournful howl. It was a little squashed as we mingled in the small room so I asked if we should walk down to the river and tire Beth’s high spirits which could easily descend into tears. Everyone except grandfather thought that a good idea and off we went. After a few paces the trees thinned out and we could see the distant downs beyond the valley floor. The way was dry on a well trodden path but on either side were deep reed beds rising above our heads from which came the chirps of waterfowl and other mysterious but natural noises. In the distance I could see some cattle on the lower reaches of the hills. When we got near the river I looked backwards along the way we had come, it was very difficult to see the line of the path and I shivered at the thought of trying to find the way blind. The breeze licked the top of the reeds and there was an eerie whispering. I asked if many used the river paths and got an abrupt reply from Jeremiah.
‘Only those as knows the way use it, all others disappears.’
We climbed up a small bank in order to look at the flat grey waters. I clutched Beth up in my arms, remembering our sad history with this river. ‘Look,’ I said, ‘the sun is hiding, Beth.’
Sam, lifted her from my arms and she played with the bristles on his chin, laughing uproariously as he tickled her.
We returned to the cottage and settled down outside on a few blankets. I unloaded my basket and gave the gifts to my family. The biscuits were well received but I thought Aunt Tilly a bit ungracious when I presented the eggs.
‘We have our own hens girl, we’re not beggars, though we do not live in the style you do.’
‘I am sure I never thought so Aunt, I just did not see any hens when I came last time – there was no harm intended.’
‘Don’t mind her,’ grunted Sam, ‘She is not used to polite society.’
Aunt Tilly returned to her kitchen before producing a small table laden with good plain food.
We all set to and demolished the savouries and cakes. My cousins helped themselves without any polite delays for the ladies. Beth copied them and grabbed handfuls of cake and in the end I didn’t hold back either as there would have been nothing left for me and I was hungry.
It was a pleasant afternoon and my aunt went to great lengths to make us comfortable. My cousins were good company with lots of joshing and boisterous games involving both Billy and Beth. I did on one occasion catch a rather strange look exchanged between Tilly and her sons but put it down to their collective attempt to make us feel at home.
Just as we were talking about getting ready to leave, Jeremiah, who had wandered off behind the cottage, returned and exchanged a few quiet words with his brother. From that moment on I felt we were in the way and were hurried into the cart, our belongings pushed in around us.
They all called goodbye and disappeared immediately into the cottage as if they couldn’t wait to be rid of us. Sam was to drive us back but suddenly he turned to Billy and suggested that he take the reins and he, Sam, would collect the cart from Lewes tomorrow. Then he was gone. I was dumbfounded and looking back was amazed to see both Sam and Jeremiah on horseback and heading in the opposite direction at great speed.
‘What was all that about?’ I asked Billy.
‘Reckon they got a message.’
‘What sort of message?’
‘I dunno, but there was some comment about them cows on the hill, they said they was looking in the right direction and laughed.’
‘How can that be a message?’
‘Well, if they be facing the town it mean one thing and if they be facing the sea, it be meaning another. It is how messages are sent quickly from one area to another, they might light beacons but then others understand that so by changing the direction of tethered livestock the message is only understood by those in the know. See?’
I was not sure that I did see. ‘What do you think the message is about?’
‘Smugglers’ business. They got lamps inside and all sorts of stuff used by the gentlemen and they ain’t botherin’ to hide it.’
‘Billy, do you think them capable of killing people?’
‘I dunno lass but I wouldn’t want to be on t’wrong side of they and I don’t reckon you should notice anything odd.’
‘Do you remember what Wilf said about Southease Billy?’
‘Aye.’
‘Well it was to do with the Kempes. He blames them for his father’s death and won’t have anything to do with me now, Billy, because he says I come from the Kempe family and it was they.’
‘Did you like him then Esther?’
‘Aye, I did that.’
We travelled on in silence until we got to the doctor’s house. The cart was unhitched and the horse stabled nearby as I went indoors to reflect on a very unusual day.