‘How’s Jeff?’ Janet asked Prim when they met at the village pump.
The cast-iron pump, which stood out in the middle of the village like a monument, was a meeting place for the women to chat and there were several concerned faces turned towards Prim.
‘A bit better than he was three days ago when it happened,’ she answered, shivering as an icy blast of wind swept over them, throwing up grit and sand. ‘The doctor said he was very lucky, it was only a mild heart attack.’
‘He’ll have to be careful though,’ one woman said, pulling her headscarf on more securely. ‘Have to give up drinking and smoking. One attack can lead easily to another.’
‘I know, Mrs Trebilcock,’ Prim said. There was a strange look of wonder on her chubby face. ‘Funny thing is, he’s taken quietly to his bed and hasn’t even asked for a cigarette. S’pose he will when he’s feeling better.’ Prim shrugged dismissively, making her thick winter coat climb up to her ears. ‘But if he wants to smoke and take a drink there’s not much I can do about it.’
The other women nodded understandingly, no one but his mother had ever been able to tell Jeff Spargo what to do.
Bett Spargo said tartly, ‘It cost them all their line and hooks. ’Tis going to be hard to find the money to replace them. He’d better look out if he wants to keep my man and boy’s partnership on the Misty. Terence and Morley have had enough of his domineering ways. If he goes on like he did before, they’ll sell up and fish with someone else.’
‘Good for them,’ Prim said quietly, and the other women could see she meant it. Some pondered on precisely how heartbroken Primrose Spargo would have been if her husband had died of the heart attack.
‘It’s given them something to gossip about,’ Janet said as she walked part of the way back with Prim, leaving the other women to close round Bett who was filling them in on all the details of what had occurred on the Misty. ‘Though there was no need for Bett to be sharp about the lost line. The Prudence lost her nets on the pilchard drive; it’s a fact of life, boats are always losing equipment.’
‘I don’t care what those women think but in Bett’s place I’d feel the same way. At least Jeff now knows exactly how the accident happened ten years ago. He can’t blame Hannah for it any more.’
‘Do you think it will make any difference to his treatment of her?’
‘Shouldn’t think so, but he has been unusually quiet. Must have realised how close he came to seeing the Almighty. What worries me is Mitch threatening to leave home. He says he’s only staying to help out until Jeff’s well enough to go back on the boat, then he’s going for good.’
‘Poor Mitch, he’s such a good boy. I know he caused the accident but he was a child back then and it was ages ago. There’s no good turning against he or Fred Jose. It won’t bring Edwin or Eileen back. Is Jeff insisting Mitch goes, like he did Hannah?’
‘I don’t know, he won’t talk about it. Mother-in-law says the boat can’t spare Mitch but she’s only worried about her bread not being buttered.’
‘If you could just get rid of she,’ Janet said vehemently. ‘She’s the cause of all your trouble.’
‘Aye, the bitch, as if I should say the word. Jeff wouldn’t have turned against Hannah if it wasn’t for her. Pity someone doesn’t ill-wish her,’ Prim said wearily. ‘I would myself but no doubt the trouble would only come back on me and I’ve had enough for a lifetime.’
‘Well, you know what our mum used to say, the tide doesn’t go out unless it comes back in again.’
They were at the bridge leading to the dark side of Porthellis. Before Prim put a foot on the granite, she asked, ‘Have you seen Hannah this week?’
‘No, and she said she might not come home for a while to avoid seeing Matt. I don’t know what happened between they two but it quite ruined her birthday.’
‘Such a shame.’ Prim shook her head sadly. ‘Matt’s one of the pleasantest young men I’ve ever known. I don’t think he’s at fault. I blame Feena Opie. I reckon she’s been filling Hannah’s head with fancy ideas. Having her eating at her table indeed, and what does Hannah need to learn to drive for? It’s ridiculous! My worries are coming true. That woman is getting her clutches into our little girl, Janet, and there isn’t a darned thing we can do about it.’ Prim sniffed to hold back a rush of tears. ‘We’ll see less and less of Hannah in the future and then not at all, you mark my words.’
Janet stroked her sister’s arm comfortingly. ‘Oh no she won’t, even if I have to march up there and remind Hannah who her family are. Prim…’ Janet hesitated. She knew Leah had slipped off to Roscarrock and she’d been about to suggest allowing her to go there again to check on Hannah, but Prim harboured strong feelings against Feena Opie.
‘What?’ Prim said.
‘Chin up, that’s all.’
There was no sign of Hannah the next Sunday and in the afternoon, while her family were relaxing and Mitch had gone off somewhere to be alone, Leah said she was going for a walk. It was quite a long walk because she went to Roscarrock.
Greg Opie looked up from his work in the study and saw the girl in her shabby brown coat, grimly holding on to her huge hat in the blustery wind, hesitatingly approaching the front door. Grabbing his jacket off the back of his chair, he rushed outside to meet her.
‘Miss Spargo, do you want to come in?’ he said, sounding almost as jovial as Patrick.
‘Well, I…’ Leah wasn’t wearing her glasses and kept her eyes on the gravelly ground. Greg Opie had managed to put her at her ease with him, when he’d come across her in the drawing room a few weeks ago, but she still felt intimidated by him. ‘I-I came because Hannah hasn’t been down to the village. Me and my aunt were wondering if she was all right.’
Greg smiled at her. ‘Hannah has a cold, actually, and is resting in bed.’
‘Oh, I see. Will you tell her I called? I’d better get off.’
‘Nonsense,’ Greg said, taking her by the arm before she could escape. ‘You’ve walked all the way here on a bitterly cold day to see your sister and see her you shall. Come inside and warm up, then you can go up to her room.’
‘Thank you, Mr Opie,’ she murmured.
As Greg shut the front door behind them, Mrs Opie called out from the drawing room, ‘Who is it, dear?’
Smiling first at Leah, Greg popped his fair head round the door. ‘It’s Miss Leah Spargo, Grandma Fee. She’s come to see Hannah.’
Leah waited nervously by the door. Would Mrs Opie think she was taking a liberty? Hannah had told her about the job offer, but she did not believe Mrs Opie encouraged visitors.
‘Has she walked here, Greg?’
‘Yes, Grandma, she’s quite frozen. I was just about to—’
‘The poor girl. Bring her in here by the fire, Greg.’
Greg made a face at his grandmother but did as she said. He beckoned to Leah. She took a step backwards and shook her head. ‘Don’t worry,’ he whispered, taking her by the hand. ‘My grandmother won’t eat you.’
Feena Opie was sitting on a sofa at a right angle to the blazing log fire crackling under the magnificent mantelpiece. Her little white dog was on her lap. She put a book down at her side. Pogo looked at the two people who’d come into the room then dropped his head on his mistress’s lap and went back to sleep.
‘Do come in, Leah,’ Feena said in a soft, motherly voice. ‘How kind of you to come to see Hannah. Were you worried about her? Has Mr Gregory explained she has a cold and is resting in her room?’
‘Y-yes, ma’am, M-Mrs Opie,’ Leah stuttered in the doorway, not sure whether she ought to curtsy. Mrs Opie was wearing a tailored georgette dress and her pearls and to Leah looked as elegant as the pictures she had seen of the Queen.
‘Bring Leah over by the fire, Gregory. We must get her warmed through or we shall have two girls with colds.’
Greg was still holding her hand and he escorted her across the room. ‘Give me your hat and coat, Leah,’ he said.
Leah didn’t mind this order too much. She was wearing her best dress which was in much better condition than the coat and she had taken pains to twist her long hair neatly at the nape of her neck. Greg watched her as she pulled out a long hatpin and took off the hat, removed her black and white striped woollen gloves which she stuffed in a coat pocket, and undid the three big scratched buttons of her coat and slipped it off. Feena noticed his interest and she wasn’t amused. Despite her scar, Leah Spargo was a pretty young girl with dazzling dark eyes and wind-kissed cheeks. Greg, who was a loner by nature, had no time for the confident, cultured, socialising women of his own class and he had been attracted to Leah Spargo’s type before. Doubtless he would have made a play for Hannah if he hadn’t been harbouring suspicions about her.
Greg took the garments from Leah, put them aside and before Feena could make the offer he told Leah to sit on the sofa opposite her.
‘I’ll look after Leah, Greg,’ Feena said in a dismissive tone. ‘I’m sure you’d rather get back to your work. You have a deadline to meet.’
Greg gave her a dark look. So his grandmother had realised his motives for inviting Leah into the house; if it had been anyone else, he would have left them to freeze on the doorstep. Never mind, he was sure Leah would appreciate the drive home in a warm car.
Leah was very nervous at the thought of being left alone with Mrs Opie and didn’t want him to go. Greg turned his back on his grandmother and smiled warmly at her. Leah smiled back, it made her feel braver. When he had gone, Leah saw Mrs Opie regarding her and she blushed.
‘There’s no need to feel uncomfortable, Leah,’ Mrs Opie said softly. ‘Hannah is perfectly at home working here. Did she by any chance mention there is work for you in the house if you desire it?’
‘Yes, Mrs Opie,’ Leah replied shyly, in her whispery voice. ‘’Tis very good of you to think of me, but neither my father nor my mother will let me work away from home, specially to live in.’ Leah thought it best to lie.
‘I only require a little extra help, someone to relieve the maid of some of her duties. Living in is not necessary. Perhaps you would consider two afternoons a week.’
Deep in thought, Leah stared down at her lap. This could just work, if Lizzie, Sarah or Naomi would say she was with them. They were all pregnant and she was often at one of their houses these days helping them out. She’d have to hope she wasn’t seen coming and going but the villagers were used to her wandering about now, and the roads were usually quiet.
Feena could see she was making up her mind. ‘Why don’t you talk to Hannah about it? It might help you decide. Then we could discuss it again before you go.’
‘No.’ Leah brought her head up sharply, her eyes bright and shining. ‘I mean, that will be all right, I’m sure. I’d like to work here two afternoons a week.’
‘Good. I expect your mother will need you more on Mondays and at the end of the week. Tuesdays and Wednesdays will suit nicely, one thirty until four thirty. Your pay will be a shilling an hour and a uniform will be provided.’ Feena was sure Leah was going to work here by subterfuge. ‘You may change into it when you arrive if you like. You will train under Angie Miller but of course you will be answerable to Hannah. You’ll have no problem with that, I take it?’
‘Oh no, Mrs Opie. Me and Hannah have always got on. I’ll do everything she says, honest I will.’
Mrs Opie smiled to herself, Leah was so childlike. How had Jeff Spargo managed to sire such a sweet and gentle person? She showed none of the undercurrents of passion that Feena had discerned in Hannah.
‘That’s all settled then. Now, Leah, before you go upstairs to see Hannah, perhaps you could throw some light on something for me. Hannah has been very unhappy since the last time she went down to the village. Do you know why?’
Hannah woke up from a troubled nap and hauled herself up groggily to sit against the pillow. She was hot, feverish and slightly dizzy, her head ached, her throat was sore and dry, her eyes were stinging and watering and her nightdress was soaked in perspiration. She felt dreadful but was glad she had a genuine excuse not to go home. She’d ask the butcher’s boy tomorrow to send word to Janet, or get Angie to if she was no better. Mrs Opie had packed her off to bed yesterday morning, saying she would send for the doctor if the cold ‘went down on her chest’. Hannah coughed, a dry barking sound which hurt her throat and she prayed the cold wouldn’t worsen.
She looked at the dark grey sky through the window. It was miserable weather and matched her mood completely. She didn’t like herself much at this moment. How could I have hurt Matt like that? she asked herself wretchedly for the umpteenth time. He didn’t deserve it. She should have been honest with him. Honest? Difficult when she wasn’t sure even now what she felt about him.
Daniel had met her when she’d walked away from Seaview Cottage. He was the last person she had wanted to see.
‘What’s up, darling?’ he’d asked, bending over the bicycle and kissing her cheek. ‘Your face is like a boiled lobster’s.’
‘Oh, don’t, Danny,’ she appealed to him, walking quickly down the hill.
‘You’ve just come from the Penneys’ cottage. Have you ended it with Matt?’
Hannah didn’t like the jubilant gleam in his eyes. ‘No, he ended it with me. I don’t want to talk about it. It was horrible. I’ve treated Matt badly.’
Daniel took the bicycle from her and put it on his other side so they were walking close together. ‘Had to happen. You weren’t right for each other. He’ll get over it.’
‘You won’t crow over him, will you, Danny? I’ve seen the antagonism between the pair of you. Promise me?’
‘I promise, darling. Matt’s a good workmate and partner. I respect him. I won’t say a word to him.’ Daniel half meant it now things were working out the way he wanted. ‘I’ll let him find out about us in due course.’
Hannah shook her head. ‘No, Danny. There is no us. I’m all confused right now and need time to think.’
‘Fine, I’ll be waiting. You’ll soon realise it’s me you need. Till then we’ll go on as before.’
She wouldn’t let him kiss her again and had stayed in the house at Quayside Street for the rest of the day until she’d left for Roscarrock, not going to chapel in the evening because she couldn’t face the tittering when Matt sat next to his mother and not her. Janet told her, with an accusing expression, that Matt hadn’t gone to chapel either and that Mrs Penney considered the rift nothing more than a lovers’ tiff.
‘I hope it blows over,’ Janet had added impatiently. ‘It will if you’ve got any sense.’
Hannah wished Matt had not turned away from her when she’d told him Daniel had given her the locket. Her dreams were now filled with hideous or agonised expressions distorting his handsome face. She had taken the locket off before going inside her aunt’s house and it was now in its box, wrapped up in a large handkerchief in the top drawer of the dressing table. Hannah didn’t know where or when she’d wear it again. Daniel would be disappointed but she didn’t want to have to explain it to anyone else. In fact, her association with Daniel, whatever footing it turned out to be on, would be best conducted secretly in future.
The bedroom door opened and she saw a tray being brought through. ‘Oh, Angie,’ she croaked. ‘I told you not to bother— Leah!’
Leah walked into the room with a big grin on her face and Mrs Opie followed her. Pogo shot across the room and leapt on to the bed.
‘I came to see how you were, Hannah, and Mrs Opie let me make us some tea,’ Leah said brightly.
‘And I’ve brought you some more aspirin, dear,’ Mrs Opie said. ‘Pogo, off the bed.’ She shooed the dog on to the floor then felt Hannah’s fevered brow. ‘You poor thing. You’re burning up. Leah, find a clean nightdress for Hannah and help her to wash and get comfortable.’
Mrs Opie stroked Hannah’s damp hair away from her face as Leah put the tray down and hunted about in the chest of drawers. ‘There’s some of Mr Patrick’s hot honey and lemon on the tray to soothe your throat and a jar of menthol to rub on your chest and back. Come along now, drink your tea and take the aspirin and you’ll feel a little better.’
‘You’re very kind,’ Hannah said, feeling cosseted. It struck her then that although her father and grandmother had been cruel to her she was used to this treatment. Her mother and Aunt Janet had always fussed over her. Hannah swallowed two aspirins and the honey and lemon then slowly sipped her tea. Mrs Opie watched her intently, a matronly smile on her face, and Hannah hoped she wasn’t going to stay in the room while she washed and changed her nightdress. That would be embarrassing.
When she put the teacup down, Mrs Opie took her leave. ‘Leah has got a lot to tell you. I’ll leave you to chat. Don’t tire her out, Leah.’
‘She’s wonderful, isn’t she?’ Leah said when they were alone. ‘I was quite scared at first when Mr Greg took me into the drawing room to her.’
‘You saw him too, did you?’
‘He let me in,’ Leah trilled as she came towards the bed holding a cotton, long-sleeved nightdress.
‘What?’ Hannah exclaimed, threatening her recently soothed throat. ‘You mean he actually got off his backside and came to the door? He usually lets a caller wait ages for Angie or lets Mr Patrick be dragged away from what he’s doing rather than answer it himself.’
Hannah pushed the covers away and let Leah help her take off the sweaty nightdress. ‘He came outside to meet me,’ Leah said, generously soaping the flannel and passing it to Hannah.
‘Did he now?’ Hannah muttered suspiciously. Just what was Mr Gregory’s game? She hoped he didn’t have the sort of designs on Leah she had once thought she was in for herself.
Leah helped her dry herself with the fluffy towels, dusted her with talcum powder, rubbed in the menthol and put the clean nightdress over her head. She poured a second cup of tea for Hannah and one for herself then sat on the bed. ‘You’ve got lovely bosoms, Hannah,’ she remarked enviously, cupping her own small breasts. ‘You’re so feminine. Do you think mine will grow some more?’
‘They might. I heard somewhere that the body doesn’t stop growing until you’re eighteen. You’ve got a few more months to go yet. Come on then, what’s this news Mrs Opie said you’ve got to tell me?’
‘First,’ Leah sprang up and went to the chest of drawers, ‘you can tell me where you got this.’ She held the white silk nightdress against herself and studied her reflection in the mirror. ‘It’s very daring. Did Matt give it to you?’
‘Put it away, Leah,’ Hannah protested. She couldn’t admit Daniel had given it to her. ‘I bought it in St Austell out of my wages.’
‘Caw, you’re getting saucy. I’m going to buy some nice things out of my wages,’ Leah said, putting the nightdress back in the drawer.
‘What?’
‘That’s part of my news.’ Leah danced back to the bed. ‘I’m going to work here, Hannah. Mrs Opie wants me two afternoons a week. I’m going to ask Sarah, Naomi or Lizzie to say I’m with them.’
‘It will be wonderful if it works out but you’ll cop it if Father finds out.’
‘Be worth it if I get in a few weeks first and save some money. And hopefully he might not be as furious as he usually is. He’s gone very quiet since his heart attack.’
‘What! When did this happen?’
Leah told her about the events on the Misty that had led to their father’s illness.
‘But why didn’t someone tell me?’
‘I wanted to come but Mother wouldn’t hear of it. Father wasn’t about to die, she said.’
Hannah sank back into the pillows. ‘So it was Mitch and Fred who made me and Eileen leap up that day. I never could understand what burnt my back. Poor Mitch, no wonder he’s stood up for me so many times against Father.’
‘You don’t feel bitter about him and Fred then?’ Leah drank her tea and nibbled an almond biscuit.
‘What would be the point? If he’d owned up and Father hadn’t thrown me out, it probably would have been awful for me living with him and Grandmother all those years. I loved living with Aunty Janet and I might not have come here to live and work.’ It was true, Hannah thought. I might not be happier now if my real father turned up to claim me and was a wonderful man. ‘What sort of week did the boats have?’
‘Very poor owing to the bad weather. None of them made up much for it on Saturday. The merchant’s men weren’t kept busy on the quay. One said it wasn’t worth him sharpening his knife apparently.’ Leah helped herself to another biscuit. ‘Hannah, what happened between you and Matt?’
Hannah looked away and answered in a small voice, ‘It just didn’t work out, that’s all. I don’t want to talk about it, Leah.’
When Leah was standing in the vestibule in her hat, coat and gloves, Greg appeared in a long wool coat, trilby hat and driving gloves. ‘I’m just off out, Leah. I’ll give you a lift to the top of the village hill, if you like.’
‘Oh,’ was all she said, but Leah felt important as he took her through the back of the house and showed her into the front passenger seat.
‘I’ve never been in a car before,’ she said, holding on tightly to the seat as he drove down the drive.
‘What, never?’
‘There’s only two or three cars in the village at any one time, and the Chellew brothers’ motorbike and sidecar. My brothers and sisters have been on the charabanc outings but I haven’t.’
‘Why is that?’ He turned out of the drive and glanced at her.
Leah hoped he wasn’t looking at her scar. ‘I preferred to stay at home.’
‘You’re rather like me. I like my own company. Will you be coming to Roscarrock again soon? It’s good for Hannah to keep in touch with her family.’
‘Actually I’m starting work there next week, Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons,’ she said, her eyes glued to the hedges as they sped past.
‘Really? I’m sure you’ll be a great asset to us.’ Greg was fascinated by her.