Authors: E.V. Thompson
A
LICE FOUND HERSELF
thinking about the young army officer with a disturbing frequency during the next few days, although she never really expected to meet with him again. On the journey to Tintagel he had mentioned that he had only chanced to be on the coastal road through Trethevy because of a wish to visit the ruins of the ancient castle situated on the
headland
at Tintagel. Hugo Trevelyan had said he would call in on his way home from Padstow, but she was doubtful whether he would pass that way again.
However, exactly a week after the incident with the pony and trap, Alice’s rescuer rode up to the rectory to be greeted at the garden gate with great enthusiasm by David. From the church where he passed much of his time he had seen the visitor and ran to meet him as he dismounted from his horse.
Clasping the cavalry captain’s hand, he declared, ‘I am so glad you have called in. I confess to being so shaken by what had
happened
to Alice that I feel I never thanked you fulsomely enough for your brave actions in saving her from what would have been a dreadful accident. I shall always be deeply indebted to you. Alice too will be delighted to see you, do come in and join us for lunch, at least.’
Now Hugo Trevelyan was here, Alice was less certain about him. Not only was he a type of man she never met with before
and a handsome man of the world, he also possessed a devil-
may-care
attitude that was in sharp contrast to her brother’s careful and cautious approach to life.
Despite the excitement Captain Trevelyan undoubtedly
engendered
in her, Alice could not rid herself of the slight unease she felt about the familiarity he showed towards her, even though she told herself the problem lay entirely with her. He was a man who had travelled extensively and was at his ease with all that life had to offer, while she had been brought up within the narrow
confines
of an East Anglian deanery. Before coming to Cornwall she had never ventured outside of the restrictive lifestyle imposed upon her by such an environment and very little had happened here to widen her experience of life.
Over lunch David insisted that Hugo Trevelyan should stay for dinner and remain at the rectory overnight and, when the midday meal was over, he insisted upon taking Captain Trevelyan to visit his church.
In the churchyard the two men paused at the wooden cross marking the mass grave in which the victims of the shipwreck three years before were buried and Hugo Trevelyan read the inscription …
‘7 unknown passengers and crew of the ship Balladeer wrecked on Lye Rock during the night of 16/17 June 1840 during a violent storm. God Rest their souls’.
‘Having been at sea in violent storms during my voyages to and from India, I feel for them,’ said David’s companion.
‘Yes, Eliza was the only survivor and she too had been given up for dead. Had it not been for the efforts of Alice and Lieutenant Kendall she would have been buried here with the others.’
Showing immediate interest, Captain Trevelyan queried, ‘Are you speaking of Lieutenant Kendall from Lostwithiel?’
‘Yes, you know him?’
‘I certainly know
of
him, but we have never met. Is he a particular friend of yours?’
‘He visits the rectory whenever possible, but he comes to see Alice, rather than me.’
‘Is there an “understanding” between them?’
‘Nothing official. They seem to enjoy each other’s company, although his duties have kept him away from Trethevy of late, but Alice will tell you more, I am sure. Now, here we are at my little church, it was derelict for very many years before my appointment and Alice has worked wonders in renovating the interior, let me show you….’
While the two men were absent Alice helped Eliza in the kitchen, clearing up after the meal and preparing dinner for that evening. The relationship between Alice and Eliza was quite unlike that of mistress and servant in a large household, or even that which might have been expected in a city environment.
Trethevy was a very remote rural parish with no large houses or wealthy families and, as a result, there was a total absence of social activity in the immediate area and Alice and Eliza seldom met other women with whom to talk. As a result, they had come to value each other’s company.
As they worked together Alice was enthusing about their house guest. ‘He is such an
interesting
man,’ she said. ‘Over lunch he was telling us about life in India, it must be terribly exciting there, dangerous too for officers in the army. They need to be very brave and ready for anything that happens. It is hardly surprising that he reacted so swiftly when the pony bolted with me.’
Eliza did not share Alice’s enthusiasm for the army officer. She felt that Jory Kendall was a much more pleasant man in every way.
‘Lieutenant Kendall would have behaved in exactly the same way had it been him there and not Captain Trevelyan.’
‘Perhaps, but Lieutenant Kendall was
not
there, and has not visited the rectory for many months.’
‘That’s not his fault. He’s in command of a coast guard ship now and because most of the navy ships are still out in China, or some such place, he has to spend far more time at sea. He’s come to see you whenever he could, and sometimes even brought his ship into Bossiney Cove especially to pay you a quick visit. He’d probably have got into a lot of trouble if news of
that
got about.’
When Alice failed to reply, Eliza asked, hesitantly, ‘Do you like Captain Trevelyan better than Lieutenant Kendall?’
If she was being honest with herself, Alice knew she was not absolutely certain at this very moment, but only because Hugo Trevelyan was
here
and Jory was not. As a result she replied sharply, ‘Of course not! Although I have known Lieutenant Kendall for three years now and we are still hardly more than just good friends. I had thought … well, never mind what I thought. The truth is that I am not getting any younger and he has never suggested that our relationship is anything more than just a casual friendship.’
‘Have
you
ever hinted that you’d like to be more than friends with
him
?’
‘Of course not, that would be most improper. Anyway, we are talking nonsense, I could not possibly leave my brother to fend for himself.’
‘If Reverend David found someone
he
wanted to marry,
you’d
be left to fend for yourself.’
‘David is unlikely to find anyone while he has a parish like Trethevy, but this is a foolish conversation, Eliza. David and I are grateful to Captain Trevelyan for his prompt and brave action in saving me when the pony bolted and there is nothing more to it than that. The very least we can do is offer him our hospitality and enjoy his company while we can. When he leaves tomorrow I doubt whether we will ever see him again. That reminds me,
will you ensure that the sheets on the bed in the spare room are properly aired? This is a damp house, we do not want him
catching
a chill.’
Eliza hoped Alice’s assessment of their guest’s future
movements
would prove accurate and that he would leave the rectory the next day never to be seen by its occupants again. Mistrusting the too-handsome captain and his over-familiarity with Alice, she had also felt uncomfortable on the couple of occasions she had found herself alone in his company.
She tried to tell herself that her dislike of him was
unreasonable
, stemming as it did from the fact that he reminded her of Sir Robert Calnan, the man whose actions had led to her appearance at the London criminal court in what she now looked upon as her ‘other’ life.
Hugo Trevelyan did
not
depart from Trethevy the next day – or the day after and Eliza was dismayed to realise his charm
offensive
aimed at her employer was beginning to have some success.
The Army captain was still a guest at the rectory when, five days after his arrival Jory Kendall made one of his rare and
unexpected
visits to Trethevy. Having anchored his ship,
Vixen
, in the nearby cove he climbed the steep cliff path to reach the rectory and arrived bearing a gift of two very large sea bass, part of a number received from a fishing crew to whom he had given aid when their vessel broke a spar some miles out at sea.
Unfortunately, neither Alice nor David Kilpeck were at home when Jory arrived and it was left to Eliza to explain that they had both gone to visit the ruins of Tintagel Castle, with Hugo Trevelyan.
Finding it difficult to hide his disappointment, Jory handed over the fish to Eliza and accepted her offer of a cup of tea, at the same time asking, ‘Is this Captain Trevelyan someone Reverend Kilpeck has met through his ministry?’
‘He is an army man home on leave from somewhere – India, I think. Fortunately, he was near at hand when the pony bolted with the trap and Miss Alice in it.’ She went on to give Jory details of the dramatic rescue.
Thoroughly concerned, Jory said, ‘What a terrifying experience for Miss Alice, was she injured?’
‘No, Captain Trevelyan managed to stop the pony just before it reached the sharp bend at the bottom of the lane between here and Tintagel. If he hadn’t…?’
Eliza left the possible outcome unsaid and after a few moments of silence between them, Jory asked, ‘When did this happen?’
‘Almost a fortnight ago.’
‘I see. I suppose Captain Trevelyan came here today to check that Miss Alice was fully recovered from her experience?’
‘No, he was on his way to Padstow when all this happened. He called in here on his way back and Reverend Kilpeck invited him to stay. That was five days ago.’
Clearly disturbed by Eliza’s news, Jory said, ‘I have a feeling I have heard something about this Trevelyan, Eliza, but I can’t be certain. What sort of a man is he? Young? Old? Personable? He is obviously quick-thinking.’
Secretly pleased that Jory was concerned about the man who had recently come into her employer’s life, Eliza replied, ‘I suppose he must be about your own age, sir. He is good-looking,
very
good-looking, and seems to have led an adventurous life as a cavalry officer in other countries.’
After mulling over what he had been told, Jory said, ‘I wish he had been here so I could have met him, Eliza. Would you know whether he has a home in Cornwall?’
‘Yes, sir, it’s somewhere on the edge of Bodmin Moor, near a place called North Hill, I believe.’
‘Ah! Then it probably
is
the man I have heard about. We all have reason to be grateful to him for what he did in stopping the
runaway pony, but I don’t think it would be advisable for Miss Alice to spend too much time in his company. Are you expecting them to return to the rectory soon?’
Intrigued by his words, Eliza replied, ‘Not until this evening, sir. Miss Alice had me make up a picnic for them all, but is there something I should tell Miss Alice about Captain Trevelyan, sir?’
Seemingly ignoring her question, Jory said, ‘I can’t remain here that long,
Vixen
needs to rendezvous at sea with another Coast Guard ship before nightfall.’
‘I’m sorry about that, sir, me and Miss Alice were talking about you only the other day and she was saying you must have
forgotten
about her, it being so long since you last called here.’
‘I have written to her, although, I must confess, not as often as I might have wished, but Miss Alice knows I could not forget her, even if I wanted to – and I certainly do not.’
‘Perhaps she might like to hear that from you, sir,’ Eliza said, aware she was saying far more than a loyal servant should. ‘Trethevy can be a very lonely place. One where it’s easy to believe you’ve been forgotten by the rest of the world. I think that’s what Miss Alice feels sometimes, and she knows no one of your family she could turn to for news of you.’
Aware that Eliza was trying to tell him something, Jory said, ‘You are quite the little sage, Eliza, and I am aware you really care for Miss Alice, as indeed I do. You are quite right, of course, I
should
have made time to visit Trethevy more often and to write more than the occasional letter, but life has been very busy for me. With so many of the Royal Navy’s ships in the Far East because of the war with China I have needed to perform both Naval and Coast Guard duties. Fortunately, those days are coming to an end. The war is over and when more of our ships have returned I will be employed solely on Coast Guard duties once more. That is part of the news I came here hoping to impart to Miss Alice today. My ship is long overdue for a refit. As soon
as a suitable Royal Navy vessel is available to take its place I and my crew will be paid off and I shall return to a shore base. I am hoping it will be Padstow, from where I will be able to spend far more time on matters close to my heart – and Miss Alice comes top of that list.’
Arriving at a decision, he added, ‘Perhaps you could find me a pen and ink and some notepaper. I will write a note telling her about it.’
‘I’ll do that with great pleasure, sir. It makes me very happy to hear your news. I know Miss Alice is going to feel the same too.’ Then, hesitantly, because she realised she was acting far beyond her duties as a servant, she added, ‘Perhaps
you
will say
something
to warn her about Captain Trevelyan, sir. To be perfectly honest
I
don’t like him, but it’s not my place to say what I think about a family guest.’
Hastily hurrying off to find the writing materials for which Jory had asked, Eliza wondered whether she might have said too much, but she decided she could have done no less. Jory’s news and confirmation of his feelings for Alice gladdened Eliza’s heart, but she was worried about the influence of the personable young army captain upon her employer.
She hoped that Jory’s long overdue display of affection and interest for Alice had not come too late.
W
HEN ALICE RETURNED
to Trethevy that evening her face was flushed and warm, in sharp contrast to her brother’s unnatural pallor and haunted expression.
When Eliza brought cool water and toiletries to her mistress’s room, she learned the reason why.
‘Captain Trevelyan is an absolute madcap!’ Alice said,
laughing
merrily, ‘He took the reins of the pony for the journey back from Tintagel and drove home at a breakneck speed that had me clinging to the seat like a leech for much of the time. I don’t think the pony has ever galloped so fast – not even when she bolted with me.’
Aware that this was not the moment to mention Lieutenant Kendall’s warning about the charismatic captain, Eliza said, ‘You are lucky the poor animal didn’t drop dead, it’s not used to going at such a speed twice in a couple of weeks. By the look of Reverend David’s face when he came in through the door he never enjoyed it very much, either.’
‘He actually called upon Captain Trevelyan to stop, but it only made him drive even faster and poor David seemed to lose his voice! Mind you, I am not saying I actually
enjoyed
it, but it
was
very exciting and I never doubted that the Captain was in control the whole time. After all, he is a cavalryman.’
Eliza kept her opinion of Captain Trevelyan to herself. She realised he had been showing off in order to impress Alice, and it would seem he had succeeded, but she did not argue with her employer. Instead, she said, ‘You missed a very special visitor while you were out. Lieutenant Kendall brought his ship into the cove and came up here with a present of two huge sea bass for you. I’ve gutted them and put them in the dairy. He also wrote a letter for you, I have it in my apron pocket. I thought you would prefer me to give it to you here, in your room.’
Taking the letter from her pocket she handed it to Alice.
The letter comprised of two sheets of Reverend Kilpeck’s writing paper and had been sealed with red wax on which the crest of the Kendall family had been impressed by Jory’s signet ring.
Eliza was relieved at the disappointment displayed by Alice at not being at the rectory when Jory Kendall called. She had been concerned that her mistress might have become so infatuated with the army Captain that he had replaced the naval lieutenant in her affections.
Alice began reading the letter eagerly but her expression
gradually
changed and when she reached the end of the second page she looked up and said angrily, ‘How
dare
he tell me how I should behave and with whom! What right does he have?’
Gaining control of herself, Alice said, ‘I have seen almost nothing of him for absolutely ages, and now he writes to me as though he
owns
me.’
Trying hard to hide her dismay, Eliza said, ‘Lieutenant Kendall was very disappointed you weren’t at home, Miss Alice. He said he will soon be based on shore once more and hopes to be able to see far more of you. He also mentioned that he’d like to take you to meet his family.’
‘Yes, he says as much in his letter, but that excuses nothing.’
Folding the letter, Alice added, ‘For three years I have been closeted in Trethevy leading an almost nun-like existence, now, in the course of a few hours I have two men wanting to take me off to meet their families.’
‘
Two
men?’ Eliza asked the question although she had no doubt about the identity of the second man.
‘Yes, Captain Trevelyan has invited me to spend a few days at his father’s manor on the edge of Bodmin Moor. He invited Reverend David too, of course, but David has to officiate at a wedding this weekend, and has his services to attend to, so will be unable to come.’
‘So you won’t be going,’ Eliza said with some relief, ‘You can’t go with him on your own.’
‘Of course not, although I have no doubt he would behave with the utmost propriety should I do so, but I fully intend going – more than ever after reading Lieutenant Kendall’s letter – and
you
will be coming with me, Eliza, as both companion and personal maid. Captain Trevelyan has offered to take us in our own pony and trap, tying his horse behind the trap.’
‘When will we be going?’
Eliza was not at all certain she
wanted
to visit the home of Captain Trevelyan but she was relieved her employer had not considered travelling on her own with the dashing East India Company cavalry officer. She did not have the same faith as Alice in his gentlemanly behaviour.
‘Captain Trevelyan will be leaving on Saturday, Eliza, that gives us two days to make ready to go with him. It will only be a weekend visit so we need not take too much, but we will discuss it at more length in the morning. In the meantime we must prepare dinner. We will use the fish brought by Lieutenant Kendall, if there is sufficient to feed us all….’
*
Lying in her bed that night, Alice thought about the events of the day and tried to analyse her feelings about the two invitations she had received.
She had always found it rather hurtful that Jory had never invited her to his home, or asked her to meet any members of his large family. She had sometimes felt it might be because his was one of the great families of Cornwall, while she was a newcomer to the county and sister of a rector who held the living of what must be one of the smallest parishes in the whole of the diocese. In other words, that she would not be considered ‘suitable’, either for Jory, or as a guest in the Kendall home.
Alice had tried to tell herself many times that this was not the way Jory thought of her and the letter she had received from him today should have put her mind at rest on the matter, but his warning about becoming too friendly with Hugo Trevelyan had angered her, perhaps far more than was reasonable.
She believed the warning was the result of jealousy, although even that did not excuse him from writing to her as though he had a
right
to tell her how she should behave, or be perceived to be behaving.
At the same time, she was sufficiently intelligent to realise that she probably
wanted
to be angry with Jory. Angry enough to give her all the excuse she needed to justify going off to spend a weekend with the dashing captain and his father. Hugo Trevelyan had already explained that his father lived alone, Hugo’s mother having died many years before.
Had she received invitations from both men for the same weekend, she had no real doubts about which one she would accept. She had wanted to meet the Kendall family for a long time and until very recently had even nursed a hope that one day she might become a part of it.
Nevertheless, the thought of travelling to the manor of the dashing cavalry officer and staying at
his
home, excited her. She
had led a very sheltered and humdrum life until now. She believed it was time she did something that might not
necessarily
meet with the approval of everyone who knew her.