Authors: E.V. Thompson
A
CCOMPANIED BY ELIZA
and with Tristram taking the reins of the pony, Alice left Trethevy in the trap with the protests of her brother ringing in her ears. He had protested that such a journey should be undertaken by him, but it was Sunday and there were services to conduct. As it was he would need to walk to Tintagel to take the last of them and he complained that if it rained, he was likely to get very wet on his way to and from the church.
The route to Lostwithiel took the trio past a field that was part of the Moyle farm and here Eval Moyle was re-building a length of free-stone wall that had been in need of repair for many years.
The wall was alongside the lane and as they approached Moyle ceased work and stood watching them, one hand resting on the stonework. When they drew closer Alice braced herself to ignore the insults she expected him to direct at them as they passed.
None came, although he looked directly at them and kept watching until they passed out of sight along the winding lane.
‘I have been dreading meeting him ever since I heard he had returned from America,’ Alice commented, ‘and the very sight of him frightened me, but perhaps going away has mellowed him, although there was a smugness about him, almost as though for some reason he felt superior. Perhaps it is because he has seen something of the world now and we haven’t.’
‘I don’t believe he’s changed very much,’ Tristram said. ‘He led a temperance parade to the fair yesterday and had there not been a strong force of constables to keep order they would have clashed with the miners. I think that was probably his intention, although I must say he seemed friendly enough with the sergeant from the London police when I saw them chatting together later.’
Recalling what had gone on at the fair and Eliza’s revelation about her past, he suddenly fell silent.
Knowing nothing of his thoughts, Alice commented, ‘Well, he should be returning to America as soon as he has sold his farm. Hopefully it will be soon, then we can all forget about Eval Moyle for ever.’
Talk of the fair made Eliza unhappy and, in common with Tristram, it was the encounter with Maudie and not marriage that were uppermost in her thoughts. The unease she had experienced since then intensified and she felt it was somehow connected with Eval Moyle, yet she could not see how he could be involved with the incident in any way at all.
There were a great many hills between Trethevy and Lostwithiel and the journey took longer than the five hours estimated by Alice. The setting sun was balancing on the far horizon when they eventually reached the top of the hill above the town.
Looking down upon Lostwithiel with its jumble of houses and the ancient castle that together had once constituted one of the most important administrative centres in Cornwall, Alice realised she did not know where the Kendall home was situated. She did not even know the name of the house!
Fortunately, the family were very well known in the area having been established there for centuries and a passing farmhand directed them off the main road to where Pendower Manor, the home of the baronial family, was hidden among trees in the middle of an extensive estate.
It was fortunate they had asked before reaching the small town itself because the road into the town was extremely steep and the already tired pony would otherwise have had to turn around and take them back up the precipitous and winding lane.
Pendower Manor was everything that Helynn had not been. The house was extremely impressive with a number of substantial outbuildings and the whole surrounded by well-tended gardens.
The great wooden door at the pillared entrance to the house was opened by a footman who first asked her name and, when she said she had called to speak to Lieutenant Jory Kendall, invited Alice to take a seat in the impressive marble-floored hall while he informed Lady Kendall of her presence.
Seated in the hall, Alice felt suddenly very nervous. It was not only the thought of meeting with Jory again and trying to explain why she had so assiduously avoided him recently, but also the opulence of her surroundings. Baron Kendall was quite obviously a man of considerable wealth and importance.
She realised, depressingly, that there was a huge gulf between Jory’s social standing and her own as the orphaned sister of an insignificant cleric in a small, unimportant and impoverished Cornish parish. Alice suddenly felt that the dream she had once entertained of one day becoming Jory’s wife was no more than that … a dream. His parents would be seeking a wife for their son from among aristocratic families similar to their own.
Her depressing thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of Lady Kendall who was accompanied by an attractive and
well-dressed
young woman who bore such a close family resemblance that Alice knew immediately she must be a sister to Jory.
Lady Kendell greeted her warmly, saying, ‘My dear, what a wonderful surprise! When Jory returned to Pendower and said
he had not seen you during his visit to your home, I thought we were never going to meet you – but where are my manners?’
Waving her companion forward, she said, ‘This is Lowena, Jory’s sister, she too has heard a great deal about you from Jory.’
Lowena Kendall greeted the visitor to Pendower with a smile that emphasised her youthful beauty and Alice guessed correctly that she was the baby of the family. She had such an open expression that Alice took to her immediately.
The greetings over, Alice said, ‘I really must apologise for this intrusion, but I came here to speak to Jory on a most urgent matter concerning his safety.’
‘Oh dear! I am afraid Jory is not in the house. A coast guard messenger arrived this morning to say his presence was required immediately at Falmouth. He remained at Pendower until Jory’s return when they both left to board a steam launch awaiting them at Fowey.’
Alice’s spirits fell at the realisation that her arduous dash across the width of Cornwall had been in vain. Aware of how she must be feeling, Lady Kendall said kindly, ‘Come into the sitting room, my dear, we will order some refreshment for you and you can tell us what this is all about.’
‘I have left my personal maid and a servant with the pony and trap, I wonder whether they might be taken care of? It has been a long journey for them too. They are the young couple who announced their betrothal after being taken to Camelford fair by Jory yesterday. But before I forget I must thank you for the beautiful roses you sent with Jory. Their scent fills my brother David’s rather gloomy rectory.’
‘I am glad they brought you pleasure, my dear, and I will send someone to bring your servants in immediately. Jory has told us all about them. He has a very high regard for the young girl who I believe had a quite remarkable rescue from a shipwreck a few
years ago. He also told Lowena and I how she saved him from taking a beating from one of these dissenting ministers. I look forward to meeting them both later. In the meantime Lowena will take you to the sitting-room while I organise sustenance for you.’
O
N THE WAY
to the sitting-room, Lowena took Alice’s arm and said, ‘I am so happy to meet with you at last. Jory has talked so much about you. He has never ever spoken about anyone else in quite the same way. It is very exciting, especially as he is my absolutely
favourite
brother and we have always been close to one another.’
Lowena’s enthusiasm made Alice feel guilty. Then, angrily, she told herself
she
had nothing to feel guilty about. Her reason for being here was because of Jory’s involvement with Isabella Trevelyan. Yet if Jory and his sister were so close, would Lowena not have known about the association and been less enthusiastic about meeting
her
now? She had also declared that Jory had never spoken about anyone else in quite the same way.
Alice found it very confusing, and not a little embarrassing.
When they reached the sitting-room Lowena continued to talk of Jory in an enthusiastic and uninhibited manner until Lady Kendall entered the room closely followed by two maids. One carried a tray on which were the various items for making tea, the other maid’s tray bore plates on which were a variety of cakes and biscuits.
When tea and cakes had been passed around, Lady Kendall smiled at Alice and said, ‘Now, tell me about this concern for Jory’s well-being which has brought you all this way in such haste.’
‘Actually, I feel rather foolish having come here to warn Jory about a danger that is no longer imminent now he has been called away by the coast guard. I could have written to tell him about it.’
‘You were not to know that and if the danger still exists I will send someone to Falmouth to warn him, but I would like to hear about it first.’
Hesitantly at first, but growing in confidence as she spoke, Alice told the story of being invited to Helynn Manor by Captain Trevelyan, stressing that when she went there she took Eliza with her, as both companion and personal maid, but found it such an eccentric, indeed,
alarming
household, that she and Eliza left after a stay of only one night. However, while there she became aware that the family and their servants, such as they were, bore such a deep and unreasonable hatred for Jory that Albert Trevelyan, the head of the household armed himself and kept guard in the hallway at night, lest Jory should try to come to the house to visit his long-dead daughter.
Alice ended her explanation by saying, ‘It seems that on the journey back from Camelford Fair, Eliza told Jory about our visit to Helynn Manor and of their obsession with him. When he left the rectory this morning Jory told Eliza he intended going to Helynn tomorrow to find out what it was they thought he had done. Unfortunately, Albert Trevelyan is incapable of holding a reasonable conversation with anyone and would have shot Jory at the mere mention of his name.’
Lady Kendall realised there was a great deal Alice had not told her about the visit to Helynn and her reason for going there in the first place, but she did not doubt that had Jory gone to Helynn to speak with its owner, he would have been in very real danger.
‘You were absolutely right to come here to warn Jory, my dear, and I know he will appreciate your making such a journey because of concern for him. It is unfortunate that he has been called away before hearing about the dangers of visiting to
Helynn directly from you, but I will write a note telling of your warning and have it delivered to him right away. It is always possible he might have decided to go to Helynn before returning home. But, tell me, why should this man have such an obsessive hatred for Jory, what exactly is he supposed to have done to the Trevelyan family?’
Alice related what she and Eliza had been told by the various members of the household about Jory’s alleged affair with Isabella Trevelyan and of her ultimate death, allegedly as a direct result of his actions towards her.
When Alice finished speaking, Lady Kendall said indignantly, ‘Such behaviour is quite out of character for Jory! I would like to know when all this is alleged to have taken place? He was out of the country in Far Eastern waters for three years and on his return was virtually a cripple. When he was fit enough he secured a post with the coast guard and stayed with them until taking command of
Vixen
, by which time he had met with you, Alice. I hope you will not feel too embarrassed when I say there has been no other girl in his life during that time. I really think the Trevelyan family have made a grave mistake in implicating Jory in anything to do with the daughter of the family.’
‘That
is
what I thought when Captain Trevelyan first intimated that Jory was in some way responsible for the death of his sister, but when I visited Helynn and the same thing was said by Captain Trevelyan’s father and the family’s housekeeper, Miss Grimm, I began to believe there
must
be some truth in what they were saying.’
‘Did they actually say it was
Jory
who was involved? They called him by his first name?’ The question came from Lowena.
Alice thought about it before replying. ‘
Captain
Trevelyan actually said it was Jory, the others referred to him as “Lieutenant Kendall” … although one of them – I think it might have been Miss Grimm – confirmed that he came from Lostwithiel.’
‘This
Captain
Trevelyan, the member of the family who invited you to his family home. Is he a particular friend of yours?’ Once again the questioner was Lowena and she succeeded in embarrassing Alice.
‘No,’ she confessed. Then, telling both Kendall women how they had first met, added, ‘He came to the rectory and later stayed there at my brother’s invitation. When he invited David and I to pay a visit to his family at Helynn, I felt it would be churlish to refuse in view of the fact that he had saved my life. David was unfortunately unable to go because of Church commitments, but as Captain Trevelyan had behaved like a perfect gentleman during all the time he had been at the rectory and I thought I would be a guest of his family, my brother approved of my acceptance of the invitation. I ensured that Eliza came with me, of course, and in view of the situation we discovered at Helynn it was most fortunate I did so. She stayed in my room for the whole of that one night I was there. I was going to say she
slept
in my room, but I am afraid that neither of us was able to sleep. As it was we left the house via the kitchen door as soon as there was light enough for us to harness the pony to the trap.’
‘You don’t mean this Captain Trevelyan made improper advances?’ Lady Kendall was horrified.
‘I never gave him an opportunity,’ Alice declared, ‘but he certainly did not behave as a gentleman should and was drinking very heavily indeed. I realised I had been extremely foolish to accept the invitation to visit his home and was very glad I had Eliza with me. It is not a normal household.’
‘It
certainly
is not,’ Lowena said emphatically.
‘You know the family?’ Her mother asked in surprise.
‘I know
of
them, Mother, and I believe I know for whom Jory has been mistaken, although I don’t think
he
is in any way responsible for the Trevelyan girl’s death, either.’
‘You
know
who is the cause of all this trouble?’ Lady Kendall demanded. ‘Who is he?’
‘The person who is really responsible for all this is Isabella Trevelyan, but as that unhappy girl is no longer alive the only other person who can prove that poor Jory is in no way involved is cousin Jeremy.’
‘Jeremy?’ Lady Kendall was startled but then her expression changed and she said, ‘Of course, I remember now! There
was
a scandal with some girl, but it was kept very quiet.’
Turning to Alice, she explained, ‘It all happened when Jory was in China, so he most certainly was
not
involved. But if my memory serves me well the name of the girl involved was never mentioned.’
‘Not to
everyone
in the family, perhaps,’ Lowena said, ‘but Jeremy and I have always been very close and he confided in me. He was actually very fond of the girl, but it is fortunate that the relationship with her went no further than it did. Isabella Trevelyan was trouble, and it would seem she still is, even though she is no longer with us.’
‘Well Jeremy is not at home at the moment so he is unable to tell us exactly what it is the Trevelyan family think Jory has done, and why.’
Lowena shook her head. ‘Jeremy is very like Jory, Mother, he would never say anything to blacken the reputation of any woman, especially as she is dead now. I would not normally betray
his
trust either, but in view of what is being said about Jory and the trouble I believe it has caused between he and Alice I think I am justified in speaking about it, especially as Jeremy regards Jory as his hero.’
Alice felt uncomfortable that Lowena had realised all was not well between her and Jory, but she said nothing and Lowena continued, directing her story mainly at her.
‘Jeremy is a few years younger than Jory, and his home has
always been in the old dower house, no more than half-a-mile from Pendower. He joined the navy as a boy but, because his father was in the House of Lords, he gained quite rapid promotion and as a young and impressionable lieutenant found himself in the Admiralty, in London. It was here he met with Isabella Trevelyan who was a few years older than Jeremy, and he became utterly besotted with her.’
The latter remark brought forth a murmur of disapproval from Lady Kendall, but Alice said nothing and Lowena continued her story.
‘I think Isabella was flattered at first, especially as Jeremy was able to introduce her to London “society”, but when she began to make the acquaintance of some of the men on the fringe of the Royal Court, she jilted Jeremy and before very long was mistress of the younger son of a Scots duke, a notorious roué. However, when she discovered she was expecting his child, he discarded her, as did the so-called friends she had made during the time she was with him. By then Jeremy had been sent to sea and with no one to turn to and ashamed to return to her home in Cornwall she committed suicide.’
‘What a dreadfully tragic tale – although the girl brought it upon herself, of course,’ Lady Kendall said, ‘but the Trevelyan family can hardly blame a Kendall for what happened, certainly not our Jory.’
‘I think the Trevelyans must have been given a deliberately false story by friends of her lover about what happened to Isabella. The family would no doubt have known about Jeremy, but she would have kept her association with the son of the Scots nobleman from them.’
While Lowena was speaking, Lady Kendall had been watching Alice closely and was aware she was upset by the story, but perhaps even more dismayed because of how it had affected her own relationship with Jory. Now she said, ‘How dreadful it must
be for you to have people believing such things about Jory, and with so many of them telling you the same story, how could you not accept it as the truth? Jory is a lucky man, a lesser woman would have left him to his fate – even if it resulted in him being shot! We are all most grateful to you for coming here to warn him.’
Feeling thoroughly miserable, Alice said, ‘I feel ashamed now for ever doubting him, I should have known better.’
‘My dear, you were in a quite impossible situation with people on all sides telling you Jory had done something quite dreadful and not having him there to tell you otherwise. Had he not been to sea for so long you would have seen far more of each other and you would have learned that he is the most honourable of men. As his mother I admit to being biased in his favour, dreadfully biased, but I believe him to be incapable of deceit, as I am quite sure Lowena will agree.’
‘Well, perhaps he is not quite the paragon of virtue you depict him to be, Mother, but I will agree that he is a special brother and I love him very much.’
Lady Kendall was still watching Alice closely and she thought her to be close to tears. ‘It is a great relief to all of us to have things resolved, in our own minds, at least, but I am so pleased to see you, Alice, that I have quite forgotten the long journey you have had. Lowena will take you to freshen up before dinner and you will spend the night with us, of course.’
When Alice protested that she had not told David she would be away from the rectory overnight, Lady Kendall said, ‘He will realise you could not possibly make the return journey from Trethevy in a single day, your pony would drop dead before you were halfway home! Besides, now we have you here I have no intention of allowing you to leave us so soon. You must spend a few days at Pendower, in order that we might all become better acquainted. We will send your pony and trap home with your
groom tomorrow to let your brother know what is happening, and find a room for your maid. It will be a great pleasure to have you here with us.’