Hawke's Tor (6 page)

L
ATER THAT EVENING, after dinner had been eaten and enjoyed, Tom and Verity found themselves together in the Hawkes' garden. Amos had pleaded that he needed to complete a report on Kerensa's murder and the apparent abduction of baby Albert for the chief constable, and Talwyn had ushered them outside, claiming she needed to supervise their maid-of-all-work clearing away the dinner things in the kitchen.

Tom was showing Verity the rose bush he had bought for Amos and Talwyn as a wedding anniversary present. The bush was in flower and exuding a wonderful scent. After commenting on the flower's beauty and fragrance, Verity said, ‘I have an uncomfortable feeling that Amos and Talwyn are deliberately throwing us together, Tom.'

‘Probably,' Tom replied with a smile. ‘They are a wonderful couple and very happy together, but Talwyn, in particular, worries about me. She would like to see me safely settled and as contented as they are.'

‘Unfortunately, she is wasting her time, Tom. I am settled and contented with my present way of life, but Talwyn
is
a very kind and considerate woman.' After a slight hesitation, Verity added, ‘Have you never felt the need to marry?'

It was an honest question with no ulterior motive and Tom replied equally frankly.

‘A couple of years ago I thought I
was
heading for marriage.'

‘What went wrong?'

‘Flora, the girl I was going to marry, was housekeeper to the Dowager Lady Hogg, who went to Canada to be with her sons. She is an elderly lady and Flora felt duty bound to accompany her on the journey. She intended to return to England once Lady Hogg was settled in, but something always seemed to get in the way and it was never the right time to leave.'

‘Did you never think of going to Canada to be with her?'

Tom gave a wry smile, ‘I wouldn't have been welcome there. Lady Hogg doted on her youngest son and Amos and I were responsible for him being forced to leave this country. We arrested him for being involved in a burglary and a plot to defraud a number of influential people – and for a while he was also a murder suspect. In fact, had he not belonged to such an influential family he would either have spent a great many years in prison, or been transported to Australia. Fortunately for him, an agreement was reached that instead of being taken before a judge, he would be allowed to leave the country and go to Canada where the Hogg family have large estates. Lady Hogg went there to be with him. Actually, it was as a result of that investigation that Flora and I met in the first place.'

‘How intriguing! You and Amos must tell me more, while I am here.'

Looking at Verity and seeing a very attractive woman, Tom asked, ‘How about you … is there no one in your life?' He realized as soon as the words were out that it was an impertinent question, but Verity did not appear to be offended.

‘Miss Nightingale never allowed any of her nurses to become
involved with men. She insisted they be wedded to their vocation – as she herself is – and it
is
a very demanding vocation but one I love very much.'

‘Yet you left actual nursing some years ago and are performing a different task now, lecturing and recruiting nurses, surely the same rules no longer apply?'

‘To be perfectly honest I have never found time to even think about it, I have been kept far too busy…. But shall we change the subject? Tell me more about the man you wish me to speak to, the husband of this murdered woman.'

‘There is very little Amos and I know about him, really. We have been told he worked in Wales before he came to Trelyn and spent time in India before that, but we have no idea why he left either place.'

‘I can think of a couple of reasons why he might have left India. One is because the mutiny there shook everyone to the core. Before then they all enjoyed a good life … well the Europeans did. Most were employees of the East India Company, the
Honourable
East India Company, which controlled the country. They lived well and felt safe, but the mutiny changed everything, it was a terrifying time, especially for the women and children. When it ended the Crown took over the running of the country and many Europeans, frightened of what had occurred and realizing the opportunity to amass huge fortunes had passed, decided to leave India. Not only that, with the British Government now involved in the affairs of the country, certain men were afraid they might be brought to account for their actions during earlier years.'

‘I've always thought it must be a fascinating country,' Tom commented, aware that Verity had also been in India during the mutiny and must have been subject to the dangers faced by other
Europeans there. ‘With your knowledge of the place it would be interesting to have you meet Horace Morgan and see what you make of him. He doesn't seem to have made any friends since coming to Cornwall and keeps himself very much to himself.'

‘I am perfectly willing to speak to him if an opportunity can be arranged by Amos, but do you really think it might help with your inquiries into the murder of his wife?'

‘I don't know,' Tom confessed. ‘Both Amos and I have the feeling that he is not quite what he seems to be and, as he
is
a suspect, we need to learn all we can about him, to either find a possible motive, or rule him out.'

‘Well, I only intended to be in Cornwall for a few days, but if Talwyn doesn't mind if I remain here for a day or two longer I will be happy to talk to the girls at North Hill school … and any other school of her choosing. That
is
why I am in Cornwall, after all, and if it means I can help you in any way – and Amos, of course – I will be thrilled. When I was a young girl in Wiltshire and something exciting occurred I used to wish I had been born a boy so I might join the constabulary and be involved with what was going on. If I were able to help you with your murder inquiry it would be something exciting to tell my stepfather!'

‘I think the life you led in both Scutari and India was probably far more exciting than speaking to Horace Morgan, but your help would certainly be appreciated by Amos … by both of us.'

Tom was aware that Verity's background was very different to his own and she was totally dedicated to her work. Furthermore, the social gulf between them was far too deep to be bridged, but she
was
a beautiful woman and he enjoyed speaking to her. He hoped she might remain in Cornwall for a while and give him an opportunity to spend more time in her company.

In the kitchen of the house, Amos was standing behind Talwyn, hands on her shoulders and they were both looking out through the window at the pair walking around the garden together.

‘They seem to be getting along very well.' This from Talwyn.

‘They do,' Amos agreed, ‘but I hope Tom will not become too smitten with her.'

‘Why? Verity is a very nice woman.' Talwyn turned her head to look up at her husband.

‘I agree, but nothing can come of it, their backgrounds are poles apart. She obviously comes from a very good family, and is a friend of people like Florence Nightingale. Tom comes from a poor part of London and is only a policeman.'

‘
Only
a policeman? Is that how you see
yourself
, Amos, as less than others?'

Amused by her sudden eruption of indignation, Amos smiled and tightened the grip he had on her shoulders, ‘No, of course not, but then, as you are so fond of telling me,
I
have an arrogant nature.'

‘And so you have!' She reached up and touched his hand affectionately. ‘But you
are
as good as any man I have ever met – and
better
than most. So too is Tom. As you have said yourself, if he wasn't so loyal to you and left headquarters he could opt for rapid promotion elsewhere in the force and – again quoting you – he would be snapped up for a senior post in any constabulary in the country if he ever decided to leave Cornwall.'

‘True,' Amos agreed, ‘but you mustn't get your hopes up about Tom's chances with Verity even if the social gap wasn't there. She is a dedicated nurse and committed to what she is doing.'

‘Perhaps,' Talwyn replied, enigmatically, ‘but I'm not giving
up yet. I see a lot of the same strength of character in Tom that I first saw in you … but without the arrogance! Verity is no fool, she will be able to recognize it too.'

T
OM HAD SOME work to carry out in the Bodmin police headquarters before he sought out suspects in the murder of Kerensa Morgan and it was Amos who took Verity to Trelyn in the hope that she might meet Horace Morgan and learn more of his life in India, but it was Tom who was the early subject of conversation when the two first set out.

They were travelling using a pony and trap that Amos had at his disposal and Talwyn gave her husband a brief but smug ‘I told you so' look when Verity expressed disappointment that Tom would not be accompanying them.

Verity saw the look too and said, easily, ‘Tom has had a very interesting life and I enjoyed talking to him last evening.'

‘We're likely to meet up with him later in the day,' Amos explained. ‘He has one or two things to do at headquarters, but they shouldn't take him too long. When they are done he will be riding to North Hill to try to interview two possible suspects who were unavailable yesterday.'

Verity quietly accepted this and, although during the drive to Trelyn she put a great many questions about the man they were hoping to meet, she also succeeded in finding out more about Tom.

Amos was aware of this and wondered whether Talwyn's acumen might prove superior to his own where Verity was concerned. He conceded that it would not be for the first time.

Arriving at Trelyn Hall, they were greeted with thinly disguised disapproval by the butler and seated in the entrance hall while Colonel Trethewy was informed of their presence.

The magistrate kept them waiting for some fifteen minutes before putting in an appearance and it was immediately apparent that he was annoyed at being disturbed by Amos. His irritation dissipated somewhat when he saw Verity but, still frowning, he demanded, ‘What is it the police want this time, Hawke?'

Gesturing towards Verity, he added, ‘and who is this?'

Giving Colonel Trethewy a brief introduction to Verity, Amos explained the purpose of their visit, but it failed to mollify the bad-tempered landowner. ‘Talk to schoolgirls about becoming nurses? What sort of a future is that for decent country girls, eh? I'm surprised Chief Constable Gilbert allows his most senior superintendent to waste time aiding a woman who is attempting to lure young girls into almost certain immorality when he should be investigating a murder. I shall most certainly have words with him about it.'

‘It is because I was coming here as part of that investigation that I offered to bring Miss Pendleton with me to speak to you, sir. As for the mission that brought her to Cornwall, I have no doubt she will be able to put your mind at rest.'

‘Thank you, Amos. Colonel Trethewy is not the first man to have misconceptions about the nursing service. It is something Miss Nightingale has needed to fight against for very many years. Whenever the word nurse is mentioned to senior army officers of the past they immediately think of camp followers,
the women who follow soldiers into battle for a wide variety of reasons and who are the only ones to care for soldiers when they are wounded in battle. Many are well intentioned and do their very best for the men – others do not. All lack the skills necessary to help the recovery of the men they tend. Miss Nightingale is aware of this and with the full support of Her Majesty Queen Victoria she has trained and organized a force of women whose skills are often superior to the doctors they support and whose dedication and discipline have transformed the nursing service. In order to expand and improve the reputation of these women, bright, honest and intelligent girls are being recruited to receive training in some of London's top hospitals. It is a scheme that has the backing of the Prime Minister, Lord Palmerston, and its success is very close to Queen Victoria's heart, as Her Majesty told me herself.'

Startled, Colonel Trethewy looked at Verity in disbelief, ‘You have met the Queen?'

‘On more than one occasion,' Verity replied matter-of-factly. ‘She has taken a keen interest in all the many aspects of nursing ever since Miss Nightingale proved its worth during the Crimean War. A school of midwives has recently been opened in London which we hope will revolutionize childbirth and do away with many of the old women who carry out the task – particularly in the countryside – and who are positively dangerous for both mother and child. And, of course, the importance of having a trained nurse assisting at childbirth is a subject with which Her Majesty has personal experience.'

Colonel Trethewy appeared embarrassed by the conversation but Amos thought of the conditions in which Bessie Harris lived and from which she sallied forth to bring babies into the world.

Recovering some of his composure, Colonel Trethewy realized
he was speaking to someone who undoubtedly had considerable influence close to the seat of power in the country's capital and he tempered his tone accordingly.

‘I have, of course, heard of Miss Nightingale's sterling efforts on behalf of wounded soldiers during the Crimean War and Her Majesty's concern for those who fight in her name is well known and appreciated. As an ex-soldier myself, anything that makes their lot easier has my fullest support. Now you have explained your purpose in coming to Cornwall more fully I will be delighted to arrange for you to give a talk to the girls of our school. Would you like me to have the girls brought here, to the Hall?'

‘No, Colonel, but thank you for suggesting it. I feel the weather is so pleasant that I will take the girls out of school and find a grassy bank on which to sit while I talk to them.'

‘As you wish. I believe there are a couple of very bright pupils among them, but I doubt very much whether you will be able to persuade them to leave Cornwall. Most girls have already decided who they will marry, even before they leave school.'

‘I think you will find Miss Pendleton is not easily deterred from her purpose, sir. Had she been she would never have survived the Crimean War
and
the Indian Mutiny.'

Amos's words had the effect for which he had been hoping. Eager now to make a favourable impression upon his well-connected visitor, Colonel Trethewy said to Verity, ‘You were caught up in the troubles in India as well as the Crimea? I wonder if you ever met Horace Morgan, my estate steward, while you were there?'

‘The name sounds familiar, where was he stationed?'

‘I really don't know, but he spent many years with the Honourable East India Company. I will have him brought to my
study and you two can have a chat together while Superintendent Hawke brings me up to date on his inquiries into the murder of Morgan's wife and the disappearance of his baby son. I have no doubt Hawke has already told you all about it? It is a dreadful business … dreadful!'