A Safe Harbour (45 page)
Authors: Benita Brown
Tags: #Technology & Engineering, #Sagas, #Fisheries & Aquaculture, #Fiction
‘I’m sorry,’ Caroline Travers said, ‘did the dog annoy you? Oh, it’s you, Miss Lawson.’
‘There’s no need to apologize. Prince did no harm.’
‘Oh, but he has. Look at your cloak.’
Kate looked down and saw that Prince had left a mess of sandy pawprints. ‘That’s nothing. The sand will brush off easily.’
‘Even so you must give it a good shake before you go back inside,’ Caroline said. ‘You don’t want to trail sand into the house, do you?’
Kate wondered why Caroline Travers thought she had the right to speak to her like this. Did she use the same manner with her friends or had she classed Kate as a servant who needed to be told how to behave properly? Kate decided it was the latter.
While they had been speaking, Prince had dashed headlong into the sea.
‘Oh, no!’ Caroline said. ‘Come back, you wicked dog.’ She raised her voice. ‘Do you hear me, Prince? Come here at once!’
The dog obeyed, but as soon as he had reached their side he began to shake himself vigorously. Kate stepped back and watched as he flung a curving shower of water droplets and wet sand in all directions. Caroline had not been as quick to escape and now her fashionable coat was in a much worse state than Kate’s cloak.
‘Oh, dear,’ she said. ‘Now I shall have to follow my own advice.’
For some reason this reaction made Kate like the young woman better. She couldn’t help being Caroline Travers, with all that meant, any more than Kate could help being Kate Lawson.
‘Come here, beastie,’ Caroline said to the dog. She stooped gracefully to attach a lead to his collar. ‘I think you have had enough fun for one day. And Mrs Adamson will not thank me for bringing you home in this state. Or rather Joan will not. That’s the maid who answers the door,’ she explained to Kate. ‘I don’t think she likes the dog – or at least the mess he makes.’
‘Understandable, surely, if she has to clear it up?’
‘But that’s her job.’
Kate was reminded of the gulf between them. ‘Ah, yes,’ she said. ‘That’s her job.’
Perhaps sensing Kate’s sudden coolness, Caroline changed the subject. ‘And are you quite better now, Miss Lawson?’
‘Better?’
‘My mother and I have been to London to visit friends and do some shopping. Mrs Adamson told me that, while I was away, Richard found you in a cave – quite soaked through – and brought you home with him and summoned Sam Phillips to attend you. You stayed for nearly four weeks, in fact.’
Was there a hint of accusation in Caroline’s tone?
‘I would have left much sooner but Dr Phillips insisted I stay.’
‘And Richard – Mr Adamson? What did he say?’
‘I have no idea. I never saw him – or Mrs Adamson.’
‘Ah.’
Did Kate imagine it or had her answer pleased Caroline?
‘Well, now, Miss Lawson,’ the young woman said. ‘I’m glad we met tonight. I feel I know you better.’
Maybe she does feel that, thought Kate, but surely the real cause of her gladness is that she has discovered Richard did not come to see me while I stayed in his house.
‘Shall we walk together?’ Caroline asked.
‘If you like.’
‘Good. Let us go as far as those rocks, but as it’s getting darker I suggest we walk back along the top where the street lamps are lit.’
Kate was not given the chance to agree or disagree. Caroline set off, seeking the dry sand above the tideline. Kate followed. Why not? she thought. Prince resigned himself to the lead and slouched along with his head down. When Kate glanced at him she chuckled.
‘What is it?’ Caroline asked.
‘Look. Now I understand where the expression “hangdog” comes from.’
Caroline looked at the dog and laughed. ‘He does look miserable, doesn’t he? When in fact he ought to be happy and grateful.’
‘Why is that?’
‘His master is working late at the office. I came to keep his mother company. She likes me to visit. We share a passion for literature, you know. That’s novels, poems, theatrical dramas—’
‘I know what literature means.’
‘Do you? Ah, well, in any case I decided to bring Prince out for his evening walk to save Richard from that task. He’ll be tired enough when he comes home for his supper.’
It all sounded cosy and domestic. Caroline keeping Mrs Adamson company, reading books together, taking the dog for a walk. And would she be staying to have supper with Richard? Just the two of them, perhaps, by the fire with trays on their laps? A surge of jealousy rose in Kate’s throat like bile. She gulped in a breath of cold air in an attempt to quench the bitter taste it left.
‘I understand you are no longer posing for Mr Munro?’ Caroline changed the subject.
‘No. I have no time now that I’m working in the shop but Mr Munro said he would be able to finish the portrait without me.’
‘And do you like working in the shop?’
‘Yes, I do.’
‘I imagine it’s a little step up in the world for you.’
‘I don’t know what you mean?’
‘Well, it must be better than selling fish from door to door.’
Kate gripped the edges of the cloak and said nothing. As they walked up the slope at the south end of the beach Kate pulled up her hood. A sensible measure, but it also meant that the other girl could not easily see her expression. She told herself that Caroline had not meant to insult her. It was simply that her upbringing had led her to believe that a young woman who had nothing more demanding to do all day than read books, play the piano maybe, and perhaps take drawing lessons, was in some way superior to a mere fish lass.
Soon they were walking along the cliff-top road back towards the village. The wind was strong enough now to make talking difficult so they lapsed into silence. Kate kept the edges of her hood drawn together with one hand. Caroline was not wearing a hat and Kate, glancing at her, noticed that the wind was busy unravelling her elaborate hairstyle. I wonder if she uses curling tongs, Kate mused.
Then Prince, who had been trailing behind on his lead obediently but morosely, suddenly shot forward, jerking Caroline’s arm out in front of her.
‘Goodness me!’ she gasped and the wind caught her words and tossed them away. ‘Prince! Stop this!’
But the dog ignored her. Long before the figure was recognizable, the dog had sensed who it was who was approaching them. Soon Caroline realized who it was too. She let the dog have his way and, keeping tight hold of the lead, she began to run. Kate watched her helter-skelter progress and heard her laughter.
‘Richard!’ Caroline exclaimed as she collided with Prince’s master and fell into his arms.
Richard had seen the two women walking towards him. They appeared in one pool of light from a street lamp, disappeared into dimness for a few steps, then appeared again. Caroline was immediately recognizable because of the dog and he assumed that the other woman in the old-fashioned cloak must be one of the housemaids. He was pleased Caroline had had the sense to ask one of them to accompany her. When his mother had told him she had taken Prince out he was vexed. Normally this was a peaceful and law-abiding community and there would have been no harm in her strolling on the beach, even in the dusky hours of twilight.
But times were not normal now. Not with the men of the village hating him the way they did. And Caroline had been seen at his house – by his side during the demonstration. Did she not realize that she might be a target?
Now he was glad she was safe. She looked up at him, her lovely dark hair blowing wildly round her face. She smelled of fresh sea air with an underlying hint of
Muguet des Bois
, her favourite perfume. Richard experienced the now familiar pang of anguish that he could not feel more for her.
Muguet des Bois
, her favourite perfume. Richard experienced the now familiar pang of anguish that he could not feel more for her.
‘You were coming to meet me?’ Caroline asked.
‘To find you. Your father’s carriage has arrived to take you home. Look, there it is, turned round and ready to go.’ He pointed to where the carriage was waiting with its coach lamps illuminating the road ahead.
‘Oh, I see.’ She moved away from him.
Richard could tell she was hurt. He had given her the impression that he was keen for her to go. What would it have cost him to say ‘Yes, I thought we’d walk together a little’? The carriage would have waited.
‘Well, there’s your dog,’ she said and handed him the lead.
‘Let the girl take it,’ he said. ‘We’ll stroll along together.’
‘The girl?’
‘Yes – the maid. Is it Joan?’
‘No. She’s not one of your household staff, Richard.’ Caroline gave him a strange look. ‘Don’t you recognize her?’
‘No. Should I?’
The other woman had been hanging back, looking down at the ground. Richard had assumed that was because she was a servant who was expected to keep her distance and not eavesdrop on the conversations of her betters. But now he looked at her properly for the first time. She raised her head, and as she did so the hood of her cloak fell back a little. Her gaze was cool.
‘Kate,’ he said.
‘We met on the Long Sands and she was kind enough to walk with me,’ Caroline told him. ‘We have had a pleasant conversation, haven’t we, Miss Lawson?’
For answer Kate inclined her head and then said, ‘I must go now.’
‘Of course,’ Richard said.
He stared at Kate in anguish. What was she thinking? Had she seen the way Caroline had fallen so intimately into his arms? That had not been his choice, but how could he explain? All he could do was stand silently while Kate said goodnight to Caroline, who simply nodded. Then she walked on past them. She did not say goodnight to Richard.
Kate knew she had no right to feel so miserable about what had just happened. No right to have been so shocked when she saw Richard take Caroline in his arms. Richard Adamson was going to marry Caroline Travers. Howard had as good as told her so. And it was right that he should. Caroline was beautiful, well educated and, what’s more, a lady. She was just the sort of woman that a successful man like Richard deserved. And what am I? Kate thought. I’m a fish lass. Of course he isn’t interested in me. And if he were he would lose interest as soon as he discovered that I’m carrying another man’s child.
But Kate found herself remembering that moment on the beach. The moment when he had carried her out of the cave, set her down safely and then folded her in his arms. She had never been so moved by a single kiss – not even when Jos had kissed her. She had clung to Richard Adamson, and he to her, as if their very lives depended on it. She felt her body heat rising – was it with shame? – and was glad of the cool air on her face.
But it wasn’t just passion that drew her to him. Yes, he was attractive; a fine figure of a man, her mother would say. But there was more. Richard had an inner strength. He had integrity and a keen intelligence that would prove an exciting challenge to any woman. Especially to a woman who loved him.
And what was she to make of the way Caroline had questioned her? It was as if the young woman suspected her of being a rival. Surely not? A woman like that would not suspect such a thing unless . . . unless what? Unless she had sensed that the man she loved was cooling towards her. Women were wise about these things. Was it possible that Caroline had come to the conclusion that Richard’s feelings had changed because of his growing interest in Kate herself? No, she could not allow herself to believe that . . .
Kate stopped walking when she realized she had taken a wrong turning. Instead of arriving at the village shop she found herself standing outside Belle Vue Cottage. She stared at the solid, low dwelling that had stood there for centuries, keeping its inhabitants safe and warm. She took in the whitewashed walls, the moonlight shining on the roof and the smoke curling up into the sky from the chimney. How welcoming the cottage looks, she thought, and she stood for a while lost in contemplation of what it would be like to have a home of her own and bring up her child there. But the wind from the sea caught at her cloak as if trying to tug her away. She turned round and made her way to the shop.
When she got there she saw someone standing in the doorway. Some man sent out by his wife to see if there was a loaf of bread left or maybe a slice or two of cooked ham for the supper. But the shop had closed early tonight because Alice had wanted her to go for a walk and get some fresh air. She supposed she could let him in and serve him. It would be a kindness. But as she got closer the man must have heard her footsteps and he turned to face her. It was Richard Adamson.
‘Kate! I thought I’d missed you!’
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