A Village Scandal

Lewis was seated at a table, but he leaped to his feet at the sight of Daisy and his face split into a wide grin.

‘It’s good to see you again, missis.’

‘And you, Lewis.’ Daisy sat down in the chair Clem pulled up for her. ‘Where’s my husband?’ She looked from one to the other. ‘Come on – you must know. Especially you, Lewis. You were the one who came for him on our wedding day.’

Lewis’s fair skin flushed to a deep pink. ‘I dunno, ma’am. I truly don’t know where the captain is now.’

‘Neither of us does,’ Clem added hastily.

‘So you were in on it, too.’ Daisy met his gaze with a stubborn lift of her chin. ‘I’m not leaving until you tell me everything you know.’

Mrs Guppy slammed a Brown Betty teapot down on the table. ‘Never let it be said that Clara Guppy don’t know how to treat a guest. Clem, get them cups and saucers down from the dresser and wipe them on your shirt-tail. The drying cloth got ate by the goat.’

Clem obeyed his mother without a murmur. At any other time Daisy might have smiled to see a big man so obviously under the maternal thumb, but at this moment she was more concerned as to Jay’s fate. ‘What happened to the captain, Lewis? Please tell me everything you know.’

Lewis shot a wary glance at Clem, who nodded and sat down, folding his arms across his chest.

‘Well,’ Lewis began tentatively, ‘I found out that the Dorning brothers planned to board the Lazy Jane on the night of the wedding, when they knew that nearly everyone in the village would be enjoying the celebrations at Creek Manor.’

‘But they’re in prison. I found that out for myself.’

‘Not all of ’em,’ Clem said grimly. ‘There are four Dornings and the father, and they’re all bad lots, every one of them. They blame the captain for the accident that killed Benny Sykes. He was a relation of theirs, and they’re a clannish lot. Of course, it wasn’t Captain Jay’s fault, but you try telling that to the Dornings.’

‘But what’s happened to my husband?’ Daisy repeated anxiously. ‘Where is he?’

‘We don’t rightly know, missis.’ Clem filled a cup with strong tea and handed it to her.

‘Stop shilly-shallying and tell the woman the truth,’ Mrs Guppy said angrily.

Daisy shot her a sideways glance. ‘Tell me, please.’

‘Clem, do you speak or do I?’ Mrs Guppy stood arms akimbo, glaring at her son.

He cleared his throat noisily. ‘Well, Mrs Tattersall, ma’am, we managed to get on board, but they’d hired a gang of roughs from Burnham and we was overpowered.’

‘They set sail,’ Lewis continued eagerly. ‘Because they knew if we was put ashore we’d have the law on them.’

Clem nodded. ‘And when we was a good way out to sea they put us in a jolly boat and cast us adrift.’

Daisy’s hands flew to cover her mouth as she gasped in horror. ‘But you’re both here. Where is Jay?’

‘A storm blew up, missis,’ Clem added reluctantly. ‘We was caught broadsides by a huge wave and swept overboard. The boat broke in two and the captain was clinging to one half, and me, Lewis and Ramsden to the other. It were pitch-dark and we lost sight of him.’

‘But you’re here, safe and well,’ Daisy said in desperation. ‘How did you get ashore?’

‘We was picked up by a fishing boat and landed a bit further up the coast. Lewis and I had to walk most of the way until we got a lift in a farm cart.’

‘How could you save yourselves and leave my husband to drown?’ Daisy leaped to her feet, struggling with the tears that threatened to overwhelm her. ‘Where is Ramsden? I want to hear his side of the story.’

‘He went home to his missis. But he’ll tell you the same as us. There weren’t nothing we could do.’

‘Why didn’t you alert the authorities?’ Daisy demanded angrily. ‘Why didn’t you report this dreadful deed?’

‘We got no proof, ma’am,’ Guppy said humbly. ‘It’d be our word against the Dornings, and they’re as slippery as eels.’

‘It weren’t their fault.’ Mrs Guppy put a skinny arm around Daisy’s shoulders. ‘Sit down and drink your tea, my duck. You’ll feel better in a while.’

‘The fishermen did what they could,’ Clem said gently. ‘But the storm was so bad we was lucky to get ashore in one piece.’

‘Aye, that’s true enough.’ Lewis eyed her warily. ‘We’re real sorry to give you such bad news.’

‘Are you saying there’s no hope?’ Daisy’s throat constricted so that she could barely speak above a whisper.

Mrs Guppy frowned at her son and shook her head when Lewis opened his mouth to respond. ‘We could tell you that there’s always hope,’ she said firmly. ‘But we’d be setting you up for disappointment later. Best get used to the idea now, if you ask me.’

‘But the Lazy Jane is at anchor in the creek.’ Daisy looked from one to the other, in a mute plea for a glimmer of hope. ‘Why would they bring the ship back if they’d stolen it? And why wasn’t anyone on board, not even a man on watch?’

Clem shrugged and shook his head. ‘I dunno, missis. Maybe they got no use for her right now, or maybe they don’t want to get done for piracy and murder.’

A shudder ran down Daisy’s spine and she shivered convulsively. ‘I – I think I’d better go now.’ She headed for the doorway, but Clem was on his feet in an instant and moved quickly to hold it open.

‘What shall us do about the ship? You’re the gaffer now, I suppose.’

‘I suppose I am,’ Daisy said dazedly. ‘Well, I’m putting you in charge, Guppy. You must go on board and wait until I’ve decided what to do next.’

‘That I’ll do. Shall I see you home, missis?’

She shook her head. ‘No, thank you. I’ll be all right.’

‘I’m going your way.’ Lewis jumped to his feet and crossed the floor in a couple of strides. ‘I got to go anyway. My folks don’t know that I’m safe so I need to put their minds at rest.’ He proffered his arm. ‘I’m sorry about the captain, ma’am. He was a good sort – the best.’

Daisy was too upset to argue and she leaned on Lewis’s arm as they walked slowly towards the manor house, parting at the gates of the Johnsons’ farm.

‘You will be all right, won’t you?’ Lewis asked anxiously. ‘I could walk the rest of the way with you.’

She managed a weak smile. ‘I’ll be fine, thank you, Lewis. You go home and let your mother and father see that you’re safe and well.’

He nodded and went to open the gate. A sheepdog raced towards him, barking hysterically and wagging his tail.

Daisy sighed. She felt cold as ice and numbed with shock, too heartbroken for tears as she put one foot in front of the other, trudging slowly towards Creek Manor. All the hopes and plans they had made for the future had been shattered by what she had just heard. How she would break the news of Jay’s tragic end to his mother was something that Daisy could hardly bear to imagine. To put the dreadful news into words meant acknowledging that Jay was gone forever, and that was something she could not, would not believe.

The old manor house loomed closer, looking foreboding now as the clouds gathered, threatening yet another heavy shower. The first drops fell just as Daisy entered the grounds and the warm rain trickled down her face, mingling with her own tears. She could not face the family yet and she took shelter in the summerhouse where, just a few hours ago, she had emerged filled with joy because Jay’s ship had returned. Now she knew the truth she would like to see the Lazy Jane sink to the bottom of the sea. It would be retribution for making her a widow when she had only recently become a wife. Now she would never bear Jay’s children or grow to old age in his company. She held her head in her hands and wept.

Chapter Four

When the storm of crying ceased, Daisy drew a deep breath and wiped her eyes. Giving way to grief would not help Jay, and she refused to believe that he was dead. Surely, after being so close that they seemed to be of one mind she would know if anything terrible had happened to him? She sat for a while, composing her thoughts before venturing into the house to break the news that Jay was missing, which allowed the possibility that he might still be found alive.

She found Mary and Hilda in the morning parlour. Mary turned to her with a hearty sigh. ‘Daisy, we’ve just been going through the storerooms with Mrs Ralston, and we’ve only enough provisions to last another week or so. I’ve already spoken to the head gardener and we’ve almost gone through the winter store of root vegetables. It will be some time before the kitchen garden is producing enough to feed us all.’

Hilda gave her a searching look. ‘What’s the matter, Daisy? You’ve been crying.’

‘I’m afraid I’ve just had some bad news.’

Mary threw up her hands and collapsed onto the nearest chair. ‘I knew it – something terrible has happened to my boy.’

‘We don’t know exactly,’ Daisy said cautiously. ‘Clem Guppy told me that the Dornings are related to the poor fellow who died after an accident on the Lazy Jane and they’ve been harbouring a grudge against Jay ever since. Anyway, they boarded the ship and took it out into the North Sea, where they set Jay and his crew adrift in a storm. The jolly boat was wrecked and Guppy, Ramsden and Lewis were picked up by local fishermen, but they don’t know what happened to Jay.’

‘What are you saying?’ Mary demanded angrily. ‘If you’re trying to tell me that my son is drowned, then say so.’

‘They lost contact with him, but it’s possible he was rescued by another boat. I won’t believe that he’s dead. He’s alive somewhere, I know he is.’

Mary stared at her, pale-faced but suddenly calm. ‘It’s my punishment for my past sins. I should never have agreed to marry the old squire. He was a dying man and he didn’t know what he was doing. Now my son has been taken from me.’

‘The squire might have been dying,’ Hilda said calmly, ‘but that man knew exactly what he was about. He’s got you trapped here for life, Mary. It was his twisted way of punishing you for making him face his wicked past.’

Mary shook her head and her eyes filled with tears. ‘We’re finished, Hilda. We can’t afford to live here, but we haven’t got the money to move elsewhere, and now this. It’s all too much.’

‘We’ll manage somehow.’ Daisy went to sit next to Mary on the sofa, and clasped her hands. ‘I won’t believe that Jay is gone for ever. I know he’s out there somewhere and he needs our help.’

‘How can we do anything? We can’t manage without Jay and we’ll soon be homeless.’

‘I’m not giving up.’ Daisy rose to her feet. ‘There must be a way out of this.’

‘You could sell the manor house,’ Hilda said warily. ‘There are the empty cottages that belong to you, too.’

Mary brushed tears from her cheeks. ‘I lived in one of those for more than twenty years. I wouldn’t house pigs in them as they are.’

‘They’re uninhabitable at the moment,’ Daisy added, frowning. ‘We were renovating them, but there’s no more money to pay the workmen, so that’s out of the question. There must be something I can do – I need to think.’

‘I have a terrible headache.’ Mary put her hand in her pocket and pulled out a crumpled handkerchief, but as she did so a slip of paper fluttered to the floor. ‘I’ll go to my room and lie down.’ She bent down to retrieve the note and handed it to Daisy. ‘This came for you earlier. I’d quite forgotten.’

‘I’ll get Cook to make a tisane for you,’ Hilda said gently as she helped Mary to her feet. ‘Do you want me to come with you?’

‘I’m quite capable of getting to my room on my own, thank you.’ Mary brushed off Hilda’s restraining hand and swept out of the room without a backwards glance.

‘Grief takes people in different ways,’ Daisy said hastily. ‘She’s just upset, Hilda. Don’t take it to heart.’

‘I know, dear. I’ve been through it, too. My poor Stanley didn’t deserve to die like that – run over by an omnibus in full view of the passers-by. I still have nightmares about the accident that cost me so dear, and I don’t enjoy hopping about with my peg leg like one of them kangaroos they’ve found in Australia.’

Despite her sadness this made Daisy smile. ‘You don’t look like a kangaroo, Hilda. No one would guess that you received such a terrible injury. That’s one advantage of wearing long skirts.’

‘You and I are born to survive, Daisy. But never mind all that – what’s in the note?’

Daisy unfolded the sheet of expensive writing paper and studied the contents. ‘It’s from Mrs Harker, the colonel’s wife. She wants me to visit her at Four Winds tomorrow to discuss “a business matter”.’

‘We nursed her daughters back to health during the cholera outbreak,’ Hilda said, thoughtfully. ‘Maybe she wants to show her gratitude in some way.’

‘There’s only one way to find out.’

‘They say that she’s the one who holds the purse strings,’ Hilda said thoughtfully. ‘She inherited a huge fortune and the colonel only had his army pay until he married into money.’

‘I could certainly do with some money myself – or a small miracle – but I won’t be beaten, Hilda. Tomorrow morning I’m going to pay a call on Mrs Harker and find out what she wants.’

The drawing room at Four Winds was large, light and filled with spring sunshine. The chintz-covered chairs and sofas were made even more inviting by the addition of brightly coloured cushions, and bowls of hyacinths filled the air with their sweet scent. Elegant in a lavender silk afternoon gown trimmed with lace, Mrs Harker motioned Daisy to take a seat.

‘I heard about your troubles, Daisy. I wanted to tell you how sorry I was to hear of your loss.’

Daisy stared at her, nonplussed. ‘But it was only yesterday that I discovered what happened to my husband.’

‘I’m sorry, but one of my maids is related to Eli Ramsden. She heard about the shipwreck last evening, and I’m afraid news like that gets round very quickly. You have my sincere condolences.’

‘Thank you, but I haven’t given up hope, Mrs Harker. I think I’d know if anything terrible had happened to Jay.’

‘You were married for such a short time, and I’m afraid we missed your wedding. The girls and I would have loved to attend, but we went to Portsmouth to see my husband off. He’s returned for another tour of duty in India.’

Relieved to have a change of subject, Daisy managed a smile. ‘How are your daughters, Mrs Harker? I hope they are fully recovered from their bout of cholera last year.’

‘They are very well now, thanks to you and Dr Neville, and I’ve made a point of raising funds to keep the hospital going. Little Creek might be a small village, but it serves quite a large area.’

‘Dr Neville is as dedicated as his father was, and now he can carry on the late doctor’s work, largely thanks to you.’ Daisy eyed her warily. ‘I don’t wish to sound impertinent, but you said in your note that you had a business matter to discuss.’

‘Yes, that is so.’ Mrs Harker tugged at an embroidered bell pull. ‘Would you prefer tea or coffee, Daisy?’

‘Tea would be lovely, thank you, Mrs Harker.’ Daisy sat back on the sofa, wondering what was coming next.

‘I think we can dispense with formalities, Daisy. You must call me Marjorie, and I want you to think of me as your friend.’ She sat down in a chair by the fire, which blazed up the chimney even though it was a mild spring day. The sincerity in Marjorie Harker’s voice and the look of sympathy in her grey eyes was almost too much for Daisy, and she had to swallow back tears before she could respond.

‘Thank you.’

‘I realise you must be in a difficult situation, and if there is anything I can do to help, please say so.’ Marjorie looked up at the sound of a tap on the door followed by the appearance of a neatly uniformed maid.

‘You rang, ma’am?’

‘Yes, we’ll have tea and cake, Nora.’ Marjorie shot a worried glance in Daisy’s direction. ‘On second thoughts, bring the brandy decanter, two glasses and some dry biscuits, too. I think we’re in need of a little resuscitation.’

Nora curtsied and left the room.

‘Are you all right, Daisy? I didn’t mean to upset you.’

‘I’d be lying if I said that all was well. There is money in the bank, but it’s in my husband’s name and I can’t withdraw even the smallest amount. I can’t pay the servants or the tradesmen’s bills.’

‘I understand, of course.’

‘It’s mortifying, and frustrating because there’s so little I can do to alleviate the situation.’

‘Yes, I can see that. In fact I might be able to help you.’

‘I wasn’t looking for a loan, Mrs Harker. I hope you don’t think that.’

‘Of course not, Daisy.’ Marjorie hesitated at the sound of teacups rattling. ‘Enter.’

Nora edged her way into the room, bearing a tea tray, a decanter, two glasses and a plate piled high with small savoury biscuits. ‘Thank you, Nora. Put it on the table, please.’

‘Shall I pour, ma’am?’

‘No, you may go. I’ll see to it myself.’ Marjorie waited until the door closed. ‘I’m sure she’s disappointed because they’ll be agog with curiosity below stairs.’ She reached for the decanter and poured two tots. ‘My husband is hoping for promotion, but it’s by no means certain.’

‘I’m sorry, but I don’t see how that affects me.’

‘I love Four Winds. It’s my home and my daughters grew up here, although they were born in India. But if Roland is to succeed in his ambition I feel that he needs a little help. I have the money and the connections, but Four Winds isn’t large enough to entertain in style or to throw the kind of parties I have in mind. I realised that you must be finding it difficult to run the manor house without your husband’s financial support and that gave me an idea.’

Daisy accepted a glass of brandy and took a sip to calm her nerves. ‘What are you suggesting, Mrs Harker?’

‘We’ll work it out in a business-like manner, but I would be prepared to rent the Manor House for up to one year, and I would pay handsomely for the privilege, including settling any debts that you have already accrued. Don’t look so surprised, my dear. I know very well what it costs to run a large establishment, and I know it sounds vulgar, but money is no object as far as I’m concerned.’

‘That sounds very interesting,’ Daisy said cautiously.

‘There is another reason, Daisy. To put it bluntly, my daughters are unlikely to find husbands in Little Creek.’

‘But they must have opportunities to meet young, unattached army officers.’

‘My husband is based somewhere on the North-West Frontier, not the sort of place for wives and daughters, and he’s likely to be there for another year or more. My girls are in their prime now, but it won’t be long before they are on the shelf. I want them to meet young men with ambition and resource – what I don’t want are fortune-hunters who will take advantage of their youthful naivety. Do you understand what I’m saying?’

‘But are there no eligible army officers?’

‘I don’t want my girls to become soldiers’ wives. It’s not the sort of life they ought to endure – I know because I’ve been married to the colonel since I was sixteen.’

‘I’m sorry,’ Daisy said, frowning, ‘but how would moving to the manor house help? Wouldn’t your daughters be moving in similar circles?’

‘Not quite.’ Marjorie’s eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. ‘I’ll make sure that my guest lists are very comprehensive, and that is why I want the manor house. Just imagine the parties and assemblies we could have there.’

‘We?’ Daisy eyed her warily. She sensed that there was a sting in the tail of this seemingly heaven-sent offer.

‘Yes, of course. I’m not throwing you out on the street, but I would expect you to work for your board and lodging. If there isn’t enough room in the servants’ quarters, bearing in mind that I’m taking my staff with me, then perhaps there’s a dower house or a keeper’s cottage that would suit you and your mother-in-law. And there’s that rather strange woman who lost her leg, and I believe she has children – of course I couldn’t have them living in the house. But I’m sure you’ve already thought of that, Daisy.’

‘What exactly would my position in the household be? Am I to be a servant?’

Marjorie threw back her head and laughed. ‘No, of course not. You’ll be there more as a paid companion with a few other duties thrown in. I haven’t thought that out yet, but you would be like one of the family. What do you say?’

Daisy opened her mouth to refuse. She could see herself being reduced to the status of an underling in her own house – and Mary would be back below stairs, where she had started – but the truth was pressing down on her like a lead weight. She had little choice: she must either accept Marjorie Harker’s terms or face bankruptcy.

Daisy left Four Winds, having shaken hands on an agreement that would free her, at least temporarily, from the burden of running the manor house. She had a generous amount of cash with which to pay immediate bills, and an iron-clad determination to see that the changes went seamlessly. She set off for home, taking a detour to Guppy’s cottage. There was another matter that simply could not be ignored: the Lazy Jane must be put to good use. Maybe in future Jay’s ship would provide her with a decent living.

She found Clem alone in the cottage, his fearsome mother having gone to the village to buy some groceries. Clem ushered her into the kitchen.

‘Take a seat, missis.’ He pulled up a chair for her. ‘What can I do for you?’

‘I’m seriously thinking of going into business, Clem. The Lazy Jane is mine, to all intents and purposes, and I don’t want the Dorning gang to get their hands on her again. Besides which, she’s a stout vessel and should be put to good use.’

He stared at her as if she were speaking a foreign language. ‘You want to take up free trading, missis?’

‘No, I was thinking of a more legitimate business. There must be work out there for a ship that size.’

‘Even if I got the crew together we’ve no captain.’

‘I put you in charge yesterday, and now I’m making you captain.’

‘I’ve no experience, missis. I take orders.’

‘Then there’s no finer way to gain the necessary qualifications, Clem. I’m convinced that you could do it, and I’m putting my trust in you. If I find the cargoes, would you be prepared to take up the challenge?’

‘Begging your pardon, but it’s a man’s trade. I don’t know of any women involved.’

‘There has to be a first. At one time I was desperate to become a doctor, but I settled for training as a nurse. This is different and I’m not prepared to step back simply because I was born female.’ Daisy rose to her feet, leaning her hands on the table as she fixed Clem with a penetrating stare. ‘Are you prepared to work with me?’

He grinned sheepishly. ‘Don’t seem like I have much choice, missis.’

‘That’s right.’ She stifled a sigh of relief. ‘I leave it to you to choose your crew and get the ship ready to sail.’

‘I’ll need money for provisions.’

‘Of course.’ Daisy took a leather pouch from her reticule and laid it on the table in front of him. ‘That should be enough for a start.’

‘What cargo will we be shipping, missis?’

‘I’ll let you know when it’s settled.’

Guppy leaped to his feet and saluted. ‘Aye, aye, Captain.’

She smiled. ‘I’m merely the owner. You’re the captain, Guppy.’

Daisy left the tiny cottage, mounted her horse and rode homeward, taking the longest route in the hope of finding an empty cottage on Creek Manor land that was large enough to take herself, Mary, Hilda and the children. There was no dower house, as Marjorie had suggested, and the tied cottages were all occupied, except for one on the edge of the estate.

Daisy dismounted and tethered the horse to a stunted tree. She approached tentatively just in case there were some itinerant workers who had come across the empty dwelling and decided to make it their own. The front door was badly damaged and hanging from one hinge. She peeped inside but the only occupants seemed to be the huge spiders hanging from ornate webs, although, judging by the scuffling behind the skirting boards there were also rodents in residence. The windows were broken and the range was rusty, its grate spilling over with ashes, birds’ feathers and bits of moss. The accommodation appeared to be one reasonably large room downstairs, and Daisy had to pluck up courage to take the narrow staircase to find out what she could expect from the bedrooms. She fought her way through a mesh of cobwebs and cockroaches scuttled in all directions at the sound of her approach. The smell they left made her reach for her hanky and she held it to her nose, but once she reached the tiny landing she discovered two bedrooms, each containing an iron bedstead and piles of leaves blown in during the winter storms. The good news was that the roof seemed to be sound; there was no sign of a leak anyway. A quick look out of the window revealed a small back garden complete with a well and an overgrown vegetable bed. A wooden henhouse had seen better days, but could possibly be rebuilt, although there was no sign of a privy.