A Village Scandal

It was late afternoon when they arrived at the creek where Lazy Jane lay peacefully at anchor.

‘She’s a fine vessel,’ Marius said with a nod of approval. ‘Just the right size for what I have in mind.’

Daisy glanced at the jolly boat, which had been hauled up onto the shingle so that it was above the high-water mark. ‘There’ll be someone on watch, but I’d have to contact Guppy to take you out to her.’

‘Guppy?’

‘Clem Guppy was Jay’s first mate. I made him captain because he’s a good man and he’s reliable.’

‘This looks like the ideal spot to land illicit cargoes.’

Daisy shot him a speculative glance. ‘You’re not a revenue officer in disguise, are you?’

‘Would it matter if I were?’

The sparkle in his eyes gave him away and she breathed a sigh of relief. ‘Not now, but it might have done in the past. The old squire was involved in such dealings, but I want nothing to do with anything illegal.’

‘Very wise, Daisy. My business depends on trading honestly and fairly. I’d be stupid to risk my reputation for a short-term gain, but I would like to see over the ship. Perhaps you could get your man to arrange it for tomorrow.’

‘Yes, I’ll call at Guppy’s cottage on my way home, but what will you do? Will you return to Maldon now?’

‘No, I think my horse deserves a rest. Does Little Creek boast an inn where I might stay the night?’

‘It does, but I’m still mistress of the manor house until Friday. After what you did for me today the least I can do is to offer you accommodation and a meal. We can call in on Guppy on the way home.’

‘That sounds perfect, if you’re sure I’m not putting you out.’

‘I wouldn’t offer if I didn’t mean it, and tomorrow you can take a good look at the Lazy Jane, and speak to Guppy. He’ll tell you anything you want to know.’ She wheeled her horse round and set off at a canter without waiting to see if Marius was following, but she knew without looking back that he was close behind. She had been in his company for a few hours only, but she felt as though she had known him all her life. After the maelstrom of emotions and traumas of the past weeks it was good to have someone she felt she could trust. She might be an independent woman, but if Marius were to charter her ship it would ease the burden of worry and raise some much-needed cash.

Guppy was at home and so, unfortunately, was his mother. Mrs Guppy was stirring a pot on the range, looking even more like the wicked witch from storybooks than before. Her grey hair hung in wispy strands around her face and when she closed her mouth, which was not often, her toothless gums met together, bringing her chin so close to her nose that she resembled Mr Punch.

‘I dunno what you want by turning up at mealtimes,’ she grumbled, continuing to stir the noxious-smelling mixture. ‘My Clem don’t get this sort of food on board ship. He’s a boy what needs his mother’s cooking, and regular mealtimes, which he don’t get because you keep turning up uninvited, missis.’

‘Ma, that’s no way to speak to Mrs Tattersall,’ Clem said mildly. ‘She’s the boss now that the captain’s not around.’ He sent an apologetic look in Daisy’s direction.

‘I’m sorry to interrupt your meal, Mrs Guppy.’ Daisy managed to keep a straight face although Clem’s mother referring to him as a boy had made her want to laugh. ‘We won’t take up more than a minute or two of your time.’

Guppy rose from his seat at the table. ‘Where’s your manners, Ma? Ask the missis if she wants a cup of tea.’

‘Ask her yourself. I’m busy. I got no time for toffs.’ Mrs Guppy turned her back on Daisy and Marius, and continued to beat the contents of the saucepan to a pulp.

‘I just came to introduce you to Mr Walters, who is interested in chartering the Lazy Jane. I said you would take him out to her tomorrow, Clem.’

Marius held out his hand. ‘How do you do, Guppy?’

‘How do, sir?’ Guppy wiped his fingers on his trousers before shaking hands. ‘What time would suit you?’

‘Shall we say nine o’clock? I have to travel on afterwards and I have business in Colchester.’

‘Where shall I meet you, sir?’

‘Come to the manor house, Clem,’ Daisy said hurriedly. ‘Mr Walters is my guest tonight, since it’s too far for him to ride home. I’ll come with you.’

‘You will?’ Marius stared at her, eyebrows raised. ‘Are you familiar with the vessel, Mrs Tattersall?’

‘I travelled from London to Little Creek in her not so long ago, although it was not by choice.’

‘You’re all fine talk now,’ Mrs Guppy said in a low voice. ‘But we all knows you were in service afore you come here, and then you was wiping people’s unmentionables in Dr Neville’s house.’

‘That’s enough of that, Ma.’ Guppy ushered Daisy and Marius outside into the fresh air. ‘You’ll have to excuse the old girl. She don’t mean half of what she says.’

‘That’s quite all right, Clem.’ Daisy laid her hand on his arm. ‘We won’t take up any more of your time. We’ll see you tomorrow morning at nine o’clock.’

‘Yes’m.’ Clem stepped back into the cottage and closed the door.

Marius held Daisy’s horse while she mounted. ‘Are you sure it will be all right for me to stay at the manor house? I don’t want to inconvenience you.’

Daisy smiled down at him. ‘I am still the lady of the manor, despite what Mrs Guppy says.’

Marius mounted up. ‘I look forward to a long talk after dinner. You’ve had a very interesting past, according to that lady.’

‘And I want to know more about you, sir. You might be a felon, for all I know.’

‘Would that be an end to our business dealings, ma’am?’

‘Not necessarily. My husband had served time in prison before I met him, and he’s the most honest man I’ve ever known.’ She encouraged her horse to a brisk trot, leaving Marius to follow in her wake.

Mary was obviously impressed with Marius, who kissed her hand and gave her a smile that brought roses to her normally pale cheeks. But Hilda and Mrs Ralston stood back, lips pursed and brows furrowed as they looked him up and down. Daisy could see that they were sizing him up and suspicious of his motives, but she was happy to go ahead with a business deal regardless of what secrets were locked away in his past. All her instincts told her that she could put her trust in him to do his best for her and the Lazy Jane. Her brief attempt to enter the world of commerce had ended in humiliation, but with a little help from Marius she would prove them all wrong. The name of Tattersall would be well known again, only this time it would be for the right reasons.

‘Mrs Ralston will see that a room is made ready for you, Mr Walters,’ Mary said eagerly. ‘And Hilda will inform Cook that there is one more for dinner.’

‘You’re lucky that Jack went rabbiting last evening.’ Hilda folded her arms, glaring at Marius beneath a lowered brow. ‘It’s stew, unless that’s not good enough for a gentleman like yourself.’

‘Hilda!’ Daisy frowned at her, shaking her head.

‘I’m particularly partial to rabbit stew,’ Marius said, smiling affably. ‘Please don’t go to any trouble on my behalf, I’m very grateful for a comfortable bed for the night and a home-cooked meal. I travel a great deal and it’s nice to be in such a delightful home.’

Mrs Ralston managed a hint of a smile, but Hilda tossed her head and marched off in the direction of the kitchen.

‘I’ll give you a hand, Ida.’ Mary and Mrs Ralston hurried after Hilda.

‘It seems that I have a lot to prove,’ Marius said with a wry smile. ‘Your servants are quite right to be protective, but I assure you that my intentions are honourable.’

Daisy ushered him into the drawing room. ‘I’m sure they are, Marius. Would you like a glass of sherry? Or would you prefer something stronger?’

‘Sherry would be fine, thank you.’

Daisy tugged on the bell pull and waited, but no one came. She tried to make idle conversation, but she was secretly annoyed by both Hilda and Mrs Ralston: their attitude left a lot to be desired and Daisy’s nerves were on edge anyway. This business deal was too important to be vetoed by servants who knew nothing about such matters. She rang again and when the summons went unanswered she made an excuse and left the room.

Hilda was in the kitchen and she was chattering away to Cook but she stopped the moment she saw Daisy. ‘Is anything wrong, Daisy?’

‘You know very well what you’re doing, Hilda, and I won’t have it. I’ve been ringing the bell and no one came, but worse than that, you were rude to my guest and that’s unforgivable.’

Hilda pouted ominously. ‘You only just met him today. You shouldn’t put your trust in a man like that – he’s too smooth talking, and he smiles a lot.’

‘He’s just being pleasant, and you can’t make snap judgements about someone just because he smiles too much. Mr Walters helped me out of a very difficult and embarrassing situation today. He’s a merchant, and if he charters the Lazy Jane we’ll all benefit, and perhaps I won’t have to rent out the manor house in the future.’

‘You always speak first and think afterwards, Hilda,’ Cook said severely. ‘You want to watch your tongue.’

‘You was interested enough while I was telling you about our guest. We might all be murdered in our sleep with a strange man in the house.’

Cook’s eyebrows shot up to disappear under the frill of her mobcap. ‘Don’t say things like that. I’ll have to put a chair under the doorknob tonight.’

‘You’re both being silly.’ Daisy threw up her hands. ‘Hilda, I want you to keep your opinion to yourself, and I want sherry and two glasses in the drawing room. Send the tweeny if you can’t bring yourself to be civil to my guest.’

Daisy swept out of the kitchen and hurried back to the drawing room. Soon she would be reduced to the status of a servant in her own household, but tonight she was still Mrs Tattersall of Creek Manor, and tomorrow she hoped to make a trade agreement with Marius Walters that would secure the future of the Lazy Jane, the ship that Jay had loved with all his heart. Keeping the vessel safe and using her to make money that might provide enough income to keep the estate from bankruptcy had become the most important thing in her life. If Marius could provide the business she was prepared to overlook almost any transgression he might have made in the past. She took a deep breath, painted a smile on her lips and entered the drawing room. This would go well, she told herself, despite the surliness of the servants.

Next morning, at nine o’clock, Clem rowed Daisy and Marius out to the ship. Daisy had dressed for the occasion and had left off the steel crinoline cage that she normally wore beneath her petticoats. She was wearing a simple linsey-woolsey skirt, a cotton blouse and a light shawl, and her only nod to fashion was her straw bonnet trimmed with a single silk rose. She managed to climb the Jacob’s ladder without any help from Clem, although Marius held out his hand to assist her when she boarded ship. It was an unconscious action and done without making her feel awkward or embarrassed, for which Daisy was extremely grateful. Her liking for Marius Walters had increased greatly, but this was a commercial venture, and personal feelings must be put aside. She left Clem to show him around the ship.

They met up again in the saloon where Ramsden had provided coffee.

‘Well?’ Daisy said casually. ‘What do you think, Marius? Are we in business?’

Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.

Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».

Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.

Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.