A Cornish Maid Read online

  “We got off to an unfortunate start, Miss Tregorran. May I be the first to apologise for using such strong language in a lady’s presence?”

  She had no choice. “And I beg your pardon for being the unwitting cause of your unfortunate experience.”

  “Why don’t you sit on the bench outside? I’ll bring out refreshments whilst you discuss terms.” Mrs. Newlyn vanished into the kitchens.

  Lucas Fairfield smiled in a most disconcerting way. “An excellent idea. I’m constantly banging my head on these beams. After you, Miss Tregorran.”

  He gestured toward the door and somehow she was in the sunshine alone with a man who made her feel decidedly odd. “I don’t think I can offer you accommodation, sir. I live alone with my siblings. Even here folk would gossip.” He frowned. “Do you have no staff?”

  What was she thinking of? She didn’t want this man living with her, he was far too dictatorial for her taste and would make all their lives more difficult. Then she recalled how she’d wanted a miracle. She walked away, regretting her agreement with every step she took, but the reassuring weight of the money bag told her she had made the right decision. She was a woman of substance now. She could make life more comfortable for the children and start bringing the dilapidated house back to life.

  Was this overwhelming gentleman God sent?

  “Then you must go and speak to her at once. All that remains is for us to agree on a price.” He named a sum so large Demelza was temporarily speechless. His offer made her hesitation seem ridiculous. With such largesse she and the children would be safe for another year at least.

  “That’s far too much. Half that amount will be sufficient.”

  “As you wish.” He dipped into his topcoat and produced a bag which clinked enticingly. “This should be sufficient to arrange things as I wish.” He tossed the bag in her direction and she had no option but to catch it. “I shall require a bedchamber, a dressing room and private parlour.” He raised an eyebrow as if expecting her to say he couldn’t have these things.

  “Of course, sir. Do you have a man-servant with you or a groom?”

  He shook his head and his hair flopped over his eyes making him appear far younger. “No, I’m travelling alone. I shall remain here tonight, but expect me first thing tomorrow morning. Are your stables habitable? My mount requires decent accommodation.”

  “It will have to share the barn with the house cow and her calf, but the roof is sound and we have plenty of straw and hay at the moment.” The church clock struck the hour. If she was to see Mrs. Smith before she returned then she mustn’t dawdle. “I shall bid you good day, Mr. Fairfield. Everything will be in order by tomorrow morning.”

  Chapter Two

  Demelza hesitated at the gate to the vicarage. If she went to speak to Mrs. Smith, she wouldn’t have time to make the purchases she needed and still be back within the hour. No, she wouldn’t allow her life to be dictated to by this man she had only just met. She would do her shopping and come back to the village this afternoon.

  As she was turning away, someone called, “Miss Tregorran, I was coming to see you. How fortuitous you should be outside the gate at this very moment.” A tall, thin lady of indeterminate years hurried toward her.

  “Mrs. Smith, how strange. I was coming to see you this afternoon. I have a few things to buy but if you would care to walk with me, I should be delighted to have you come back for a visit afterwards.”

  “I shall do exactly that. What was it you wish to see me about, my dear?”

  Demelza explained the situation and her companion listened with an open mouth. “It’s divine intervention, my dear. I prayed for deliverance from the never-ending complaints of my sister-in-law and here you are offering me sanctuary. I own I’m made to feel like an unwanted expense in my brother’s household. I shall come this afternoon, and I do not require remuneration. Indeed, I can put in a small amount to the housekeeping as well.”

  Demelza was about to refuse this offer but realised Mrs. Smith might need to pay her way so she no longer felt a burden.

  “Thank you, that will be a great help. I can’t believe we never thought of this solution before. You are already a firm favourite with the children. With two of us, I believe we can bring the vegetable garden back to full production.”

  “I do hope so.” Mrs. Smith replied. “I’m willing to do anything to help.”

  “Before you dash away, can you tell me anything about my future house guest?” Demelza asked.

  “According to my brother, he is a wealthy man recovering from some family disaster. Mr. Fairfield, it appears, fancies himself as an amateur artist and intends to spend the summer dabbling in such activities before resuming his duties elsewhere.”

  Demelza snorted inelegantly. “An artist? He’s not built for such pastimes, Mrs. Smith.”

  “Come now, my dear, you must call me by my given name. In future, I shall be Martha and you Demelza.” Martha hurried away to the rectory to pack her belongings.

  With her basket full, Demelza began the strenuous walk up the hill to her home. She transferred her burden to the other arm and paused for a moment to gaze out across the sea. Divine intervention indeed! This morning she had been in despair. Now everything was different.

  When she returned the children had only just completed their morning tasks and were about to go out to play.

  “I’m glad I found you here, I have exciting news to tell you.” When she had completed her explanation, the boys were dancing around her in excitement.

  “We like Mrs. Smith, don’t we, Jack? She tells us stories and likes to play hunt the thimble.”

  “Does Mr. Fairfield have a big horse? Will he let us ride it?”

  “He does indeed, Tom, but I’m certain he will not allow you anywhere near it. Now, I must return to the village and find the staff Mr. Fairfield insists I employ.”

  Serena waited until her brothers had run off across the springy grass before commenting. “Is Mr. Fairfield handsome, Melza? Is he very rich? What’s he doing in Tregorran anyway?”

  “Yes to the first two questions, and I have no answer for the last. In fact, I have been considering that myself. I have not yet come up with a satisfactory answer as to why such a well to do gentleman is rusticating in our neighbourhood. I met him early this morning rummaging through a rock pool. Mrs. Smith thinks he is attempting to be an artist but I think he might be a botanist or something of that ilk.”

  Tom and Jack were jumping up and down, shouting and waving for Serena to join them.

  “Hurry, sweetheart, the boys are waiting. It will have to be bread and cheese at midday. I must get a room ready for Mrs. Smith when I get back.”

  Demelza all but ran down to the village. Jethro and Molly Trewith couldn’t afford the rent on their tiny cottage. Jethro had injured his leg in an accident and was lame. He could no longer go out to sea to earn his living.

  She would go and see them, to offer them employment and a roof over their heads. There was a cottage behind the house that had been formerly used for staff. This dwelling had not been occupied for a while but with a little attention would soon be warm and snug again. There were a couple of local girls who would be glad to work for her. Jethro would have to find the outside men.

  She tied the ribbons of her bonnet more securely and set off down the winding High Street. She was greeted by several passersby so it took her more than a quarter of an hour to climb winding path that led up to the cottage in which Jethro and Molly were living. She knocked and was delighted to hear footsteps inside.

  “Well, my lovely, what a pleasure to see you this fine day. Won’t you come in? Molly’s in the garden, you come along through.” Jethro beamed at her and rubbed his bald pate. “My Molly is in the yard. She’ll be right glad to see you.”

  “Good morning, Jethro; you look well. Such a beautiful day, I believe the weather is set fair for the next week or so.”

  Demelza followed as he limped through the parlour, the tiny kitchen and i
nto the back where Molly was pegging out the washing. Despite his infirmity, Jethro was remarkably fir for his years. Although not large in stature, he more than made up for it in girth. Greetings over, she explained why she had come and they were overjoyed to be offered this lifeline.

  “Can you start immediately? Mr. Fairfield is most insistent there are staff employed. He’s not used to doing for himself.”

  “We don’t have much to carry. As soon as the clothes are dry, we can gather our things together.” Molly was as tiny as her husband was round, always happy and would make a cheerful addition to the household.

  “I don’t suppose you know of anyone who has a pony and cart, or something similar, for sale?”

  Jethro’s rosy cheeks swelled and he beamed. “As a matter of fact I do, Young Johnny Pencarrow came back from Truro with a fancy gig and smart horse. I don’t reckon he’s sold that old mare of his yet.”

  “If she’s old will she be able to work for me?”

  “Bless you, my lovely, old Bessie’s got a good few more years in her. She’ll do you a treat. I’ll come with you now. Young Johnny’s not working at the moment. Tide’s wrong, if you know what I mean.”

  Demelza knew exactly what he was referring to. Young Johnny’s father was Old Johnny, the leader of the local smuggler’s gang.

  By noon, she was the proud possessor of a decent-sized trap, an amiable dun coloured mare and two housemaids, Betty and Josie. Her four new employees, with their meagre possessions, were sitting in the back. This time she was returning with one of the famous meat pies from The Green Man. Such luxury to be able to eat a meal she hadn’t made from scratch herself. Three barley twists were safely in her reticule for the children.

  On their arrival, they were greeted by screams of delight. “We’ve been waiting ages, Melza. Is the horse and trap ours?” Tom pushed his brother aside in his eagerness to be first to meet the new arrivals.

  “Tom, this is Bessie. See how pleased she is to be here? She’s flicking her ears back and forth to welcome you. Come and speak to Jethro and Molly. They will work here and live in the cottage.” She scrambled down and hugged her brothers. “This is Josie and her sister Betty, they will be living inside with us and helping Molly.”

  Serena was delegated to unlock the cottage and show the new occupants around. She trotted back a short while later with a list of what was needed. Before long, sufficient bedding and bits of furniture, had been discovered to make the cottage habitable. Tonight they were all to eat together, but in the future Molly would do the cooking and the staff would eat after the family.

  The girls soon had a bedchamber prepared for Martha and then happily set about cleaning two rooms in the attics for themselves. Josie appeared for another bucket of water.

  “It’s grand up there, miss. We been sharing a room with four others. Real luxury it’ll be having one each.”

  “Do you have everything you need?”

  “More than what we’re used to, thank you kindly, miss. I reckon we’ll be done in an hour and be down to help Molly in the kitchen.”

  Martha arrived unexpectedly carrying her own carpetbags. Demelza hurried out to greet her. “I didn’t think you would arrive so soon. I was about to send Jethro in the cart to fetch you. You should not have had to walk all that way and carry your own baggage.”

  “My dear, I’m fit as a fiddle. See, not even out of breath. Don’t look so concerned. I was so eager to depart the vicarage I set off immediately. Now, show me my accommodation and I’ll get myself sorted out.”

  “There’s no need, we have Josie and Betty to take care of us now. We shall be ladies of leisure. I forgot to tell you: the gentleman, Mr. Fairfield, who’s presently staying at The Green Man, is coming tomorrow morning.”

  Martha smiled knowingly. “I wondered why you’d suddenly decided you needed a companion. I’ve seen the young man about the place. I must say he seems rather full of himself for a gentleman who travels without a manservant.”

  Before Demelza could reply, the boys rushed from the kitchen and threw themselves at Martha. “Will you tell us as a story tonight, Mrs. Smith? Please…please.” Tom hung onto one hand whilst his brother grabbed the other.

  “We’d like one about pirates…wouldn’t we, Tom?”

  “We shall see, boys. Now let me go. I shall drop my bags if you persist.”

  The maids appeared and bobbed. “We’ll take your bags, madam, if you would care to follow us,” Josie said.

  Demelza exchanged smiles with her friend and stepped aside to allow the girls to do their jobs. Their next task was to prepare the rooms for Mr. Fairfield, but as he was not arriving until tomorrow morning there was ample time.

  Molly was in the kitchen making bread and scones while Jethro was preparing a stall for Mr. Fairfield’s horse. There was nothing left for Demelza to do.

  “Come along, Tom, Jack — let’s find your sister and go and see what fruit and vegetables we have ready in the garden today.”

  Martha joined them later. “My dear, I love the room you’ve given me. Such a wonderful view and a parlour of my own as well.”

  “And no leaks in the ceiling either. I wish I could say the same for some of the other rooms. We’re to have high tea today — scones and cake and cold cuts. I bought fresh ham this morning.”

  “But in future, the children should eat nursery tea. We should dine at five o’clock with Mr. Fairfield.”

  “Must we? I thought to feed him in the dining room and for us to eat together in the kitchen as usual.”

  “Oh no, my dear. He will expect us to dine with him. Do you have an evening gown?”

  Demelza giggled at the thought. “I barely have enough clothes to wear during the day. I have one gown that I use for Sundays; that will have to suffice.”

  “Didn’t you tell me there’s a trunk of material upstairs in the attic? Between us I’m sure we could make you something suitable.”

  “In which case shall we go up there and look whilst there’s light enough to see? I think I have one other gown. Mama made it for me whilst she was bedridden. I’ve never worn it but I think it probably still fits.”

  That night the house felt different, no longer quiet and empty, and tomorrow there would be a gentleman residing at Tregorran House again. His chambers were pristine — he would have nothing there to complain of. All in all it had been a satisfactory day. Demelza had selected three lengths of material and she and Martha had already cut the pattern for the first gown. It wouldn’t be ready for a few days, but she could wear the pretty forget-me-not blue muslin until then.

  She woke with the lark, but remembered she now had someone to do the early morning tasks for her. She would go down to the beach. The tide would be on the ebb, and she would collect mussels and crabs for supper. Molly would have breakfast waiting for the children when they came down; there was no need for her to hurry. Their guest was not due until much later. She had agreed with Martha that the first meal of the day would be at eight o’clock.

  Her bucket was almost full when the clang of the bell rang out from the top of the cliff. This was the signal used in an emergency. She turned and saw Serena waving frantically. Something must be wrong. She was tempted to abandon her bucket but she’d spent too much effort collecting the mussels and crabs to leave them behind, however urgent the matter was.

  She waved to her sister to indicate she was coming and splashed her way back to the sand. Pushing her feet into her boots, she scrambled up the cliff path, arriving red-faced and breathless at the top.

  “Serena, what’s wrong? Have one of the boys had an accident?”

  The little girl shook her head, jumping up and down in excitement. “No, Melza, Mr. Fairfield has arrived and is demanding to see you. He’s ever so handsome, but he’s not very friendly, is he?”

  “I hope you were civil to him, Serena. He’s paying a great deal of money to lodge with us and we must ensure he’s happy or he might leave.” She could scarcely believe the wretched man had arrived b
efore breakfast. Had he done it deliberately in order to catch her out? She wouldn’t put it past him one jot. “Where is he? Is Mrs. Smith entertaining him?”

  “Molly has put him in the drawing room with a tray of coffee and scones. Mrs. Smith hasn’t come down yet and the boys are somewhere in the yard with Jethro.”

  Demelza decided to sneak around to the back. With luck, she would be able to creep into the kitchen and tidy herself in the scullery before going through to greet Mr. Fairfield. However, when she arrived in the yard the boys were dashing around an enormous chestnut gelding with hooves the size of dinner plates. The horse had laid back ears and his teeth were bared.

  The boys were about to be savaged.

  Jethro had tethered the horse to a metal ring in the wall and she could hear the man moving about in the barn. She daren’t call out in case she startled the horse. Moving swiftly to the animal’s head she spoke soothingly and took hold of the bit, smoothing the foam-flecked neck as she did so.

  “Boys, move away from the animal. Do it at once, and do it quietly.”

  For once, they did as they were told without argument. Her breath hissed through her teeth and she sagged against the horse.

  Thank God!

  Her brothers could have been killed by this massive beast. The noise alerted Jethro, who limped out. His smile faded when she explained what had occurred.

  “I never knew Bruno was vicious. He seemed quiet enough when I left him. I’m right sorry, miss. I’ll make sure I keep the little ’uns away from him in future.”

  “See that you do. Tom, Jack, you could have been badly hurt. You must never go near this horse again without supervision, is that quite clear?” They nodded, subdued but apparently not frightened by their narrow escape.

  “He didn’t like us dancing, did he Tom? I don’t think I want a ride on him now. I like Bessie though. Can we talk to her, Melza?” Jack asked.