Читать книгу The Sweethearts Collection - Pam Jenoff - Страница 35

Chapter 25

With tears streaming down her cheeks, Colenso watched as the orange flames licking at the wood turned into a raging inferno, devouring the beautiful little van that had become her home.

‘We should have stayed in Marazion,’ she wailed. Sarah shook her head.

‘It wouldn’t have made any difference, it was her time, love. She should have let go weeks since but she made herself hang on till Samhain. Seen the veil in her ball, see. Knew it was a sign.’ Colenso nodded, remembering that evening when Mara, upset after consulting her crystal, had fled to the water’s edge.

Colenso looked back at the fire. It was dying down now, a blackened pile of wood the only testament of a life lived.

‘But why did they have to burn her van with her body inside it?’ she cried.

‘’Tis our way, love. Come with nothing, leave with nothing. The remains of ash will be returned to the ground. Her old body ain’t no use where she’s gone, and it was her wish that she be set free under the trees. Fancied thinking of her earthly form as a bluebell swaying in the breeze.’ Sarah’s laugh came out as a sob and it was Colenso’s turn to comfort her.

She stared around, noting for the first time that it wasn’t only the kumpania that had turned out to send Mara on her way. The whole of the fair had gathered, heads bowed as they paid their respects. As the fire gave a final crackle, Titan’s wife bent and laid a nosegay beside it, and Colenso had to bite her lip from crying out loud when she saw it had been fashioned from Mara’s favourite herbs and flowers.

‘Everyone loved her,’ Sarah murmured.

‘They did,’ Solomon her husband agreed.

‘Oh look,’ Sarah grinned, pointing to a ray of sunshine breaking through the thick cloud. ‘She’s letting us know she’s arrived safely.’

At that precise moment, Ears, who’d been standing watching, gave a distressed whinny before keeling over beside the burnt remains of his mistress. ‘Even old Ears,’ she sighed, pulling Colenso back as she moved towards the pony. ‘He’s gone too, faithful to the end.’

Titan, who’d been standing with his wife, signalled to a couple of the men.

‘Better cover him over before some wise guy sells him for glue and pet food.’ He turned to Colenso. ‘She was the best,’ he muttered, his eyes bright with tears. ‘Let us know if you need anything.’

‘Thank you,’ she whispered. ‘I don’t know what I’ll do now.’

‘Well, for a start you’re coming with us for a hot drink,’ Sarah said. ‘Ain’t that right, Sol?

‘I’ll be along soon. Best help the others,’ he replied, limping over to where the men had begun digging. With a final look at the burnt remains and the loyal pony lying beside them, Colenso let herself be led away.

She sat in Sarah’s van, which was similar though slightly bigger and more cluttered than Mara’s had been, sipping her drink whilst trying to come to terms with events. Everything had happened so quickly.

‘If only I’d done more for her,’ she cried.

‘Oh love, if you only knew how much joy you brought her these past few months. Said when she first saw you, she recognized a lost soul, just as she’d been. Helping you blossom lent purpose to her life,’ Sarah said. ‘Especially once she’d seen the veil and knew her time was coming.’

‘But she looked so happy and was smiling, I …’ her voice trailed away.

‘Expect her lover came for her,’ Sarah nodded. ‘She were ready and waiting.’

‘But she was acting so strange on the way here, insisting we stop by a chapel, even though I’ve never known her visit one before.’

‘It were the blessed well she really wanted to see, to leave a cloutie and make one last wish for her heart’s desire. Not many people know where that well is these days and she wanted to respect that by letting the rest of us go on ahead. She made her peace and it would appear her wish was granted. You helped her do that, so be thankful not sad. It was her heart’s desire to pass at Samhain and she did. Said it would befit the ending of this life and the starting of a new.’ Colenso felt warmth begin to seep into her body, for wasn’t that exactly what Mammwynn had wanted too? She took another sip of her drink, almost spluttering when she saw the crystal ball on the shelf.

‘That’s Mara’s,’ she gasped.

‘It is,’ Sarah smiled, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. ‘She gave it to me before we left Marazion, along with her cards and little tent. Knew she hadn’t long left and began dishing out her things.’

‘You mean she gave her things away before she … before …’ A lump rose in her throat, she shook her head.

‘That’s the way we do things. Give our prized belongings to those we love and leave the rest to be burnt along with our earthly body. We don’t carry any worldly possessions into our afterlife, see? She gave Titan her best cups and saucers, Al her glasses, Tinks her sloe gin, and this she left for you,’ she said, lifting up Mara’s basket.

‘Oh,’ Colenso gasped, taking it from her with trembling hands and staring at the items piled neatly inside it. ‘I … I’m …’

‘Not ready to look,’ Sarah finished for her. ‘Well, no hurry, love. Wait until you’ve come to terms with things a bit. Look, you’ve had a nasty shock so let’s have something a bit stronger,’ she added, jumping up and pouring pink liquid into their empty mugs. ‘She gave me some of her gin as well, so let’s drink a toast. To Mara, my best friend in this world and hopefully the next,’ she said, raising her mug.

‘To Mara,’ Colenso echoed. They sat for a few moments, each lost in their own thoughts. ‘How did you get to know Mara?’ she asked, realizing she really didn’t know much about the woman she’d been living with.

‘We met when she took to the road after losing her beloved. She was bereft, as you can imagine, and came to me for comfort. I have the sight too, you see. That’s why she wants me to carry on her dukkering. She were very good at it.’

‘She didn’t always get it right,’ Colenso murmured, thinking of her prediction that Kitto would continue corresponding. A loud rapping on the window interrupted her musing.

‘Come in, Al,’ Sarah said as his head appeared through the open top of the stable door.

‘We’re just toasting Mara, want some?’ she invited, holding up the bottle.

‘Later perhaps. Just thought you should know we won’t be opening the fair today out of respect. We’ll start up tomorrow, then stay an extra day to keep the locals happy. Sol says you’re moving on today.’ Sarah nodded.

‘We’ve no heart for the fair here now so we’ll start making our way east. Sol likes to spend the winter somewhere drier. The Cornish mist gets into his bones and then we both suffer,’ she said, raising a brow theatrically.

‘What about you?’ he asked, turning to Colenso.

‘I, er, don’t know. Stay with the fair, I suppose.’

‘Penzance is our last stop after this, then we disband for the winter,’ he frowned.

‘Disband?’ Colenso muttered. ‘Oh, I hadn’t realized.’

‘Probably best if she comes with us, then. We can see her safely to Penzance,’ Sarah told him. She turned to Colenso. ‘It will be easier to make your way home from there.’

‘There’s nothing for me to go back for,’ she sighed. Seeing Kitto with the schoolmistress would be more than she could bear. As for her father and the Ferret … the very thought sent shudders sliding down her spine.

‘Whatever you decide, you’ll need some money,’ Big Al told her, passing her some notes.

‘But why would you give me money?’

‘To tide you over. Can’t live on fresh air, girl. Besides, Jago hasn’t seen fit to show up and I bet he didn’t pay you for working on the Panam all summer.’

‘No,’ she sighed. ‘He said he’d settle up with me here.’

‘Well, you’ll soon find something else, pretty girl like you. Probably be easier than when you was pretending to be a boy, Bonbon,’ he grinned.

‘Mara said you looked out for me, so thank you,’ she murmured, remembering her manners.

‘My pleasure,’ he said, tipping his hand to his thatch.

Sarah followed him out of the door and, as they stood talking on the step, Colenso’s thoughts were running amok. How could Jago take her for a fool? Now she had no job or money of her own. Why, she hadn’t even realized the fair was disbanding. Although, now she came to think of it, Titan had said some of them spent the winter in brick. Where would she go? What would she do?

When Sarah returned and saw Colenso’s bleak expression, she sat down beside her and patted her arm.

‘Perhaps you should see what Mara’s left you?’ she suggested, bending down and lifting the basket onto Colenso’s lap. Under Mara’s red scarf with its jagged tear were her golden hooped earrings.

‘My, you’ll look lovely in those,’ Sarah exclaimed. ‘They’ll go a treat with that green outfit. What else have you got?’

‘Jago’s books,’ Colenso cried. ‘Oh, and there’s a note inside.’

Dear Bonbon,

Don’t feel guilty about taking these. If my hunch is correct, that scoundrel Jago won’t be reappearing with the money he owes you. You seemed to enjoy making the confections, so use the recipes to your advantage. Whenever you pick Mother Nature’s bounty or hear the wind whispering in the leaves, think of me and know you made my last months on earth happier than I ever could have wished.

Your friend,

Mara

As another lump rose in her throat, Colenso blinked back her hot tears and delved into the basket again. There was Mara’s fine, lacy shawl, and underneath were the beautiful red shoes she’d admired in the shop window in Bodmin.

‘Oh, my goodness, I don’t know what to say,’ she gulped, running her fingers over the soft leather.

‘Mara bought those when you went to the post office with Titan. I remember she was glowing with glee when she showed them to me.’

‘I had no idea,’ Colenso said, shaking her head.

‘Course not, she wanted them to be a surprise. Gawd knows you need something to lighten your life. What will you do now, love?’

‘I honestly don’t know. I’ll have to wait until my mind clears then have a good think.’

✳

Having insisted Colenso spend the night in their van, Sarah and Solomon dropped her off on the outskirts of Penzance. She was wearing the golden hoops in her ears and, knowing she’d be seeking employment, had ensured her green outfit was looking presentable.

‘Good luck,’ they called. She watched until they were a speck in the distance then, hefting her basket over her arm, made her way towards the town. The first thing she needed to do was find a job and then somewhere to stay. It all seemed so daunting, and already she was missing Mara. For all her funny sayings and grumpy ways, she had been good company and a true friend.

She’d just started walking when she was almost overcome by the smell of sulphur coming from a huge tin-smelting works that mixed with the pungent odour from the tannery next door. What a welcome to Penzance, she thought, hurrying as fast as she could towards the sea.

Breathing the bracing air deeply, she headed towards the quay, mentally listing her talents. She could sew, cook, fashion serpentine. Serpentine, that was it. Wherrytown was on the other side of the town. She remembered the Ferret saying the finished works were shipped out of the harbour here, so surely they’d be looking for people to finish the stone.

Feeling optimistic, she walked briskly, passing the fishing boats, barges and lifeboat, then on along the promenade until she came to a gloomy-looking building bearing the name Wherrytown Serpentine Works. Gathering her courage, she marched inside. Although the men glanced curiously in her direction, nobody stopped what they were doing. The place was very large, dusty and noisy, and it took her a while to locate the works manager’s office. Boldly, she knocked on the door.

‘Enter,’ a voice boomed. Squaring her shoulders, she walked into the room and smiled. A man of middle years, wearing an ill-fitting jacket, looked up and frowned over the top of his round spectacles.

‘Good morning, sir,’ she said. ‘I’ve come about a job.’

‘Tavern’s two doors down,’ he snapped, staring her up and down before returning his attention to the papers on his desk.

‘You misunderstand, sir. I’ve come about fashioning the serpentine.’ He looked up in surprise, snatched off his glasses and sat back in his chair.

‘You are a qualified turner or polisher?’

‘Well no, but I have turned trinkets for the tourists and …’

‘Character?’

‘Very good,’ she assured him. He let out a long sigh.

‘I mean can you furnish me with a testimonial from your last place of employment?’

‘Well no, sir. You see …’

‘I thought not,’ he snapped. ‘This is a respectable establishment, Miss, er,’ he waved his hand in the air. ‘We employ men with families to provide for, not some woman of dubious nature.’

‘I’ll have you …’

‘Shut the door on your way out,’ he ordered, cutting her short. Placing his glasses back on, he stared pointedly back down at his papers.

‘I pity your workers. No wonder they all look so miserable,’ she snapped.

A woman of dubious nature, indeed, she fumed, stamping her way back outside and turning back the way she’d come. Rain was falling in great fat splodges and, with the day wearing on, she needed to find somewhere to stay. Some of the money Big Al had given her would buy a bed in a modest boarding house for a couple of nights, giving her time to find employment. Always supposing someone would engage her without a character.

As she passed the plush-looking Queens Hotel it began to rain but, realizing a room there would be way beyond her means, turned up the adjacent street lined with tall, elegant houses. Obviously some people had money to be able to afford such grand places, she thought, turning into another lane which led into the town.

The appetizing aroma of hot pies made her stomach rumble, reminding her she hadn’t eaten since breakfast. Delving into the basket for her money, she gasped as someone thrust her hard against the wall. She just had time to glimpse a man with black teeth and foul-smelling breath, before the notes were snatched from her hand. Then he was gone, footsteps echoing on the cobbles.

‘Stop, thief,’ she called, but nobody took any notice. Shocked, shaken and berating her stupidity, she slumped down in the doorway, pulling her shawl around her. Sheltered from the driving rain, she sat there trying to collect her thoughts. Suddenly the door flew open, tipping her backwards.

‘Be on your way. We don’t want riff-raff darkening our doors.’ Colenso stared at the irate man. He looked hot and sweaty, his clothes covered by a large apron.

‘I was only …’ she began, but he stood there shaking his fist until she got wearily to her feet and continued her journey.

Light-headed through tiredness and lack of food, she wandered aimlessly around the wet streets, not knowing what to do. Darkness was gathering and the lamplighter was going about his job.

‘Hey darling, want to earn some money?’ She spun round to see a sailor coming out of a nearby alehouse. He was clearly the worse for wear as he staggered and weaved his way towards her. ‘Just been paid and looking for a bit of fun,’ he leered. Eyes widening as realization hit her, she turned and fled down yet another lane. However, she soon realized her mistake. Here women, their clothes revealing more than they hid, were intent on parting seamen from their money as they plied their trade. Hastily averting her eyes, she ran back the way she’d come. She’d rather go hungry than resort to that.