Читать книгу The Complete Ravenscar Trilogy: The Ravenscar Dynasty, Heirs of Ravenscar, Being Elizabeth - Barbara Taylor Bradford - Страница 50

Richard had pestered and then begged to go fishing all morning. Finally, after lunch, Edward had succumbed to his entreaties and taken him down to the beach.

Even though it was the middle of April and sunny, there was a high wind blowing across the North Sea and it was raw and icy, lashing at their cheeks and making their noses red.

‘It’s a good thing Meg wrapped you up well, Dickie boy,’ Edward said, staring at his brother, who was fumbling with his fishing rod. It was obvious that his woollen gloves were in the way, but somehow Richard was managing.

Edward smiled at the way Meg had protected the boy against the weather. She was always worrying about her beloved younger brother, and today she had cocooned Richard in layers of clothing, had added, as a final touch, a red scarf wrapped around his head and neck. She had placed a red knitted cap on top of the scarf, completely covering his head.

She would have cocooned him in the same way if Ned had allowed it, but, of course, he had not let her get anywhere near him. However, he had seen the wisdom in wrapping a woollen scarf around his head, copying the way she had used one on Richard to protect his ears. But instead of a red woollen cap with a pompom on top, Ned wore a tweed cap over his grey scarf, which was more sedate.

They crunched along together in their Wellington boots, making for a spot Ned preferred for fishing. The beach was a shingle bed of rock where old fossils were often found, along with pretty shells and all manner of odd sea specimens dredged in by the tides, and seaweed.

They did not talk much as they tramped ahead, both of them lost in their own thoughts. Edward was thinking of Lily, wondering how she was, what she was doing, and Richard was congratulating himself, overjoyed that he had managed to get Edward all to himself. George was always hanging around these days, trying to curry favour with their elder brother. But he didn’t really succeed; Ned held back, and Richard was beginning to ask himself why.

Suddenly Richard cried, ‘Look, Ned! The Cormorant Rock!’ Before Edward could restrain him the boy had started to run along the beach hell for leather. A worried frown struck Edward’s face, and he held his breath, praying the boy wouldn’t go sprawling.

Within minutes Richard had reached the Cormorant Rock and was already clambering over the smaller rocks to get to it. Then in a flash, there he was, standing on top of it. Triumphant, grinning, waving to Ned, beckoning to him.

His elder brother waved back and trudged on, remembering how their father had brought him here with his brother Edmund all those years ago. It was from his father that he had learned some of the local fishermen’s lore…Cormorant Rock was so called because the cormorants would emerge from the waves to stand on that one particular rock, with their wings outstretched, drying them.

His father had always said that he couldn’t understand why a species of bird that spent a great amount of time in the sea had not evolved efficient waterproofing like so many other marine birds had. He constantly muttered that it was a mystery of nature, quite unfathomable.

Arriving at the cluster of rocks, Edward climbed up to join his brother, and when he was standing next to him on this perch high above the frothing, foaming sea he said, ‘Just be careful, my Little Fish. I don’t want to be…fishing you out, have you on the end of my line instead of a plump little cod.’

Richard laughed, his eyes dancing. ‘Yes, this is the place for cod! Papa told me that, and he also said that if you want to catch haddock you must take a boat out a mile from the shore. That is where all the haddock are.’

‘That’s right,’ Ned replied, and pushed away the sudden image of Edmund, at the age of ten, saying almost the same words. He snapped his eyes shut to obliterate the image of Edmund’s innocent young face, and then opened them almost at once.

‘Let’s put out our lines, Tiddler,’ Ned said to his youngest sibling, and cast his line into the sea as he spoke.

Richard followed suit. They stayed there for over an hour, caught only a few fish. Freezing cold, their eyes watering, their faces bright red from the wind, they finally abandoned Cormorant Rock to the cormorants and headed back along the beach. Their destination was the steps cut into the cliff face. These would lead them up to the lowest part of the moorland that flowed down to the North Sea.

As they climbed slowly towards the low stretch of moorland, Richard chattered away to Edward, interrupting his thoughts, which were mostly about Deravenels and those who currently ran it. The boy was forcing Ned to pull himself out of his sudden and rather reflective mood.

‘Ask me questions about sea lore,’ Richard requested at one moment, staring up at Edward, tugging at his arm.

Understanding that he would have to comply, Edward nodded, and remembered that this was a game they had played with their father only last summer.

Taking a deep breath, stifling the rush of unexpected and sudden emotions, Edward finally said, ‘All right then, let’s do just that, Little Fish. Let’s see how sharp your wits are today.’

‘Very sharp,’ Richard shot back.

‘What is the one thing you must not do with a ship or a boat?’

‘Change its name!’

‘Correct. But why is that so, Little Fish?’

‘Because it’s unlucky to change the name of a sailing vessel.’

‘Very good indeed, Dick. Now here’s another…what were Admiral Nelson’s last words?’

‘Kiss me, Hardy.’

‘Clever lad, that you are. Now, which was Nelson’s greatest battle?’

‘Trafalgar.’

‘That’s it and Waterloo is another one. What else do sailors consider unlucky, especially when they’re out at sea?’ This was something of a tricky question, and Edward wondered if Richard had remembered what it was, that it was partially a joke amongst sailors.

‘Mermaids! And I know I’m right. Edmund told me this…never take mermaids on board. Yes, he told me that lastsummer—’ The boy’s voice faded away and he fell silent, his eyes grown dark, the colour of slate. He fell down into his sadness, didn’t say much for a while, and then he murmured, ‘I thought of Edmund, Ned, and that made me want to cry. I miss him…do you?’

‘Very much,’ Ned answered, and hoisted the fishing basket higher on his shoulder. It contained the cod, which were not heavy, but the leather strap kept slipping. ‘Let’s keep going with the game, my lad,’ he went on, asked, ‘When you go up the gangplank of a British battleship, what’s the first thing you see when you step onto the deck?’

‘A plaque that says, Fear God. Honour the King.’

‘You have an excellent memory, Dickie. I know Father taught you a great deal of this stuff, didn’t he?’

‘Yes, and he said he would have liked to have been a sailor in the Royal Navy. I think I would, too.’

‘Talking of the Navy, what do you do when you unexpectedly see a sailor?’

‘Touch his collar for luck.’

Edward began to laugh, and through his chuckles he murmured, ‘I think I’m actually running out of things to ask you about sea lore, do you know that?’

‘It’s all right, Ned, we’re almost at the top of the steps. Are we going to give the fish to Cook? Perhaps she’ll make it for supper.’

‘Perhaps, although I think the cod are going to end up as fish cakes, because they are quite small, you know.’

It was Will Hasling who greeted them when they went back into the stable yard. He was standing at the back door waiting for them and he waved, and exclaimed, ‘Do you two have a big catch then?’ He was grinning from ear to ear, and seemed anxious to talk to Edward.

‘What’s the matter?’ Edward asked, as they went inside the house together. ‘You look excited.’

‘Not really excited, but well, sort of relieved, perhaps that’s the best way to describe my feelings.’

‘Do tell me,’ Edward answered, putting the fishing basket down along with his rod, struggling out of the cap and scarf and layers of clothes, then helping Richard to do the same.

‘Neville telephoned whilst you were out. Apparently Oliveri has had a telegram from his contact in Delhi. It looks as if his little team out there have come up with just the evidence we need. David Westmouth is going to send it all in a series of telegrams—seemingly that’s the quickest way.’

‘Thank God we’ve heard from the fellow at last, I’d almost given up on him,’ Edward replied, and this good news brought a smile to his face. ‘Now, Tiddler,’ he remarked, turning to Richard. ‘Here’s the catch of the day. Take it along to the kitchen and tell Cook it’s our present to her. If she wants to keep the cod for herself, she can. Will you tell her that?’ Lifting the fishing basket, Edward placed the strap on Richard’s shoulder. ‘Oh, and do me a favour, please, Little Fish. Ask her to please send hot tea and crumpets to the library, will you, my boy?’

Richard nodded. ‘’Course I will, Ned.’

The boy hurried off with the small haul of fish, walking rapidly down the corridor.

Will and Edward followed at a slower pace, a compatible silence between them. After they went into the library Will said, ‘Once we have that information, everything can go ahead according to Neville. There’s nothing else we’re waiting for, not really.’

Walking across the floor, going to stand in front of the roaring fire, still chilled from his sojourn on the beach, Edward nodded. ‘I’m anxious to get things moving, to be honest. The sooner the better. There’s no real reason to wait, once those telegrams are received. I don’t want John Summers and that bloody woman to do any more damage.’

He sighed and went to sit in a chair nearby, looked across at Will. ‘There’s a lot of rebuilding to do, of that I am absolutely certain. Rob Aspen and Alfredo Oliveri, and Christopher Green as well actually, will quickly pull the mining division into shape, but the vineyards in France are in need of an overhaul, and somebody will have to look after the northern offices. Things have grown slack, in my estimation.’

‘Perhaps Johnny will agree to do that,’ Will suggested. ‘After all, he has a fund of knowledge about the north, after working for Neville all these years, and he has a family home in Yorkshire.’

‘I expect he will have to take on that burden, if only for a short while. But I’ll miss him, Will, he’s invaluable.’ Edward smiled at his friend with affection, swiftly added, ‘I certainly can’t let you work up here in the north. I need you in London with me.’

‘And that’s where I want to be. By the way, Ned, I spoke to Vicky while you were off fishing. And—’

‘Did she mention Lily?’ Ned asked eagerly, cutting across him.

‘She certainly did. Lily is fine, and she’s expecting you next week. If you go up to town I’ll go with you, and Johnny will have to come, too. You know Neville’s a stickler about protecting you.’

‘Of course, there’s no question about that. Is that all she had to say about Lily?’

‘She confided that your darling Lily was looking beautiful, that she was in good health, and that the baby was showing a little, and that was about it.’

Edward grinned. ‘Can you imagine that I’m going to become a father? It’s hard to believe, isn’t it?’

Will merely grinned, and exclaimed, ‘And Vicky might well become a mother, Ned. She and Stephen are thinking about adopting that little girl Amos found in a cart. Don’t you remember, he told us all about it at the last meeting we had. He seemed oddly touched by the child, and so is Vicky. More than that, actually, old chap. She’s gone a bit potty about her, according to Stephen. However, he’s all for the adoption because Vicky hasn’t been able to become pregnant.’

‘I think that’s wonderful, and such a kindness to the child,’ Edward replied. ‘From what Finnister told us, the girl is rather pretty, isn’t she?’

‘Yes. Still, they don’t know anything about her. Vicky told me that when they took her in at Haddon House she was sort of…well, permanently attached to a cloth bag and wouldn’t be separated from it. Eventually they did get her to show them some of the things inside. There was nothing to explain who she was. So they call her Rose.’

‘Can they adopt her?’ Edward wondered out loud. ‘I mean, who are they adopting her from? She was homeless, on her own, can’t they just…take her in and bring her up as theirs? It’s ludicrous to talk of adoption.’

‘Good Lord, I hadn’t thought about that!’ Will exclaimed. ‘Perhaps you’re correct, maybe they don’t have to do anything legal. Anyway, Fenella knows Hugh Codrill, the barrister, and he’s apparently going to advise them.’

‘Then they’re in good hands.’

Before dinner that night, Edward went to his mother’s upstairs sitting room. She was alone, reading a book in front of the fire; she looked up, and put it down when he came into the small boudoir.

‘Yes, Ned, what is it?’ she asked, smiling at him, beckoning him to enter.

‘Can we talk for a few moments?’

‘But of course we can. Is something troubling you?’

‘Well, yes, as a matter of fact it is. I’m troubled about the tiaras, Mother. I don’t want you to sell them so that you can buy me a house, in order for me to create my own household.’

‘Ned, there’s no other way to do it!’

‘I think there will be and really rather soon.’

Cecily frowned. ‘You do? Please explain, darling.’

‘We have an enormous amount of evidence against the Grants and their adherents,’ Ned confided. ‘It’s going to sink them once and for all. Actually, we could go ahead now, but Neville wants to wait until we have some telegrams which are coming soon from India. Oliveri has a good friend out there, a man called David Westmouth, and he’s finally got the goods on Aubrey Masters and his dealings with the locals, those who are involved in the skimming I told you about. So, we’re mounting a case and then we’ll request permission to present it to the board.’

‘I understand…when do you think you will do this?’ she asked, her excitement reflected in her eyes, her expression eager.

‘I hope it will be only a few weeks from now. In May.’

Now Cecily could not keep the smile off her face. She beamed at her eldest son and asked, ‘Why are you still standing there? Come and sit with me for a moment, and tell me more.’

He did as she asked, lowered himself into a chair next to the fire, and explained, ‘There’s not a lot to tell, Mother. You already know most of it.’

‘When are you going to London?’

‘Next week. For a few days only, and then I’ll be back for about a week. After that I’m going to be needed in town. You do understand, don’t you?’

‘Oh yes, I do, darling, I really do. I plan to remain here at Ravenscar for the summer. I know the London Season’s not over, but that doesn’t matter since we are a family in mourning and cannot participate. Therefore, in my opinion, we’re better off here, and I think the children agree.’

‘I know Richard does…he loves Ravenscar.’

‘So does George, you know.’

‘Yes, that’s true,’ Edward agreed, and thought: he would love it for himself.

‘You will be running Deravenels, won’t you, Ned?’ Cecily suddenly asked, startling him.

‘I will.’

‘And Neville?’

‘Ah yes, Cousin Neville. Mmmmm. Let me think…he will be advising me, helping me wherever he can, as will Johnny and Will.’

There was a pause.

Cecily was totally silent.

‘What is it, Mother?’ he asked finally when she remained mute.

‘What does Neville hope to gain from all of this, Ned? He is the greatest magnate in England, and probably the richest. He already has everything. He doesn’t need to help you run Deravenels…’

‘I know that as well as you do, and I suppose he does, too. On the other hand, his father backed my father, the true heir to Deravenels. I believe he feels totally committed to do the same for me. There’s his pride involved you know, and honour. And another thing. I would say he wants…power.’

‘Oh, Ned, surely he has enough power.’

‘When is enough enough for an ambitious man?’

‘So what you are saying is that Neville wants power through you. Is that it?’

‘To a certain extent.’

‘Oh, Ned, be careful.’

‘I am not a toy on a string, he is not my puppet-master. He doesn’t control me. I am my own man.’

‘Ah, but does he know that?’

‘I should think so…Why Neville has known me all my life, and has only my interests at heart.’

‘I say again, be careful, Ned. Be very careful.’