Читать книгу The Sweethearts Collection - Pam Jenoff - Страница 29

Chapter 19

The wagon disappeared in a cloud of dust and Caitlin turned to Colenso, eyeing her critically. Thank heavens she was wearing her own clothes, she thought, for clearly the woman had dressed up for Jago’s visit.

‘Well, come on then,’ Caitlin snapped, leading the way into an outhouse.

‘I thought we’d be making it in the kitchen,’ Colenso murmured as they entered the cool interior of the dairy.

‘I will be,’ she said, emphasising the word ‘I’. ‘You can start by greasing these.’ She pointed to rows of shallow tins set out on the cool surfaces, then to a dish of golden butter. With a baleful glare, she stomped back outside. It didn’t take Colenso long to finish the simple task, and while she waited for Caitlin to return, she took a look around. Everything was spotless, with jugs and pans lined along a shelf, and dishes, moulds and cutters on another, while in the corner stood a cheese mill. It was easy to see what the milk was used for, she thought, gazing through the window where reddish brown cows contentedly munched the grass. Lucky you, having your meals provided, she thought as her stomach growled, reminding her she hadn’t eaten since the previous day. Fed up with waiting for Caitlin to reappear, she made her way outside and following the sounds of pots being banged found her way to the kitchen.

‘All done,’ she said brightly. ‘What would you like me to do now?’ To her surprise, instead of snapping at her, the woman’s lips widened into a grin.

‘If you really want to help, you can scrape down the insides,’ she said, indicating the huge pan she was stirring. Colenso’s eyes widened as she saw the mixture bubbling and frothing up the sides. ‘Well, jump to it, else crystals will start forming,’ she added brusquely, inclining her head towards the pastry brush. As the woman stared challengingly at her, Colenso snatched it up and did as she’d been asked.

The heat rising from the mix was unbearable, burning her skin and making her eyes water, but she continued wiping the mixture back down until the woman grudgingly told her to stop. ‘Test time now. You putting your finger in or am I?’ Colenso stared at the seething inferno and thought she was joking until she remembered Jago telling her about his sister. ‘Och really,’ the woman tutted, sticking her finger into the pan then quickly removing it and licking off the liquid. ‘It can come off the heat now,’ she nodded, lifting the pan onto a big trivet on the kitchen table. Then taking up a big wooden spoon, she began beating it hard.

‘What are you doing?’ Colenso couldn’t resist asking.

‘Beating it until the mixture begins to form crystals.’

‘So now you want crystals?’ Colenso asked, staring at her in surprise.

‘Och aye, of course. ’Tis called graining.’ Colenso watched fascinated as the woman thumped the mixture with all her might before slowing to a stir. ‘You and Jago sweethearts?’ Caitlin asked without stopping what she was doing.

‘Good heavens, no. I’m betrothed to a man from Cadgwith,’ Colenso replied, her heart flipping at the thought of Kitto. Immediately, the woman’s manner changed.

‘Is that so?’ she grinned before resuming her stirring. ‘Right, that’s it, we’re away to the dairy now,’ she said, picking up the heavy pan and carrying it outside.

Back in the dairy, the woman tilted the pan and poured the mixture quickly into the prepared tins. Taking up a knife, she spread it evenly then tapped each one on the surface.

‘This releases any bubbles,’ she explained, seeing Colenso’s puzzled look. ‘Right, all done. Just got time for a wee cup before we need to score the surface.’

Once she knew Colenso wasn’t a threat, Caitlin proved to be entertaining company, and by the time Jago returned, the tablet was set, cut into pieces and wrapped in muslin.

‘So how did you find the redoubtable Mrs Manning?’ Jago asked as they rejoined the road to Bodmin.

‘She was fine once she knew I didn’t have any desires on your affections,’ Colenso replied truthfully.

‘You don’t?’ he asked, raising his brows enquiringly.

‘Of course not. You’re much too old,’ she grinned.

‘Oh, how you wound a man,’ he cried, theatrically slapping his hand to his chest.

‘Mrs Manning certainly desires you, though.’ When he didn’t answer, she changed the subject. ‘At least I got my first lesson in sweet-making.’

‘Ah, now you’re talking my language, woman,’ he quipped. ‘So what’s her secret receipt?’ he asked, looking serious.

‘Receipt?’ she frowned. ‘I don’t know, Caitlin had already mixed everything by the time I’d got back from greasing the pans.’

‘The first rule of sweet-making is to gather as many receipts as possible. That’s how my grandmother started,’ Jago told her, trying to keep his voice calm. ‘Can you remember what ingredients she used?’

‘There was milk and cream in the kitchen, oh and a big cone of sugar,’ she said excitedly.

‘All confections contain sugar,’ Jago groaned. ‘Oh well, it’s my fault for not having mentioned it earlier. In future, remember the golden rule.’

‘Yes, Jago,’ she replied.

‘We’ll soon be in Bodmin so you might as well sit back and enjoy the rest of the ride.’

They had left the moorland behind, and Colenso stared in fascination at the fields that were rectilinearly partitioned and looked like a gigantic patchwork quilt.

‘I need to stop in the town and buy a card,’ Colenso said as they approached the outskirts and the horse laboured up the long slope.

‘The fair is on the west side before we enter the town itself and I daren’t make a detour in this heat or my stocks will melt.’

‘But I need to send one,’ she told him, frowning as they veered off the road and bumped their way down a track towards the field.

‘Don’t worry, we’ll be here for quite a few days so you’ll have plenty of opportunity. My, it’s busy already,’ he said, nodding to where stalls had already been erected. ‘And look, there’s Mara’s little tent over by the graveyard. Don’t know how she manages to find one, but she always does. No, not yet,’ he said, putting out his hand as Colenso made to climb down. ‘We’ll find out where your kumpania are camped and I’ll deliver you to Mara’s door.’ She was about to protest, but when she saw the crowds of people, vans and wagons converging onto the field, changed her mind.

‘Wondered where you’d got to,’ Mara grunted as they drew up beside her van. She was sitting on the step and Colenso just knew she’d been waiting for them to arrive.

‘I’m going to check my stocks and set up the Panam, so I’ll see you later,’ Jago said as Colenso climbed down.

‘Do you need any help?’ she offered.

‘No ta,’ he replied. ‘All right, Mara?’ She nodded and went inside, leaving Colenso to follow.

‘Been having a tidy-up,’ the woman said, pointing to the hidey-hole Colenso had been sleeping in. It was now topped by a brightly coloured crocheted blanket and matching cushion.

‘Oh yes, so I see,’ Colenso frowned. Obviously, the others had been right and Mara wanted her own space back.

‘Don’t look like that,’ Mara said. ‘Stands to reason that now you’re wearing your own clothes, you won’t need to stay in there anymore.’

‘No, of course. I’ll go right away. Before I do though, I’d like to thank you for looking after me.’

‘Go? Where are you going?’ Mara cried, looking alarmed.

‘Well, obviously you want your van to yourself and …’

‘Fiddle. I might like my own company but you’ve still so much to learn about the countryside. Whilst I appreciate your love of the sea, it’s my duty to teach you about Mother Nature’s bounty, so you’ll make a good wife to that Kitto of yours. Now, kettle’s boiling, so stop talking rot and make us some tea.’ Relief rushing through her, Colenso nodded and hurried over to the stove.

‘I want to send Kitto a card as soon as I can,’ Colenso told her as she poured water over the leaves.

‘Good idea,’ Mara nodded.

‘I was wondering if I should send Mamm one too,’ she frowned.

‘Not a good idea,’ Mara said emphatically. ‘Could get into the wrong hands. I’m sure Kitto will let your mamm know you’re safe.’

‘Yes, of course,’ she replied, knowing what the woman said made sense.

‘I’ve finished setting up my tent, so we can walk into the town first thing tomorrow. The show here is a big one and when it gets going things become hectic.’ Once she’d poured the tea and settled on the bright cushion opposite Mara, Colenso asked the question that had been niggling her since the previous day.

‘Why are you looking after me like this?’

‘I took on the responsibility for you, and I’ve never been one to shirk my duties,’ Mara replied, sipping her drink. Not sure she liked being thought of as a duty, but knowing she had much to thank the woman for, Colenso held her tongue.

✳

Although they were up before dawn, the fair people were already getting things ready for the opening.

‘Morning, ladies,’ Titan called, appearing as if by magic as they stepped out of the van. ‘I hear we’re shopping this morning.’

‘Are you coming with us, then?’ Colenso asked, her eyes widening as he took the basket from her.

‘I am,’ he nodded. ‘And, if you don’t mind me saying, you look far better dressed as a woman.’

‘That’s because she is one,’ Mara snorted, making them smile. ‘Now, you can make yourself useful and tell Colenso something about this place. I’m trying to educate her, see.’

‘Right. Well, Bodmin boasts the county asylum, institutions, the gaol, the barracks …’

‘For goodness sake. Can’t you do better than that on this fine morning?’ Mara cried. But Colenso hardly heard her for her attention had been caught by the display in the shoemaker’s window. Right in the centre was a pair of red shoes adorned with silver buckles.

‘Bodmin is renowned for its shoe-making,’ Mara said, noticing her interest. ‘However, some are more practical than others.’

‘But they’re beautiful,’ Colenso cried.

‘And utterly frivolous. Now, I thought it was a card you wished to buy.’

‘Yes, of course,’ she replied as Titan darted her a sympathetic look. They walked past the shambles with all its butcher’s shops, and the fish market bustling with customers, turned down another street with its gas street lights, clock tower and three-storey bank, before coming to a halt outside the post office.

‘You can buy your card and send it from there,’ Mara said, holding out some coins. ‘And don’t look like that, it’s what you’ve earned at the Panam,’ she added as Colenso opened her mouth to protest. ‘Now, I’ve business to attend to so I’ll see you back at the van. And make sure you don’t take all day.’ Before Colenso could answer, she strode back down the street, the way they’d come.

✳

‘Took your time, didn’t you?’ Mara asked, looking up from a document she was studying. ‘Get that card sent, then?’

‘Yes, I did, thank you. And I put the return address as Truro post office, like you said,’ she told the woman.

‘Well, it’ll be another ten days or so before we arrive there so he’ll have plenty of time to reply. Which is more than you’ve got. Jago dropped by with paper for you to make up more cones,’ she said waving her hand at the pile on Colenso’s seat-cum-bed. ‘Said you’d need to make a goodly supply as there are a lot of other sweet stalls and carts, so competition will be fierce. In a right mood, he was, on account of him arriving late yesterday and not getting his usual spot. Said you’ll find him on the north side at the back.’

‘Oh,’ Colenso said, staring in dismay. ‘I’ll never be able get all those done in time.’

‘That’s what I said. He seemed quite put out you weren’t here. Anyhow, he said you’d best roll and twist the paper instead of pasting. Right, I’m off to wander the crowds,’ she said, bangles jangling as she folded her paper and popped it into her pocket. ‘It’s good to let people see there’s a dukkerer in their midst. No use sitting in me tent if no one knows I’m there,’ she winked, taking herself outside.

Colenso smiled. What a mixture the woman was. On the one hand she communed with nature, whilst on the other she possessed the acumen any businessman would envy. As Colenso began rolling and twisting the paper, her thoughts returned to the card she’d posted to Kitto. How surprised he’d be to receive it. She knew he’d be relieved to know she was safe, and could hardly wait until they reached Truro to hear from him.

Heart singing, she quickly worked her way through the pile of paper, and by the time the organ started up, her basket was filled with cones.

Outside the sun was beating down as crowds of laughing people jostled their way around the stalls, seeking out the best attractions. The air was filled with the smell of onions and cooking meat, then she heard the ring of the bell as someone proved their prowess with the hammer bell striker. It took her a few minutes to find the Panam and, when she did, she was greeted by a scowling Jago.

‘I’ve made all these,’ she said brightly. ‘Shall I start filling some?’

‘Probably won’t need them stuck right out here,’ he muttered, staring gloomily across the ground to a cart surrounded by clamouring people. ‘Taylor’s pinched my pitch.’ Leaving him to his mood, she began packing an assortment of the coloured sweets into cones. But by the time she’d finished, they still hadn’t had one single customer.

‘What does he sell that you don’t?’ Colenso asked.

‘Don’t know,’ he growled, determined to stay in his dark mood.

‘Well, I’ll go and have a look, shall I?’ she asked, desperate to do something.

She made her way back through the crowds until she reached the cart. To her surprise, the sweets were similar but not nearly as varied as the ones on the Panam and she could see no evidence of any tablet or rock canes. She watched as the man served a small boy, handing over his purchase in a nondescript twist of paper. Remembering what Mara had said about there being lots of other sweet vendors, she made her way around the various stalls, trying to get an idea of what they were selling.

‘Well, hello,’ a man with a shiny black moustache said from the doorway of his tent. ‘This could just be your lucky day.’ She smiled politely but, when she went to pass, he stepped forward to block her way. ‘Not so fast, darling,’ he drawled, glassy blue eyes eyeing her up and down from under his tall hat.

‘Sorry, I’m in a hurry,’ she murmured.

‘Don’t you know who I am?’ he asked, raising his dark brows when she shook her head. ‘I am Marvellous Marco, Illusionaire Extraordinaire. And who, pray tell, are you?’

‘Colenso,’ she replied, immediately wishing she hadn’t.

‘An exotic name for an exotic beauty.’

‘Sorry, I must go,’ she said shaking her head and hurrying away. Exotic beauty, she thought, running her hand through her shorn locks. Except, instead of wiry tufts, she could feel short but silky hair. Mara had been right. By the time she saw Kitto it would have grown somewhere near back to its normal length. She wondered how he’d got on in London and what he’d been doing since his return. How long it seemed since they’d last been together.

‘Where did you get to?’ Jago muttered, still looking dismal. ‘As you can see I’ve been rushed off my feet in your absence.’

‘Sorry, Jago,’ she replied, ignoring his sarcasm. ‘I had a brilliant idea but then I got stopped by this funny man, Marvellous Marco or something.’

‘You want to stay away from him,’ he said, giving her a sharp look. ‘That man’s bad news. His assistant went missing after the last show and she’s never been heard of since.’