Chapter VII
VII
There was nothing sweet in the parting – nothing but sorrow and regret.
The last day, they sailed along in sight of the bleak Cornish shore, past forbidding black cliffs and long fingers of rock, and the occasional small settlement spilling down to the sea.
The land was held in thrall by the tides and the mists, and forces beyond human reckoning.
They sailed past a pyramid of land called St Michael’s Mount, and soon thereafter arrived at the port of Penzance.
Standing on deck with the Misses Applebaum wittering beside her, the trunks and casks were unloaded.
Bess’s heart was flooded with fear and longing, but also with a desperate hope.
That somehow, she would manage to reshape the fate that had been dictated to her by others and be reunited forever with the man she loved.
On their last night together, they had lain in each other’s arms, spent and satiated.
Bess had wept, but he had dried her tears, whispering assurances in her ears.
He had a plan. With a little time, he would manage it.
He would use his next voyage to their advantage. Upon his return, he would come for her.
She had wanted so fervently to believe him.
In the cocooning darkness by the light of a single candle, feeling the warmth of his body against hers as he slept and she lay awake staring at the little ship on the carved stand that he had given her, it had seemed possible.
But now, as the mists were burned away by the morning sun, the light brought only despair.
A small trap arrived. An old woman disembarked, waving frantically.
At first, Bess thought it might be her aunt – though she had never seen her to know for sure.
However, the woman’s appearance brought shrieks of joy from the two spinsters, and Bess felt a rush of relief that she could remain on his ship, if only for a few minutes more.
He went to the gangway to help the Misses Applebaum disembark.
His manner was all courtesy as he saw them onto terra firma.
When it was done and he turned back to mind the ship, he did not look in her direction.
Had it all been an illusion? Surely, if that was so, she should throw herself into the sea this instant and let the shackles of this life pull her under forever.
But just as she had given up all hope, his eyes brushed hers with an almost physical touch. And she knew that she must cling to her desires and continue to trust. Him, herself, and that God had brought them together because it was His will.
Another carriage arrived at the dock, this one larger and finer than the one belonging to the Applebaum relation.
No one alighted from the carriage, but a footman came over to the ship.
Bess knew from the deep pull in her stomach that this was her aunt’s conveyance.
That her aunt had not bothered to come herself to greet her niece.
Under normal circumstances, it might be a blow, but as it was, Bess scarcely cared. She spoke to the man – indeed, this was the carriage of Miss Trevelyn, whom, sadly, was currently indisposed. She was very much looking forward, however, to greeting her niece at the family home, Polgothley.
Bess thanked him; she tried to cheer herself at this news.
Polgothley was by all accounts a fine country house, and it was arranged that upon Bess’s marriage, her aunt would move to the dower house and Bess and her husband would take possession of the main house.
The Polgothley estate encompassed a substantial part of the dowry promised to Lord Robert.
It was a sensible match for both families.
A terrible one for her.
She boarded the carriage and closed the door. Though her eyes yearned to gaze upon the ship and its captain one more time, she purposely refrained from a backwards glance.