Page 111 of A Castaway in Cornwall
“I’m afraid it did not seem so at first,” Laura said. “We were not sure he would live. And sadly, so many others died. Including one of his dear friends.”
“I am very sorry to hear it.”
A moment of respectful silence followed. Mrs. Truscott sipped her tea, then asked, “And are you two on your wedding trip?”
“In a manner of speaking,” Laura explained. “Mr. Carnell hopes to visit his family and I ... to pay my respects to mine.”
“They were unable to join you for the wedding?”
Laura looked down, unable to meet the woman’s earnest gaze. “My parents are gone, I’m afraid. But they are buried on Jersey. Alexander’s family lives near there, so we hope to pay our respects to both.”
“Unfortunately, the vessel carrying us ran into difficulty near Longships,” Alexander added.
“Oh no! Not another shipwreck, I hope?”
“No, thank the Lord. But the master thought it best to put into Porthgwarra for a time.”
Mr. Truscott nodded. “Making repairs, are they? I do hope everyone is all right.”
“They were all well when we left them. We decided to try to find another way to Jersey. I don’t suppose you know of anyone who might be willing to take us?”
Mrs. Truscott’s expression fell. “I am sorry. I wish we could help, but we have no ship, nor am I acquainted with anyone with any reason to travel so near to France, especially with a war on. Are you, my dear?”
Mr. Truscott winced and, with a telling glance at his wife, said to them, “I will give the matter some thought.”
Later, after Mrs. Truscott left to attend a meeting of the church charity guild, Mr. Truscott took them aside.
“I do know someone who might take you to Jersey. I told you when I wrote that my first wife left me for a smuggler. He’s long gone, but his brother is still here and has a small schooner. I’m ashamed to admit I’ve kept the connection from Ruth. She would not approve. But the French brandy we had last night and the fine tea at breakfast...? Let’s just say, I know several men who regularly participate in free trade with the Channel Islands. The brother owes me a favor. I will go and speak to him. You stay here, and if Ruth returns before I do, say I have gone to the warehouse to see about an order.”
He turned back, giving them a sheepish look. “As you see, the missus is a saint, but her husband is not.”
Alex smiled at the man and put an arm around Laura’s shoulders. “Isn’t that the way it usually is, Mrs. Carnell?” He winked at her, drawing her close in an affectionate sideways embrace.
She chuckled and wished she could remain there in his arms.
Later that afternoon, Alexander and Laura stood with Mr. Truscott on the quay. At the bottom of the stone steps, a man in a small boat awaited.
Laura turned to their host and held out her hand. “Thank you, Mr. Truscott.”
He pressed her fingers. “My pleasure, my dear. After all, I offered you a reward. I am only sorry it could not be more.”
She smiled up at him. “It is more than enough.”
“I hope you don’t think too poorly of me, keeping things from my wife. She is from Somersetshire, you see, and doesn’t understand Cornish ways.”
Laura nodded. “I can empathize.”
He rocked on his heels, hands behind his back. “Perhaps knowing what you know now about my ... activities ... you think Ruth is too good for me.” He grinned. “And you would be right.” He shook Alex’s hand and helped Laura into the tender that would deliver them to the schooner moored in the harbour.
A short while later, theCurlewraised anchor and hoisted sails, and they were on their way to Jersey. The captain and crew asked no questions of them, and Laura was relieved for their silence, weary of falsehood. Weary, in general. She found an out of the way corner and sat down on a crate, setting her bag beside her.
Alex came and sank to his haunches nearby. “All right?”
She nodded. But in truth she felt woozy, which was odd as she’d felt no touch of seasickness aboard Treeve’s ship. Alex kissed her forehead, hesitated, then followed the caress with a lingering hand. “You’re warm. Too warm.”
“Just a little queasy.”
“It’s all been too much for you. All the tension and late-night traipsing about in the cold, not to mention the damp.”
