Page 30 of A Castaway in Cornwall
While Laura was out walking, she saw a youth she knew from church, the ferryman’s son, playing trap ball with a few other boys.
As she walked closer, she saw that he was wearing a man’s coat that was too large for him. It was a blue uniform coat with red cuffs, one epaulet almost torn away, hanging by threads.
He ran in her direction in pursuit of a ball, and when he neared, she asked, “Martyn, where did you get that coat?”
The youth shrugged one shoulder, sending the tasseled epaulet swaying. “Where do’ee think? From the sea.”
“The night of the wreck?”
“No, miss. Day after. Over in Polzeath.”
“I see.” Laura thought quickly. She was no expert, but she believed the coat he wore was that of a French officer. Navy, most likely. British naval officers also wore blue coats, but theirs had white collars and cuffs.
“Well.” She summoned a smile for the boy. “I’d be careful wearing that coat. You might be taken for a French spy.”
He grinned in reply.
The lads called to Martyn, urging him to hurry back to the game, so he ran off, leaving Laura with more questions than answers.
The following day, Laura attended a christening at St. Menefreda’s with the family and, afterward, rode home in the carriage for a quiet dinner at Fern Haven. Uncle Matthew and Laura spoke conspiratorially outside the stable before returning to the house. A short while later, they went to the guest room to invite Mr. Lucas to join them for the meal. Laura lingered in the threshold, awaiting his answer.
“Thank you, sir.” Alexander shifted uneasily. “But I’m afraid I would be in stocking feet.”
Uncle Matthew looked back at her, eyes twinkling. “Oh, Laura can help with that—can’t you, my girl?”
Laura nodded and brought forward a large basket. In it were a pair of boots and two men’s shoes that almost matched. She kept all the shoes and boots she found and distributed them to the poor and destitute as needed, and did he not qualify?
“I hope you don’t mind, but when you were sleeping, I measured your foot. They are not new, I’m afraid.”
“I don’t mind. I am grateful.”
“Shall we see if they fit?”
She set the shoes before him, and he wiggled in one foot, then the other, wincing on the injured side. “Excellent. You just happened to have these on hand?”
Laura blushed, but her uncle said proudly, “Laura has shod many a poor youth in this parish. Finds them, restores them, and gives them to those in need.”
Alexander bent to look at the shoes. Had he noticed they were not a perfect match? He tilted up his head and met her gaze. “I am in your debt.”
A few minutes later, he limped into the dining parlour with the help of a walking stick lent to him by Miss Chegwin. Newlyn had added another place at the table, and Alexander joined them for the first time.
Uncle Matthew pulled back his chair with a beaming smile. “You are very welcome, Mr. Lucas.”
“Thank you.” He bowed to the ladies before taking his seat.
Even Lamorna Bray smiled and said all that was proper, clearly as impressed with the change in his appearance as her daughter had been.
Uncle Matthew asked the blessing, and the meal began.
“My husband tells me you are from Jersey, Mr. Lucas?” Mrs. Bray asked.
He nodded. “My grandparents moved there from England decades ago. It is a beautiful place. Have you ever been?”
“Me? Never. But someone we know went there....” Squinting upward, she searched her memory, then looked to her husband for help. “Who was it, Mr. Bray?”
Laura’s heart pounded.
With an apologetic glance at her, Uncle Matthew dipped his head and said gently, “Laura’s parents.”
