The Wind Off the Sea Page 35

  ‘Are you sure, John?’ was all Mattie could ask. ‘I mean it’s an awful lot to ask.’

  ‘Why?’ John grinned. ‘I love you, Mattie Eastcott – I love you and because I love you I love your son, and because they love me my parents love you – and your son – and even if they weren’t my parents they would still love you. I know that for a fact. Because that’s the sort of people they are – and more importantly because that’s the sort of person you are. Someone everyone loves.’

  John kissed her slowly and sweetly and Mattie kept her eyes open right through the kiss, staring at the bright stars above her to make sure she was awake and not dreaming. After which John took a small red leather box out of his pocket and opened it, revealing a beautiful single diamond ring whose very brilliance seemed to capture the whole of the night in its irridescence.

  ‘You only have to agree to one thing,’ John whispered. ‘Besides agreeing to marry me.’

  ‘Oh, I’ve agreed to that, John Tate,’ Mattie whispered. ‘I agreed to that the moment you asked me.’

  ‘Then the only other thing you have to agree to is to marry me as soon as you can. I don’t want to waste any more of my life not being married to you, if you don’t mind.’

  ‘Oh, very well,’ Mattie said with a teasing sigh. ‘If you insist.’

  ‘I do. I insist with all my heart.’

  Despite the fact that John was looking and sounding more intense than she had ever heard him, Mattie was only half listening to him. The rest of her was thinking about how her life was changing for ever and ever, and in only a few minutes. She was going to be part of Shelborne. She was really going to be able to sit down for dinner with John and his parents and their friends – she was going to be related by marriage to Walter and Judy and Dauncy, and be a proper part of that close and happy family. No longer would she be that Mattie Eastcott who had the illegitimate baby. That part of her life was over now and for ever. Now she was to be Mathilda Tate.

  But while they embraced and kissed and celebrated their bliss, what neither of them would ever know was that it was Lionel Eastcott’s letter to Hugh that had finally swept away the Tates’ objections to John and Mattie’s relationship. Indeed, what Lionel had written to Hugh on behalf of the two young lovers had made not just Hugh but also his more broadminded wife feel ashamed of the stand they had taken against John’s romance, albeit that it had been a more or less unspoken one.

  Lionel had written, in his precise but surprisingly sensitive hand –

  There has been a terrible war. Young people make mistakes in war, but they only make mistakes because the older generation have made an even greater one in failing to stand up to a great and terrible enemy. In failing to mend errors of diplomacy, in indulging in fear and indecision, our generation brought war upon themselves. In my view those mistakes are far greater than the mistake of one young girl who succumbed to a love affair which resulted in a baby being born. To stand in the way of the next generation’s happiness, at whatever cost to one’s family pride, is surely to add to the misery of man, and woman, kind. Millions upon millions have been killed so that the few who are left behind can be free and happy. I know that, and I think you know that. You must accept that John loves Mattie, as I have had to accept that Mattie loves John, and much as I will miss my daughter I know that to do otherwise than to wish her well would be to bring yet more shame on our generation.

  Hugh had shown Loopy the letter, the expression on his face that of a man who has just fallen over a trip wire.

  ‘He’s absolutely right of course, Loopy,’ he said. ‘We may not approve of what happened to Mattie, but it is something we should accept, like the all-important fact that John loves her. We must withdraw any objections that we might have and ask Mathilda up here to meet us properly, as soon as possible. I know it takes a bit of getting used to – because whatever Lionel Eastcott says and however right he might be, one’s eldest son marrying a girl with what our old gardener used to call “a foal at foot” does need a little bit of time to get used to. But used to it we shall be and I have to say, having read what her father had to say, I feel more than a bit ashamed of myself. I shall look forward to welcoming Mathilda – and that little boy of hers – into our family. And making them both feel a part of it.’

  Loopy had already come to this conclusion before Lionel Eastcott’s letter had arrived but knew it was only proper that she should wait for Hugh to come to his own conclusion, even though she felt that in good time he would most probably come round to her way of thinking.

  But then Lionel’s letter had brought matters to a head much sooner than she had imagined. Of course she’d always liked Mathilda, and even admired her for her honesty and resolution, and although it had been a shock at first when she’d seen them kissing on the beach that day, Loopy now accepted that they loved each other, in the only way possible; with good grace.

  Chapter Fifteen

  As it happened that winter was not nearly as severe as the one that had preceded it, yet the weather was still cold and damp enough to bring with it the usual seasonal afflictions. Once again Meggie was among those struck down with the flu, but happily this particular attack was not apparently as bad as the previous one. Even so she had, albeit reluctantly, been forced to take to her bed with a raised temperature. Dr Farnsworth attended her as usual, and Waldo only left her bedside every now and then in order to prepare his patient a light repast.

  ‘This is not much of a way to start the New Year,’ Meggie grumbled as she lay in her bed staring out at the grey wintry skies. ‘And now you say you’ve got to go away.’

  ‘I’m not going anywhere until you’re better, Meggie,’ Waldo reassured her. ‘That’s a promise.’

  ‘I hope to God it isn’t more bogey business,’ Meggie said with an exaggerated sigh. ‘Now I’ve found you I don’t want to go and damn’ well lose you.’

  ‘Stop worrying.’ Waldo put his hand on hers but did not – so Meggie noticed – contradict her.

  ‘So where are you going?’

  ‘I’m going to London to see the King.’

  ‘Waldo—’

  ‘I am going to America, on business,’ he replied.

  ‘America? That’s miles away!’

  ‘Anywhere is miles away from you, sweetheart. The end of the bed here is miles away from you. Now stop fretting. I have to go – it’s family business to do with my father’s estate, and since there’s only me I have to attend to the winding up of all his affairs.’

  ‘You’ll be away for ages.’

  ‘I’ll be away for two or three weeks tops. OK?’

  ‘No it is not OK,’ Meggie said, with a sudden frown. ‘I bet that blighter Hugh’s sending you back to Germany or somewhere nasty. You said yourself the other day that the Berlin thing’s getting worse by the moment.’

  ‘I am going to America, Meggie – you can count on it. And you’re wrong about Berlin. Berlin’s cooled down at the moment. No-one reckons anybody’s going to do anything for a month or two – and some believe that the whole thing is just one big Russian bluff. Things are a lot worse back home as it happens – although our trouble’s coming from the coal miners, not the Reds. So I might get back to find no home fires burning and no trains running. Who knows, you could have picked the best place to be.’ He kissed her on the forehead, at the same time checking her pulse.

  ‘Nice and steady,’ he said. ‘I reckon you’ll be up and about in no time.’

  ‘I don’t,’ Meggie said gloomily. ‘I had – what do you call them?’

  ‘Depends what They are.’

  ‘When your heart beats very fast – and sort of flutters.’

  ‘Palpitations. You had palpitations?’

  ‘Sort of. Last night – and I felt terribly feverish as well.’

  ‘I don’t remember you saying anything about that.’

  ‘It’s obviously just part and parcel of the flu,’ Meggie decided. ‘I had the same sort of thing last time.’

  ‘Did you
mention this to Doc Farnsbarn?’

  ‘Farnsworth. I didn’t bother because I’m sure that’s all it is. I remember my grandmother saying people get palpitations when they run these up and down fevers – and taking all these aspirin doesn’t much help either.’

  ‘You’re telling me because you’re worried, that’s is, isn’t it?’

  ‘No.’ Meggie looked at him directly. ‘No, I’m telling you to stop you going away.’

  ‘OK,’ Waldo agreed. ‘Then I’ll postpone my trip. I won’t set a foot outside Bexham until you are pronounced one hundred and fifty-three per cent fit. How’s that?’

  ‘I just hate being in bed, that’s all. Except when you’re in it, of course.’

  Waldo kissed her cheek, but changed his date of sailing remaining behind in Bexham until Meggie was allowed up, which in fact she was after a further three days’ bed rest. Doctor’s orders were to take things quietly and easily at first, but Meggie – never one to be restrained – was out and about walking the lanes round her beloved house within twenty-four hours and hiking round the headlands after a further forty-eight. Waldo, delighted with the rapid and obviously complete restoration of her good health, immediately set about replanning his departure, much to the dismay of Meggie, who at once threatened a relapse if he insisted on going.

  ‘I only wish I didn’t have to, sweetheart,’ Waldo assured her. ‘But if I’m to keep up this profligate lifestyle – buying houses for my beloved and the like – then I am going to have to assure the security of my future income.’

  It was the day before he departed and he was taking Meggie for a drive in his Jaguar, their first call being her favourite walk on the Downs.

  It was one of those rare late February days when the skies suddenly clear and you can almost feel the world beginning to turn on its axis and the ground beginning to warm under your feet. High up on the Downs a light breeze seemed to carry the first hint of spring on its air as they walked on the old, wonderfully springy turf. When they had reached the highest point of their ramble they stopped to rest on a knoll and watch two hares boxing not fifty yards from where they stood.

  ‘This is more like it,’ Meggie sighed, holding one of his arms tightly in both of hers. ‘This is exactly how everything should be. God’s in his heaven – all’s right with the world.’

  ‘So right – because to me this place is heaven,’ Waldo replied. ‘Most of all because it’s here that I found you.’

  ‘When you think how much we hated each other when we met.’

  ‘I never hated you.’

  ‘You thought I was stuck up and arrogant.’

  ‘I thought you were wholly delightful.’

  ‘And weren’t you right?’

  ‘No, not for a moment,’ Waldo teased. ‘I certainly never thought I could be this happy.’

  ‘You never thought you could fall in love, according to you,’ Meggie reminded him.

  ‘No, I never did. I didn’t think I could fall in love, but now that I have I can’t believe my good fortune. I can’t believe not only that you love me but that you love me as much as you say you do, and I can’t believe quite how much I love you.’

  ‘Me too,’ Meggie agreed. ‘Ditto.’

  ‘Now come along, young lady,’ Waldo said, quickly consulting his watch. ‘I don’t have all day – and there’s something I have to show you.’

  ‘Not another of your surprises?’ Meggie said mock wearily, thinking that it couldn’t possibly be so.

  ‘Could be. Could be,’ Waldo replied, leading her back down the hill. ‘And I can’t wait to see the look in those beautiful blue eyes of yours.’

  * * *

  By now she was lying a mile and a half down the coast from Mr Todd’s yard, moored near a dry dock Mr Todd used when building or restoring boats. The covers were off her, the paint and the varnishes were bone dry, the sails were mended and furled, every leak had been stopped and sealed and the engine had been stripped and rebuilt. The Light Heart was seaworthy once again.

  Both Meggie and Waldo stood staring at her, Waldo not having seen sight of her since he’d commissioned her repairs, and Meggie not having seen her since the day she’d last sailed on her with Davey, what now seemed like a century ago.

  ‘I don’t believe this,’ Meggie said, gripping Waldo’s arm. ‘How did you manage it, Waldo? And why did you do it? Did you have to buy her? Surely she still belongs to the Kinnersley family?’

  ‘One thing at a time, sweetheart,’ Waldo replied. ‘I didn’t manage it, Mr Todd here did – he and Mickey. Yes I did have to buy her and yes the Kinnersley clan had forgotten all about her. I had my lawyers look into it, and since the owners weren’t remotely interested in getting her shipshape I paid them a more than fair price and then commissioned Mr Todd and his son to refit her and make her one hundred per cent seaworthy. And haven’t they done a first rate job? She’s like new.’

  Mickey, who was standing nearby, grinned, as pleased as Punch, while old Mr Todd just sort of twitched and touched his old blue yachting cap in recognition of the compliment before returning to the task of getting his pipe lit in the sea breeze.

  ‘But why, Waldo? Is she another part of your Grand Plan? Are you going to sail her round the world singlehanded or something?’

  ‘I’d have to ask your permission first – because you’re her new owner.’

  Meggie turned and stared, first at him, then at the Light Heart, then back at Waldo.

  ‘You are completely and entirely nuts,’ she said. ‘And I love you even more. You shouldn’t have. You really shouldn’t – but I’m so very, very glad you did. I can’t tell you what this means to me. You’ll have to wait till we get home.’

  At that she suddenly walked away from him down the beach, sank her hands deeply into her coat pockets and pretended very hard to examine every inch of the beautiful boat bobbing out on the estuary. Waldo watched her happily, puffing away at a freshly lit cigar.

  ‘Is she ready to sail now?’ Meggie called up to him. ‘I mean everything’s been done to her that needs to be done?’

  ‘I guess so!’ Waldo called back. ‘I guess as ready as she’ll ever be! But we’d freeze to death out there!’

  ‘We could go home and put on our warmest clothes, Waldo,’ Meggie said as she came back to join him. ‘We could wrap up really well and take her out just for a potter round the estuary after lunch. We needn’t go out to sea, even. We could just go upriver a bit and then back again. Please, Waldo? Please? Just to get the feel of her on water again? Just a weeny teeny little trip? Please? The prettiest of pretty pleases?’

  Waldo grinned, sighed and went to consult Mr Todd and Mickey about the sea-readiness of the Light Heart while Meggie, pulling her fur coat tightly round her and double-wrapping her neck in her wool scarf, hurried back down the beach to stare out at the moored yacht resplendent in her bright new blue paintwork. Yet she didn’t look like new. The Todds had skilfully managed the restoration so that they had kept the character of the beautiful old craft, so much so that she looked as if she had never left the water other than to be keel-cleaned, repainted and varnished. She looked just like she had looked when David Kinnersley had owned her, a perfectly and meticulously owned craft that inspired everyone who stopped to look at her. She looked as she had always looked – she looked to be part of the beauty of the sea.

  They hurried back to their respective homes to change into their warmest clothes, Waldo returning in his car to collect Meggie after half an hour’s absence. She met him at her front door, pretending to be unable to move, walk or speak, so muffled up was she.

  ‘You are looking at eight layers of wool,’ she growled from behind her thick red scarf. ‘You are about to go sailing with a very large sheep.’

  ‘Speak for yourself,’ Waldo laughed. ‘I’m toast!’ But they were glad of all their insulation because even though there wasn’t a great deal of wind that afternoon, out on the water it was a good ten degrees colder than it had been on dry land. Since there was
n’t enough of a breeze to merit unfurling any canvas, they pottered quite happily about the estuary and a couple of miles up the River Bex using only the engine to power them, but even so it did enable them to get the feel of the wonderful old boat on the water.

  ‘She’s as yar as ever!’ Meggie called with delight as she took the helm. ‘She just seems to float over the sea! Rather than in it!’

  Waldo sat with his back against the cabin hatch and his cigar alight, beaming with pleasure at the sight of Meggie dressed in her bright yellow oilskins and matching sou’wester pulled on over all her warm clothes. He was utterly captivated by her, and as she steered the Light Heart back towards the quayside, their joint inaugural jaunt nearly done, he couldn’t help being filled with wonder all over again at the turn his life had taken.

  When they reached the harbour he nimbly jumped ashore with painter in hand and tied the boat up to a mooring ring, before holding a hand out to help Meggie from the boat. As she came ashore, Waldo smiled at her then lifted her up in his arms and began to carry her up the quay as a bridegroom carries his bride over the threshold.

  ‘Any particular significance to this?’ Meggie asked him wryly.

  ‘I don’t know,’ Waldo replied happily. ‘I just felt this is a very special kind of moment.’

  ‘Me too,’ Meggie agreed, settling down in his arms. ‘My thoughts entirely, actually.’

  They sat in a window seat of the Three Tuns drinking whisky and looking out over the estuary where the tide was now on the turn. The sky was still a clear light winter blue, dotted with flocks of sea birds searching for food. A small brightly painted red and yellow fishing boat had just left the harbour, headed eastward for the open sea, while a handful of resolute yachtsmen were swinging their craft on towards their deep water moorings, their day’s sailing done.

  ‘You’re to look after yourself when I’m gone, Meggie,’ Waldo said.

  ‘When you’re away, Waldo,’ she corrected him. ‘Not when you’re gone.’

  ‘You know what I mean, sweetheart. You’ve had a nasty case of the flu and it can sometimes leave you feeling a bit run down.’