Page 72 of Sunday's Child

Patricia raised her glass of blackberry wine. ‘Here’s a toast to the return of the Corinthian. May she arrive safely and bring an end to all our troubles.’

Nancy and Aurelia joined in the toast, but Lady Pentelow was too busy spooning soup into her mouth to bother. ‘What will be, will be,’ she muttered, breaking off another chunk of bread. ‘Is there no butter, Aurelia?’

‘No, Grandmama. We haven’t been able to pay the farmer or the village shop. We owe money to everyone.’

‘That’s how we’ve always done business. They trust us because they know that we are good for our word.’

‘I don’t think that applies now, Grandmama. The whole village knows our business. If Piers hasn’t sent money tomorrow, we face bankruptcy.’

Next morning, at first light, Nancy and Aurelia stood on the cliff top, gazing out across the bay.

‘What will you do if the Corinthian doesn’t arrive?’ Nancy shivered as a bitter wind spiked with sleet tugged at her skirts and the thick wool of her cape.

‘We’ve tried to sell off the mine, but no one in their right mind would buy a business that is making a steady loss. Especially with miners who are on strike and threatening violence. We can’t sell Trevenor without Piers’ permission, and if we cannot contact him we are helpless.’

‘Couldn’t Alex do anything to help? After all, he was supposed to have an interest in the mine, or so Patricia said.’

‘He did, but Martin was quite clever at making out everything was running smoothly. He made all sorts of excuses for the shares doing badly and Alex believed him.’ Aurelia turned away from the view. ‘We could be here all day, Nancy. I think we’d better go indoors and have breakfast. I’ll walk down to the village later and see if there’s any news.’

Nancy glanced over Aurelia’s shoulder. ‘Someone is coming up the cliff path. Do you recognise him?’

‘It’s Daniel Comer. He’s the mine manager now.’ Aurelia set off at a run with Nancy hot on her heels. They arrived at the locked gates to find Daniel leaning against them gasping for breath.

‘What’s wrong, Daniel?’ Aurelia cried anxiously. ‘What’s happened? There’s blood on your clothes. Are you hurt?’

He shook his head. ‘Not mine.’ He struggled to control his breathing. ‘Bad news, ma’am.’

‘What is it?’ Aurelia tried to open the gates but he held up his hand.

‘Keep ’em locked, ma’am. News has just come in that the Corinthian has gone down off the Azores. No survivors, as far as we know.’

Aurelia sank to her knees, clutching the intricate wrought iron. ‘None?’

‘No, ma’am. All hands lost, so they say.’

Nancy helped Aurelia to her feet. ‘What haven’t you told us, Mr Comer?’

‘News has got round, miss. The men knew there was money for their pay on the ship and now it’s at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. There was a riot.’

Aurelia leaned against the gate. ‘This is so dreadful. Was anyone badly hurt?’

‘A few, miss, and one fatality. I don’t like to say more.’

‘Who was it, Daniel? I need to know.’

Daniel glanced at Nancy, his dark eyebrows lowered. ‘You should take the missis into the house. There’s going to be more trouble.’

‘Who was killed, Daniel?’ Aurelia insisted desperately. ‘I should see his family and give them my sympathy.’

Daniel shook his head. ‘No need, ma’am. You knew him well enough. I’m sorry.’

‘Martin?’ Aurelia’s voice cracked and she began to tremble.

Nancy put an arm around her waist and held her. ‘I’m so sorry, Aurelia.’

‘Are you sure, Daniel?’ Aurelia leaned heavily on Nancy. ‘Could there be a mistake?’

‘No, ma’am. Again, I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news.’ Daniel hesitated, glancing over his shoulder. ‘If I was you I’d keep away from the village. When the news gets round that there is no money, there will be more trouble.’ He backed away. ‘I have to go, ma’am.’