Once they were alone, they exchanged glances.
“I take it this is a complete surprise to you?”Solomon said.
“I’ll say it is!What the devil—” He shook his head.This still felt like a very peculiar extended jest.
The furniture in the room was very fine: all lacy tablecloths and gold silk damask.But before Jed could take in much of it, Carrie entered the room and threw her arms around him.
“Oh!Oh my Lord!Jed!We thought you were dead.”
She stood back, holding him at arm’s length to look at him.Her eyes shone with tears.“Oh Jed, it’s really you.I couldn’t believe it when dear Mr Penwick told me.”
“I couldn’t believe it either, when he told me you’d married him.But it’s true, I see.”
“Yes.”She was smiling through her tears.“Yes, it’s true.”
He took a good look at her.She wore a fine silk gown of deep green, with a sort of lacy shawl.Her thick brown hair was pinned up under an immaculate white cap.
“Are you happy, Carrie?Does he treat you well?”
“Yes, very happy.”Her voice had the ring of sincerity to it.“Oh Jed, I thought I’d never see you again.How came you here?And—?”She cast a curious look at Solomon.
“This is my friend Solomon.Solomon, my sister Carrie.Mrs, ah, Penwick.”
They exchanged nods, each eyeing the other curiously.
“I got your letter, years ago, saying you’d been pressed,” Carrie told Jed.“But we already knew what must have befallen you.Two dozen men were pressed up and down the coast that day, and when you didn’t come home… Oh, how we wept, Aunt Ellen and I!Cousin Robert went to Minehead to try and get word of you at the Rondy there, but you must already have been transferred to a ship.”
“Where are Robert and Aunt Ellen now?”
“They went back to Exeter when I married.”She put out a hand to touch his arm.“I’ve been so worried— But here you are, delivered to me by the grace of God.Have you been discharged from your ship?”
“I ran.”
“Oh!Oh dear!What will Mr Penwick say?”
Solomon raised an eyebrow.Jed frowned.He opened his mouth to warn Carrie to keep that secret to herself, but before he could speak, Penwick entered the room.
Carrie froze for a moment.Then she gathered herself and turned to him, saying brightly, “My dear Mr Penwick, can you believe it?My brother, returned to us.Sit down, Jed, you must take some tea with us.”
She rang a bell, and a maid entered.Soon, they were all seated awkwardly around a tray of tea and biscuits.The tray was fine polished beech with a mother-of-pearl inlay, and the teacups were delicate little things.Those porcelain handles wouldn’t last long at sea.
Jed sat with his hands on his knees, reluctant to touch anything.His eye fell on a frayed patch on the sleeve of his coat.
It was most peculiar watching Carrie play the gracious host.The fine silk of her dress rustled when she poured the tea.
“Thank you, my dear,” Penwick said, accepting a cup from her.
Jed had never in his life expected nor desired to find himself taking tea in the Squire’s parlour.He wished the man to the devil, so that he might speak to Carrie more comfortably.He wanted to ask her if she had received any of his letters after the first one.Carrie couldn’t read any more than he could—or at least, she hadn’t been able to five years ago.But a gentlewoman in her position must keep the household accounts.He studied her, wondering if her position had come easy to her.
“You look well, Trevithick,” Penwick said.
“Yes, sir,” Jed said awkwardly.“I mean, thank you, sir.”He hadn’t touched his cup of tea yet.Neither had Solomon.
Penwick cleared his throat.“I take it you were discharged, Trevithick?Paid off from your ship?”
There was a short, pained silence.Jed had some wild thought of lying.
The biscuit Carrie was buttering snapped in half.Its remains crumbled into her plate.With unsteady fingers, she laid down the knife.“Mr Penwick, my dear—”
