Carrie appeared soon afterwards.She was accompanied by Mr Penwick, to Jed’s dismay.He had been hoping to see her alone.
Carrie clapped her hands to her mouth.“Oh, Jed, thank God!A woman called here—your friend from Barnstaple.Emma Yates.She said you’d been pressed again.”
“I’m all right, as you see.But to tell the truth, I didn’t expect such a welcome.Not after that letter you wrote me.”
“I know, but—”
She exchanged glances with Penwick, who cleared his throat.“Trevithick, I did not expect you to show your face here.”
Jed faced him squarely.“Thinking of running off to Minehead again?I wouldn’t trouble myself, if I were you.I’ve just come from there this afternoon.The press gang have left town.”He deliberately left off the ‘sir,’ difficult as it was to break the habit of a lifetime.
“Ah… yes, we have heard something of the kind,” Penwick said in an uncomfortable tone.
Yes, look me in the eye and tell me you betrayed me, Jed thought.But Penwick had not met his eye since he entered the room.
There was a pained silence.
Carrie said quickly into the silence, “Your friend from Barnstaple made some shocking allegations about Lieutenant Vaughan’s behaviour in London.”
“If you mean his practice of preying on improvident young gentlemen, it’s perfectly true,” Solomon said.“I knew him in London myself.”
Penwick looked doubtful.“Indeed, Mrs Penwick told me there appear to have been some rumours… But I can scarcely believe— Such a well-bred gentleman—”
“Then it may interest you to know that he fled the country this morning,” Solomon said.“Soon as he found out someone would be taking an interest in the details of his so-called good works in these parts.”
“Good Lord!Well—that is… Well, I’ll certainly have the matter looked into.”Penwick cleared his throat.“Of course, that is no reflection on the importance of his duty in manning our ships.”
But Penwick still wasn’t able to meet Jed’s eye.
Jed didn’t care.He was here for Carrie.She did meet his eye, and he searched her gaze for the sister he had known.He found guilt and wariness there.
“Carrie—” he began.
He wanted to appeal to her.Wanted her to say something to prove that she hadn’t written that letter.That she didn’t really believe the things she said.That she was still the sister he’d loved.
He looked at her in her fine gown, her hand on Penwick’s arm, and remembered wondering how it felt to be in her position.Commanding a household of servants, entertaining Penwick’s gentlemen friends at dinner… Did she fear Jed would undermine a position in which she already felt insecure?
“Carrie, I don’t want to be at odds with my own family.”
“Neither do I, Jed,” she said quietly.
“Nor do any of us,” Penwick said.“It pains me to see your sister’s distress.But Trevithick, you must see what an impossible situation you put us in.You, a deserter—”
Something inside Jed snapped.“For Christ’s sake, I’ve already given five years of blood and sweat.Other men settle down.Why can’t I?”
“I understand that,” Penwick said unexpectedly.“But you must see that I cannot dine with magistrates and let my own brother-in-law get away with law-breaking.”
“No, you’d rather dine with scoundrels who steal from invalided seamen.”
Penwick flushed.
Jed grimaced inwardly.Perhaps it would have been a better strategy to kneel and lick Penwick’s boots.But he was too angry for conciliation.
“Never mind.I’m just here for my horse and cart.I’ll trouble you to write me a letter of introduction to your agent, if you please.”
Penwick met his eye at last.“Perhaps, Trevithick, it would be best if you were to go away to another part of the country.I would be quite happy to give you a small sum—”
“I don’t need your money, thank you.I ask only for my horse.”He looked at his sister.“Carrie—”
