Mary Nichols - The Hemingford Scandal

The early morning air was clear and heady as wine and Donald was a perfect escort, pointing places out to her, stopping to comment on the wayside flowers, giving her their Latin names, talking about the farm, not in a condescending way, but as if he knew she would be interested. Which she was. And when they returned to the house he fulfilled his promise to take her to see the view from the north tower, conducting her up the narrow stair to a small room at the top.

She crossed the room to look out of the window over rolling countryside. ‘Why, I do believe I can see the sea,’ she said, catching sight of sparkling water. ‘How far away is it?’

‘Five or six miles as the crow flies,’ he said. ‘But it is The Wash, not the open sea.’

‘And there is a ship out there, I can see its sails.’

He picked up a telescope from the table and trained it out to sea. ‘It is early,’ he murmured.

‘Early?’

‘It is a cargo ship. I have an interest in the freight it carries.’

‘Oh, do let me see.’

He handed her the telescope and she trained it on the vessel. It looked small at that distance, its sails bowed out as it used the wind to sail westwards. ‘Where will it put in?’

‘King’s Lynn. I expect it will dock tomorrow.’

‘Shall you go to meet it?’

‘Yes. Would you like to come?’

‘Yes, if Aunt Lane agrees.’

The outing was a pleasant carriage ride and Jane enjoyed the sights and sounds of the busy port. There were hundreds of vessels, fishing boats, lighters and cargo boats in the harbour and seafaring men and dock workers scurried about their business. ‘They export all manner of produce,’ Mr Allworthy explained. ‘Corn and wool principally, but also manufactured goods. And they import things like wine and tea.’ He paused as one of the dockers came towards the carriage, obviously intent on speaking to him. ‘Would you and your aunt care to wait in the carriage while I do my business? It will not take many minutes and then I shall be free to show you round.’

He left them and they watched as he had an animated conversation with the man, before leaving him to go aboard a vessel on whose side Jane noticed the name, Fair Trader. A few minutes later he rejoined them. ‘All very satisfactory,’ he said, smiling easily. ‘Now, shall we take a stroll?’

He helped them from the carriage and offered an arm to each lady and they walked towards the town. The streets were narrow but well paved and there were a good number of shops and hotels. From the London road they turned on to an avenue lined with lime and chestnut trees and continued to the inner bank of the ancient town walls. Here they rested on a seat in the shade before returning to the carriage and the ride back to Coprise Manor. Mr Allworthy was a perfect guide and host and Jane’s anxieties faded to nothing. London seemed a long, long way away.

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