Philippa Carr: Witch from the Sea

“He is the lord of Castle Paling—a man greatly feared in these parts. He is the lord of the neighbourhood. It has always been so with the Casvellyns. They own much of the land hereabouts. He could turn us out of our homes if we displeased him. He would have no mercy. His father was lord of us all but he was but a shadow of his son.”

“You live in terror of him?”

“He does not come this way so often. That is why since he was here last week I did not think he would come again. He pays well for his lodging here. He is not one to stint. There is grandeur at Castle Paling I have heard. My daughter once went there.”

“Your daughter … Nessie,” I said sharply.

The landlord looked embarrassed and the thought came into my head that the landlord’s daughter would doubtless sleep in the bed which had been taken from us.

“Yes, he … noticed her. He is good to people who please him.”

I felt disgusted. “Let us be shown the humbler room,” I said, and to my mother: “It is unimportant. Tomorrow we shall be on our way.”

“I am grateful, ladies, for your good consideration. Believe me, I am deeply grieved that this should have happened.”

“Think no more of it,” my mother told him. “Let our bags be taken to another room.”

“It shall be done while you eat,” said the landlord, fast regaining his equilibrium. “I trust the flavour of the sucking-pig—which I know will be the tenderest you have ever partaken of—will make up for this unfortunate upset.”

Fresh rushes had been laid in the dining-room and the smell of the herbs was clean and fresh. I was hungry and the sucking-pig which was already on the table looked as succulent and appetising as could be wished. There was a great pie and several tarts besides roast beef and mutton, wild fowl and spiced tarts, marchpane and gingerbread. No wonder the host was proud of his table.

We were sampling the sucking-pig when Colum Casvellyn entered the dining-room. I kept my eyes averted and my mother and I talked of the journey we had had as though he were not there.

He was not the sort to allow himself to be ignored.

He demanded the host’s attention; he would have the prime cut of the beef and the largest of the pies. Nessie waited on him, ignoring everyone else to obey his command immediately.

“It has been a fine day,” he said, addressing me.

“It has,” I agreed.

“You have come far?”

“A day’s ride.”

“How long is that?”

“It would depend on the riders, I doubt not.”

“I was referring to these riders.” He nodded towards my mother and me.

“We left Plymouth two days since.”

“Plymouth. But of course. Captain Jake Pennlyon! One of the nation’s heroes.”

“I doubt not you were at sea with the fleet, sir.”

“Aye,” he said. “And gave a good account of myself.”

“I doubt not that either,” I said. “Mother, have you finished?”

She said she had.

“Then,” I said, “let us go to see how this room in which we are to spend the night compares with the one this gentleman has taken from us.”

He laughed loudly.

We rose but unfortunately we had to pass close to him on our way out and as we did so, he caught at my gown so that I was pulled up short.

I looked down with disgust at his fingers which held my skirt but had no alternative but to meet his gaze. He was looking straight up at me; with mischief in his bright dark eyes—and more. He disturbed me; I tried to tweak my dress out of his fingers but he held on firmly.

“Sir?” I said with fury and indignation.

My mother was pulling at my arm, not aware that he was holding me.

I said: “You will take your hands from my gown.”

“I but wish to be civil,” he said.

“Civil! I do not understand your manner,” I retorted.

My mother was getting very angry. “How dare you lay hands on my daughter,” she said. “If you do not …”

He waited for her to go on, his brow slightly cocked, the insolent smile on his lips. He wanted to hear what she would do, knowing full well it could amount to nothing. He was the master here. The landlord lived in terror of him. What could two helpless females do against such a man?

He said: “I was about to say, Madam, that I have no wish that you should think hardly of me. Therefore I shall tell the landlord that I shall occupy the inferior room for I shall give up the Oak Room to you ladies.”

We were silent, completely taken off our guard.

My mother recovered herself first. She said coldly: “There is no need. We are quite prepared to take the other room.”

He was vehement. He had released my skirt and rapped his fist on the table. “You shall have the Oak Room. I will sleep happily in the inferior one. Nessie, call your father. At once, girl. Don’t stand there gaping.”

As we were about to leave the room the landlord appeared. “These ladies are to have the Oak Room,” roared Colum Casvellyn. “Take their baggage and put it back. I relinquish it. Now, Nessie, fill my goblet.”

My mother said to the landlord, “This is a ridiculous matter and I would see an end of it. We will not go back to the Oak Room. We shall leave it for that … that … ill-mannered oaf …”

The landlord shook his head, beginning to tremble. “He has said it shall be, my lady, and so it must.”

He looked so terrified that my mother shrugged her shoulders. Our bags were brought back to the Oak Room, Jennet unpacked and we decided we would settle down for the night.

My mother locked the door. With such people in the inn one could never be sure, she said.

It was a long time before I could sleep although the bed was comfortable. I kept thinking of Colum Casvellyn and imagining his being in this bed with Nessie, for I was sure the girl was spending the night with him. I felt excited in a rather unpleasant way; something had been aroused in me of which until this time I had been unaware.

My mother was wide awake too. We talked a little and then were silent and finally she did sleep. Jennet on her pallet was asleep, breathing with the deepness of complete and undisturbed repose. I tried not to toss and turn for fear of disturbing my mother and lay rather stiffly and uncomfortably.

As I lay there I heard a faint thud on the window pane. At first I thought I had imagined it and lay still, listening. It came again. Swiftly and silently I got out of bed and went to the window. I pushed it open and looked out. The half moon threw a white light on the trees and hedges. It was beautiful out there and the air was mild and sweet-smelling. Then I saw the shadow emerge from among the trees and he was standing there, legs apart, looking up at the window.

I drew back; I heard him laugh. He put his hand to his lips, kissed it and threw the hand towards me. I was so astonished that for a few seconds I just stood there looking at him. He threw out his arms as though inviting me to come down.

I shut the window hurriedly and went back to bed. I lay there trembling a little, terrified that I would awaken my mother. I kept my eye on the window, half expecting to see him appear there. I lay listening for a sound at the door.

Nothing happened.

It was a long time before I slept and then I was disturbed by vague shapeless dreams, but he was there dominating them.

Before it was light we were awake. The landlord gave us a hot breakfast and we left soon after dawn, before the inn was fully astir.

I was glad to get away but I knew I should remember Colum Casvellyn with a kind of fascinated horror for a long time to come.

That day we came to Trystan Priory. It was a lovely house some five miles inland. My father had not yet arrived and we were warmly welcomed by Fennimore and his parents. The house had been recently built on the site of an old Priory which had been demolished during the dissolution of the monasteries in the reign of the Queen’s father. There was a little of the old Priory left and Fennimore during that day and the next while we awaited the arrival of my father took great pleasure in pointing these remains out to us.