first Clowance did not see anyone she recognized. Then she saw a table by the window with a solitary young woman at it. She was clearly waiting for them. It was Cuby.
'I knew this would be a present surprise,' said Philip Prideaux, rubbing his hands together. 'Mrs Poldark, Mrs Carrington. Eh? Eh? Sisters-in-law!'
Clowance had first met Cuby at Trenwith when she had come with her sister Clemency to Geoffrey Charles's and Amadora's big party. She remembered then registering surprise that this idol, this icon of Jeremy's, was not better looking. Then rather reluctantly she had acknowledged that Cuby had wonderful skin and eyes. They had spoken scarcely at all, for the breach between Cuby and Jeremy seemed then unbridgeable, and Clowance had resented her on sight -- as Demelza on the same evening notably had not.
When the plans for Cuby's marriage to Valentine had fallen through and she and Jeremy had eloped, they had, according to reports, been 'blissfully happy' in Brussels, but, while accepting that, Clowance still felt that the tragedy of Jeremy's death at Waterloo need never have been. Now they were facing each other across a small tea table,
thanks to the blundering good will of the egregious Mr (Captain) Prideaux. Cuby had coloured. One could not be sure how much she knew of the other girl's enmity, though some of it must have been made reasonably plain by the fact that whenever she went to Nampara Clowance was not there. Philip ordered tea for himself and Clowance, but Cuby said she would have coffee. There was one subject which could not add to the chill.
'How is Noelle?'
'Passing well, thank you. She has been slow to talk, but now it is beginning.'
'You do not have her with you in Truro?'
'No, Clemency is caring for her. They are great friends. It is long since you have seen her, Clowance. I'm sure you would find her engaging.'
'I'm sure,' said Clowance. Mr Prideaux glanced from one to the other, and took off his spectacles.
'Do you know what I have been doing this week, ladies? I have been to Chysauster.'
Both looked blank.
'Where is that?'
'Near Gulval. There are the remains - the very splendid remains - of a "beehive" hut. It is of early date, if not actually prehistoric. And a subterranean passage, part fallen in. Roman-British times. Probably third or fourth century. I believe a man called Borlase has written about it.'
The two ladies listened courteously while Philip told them some of his activities of the week. In friendlier circumstances they might have smiled understanding at each other, but Clowance did not meet Cuby's eyes. Tea was finished, and what little casual conversation there had been dried up. Philip beamed at them both, impervious to mood or atmosphere. Then suddenly Cuby said: 'Clowance, I know how busy you are, but would you spare the time to come to Caerhays and spend an afternoon with us? It is, I know, quite a long journey, but if you took the King Harry Ferry it would cut several miles from the trip.'
Clowance hesitated, and to her annoyance knew herself to be colouring.
'Very kind,' she said. 'If you are sure your brother would welcome me?'
'Why should he not?' Cuby asked indignantly. Clowance glanced at Philip Prideaux and wished him far away. Well, he was not, so ...
'Before you married him, was not Jeremy several times turned from the door?'
Cuby looked daggers at her sister-in-law.
'That must have been when I was affianced to Valentine Warleggan. I did not know of this. I suppose John thought he was acting for the best.'
'I imagine so. All the same, Jeremy was profoundly upset.'
Cuby said: 'But in the end I married your brother. Do you remember that? I was at fault before it came about. But I had in the end six months of life with him that were so full of happiness that I shall never forget them as long as I live.' There were tears in her eyes now. Clowance said: 'I'm sorry. I should not have said that. If we had not met so unexpectedly perhaps I should have spoken
'I knew this would be a present surprise,' said Philip Prideaux, rubbing his hands together. 'Mrs Poldark, Mrs Carrington. Eh? Eh? Sisters-in-law!'
Clowance had first met Cuby at Trenwith when she had come with her sister Clemency to Geoffrey Charles's and Amadora's big party. She remembered then registering surprise that this idol, this icon of Jeremy's, was not better looking. Then rather reluctantly she had acknowledged that Cuby had wonderful skin and eyes. They had spoken scarcely at all, for the breach between Cuby and Jeremy seemed then unbridgeable, and Clowance had resented her on sight -- as Demelza on the same evening notably had not.
When the plans for Cuby's marriage to Valentine had fallen through and she and Jeremy had eloped, they had, according to reports, been 'blissfully happy' in Brussels, but, while accepting that, Clowance still felt that the tragedy of Jeremy's death at Waterloo need never have been. Now they were facing each other across a small tea table,
thanks to the blundering good will of the egregious Mr (Captain) Prideaux. Cuby had coloured. One could not be sure how much she knew of the other girl's enmity, though some of it must have been made reasonably plain by the fact that whenever she went to Nampara Clowance was not there. Philip ordered tea for himself and Clowance, but Cuby said she would have coffee. There was one subject which could not add to the chill.
'How is Noelle?'
'Passing well, thank you. She has been slow to talk, but now it is beginning.'
'You do not have her with you in Truro?'
'No, Clemency is caring for her. They are great friends. It is long since you have seen her, Clowance. I'm sure you would find her engaging.'
'I'm sure,' said Clowance. Mr Prideaux glanced from one to the other, and took off his spectacles.
'Do you know what I have been doing this week, ladies? I have been to Chysauster.'
Both looked blank.
'Where is that?'
'Near Gulval. There are the remains - the very splendid remains - of a "beehive" hut. It is of early date, if not actually prehistoric. And a subterranean passage, part fallen in. Roman-British times. Probably third or fourth century. I believe a man called Borlase has written about it.'
The two ladies listened courteously while Philip told them some of his activities of the week. In friendlier circumstances they might have smiled understanding at each other, but Clowance did not meet Cuby's eyes. Tea was finished, and what little casual conversation there had been dried up. Philip beamed at them both, impervious to mood or atmosphere. Then suddenly Cuby said: 'Clowance, I know how busy you are, but would you spare the time to come to Caerhays and spend an afternoon with us? It is, I know, quite a long journey, but if you took the King Harry Ferry it would cut several miles from the trip.'
Clowance hesitated, and to her annoyance knew herself to be colouring.
'Very kind,' she said. 'If you are sure your brother would welcome me?'
'Why should he not?' Cuby asked indignantly. Clowance glanced at Philip Prideaux and wished him far away. Well, he was not, so ...
'Before you married him, was not Jeremy several times turned from the door?'
Cuby looked daggers at her sister-in-law.
'That must have been when I was affianced to Valentine Warleggan. I did not know of this. I suppose John thought he was acting for the best.'
'I imagine so. All the same, Jeremy was profoundly upset.'
Cuby said: 'But in the end I married your brother. Do you remember that? I was at fault before it came about. But I had in the end six months of life with him that were so full of happiness that I shall never forget them as long as I live.' There were tears in her eyes now. Clowance said: 'I'm sorry. I should not have said that. If we had not met so unexpectedly perhaps I should have spoken
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