Page 5 of The Cornish Widow

Mrs. Trevelyan’s gaze lit on the range. “No one has lived here, I doubt, since old Brewinney Pascoe fell over the cliff on his way home from Bessie’s Kiddley three years ago. And it looks to me as though no one’s been in here to clear up after him.”

Theo burst through the door, his arms piled high with dry driftwood, and skidded to a halt on the stone-slabbed floor, eyes wide with surprise.

Mrs. Trevelyan bestowed one of her lovely smiles on him—enough to make his cheeks blossom with color.

“My children,” Harriet said, a trifle belatedly, still wiping at her eyes. “Lydia and Theo. And this is Bertha, our maid.”

Mrs. Trevelyan nodded. “Work is required in here immediately to render the cottage habitable for you tonight. You are not common mine workers, as Brewinney was, and cannot be expected to live like this.” She waved her hand at her surroundings. “When I next see Mrs. Bolitho, I shall have something to say to her about the state of her property.”

Oh no. She couldn’t be allowed to do that. Harriet shook her head. “Please don’t. We are very much reliant on her kindness in allowing us to live here, as I’ve said. She might well take the cottage away from us if you were to tax her with its state. I’m sure once we have it cleaned it will look much better.”

Mrs. Trevelyan’s eyes narrowed and her lips pursed. “Well,” she said, with a shake of her head. “If you allow me to offer my assistance right now, perhaps I might not bother your aunt about it.” She eyed Harriet up and down. “One thing is certain. You cannot do this by yourselves in the few hours of daylight remaining. What do you say?”

Harriet glanced at Bertha and Lydia, who both nodded with determination.

Theo didn’t count. He was the sort of boy happy to sleep in a barn.

Harriet swallowed. “Then in that case, dear Mrs. Trevelyan, we will happily accept what neighborly assistance you can offer us. Thank you very much for your kindness.”

Mrs. Trevelyan beamed. “It’s decided, then. I will hasten home and send down a wagon of supplies for you with some of my hardest-working servants. Many hands will make light work, as they say. You must tell me what you need, because I have plenty of furniture in storage that I can send down.” She glanced at the range. “And someone to make sure this contraption works.” She gave the rust a poke. “I’m sure it’s just on the surface and nothing worse, although kitchens are no longer familiar to me.” She benefitted them with her charming smile once more, her eyes fixing on Theo’s armful of driftwood. “And I doubt there is much in the way of firewood here. I’ll add that to my list.”