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‘That’s correct. The Charnley Queen is due to sail tomorrow morning, but there is only one cabin available for passengers.’
‘We can’t leave Hester and Nancy here,’ Alex said regretfully. ‘Otherwise I would have jumped at the chance to get home and see my family.’
‘Hester’s son is the mate on the Bonaventure,’ Nancy said proudly. ‘Wasn’t that an amazing coincidence? He’s helped us since we arrived on the island. We can have the same cabin for the return journey. I think they are also sailing tomorrow.’
Alex frowned, shaking his head. ‘We ought to travel together.’
‘Nonsense, Alexander. We made it here on our own, didn’t we?’ Hester gave him a stern look. ‘You and Leo must take advantage of Rupert’s offer and leave in the morning. The sooner you get back to Rockwood, the better.’
‘That’s if you don’t mind us staying here tonight, Rupert?’ Nancy turned to him. ‘We can always find a hotel if it’s going to inconvenience you.’
‘I would be delighted if you were our guests tonight,’ Rupert said with a charming smile. ‘As to the sailing, Alex, I’ll send a boy to the docks to tell my brother, Dolph, to make the necessary arrangements.’
‘Does he help to run the plantation as well as you and your papa?’ Nancy eyed him curiously. She could not quite get the measure of Charnley’s second son.
‘Dolph prefers the shipping side of things. It gives him a chance to spend time in town.’ Rupert’s smile faded. ‘He hates the process of cutting and pressing the sugar canes in the mill, and all the processes afterwards, which is a pity as he’ll inherit the plantation one day.’
‘It seems to me that you do pretty well at running it on your own,’ Leo said seriously.
‘The business side appeals to me. In fact, I was supposed to be travelling to Plymouth tomorrow to do a deal with a new agent.’
‘We don’t want to take your cabin.’ Alex sighed. ‘You’ve been good to us, Rupert.’
‘You saved me from the school bullies, Alex. I might not have survived if you hadn’t stepped in and taken care of me when I was a skinny little eight-year-old. Anyway, don’t worry about me. I’ll have the captain’s day cabin. He’s a friend of mine, so he won’t mind.’
‘That’s settled then,’ Hester said triumphantly. ‘We leave tomorrow for England. I couldn’t be happier. Not that this isn’t a beautiful island and you have a wonderful place here, Rupert, but I miss my home.’
He smiled. ‘I understand. As a matter of fact I, too, love England. I even love the damp foggy weather and the howling gales. I used to spend some of my school holidays with the Knighton family at Knighton Hall in Cornwall. They own a plantation on the other side of the island.’
‘I know that family,’ Alex said, nodding. ‘My cousin Aurelia was almost engaged to their son, Hugo, at one time.’
‘Who would have thought it?’ Hester shook her head. ‘We’ve come all this way only to find you know people back in Cornwall.’
‘I hope you can visit Rockwood Castle while you’re in Devonshire, Rupert,’ Nancy said eagerly. ‘I know that Lady Pentelow and Aurelia would love to meet you.’
‘If I conclude my business in Plymouth quickly I might even be able to visit you at your home,’ Rupert said, smiling. ‘It would do Dolph good to carry on without me for a while.’
‘We could travel to Rockwood together.’ Leo rose from his seat. ‘Alex, what do you say to one last go at persuading Piers to return home?’
Alex nodded. ‘Might we borrow a pair of horses from your stables, Rupert? I doubt if we’ll change my cousin’s mind, but if we try again we’ll know we’ve done everything we can.’
‘Of course.’ Rupert rang for a servant. ‘Perhaps Hester and Nancy would like to join me for luncheon and then I’ll give them a tour of the plantation. Tomorrow we’ll be on our way to England.’
Chapter Nineteen
The strong south-westerlies were behind them all the way, buffeting, pushing and driving the Bonaventure and the Charnleys’ vessel towards home. Hester was ill for most of the voyage but she picked up a little when they reached the quieter waters of the English Channel. When it was time to disembark, Nancy stood back while Hester said her goodbyes to her son. Tobias was clearly moved and he promised to visit Rockwood Castle on his next shore leave. Nancy thought she saw a tear trickle down Hester’s cheek as Tobias walked away, but, being Hester, she recovered quickly and told Nancy off for staring at her.
It was too late to travel on and they spent the night in a Plymouth hotel. Next morning, first thing, Rupert had a meeting with the agent who was to promote the Charnley plantation sugar, molasses and rum, and when it was over he was clearly delighted with the result. Rupert had intended to spend a couple of weeks visiting places he had known as a youth, but after only a little persuasion he agreed to accept Alexander’s invitation to spend a few days at Rockwood Castle. They travelled by train to Newton Abbot, where they hired a carriage and a slightly ramshackle dog cart to take them on the rest of their journey.
After the comparative heat of Barbados, the cold January weather came as a shocking reminder of the English winter. Sleety rain poured from heavy cumulus clouds and the roads were muddy and treacherous, which slowed down their progress. It was late afternoon when they arrived at the castle and already dark. Alex had sent a telegram from Plymouth announcing their homecoming so it was not a complete surprise for the family, who were assembled in the drawing room, seated round a roaring fire. The children were first to leap to their feet and they rushed to Alex, throwing themselves into his arms. He kneeled down on the floor and allowed them to get over their excitement, promising to tell them stories of his travels when they were tucked up in bed.
Leo swept Patricia off her feet, hugging her and kissing her soundly until she protested and made him put her down, but she was laughing and they went to sit side by side on the sofa.
‘I’m sorry I had to tell him about the baby, Patsy,’ Nancy said apologetically. ‘He and Alex were a little too comfortable at the Charnley plantation.’
Hester took off her bonnet and shook raindrops into the fire so that they sizzled. ‘Where are your manners, Alex? You should introduce Rupert to the family first.’
Alex stood up, even though the children were still clinging to him. He slipped his arm around Rosalind and kissed her. ‘I’m sorry, Rupert. You’ll have to forgive me.’
