Dangerous Waters Read Free

really think me so shabby?”
    â€œNo, of course not. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean – I certainly didn’t intend to – “
    â€œYes, well, enough said. We’ll talk later.” He cleared his throat. “Now, about dinner tonight. I’ve invited two guests. Mrs Bishop – “
    â€œNot Mrs Tonkin?” Phoebe asked in surprise.
    He shook his head, and his face twisted briefly, half-embarrassed half ashamed. “Martha is a good woman, and I’m fond of her. But there was never any question – I don’t know where she got the idea – Truth is, you’re right about those children.“ He shuddered. “I couldn’t be doing with all that again, not at my time of life. No, it’s Carina – Mrs Bishop – who’s coming tonight.” He seemed to find his neckcloth suddenly tight and loosened it with a forefinger. “As you know, she never had children. She told me she used to consider it a great sorrow. But since she – since we – got to know each other,“ he cleared his throat again. “Her thoughts on the matter have changed.”
    Astonished, then touched as once again colour darkened his complexion, Phoebe was intrigued.
    â€œCarina says,” he went on, losing the struggle to contain both astonishment and pride, “that without other demands or distractions in her life, she’s free to devote herself entirely to my comfort. Now then, what do you think of that?”
    Her uncle’s delight told Phoebe that this was an extremely shrewd woman. Carina Bishop would be aware that William and Joshua, Uncle George’s two sons, both in their early twenties and established in the Packet service, were courting. Both would soon marry and set up their own homes thus removing them permanently from the house.
    She would also be aware that Sarah had often stayed through the night with a woman in labour, or at the bedside of a sick child until the crisis passed. Returning home at daybreak Sarah would, if George were home from sea, join him for breakfast where they would talk over the night’s events. Sometimes after he had left for whatever his day held, she retired to bed to catch up on missed sleep. But often there were other clients to see, or remedies to be made. Sarah had shared her time and her energy between her family and those who sought her help.
    So with that one statement Carina Bishop had transformed her barrenness – something once perceived as a failure – into an advantage. Also, without a word of criticism against her predecessor she had made it clear that, for her , total fulfilment lay in devoting herself solely to the care of a husband.
    After two years’ grieving Uncle George had stopped looking back and was beginning to look forward. Who could blame him for being tempted by such an offer? Phoebe couldn’t. She moistened dry lips.
    â€œYou mentioned two guests, uncle. Who is the other?”
    â€œOh yes.” He cleared his throat again. “His name’s Quintrell, Mr William Quintrell.”
    â€œIs he new to the service?” Phoebe enquired. “I don’t recall hearing his name before.”
    Rising from his chair George Oakes turned away. Crushing his cousin’s letter into a ball, he tossed it onto the fire. Phoebe watched the flames lick, then flare brightly as the paper blackened and fell into ash. “He’s not a packet man. He owns a sugar plantation in Jamaica. Built it up from almost nothing so I understand. It’s doing very well now, very well. He’s been out there over thirty years. I first met him about ten years ago when I was on the West Indies run. But he’s not in the best of health. That’s why he’s come back to Cornwall. Well, one of the reasons. Stroke of luck meeting up with him again. In fact, it couldn’t have – Yes, well, I’m sure you’ll like him. A very