Sea Mistress Read Free Page B

to give you, no passion either.’
    She was relieved and immediately felt ashamed. ‘What are you getting out of all this, Jubilee?’
    Her question had remained unanswered for a long time. At last, he’d spoken. ‘I heard all the talk about you, merchi , carrying twins they say. I want them babbas you got in there.’ He rested his hand on her stomach, ‘I need sons, see, can’t get ’em myself so I’m content to take another man’s offspring as my own. Give me boys and you’ll have repaid me a thousand times.’
    The organ burst quite suddenly into life and Ellie blinked, trying to reorganize her thoughts. She had come to love Jubilee. She never had, and never could, repay Jubilee for all his generosity.
    Evan Roberts was in the pulpit, he was a man of the people, decently but not richly dressed. When he spoke, his words were plain; he was not a gifted orator yet Ellie, watching him, was fascinated, and in spite of herself, moved by the message he was proclaiming so forcefully. She glanced up at her husband as he took out a large handkerchief.
    â€˜ Duw , he’s bringing tears to my old eyes.’ Jubilee’s whisper carried around the church. ‘A man of God I’m not but I can’t help but be impressed by all this “come to Christ” business.’
    Ellie smiled up at him. ‘I know,’ she mouthed the words, Jubilee’s hearing was not what it used to be. ‘So am I.’
    Behind them, a man rose to his feet and waved his arms above his head. ‘Forgive me, God, I have sinned.’
    He moved towards the pulpit and sank to his knees. He had begun a reaction that seemed to spread through the congregation. ‘Praise the Lord!’ The words passed from mouth to mouth and Ellie saw one young girl fall into a swoon on the floor. Willing hands rushed to help her and she was lifted and carried towards the preacher.
    â€˜Let’s go, I can’t abide theatricals.’ Jubilee took Ellie’s arm and led her outside. She understood exactly how he felt, the emotion within the church had been overpowering, even a little frightening.
    â€˜He’s a good man, though, Jubilee, a sincere man, you’ve got to admit that.’
    â€˜I’m not saying that I didn’t listen to what the man was preaching. I suppose he can’t help it if people start babbling and throwing themselves on their knees before him or that a silly woman chooses to swoon in the middle of the sermon but I like a bit of decorum myself, give me the Church of England any time.’
    Ellie smiled. ‘Old stick in the mud,’ she said and kissed him on the cheek.
    The words of the preacher stayed with Ellie over the next days. She had a great deal of time for thinking, working as she did in the mill. Mostly she was alone though sometimes Boyo helped her, bringing in the oak bark from the yard and thrusting the pieces into the blades of the mill. Boyo had a fancy for her, she knew it but it was perfectly harmless, the fancy of an unformed lad. He respected her, held her in high esteem and his manner was entirely devoid of the insulting familiarity with which Matthew treated her.
    As if drawn by her thoughts, Matthew came into the mill and stood near the door, his hands thrust into his pockets beneath his leather apron, his waistcoat jauntily unbuttoned.
    â€˜You went to hear this new preacher man, then, what’s he like?’ He made even the most innocent words seem implicit with hidden meaning.
    â€˜He’s very good.’ Ellie wished Matthew would go away, she was uneasy in his presence, fearing him, though she didn’t know why. What harm could he do when there was a yard full of men outside?
    â€˜Hear he likes the women.’ Matthew’s smile beneath his moustache was thin. Ellie lifted her head and looked directly at him.
    â€˜And if he does, is that a sin, then?’ She realized she was rising to the bait by the