Arnie Jenks and the House of Strangers (8 page)

‘I thought it a monster come from the other side of the world.' Joseph uttered these words like a kindly uncle who was reading his nephew and niece a bedtime story. ‘But the storm turned cruel, threw the ship high up in the waves and sent her crashing for the rocks – I could hear the screaming. I prayed to the heavens!' Joseph pressed his palms together. ‘Then the wind appeared from nowhere and blew her to safety, sliding onto our shore like a mermaid.'

‘You speak really good English,' said Arnie.

‘My Lady has taught me all I know.' Joseph cast his rich hazelnut eyes across to Lady Dervela who was admiring the plucky playing of a lute.

‘You had never seen a ship before?' said Emily.

Joseph shook his head. ‘No such things on our islands – we are simple people…'

‘Then how did you learn to sail?' interjected Arnie.

The dark man stroked his light wispy beard and flashing his pearly grin shrugged. ‘Follow the will of the sea, the sun and moon will do the rest!' laughed Joseph in a smooth silky voice, giving out a little high pitched coo, swaying his athletic body in time to the sound of flutes and pipes that floated across the room. Tumble, the dog, appeared from under a table and started to yap. Joseph stretched down and stroked his fur.

‘I had some help – the sailors guided me. But then sickness came. It was said the expedition was cursed, to punish those who stole from my island. I thought no man would return to England alive.'

‘But
you
did!' said Arnie brightly.

Joseph smiled. ‘And him too.' He gestured towards a figure who Arnie and Emily hadn't noticed arrive on the other side of the room.

‘Lord Charles Martlesham, the great explorer and Commander of
Empress of Hope
,' said Joseph proudly, pointing out a stern looking man fastened up tight in a red and black uniform.

‘You saved his life? Wow! That's really cool!' said Arnie impressed.

‘And that is why his Lordship agreed to work me here – not sell me with the other slaves. Think! Joseph Twombe, a simple fisherman, working in this great man's house!'

Arnie's face lit up.

‘Being a slave – doesn't that mean you don't get paid?'

Emily threw Arnie a sharp sideways glance.

‘I was just asking…Does it?'

Arnie's question hung temptingly in the air as a trumpet sounded the arrival of the first guests. A man and woman stood at the entrance heavily robed and looking lost.

‘Ah, now I must go,' Joseph said warmly, heading off towards the long table.

‘Yes, come along Arnie,' said Emily, pulling him up straight. ‘We
are
here to work you know.'

‘Arnie?' said Lady Dervela, slowing as she neared them, ‘That's a strange name. I've not heard it before.'

‘It stands for
Arnold,
' quipped Emily.

Arnie scowled. ‘It's
not
Arnold – it's Arnie!
Arnold
is
gross!
'

‘I think it's rather nice!' Emily smiled, as she steered him away towards another forlorn looking group searching for a clue as to where to hang their coats.

Lady Dervela started to call after them but was cut off abruptly.

‘Good evening my dear. All ready?'

‘Yes, Charles. It's going to be a wonderful evening. Everyone is coming.'

He bent down and kissed Lady Dervela delicately on the hand. ‘Excellent. Then I shall announce it tonight.'

‘What?'

‘That we sail to the Western Cape in seven days time.'

‘That's wonderful.' Lady Dervela allowed herself a little smile.

‘I thought you'd be pleased…' Lord Martlesham hissed and his snarl turned into a leer. He trailed off as his stare became focused on Joseph who was serving a little distance away.

He drew Lady Dervela to one side and whispered sharply in her ear. ‘I thought I told you
he
was to absent himself from tonight and let the other servants attend to us.'

‘With George still nursing his sick mother and Abigail unwell I had no choice but to ask him. I even had to send out for some help from the village. They're not quite what I expected.'

‘Maybe – but at least
they're
welcome here,' Lord Martlesham said frostily.

On cue, up popped Arnie. ‘Drink sir?' he beamed mischievously.

‘Don't interrupt, I'm in the middle of a private conversation.' He turned back to his wife.

‘But Joseph is helpful and look how everyone finds him so gracious,' Lady Dervela said reassuringly, lowering her voice, ‘what is wrong with him?'

‘I don't consider him…
trustworthy.
'

‘But Charles…'

‘I have warned you before, Dervela.'

A wiry woman almost toppling over so laden in jewellery greeted them as she passed.

Lord Martlesham acknowledged her fleetingly.

‘What's the matter with you?' continued Lady Dervela looking serious. ‘What has Joseph done except show us unfailing service and loyalty?'

‘Loyalty? I don't think you should use that word where he is concerned,' he said, curling his lip.

‘Charles, I have told you before, he means nothing to me.'

‘So you say,' he said huffing, ‘but why do I get the feeling that you are not telling me the truth.'

Lady Dervela blushed. ‘You promised not to talk further of this.'

‘Then do as I say,' he insisted, gripping her arm tightly. ‘Keep him out of my sight and yours!' His eyes flared until a cough from behind made him turn round.

‘You still here boy?' he snarled.

‘I was waiting until you had stopped talking,' Arnie said, flashing a charming grin. ‘This mead stuff comes highly recommended,' he quipped, shaking the contents of a flagon encouragingly. ‘Want some?'

Lord Martlesham stared down releasing his hold on his wife.

‘I'll get something myself,' he said gruffly. ‘I'm going to see the entertainment.'

Arnie shrank back as Lord Martlesham pushed past him and marched across to where gaggles of people were clustered around a harlequin clown who was messing and grabbing at the jesters trying to spoil their play. One juggling ball flew out of a hand and plonked into a bowl of soup splattering the crusty face of a woman as she ate. Startled, she fell off her chair.

Emily moved close to Arnie as Lady Dervela swiftly vanished into the thickening crowd.

‘What's the matter with her?' she said.

‘Charles isn't very happy from what I overheard.'

‘What?'

‘Something to do with him,' said Arnie, nodding over to Joseph, who was quietly observing Lady Dervela diagonally across the room where she emerged to join a group of women in lazy chatter.

A bugle horn piped a fanfare quelling all conversation to announce that something was about to happen. The outer doors were flung open and slowly a groundswell of people began drifting outside.

The drummers were arranged in a large circle, beating in strict time, as each of twelve torches staked in the ground were set alight. A wave of golden fire ripped upwards like fireworks illuminating a wide expanse of garden and surrounding courtyard. The dozing dogs that lay about started to bark as the sound of crispy timbers crackled sharply, until they lost interest and fell back down to rest.

Emily and Arnie watched from behind a tree as tribal grunts and moans from the performers, mixed with pleasing murmurs and mild hand waving from the crowd, held their rapt attention. Lord Martlesham was mesmerised too, staring through the flames at the
Bam! Bam! Bam!
of the stomping feet and clapping hands quickening in tempo, their movements – staccato, bold and edgy.

‘They're good!' said Arnie, but Emily had become distracted.

‘I said they're…' he repeated.

‘I heard you,' said Emily dismissively.

‘What's wrong?'

‘There!' she darted a look, pointing through the dancers at Lord Martlesham who was now standing next to Joseph.

‘What are they doing?' said Emily, swaying on the spot trying to get a better view.

‘Talking?' said Arnie, flicking half an eye inattentively back and forth.

‘Yes, but what about? It looks serious,' she said.

Lord Martlesham was stabbing a finger at Joseph's chest causing him to flinch as if he had been repeatedly shot. Seeming disorientated, he lurched away. Lord Martlesham raised a tankard to his mouth and drank deeply.

‘Now, what on earth was that about?' said Emily, as Joseph passed silently behind Lady Dervela who broke off from who she was talking to and watched him go.

‘Maybe they're keen on each other?' said Arnie dreamily, swaying as the drums beat faster accompanied by louder wailing and humming.

‘What do you mean?'

‘They
like
each other
a
lot!'
Arnie emphasised.

Emily's eyes widened. ‘No wonder then! Look at her expression – she's a bag of nerves!' she said, twisting Arnie around to show him.

‘Where?' said Arnie searching.

‘She's gone!' Emily looked agitatedly to where Lady Dervela had been standing. ‘Come on, we've got to go after them,' she said guardedly yanking Arnie's hand, pulling him away from the crowd of spectators who were too busy enjoying themselves to notice them leave. Lord Martlesham hadn't moved, he just stared ahead, his face unflinchingly grim.

‘Why are we running?' said Arnie exasperated as they crossed a path that took them towards an area of the estate that he hadn't seen before.

‘Shhh!' hushed Emily, ‘They might hear us.'

‘Let's not follow then.'

‘We have to,' she said, as they turned a corner and started off across the grass.

‘If they want to be on their own…it's up to them. Not the first time something like this has happened…'

‘Oh Arnie, you are being a bit thick. It's…very dangerous…'

‘You mean him being with a Lady?'

‘Not just that – it's
who
he is.'

‘I see,' frowned Arnie. ‘No, I don't quite,' he corrected.

‘Well…' Emily adjusted her sleeves. ‘He is not
like
her.'

‘You mean because he works for them? But I've read that posh people going way back have fallen “in love” with all sorts. Servants, gardeners – people like that. You must have seen a thing or two in your time.'

Emily scowled.

‘Though I suppose a “slave” is pushing it a bit.'

‘Not just that. It's him. His…background…'

Arnie suddenly twigged. ‘You mean ‘cos he's black?'

‘Arnie please! Try to understand. It's just not done. Standards are set and we know how we must behave.'

‘That's crap!'

‘No it isn't. It's the way it is,' she said uncomfortably.

‘Not
now
– well – I mean where I come from, it's normal – it's good,' said Arnie.

‘You know people who have
done
that?'

‘Sure. It's cool.'

‘Well, I still think we have a problem.'

‘Why? What could happen?'

‘If anyone finds out, she'd be in the dog house and him…'

‘What?' said Arnie slightly alarmed.

‘I wouldn't like to say. But it's been known for some to take justice into their own hands where forbidden love is concerned.'

‘You mean he would get chucked out?' said Arnie.

‘Or worse,' said Emily.

‘Oh, right – I see,' said Arnie unsure.

‘Look!' she exclaimed, nudging him in the ribs.

In the distance, far across the side lawn caught in the moonlight for a moment, a familiar shape disappeared through a gap in the shrubbery.

‘Where's she going?' said Arnie.

‘The stables, if the buildings are as I remember them,' said Emily hopefully. ‘Come on,' she said, leading the way.

Lady Dervela swept into a small unmade yard and moved carefully towards a low-rise block, looking warily over her shoulder several times. She pulled open a side door and taking a deep breath, made a decision.

‘There she is!' said Arnie, as they arrived a fraction of a second later catching a glimpse of her darting out of sight. ‘We can't follow now – she'd see us. What would we say?'

‘We
can't
miss what's happening in there,' said Emily. ‘It's too important not to know!'

‘But…' Arnie protested.

‘There must be another way in,' persisted Emily, slinking off. ‘Let's try the back.'

Arnie caught up with her around the corner of the building and looked up. Stacked against the wall were bales of straw and above that a low ledge. ‘Worth a try,' whispered Emily, as she clambered up and started to climb. Arnie followed reluctantly.

Inside the stables Lady Dervela's eyes slowly grew accustomed to the light. A single naked flame hung midway from a central crossbeam.

‘Joseph – are you there?'

There was a long pregnant pause broken only by a bird flapping as if being throttled somewhere high up in the rafters. Then a brief silence before Joseph spoke.

‘You should not have followed me,' said the low silky voice.

‘But I need to see you,' called out Lady Dervela.

Joseph stepped out in front of her.

‘I knew you would come here,' she said. ‘It is our special place isn't it?'

A window rattled above them. Sharing a dangerous look, Joseph carefully craned his neck to see higher before nimbly scaling a ladder that led to the hayloft.

As he rose up, Arnie's shoes slipped out of sight noiselessly.

Joseph sniffed the air and stared at the spot behind where Arnie stood hidden, right next to Emily, who was also holding her breath. Joseph took one step at a time, closing in almost to the point where he would see Arnie.

Then as Joseph slowed, a flying shape flitted in front of him and out through the open window. A burly shaggy cat hissed as it reached the other side scrabbling away along the roof.

Joseph exhaled thankfully and slowly returned to the floor below. He smiled as Lady Dervela crept out of the gloom to join him.

‘It is all right. No one is going to find us here. We are quite safe,' she assured him, caressing his leather-brown cheek.

Up in the hayloft, Arnie and Emily turned around very carefully keeping tight to the upright pillar, until they found a split in the wood through which they could spy unobserved.

‘I am being taken back to sea,' Joseph confessed.

‘No!' Lady Dervela gasped.

‘It is true. His Lordship has just told me, he says he needs me too much and I have no choice but to go.'

‘But we agreed that you should stay here – it was Charles's idea.'

‘Now, he has a change of…heart – and I must do as I am ordered.'

‘No! You can't…you mustn't!' Lady Dervela clasped her hands and squeezed them so tight that her little blue veins showed through.

‘I can – he is my Master.'

‘And I am your Mistress!' Lady Dervela shrank back as she realised what she had said.

Emily mouthed to Arnie, ‘I was right!' He nodded and then squashed his nose back against the wood and watched.

Lady Dervela turned away from Joseph and spoke firmly. ‘I'll talk to Charles. Explain the value of your work here at the hall and how much of a loss it would be if you left us.' Her voice broke but she struggled on. ‘I
don't
want to wait a year to see you again.'

Joseph pressed his hands together.

‘I think if I step aboard
Empress
– I will not come back.'

Lady Dervela swung round and leaned towards him. ‘Why? What has Charles said?'

‘He did not need to say it. I just
feel
…a bad omen. It is because of what we have done.'

‘No. I have led you into this, it is my fault.'

‘My Lady…' soothed Joseph.

‘No! It is my wrongdoing that has led to Charles's fury, he is right to be angry with me but I thought that was all settled.'

‘It seems not,' said Joseph, turning to face her. ‘I must leave tonight.'

‘No!' said Lady Dervela passionately. ‘I will reason with him – make him not feel this way. It is all in his head. About…'

‘Me and you? Is it?'

‘Yes – it is preposterous. How could anyone believe such a thing – the Lady of the House forming an alliance with anyone other than her husband? He is deluded. I shall make that clear.'

Joseph gently put his hand on Lady Dervela's shoulder and pulled her towards him. He then kissed her tenderly and held her tight. After the briefest of moments, they separated and Lady Dervela stepped towards the door.

‘I must go – I'll be missed.' Her eyes appeared to water. ‘I'll come back as soon as I can and we will talk some more. Promise me?' she said. ‘You will wait here?'

A hint of a smile flickered across Joseph's face as she held his look for a second before she slowly turned away.

Arnie and Emily made for the open window. They just had time to swing themselves through it before Joseph scaled back up the ladder and stood silently watching. Arnie clawed his way along the edge of the thatched roof following Emily, careful not to slip and fall.

The moon was sulking behind the clouds as they jumped down to the ground and peered cautiously into the yard.

Lady Dervela was looking up at the sky. She then lifted the edge of her dress and started to run, her hair trailing roughly behind, her shiny face dripping with tears as she cried.

Arnie moved to follow but Emily stopped him.

‘No! Look!' she whispered sharply. ‘Over there!'

Lord Martlesham stood statue-like, ashen faced, watching Lady Dervela retreat into the night. Seconds later, he too was gone.

‘Do you think he saw what happened inside?' said Emily worried.

‘I don't know. Can't be chance that he's here though, can it? We should get to the house and tell Lady Dervela,' urged Arnie.

‘What good would that do?' argued Emily. ‘It could only make things worse.'

‘Well,' accepted Arnie, ‘perhaps we had better warn Joseph to leave?'

Emily looked sad but nodded reluctantly.

‘I thought you would be on
their
side,' said Arnie.

‘I can't be. Maybe in your time it would be possible but as in mine – it's doomed. They'd be better off never having met.'

‘That sucks,' Arnie muttered to himself.

Emily looked at him, torn.

‘What?'

‘We need to do it quickly,' Emily realised.

‘Go on then,' directed Arnie.

‘Why me?'

‘Well…it'll be…
easier
coming from a…er…someone…older…and you know about these
feelings
that girls get…' Arnie blushed.

‘No,' Emily said forcefully. ‘As in my day – he'll more likely listen to you.'

‘Eh?'

‘Be a man for once!' she said, shoving Arnie towards the door.

Inside the barn, the horses nestled sleepily in their stalls. For a moment all Arnie and Emily could hear was the rustle of dry straw and an occasional contented snort. Then a bag sailed over their heads from the hayloft hitting the stone floor, followed by Joseph climbing down carrying something flat under his arm. They ducked out of the way and hid.

Trying to hurry, Joseph wrapped the object in cloth and tying it delicately, lodged it behind a double stacked row of barrels before standing up and pausing as if undecided on what to do next.

Then his senses detected something. He twisted his body effortlessly and stared into a corner. ‘Who is there?' he sang.

‘It's only us!' whooped Arnie a second later as they emerged into the light. Arnie had a look of guilt plastered across his face like he had been caught opening his Christmas presents a day early.

‘You?' Joseph looked astonished and took a step closer.

‘We won't say anything!'

‘About what?' said Joseph innocently. ‘I…came here to see the animals…'

‘Lord Martlesham knows Lady Dervela was here just now,' Emily interrupted softly. ‘We wanted to warn you.'

Joseph sighed. ‘That is why I need to go. At once.'

He stepped back and scooped up his bag.

‘And you're not to tell Her Ladyship. She will try to stop me leaving.'

Arnie and Emily didn't move.

Joseph looked at them for a long moment before suddenly he was striding away towards the far end of the building, escaping swiftly into the night.

‘He's going!' said Emily relieved.

‘Isn't that what we wanted?'

‘Yes I think so…but it's tragic,' she said. ‘They looked so in love.'

Arnie was now on his knees foraging into a gap between two barrels.

‘But what do we say?'

‘Say?' said Arnie, struggling to reach the hidden object.

‘Yes, say! To Lady Dervela?'

‘No idea at the mo – bit busy with this. Could you help me please?'

Emily joined him and very carefully they extracted the parcel. Propping it up sideways they pulled away the loose sacking.

‘It's a picture,' said Arnie, slightly surprised as he angled the canvas to see better.

‘Of what?' said Emily, peering over before recognising first the dress, then up to a neck wrapped in pearls, on to the chin and finally – the familiar face.

‘It's Dervela!' said Arnie, breathing sharply inwards like a detective discovering the identity of the murderer. ‘This is the picture of her I saw when I first arrived here!'

‘But why would Joseph have something like this – do you think he stole it?'

Arnie moved the picture around till he could read the bottom corner. The letter
J
was inscribed.

‘J for Joseph,' murmured Emily.

‘
He
did
it!' exhaled Arnie. ‘And only just finished – look – this is sticky.' He indicated an area to the right of where Lady Dervela was positioned. The oil paint was wet.

‘A parting gift to her?' suggested Arnie.

‘If Lord Martlesham found this think what he would do?' Emily responded with alarm.

‘He
mustn't
find out,' said Arnie determinedly, repackaging the painting hastily.

‘And Lady Dervela?'

‘Ok. We had better face her but shouldn't we make sure that Joseph has had time to get away?'

Emily nodded.

‘We'll come back for this later,' said Arnie hastily, pushing the parcel back out of sight.

Emily sighed before drawing herself up and together they headed off in the direction that Joseph had taken.