The changeling

We did say we wouldn’t ... and I should have waited until we could tell them together ... but if you could have seen their joy you would have been glad they knew. My mother and your grandmother hugged each other and I thought my grandparents were going to burst into tears ... tears of absolute bliss. They all said it was what they had always hoped for and prayed for. And my grandfather said there was going to be such a wedding as had never been seen in Cornwall. But they all think it is wise that we should wait until I am through with college.

They said we are both very young and need a little time to prepare. I don’t agree.

I’m just telling you what they said. I am just wishing the time away.

Oh, Rebecca, it would be wonderful if you were here. It would be such a happy Christmas. Your grandparents said you are certain to come down in the spring, but that seems far away. But I suppose it will come in time and I must be patient until then. The only way I can do that is by telling myself that we shall be married and then together all the time.

My love to you ... today, tomorrow and forever,

Pedrek

My grandmother had written:

My dear Rebecca,

Pedrek has just told us and I must write and tell you how happy that has made your grandfather and me. Pedrek was a little contrite. He said you had agreed not to tell yet. You wanted to wait until he was out of college ... or almost. Don’t blame him. It slipped out. He was so happy and wanted to share that happiness with us.

If only you could have been here!

Your grandfather says he would not have wished anything else for you and that goes for me. You should have seen the Pencarrons. They are a dear, sentimental old pair and as you know Pedrek and his mother are the sun, moon and stars and the whole universe to them. They are such family people.

They are so happy about Pedrek’s going eventually into the mine and this of course has made everything quite blissful for them.

We drank your health and talked of you continually. Mrs Pencarron is already working out what she will wear for the wedding as the bridegroom’s grandmama and Mr. P. is wondering who shall be honoured with the order for the catering for the grand feast he has in mind. Then there are Pedrek’s parents. Morwenna is completely delighted and so is Justin. Morwenna says our families have always been close and she went on about the way the two of you were born in your stepfather’s grand house in that grim mining township and how close she and your dear mother always were. Oh, Rebecca, I am sure your mother would be delighted. Your happiness meant everything to her ... as it does to us. Pedrek is a really good young man and we all love him dearly. It is wonderful.

Now to more mundane matters. Things in the Poldoreys go on much as usual. Mrs Arkwright has given birth to twins predicted of course by our wise Mrs Polhenny. One of Joe Garth’s fishing boats was lost in a gale recently. All on board were saved, thank God, but the loss of the boat was a blow. Somebody thought she heard the bells of St Branok recently. But that happens periodically, as you know. Mrs Yeo and Miss Heathers had their usual fight over who should be in charge of church decorations for Christmas. Mrs Polhenny still pursues her calling, fighting the good fight and travelling round on her old bone-shaker. You would be amused to see her. She really is one of the sights of Poldorey.

It is such a disappointment that you are not with us. You must come in the spring.

That’s the best time really. But it would have been lovely to have you for Christmas-particularly now that Pedrek has broken this wonderful news. All our love, darling, Your loving and deprived (of your company, of course) Grandparents They were lovely, heartwarming letters. I put them in the silver box which my mother had given me and I kept them in a drawer because I knew I should want to read them again and again.

A few days before Christmas Oliver Gerson arrived. I was surprised. I had heard that a business associate of Benedict’s would be spending Christmas at Manor Grange but Oliver’s name had not been mentioned.

I had been out riding with the girls which I did frequently. Miss Stringer had already left and that meant that I was even more frequently than usual in their company. As we returned into the drive I saw a carriage at the door and Mr. Emery was standing there giving instructions for the gentleman’s luggage to be taken into the house. Then he turned and I saw who it was.

“Mr. Gerson!” I cried.

Belinda surprised me. She leaped from her pony and ran to him. She stood before him, looking up and smiling. There could not have been a warmer welcome. He took Belinda’s hand and solemnly kissed it. “What a pleasure it is to see you,” he said.

Then he walked to me and, taking my hand, kissed it in the same manner. He looked at Lucie. She held out her hand and received the same treatment. I had rarely seen such gracious manners.