The Sweethearts Collection. Pam Jenoff
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find it bustling with noise and activity. As ever, burly men assembled the attractions while children ran in and out of the stalls laughing. Flags flew from tent tops and there was an air of anticipation and excitement.
‘Got a good pitch right in the centre this time. Old Taylor’s here but his cart’s up by the road,’ Jago grinned.
‘Good,’ Colenso smiled, relieved he was happy at last. ‘I can see Mara’s little tent over by the water. Oh, and there’s her van under the trees. I’ll see you tomorrow,’ she said, preparing to jump down.
‘You could at least help me unpack the confection,’ Jago muttered.
‘I’ll help tomorrow,’ Colenso called, leaping to the ground as the horse slowed. All she wanted to do was open her letter and find out what Kitto had said.
Heart thumping, she let herself into Mara’s vardo, for once thankful to have it to herself. Slumping down on the cushion, she studied the bold writing on the envelope until, unable to resist any longer, she ripped open the flap and drew out a sheet of paper.
Dear Colenso
I was so pleased to hear from you and to know you are safe.
Mary Anne, the schoolmistress, read your letter to me. When I expressed my disappointment at not being able to reply, she kindly offered to help me.
We have been meeting each evening and she is teaching me my letters. She has been really sweet and patient for I do not find it easy.
As soon as I’m able, I will follow after you, so please let me know where I can reach you.
I am keeping your pentacle safe until we meet.
Miss and love you.
Kitto
As Colenso read the letter through again, her initial elation turned to dismay. Mary Anne was as pretty as she was clever, and Kitto, her betrothed, was spending each evening with her.
‘What’s up with you?’ Mara asked, entering the van and slumping down on the cushion opposite. ‘I’d have thought a letter from your lover would make you happy not sad. That is from him, I take it?’ She pointed to the letter and looked at Colenso expectantly.
‘Yes, it is,’ she sighed, ignoring the woman’s choice of word.
‘Well then?’ Mara frowned.
‘He’s only spending every evening learning his letters with the schoolmistress,’ she cried, throwing the note down on the seat beside her.
‘May I?’ Mara asked, reaching over and picking it up. When Colenso nodded, she scanned the contents, her lips curling into a smile. ‘Well, that’s a nice letter and he’s keeping your necklace safe. He’s obviously keen to communicate with you if he’s prepared to spend his free time learning his letters, so what’s wrong?’
‘He’s learning with Mary Ann, who is fair-haired, slender and the prettiest girl in Cadgwith, that’s what’s wrong,’ Colenso wailed, running her fingers through her tufts of hair. ‘That and the fact that she has always had her eye on Kitto.’
‘What’s for you won’t pass by you,’ Mara said gently.
‘Oh, you and your silly sayings,’ Colenso shouted.
‘Calm down and think about it. You said Kitto loves you, and presumably you still love him?’
‘Of course I do,’ she cried.
‘Then shouldn’t you trust him?’ Mara asked, staring at her intently.
‘What do you know about it? You’ve never been married, have you?’ Colenso was so overwrought, she hardly noticed the woman flinch.
‘No, that’s true, I haven’t. But I was promised to someone once. Someone I loved with all my heart.’
‘So what happened?’ Colenso asked, feeling a pang of remorse as she saw the desolation in Mara’s eyes.
‘He died in a mining accident,’ she whispered. Then she went silent, a faraway look in her eyes. Colenso watched as, with a supreme effort, the woman continued. ‘They thought they’d found a new vein of copper and he was offered a goodly sum to go deeper underground and investigate. I had a dreadful feeling about it and pleaded with him not to go. However, we were saving to be married and, knowing the extra money would come in handy, he insisted but …’ Her voice quavered then petered out. Colenso rushed over to the woman and put her arm around her.
‘It’s all right, you don’t have to tell me,’ she murmured.
‘But I do,’ Mara said, her voice quiet. ‘The roof collapsed and he was buried under tons of soil and rock. It was too dangerous for anyone to go back down so his body was never found.’
‘Oh Mara, that’s terrible. I had no idea.’
‘How could you?’ Mara shrugged. ‘But love is a precious thing, Colenso, so think hard before you throw it away on perceived grievances. Now, if you don’t mind, I’d like to turn in.’
‘Thank you for telling me. I’ll write to Kitto tomorrow.’
After a restless night tossing and turning, her dreams punctuated by the fair-haired schoolmistress smiling adoringly at Kitto as he sat learning his letters, Colenso woke to hear Mara rooting through her little cupboard.
‘What are you doing?’ she muttered, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
‘I was thinking last night that you could do with something new to wear and I remembered these,’ she said holding up a green skirt and matching top. ‘You can’t go around in those old clothes any longer,’ the woman told her. ‘They’re all worn and torn.’ Colenso stared at the brightly coloured garments then laughed.
‘But I’ll never get into those. I’m much too big.’
‘Have you taken a look at yourself lately? All that walking has paid dividends, my girl. I’ve even found an emerald scarf for you to tie around your head. Go and try them on whilst I go and get some water for a brew.’ Before Colenso could reply, she snatched up the kettle, unbolted the little door and hurried outside.
Colenso ran her fingers over the pink and yellow daisies that had been embroidered on the blouse then noticed they’d been replicated around the flounce of the skirt. How lovely it would be to wear clothes as pretty as these. Hardly expecting them to fit, but not wishing to offend Mara, she jumped out of bed and slipped them on. To her amazement not only did the buttons on the blouse do up, the skirt skimmed her hips. Delighted, she danced around the tiny room, revelling at the swishing sound the fine material made. Running her fingers through her growing tresses, she twirled the scarf around her head, letting the ends drape elegantly down her back as Mara did. Peering in the tiny mirror beside the cupboard, she gasped in surprise. No longer plump and awkward, her reflection showed a slender outline with sparkling dark eyes and skin that was tanned and healthy. The bright green of the outfit seemed to bring her colouring alive somehow.
‘Well, look at you,’ Mara beamed, returning with the filled pot. ‘All you need now are some golden hoops in your ears and you’ll really look the part.’
‘These clothes are so pretty. Can I really wear them?’ Colenso asked.
‘Why bless you, they’re yours to keep, dearie.’
‘Really? How much do I owe you?’ Colenso asked, taking the coins out of her basket. ‘Jago finally paid me yesterday,’ she explained. ‘His sister insisted.’
‘Well, I’m glad about that but you keep your money. It will be lovely to see the clothes being worn at last after the hours I spent stitching those daisies.’ She blinked and looked out of the