Read A Stranger's Touch for Free Online

useless to ask for he tells us nothing.’ Morwenna felt the relief sweep over her. ‘If Michael has gone, we need not be too anxious, Bess. Jacques will not mind the stranger resting here for a while. He has his own work with the fishing fleet and only answers Michael’s call when he must.’
    ‘Jacques speaks of leaving Cornwall and finding a new life elsewhere. I think he does not like what his brother does.’
    ‘He should go sooner rather than later. I sometimes fear that Michael will bring trouble on us all and I would not have Jacques hang as a smuggler.’
    ‘And where would that leave you? You wouldn’t live here with Michael without him.’
    ‘No, I should go away.’
    ‘You would be best with your aunt. I’ve told you so a hundred …’
    Morwenna put a warning finger to her lips and then went to the door, wrenching it open swiftly. As she had suspected, the stranger was standing there.
    ‘How long have you been there? Were you listening, hoping to learn something?’
    ‘Why should I spy on you, mistress?’
    Morwenna felt her cheeks heating. ‘Forgive me, sir. I should not have accused you.’
    ‘I heard nothing. I came to speak with your brother Michael—is he here?’
    ‘No, he has gone away. Jacques is out fishing with other men from the village. What did you wish to speak with Michael about, sir?’
    ‘I thought I might hire a horse somewhere.’ He frowned. ‘Will Michael be long?’
    ‘He has gone away on personal business fora few days. I do not know why. He does not discuss his affairs with us, sir.’
    ‘Will you not call me Adam, as I suggested?’
    ‘It is not your name, so why should we?’
    ‘So you prefer sir?’ He smiled oddly. ‘Have it your way, mistress. Since your brothers are not here perhaps you would show me the way down to the inlet where you found me—if you have the time?’
    ‘Why did you wish to go there? You have no need to leave for a day or so. With Michael away no one else will bother you.’
    ‘I think I shall go straight to London when I leave here. However, would you allow me to stay here a little longer? I’d like to try my hand at some painting, perhaps it will help me to recover my memory. I can repay you from the money you found in my bag and still have sufficient for my journey.’
    ‘Have I asked for money?’
    ‘No, you have not. I would like to explore the inlet. If I can find anything that belongs to me there I might recall my name at least, and then I might find a way to be of assistance to you.’
    ‘I told you earlier, I need no help from anyone. However, I’ll take you down there myself. The way is steep, but it’s easy enough once youknow how. I doubt you’ll find anything. If the sea brings anything of value ashore the villagers take it. The living is hard here, sir. You cannot blame them, for they live by the bounty of the sea. There is little work other than on the land or in the mines, but they often close if the copper runs out.’
    ‘Do they not have silver or gold in their mines?’
    ‘Very seldom and only in small amounts. No, the living comes mostly from the sea for local people. They may have some sheep on the common or a cow, but little else. What comes to them from a shipwreck is seen as a gift of God.’
    ‘Perhaps it is—but not if they lure ships in to their doom.’
    ‘Do you think that is what happened to your ship? I should be sorry to think it. My father was always against it and so are my brothers. My father was seen as the law in these parts and he would have punished anyone who was caught wrecking.’
    ‘I am glad to hear it, Mistress Morwenna.’
    Morwenna looked at him proudly, then reached for her shawl and pulled it around her shoulders. The storm might have blown itselfout, but it could be cold on this part of the coast, especially now it was autumn.
    ‘Follow me, but tread carefully,’ she instructed as she went out. ‘In the dark the path is difficult to find unless you know it, but it is easy