Lord of the Far Island, Victoria Holt [world of reading TXT] 📗

The cake was cut, and both Jago and I had a piece and a glass of sloe gin, which burned my throat a little.

"Good luck to the child," said Jago.

"May she grow up to be a good servant to her master," said the baby's mother.

"Aye," said Jago, "so be it."

We came out into the street where the boy was patiently waiting with our horses. We mounted them and drove on through the cluster of houses.

"You'd find most of the houses similar," Jago told me. "They're what are known as Lives Cottages. They were put up in a night and therefore the owners have a right to live in them for a number of lives. For instance if a man builds it, it is his for his lifetime, that of his son and his grandson. Then the cottage reverts to the landowner. On the mainland there are Moonlight Cottages which have been built in a night but remain the property of the builder for evermore. The only condition is that they must be started after dark and finished before dawn."

"Can anyone build a cottage in that time?"

"If they are fully prepared and have their materials ready they can have the four walls standing and the roof on. That is all that need be. How did you like the cheeld's fuggan?"

"A little too yellow."

"Oh, that's the saffron—a great delicacy here. Don't let anyone hear you say you don't like it."

I had learned a great deal about the Island that morning. It was a community of fishermen mainly, although there was some agriculture. There were many little coves where boats were moored and we passed fishermen mending their nets as they sat among the lobster pots. They all called a respectful greeting to Jago and I felt a certain pleasure in their respect for him.

He told me that there was a fair once a month when traders came from the mainland. That was if the weather permitted. Then the islanders shopped and stocked up until the fair's next visit. Goods of all kinds and description were sold at the fair. It was an event much looked forward to.

He then began to tell me of other customs. "Fishermen don't like to land with their catch until daybreak. They think the Little People might carry them off if they did. There is a great fear of the Little People or the Piskies, who are said to have very special powers, not always kindly."

He went on to talk of their superstitions.

"When people are engaged in a hazardous way of life they become superstitious. When fishermen are at sea they never mention rabbits or hares or any wild animals. It's unlucky. If they meet a minister of the church as they are setting out in their boats they would turn back."

"How did such superstitions start? I wonder."

"It may have been that someone met a parson on the way to the boats and didn't return; and perhaps it happened a second time. That's all that would be needed with such people. And once a superstition is born it seems to live forever. In the old days these islands were also a sanctuary for those who wanted to evade the law. We here were a law unto ourselves. Many an outlaw settled here; some found political asylum and became subjects of the ruling Kellaway. You see, it's an interesting history this of our Island and we Kellaways have something to be proud of."

"And the line is unbroken all through the ages?"

"Yes. If a female inherited she was in duty bound to marry and her husband would then take the name of Kellaway."

"It's been a wonderful morning," I said, "edifying too. I feel I've learned so much and it's made me want to learn more and more."

He turned to me and laid his hand on my arm. "I want you to stay here, Ellen," he said. "I can't tell you how much I want you to stay. When I saw you in London it was the Devil's own job not to snatch you up and insist that you come down and get to know your family before you rushed into marriage. I can't tell you how much restraint I put upon myself."

"I still can't understand why you came like that. Why didn't you tell me who you were?"

"It was the whim of a moment. You were so immersed in the prospect of marriage . . . and then, when it fell through, I felt my chance had come. I wanted you to come here freely, because you wanted to. It's difficult to explain. Suffice it that I'm happy you are here."

I was touched by the emotion in his voice. I was finding his company stimulating. He had intrigued me from the moment I had met him at the recital; he had frightened me in the house in Finlay Square; but that morning on the Island I decided he was the most fascinating man I had ever met.

He seemed to make a great effort to curb his emotions. "Alas," he said, "we must now return to the castle. There is so much I want to show you, but perhaps you have had enough for today. Get Gwennol to show you round the castle but don't listen to too many stories about the ghosts."

"Are there ghosts then?"

"It would be strange if in six hundred years we hadn't managed to collect a few. Most of them are in the dungeons. There have been one or two over the centuries who have tried to wrest our heritage from us, for to rule an island is the irresistible longing of some men. I can understand it, can't you? It's a little world in itself, a little kingdom. Perhaps you begin to feel that, Ellen. Do you?"

"I certainly thought you must be rather proud when they show you such obvious respect, as they did this morning."

"Oh, they daren't do aught else." He laughed. "I will say, though, that since I've been in control we've