Bella Poldark Read Online Free PDF

the sunlit day, then turned to look at Valentine sprawled in her best chair.
    'Is this of some special interest to you, Valentine?'
    'I thought if you were not wishing to proceed with it I might like to buy it.'
    'Oh?'
    'You're surprised at this new interest of mine? Well, it is not altogether a new interest. I have had a part share in a vessel for some time. She is called - was called - the Adelaide. A clinker-built lugger, two-masted, smaller than the ship Stephen planned, but sturdy enough for most seas and shallow-drafted for the coastal trade.'
    She still felt it was a new interest for her cousin. His long legs were stretched out and the tight twill trousers he was wearing showed the curvature of the left leg, legacy of the rickets he had had as a child.
    'What happened to her?'
    'Who?'
    'The Adelaide. You spoke of her in the past tense.'
    He grimaced. 'She ran aground on Godrevy and became a total wreck.'
    'The crew?'
    Valentine yawned. 'They got ashore.'
    'Were you aboard?'
    'Merciful God, no! I don't sail in these things.'
    Clowance smiled. 'So you - you want a replacement?'
    'Yes.'
    'The Lady Carrington is only part-finished. I would not know what to ask for her.'
    'Could be settled. If you cannot find the receipted bills among Stephen's effects, the boatyard will know. Total these up and add twenty per cent for your profit. . .'
    Privately Clowance had been eking out the prize money that Stephen had left, but giving Jason a large part of it had reduced her capital. The house remained unfinished and no one seemed to want to make an offer for it. The boat, which had been half-built, had similarly attracted no interest.
    'Are you going to go into competition with me?'
    'No, Cousin. I have no such thoughts.' As she did not speak, he went on: 'I am a north coast man these days, and landfalls among all those cliffs are hard to find. There is virtually nothing between St Ives and Padstow. Trevaunance Cove, which I look down on, is a death trap, and St Ann's has its harbour wall breached every second year . . . Basset's Cove, a little further west, is better than many suppose. Coal has been brought in there from Wales for years without serious mishap.'
    'And you wish to go into the coal trade?'
    'No.' Valentine wrinkled his nose at the thought. 'I want to cut in on the trade with Ireland. At present Padstow has a monopoly.'
    She got up. The room was too small to pace up and down in, but she felt the need for a moment or two to think.
    'Stephen said once that there were more Irishmen in Padstow than in Rosslare.'
    Valentine laughed. 'Ask your friend Hodge to work it out on your behalf with Bennett's. I hope it will not come to more than about three hundred guineas because I estimate it will cost me about another two hundred to get her finished and ready for sea.'
    'Yes,' said Clowance thoughtfully. Valentine eyed her for a moment or two. 'I seldom see you at Nampara these days. You seem addicted to your little home in Penryn.'
    'Oh, I come sometimes.'
    'Tell me, is your reluctance in any way bound up with the possible presence there of Jeremy's widow?'
    She flushed. 'I do not think there is any reluctance on my part. It is just that I am very busy looking after the two vessels.'
    Valentine continued to eye her. 'Cuby is quite an agreeable young woman, you know. Once upon a time I nearly married her.'
    'Did you?' said Clowance, using irony for a change.
    'Well, well.'
    'But it's all so long ago, isn't it? What, four - five years? It seems much longer. Anyway, all that time is long past. Bygones be bygones etcetera.'
    Clowance said: 'Valentine, I cannot see any reason why I should not sell the lugger to you if you wish to buy it. The extra money would not be unwelcome.'
    'Good.'
    Then she decided to take the attack to him for a change.
    'I confess I am surprised.'
    'Why?'
    'Well . . . you are married to a lady of means. I did not know you would be interested in owning a vessel. You have your new mine. Have you discussed all