INTERMEZZO

Intermezzo

No breath of air to break the wave…

The sea is quiet tonight. Slow gentle ripples, one unhurriedly following the other to trickle over the sand. The moon is up, light spread evenly like this high tide over the shallow beach, to coat the rooftops of the huddled houses. It’s not cold, but he draws his collar up for comfort. He cannot sleep, probably too late now to wake anybody to let him in. A breeze jingles the rigging of the lobster boat, stirs the fresh stink left by the last tide’s catch. They’ll be coming soon to go out on this one. A dog ceases its barking. He feels glad, imagines its tail wagging and the whimper as the door opens at last, hopes it is not cursed by its owner.

He longs for peace, for the buzzing in his brain to be quieted. He looks up at his bedroom window. A candle is burning behind the thin curtain. Half an hour ago, or less, or more, he can’t tell, the flickering light moved and a grotesque shadow grew and faded, returned, sank down. Then all was still again. It must be near 2 o’clock by now.

Around the harbour entrance the curving wall looms above where he stands, solid, a curled arm to cradle them, keep them safe against storms. But not this one. It’s inside, slapping against the side of his head, beating in his brain, foaming wind-whipped spume over his attempts to keep calm, think things through. He shivers, his throat taut and dry, a heavy sense of dread holding him there, keeping watch.

At least she’s safe and warm.

How could I do that to her? Oh my God, let her live, please God, I beg You, please! It’s my fault, my most grievous fault. Punish me, but spare her! He’s thrown across the seat by a violent lurch, bangs his head against the window frame. He feels no pain as he pulls himself upright, his bitter laughter rocking him in contrary motion to the swaying of the frame that holds him, suspended over grinding wheels, alone, the only consolation, alone, as thin warm moisture trickles through his fingers. He’ll have a bruise there too in the morning. Poetic justice.

He rummages in his coat pocket with his free hand, finds a handkerchief, smaller than usual, to staunch the bleeding. The small enclosed space is suddenly perfumed with the sharp yet sweet savour of lavender. How did that get there? Then the memory startles him out of self-pity. He saw her through his tears, practical as always, open her reticule, take out her handkerchief, put it in his hand that involuntarily reached out to take it, her steady gaze holding him, calming him. Did he thank her?

A breeze rises, plays with his hair. A transient breeze…. How welcome is each gentle air…..

Now the lines come back to him, how they’d laughed the other evening, over how to pronounce the strange title - Giaour. He’d tried to pronounce each syllable, stumbling over the vowels. She’d made them smooth, a single modulated sound, French. It was the first time anyone had made him laugh, since … he couldn’t remember when. The serious, quiet one. The one who’d taken control, the one they looked to for what to do.

Anne, Anne, what is to be done next? The brother, the married one with the hysterical wife. And even his brother officer, who he’d seen in command so much at sea, always in control, looked to her, with a strange pleading look, at the quiet one who talked poetry with him.

He couldn’t remember the lines. He’d wanted to impress her. That understanding smile. Of course, they come back to him now. He recites them, to the soft slow strum of the waves:

Make glad the heart that hails the sight

And lend to loneliness delight.

There mildly dimpling, Ocean’s cheek

Reflects the tints of many a peak

Caught by the laughing tides that lave

These Edens of the eastern wave….

He wonders whether they will meet again, so he can say them to her properly.

Across the beach, beyond the closed up bathing machines, the church clock strikes from somewhere hidden up the hill, through the darkness, three steady strikes over the whispering water. He stirs himself. His legs are stiff and heavy. Did he fall asleep standing? The light in the window looks fainter now. He must walk to keep warm.

What happened, exactly?

It was all so sudden. One moment they were talking, about nothing in particular, he can’t remember through the embarrassment, the awkwardness he still felt, a grown man, talking to a stranger, especially a girl, who seemed somewhere else, just giving polite stock answers to his attempts at conversation, bored with him probably, waiting for the walk to be over. Then the soft thud and the scream and the shouting and the girl, what’s her name?, she was fainting in his arms! Luckily Miss Elliott was standing by her, they held her up together. Brought her to with smelling salts the older sensible woman had at hand, as if prepared for any emergency like this.

The bleeding has stopped. Just a scratch. There’s half the handkerchief unbloodied. He can see its whiteness in the gloom. It’s lucky there’s a full moon tonight. They are passing a churchyard. The graves seem to be standing up, the dead waiting to be released on the last day. No, don’t think of that. Not now, of all times. He holds the handkerchief close to his nose, inhales deeply on the fading aroma of lavender, wanting to be soothed, a female soft hand cool on his brow.

He’s standing by the steps now, at the same spot where it happened. Yesterday morning. A blurred lifetime ago. The other girl, the one playing up to Wentworth, had fallen somehow. He didn’t see. No time to ask. Left her sister with Miss Elliott and the others. He just found himself running, running as if for his life, fearing already it was too late to save hers. The way everybody else around seemed to be standing still, staring at him open-mouthed.

The smooth material of her cloak sleeve slipping through his fingers. She must have twisted, just missed him. He knew, just as it happened, it was wrong. A second later he knew whose fault it was. To let a girl take over! Why did he let her? Fool! What would any of his men think? The look Harville gave him when they came on the scene. Mrs H took over. Thank God he married a nurse. Another strong woman, like his sister, like Anne, practical. No nonsense.

Crewkerne. Time to change horses, stretch the legs. The clatter of the hooves and rumbling wheels resound from the sleeping walls of the inn. He jumps down into the dark. The lamp light shows the tear in the knee of his breeches. He didn’t notice earlier. It must have happened when he came down onto the pavement. He remembers the impact, the sharp pain in his knee.

Swaying lanterns. A yawning groom. A dog rushes out, barking. Sharp words from his driver and mate. They want some grog, a bite to eat before pushing off again. He prefers to stomp about in the yard. Wishes he could take charge, get on. Too much sitting, cramped, being bounced around. How much longer?

He is glad there is nobody to talk to, he can fret in silence. They were silent earlier that evening, still shocked, on the outward journey back to Uppercross, which seemed shorter than when they had ventured on this trip a couple of days ago. Whose idea was that? Was it Musgrove’s bossy wife? The one who’d overruled his plan for Anne to stay behind and take care of the poor girl and probably useless brother too? At least he can rely on the Harvilles, and Benwick will be around to help out.

No breath of air to break the wave…. Break the blue crystal of the sea. It looks black now. He has climbed the stairs she fell from. Stands looking out into the night sky. The moon has gone behind a cloud. He can see a light in a boat, perhaps the lobster boat moored near the Harvilles’ house, which he can make out along the jetty. Her bedroom is on the far side, so no light from there. He feels something hard in the depths of his greatcoat, under his shirt. The locket.

This is the first night he hasn’t removed it before going to bed, to kiss it, say goodnight to his beloved Fanny. She seems more distant now, her face indistinct. How many months now since she died? He remembers Wentworth more clearly than her, breaking the news to him, holding him steady while he sobbed, having made the journey from Plymouth to where he was berthed in Portsmouth, travelling day and night, rowing a boat out to the Grappler; he’d taken leave of absence to stay with him, not like a senior officer, but the brother he never had. And tonight, where is he? Staying over after breaking the news to the parents? How will they have taken it? No one better to break it to them.

A slap of water against the sea-wall. It brings him back to yesterday morning. It was the wind, bothering the ladies clutching their bonnets, their long coats and dresses blown up. They’d gone down the stairs to the Lower Cobb, one at a time, he was in front, got down first, followed by the other girl, then Anne, the other couple behind, Wentworth and Louisa last. He remembers calling out: Watch Your Step. It’s steep. Take care! He might as well have saved his breath.

And now this girl is in his bed. Strange thought that. He’s remembered her name, though. Louisa. Poetical name. He hears her light merry laughter, how she teases Wentworth, makes him seem younger. He puts the locket back, unkissed.

The horses are slowing. Could this be the last climb?

He’ll have to stay in the inn till morning light. Maybe have a nap and freshen up before going over to report to the Harvilles and Musgrove. Pray God there’s no news waiting at the inn. If anybody is still up, other than the stable-lad coming out to help put the chaise and four horses to bed. His eyes smart again as the shame returns, like a recurring wave of nausea. How he let himself be persuaded, persuaded by a teenage girl, against his better judgement, for her to jump down each step into his arms, like she would when crossing stiles back in Uppercross, those carefree days on shore leave, no responsibilities, just enjoy her falling into his strength, her innocent laughter. A child laughing.

Like when he startled Anne one day when the little 2 year-old, Charles’ younger son, was playing with her, playing on her. She was on her knees, caring for the older boy, who was lying on a low sofa, recuperating from a fall from a tree that had caused a slipped collar bone. These Musgroves! So accident-prone! There was someone else in the room, another man, a young curate who seemed not at all pleased to see him come to pay a visit, rather curt, buried himself in the newspaper. The toddler wouldn’t get off her back. She ordered, entreated, insisted, but he wouldn’t get off till she had to push him, then he chuckled, great game, jumped up and onto her back again. She became angry. He had not seen her like that before, not when she was younger, about the age of Louisa and Henrietta, when she had jilted him. Eight years had passed since then, when he had gone to sea, to the war, gone away from her and their dream of sharing a life together. His self-confidence had been bruised. He had been angry with her for meekly complying with her snobbish, vain father’s judgement that he was socially inferior to the Elliotts. She was to blame. She could have left her family, struck out with him, like his sister, now married to an Admiral whom she had had no qualms in joining on his voyages, in his victories. Now he was rich too, like them. Eligible. A good war. He had made his fortune as he said he would. On his own merits, not because of what he had been born to. But here he was, holding the little boy up in the air, throwing him, catching him with squeals of delight and cries of “Do it again! Do it again!” While she remained on her knees, looking up at him, and smiling. How he longs now to see that smile again.

But it is Louisa he should be thinking of, Louisa, who thrilled him when she jumped into his arms from the tops of stiles on their family walks across the fields from Uppercross. Who jumped once too often when he thought the game was over, heard her call, turned to see she’d gone back up the steps to surprise him. And now? What now? Will she recover? If not, he has ruined a young woman’s life, her prospects. And her family’s happiness. He knows he’s not in love with her, or Henrietta. He feels his age, his failed responsibility. He must not see her again. It would upset her too much. Leave her be, in quiet. Let her recover with her brother and sister-in-law. Nothing he can do but add to their distress.

And Anne? Has he made another, even fatal mistake there? He suddenly recalls the well-dressed young man who made way for them the other morning, at the top of another flight of stairs from the beach , stared at her, saw her quiet beauty and vigour he had not noticed till that moment when she smiled thankyou and he was startled by a pang of jealousy. And there was something about him staying at the same inn, even distantly related, another of the Elliott clan, perhaps favoured by her father.

He shakes himself, angry again. He is overtired, needs sleep. How long ago since he was last in bed? Anne’s face comes into his mind again as the chaise judders over a junction of ruts, and turns to go down the long slope to Lyme. Cottages are coming into view and across their rooftops a darker expanse stretches into the night, the ocean. But he does not notice it, absorbed in the image that will not go away, Anne, asleep, a strand of hair lingering on her shoulder, in bed beside him.

There is a rapture on the lonely shore.

There is society where none intrudes.

By the deep sea, and music in its roar

Wide awake now, alert, he has never stayed out like this on a night before, not on land. A light wind has risen, ruffling the sea. He walks more briskly along the top of the Cobb, hears the approach of the horses and carriage, a man’s voice calling out to them to slow down. Who can be coming here at this time of night? And he’s running again, catches up with them at the innyard’s entrance, and yes, it is the same chaise that took the young women and Wentworth away, and here he is again, back already, getting down, stretching himself…. In the lamplight, with voices calling, they meet, James Benwick running into the other’s outstretched arms.

Before entering the inn, they sense the offshore wind.

“Still coming from the south-east.”

“Roll on, thou deep and dark blue ocean, roll on…”

“I’m hungry. Let’s go in”

And the night remains, and the waves lap on the shore, murmuring.

Eric Williams

11-12 July 2020

• With apologies to Lord Byron, Jane Austen, and fellow-lovers of Persuasion