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her throat, she shook her head.
‘That’s the way we do things. Give our prized belongings to those we love and leave the rest to be burnt along with our earthly body. We don’t carry any worldly possessions into our afterlife, see? She gave Titan her best cups and saucers, Al her glasses, Tinks her sloe gin, and this she left for you,’ she said, lifting up Mara’s basket.
‘Oh,’ Colenso gasped, taking it from her with trembling hands and staring at the items piled neatly inside it. ‘I … I’m …’
‘Not ready to look,’ Sarah finished for her. ‘Well, no hurry, love. Wait until you’ve come to terms with things a bit. Look, you’ve had a nasty shock so let’s have something a bit stronger,’ she added, jumping up and pouring pink liquid into their empty mugs. ‘She gave me some of her gin as well, so let’s drink a toast. To Mara, my best friend in this world and hopefully the next,’ she said, raising her mug.
‘To Mara,’ Colenso echoed. They sat for a few moments, each lost in their own thoughts. ‘How did you get to know Mara?’ she asked, realizing she really didn’t know much about the woman she’d been living with.
‘We met when she took to the road after losing her beloved. She was bereft, as you can imagine, and came to me for comfort. I have the sight too, you see. That’s why she wants me to carry on her dukkering. She were very good at it.’
‘She didn’t always get it right,’ Colenso murmured, thinking of her prediction that Kitto would continue corresponding. A loud rapping on the window interrupted her musing.
‘Come in, Al,’ Sarah said as his head appeared through the open top of the stable door.
‘We’re just toasting Mara, want some?’ she invited, holding up the bottle.
‘Later perhaps. Just thought you should know we won’t be opening the fair today out of respect. We’ll start up tomorrow, then stay an extra day to keep the locals happy. Sol says you’re moving on today.’ Sarah nodded.
‘We’ve no heart for the fair here now so we’ll start making our way east. Sol likes to spend the winter somewhere drier. The Cornish mist gets into his bones and then we both suffer,’ she said, raising a brow theatrically.
‘What about you?’ he asked, turning to Colenso.
‘I, er, don’t know. Stay with the fair, I suppose.’
‘Penzance is our last stop after this, then we disband for the winter,’ he frowned.
‘Disband?’ Colenso muttered. ‘Oh, I hadn’t realized.’
‘Probably best if she comes with us, then. We can see her safely to Penzance,’ Sarah told him. She turned to Colenso. ‘It will be easier to make your way home from there.’
‘There’s nothing for me to go back for,’ she sighed. Seeing Kitto with the schoolmistress would be more than she could bear. As for her father and the Ferret … the very thought sent shudders sliding down her spine.
‘Whatever you decide, you’ll need some money,’ Big Al told her, passing her some notes.
‘But why would you give me money?’
‘To tide you over. Can’t live on fresh air, girl. Besides, Jago hasn’t seen fit to show up and I bet he didn’t pay you for working on the Panam all summer.’
‘No,’ she sighed. ‘He said he’d settle up with me here.’
‘Well, you’ll soon find something else, pretty girl like you. Probably be easier than when you was pretending to be a boy, Bonbon,’ he grinned.
‘Mara said you looked out for me, so thank you,’ she murmured, remembering her manners.
‘My pleasure,’ he said, tipping his hand to his thatch.
Sarah followed him out of the door and, as they stood talking on the step, Colenso’s thoughts were running amok. How could Jago take her for a fool? Now she had no job or money of her own. Why, she hadn’t even realized the fair was disbanding. Although, now she came to think of it, Titan had said some of them spent the winter in brick. Where would she go? What would she do?
When Sarah returned and saw Colenso’s bleak expression, she sat down beside her and patted her arm.
‘Perhaps you should see what Mara’s left you?’ she suggested, bending down and lifting the basket onto Colenso’s lap. Under Mara’s red scarf with its jagged tear were her golden hooped earrings.
‘My, you’ll look lovely in those,’ Sarah exclaimed. ‘They’ll go a treat with that green outfit. What else have you got?’
‘Jago’s books,’ Colenso cried. ‘Oh, and there’s a note inside.’
Dear Bonbon,
Don’t feel guilty about taking these. If my hunch is correct, that scoundrel Jago won’t be reappearing with the money he owes you. You seemed to enjoy making the confections, so use the recipes to your advantage. Whenever you pick Mother Nature’s bounty or hear the wind whispering in the leaves, think of me and know you made my last months on earth happier than I ever could have wished.
Your friend,
Mara
As another lump rose in her throat, Colenso blinked back her hot tears and delved into the basket again. There was Mara’s fine, lacy shawl, and underneath were the beautiful red shoes she’d admired in the shop window in Bodmin.
‘Oh, my goodness, I don’t know what to say,’ she gulped, running her fingers over the soft leather.
‘Mara bought those when you went to the post office with Titan. I remember she was glowing with glee when she showed them to me.’
‘I had no idea,’ Colenso said, shaking her head.
‘Course not, she wanted them to be a surprise. Gawd knows you need something to lighten your life. What will you do now, love?’
‘I honestly don’t know. I’ll have to wait until my mind clears then have a good think.’
✳
Having insisted Colenso spend the night in their van, Sarah and Solomon dropped her off on the outskirts of Penzance. She was wearing the golden hoops in her ears and, knowing she’d be seeking employment, had ensured her green outfit was looking presentable.
‘Good luck,’ they called. She watched until they were a speck in the distance then, hefting her basket over her arm, made her way towards the town. The first thing she needed to do was find a job and then somewhere to stay. It all seemed so daunting, and already she was missing Mara. For all her funny sayings and grumpy ways, she had been good company and a true friend.
She’d just started walking when she was almost overcome by the smell of sulphur coming from a huge tin-smelting works that mixed with the pungent odour from the tannery next door. What a welcome to Penzance, she thought, hurrying as fast as she could towards the sea.
Breathing the bracing air deeply, she headed towards the quay, mentally listing her talents. She could sew, cook, fashion serpentine. Serpentine, that was it. Wherrytown was on the other side of the town. She remembered the Ferret saying the finished works were shipped out of the harbour here, so surely they’d be looking for people to finish the stone.
Feeling optimistic, she walked briskly, passing the fishing boats, barges and lifeboat, then on along the promenade until she came to a gloomy-looking building bearing the name Wherrytown Serpentine Works. Gathering her courage, she marched inside. Although the men glanced curiously in her direction, nobody stopped what they were doing. The place was very large, dusty and noisy, and it took her a while to locate the works manager’s office. Boldly, she knocked on the door.
‘Enter,’ a voice boomed. Squaring her shoulders, she walked into the room and smiled. A man of middle years, wearing an ill-fitting jacket,