Free The Body on the Beach (The Weymouth Trilogy) by Lizzie Church

am persuaded that it must seem very strange, with everyone speaking in a way that cannot be understood.’
    ‘I would agree with you there – I certainly found it most strange - though my husband enjoys it. It is a good job that he does. He has scarce ly been in Weymouth three months in the year since we were married.’
    ‘You must find that hard.’
    ‘In a way I do, but I knew what I was taking on when I agreed to marry him. We were childhood sweethearts you see, Mrs Miller, but John was already in the navy when we first met so I have had plenty of time in which to get used to it. He was the twin brother of a school friend of mine. He used to visit her during term time, when he was not at sea, and we would all go out for jaunts together there. But I find plenty enough in Weymouth to keep me occupied. I have a good many acquaintance hereabouts, and I know that Andrew wish es me to visit him at Belvoir as often as I like. Belvoir is only a short step up from here. I can run in and out three times in a day if I need to.’
    Poor Kathryn. Mrs Wright seemed determined to drag her brother into every conversation, whilst she herself was equally desperate to keep him out. So in the end, having spent the best part of a half hour with her new friend, she had to admit defeat and announce her retreat by setting off for home.
    ‘For I have a long walk ahead of me, Mrs Wright, and I dare not leave Bob with our maid Sally for too long – he will drive her to distraction else!’
    Luck was not with Kathryn that afternoon, however, for no sooner had she quitted Mrs Wright’s house and started to make her way back across the bridge, than she was immediately accosted by Mr Berkeley who was coming across it towards her in the opposite direction. Kathryn could have stamped her foot in annoyance. This was just what she had thought might happen – and exactly what she had hoped would not.
    ‘Well met, Mrs Miller,’ he said, as she bobbed him a demure curtsy and coloured a little . ‘And what has brought you over to this side of the harbour?’
    Kathryn told him that she had just vacated his sister’s house and was on her way to the timber merchant’s for her aunt before setting back towards Sandsford House.
    ‘Then perhaps you will allow me to go with you ? I have just come from that direction myself. I have been examining the reclamation work there. We are building a quay directly from the sea. I am providing my expertise to the engineers – it is a discipline that I know well from my past employment , you know - and I am planning to make some investment in it . I hope that you ’ ll allow me to carry the wood back to your a unt’s?’
    Although she wanted to decline this kind offer, Kathryn found herself smiling at Mr B erkeley in such a way that he ha d turned to accompany her before she had even framed her refusal. Considering the nature of her earlier delib erations she realised that this was not entirely a n auspicious s tart . B ut , havin g sealed her fate so comprehensive ly , she now found that she was left with no choice but to take his proffered arm and walk along with him in the direction of the timber yard at the very end of the quay. Before they reached it, however, Andrew spotted an acquaintance of his. He was standing on a small merchantman moored up alongside, directing some crewmen who were engaged in loading up.
    ‘Well, if i t isn’t Captain Wayman,’ he laughed, stopping for a second (and thereby obliging Kathryn, who still held his arm, to do the same). ‘Hey, you old scoundrel – I have a bone to pick with you and your crew. I got washed overboard when you brought me over from Southampton that time – washed overboard and you never said a word.’
    The Captain stepped over towards him .
    ‘Well, if it ai n’t Mr Berkeley,’ he said, obviously well pleased. ‘Washed overboard, you say? Well, there’s a surprise. We never even noticed you had gone, sir, and that’s no lie. Thought you was banged