Life and Love in 1830s
Scotland
Belle is brought to live in the fishing community by her new
husband, Jimmie Watt. The villagers resent her as a newcomer and when Jimmie
leaves for the Arctic on a whaling ship, she
becomes increasingly isolated.
She embarks on a tempestuous affair with Lachlan, the
Laird’s son, but when Jimmie returns she struggles with her feelings for him
and for Lachlan.
The women in the village turn against Belle, regarding her
as a Jezebel who will tempt their men away. A mood of hysteria engulfs them and
they turn against Belle to force her out of the village.
What will Belle do? And will she survive?
This historical saga is set in a Scottish fishing village in
the 1830’s and reflects the living conditions and the morals of the ordinary
fisher folk of that time.
Author information
Chris Longmuir is an
award winning novelist as well as an established writer of crime novels, short
stories and articles.
Review quotes
There is some
beautiful poetic writing and the complex life of the heroine, Belle, had me
gripped from the beginning. Some of the loveliest writing is in the whaling
sequences -one can feel the cold - and among the whalers she creates some
outstanding characters. Eileen Ramsay, novelist
Excerpt
Jimmie and his father pulled hard on the oars of the
small boat as they fought the river current which was threatening to pull them
off course. Water splashed over the bow as the angry tide swirled round the
small island which sat in the middle of the river, and the two of them were
breathless and sweating as they approached it.
‘We should’ve asked Ian and Angus to come with us,’
Jimmie paused to spit on his hands. The boat swung as the current caught it
again, but he grasped his oar with both hands and forced it back on course.
‘After we’ve rounded the point it’ll be easier,’ James
panted. ‘The tide’ll carry us part of the way to Invercraig, and we can row to
the harbour.’
‘Aye,’ Jimmie muttered. He looked uncertainly towards
the Invercraig side of the water where the whaler was berthed. What on earth
had possessed him to sign on? He should have ignored Belle and gone back on his
promise. But a promise was a promise and Jimmie knew he could not have gone back
on his word.
He concentrated on the oars. In, out, lift and pull.
The water sucked at them as he counted the strokes, and he could feel the sting
of the spray on his cheeks and the taste of salt on his lips. They drew level
with the island and both men concentrated on their oars, pulling hard to round
the point and stay clear of the shore. The tide caught them, swinging the boat
round and upriver. They let the current carry them until they were level with
the harbour and then without a word they started to row again, each in unison
with the other.
The three-masted whaling ship creaked and strained at
its mooring as they rowed around it heading for the section of harbour where it
was safe to tie up. The ship loomed over them and Jimmie was glad when they
pulled clear.
Jimmie heaved his oar into the boat, as they neared
the dock where several other small boats were moored, while James manoeuvred
the boat closer.
‘Be ready with the rope,’ James said, while he stroked
the water with his oar until the boat was almost touching the side of the quay.
Jimmie grabbed the iron ring protruding from the wall
and quickly threaded the rope through, knotting it until it was secure. He
grabbed the bundle containing his possessions, and keeping one hand against the
quay wall stepped from boat to boat until he reached the steps carved into the
quayside.
His father scrambled up the steps after him, and both
men stood for a moment while they looked around. Jimmie’s hand tightened on his
bundle. He wasn’t sure he liked so much noise and bustle. There seemed to be
people everywhere. Men like himself with their bundles clutched to them. Other
men were balancing barrels and sacks on their shoulders as they made their way
towards the ship. Carts lined up with produce of all kinds. Cows and sheep
tethered in pens, waiting their turn to board. Soaring over everything the
babble of tongues.
‘Aye lad. It’s not like Craigden now, is it.’ James
stroked his beard as he always did when he was troubled.
Jimmie forced a smile. He did not want his da to worry
about him. ‘I’ll be all right, Da. It’s a good ship, The Eclipse. They say they catch more whales than any other whaler, and
that means a bigger share of the catch for the men. One voyage and I’ll be able
to get my own boat.’
‘I hope so lad. I hope you won’t be disappointed.’
‘You’ll look after Belle and Sarah for me. Won’t you
Da?’
‘Don’t you go worrying over Belle, lad. Me and
Annie’ll see she’s all right.’
‘Well, I’d better go now, Da.’ Jimmie held out his
hand and both men clasped each other’s arm, hands on elbows.
James leaned towards Jimmie and threw his other arm
round his son’s shoulders to clap him on the back. ‘Take care, son,’ he said,
his voice strangely husky.
‘I will, Da. I will.’
James turned and clambered back down the stone stairs.
Reaching the bottom he stepped over the vessels moored there until he reached
the rowboat. Jimmie felt suddenly desolate as James lifted his arm in a salute
and turned away making ready to cast off.
Straightening his shoulders, Jimmie walked towards the
ship. It was bigger than any boat he had previously sailed in, and it would
travel a greater distance.
He’d heard tales from men who had sailed with the
whalers, and of the strange white world they went to. Ice and snow, and
freezing cold, and whales, larger than anything they had ever seen before.
Jimmie experienced a surge of excitement that started in his stomach and ended
up in his throat. His step quickened and his hand tightened on his bundle. Soon
he would be able to recite his own tale of adventures in the Greenland
seas.
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