"Rebecca": Ch3 (continued)

[wanda1969]

Title: “Rebecca”
Author: wanda1969
Prompt: “Rebecca”
Pairing(s): Jack Harkness/Ianto Jones
Rating: PG
Warnings: very occasional expletive. ALSO, SOMEONE HAD TO BE MRS DANVERS...
Spoilers: More for “Rebecca” (mainly the Hitchcock movie) rather than Torchwood
Disclaimer: I have created no characters here: I have merely borrowed the Torchwood characters from the BBC & their creators. I have also borrowed the plot and some characters from Daphne Du Maurier and Hitchcock (and his scriptwriters). No copyright infringement is intended. In fact, I know this film so well, it was really hard for me not to completely ‘quote’ it...I hope I have paraphrased where necessary.
Author's Notes: Torchwood characters shoehorned into “Rebecca”. This is closer to the Hitchcock film than the book. I’ve also added an Epilogue which is a bit like one of the first chapters of the book, but at the end- THE EPILOGUE  IS THE ONE TO NOT READ IF YOU WANT TO STOP WHERE THE FILM DID. I’ve deviated from the book by (mainly) not writing in the first person, and also by allowing the “second Mrs De Winter” to have a ‘name’.

 

My aim was for romantic drama/suspense in the 1930s film/book stylee with a bit of modern fanfiction (this is set in the modern day).

Many, many, many thanks to the very lovely and patient janiemc for both beta-ing and putting up with me...I am painfully pedantic (if only that would translate to tidying up...).

 

Chapter 3 (pt2)

After some time, he heard voices echo through the entrance hall. Crossing to the door, he opened it slightly and peeped through the gap. Frith was leading a well dressed Japanese woman (Toshiko, he guessed) and a larger man (not fat, slightly plump, perhaps), presumably her husband, towards a door across the hall. Suddenly a face came into view, right on the other side of the door.

“Ah, Mr H...Sir, I was just coming to look for you. Mr and Mrs Williams are here for lunch,” she said. Ianto blushed, mortified that he’d been found ‘lurking’ behind the Morning Room door, as Mrs Cooper fixed him once more with one of superior smiles.

He pulled himself up to his full height and opened the door, and then strode past her and headed across the hall, “Thank you, Mrs Cooper.”

As he reached the doorway across the hall, he found it ajar. He paused for a few seconds as he heard the conversation inside.

“...the reception was terrible, Rhys...I could hardly hear what he was saying...sounded a bit like Yanna, Yanno...oh, I don’t know...”

“Reckon it’s a gold digger, or even a lap dancer?” The man laughed, but Ianto had recognised his Welsh accent, and felt a little more comforted, as he pushed the door fully open.

Toshiko and Rhys turned to look at the doorway.

“Hello, I’m Ianto J...Harkness, I guess, now.”

Realisation dawned on Toshiko first and she smiled, walked over and hugged him, “Ianto...Yanno! Oh, I see where I’d got confused. Congratulations!”

“Thank you,” his voice was slightly muffled as she held on tightly. If either of them were surprised to see that he wasn’t actually a lap dancer, but a man, they didn’t show it (apart from maybe a momentarily raised eyebrow from Rhys.

She released him, and Rhys held out his hand to shake Ianto’s.

“And Welsh as well! Ianto’s a good Welsh name. Jack’s got good taste, I’ll give him that- you can’t beat the Welsh!”

They sat down, and the three chatted; about meeting Jack, about Wales, and eventually, to Rhys’ joy- rugby. If Rhys had had any doubts about Ianto, they’d definitely been put to one side as soon as he’d realised that Ianto loved rugby (but most of all because he was Welsh). Rhys seemed truly happy to have a fellow countryman in the family.

Toshiko was getting bored and made a point of interrupting her husband.

“So Ianto, what do you make of this old house?”

It’s beautiful, but I can’t pretend I even know how many rooms it’s got, never mind where they all are- I think I’ll need a map.”

“You’ll find your way round soon enough, and at least you don’t have to worry about running it all on your own- there’re plenty of staff, and they’re all pretty helpful. Mainly- have you met Mrs Cooper yet, by the way?”

“Ooh, Cooper’s scary...Just goes to show that not all the Welsh like a laugh and a trip to the pub. Or the rugby...” Mr Williams interrupted.

“Rhys, why don’t you go and find Jack? It must be close to lunchtime- I’m famished.”

 

“OK, OK...” Rhys looked rather saddened to have his chat about Wales interrupted, but nevertheless left the room to look for his brother in law

“I know she’s ‘scary’ as Rhys puts it, but you’ve got to stand up to Mrs Cooper. Hasn’t Jack told you? She sees this place as hers.”

“Jack didn’t say very much about her...but that explains everything.” He gave a shallow laugh as he looked at Toshiko.

“So you have had a bit of a run-in?”

“I wouldn’t have said ‘run-in’, but she’s not exactly welcoming.”

“Ah- it wouldn’t surprise me. I would have thought he’d have told you about her... You do realise that Mrs Cooper adored Rebecca? She’s very defensive. They were best friends at University, and afterwards. And when Rebecca married Jack, Cooper’s marriage had just broken up so Rebecca offered her the sort of job of companion, PA, housekeeper...On top of that, despite her loyalty to Rebecca, she’s always had a...soft spot...for Jack, as far as I can tell.”

Rhys popped his head around the door putting a halt to the confidential, “Sorry. Just found Jack and Owen outside-looks like it’s time for lunch, you two.”

***

Lunch went well. Owen turned out to have a dry sense of humour and spent the meal good-naturedly arguing with them all, or replying to comments with a sarcastic quip. Jack had been travelling around Europe for close to nine months, and gave them all a rundown of his travels, finishing with the South of France.

“And that’s where I met Ianto. I guess I was lucky really; I was only going to stay one night, until we met in the hotel bar...and then again at breakfast.” He smiled broadly and looked over to his partner.

“So, Ianto, apart from watching rugby, painting and reading what do you do with your time?” Rhys asked after a small silence.

“Well...not much, I suppose- I’ve always been busy working really...”

“Do you ride? There’re some great bridle paths in the area.”

“No, I’m afraid I don’t ride...”

“Oh. How about sailing?”

“No, I don’t sail, either.”

An uncomfortable silence had settled over the table, and Toshiko was looking over at her brother, who was staring down at his plate and pushing idly at a lettuce leaf with his fork.

Rhys looked embarrassed. “And probably a good thing, too...”

Quickly Toshiko changed the subject. “We should introduce you to some of our friends- there are quite a few charity committees you could get involved with.” Ianto’s heart sank as he found himself imagining helping to organise the village fete, or joining the Masons, or worse, the WI!

She continued, “Or perhaps you could have a party- invite all the neighbours over...”

“We’ll see, Tosh,” Jack said quickly, effectively finishing the conversation for the moment.

Lunch over with, Owen Harper said ‘goodbye’ to them all and left to continue running Manderley, while Jack and Ianto walked Toshiko and Rhys to their car.

Rhys clapped a hand to Ianto’s back before making his way to the car. “P’raps we can get together for the Six Nations...get some beers in?”

Next it was Toshiko. She hugged the young man enthusiastically and spoke, quietly. “I’ve got a feeling that you’re going to be good for Jack. We worried about him, you know, some months back...but he’s different since he brought you back...happier...Make sure he doesn’t forget to call us- come round for dinner some time.”

***

When the car had driven into the distance, Jack looked over to Ianto. “Could’ve been worse.” he said and looked up at the sky. “Looks like rain, but I bet there’s time for a walk- you should come and see the gardens at least.”

Jack called for a mackintosh and the two set out with Myfanwy. They walked along the edge of the garden, and then Myfanwy started to bark next to a set of steep rock-hewn steps which lead down to the beach below. With an excited yelp she bounded down the steps.

“Where does that lead to, Jack?”

“Just a little cove. Leave her, Ianto. She’ll come back when she’s ready.”

“It’s going to start raining- I should get her...” he said turning to chase Myfanwy down the narrow wooden steps.

Behind him he could hear Jack shouting. He sounded angry, a little like he had that first day when he’d met him standing at the edge of the cliff high above Monte Carlo. “I said just leave her...Are you listening to me? I told you to leave it!”

It was too late; the young man was already halfway down to the beach. He continued to run, having lost sight of Myfanwy, and then as he stared down the beach he could just see her disappearing round some large rocks that jutted out from the curving line of the cliffs. He followed her and found himself in the small cove and was surprised to see a single storey cottage set back against the rocks, just above the tide line. Ianto could just see Myfanwy sitting expectantly on the doorstep of the cottage. He walked over to retrieve the dog, but was startled as a man dressed as if he were a fisherman ready to take to the sea appeared from inside the cottage, wide eyes staring keenly at him.

“Sorry, sorry. I was just getting Myfanwy here- she ran off.” Ianto said assuming that the man lived in the cottage.

“She knows it here. She’s from the big house...she’s not yours” The man had a thick Cornish accent and seemed unaccountably afraid of Ianto.

“Yes that’s right...”

“Used to come here with the lady, but she’s gone now...in the sea. She’s not coming back is she?”

“I...”

“You won’t tell anyone I was in here, will you?”

“Why? Isn’t it your cottage?”

“I’m not supposed to be here...it’s Mrs Harkness’ house...”

Through the door Ianto could see a sitting room, cobwebbed and dusty. Just inside the doorway was a coat rack, wellington boots on the floor below; it was as if the inhabitants of the cottage had suddenly left and never returned. He stepped inside. As he looked around he noticed cushions on the sofa, embroidered with the same ornate letter “R” that he’d seen on the notepaper and address book in the Morning Room earlier. On the wall hung a portrait of a dark haired woman; this must be her, Rebecca. She was indeed beautiful. He felt his chest tighten.

He looked to the coat rack again. Just to the side of the boots was a short length of rope, ideal for a leash for Myfanwy. He leant down and picked it up before scurrying out of the door. The wide-eyed man was still there, leant against the wall to the side of the front door.

“You won’t, will you? You won’t say you saw me here?”

“No, no...I won’t say a thing.” Ianto replied as he leant down to the spaniel still sitting on the step, and looped the rope though her collar.

With Myfanwy secured with the piece of rope, Ianto hurriedly set back out along the beach and up the wooden steps, but Jack wasn’t waiting for him at the top. He didn’t understand why Jack had been so against him going down to the beach and continued to walk along the pathway, towards the house. Jack didn’t like the sea, or boats; he’d insisted on driving back through the Channel Tunnel when they’d returned to England, rather than using the ferry. He wondered whether this was a recent dislike, whether this all had something to do with Rebecca’s drowning...And then he saw the older man waiting for him, staring out to the sea.

“I asked you not to go down there. Why did you have to go down there?”

“I was just getting Myfanwy back...it was just a beach. And a little fisherman’s cottage,” Ianto said. He gently bit at his bottom lip with worry at Jack’s dark mood. “It wasn’t dangerous...”

“You didn’t go into the cottage did you?”

“Only to get this piece of rope to use as a lead.”

“I told you not to go there- I don’t want you going there ever again, do you hear me?”

Jack looked at him, and sighed, as if noticing his worried expression. “I’m sorry, Ianto. I told you, I’ve not been used to...being around anyone else for a long time. Perhaps, I’m just not used to anyone questioning me...Let’s get back to the house.”

They continued to walk along the path silently, Ianto still not comprehending just why Jack had been so against him going down to the beach.

By the time it was time for dinner, Jack seemed happier again, the harsh tone of his words forgotten.

***

After breakfast the next day, Jack set out to see a business contact in St Ives, but Ianto was determined not to be left to his own devices in the Morning Room; to tell the truth, he was keen to avoid Mrs Cooper. Robert, one of the footmen, came in to the breakfast room to ask if he wanted any more coffee.

“No thank you, Robert. Although I was wondering if you knew if Mr Harper was about?”

“Yes, Sir. I believe he’s in the Estate Office, going through this morning’s paperwork.”

“Could you show me the way?” He got up from his seat, “I think I ought to learn a bit about how the estate’s run.”

“Of course, Sir. If you’d follow me- the office is at the other end of the house.”

They finally reached the office and found the door open and Harper seated at a large oak desk and studying his laptop.

Thanking Robert, Ianto knocked at the door in an effort to get the Estate Manager’s attention.

“Oh- hello, Ianto. What brings you here?” he smiled, looking up.

“Hi, Owen. I was wondering if you needed any help? I know Mrs Cooper seems to think I should be spending the mornings going through my correspondence, but I don’t really have any!” he said with a smile. “And it gets a bit lonely pottering around the house on my own...”

“That’s Mrs Cooper for you- always thinking she knows best. Come on, take a seat. But there’s not much for you to do, I’m afraid.”

Ianto sat down in the chair on the opposite side of the desk.

“So how are you finding Manderley?”

“Well, it’s a little intimidating. It’s so large. And I’m not used to having all these staff around, doing everything for me.”

“You’ll get used to it- when you’ve got a house this size you need all the help you can get, Ianto!”

The young man smiled. “And that’s even without looking at the gardens and the rest of the estate.”

“I sometimes doubt that even Jack knows every acre of the estate. That’s why I’m here! You’ll know this place like the back of your hand before you know it. Remember, you’ve only been here about a day.”

“I guess so- we went for a walk in the gardens yesterday. Actually I meant to ask you about that. I went down onto the beach; there was a cove with an abandoned cottage.” Ianto paused briefly, “The door was open- I saw inside. Was that Rebecca’s cottage? Were those all her things?”

Owen looked uncomfortable. “Rebecca used to sail; she loved it. Her boat used to be moored down there before the...accident.”

“It must have been terrible for Jack.”

“It was a hard time for him, especially with all that time waiting, not knowing what had happened to her.”

“What?”

“He didn’t tell you?” Owen looked down and started to shuffle some of the papers on his desk.

“It took them two months to find her. He set off travelling not long afterwards.”

“Oh God...Two months...where did they find her?” Ianto said quietly.

“Ten miles down the coast...It was very stormy that night.”

“Jesus.”

“Yeah. I don’t think it was easy for him. Having to identify her as well...”

“Shit- ‘course he would have had to identify her...” Ianto suddenly understood Jack’s behaviour, his moods. The memory must have stayed with him night and day.

Owen didn’t respond.

“Owen, I’m sorry- I shouldn’t have asked you all those questions, brought it all up again-“

“No- you don’t understand how happy I am that Jack met you. I can tell you’re gonna be good for him. He looks happier than when he left Manderley. Hell, he sounds better than when I spoke to him on the ‘phone when he was travelling.”

“Thanks, Owen. It’s just so hard to get used to it all, Manderley. All the time I feel like people are making comparisons. Making me fell aware of how different I am to Rebecca.” The Welshman laughed, trying to make light of the situation. “In every way!”

“And it’s a good thing that you’re different, believe me!”

Ianto smiled, “Thanks, Owen. I know all of this is a bit morbid...but what was she really like?”

Owen looked over to him before he spoke, “She loved parties and being the centre of attention. Wasn’t afraid of anybody, or anything...”

Ianto raised his eyebrows, hoping to encourage the Estate Manager further.

“OK. She was the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen...”

***

 

Chapter List: http://wanda1969.dreamwidth.org/17042.html