by Ashe Barker
Chapter Six
The market in Stratford-upon-Avon was far larger and busier than had been the ramshackle collection of stalls in Corfe. The necessary purchases were quickly arranged, and Robbie instructed the traders to have his supplies delivered to the Swan Inn. By midmorning he and Jane had also completed a tour of the other decent hostelries the town had to offer in order to leave word for Lady Falconer should she arrive at any of them. Satisfied that all was as much under control as he could contrive it to be, Robbie and Jane returned to their accommodations to inquire as to what the innkeeper’s wife might have prepared for lunch.
The pheasant pie was wholesome and tasty, especially when washed down with a mug of foaming ale. Jane had retired upstairs to attend to Cecily’s needs and Robbie was pondering the notion of setting out once more on the off-chance they might spot the countess’s party when the lady herself entered the low-ceilinged room.
At first, she did not spot him lounging in a corner. The innkeeper scuttled over to her, clearly scenting another customer presenting the prospect of a handsome fee. He was already assuring Lady Falconer of the finest accommodations to be had anywhere in the town when Robbie interrupted.
“My lady, it is good to see you again. I trust your journey was uneventful.”
At her start of surprise, he quickly went on. “You may not remember me, my lady. I am Edmund Barrington, an acquaintance of your son-in-law. I am sure you will recall...?”
The lady was mercifully quick on the uptake. “Ah, yes, Mr. Barrington., I remember you well. How are you?” She extended a hand to him.
He bowed over the proffered glove. “Well, my lady. Very well. And all the better for encountering you once more.”
“Of course. The last time we met you were...?” She faltered, clearly aware that the innkeeper was listening with interest.
“I was seeking to acquire... merchandise for my brother.”
“Merchandise? Yes, of course. And... how did you fare in your endeavours?”
“Tolerably well, my lady. Perhaps you will join me in a cup of ale, or wine, perhaps, and I shall share with you the details of my progress.” He indicated that she should precede him back to the secluded corner of the tavern where they might speak in relative privacy. “Innkeeper, you will bring food and wine, if you please. My guest has travelled far and is in need of rest and refreshment.”
“Of course, sir. Madam.” He set to bowing eagerly. “And, will you be requiring another room, perhaps? I have an excellent chamber just next to the one you and your wife are occupying.”
“That sounds perfect. Please, have the room prepared.” He ushered Lady Falconer into her seat. “I trust wine will be to your liking, my lady.”
“That would be most welcome, Mr. Barrington,” she murmured, peeling off her travelling gloves.
Robbie dismissed the hovering innkeeper with a smile and a curt nod, then turned his attention to his guest.
“Lady Falconer, I must ask that you take extreme care not to display any apparent surprise at what I am about to tell you. It is vital that we not draw attention to ourselves.”
She inclined her chin. “I understand. Please, go on.”
He saw no point in drawing this out. “We found baby Cecily.”
The countess blanched, then grasped his hand in hers. “Is she... is she unharmed?”
He nodded. “She is well. Culpepper may have been a mean bastard, but as luck would have it he dumped the child with kind people who loved her and took excellent care of her.”
Lady Falconer let out a shuddering breath. “Thank God. Thank the dear blessed Virgin and all the saints. Unharmed, you say?”
“Yes. Absolutely.”
“I do not understand. How did you find her?”
“We had help. The child’s nurse, Jane Bartle...”
“Jane? Yes. A flighty lass, but a good soul even so. How did she...?”
Briefly, Robbie explained what had transpired. When he concluded his short summary Lady Falconer gazed at him in amazement.
“You... you bought my granddaughter back?” she whispered. “It was that simple?”
“Aye, more or less.”
“And, where is Cecily now? You say you brought her away from the cottage with you?”
“We did. She is here. Upstairs, with Jane.”
“Jane is here too?”
“She was most keen to accompany us, and has been helpful in caring for the baby.”
“Well, I never... Jane Bartle.” Lady Falconer shook her head. “She came well recommended, but I confess I was not overly fond of the girl. Too forward for my liking and always more than ready to express an opinion, asked for or not. I suspect I shall have to revise my estimate of her now.”
Robbie allowed himself a private smile. He rather thought Lady Falconer had the right of it the first time.
“I expect you will be anxious to see Cecily,” he suggested.
Lady Falconer merely nodded.
Robbie rose to his feet, just as the innkeeper returned with a tray of food. “Thank you. Would you take that up to my chamber? We shall continue our conversation in the comfort of my room.”
The innkeeper bobbed his head and headed for the stairs, followed by Robbie and the countess. At the top of the stairs, Robbie turned to murmur to his companion.
“Please, do not express surprise or... or anything. You understand the need to remain inconspicuous.”
“I do,” she assured him.
Robbie was satisfied. They followed the innkeeper into the chamber, where Jane was spooning slivers of boiled egg into Cecily’s mouth. She leapt to her feet when she saw Lady Falconer, but Robbie managed to gesture to her to remain silent until the innkeeper left. As soon as the door closed behind the man, Lady Falconer swooped on her granddaughter.
“Sweetheart, it is you. It really is you...” Tears coursed down her cheeks as she hugged the startled child to her. “I hoped, I prayed... but I never truly believed...”
Robbie poured her a glass of wine, then another for Jane. “Maybe we should all take a few moments to become... reacquainted,” he suggested quietly.
Jane sidled to stand beside him. Neither was unmoved at the emotional reunion unfolding before them. As ever, though, Jane was equally concerned with practical matters.
“Did you tell her about the sovereigns?” she whispered.
“I thought tae leave that pleasure for ye, my pet.”
He could not be certain, but he rather thought he heard a muttered ‘bloody hell’ in response.
* * *
Jane could put it off no longer. Lady Falconer had finished her helping of pheasant pie and Cecily had eaten as much egg as she was going to. The baby now slept soundly on her grandmother’s lap. Robbie was at the window, watching the activity in the street below.
“Ah, I believe that was the last of our provisions just arrivin’,” he observed. “Tell me, Lady Falconer, did ye by any chance bring a wagon with ye?”
“I did, yes. I had need of it to carry my luggage. Scotland is a long way, as you know. That, along with the nag to pull it and my riding palfrey, is in the stable yard.”
“Excellent. Then since we shall be travellin’ together from here I shall leave instructions that our supplies are tae be loaded onto your cart.”
Lady Falconer nodded. “Of course.”
Robbie went downstairs to make the necessary arrangements, leaving Jane alone with her employer. The older woman regarded her with a calculating gaze.
“I confess, you have surprised me, Jane.”
Jane gulped. Did she know? How could she know? The countess had already been leaving for Scotland when Jane had sneaked into her room and helped herself to the sovereigns.
“I... I can explain...”
“Mr. McGregor has already explained. I gather my family is deeply indebted to you, Miss Bartle.”
“Indebted to me?” Jane was at a loss. What on earth could that bloody Scot have said?
“Yes. Indebted to you for your courage, y
our loyalty, and your resourcefulness. Although, there is one aspect of your account which troubles me.”
Ah, here we go...
“I am given to understand that you were aware of my granddaughter’s whereabouts almost from the beginning, yet you did not inform me. Why was that, I wonder? You knew how desperate we were for news of her.”
“I... I...”
Lady Falconer raised one aristocratic eyebrow. “I should be obliged for an explanation, Miss Bartle.”
Jane swallowed and tried to set out her reasoning. “It is true that I knew how desperate you were, and how everyone was grieving for the poor lost little one. And for Miss Eleanor, too, packed off to the Lord only knows where to wed a man she had never even met.”
The countess dipped her chin in acknowledgment. “Quite so. Do go on.”
“If I had told you, I was sure you would have tried to get Cecily back. You and the earl.”
“You are quite correct. We would have done exactly that. Yet, you saw fit to deny us the opportunity.”
“But, do you not see? If you had done that, and Culpepper found out—and I had no way of knowing whether he would or not, but I did not dare take the risk—he would have seized her again and her fate might not have been so... fortunate. I had been to the cottage. I had met the woman who had the care of Cecily. I knew she was a kind soul, and I was sure that Cecily was in no danger there...”
“And you consider those matters were yours to determine, Miss Bartle?”
Jane tilted her chin up in growing defiance. “I had no one I could ask so had to rely on my own judgement. I... I cared only for Cecily, for her safety. I could have told you what I had discovered, but I deemed it a better plan to wait until an opportunity arose to rescue her. And one did. When Robbie and Archie came to Ashingburn Manor, I saw a chance to get Cecily back and keep her. So, I took it.”
Jane fell silent and returned her employer’s cool gaze with as much boldness as she could muster. She would admit to not a shred of contrition or regret. She had done what she genuinely thought was best. No one could expect more. And, had she not been proved right? Cecily was safe, and on her way to be reunited with her mother. What better outcome could anyone have hoped for?
The countess’s cool expression split into a grudging smile. “You were always forthright, as I recall. Not a trait I would normally encourage in a servant.”
“My lady, I—”
“But, on this occasion, I must concede that your judgement was sound.”
“You... agree with me?”
“I do. You did the right thing. I understand now why you did not come to me, and I am glad that you did not.”
“Th-thank you.”
“On further reflection and having heard your explanations, I must conclude that your actions in the service of my family have been nothing short of exemplary. If there is any way I can reward you, I trust you will let me know what it is.”
“I do not want a reward, my lady. I did what I did for Cecily, and for Lady Eleanor. It is not right that a mother should be separated from her child.”
“We can agree on that sentiment, but even so, I would like you to accept this.” She slipped her hand into the pocket of her riding gown and retrieved a small purse, which she held out to Jane. “It is not much, just a few coins I have with me, but it is yours. A token of my gratitude...”
Heat engulfed her as Jane flushed what she thought must be a deep shade of crimson. The irony of the situation would have been laughable were she not so apprehensive about how Lady Falconer might react to the news that she had been robbed.
Well, not robbed, exactly, but...
“I cannot accept that, Lady Falconer.” Jane backed away, wringing her hands in front of her.
The countess at once saw the change in her servant’s demeanour. “Whatever is wrong, Jane?”
“I cannot accept it. I cannot...”
“Very well.” Lady Falconer set the purse down on the table before her. “I did not mean to upset you.”
“I am not upset.”
“No? Forgive me, but you do seem to be.”
“I am not upset. I am... I am...”
“What Jane is trying to say is that she has a confession tae make.”
Neither woman had heard Robbie return. They both swung around at the sound of his voice. He sauntered in and slung an arm across Jane’s shoulders. “Just tell her what ye told me an’ Archie,” he urged.
Jane gulped.
Lady Falconer furrowed her elegant brow.
Robbie gave Jane what he must consider a helpful nudge.
“I... took your money.” There. It was out. Jane held her breath.
“My money?” the countess inquired mildly. “Please go on.”
“That day, when Robbie and Archie arrived, and I decided to tell them where Cecily was... It was all such a rush. There was no time to talk to you, and in any case, you were leaving in great haste, to go to Scotland...”
“Yes, I remember.” Lady Falconer waited patiently.
“I ran upstairs to get my cloak. I meant to chase after the men and tell them what I had found out. And... it occurred to me that there might be a way of getting Cecily back without bloodshed. I had met the Varleys...”
“The Varleys?” Lady Falconer appeared puzzled.
“The gamekeeper and his wife,” Jane clarified. “They seemed kind. And poor. I believed they might let Cecily go if we paid them.”
“I see.” The countess narrowed her eyes.
“So, I went into your room. I knew you kept a purse of sovereigns there, in the drawer.”
“Oh. And how did you know that?”
Jane reddened yet further, amazed such a feat was even possible. “I had been helping the upstairs maids, since I had no other work to do in the nursery. I... I saw it there one day when I was tidying your things away, so when I was in a rush to go after Cecily I... I just ran in and... took it.”
“You took it? Without speaking to me of the matter?”
“I have said, there was no time. And... if I had told you what I wanted the money for I was certain that you would have given it to me.” She hesitated. “You would have, would you not?”
“How much did you take, Miss Bartle?”
“Twenty silver sovereigns, my lady.”
“And, you used all of this sum to purchase my granddaughter from the Varleys?”
She shook her head. “We gave the Varleys twelve sovereigns. We spent more of the money on food and milk, for the journey. And blankets, for me and Cecily. You see, I left with nothing, so...” She paused to draw breath. “And one of the sovereigns secured our lodgings here,” she added.
“Well, that is not strictly true,” Robbie said. “I used my own coin for that. But the rest of your money was invested as Jane has described, Lady Falconer.”
The countess rose to her feet and laid the sleeping baby in her crib, then turned to regard Jane. Her eyes were narrowed, her gaze considering.
“You are right, Miss Bartle,” she said at last. “I would have given you the money had you asked me. For that purpose. Indeed, as I am sure you are aware, I would have given far more than twenty silver sovereigns to get my granddaughter back. You struck a fine bargain on my behalf.”
“You are not angry?”
“I am not. On the contrary, I am amazed yet again by your resourcefulness.” The countess gazed in grateful wonder at her sleeping grandchild, then back at Jane. “I had my doubts at the time, but it is clear to me now that I did an exceptionally good day’s work, the day I hired you as Cecily’s nurse, Miss Bartle.”
Chapter Seven
“Holy fuck!”
His female companions had been conversing quietly. Both fell silent at Robbie’s growled oath. Jane rose from her seat and came to join him at the window.
She clutched his sleeve. “Is something amiss?”
“Aye. Look, down there...” Robbie was already reaching for his cloak.
Jane leaned across the sill and pe
ered into the street below. He heard her gasp of shock.
“Oh, Robbie... is that...?”
“Aye, it is.” Grim-faced, he strapped on his sword belt. “‘Tis Archie. An’ he has been taken by English soldiers.”
“But, how...?” Jane gaped, wide-eyed at the scene below.
Robbie re-joined her briefly. He had no time to waste on discussing the problem. He must pursue the troops who surrounded his friend and somehow contrive to secure Archie’s rescue and escape.
Lady Falconer joined them at the window. “The Earl of Warwick’s colours,” she muttered. “See, the livery...? They must be taking your friend to Warwick Castle.”
Robbie shook his head. “No, that is at least ten miles away and they are all on foot. More likely there is a garrison closer and that is where they are going.”
“I shall find out.” Lady Falconer hurried from the room, leaving Robbie and Jane to observe the progress of the guards and their prisoner in the busy street below.
“By the look of him, Archie did not give up without a fight,” Jane observed.
Robbie could only agree. The sorry state of his lifelong friend had not escaped his notice. Blood was matted in Archie’s dark brown hair and his left eye was swollen shut. He was limping, too, and cradled his left arm awkwardly against his chest.
“What about the others?” Jane wondered aloud.
What indeed? Archie had camped on the outskirts of the town along with three of the guards who had come with them from Scotland. The other three had been sent to intercept Lady Falconer and had succeeded in escorting the lady here. Those men were now enjoying the hospitality of the Swan Inn public bar.
“Oh, God, surely you do not think...?” Jane’s features betrayed the same horror he was trying to suppress.
“I dinnae ken, but I have a really bad feelin’ about this. Janie, I need ye tae—”
“Robbie, look!”
Jane pointed to the end of the street. He had to crane his neck to see but heaved a sigh of relief. More of Warwick’s troops came into view, and this group led three bound prisoners. All were displaying the same signs of having been in a bloody fight, as were more than a few of their captors. But all three of his men were alive, and on their feet. Well, mostly. Wee Richard and his cousin, Angus, were assisting Colin, who seemed not to have the full use of both his legs right now. The second troop of guards followed the first lot along the street and right past the Swan Inn. Mercifully, none of the captive Scots looked up. It would not do for them to catch sight of their leader and betray his presence, even by mistake.
