‘He vaulted out of the pool with ease, the water streaming in a silver, moonlit cascade from his wet shirt and breeches. He’d jumped into the water fully dressed. He turned to offer me a hand but I shook my head.
‘Will you turn your back please?’ I asked him bashfully, aware that my shirt might not cover me as I climbed out. ‘I’m not … decent.’
He smiled and turned away obediently, looking up to the back of the house. I clambered inelegantly out of the water, shivering a little, and retrieved my breeches. It was difficult to pull them onto my wet legs but, once I’d buttoned them up, wrung out my wet shirt and pulled it down over them, I felt less exposed.
Lawrence took my hand, led me to the bench beside the pool, and sat down with me there, drawing me back into his arms. I nestled against him with a sigh of contentment, resting my head on his shoulder, not thinking of anything beyond the happiness of the present moment. ‘How did you know I was here?’ I asked.
‘I was awake and sleepless, concerned for Belle and for you. My room is on one of the upper floors; I can just see the far end of this pool from my window. I could see someone was in the water. I saw you once before, or at least I thought that it was you, and guessed you had been bathing.’
‘So you expected it to be me, then, when you came down tonight?’
‘I hoped it might be.’
‘I thought you were … that man who has been pursuing me,’ I said with a sigh. ‘I was terrified.’
He kissed the top of my head soothingly and then rested his cheek against it. ‘I’m sorry,’ he said. ‘But I’m sure he won’t come here. Why would he?’
I shrugged, not knowing what to say to account for my apparently irrational fear that someone as insignificant as I should be the target of a killer. Lawrence drew me closer and we sat still for a moment without speaking.
One by one, birds started to twitter in the bushes around us. We both realized the dawn was near. ‘Back to sleep with you,’ said Lawrence, straightening up. ‘If you wish to keep your secret, it would be better for us not to be seen here.’
As I got up to follow him, his words threw a dark shadow over my happiness. For an hour, I had allowed my feelings to run away with me, but it could go no further.
Lawrence accompanied me back to the door into the stable yard. There, before we parted, he drew me into another long, loving kiss. Aware that this could be farewell, that I must leave Deerhurst soon, I held nothing back, kissing him as freely and tenderly as he kissed me.
I crept back into the stable to find Belle asleep. I stood watching the rise and fall of her breathing, my heart tearing in two. Belle, Mr John Lawrence; I loved them both and I longed to stay here with them. But at any moment, Lawrence might make the connection between me and the girl on the poster. If he did, could I be sure he would believe I was innocent? I knew it was time to leave, while everyone still slept. I would slip away at once and find Henry in Dorset.
I took my waistcoat from the nail it was hanging on and pulled it on over my still-damp shirt. Then, feeling ready, I went to the main stable door and eased it open to fetch my satchel and to retrieve my papers. As I crept across the aisle to the cupboard, Ben yawned and sat up, straw sticking out of his tousled red hair.
‘Mornin’, Charlie!’ he said sleepily. ‘Is it time to get up?’ The words were scarcely spoken before the stable clock began to chime five and the other boys began to stir. I would have to wait until tonight.
The following day seemed unreal to me. Sleep deprived, I stumbled clumsily through my duties.
‘Whatever’s up with you?’ demanded Ben over breakfast. He punched me lightly on the arm to get my attention. ‘That’s three times I’ve spoke to you already today and not a word have I had back.’
‘I’m sorry,’ I said and smothered a yawn. ‘I didn’t sleep well. I had to tend Belle.’
‘Belle indeed!’ cried Peter. ‘Up dreaming of his lady-love he was!’ He put on a high-pitched, mocking voice: ‘Oh! Miss Susan, I can’t wait to walk out with you on Sunday!’
‘I never said so,’ I objected.
‘You might not have done, but she talks of little else,’ Joe sniggered. ‘You’re in with a chance there, Charlie! If you ask me, she can’t wait to throw herself at you. Taking her into the woods for a bit of you-know-what, are you?’ he said with a wink.
‘You are wide of the mark indeed,’ I replied, my lip curling. I was faintly disgusted with his crudeness and feeling all the inappropriateness of being linked with poor Susan in such a way.
It was just after noon when the order came from the house to harness the new team and don my livery to accompany Mr Lawrence on an errand. I pulled the smart clothes on and the wool prickled against my skin. It was another hot day; even more sultry than the day before. Being out in the sun would be unpleasant, but at least I would see Lawrence one last time.
When Lawrence arrived, he gave me a nod. The stable was bustling with staff, so he gave me no more sign of what had passed between us last night than the faintest of smiles that just creased the corners of his eyes. As for me, I scarcely had the courage to look at him. I kept my eyes downcast, dreading that I might betray myself by blushing.
I held the first pair of the team while Lawrence climbed into the driver’s seat and gathered the reins. I was just awaiting orders from him to ‘Let ’em go!’ when Lord Rutherford came through the archway from the main house, leaning on his cane.
‘Hello there, John,’ he called out. ‘So this is the new team?’
He walked forward, moving much more briskly than usual, barely seeming to need his cane. I deduced from this that his gout was rather better at present.
Lord Rutherford walked around the team, running an aged hand over their necks and checking their points before looking up to Lawrence. ‘A fine team, John! How do they go together?’
‘Oh, that leaves a great deal to be desired, my lord! But where would be the challenge or the profit in a perfect team? They are not as unpredictable as the previous pair. No stallions among them.’
‘Where are you off to today?’ asked the old gentleman.
‘I need to speak to Phillips about letting his cattle graze across Symonds’ land. You know how it is with those two!’
Lawrence was fretting a little, eager to be off. His impatience communicated itself along the reins to the horses, who stamped and pawed the ground, jingling their harness.
‘Tell you what,’ said Lord Rutherford unexpectedly. ‘I’ll accompany you! I’d like to see these fellows in action. You, boy!’ he turned to Ben who was lurking in the shade by the tack room. ‘Run and take a message to the house for Miss Lawrence that I’ve driven out for an hour or so!’
He turned back to Lawrence. ‘Judith won’t miss me. She’s practising her pianoforte!’
Bridges assisted Lord Rutherford to climb into the chaise. I watched gloomily as he settled himself beside Lawrence, reminiscing on the teams he himself had driven as a young man and how pleasant it was to get out behind some decent nags on such a fine day. ‘For I don’t mind telling you, John, being in the gout is no fun. No fun at all! Life is scarcely worth living.’
I let the horses go, and as I leapt up onto my perch behind the chaise, they swept smartly through the arch and out of the yard. Once they’d pulled us up the long drive, Lord Rutherford took the reins himself and sent the team along the road across the downs at a brisk trot. His conversation ran on the excellence of the horses, anecdotes of teams he and his acquaintance had owned in the past, and advice on how to cure this team of their various quirks and bad habits. All of this Lawrence responded to with his usual quiet politeness.
Once we had turned around, driven back along the downs and taken the lane to the village of Doynton, Lord Rutherford handed the reins back to Lawrence and sat back. ‘They were a deuced good buy, my boy! They’ll make us a pretty penny once you have those little tricks ironed out, by Jove so they will! Well done. I’ll let you take them from here, however. You lose your precis
ion of eye with age, you know, and this is a narrow lane for a team.’
He then fell silent for a few minutes. I looked at the back of Lawrence’s head and wished desperately that Lord Rutherford had not chosen to accompany us. My regrets were abruptly interrupted by his lordship’s next words.
‘Damned shame, given your skill with carriage horses, John, that you cannot do better choosing a horse for Judith! Every one turns out a dud! Whatever happens to you? Do your judgement and wits go begging?’
I felt a surge of anger flood me and was hard put not to cry out what a perfect horse Belle was. I bit my lip and stayed silent.
Lawrence was silent too. I guessed he was gathering his thoughts. Probably he hadn’t expected this sudden attack any more than I had. When he spoke it was in a restrained, measured tone: ‘I believed, indeed I still believe, Belle to be an outstanding horse, my lord. Beautifully put together, highly trained, and with the sweetest of tempers.’
‘Sweet tempered be damned! She did her best to savage my poor girl!’
‘You’ll remember, my lord, I spoke to you about this yesterday and have done in the past … ’
‘I know what you said! But you weren’t there, were you, John?’
‘No, my lord, but … ’
‘Then how can you know what happened? Judith was there and she told me! The damn horse bucked her off and then tried to savage her!’
‘With the greatest respect, I don’t believe that is quite what happ … ’
‘Are you accusing my granddaughter of lying?’ interrupted Rutherford furiously.
‘No, my lord, merely suggesting that her version of events is … ’
‘Damn it, you are! How dare you? This is not the first time you’ve made insinuations about Judith and I won’t stand for it!’
Lord Rutherford was red-faced and shaking with anger in defence of his beloved granddaughter. I could see why Lawrence had said it was difficult to speak to him.
‘My lord, please! I insinuate nothing. I merely wish to suggest that it is not a coincidence that Judith has problems with all her horses.’
‘You hope to get my favour by slandering my closest surviving relative! Well, you are wasting your time! If you continue, I shall have something to say about the way you select dangerous and unsound horses for her!’
‘I understand you, my lord,’ said Lawrence quietly. He attempted no further representations and, after a short silence, finding himself unchallenged, Rutherford added: ‘The horse will be destroyed. It’s a shocking waste of money, but it’s clearly dangerous and therefore I cannot in conscience sell it on.’
A strangled squeak escaped me. Lawrence turned slightly so that I could see his frown and faint shake of the head. He was warning me to stay silent and he was right. No words of mine would convince his lordship. I put my hand to my mouth and bit down hard on my knuckles to stifle my distress.
‘Brookes is coming over in the morning to put a bullet in her and that will be the job done,’ continued Lord Rutherford brutally. ‘I’ll commission someone else to select her next horse.’
Lawrence bowed his head slightly. ‘I hope both you and Judith will be better pleased with the choice,’ he said.
Lawrence took a left turn from the village to get to the farmhouse near Doynton. He said no more. As we lurched over the rough surface, I had to cling on tightly to the rail and couldn’t prevent a tear or two trickling slowly down my face, gathering silently on my chin, and dripping onto my livery.
When we drew up in the farmyard, I jumped down from my perch and took the heads of the first two horses, keeping my face averted from my employers. Lawrence hitched the reins and assisted his lordship in climbing out of the chaise and gave him his arm to the house. He returned to me after a moment.
‘Don’t be distressed, Charlie.’ he said softly. ‘There’s still time to think of something.’
‘Think of what?’ I demanded in a voice that shook. ‘How do we find a way to convince him by tomorrow? It’s impossible!’
Lawrence bit his lip, his eyes downcast, silently admitting the truth of my words.
‘Poor Belle!’ I exclaimed passionately. ‘She’s done nothing to deserve this!’
‘I know,’ Lawrence replied. ‘I’m so sorry there’s no opportunity to speak today. This wasn’t at all how I’d planned this trip.’
‘I know,’ I said, my voice low. But at least I’d discovered the truth. I was forewarned. If I’d not heard this conversation, I would have left tonight, unwittingly leaving Belle to her fate. This way, I had the chance to do something. I just didn’t know what yet.
‘Drive the horses into the shade over there, would you?’ Lawrence asked me. ‘They mustn’t stand in the sun and nor should you. We won’t be more than an hour.’ Glancing over at the house to check no one was observing us, he swiftly caught one of my hands in his and pressed it lightly before releasing it.
With a heavy heart, I mounted the chaise, climbing up into the box seat and gathering the reins. In the confusion, Lawrence had quite forgotten that I’d never once driven a team. But I only had to drive the horses some twenty feet; how hard could it be? I found I was right. The principle of driving a team was not fundamentally different to a pair, though I struggled with how best to hold so many reins.
In the shade of the beech trees, my troubles continued to plague me. Belle was sentenced to death in fewer than twenty-four hours. I searched my mind for ways to rescue her from her hideous fate. I pictured myself trying to persuade Lord Rutherford, but I knew if I actually tried to speak to him I would merely stutter uselessly and become tongue-tied under his fierce gaze. Could I persuade Judith to speak for her horse? No, that too was a lost cause.
When the two men returned, I held the horses as Lawrence helped Lord Rutherford climb back into the chaise, then jumped lightly in after him. I swung onto my perch as the carriage pulled away. I noticed Lawrence slowed the carriage for me, a courtesy he had never shown before he had discovered I was a girl.
No sooner was the chaise underway than Lord Rutherford interrupted Lawrence’s talk of the tenants they had just visited to speak of Miss Judith again.
‘I’ve taken a decision, Lawrence!’ he announced. ‘Judith must have a London season this winter! I daresay I shall dislike it greatly, but it must be done. I’ve put it off too long. She must be brought out in form and given something other than her horses and unsuitable young men to think about. I thought she would find a husband at the Bath, but I was mistaken. Nothing but octogenarians, half-pay officers, and fortune hunters! We need to go to London. I won’t have history repeating itself! I’ll leave it to you to supervise the opening up of the town house and engaging of servants, if you please.’
‘Yes, my lord,’ Lawrence replied.
‘I daresay this whole thing will cost me a fortune, but nothing I can’t afford. I’ll buy Judith a new horse myself when we get to London! Until then, she can ride that new gelding you brought back from the last auction.’
‘I bought Caspar for myself, my lord. With my own money. I will be riding him.’
‘If you won’t lend him, I’ll buy him from you, damn you!’ cursed Rutherford.
I bit my lip, appalled at the old man’s autocratic ways. Would Caspar now go the same way as Belle? I waited to hear what Lawrence would say to this.
‘He is not trained to side-saddle, my lord. I could not advise it.’
‘Pooh, I’m sure … ’ began Rutherford.
‘He’s not for sale.’ Lawrence’s tone was firm.
Lord Rutherford’s hands clenched and unclenched in his lap a few times but he said nothing.
‘Have you considered the possibility that it might be better for Judith’s romance to be allowed to run its course?’ asked Lawrence cautiously. ‘That if she were allowed to see the young man regularly in company, she might quite naturally discover for herself that she is not as in love as she thought? If she were … ’
‘Are you giving me advice on raising my own granddaugh
ter?’ demanded Lord Rutherford, turning an interesting shade of purple. I looked at him curiously, wondering if he would suffer an apoplectic fit one of these days with such rages. ‘It’s the outside of enough, coming from a poor relation I’ve rescued from poverty! You’re suggesting I allow my only grandchild to consort with indigent officers who have nothing to live on but their pay? Perhaps you believe I should actually consider allowing her to marry such a lowly fortune hunter? You must be out of your mind, John!’
‘I simply fear that confining such a high-spirited girl, and denying her the one thing she wants above all others … ’ began Lawrence.
‘Silence!’ shouted Rutherford. ‘Good God, you are suggesting I allow her to disgrace not only herself but also me and our family name? Unthinkable! I would disown you if you made a marriage half as shameful! You will drive me home without another word.’
Lawrence flinched, but did as requested in tight-lipped silence, driving the team up to their bits at a smart pace. A heightened colour had crept into his face at such a verbal lashing, but he bore himself with his usual quiet dignity.
It seemed I had guessed correctly the root of Judith’s unhappiness and periodic escapes. She was thwarted in love. Not that this excused her cruelty in the slightest, of course. But I could see that perhaps she was venting her deep frustration and unhappiness on her horse.
We were about halfway down the carriageway through the park when I noticed a figure walking down the hill ahead of us. The sun was in my eyes making it difficult to see but there was something vaguely familiar about him; the set of his shoulders and his slight stoop. I watched him pause, open a snuff box, and take a pinch. A prickle of unease ran up the back of my neck.
As we drew level with him, Lawrence drew the horses to a halt. ‘Why, Mr Johnson,’ he said. ‘How do you do? It’s good to see you! Can we take you up?’ He reached down a hand and the other man looked up and shook it. As he turned, I caught a glimpse of his face and my unease turned to terror. It was the magistrate from London.
Runaway Page 18
