Runaway Hill

by Oliver, Marina

  Chapter 3

  Sir Randal did not come again, although Drusilla hoped he would appear on the following morning. Instead she had to suffer the peevish complaints of the jealous Mr Blagrave, who seemed genuinely puzzled to find that a girl could apparently prefer the attentions of a fine-feathered courtier to the company of a solid, worthy man such as he knew himself to be.

  'It was not wise, my dear Drusilla, to walk alone with such a man, for your reputation will suffer,' he chided.

  'I am not your dear Drusilla,' the lady informed him sharply. 'As for my reputation, that is my affair, I think!'

  He laughed, uncertain of whether to contradict her.

  'Well, as to that, we will see when your brother returns. I imagine it is youthful high spirits which makes you behave with so little discretion. We have all discovered the temptations of youth,' he admitted, sublimely unconscious that he himself, for ever old in spirit, had not been in the slightest troubled by any desire to behave other than comfortably.

  At last his strictures drove Drusilla out of the room, with a muttered excuse that she felt unwell. Elizabeth, beginning to appreciate her objections to Mr Blagrave now he became bolder in his assumptions of eventual success with Drusilla, and, although she did not realise this, after experiencing the charm of Sir Randal, tried to give Mr Blagrave a gentle warning.

  'Drusilla has a lively nature,' she said carefully. 'It is no fault other than heedlessness, but she will never, I think, be driven.'

  'She needs firm guidance,' he replied kindly.

  'Her parents will never force her into an unwelcome match,' Elizabeth said more sharply.

  He was oblivious. 'Girls of her age are not the best judges of what is wise for them. When is your husband expected back, Mistress Matthews? I would wish to speak with him as soon as is convenient.'

  'I have not heard,' Elizabeth replied, with a sigh both for his obtuseness and her own loneliness.

  At length he took himself off, and since Drusilla was in a decidedly prickly mood, Elizabeth forbore to probe into whether any indication had been given by Sir Randal that he intended to pay more visits.

  *

  The King and most of his troops moved out of Reading, and news trickled back of events nearer the capital. Since Windsor Castle had been occupied by Parliament, and an attack by Prince Rupert failed, the King went via Egham to Colnbrook, there to discuss with the Parliamentary Commissioners arrangements for a conference. Lord Essex, back in London after Edge Hill battle, marched out towards the King with the London Trained Bands, while the King moved to Brentford. The events there were described by Captain Rogers, who returned to Reading a few days later.

  'With Parliament on the march, what were we to think but that they considered the truce at an end? The Prince attacked early in the morning and soon overcame the defenders, but the success unfortunately went to the heads of the younger and wilder men, and they were not to be controlled. Some unnecessary damage was done,' he admitted, but it was only later that they heard from an indignant Mr Blagrave of the houses fired, the wine and linen and plate looted, thatch burned and windows broken, as well as a few assaults on citizens.

  'They are animals!' Drusilla declared, and Elizabeth shuddered, praying they would all keep away from Reading.

  Captain Rogers described how the King had advanced to Turnham Green, but finding Essex too deeply entrenched in a favourable position, and well supplied from London, while his own troops were weary and feeling the effects of long marches in the November cold, withdrew.

  'He returns to Reading,' Captain Rogers informed them. 'I am to go on to Oxford, and there hope to find suitable lodgings so that you will be relieved of my family, Mistress Matthews, in a very short while.'

  The brief respite from occupation by the troops was over. Drusilla, angered by the reports she had heard of the behaviour of the Royalists at Brentford, was torn between her fears of renewed impositions, especially when Elizabeth no longer had the excuse of housing the Rogers family, and her longing to see Sir Randal again. During his brief absence she had accepted she had fallen in love with him, and could never forget him. She suspected that on his part it had been nought but a pleasant flirtatious interlude, and dejectedly told herself she was being foolish to dream anything more could come of it. Even if, unlikely as it seemed, he did love her, such a man as Sir Randal, rich, well born, powerful and much sought after by women of his own class, would never consider allying himself with the daughter of a woollen merchant.

  On the following day Elizabeth was overjoyed when James appeared, and poured out to him all the troubles and fears she had borne during his absence.

  His anger so frightened her she then turned to pleading with him not to be rash when he threatened vengeance on those responsible for distressing her.

  'My dear, it is over now, and you are here again, which is all that matters,' she urged.

  'But it is not over,' he pointed out. 'Already we are being expected to pay seven pounds each week to support Sir Arthur Aston, the new Governor, and the King is to return, which will cost us a deal more I have no doubt. Where will our businesses be when we are taxed of all our profits?'

  *

  However, he seemed content to remain at home, watching developments, and Elizabeth's fears gradually subsided. The King returned, and when an order for the town to raise two hundred pounds a week for the King's expenses and to supply the greatly enlarged garrison was announced, James fumed quietly at home, but to Elizabeth's relief seemed unwilling to protest publicly.

  Drusilla was less easily satisfied than Elizabeth, who thought that James had overcome his resentment, and solved the riddle of her brother's uncharacteristically meek behaviour when she spoke with a neighbour who was complaining bitterly of the necessity of working on the fortifications which were being thrown up around the town.

  'It is monstrous!' Mr Tanner declared. 'All must work on pain of a fine of sevenpence a day. Who can afford that? A day's work for eightpence, that is all they pay, and we lose our workmen while the money for the wages comes from taxing us! And should we dare to complain we are assessed for more fines and forced loans! Your brother had best have a care. He is already a marked man, having been with the deputation, and stands to lose all his possessions if he speaks a word against the King!'

  Drusilla watched with mounting anger as more demands were made, buildings requisitioned, and soldiers installed in the Oracle, formerly a charity for poor clothiers. She even consented to accompany Mr Blagrave on a walk about the town, so anxious was she to see precisely what was happening.

  'The River Kennet and the marshy ground are some protection to the south,' Jacob explained, encouraged to think Drusilla, with her growing anger against the King, was becoming more amenable to his attentions. 'We will go first to see what is being done at Harrison's Barn, to the southeast.'

  'That is well outside the town,' Drusilla commented.

  'And guards the road from London. Do you see the redoubt at the junction of the three roads?' he asked, pointing it out to her, and she nodded.

  'Have the roads been damaged deliberately?' she asked, indicating the gaping holes which were far larger than the ruts and holes which normally made travel by road uncomfortable.

  'To hinder the advance, as is the purpose of those iron engines scattered in the fields to stop the horses,' he said.

  They moved on to the north, where the River Thames bounded the town, and already there were deep ditches dug and earthworks thrown up.

  'They propose to blow up the nave of the Abbey to obtain stone for the defences,' Jacob said as they crossed the Abbey Bridge over the River Kennet and came in sight of this partially ruined church.

  'Will they destroy the whole town?' Drusilla demanded.

  'Aye, if we cannot prevent it by a speedy victory,' Jacob said gloomily.

  Drusilla's anger was increased as she saw the carpenters, who were working to make the centre of Caversham Bridge into a drawbridge, halt while two strings of pack poni
es carrying bundles of firewood were led across.

  'For the garrison, supplied free,' she was told.

  Further round, to the west side of the town, posts and chains had been erected across the ends of the streets. Drusilla turned away, sick at the realisation of how war interfered with the normal lives of people only indirectly involved, and paid little heed to the continuing fulminations of Mr Blagrave. Her musings were interrupted as they were returning to the centre of the town by whoops of glee coming from a large group of boys running towards them.

  'What are they doing out of school?'

  Jacob frowned, and grasped one of the smaller boys to demand of him the answer to his question.

  'School's been rec – rec – taken over to be used to keep powder in, sir,' the lad gasped, 'so we've no more lessons! To horse! To horse!' he yelled, and tore himself free of Jacob's grasp to hurtle after his companions.

  At the look of dismay on Jacob's face Drusilla's mood suddenly changed.

  'It is not then all bad,' she said with a laugh. 'They at least are happy at the turn of events!'

  'But the disruption to their schooling – the indiscipline that will be engendered,' Jacob protested, destroying the better understanding that seemed to have been growing between them, for he would not admit a holiday could do little harm.

  *

  When Drusilla returned home, she found Mistress Rogers in a flutter of anticipation, having received word her husband would be taking her to Oxford on the following day.

  'The King will return there soon, no doubt,' she said in great excitement, 'and the Court will be merry this winter. Such a pity if the poor Prince Charles is too unwell to travel.'

  'Is he ill?' Elizabeth asked, quick with sympathy for any child.

  'Measles,' Mistress Rogers told her. 'I live in fear my own darlings will catch it if there is an epidemic in the town, and so, much as I regret leaving you after all your kindnesses, I cannot help being relieved we are to go so soon.'

  When they had departed the house seemed empty, and James became more and more worried as he watched the growing ascendancy of the Royalist faction on the Corporation.

  'They are agreeing to all the pernicious demands that are made!' he complained at supper one night. 'The Mayor and his lackeys have crawled to Coley House and meekly agreed to pay all that is asked, regardless of what we can afford!'

  'The King will be gone soon,' Elizabeth tried to console him.

  'Aye, but the demands will remain!' he predicted, and indeed it seemed to make no difference when the King and his retinue left at the end of November.

  It was to distract him from gloomy forebodings one evening that Elizabeth showed him a letter she had just received from Mistress Rogers, now installed in Oxford. After complaining of the cramped lodgings that were all to be found in the crowded city, she went on to describe the busy social life. James was glancing cursorily over the letter when his attention was suddenly caught.

  'What's this about?' he demanded, and looked across at his sister suspiciously. 'Who is this Sir Randal Thornton?'

  'What does it say?' Drusilla demanded, for she had not read the letter.

  James referred to it.

  'I met Sir Randal Thornton again last night, and he asked how you were. It appears he is making up to a cousin of Lord Percy, so we were wrong in thinking he might have been interested in Drusilla. A pity, for I really think he might have settled on the dear girl if he had been given the opportunity of knowing her for longer. Well, sister?'

  'Well, brother?' she replied composedly, although her heart was thumping painfully against her ribs. 'Am I to be held responsible for the speculations of every gossip?'

  'There is always some foundation for gossip. Who is this man, and what has he to do with you?'

  'He was an officer who helped us,' Elizabeth interposed hurriedly. 'He learned of the insults we had been offered, and made the arrangements for Mistress Rogers to be placed with us. I did tell you when you came home.'

  'But why this vulgar reference to his interest in Drusilla?'

  'He was merely a charming, friendly man,' Elizabeth explained, 'and Mistress Rogers has read too much into normal politeness.'

  James had to be satisfied, but he made several scathing remarks about Drusilla's predilection for unsuitable men, and opined that the sooner she was wed the better for everyone. Drusilla bore it all calmly, trying not to show the hurt the news had caused her. No matter how often she told herself it was ridiculous to imagine the attentions of Sir Randal had been anything more than the normal manner of a courtier, she was wounded by this proof that she was correct.

  *

  She was still unwilling, however, to listen to the offer of Jacob Blagrave. When he met her while she was out shopping one morning, and escorted her home, she was curt to the point of rudeness.

  'I have business with your brother,' he said, falling into step beside her. 'I suppose you can guess what that might be?'

  'I cannot surmise,' she replied coldly, 'unless it is to discuss with him ways of avoiding the fines levied. I see you are not working on the fortifications?'

  'Can you envisage me doing that?' he scoffed. 'No, my dear, I pay my sevenpence a day and consider myself fortunate. After all, I suppose the war has to be paid for, and a settlement will be of benefit to the country, so we must all make some sacrifices.'

  'Do you become a Royalist?' she asked in some amazement.

  He laughed self-consciously.

  'Not so, my dear, but business will suffer if we are too obdurate.'

  'James will hardly agree with you!'

  'Since that is not to be the subject of our talk, I cannot say. I hope I may see you later, Mistress Drusilla, when I have settled matters satisfactorily with your brother?'

  'I can see no purpose in it,' Drusilla returned, and went to find Elizabeth and complain about his impertinence. She begged Elizabeth to persuade James to inform Mr Blagrave she would never be willing to accept any offer from him, and reluctantly Elizabeth promised to make the attempt, while pointing out she was unlikely to succeed since James firmly believed women should have no say in such matters.

  It was therefore with no surprise she found James telling her on the following day he had accepted Mr Blagrave's offer for her hand.

  'A most estimable young man, with a satisfactory fortune, and even better prospects,' he said complacently. 'This will be a most useful alliance for me, my dear sister, and you can consider yourself fortunate to have won such a man. It is exactly what father wished when you came to Reading.'

  'Oh, no, James,' Drusilla responded. 'I have no intention of wedding Jacob Blagrave, and so I shall tell him if he has the impudence to speak to me. Besides, it is not for you to give permission, that is for father.'

  'Normally, yes, but father had shown sufficient trust in me to depute that task to me. After the scandal you made in Devizes no one there would consider taking you, and it is fortunate, after your capricious actions here in refusing two good offers, that Mr Blagrave is willing to overlook your behaviour and still take you. Your chances will diminish if you reject him, and with the war now likely to continue for some time longer it is urgent to see you settled.'

  'Are my wishes to be totally ignored?'

  'You cannot know what is good for you. Are you dreaming of some highborn lord? Do not be foolish, sister, they do not marry with merchant stock. Even father, who has been so ambitious for you, did not aspire to wed you so far above us. I can see that this Sir Randal Thornton has much to answer for if he had filled your head with romantic nonsense!'

  'I am aware of my limitations, James, and do not wish for the moon!' Drusilla retorted. 'I merely ask to marry a man I can respect, not a pompous bore who drives me to distraction within a few minutes of enduring his company!'

  'You are still a child!' James exclaimed, and seeing she would not change his views, Drusilla flung out of the room, knowing that though her dream of Sir Randal was hopeless, she would still refuse to marry Jacob
Blagrave.

  *

  Mr Blagrave did not entertain any such doubts, for on the same day he appeared to inform Drusilla it was all settled, and he had written to her parents. As if conferring an honour he announced they would soon be wed.

  'You mistake, for I will never marry you,' Drusilla stated flatly, but he listened to her no more than had James.

  'A natural reluctance on the part of a maid to consider such matters,' he said complacently. 'There must be some delay, I fear, for James wishes us to be married here in Reading, and yet the state of Elizabeth's health prevents it for a few months. Your parents will wish to travel here, too, and that will not be possible until the worst of the winter is over. A June wedding would be charming, do you not agree?'

  'Never, in June or any other time!' Drusilla repeated, and when she threatened to run away rather than be constrained into such an unwelcome match, he merely laughed at her for the child he chose to consider her.

  Before Drusilla could make any further attempt to convince James she was in earnest, his own affairs took a turn for the worse. Already noted as a member of the deputation, he had been trying to live as quietly as possible, but then he was informed that as a 'Roundhead rebel' he was to be taxed thrice the amount of others. To avoid this he declared he must leave Reading, and one dark night he slipped away, intending to join the Parliamentary army.

  Drusilla was sorry to see him go, for she had considerable affection for her brother despite his obduracy regarding her own affairs, and knew besides that Elizabeth would suffer intensely, but at least it halted the progress of her own projected marriage and for that she could not be other than thankful. She had written an impassioned plea to her parents begging them to refuse the hateful match, but they had replied she was to obey James and do as he thought fit.

  'We took heed of your views before, my dear,' her mother wrote, 'but there can be no real objection to this young man and the marriage must be. I hope to find you in better spirits when we come to Reading in the spring.'