'It has served its purpose, however, and you seem vastly improved. Are you hungry?'
She laughed.
'I had not thought of it, but yes, I am! But pray tell me what happened! I can recall a fight, and my horse bolted! I thought I was a better horsewoman than to permit that!'
'We were attacked, and you were shot in the arm,' he replied briefly. 'It was just a graze, but your horse did not appreciate the explosion, and while you were distracted, he threw you. That caused the wound on your head which has kept you in pain. Now I will arrange for some breakfast, and you must rest until the doctor comes to see you later today.'
*
Drusilla, feeling weaker than ever before, smiled gratefully, and Randal went out to fetch Mistress Saddler. She had some food taken up to Drusilla by a young girl who was helping her in the kitchen, and after telling Randal to help himself to what was set out on the kitchen table, commented that he would be wise to take a sleep himself after he had eaten. She then went upstairs to see whether Drusilla needed any help.
When she returned, she reported that in her opinion Drusilla was recovering fast, but would need to stay in bed for some time.
'There's a bed for you, sir, in the other room, and I'll rouse you when the doctor comes. I'll sit with your – the young lady, you can leave her safely to my care.'
'Indeed, I can,' Randal said gratefully. 'We were most fortunate to find such help.'
He looked in on Drusilla again, but she was sleeping, peacefully this time, and Mistress Saddler was sitting beside her bed, so he was content to seek his own for a couple of hours before the doctor arrived.
The doctor expressed himself satisfied with the progress of the bullet wound and the bruises to the head, but told Drusilla she was not to stir out of her bed for at least two days.
'Then I'll see you again, my dear, and say whether you and your husband can continue your journey.'
Fortunately for Drusilla he had turned to Randal as he spoke, and missed her sudden flush. She glanced apprehensively at Randal, and blushed even more to see he was regarding her with a curious smile on his lips. Had he really spoken words of love to her, or was it a dream born of her own longing recalled from her earlier delirious state? She had no way of telling, and tried to dismiss the recollection, not daring to hope it might be true.
'I have recalled you were on a mission to Cornwall,' she said hurriedly when he returned after seeing the doctor off. 'It has delayed you already, I fear, and I must not be the cause of more delay. I am perfectly safe here, and I think you should leave me.'
'My mission can wait,' he replied with a laugh. 'Are you ashamed of the good doctor's assumption? I fear Mistress Saddler is puzzled, too, for she has been in some doubt as to how to refer to you!'
'Oh, dear, it is so difficult for you!' Drusilla said in a small voice. 'But you must go! I can ride home when I am better – that is, if you will ask the innkeeper to arrange for a horse, since I suppose the brute that threw me is lost?'
'And have you attacked by such villains again?' he asked lightly. 'No, indeed!'
'I wonder who they were? Did you discover aught about them?' she asked, diverted for a moment.
'The one who shot you was very concerned not to be seen,' he told her. 'I suspect therefore he was known to me. The others, poor fools as they were, must have been hirelings whose identity did not matter.'
'But that need not happen – my being attacked again,' she went on. 'I have been thinking, and if a message were to be sent to my father, he could come himself, or send one of his own men, to escort me home.'
'No. I promised to see you safely there, and although I have not been very efficient as yet, I intend to complete the task, my dear!'
Seeing he could not be moved, Drusilla again began to speculate on who the attackers could have been, but Randal did not seem to be very interested, saying it was most likely some supporter of Parliament who had recognised him as one of the King's men, and had determined to wage a little private campaign. Then, seeing she was inclined to worry about it, he talked of other things, mainly describing the Court and the people there, until she fell asleep.
Drusilla gradually recovered her strength, and on the third day the doctor permitted her to rise from her bed. He warned her, however, that it would be several days before she felt well enough to ride, and so it proved. It was a week after the attack before she was able to resume the journey, and then they set off, bidding a grateful farewell to the friendly Saddlers.
Chapter 7
Drusilla was still very weak, and Randal insisted on breaking the journey at Marlborough. She protested, feeling guilty all the time at the delay to his mission, but he insisted it was not urgent, and the only one who would be concerned at the time he was taking was Prince Rupert.
'And that only for the help I can give him in harassing the enemy,' he said laughingly. 'In fact, he is perfectly capable of doing all he wishes without my help!'
'There is also Mistress Percy, who will be expecting you back!' Drusilla said in a low voice.
'Mary will be perfectly content with Jane, examining the house, and the two of them will delight in reorganising it for me! While Rupert is harassing Lord Essex, my housekeeper and the gardener and the cook will all be equally harassed by the two of them making suggestions! Are all women the same? Did you not wish to alter the way things were done, my dear?'
'It was not my place to even think of it!' Drusilla said indignantly, and then, since this sounded as though she was being critical of Mary Percy and his sister, hurriedly added she had no experience of great houses, merely modest town ones, and did not know how things should be done, in any event.
'It is not so very different, I think. I do not live in great pomp, as some of Mary's relatives do, for instance. My parents both died before I was twenty, and I have missed the family life they provided. Jane is an excellent sister, but has her own family, and cares too much for position and pride of rank, rather than happiness. She will be well satisfied with her new husband, and though I should not, I cannot help but be relieved his main estate is in Yorkshire! She will not be able to visit me very often! I would like to see more of Barbara, though. Did you like her?'
'I thought she was very pleasant,' Drusilla said slowly, and became so lost in her own thoughts Randal had to speak twice before she heard his next remark.
'You are tired,' he said, looking at her in concern. 'We shall be in Marlborough in less than half an hour, and you will not argue,' he forestalled her protests. 'I am determined on staying!'
She really was finding the journey exhausting, and was glad to submit. After dinner and a rest, however, she was restored enough to walk slowly through the town with him, and sit for a while beside the river. Because of her exertions and the day in the open, she slept long that night, and it was consequently rather advanced in the morning when they set out on the last part of their journey to Devizes.
*
It was a beautiful spring day, and Drusilla was feeling almost her old self, apart from the oppression caused to her spirits by the thought that this was, at last, her final day with Randal. However, she tried to disguise her mood and pointed out the landmarks as they drew near to Devizes. They rode across the rolling downs, and Randal, unlike Drusilla, seemed to be in high spirits that made him increasingly light-hearted the further they went.
It was because he was at last to be rid of her, Drusilla told herself miserably, and became silent for a while. Then she roused herself as they breasted one hill, and pointing with her whip told him that Devizes lay in the valley beyond the next rise.
'That is Roundway Hill before us,' she explained. 'The ground falls steeply beyond it towards the town. It is the edge of the downs, for to our right there is a much steeper hill dropping to the plain. My father's home is in the Market Place.'
They rode across the wide expanse of Roundway Hill, and down the further, steeper side, in silence. Then, as they approached the town, Drusilla asked, in a strained voice, whethe
r Randal proposed to ride further that day.
'My parents will be so grateful to you for all you have done for me,' she said shyly, 'and they will wish to offer you hospitality. But I have delayed you for so long, and again today since you would not have me woken early! You may wish to leave at once.'
'You sound as though you wished to be rid of me!' he said teasingly, and she turned her head away from him to hide the tear trembling on her lashes.
'Not at all, but you must not feel any more obligation towards me,' she stammered.
'Indeed? I feel no obligation, my dear, but I have a wish to see Devizes. However, since it might incommode your parents to have us both unexpectedly appear, I will take a room at an inn. Which is the best one?'
'The Crown, in St John's Street,' she replied, 'but if you wish to remain, I know my mother would be proud to have you stay in her house.'
'Proud?' he queried, with a smile and raised eyebrows. 'I hope she will welcome me, but nonetheless I will suggest the inn, for I do not wish to impose.'
They fell silent again and Drusilla led the way while Randal gazed about him at the little town. Their arrival was observed by a young girl who had been walking through the wide Market Place, idly swinging a basket, but when she saw Drusilla she gaped, and then ran across to a large, prosperous looking house, and shouted something as she ran inside.
They halted outside the house, and Randal had just lifted Drusilla down from her saddle when a middle-aged woman, followed by the girl, came to the door, exclaiming as she swept forward, her arms outstretched, and clasped Drusilla to her ample bosom.
'My love, my dearest, how have you come?' she asked, kissing Drusilla and hugging her. 'We thought – oh, all manner of things – when we heard you had disappeared. But come in, come in, and – who is the gentleman?'
She turned, puzzled, to Randal, and Drusilla hastened to present him. 'Sir Randal Thornton, my mother!' They eventually, between exclamations and laughter, got themselves inside, and the maid Betty fetched wine to the parlour, while Drusilla tried to answer all her mother's questions, and Randal interposed to add his own explanations when it seemed necessary.
'Sir Randal, we owe you such a great deal for taking such good care of our dear Drusilla. You will stay for dinner? My husband will be here soon. Oh, I am so distracted!'
Fortunately Mr Matthews, told the news of his daughter's sudden arrival with a strange young man by the excited maid, appeared at that moment in the parlour, and after he had also heard the main story, Mistress Matthews declared she must ensure the maids were not too excited to be preparing dinner, and bore Drusilla off with her.
*
Randal refused all the urgings of Drusilla's parents, and insisted that since he must make an early start on following day he would spend the night at the Crown. He went off immediately dinner was finished, promising to return when he had bestowed his belongings.
Mr Matthews smiled approvingly at Drusilla when he had left. 'Well, daughter, you have been cleverer than I could have expected!'
Drusilla looked puzzled.
'Oh, yes, I thought you had too many romantic notions when you refused all those suitable offers. I had no inkling you had your sights on higher game!'
'I don't understand!'
'Keep that innocent look, my dear, it will serve you well! Yes, Sir Randal Thornton is an excellent match, richer than I could have hoped for, and a title to boot!'
'Sir Randal? A match!'
'He feels just as he ought, my dear, and after the past few days, alone in your company, travelling and staying openly at inns, what else could he do? He has behaved excellently, and I congratulate you, I do indeed. I do not think you will regret it. It was very astute of you to play on that bump to the head, my dear. A pity in some ways you are not a man, for you'd do excellently in business. However, I shall be very proud of my daughter, Lady Thornton!'
Drusilla was looking horrified.
'Me? Lady Thornton? I do not understand! You are mistaken!'
'Oh, come, you need not pretend with me! A merchant's daughter has just as much honour as the daughter of a lord! Their reputations must be protected also, and having compromised you Sir Randal could do nought else than offer to wed you. He would be ruined if he did not, I can tell you, for although I do not have a title, I do have some influence! But I do not fear there will be trouble, for he seems an honourable man.'
'Father, what are you saying? That Sir Randal has offered marriage because we were forced to stay alone at public inns?'
Her father laughed. 'Surely that was your plan when you pleaded a head wound?'
'But I was injured!' she protested. 'It was no such plan as you suggest! I would not!'
'Oh, come, I do not say you planned it all, down to the bullet wound, which your mother assures me is the merest scratch, for how could you? But you did very cleverly use the tumble from your horse!'
'I was ill – for days!' Drusilla insisted, but he would not be convinced, saying that a knock on the head was nothing, and she had been clever to fool the doctor, too.
'No, I cannot permit it! It would be wrong, for he wishes to wed Mary Percy!'
'Oho? So you have contrived to snatch him from another girl? Either I did not know you well before you went away, my dear, or you learned a great deal in Reading!'
Drusilla protested and explained in vain. Her father refused to believe she had not intended to trap Sir Randal into making an offer of marriage, and eventually Drusilla sought her own room to ponder this problem in peace. What must Randal think of her? She pushed aside the temptation to permit matters to take their course. He did not love her, for in her semi-conscious state she must have dreamed those few words of love. If not, why had he not hinted at his feelings when she had recovered her senses? She was convinced Randal, having realised the unfortunate dilemma they found themselves in, had indeed agreed to marry her to protect her reputation, despite his love for Mary, and although she was sure she could make him happier than Mary could if he loved her, the fact he had been forced to marry her would always have come between them, and he would hate her, and resent her for being the cause of his loss. She could not bear the thought, or wish to deprive him of the girl he really wanted, for she loved him too deeply.
Eventually, Drusilla determined that whatever her father said or did, she would steadfastly refuse to accept Sir Randal, and he would have to depart. She did not think he would be willing to take part in a marriage if he knew it was being forced on her, whatever the scandal threatened by her father, and so there was little risk she would be compelled. As she was well aware, parents who were determined enough could compel their daughters to marry unwillingly.
*
It was, therefore, a white-faced Drusilla who returned to the parlour when summoned later in the day, where she found Sir Randal standing before the fireplace. He was looking towards the door as she entered, and stepped towards her, smiling. As she halted and held out her hand as though to ward him off, he stopped, puzzled.
'My love, what is it?' he asked in quick concern, and she almost broke down to hear the solicitude in his voice.
Perhaps he did care for her, a little, she thought with a leaping heart, then firmly suppressed the hope, reminding herself of the fact he was being forced to this, by his own honour and her father's threats. Only her own steadfast refusal could prevent it.
'You are ill? Tired? The journey was too hard for you? Oh, my dear Drusilla, we could have taken longer over it if you had but said!'
'We waited rather too long as it was, did we not?' she murmured, sinking down into a chair. 'Yes, I am sorry, I am tired,' she added, seizing on the excuse to explain her wan appearance.
'Then I will be brief, my love. Your father has given me permission to speak to you, and approves of what I have to ask. I do not wish him to sway you unduly, my love, for I hope and believe you wish it for yourself. Drusilla, I want you so much, I have been hard put to it to wait so long before speaking to you. Will you marry me?'
Drusilla swallowed the lump in her throat. He sounded so sincere. It was so like him, she thought, to make the best of it, and try to pretend it was what he had wished all along. He would not want her to realise he was being forced into this action, but she must not accept the sacrifice. She could not deprive him of his true love.
'I thank you, Sir Randal,' she managed to say at last. 'You do me great honour, but I cannot accept.'
'Cannot? Drusilla, I do not understand. You have not seemed indifferent to me. Have I mistaken your feelings?'
He came swiftly across the room and knelt beside her, taking her hand in his. She turned her face away to hide the expression in her eyes, which she knew would tell him how much she did indeed love him.
'I know you offer only because of the damage to my reputation,' she stammered. 'That is nonsense, but my father will not believe it. No one we knew saw us, and Mistress Saddler will not talk, I am certain. Besides, what could it matter if it did become known to your friends? I am not important to them, and my father can deny it if anyone here should accuse me!'
'What is all this?' he demanded, rising to his feet and pacing up and down. 'Has your father told you I offered for you because of those circumstances?'
Mutely she nodded, and he exclaimed in exasperation.
'I thought he did not fully comprehend what I said,' he commented. 'Drusilla, my foolish little love, that is nonsense, as you so rightly say. I have loved you and wanted you since that day in Reading when I saw you so valiantly defending the little maid, Joan, against overwhelming odds! I would have spoken earlier, but a foolish sense of propriety made me wait until I could speak first with your father or brother. And see what has come of that! Drusilla, my offer has nought to do with our journey from Thornton Hall. I love you, as I have done for weeks past, and that is the only reason why I want to marry you!'
Drusilla was almost convinced, for he sounded so sincere, but she could not rid herself of the thought of Mary Percy. Obviously, having determined on his course of action, Randal would not permit her to think he was unwilling.
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