“The nation will not accept a Catholic who will put it in thrall to the Pope in Rome. John, it has grieved me to the core that you have deceitfully gone over to the faith of your wife without a word to us. I was always fearful when you married her but I believed you would still attend the church of your family. I cannot speak of these things to you now. What has grieved me even more are the lies you have told. Surely you see that a thing that has caused you to lie so often must be of the devil who is the father of lies.”
“I only lied because you would have stopped me doing what I knew was right. Those are not bad lies then. How can they be?”
“Oh John, all lies are evil. Nothing can justify them. You could have spoken honestly of your opinions and we could have shown you the folly of them. Here take this rug and the Book of Psalms. You have light. Read and pray. Think about others and the distress you have brought on us all on the eve of your sister’s wedding.”
“Ah that’s it, isn’t it? Deb’s wedding to her precious earl. That must not be upset. If you let me go I would be safely out of your way. Would that not be happier for you all?”
She was easing the book through. He took it and let it fall to the ground. Then came the rug, unfolded. It landed on his shoulders. Instinctively he drew its warmth round him. Now he could hear her giving unseen men orders to close the trap. No, he couldn’t bear that. He bent down and snatched up the iron bar and pushed it into the gap. He heard a little shriek from his mother.
“Oh you have cut my chin. You might have put out my eye.”
He dropped the bar. “Mother, I’m sorry, but you mustn’t let them close it. Don’t!”
All he heard then was the grating of the wood on the stone floor and the slit of light vanished. Had he scarred his mother for life? His wretchedness increased a hundredfold. He took his supporting hand from the stone wall to hold the sides of the rug together but only succeeded in drawing it round his legs in a tangle. He shifted one foot. The crate overbalanced and tipped him sideways so that he landed not on the steps behind him but directly onto the floor of the dungeon. The Book of Psalms was crushed under him but he knew nothing of it. He had knocked himself insensible. Daniel came over to the Grange when the meal was over and found Eunice dripping blood into a basin while Nurse Capot tried to staunch the flow with rags from a torn up sheet. Eunice half turned her head to him.
“It seems worse than it is.”
Nurse Capot looked up at him. “My lady has so great courage!”
Peter and Joseph were standing about looking helpless.
Joseph said, “I’m afraid Master John thrust up an iron bar he had found down there.”
“An accident,” Eunice said. “Of course I was bending down to speak with him. I am afraid he is not reconciled to missing this uprising.”
“Well, hewill not be uprising in a hurry, after this. Can you put a pad underneath her chin, Nurse, and bind it on? If you lie down, my darling, it might stop bleeding.”
A wad of cloth soaked in vinegar which Joseph said was used on wounds in battle was pressed on the place and strips of cloth round her head held it in position. Daniel fastened these round with his own hands and told Nurse Capot she could return to baby Diana.
“I can’t talk,” Eunice mumbled through closed teeth. He led her through to the Grange’s downstairs sitting-room where there was an old couch brought from the Hall. The drawing-room on the first floor he had had elegantly papered and newly furnished for John and Jeanetta.
“I wish to God they had stayed in France,” he said, settling her to lie flat on the couch. She made negative grunts. “I know, he is my heir and we are to lose our precious Deborah. Let us pray he has learnt a lesson from this and will devote himself to Horden. Or should I buy him an army commission so he can work this longing for glory out of his system? Let him serve his country on the right side.” Eunice tried to shake her head and growl her disapproval again. “The navy cured me of myrestlessness but he is older than I was and a married man with children. Do you feel, my darling, that he never really grew up?”
She turned pleading eyes on him. “I’m sorry, you can’t answer.” She looked a pathetic sight. He tucked a blanket round her and kissed her on the forehead. Some blood had stained through the wad but no more was dripping out. Perhaps she would not be too marked for the wedding.
Voices came from the kitchen and his mother and Jeanetta appeared in the doorway and looked down at Eunice.
“Joseph told us what happened,” Mother Bel said. “There’s Frederick with a bruise on his chin and now poor Eunice. Jeanetta, your sweet John has turned into a wild beast. I had thought to talk some comfort to him if he’s to stay where he is but I shan’t have my ancient looks spoilt for the wedding and Deb had better not go near him.”
Jeanetta broke into sobs. “He didn’t mean – he’s not a wild beast. You’ve all driven him to this.”
“Nay, I am trying to make light of what is a bad business. What can we do, Dan? When will there be some news do you think, if French troops have landed?”
Jeanetta brushed aside her tears with a wild gesture. “They will come here and take over the coal works, so John told me.”
“I see,” said Daniel, “and that is what our son would like to happen to his inheritance, is it? So if they land on the south bank of the Firth of Forth and march at once I would say three days from disembarking perhaps.”
“They will arrive on the wedding day,” his mother said.
“I will send into Newcastle tomorrow and see if any news has come. Eunice I will have the carriage brought round to take you back to the Hall.”
Her eyes said no. His mother laid a hand on his arm. “Let her lie a while here and then you can walk her gently along the path.” Her eyes said yes to that.
“Very well. I will sit by her.” And he drew up the worn basket chair. The room had only a window seat and some bookcases that had been considered too shabby for the Hall library.
“It’s cold here,” his mother said, “those men of Frederick’s in the kitchen are doing nothing. I’ll tell one of them to get a fire lit in this hearth.” And she bustled out, glad to have something to do.
Daniel looked up at Jeanetta. “Why do you not go and play with your babies? They never see you.”
“Nurse Capot has gone back to Diana and Nurse Forêt may be settling Jean for his afternoon sleep.”
“ Nathaniel,” he said pointedly, “needs his mother especially when his father is not about. I have seen John throw a ball to him and Nat loves to run and fetch it just like a little dog. Nurse Forêt is too slow and heavy to play with him properly. You could have fun with him.”
“How can I play when John is shut up in there? He will die of cold.”
“No, his mother lowered a rug to him. If I release him he will take horse and join the rebel army. He has told me he will. Would you have me tie him up and set guard over him? No, I will go and speak with him again when he has had more time to consider and realise that his whole plan was the height of folly.”
Peter came in bearing a bucket of kindling and one of coals.
Jeanetta glared at him. “You and Joseph will be gone soon but if you ever tell anyone in Hertfordshire of this day’s work I will bring a curse on you.”
She flung up her head and stalked out of the room and up the stairs calling for Maria.
Daniel got up and pushed Eunice’s couch, which was on little wheels. towards the blaze Peter was creating in the hearth. She waved her hand from side to side and he remembered her terror of fire and stopped it at a safer distance.
“How are you, my love?” he asked her and she managed a crooked smile.
It was not till late afternoon when he had escorted Eunice home that Daniel came back and ordered the trap door to be opened enough for him to look in. At first he could see nothing. The lantern must have burnt itself out.
He called, “John, have you had time to reflect? I would wish to release you if you are prepared solemnly to swear not to
ride away to join the rebels. John?”
There was no answer. Was it a trick? He could be hiding behind the stone stair and come rushing up if the trap was completely opened. Will Smyth was now in the kitchen, Joseph and Peter having been given the task of cleaning and polishing the Branford carriage ready for the wedding. Will Smyth’s bulk was reassuring.
Daniel, crouched by the hole, looked up at him and spoke low. “Will, I’m minded to open the trap fully. If Master John tries to make a run for it will you help me restrain him?”
“Better than that, Sir Daniel. I am armed with the old earl’s trusty pistol.”
“Heaven forbid! It has not come to shooting.”
“Nay, sir, I wouldn’t fire it but there’s nothing like the sight of one to check a runaway.”
“Well, lay it on the corner of the table and help me move these crates.”
In a moment the opening was clear and the afternoon sunlight streaming through the kitchen window was enough to lighten the dim depths.
“What! He is there. Is he sleeping?” Then Daniel noticed the tipped up crate. “Dear God, he has fallen.” Icy fear gripped him. Was he dead? Had this horrible series of events ended with the very thing they had tried to prevent?
Sick at heart he began to descend the steps.
“Beware sir,” Will Smyth called down. “It may be a trick.”
“It’s not.” Daniel was turning his son’s body over to see his face. It was white and cold to the touch. “Oh God, John!” He took him up in his arms.
Will Smyth was cautiously descending. He pushed aside the crate and lifted John’s limp hand.
“There is a pulse, Sir Daniel. See he has a bruise on the side of his head. He is concussed, but very cold, lying on this stone floor.”
Daniel felt the blood in his own face beginning to flow back. “We must take him up quick.” He put his hands under John’s shoulders.
“If you’ll allow me, sir,” Will Smyth said, “I will carry him up on my back. That will be easier than two of us together.” He crouched down and Daniel helped him to get hold of the flopping arms and heave the body into position. He followed with his hand on John’s back as Will mounted into the kitchen. They took him to the couch where Eunice had lain earlier and pushed it close to the fire. Will went back for the rug that had fallen off him and found the Book of Psalms. He brought up the two empty lanterns as well and closed the trap.
“No one will ever go in there again,” Daniel said as he reappeared. “Someone must go to the Hall and tell his mother. No, she is resting. Tell Deborah. I will fetch Nurse Capot from upstairs. Jeanetta will come down too but the nurse and Deborah will be more useful.”
“I’ll send Peter to the Hall, sir, but meanwhile we must get Master John heated up. Brandy and warming pans I suggest.”
The nurse came, Jeanetta came, screaming that now they had killed John between them. But it was Will Smyth’s ministrations that were the most helpful. By the time Peter had come back bringing both Eunice and Deborah John had opened his eyes and was drinking the brandy Will held to his lips. Eunice had discarded her bandages.
She said, “The bleeding stopped. See it is but a small cut. How is my poor boy?”
John was staring about him over the glass at all the faces looking down at him.
“What’s up, what’s wrong? How did I come to fall asleep in here?” His voice sounded thick and slurred. Daniel wondered if Will was being too generous with the brandy.
“I thought to send for the physician,” Daniel murmured to Eunice, “but we don’t want any of this known outside.”
“No no,” she said, “all he can ever think of is to open a vein. The boy needs all the blood he’s got. He’s not in a fever. We can nurse him as well as anyone.”
Deborah whispered, “He knows us but he has forgotten he was ever in the dungeon.”
Jeanetta moaned, “What else has he forgotten?” and she ran upstairs and brought little Nathaniel down – the only time Daniel had ever seen her carrying one of her children. “Jean,” she said, “va au Papa.”
“Eh bien, Jean.” He took the boy up who began pummelling his face happily. “Non, papa mal au tête.”
He set him down again and put his hand to the side of his head. “I’ve a big bump here. When did I fall over? Where? I don’t remember.”
Nurse Capot came in from the kitchen with a pack of something to lay on the bruise.
“Let us leave him in peace,” Eunice said but Daniel feared Jeanetta would try to awaken his memory of what had passed.
“You stay, my dear.” He drew her aside. “I am going to speak to Matt and tell him there is no question of his master riding anywhere for several days after a blow like that. His duty is to stay and minister to him when I think I can safely release him. I am minded to ride into Newcastle myself and see if there is news of a French landing. Luke can accompany me.”
Eunice begged him to leave it till the morning. “For it may be dark,” she said, “before you could be home and I would be fearful. The good Lord has saved our boy till now and we must be thankful for that.”
John was very giddy when they got him upstairs to bed but that, Daniel thought, was the effect of the brandy. He seemed only to want to go to sleep. He asked once for Matt but seemed satisfied when Jeanetta said, “I want to take care of you myself.”
Downstairs Daniel had a word with both Will Smyth and Frederick. “I cannot see that he will stir all night but as a precaution will you not only bolt the doors but take the keys out and look after them in your own room. I feel I cannot trust him not to ride away if he recalls what has happened.”
Will Smyth nodded. “He will not get past me and his lordship, Sir Daniel.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
At first light next day the fields and woods lay at peace under a pearly sky. Wars and rumours of wars could not have seemed further away when Daniel accompanied by Luke, the groom, rode into Newcastle.
There were government troops in the town and a general air of relief and excitement. Shopkeepers stood at their doors and cheered as a body of soldiers marched past heading north.
Daniel dismounted at the staging inn and asked a gentleman who had alighted from the coach from Edinburgh what the news was of a French landing.
“Nay,” he laughed, “they never landed. They’ve scuttled back to
France.”
“Never landed? Where heard you this?”
“In Edinburgh. They were sighted off the coast and there were
Jacobite forces drawn up to meet the so-called King James. But boats that put out to meet him were turned back. Royal navy ships had shadowed the French from Dunkirk where unlucky young James caught measles I understand, so their ships were held up with our navy just waiting to follow ‘em when they came out. They say the French Admiral took fright that he would lose half his fleet and has turned about. They were pretty battered by a storm coming here but I reckon it was Her Majesty’s ships scared them off.”
Daniel heaved a huge sigh of relief. “So our troops have no need to march to control a rebellion.” He was watching another well armed band marching past with colours flying and drums beating.
“Ay, but they’re going to round up the rebels. I wager they’ll hang most of ‘em to stop it happening again. But I doubt old Louis will want to send again. His military have no stomach for a fight here the way our great Duke is knocking ‘em about over there.”
“Well, I thank you, sir.”
They touched their hats to each other and Daniel remounted eager to head home with the news. Then he remembered a list of errands Eunice had asked him to do for things for the wedding. He turned to Luke and gave him the orders and rode back alone.
When he reached the Hall he could see through the library windows many animated figures, hands waving about, heads moving. Everyone seemed to be there. Deborah’s flaxen head appeared above everyone else. She too seemed to be talking with great vigour. In fact judging by the sounds he could hear even before he
dismounted and Walter came to take his horse, they seemed all to be talking at once. The news he brought would surely silence them all. He strode up the steps, flung down his hat on the hall table and passed under the right hand archway to the library door which stood open so the whole household could listen in. He stepped inside and shut it firmly behind him and now it was he who dominated the room as all eyes turned to him. The only words he had distinguished as he came in were John’s in a furious tirade against Lord Branford.
“Even when you are married to Deb I never want to see you again.”
Eunice looked up at Daniel with a face of woe. “It has come back to him, all of it. He still thinks Frederick arranged the dungeon to be open so he would fall into it. He won’t listen to any of us.”
Deborah said, “Frederick and I were sitting quietly in here looking over the list of expected guests when he came in with a face of thunder. Poor Netta was running behind him worrying he would do himself an injury. And of course the noise brought everyone else from the parlour.”
John glared defiantly round on them all and then poked Frederick in the chest.
“I can still ride. Somewhere I will meet them. I’ve told Matt to saddle up again. If you try to stop me this time I will draw my sword on you.” He swung round to Daniel. “And I will find it hard to forgive you, Father, for keeping me here under duress.”
Mother Bel, from the corner chair where she had seated herself said, “John, say no more words you will regret bitterly very soon. Your father’s face is full of news. Dan, you have been to the town. Have you heard anything of this rebellion?”
“Well John, there isno rebellion for you to join. There has been no landing. The French ships have been chased away by the Royal Navy and the rebels are being rounded up by government soldiers at this moment.”
Everyone in the room uttered exclamations of delight, even Jeanetta, Daniel noticed.
John’s mouth hung open for a second. Then he straightened his back and glared at his father. “You are lying to me. That cannot be. They would not come so far with their precious cargo and not set him ashore.”
Prue Phillipson - Hordens of Horden Hall Page 27
