Three Round Towers

by Beverley Elphick

  Whilst I worked with the doctor I left Beth in Mrs Jenkin’s care and occasionally Mrs Makepiece or her grandfather would take her out into the town for a change of scene. She is developing rapidly and it is important to me that she learns from a number of people. Miss Wardle offered to look after her on occasions but I didn’t think that a good idea as she was so preoccupied with Sally and the piglets Beth would probably end up in the stye with them.

  So, despite being busy and excited by my new role in life I felt myself to be lonely without Cecilia and I hoped she would return soon.

  One memorable day occurred about a month after moving to Lewes when I had not one, but two, visitors. Wilf called in at lunchtime and was invited into the kitchen to see how we were settled. He stood, ill at ease, and only found his tongue when Mrs Jenkins kindly suggested that I show him the garden. Beth was still munching her way through her food so he and I were able to walk round undisturbed. Still he didn’t say much and I wondered why he had come if he had nothing to say to me. I tried several conversations to no avail until I mentioned that I had been to Southease, against his advice.

  I saw him stiffen up. ‘And what did you find, Esther, at Southease?’

  ‘I found my family Wilf, I haven’t seen them since but I am glad to know that I have some.’

  ‘And their names?’

  ‘I have an Aunt Tilly, my mother’s sister. A grandfather and two cousins, Sam and…’

  ‘…and Jeremiah,’ he finished for me.

  ‘Aye, do you know them?’

  ‘I do that. They were with the men who killed my father. They beat him when he tried to stop them stealing from the farm. He took a long time to die, Esther and he told me that those two boys were part of the gang.’

  ‘Stealing…?’

  ‘Aye, stealing.’

  But what…?’

  ‘It’s past history Esther. I put it behind me but that family destroyed mine and I can’t see you any more if you are a Kempe.’

  ‘But I am not one really,’ I protested.

  ‘You are, you’re a Kempe. It’s in your blood. even if you now have the name of Coad.

  He left and I sunk to the floor, shocked beyond belief.

  Chapter Fifty-Two

  Mint: Mentha Spicata Spearmint and apple mint known as Monk’s herb as, being milder, it was grown only by monastic infirmarers for use in cordials for indigestion. Fresh spearmint cured headaches, ‘a sure remedie for children’s sore heads’.

  The Physic Garden Booklet, Michelham Priory

  I had a lot of medications to make that afternoon which gave me no time to dwell on what had passed between us but I moved and thought as if in a trance. I fulfilled my duties before leaving the house and sat by myself in the nearby meadow. I had barely begun to pick over the angry words, the implications, before I was astonished to see my cousin Sam coming towards me. He called ‘Esther, cousin. I was told by the old lady at the house that this is where you were.’ He dropped to the grass beside me plucking a long stem and chewing on it as he looked me over.

  I was never more flustered and was unable to get a word out before he invited me, at his mother’s request, to the house at Southease for a bite on Sunday and to bring the little tacker with me. Sam would bring a cart over in the morning and collect us and deliver us back later that afternoon.

  I blustered and hedged from giving a reply blaming my workload, Beth’s health, the doctor’s needs and anything that would prevent me from going until I had thought this all through.

  ‘Nonsense,’ he said. ‘That old lady says that Sunday is your own to do with as you will. I will be here about noon.’ I was mortified that I couldn’t take control of the situation, only managing to blurt out that I had undertaken to spend time with Billy-alone, my friend.

  ‘Well, bring him too, if you are worried about being with your family, the family that you sought out.’

  I blustered some more saying, ‘No, of course I’m not worried. It’s just that I was surprised to see you. Of course I will come and I will bring Billy and Beth too. Please thank Aunt Tilly for thinking so kindly of me.’ I rose from the grass and brushed myself down before wishing my cousin goodbye and hurrying back to the house. I looked back to see him standing, watching. I had the uncomfortable feeling that he was laughing at me and, despite the warm evening, I felt chilled.

  Later in the week I made my way to see Mrs Makepiece. Beth and I sat in her tiny garden as I told her about my two visitors.

  ‘Well,’ she said, surprised. ‘I remember when Wilf’s father were attacked. Wilf was but a young-un then and it were never known all who done it. He were shot in the shoulder and despite being given the best care from his employers, the Elwoods, he took a fever and later died. Did Wilf say they did it definitely? I know some were punished but there was no mention of boys.’

  ‘He did, with much bitterness. He said he couldn’t see me because I was one of them.’

  I am ashamed to say that I burst into tears. I had found my family and then tried to deny them, all in a matter of a few weeks, for the sake of a young man who had taken my fancy. Was that how it had happened with my mother?

  ‘’Ee lass, don’t fret so. You must go on your visit and see what you can glean from them. Wilf will come round, he can’t blame you for their deeds and it were over ten years ago. What I want to know is how he knows it were them. The two lads would have been too young though I s’pect they were up to all sorts. Your grandfather is suspicioned to be a smuggler but then so is everyone else who lives down the river.’

  ‘How do you know that?’ I asked defensively.

  ‘I made it my business to find out who the Kempes are, and there is a deal of talk about they so you must keep your wits about you girl. Make sure Billy stays with you.’

  ‘So what do they want with me then?’ I wondered aloud.

  ‘Perhaps they is not all bad. Perhaps your aunt be sick of menfolk with their fighting and drinking ways. Perhaps she hankers for some feminine company and a little one to coo over. She can’t have had it easy with only an old man for company and more, and then, later when nature takes its course just getting two rough boys – both taught in the old ways.’

  As we walked back to the doctor’s I thought of what she had said, implied, and her advice. Aunt Tilly didn’t strike me as a bullied, downtrodden creature just there for the needs of her menfolk. In truth I saw her as the kingpin of the household but perhaps it wasn’t always that way. When my great-grandmother died and my mother left Southease, Aunt Tilly would have been alone with just my grandfather for company. No wonder she was bitter. I tried to clear my head of unsavoury thoughts but I went to bed that night with a headache and a curious dullness of spirit.

  Chapter Fifty-Three

  Sunday dawned bright and clear and after breakfast I put up a basket of biscuits and homemade jam. I also took a few eggs from Mrs Jenkins’ well-stocked larder. For the menfolk I had purchased three different neckerchiefs and a pretty embroidered hankie for Aunt Tilly. I took pleasure in using part of my newly-earned wages on these little gifts. While I was at it I also bought two ounces of sweetmeats for Billy and Cilla to have later.

  Billy arrived mid-morning and we all sat in the garden and played with Beth until I heard the cart arriving out at the front of the house. As we clattered off I looked up and saw the doctor watching from his bedroom window. There had been no medicaments to be made up today though I wished otherwise.

  Beth was very excited at this venture out and her spirits lifted ours so by the time we got to Southease we were all very jolly. I had dressed her with care and she had a new sun bonnet to match her pretty dress – a parting gift from Cecilia, with a crisp white overskirt to help keep the dress clean. She was also wearing some tiny little slippers – a great novelty which she was constantly admiring. As we pulled up outside the cottage I was very thankful that we could focus on Beth rather than be forced to notice other things.

  The kitchen had been tidied up and even the window
s cleaned. The dog was banished to an outhouse from where he maintained a mournful howl. It was a little squashed as we mingled in the small room so I asked if we should walk down to the river and tire Beth’s high spirits which could easily descend into tears. Everyone except grandfather thought that a good idea and off we went. After a few paces the trees thinned out and we could see the distant downs beyond the valley floor. The way was dry on a well trodden path but on either side were deep reed beds rising above our heads from which came the chirps of waterfowl and other mysterious but natural noises. In the distance I could see some cattle on the lower reaches of the hills. When we got near the river I looked backwards along the way we had come, it was very difficult to see the line of the path and I shivered at the thought of trying to find the way blind. The breeze licked the top of the reeds and there was an eerie whispering. I asked if many used the river paths and got an abrupt reply from Jeremiah.

  ‘Only those as knows the way use it, all others disappears.’

  We climbed up a small bank in order to look at the flat grey waters. I clutched Beth up in my arms, remembering our sad history with this river. ‘Look,’ I said, ‘the sun is hiding, Beth.’

  Sam, lifted her from my arms and she played with the bristles on his chin, laughing uproariously as he tickled her.

  We returned to the cottage and settled down outside on a few blankets. I unloaded my basket and gave the gifts to my family. The biscuits were well received but I thought Aunt Tilly a bit ungracious when I presented the eggs.

  ‘We have our own hens girl, we’re not beggars, though we do not live in the style you do.’

  ‘I am sure I never thought so Aunt, I just did not see any hens when I came last time – there was no harm intended.’

  ‘Don’t mind her,’ grunted Sam, ‘She is not used to polite society.’

  Aunt Tilly returned to her kitchen before producing a small table laden with good plain food.

  We all set to and demolished the savouries and cakes. My cousins helped themselves without any polite delays for the ladies. Beth copied them and grabbed handfuls of cake and in the end I didn’t hold back either as there would have been nothing left for me and I was hungry.

  It was a pleasant afternoon and my aunt went to great lengths to make us comfortable. My cousins were good company with lots of joshing and boisterous games involving both Billy and Beth. I did on one occasion catch a rather strange look exchanged between Tilly and her sons but put it down to their collective attempt to make us feel at home.

  Just as we were talking about getting ready to leave, Jeremiah, who had wandered off behind the cottage, returned and exchanged a few quiet words with his brother. From that moment on I felt we were in the way and were hurried into the cart, our belongings pushed in around us.

  They all called goodbye and disappeared immediately into the cottage as if they couldn’t wait to be rid of us. Sam was to drive us back but suddenly he turned to Billy and suggested that he take the reins and he, Sam, would collect the cart from Lewes tomorrow. Then he was gone. I was dumbfounded and looking back was amazed to see both Sam and Jeremiah on horseback and heading in the opposite direction at great speed.

  ‘What was all that about?’ I asked Billy.

  ‘Reckon they got a message.’

  ‘What sort of message?’

  ‘I dunno, but there was some comment about them cows on the hill, they said they was looking in the right direction and laughed.’

  ‘How can that be a message?’

  ‘Well, if they be facing the town it mean one thing and if they be facing the sea, it be meaning another. It is how messages are sent quickly from one area to another, they might light beacons but then others understand that so by changing the direction of tethered livestock the message is only understood by those in the know. See?’

  I was not sure that I did see. ‘What do you think the message is about?’

  ‘Smugglers’ business. They got lamps inside and all sorts of stuff used by the gentlemen and they ain’t botherin’ to hide it.’

  ‘Billy, do you think them capable of killing people?’

  ‘I dunno lass but I wouldn’t want to be on t’wrong side of they and I don’t reckon you should notice anything odd.’

  ‘Do you remember what Wilf said about Southease Billy?’

  ‘Aye.’

  ‘Well it was to do with the Kempes. He blames them for his father’s death and won’t have anything to do with me now, Billy, because he says I come from the Kempe family and it was they.’

  ‘Did you like him then Esther?’

  ‘Aye, I did that.’

  We travelled on in silence until we got to the doctor’s house. The cart was unhitched and the horse stabled nearby as I went indoors to reflect on a very unusual day.

  Chapter Fifty-Four

  Knitbone: Conferva – to join together. Comfrey, the most important herb for treating fractures. Pound the root into a mass and spread like plaster around the broken limb where it set dry to hold the bone in place.

  The Physic Garden Booklet, Michelham Priory

  All aspects of my life had changed except one: my lipsy leg. It had been deformed since birth and I had no idea of cause, just effect. It had played a big part in my life – perhaps too big a part as it had limited my confidence. Lately, however it seemed just a part of me, it had become of less consequence and whenever I was with other people I didn’t feel defined by it. One day I asked the doctor if he would advise me on how to improve my movement. At the time I asked (bravely I thought) I was finding that the unnatural pressures on areas of my foot were hurting me and creating sores that were difficult to heal despite my best efforts with lotions and dressings. I wanted more freedom of movement so I could keep up with Beth and perhaps be seen in a more positive and attractive light. Perhaps Mrs Makepiece was right, I should find a husband. Was it so improbable?

  The doctor held my naked foot in his hand. His touch was gentle, almost caressing, but with Mrs Jenkins in the room it was all as it should be. On many occasions I was the chaperone when he examined single women. Married women didn’t seem perturbed by the doctor’s attention to their bodies; in some cases I think they positively flaunted themselves but he was always proper. I occasionally wondered if that is why he wanted me to work with him: protection from Lewes ladies.

  He gently probed the reddened sore part of my heel and toes before examining and stretching out my feeble calf muscle.

  ‘Esther, I think we could bring about a change to your leg if we break and reset it. This sounds alarming and it would be terribly painful with only laudanum to give you limited pain relief but I have much experience of setting bones and whilst it won’t take the basic condition away it will improve it.’ I gasped, horrified, before he went on. ‘That is the most difficult option and is maybe one you won’t want to entertain. Another option is that we can work to bring your muscles to a better condition by strengthening exercises. I can also make a block to bring your heel into line with your toes, which would improve your balance. I think these things would greatly improve your life and reduce the pain and broken skin where the foot blisters. This is something we should do now as the pressure sores will become worse. All three of us were peering at my poor little foot but I knew I could not face a deliberate breaking of my leg and then pulling it to put it into a better position. I wasn’t that brave.

  The doctor continued his examination above my knee but distracted me by telling me about a colleague, Thomas Bettany, who was experimenting with gases that would render people insensible while their surgeon wielded the knife. ‘It is the future Esther, but regrettably I do not think he is quite there yet and I couldn’t offer such a solution at this time.’

  I sighed with relief that this Thomas Bettany’s experiments weren’t ready yet. I didn’t want to be an experiment. I just wanted to be a little more comfortable in order to keep up with Beth.

  Within days I was fitted with a carefully crafted wooden platform that was fixed into
my boots. The top surface was covered with the softest sheepskin to cushion the pad of my heel. The doctor suggested that once I became used to the insert he would cover the sheepskin with very soft leather thus retaining the cushioning but the smoothness of the leather would be more practical to wear.

  As he gave me the boot our hands touched and I was aware again of a peculiar tension between us.

  ‘Esther, my dear, I hope this will help and if it is not quite right we will make adjustments. In the meantime, I have some exercises prepared for you that will strengthen your muscles.’ We sat side by side with my skirts pulled up above my knee as I learned the movements. When I eventually returned to my room I sat and stared at my unfamiliar legs. I had always avoided looking at myself as I found it distressing to see the wasted muscle. I vowed to persevere with the movements no matter how painful it was.

  Learning to walk on the insert was a revelation. Immediately there was the sensation of complete balance but I had been hopping about on my unbalanced feet for my entire life and it was not the matter of a few days to adjust. I worked at it every day, increasing wearing time by minutes until I was able to wear the boot most of the day. I did the exercises morning and evening and very gradually my body straightened along with my improved muscles. Sometimes it was all so painful that I whimpered as I rubbed soothing cream into the angry muscle and ligaments. Poor Beth became used to seeing me constantly working my legs and would sit beside me on the floor trying to copy the movements, thinking it a game. If I cried, she did too; if I smiled her little face lit up and I was lifted in spirit, which made it all worthwhile.

  Chapter Fifty-Five

  Life went on around me and I was happy in my role as nurse having seen no more of my cousins or Wilf. That is, until one momentous day in summer when Wilf appeared at our back door. Mrs Jenkins called me into the kitchen and I hurried in fully balanced and with my head held high. She disappeared into her scullery and I could hear her movements in the background.