Apple Blossom Bride

by Marina Oliver

  'Is Sir Bernard well enough to travel?'

  'Sir William thinks so. It was a mild attack, and he will be all right if we go slowly.'

  'Poor Sir Bernard. He was hoping he would have no more attacks, so that he was well enough to go back to the army.'

  'The war will be over soon. Eve, have you written to your father to tell him you will stay with us, not go to Rachel?'

  'Not yet.' Eve felt guilty. 'I don't know where to write, except to home for when he returns there, but I'm afraid to tell him, in case he comes roaring back to London to force me to go home. But I have written to Rachel, to tell her I will be with you.'

  'Good. And the longer your father stays away the better! It's been such fun having you here with us.'

  Sir Bernard was well enough to join them for dinner, and Eve thought he looked the same as ever, cheerful and talkative. He insisted he was quite well enough to travel in two days' time, and did not see the need to break their journey at Wycombe instead of going straight to Oxford.

  'Surely the sooner we are home the better I will be.'

  'We must do as Sir William advises, and travel slowly, my dear,' Caroline said.

  'Knighton's old and fussy!'

  'He's the best, everyone says.'

  'And his medicine is dreadful.'

  Caroline laughed. 'You hate all medicine.'

  On their last day, after breakfast, when she was packing the few clothes she meant to take home, Eve remembered she had left Sir Peter's book in the drawing room, so she ran downstairs to fetch it. As she opened the door she heard a strange gurgling noise, and saw Sir Bernard stretched out on the floor near the fireplace, his head twitching violently. Stifling a scream, she ran to the bell pull and tugged hurriedly on it.

  *

  It was, of course, impossible for them now to travel. They must spend the next few weeks in London, close to Sir William. Caroline wanted to send the two girls back to Herefordshire, or even to stay with Rachel, but Amelia pleaded so earnestly to be allowed to stay and help that she abandoned the idea. Sir Bernard, appearing no worse for this latest attack, supported her, saying her high spirits cheered him up, and he had no desire to be confined to a quiet house of suffering.

  'I am not suffering,' he declared. 'It was a mild attack, and I am so sorry for having frightened you so, Eve. I feel quite as normal, but it is now so close to Christmas we may as well stay here, and perhaps, if that old woman Knighton permits, go home afterwards for a few weeks.'

  Rachel was informed of the revised plans, and replied that she had received a letter from her father to say he so far had found no trace of James. She would send on any further letters, for he had promised to write to her every few days to report progress.

  'Why does he just not give up, and let James take his chances?' Sir Bernard asked at dinner the day they received her letter.

  'Papa cannot endure to be disobeyed,' Eve said. 'He will spend a fortune and many months trying to trace James, just because James defied him. And poor James will suffer for months afterwards, until he is able to escape to Oxford. If, that is, he is still permitted to go to the university.'

  'Surely your father will not be so vindictive as to deny him that opportunity?' Sir Bernard said.

  Eve sighed and shook her head. 'You cannot know my father well if you think that.'

  'Perhaps James will prefer to stay in the army? Can he afford to buy a commission?'

  'He has but a few hundred pounds coming to him from Mama, but that will not come until he is one and twenty, and I believe that is still at my father's discretion, as is my own small legacy from Mama.'

  'That's infamous!' Amelia declared.

  Eve shrugged. 'I understand he insisted on that clause in Mama's will. Oh, you will think me a shrew to speak of him so, but he has never shown me any affection, and I do not see why one should love horrid people merely because they are closely related.'

  Sir Bernard seemed to have recovered. He had no more seizures, and as many of the ton remained in town Caroline began to arrange a few small dinner parties. It was so cold the guests arrived swathed in furs and shawls, and Caroline urged them to keep the latter round them, for she dared not order the fires to be built any higher. Sir Peter, they heard, having escorted the Countess and Talia to Brighton, was now in Norfolk and not expected back in London for some weeks. The Earl had departed to Buckinghamshire without hearing of Sir Bernard's collapse, but was expected back in London early in the New Year. And then, just before New Year's Day both men called in Albemarle Street

  'My friend's father died unexpectedly,' Sir Peter explained, 'and he had to go to Derbyshire, so of course I came back to London. I think I was just in time, the fog is denser than I have ever known it, and London is notorious for them.'

  'And I returned yesterday, too, before the fog became so dense. I was needed at the War Office,' the Earl said. 'The Allied troops are reported to be massing in Germany. But I have rarely seen such fogs, even in London. I hear the Maidenhead coach overturned yesterday, and the Birmingham Mail took seven hours to travel twenty miles to Uxbridge. It's dangerous even to walk in the streets, for the hackney drivers cannot keep to the carriageway.'

  'Do you know if it is as foggy along the south coast?' Eve asked, thinking of her father.

  'I believe so,' the Earl replied.

  'Then surely the Rector's search for James will have to be abandoned,' Amelia said.

  'No, you do not know how determined Papa is. But at least he will not be writing very often to Rachel, if the post is disrupted, and she will not be sending any letters here.'

  *

  Rachel groaned as Annie, brisk as usual, came into the bedroom with her morning chocolate.

  'No, take it away! I can't!'

  'What's the matter?'

  'I don't know, but I feel so ill! And the smell of that is making me feel a good deal worse.'

  Annie took the tray outside, but came back into the bedroom and sat down in a chair beside the bed.

  'What else?' she asked. 'What did you eat last night? Was the fish off?'

  'Go away! I don't even want to think about it! Oh, quick, Annie, get me a basin!'

  Five minutes later, when Rachel was tucked up in bed, Annie looked at her and smiled.

  'You're not ill, my love,' she said. 'You're breeding.'

  'Breeding? Oh, Annie, can I be?'

  'Well, my Ma had six more after me, and I knew the signs, even if I was only a little lass.'

  'But – we've been married for more than a year, and we were so sure I wasn't going to have a child! Oh, Annie, I can't believe it.'

  'You'd better. And my lord will be so pleased.'

  Viscount Benson was more than pleased. He reassured Rachel that even if she only had a girl, he would be delighted.

  'I'm afraid it means we will have to abandon plans to go to London this year,' he said. 'I can't risk the journey for you, and you will not wish to be going to parties in your condition.'

  'But Eve. I promised her. She will be so disappointed.'

  'She will understand. She's a sensible girl, and she could perhaps plan to join us in the following year.'

  'I must write to her.'

  'Not yet, my dear. It can wait for a few days. You must rest and take things easy.'

  'Very well.'

  'Perhaps she can come here to keep you company for a few weeks. I do realise it will be a disappointment for you both, but you can spend some time together over the winter.'

  *

  For some days James felt so ill he did not heed much that was going on around him. It was not only his arm, which continued to pain him, but a general feeling of lassitude. The couple who were looking after him, Mr and Mrs Brockley, were middle aged and, they told him, had one son who was now in the navy.

  'What were you doing, all by yourself on the road?' Mrs Brockley asked, and James explained.

  'And you've walked all that way? And I expect you didn't eat properly,' she said, ladling another helping of rabbit st
ew into his bowl. 'It was no wonder you couldn't fight off those two devils.'

  James suspected he never could have fought them off, but her solicitude and belief in him were pleasing. Rarely had he encountered such care and friendliness. Even his father's servants had been wary of showing him any favours.

  'I'll never be able to pay you for all you've done for me,' he said one evening when they were sitting round the fire. It was bitterly cold outside and had been snowing all day.

  'You needn't worry. Sir Brian, who brought you here, has given us some money.'

  'Won't you tell me who he is, and where he lives? One day, when I have some money, I need to repay all of you.'

  'He said we weren't to.'

  'I wonder if those two devils have been caught yet?' Mr Brockley asked, as he was filling his pipe.

  'They'll be far away by now,' his wife said.

  A week later James was beginning to feel restless. It was still snowing heavily, but he was wary of depending too much longer on the charity – for he was convinced it was their charity – of the Brockleys. His rescuer had never come to the cottage. And he wanted to resume his attempt to join the army.

  'I must leave tomorrow,' he said on the following day. 'If I don't enlist soon the war will be over.' Rather to his surprise, when he said he was aiming for Portsmouth, they didn't try to stop him.

  'You'll do it in three days,' Mr Brockley said. 'That is, if the snow's not too deep. Now Sir Brian left us some money for you, and you're to stop the first night at the King's Head near Fair Oak, and at the Swan near Curbridge the second night. The money's to pay your shot there. And if you don't stop there we'll hear of it. Good luck, lad. You'll make a fine soldier.'

  *

  People rarely ventured far from their homes, for fear, Amelia said, laughing, of losing their way. By the New Year even the street lamps could barely be seen, and the fog seemed to penetrate inside the houses. The more lavish New Year parties were cancelled, and most people celebrated only with close neighbours. And then it began to snow. Reports of the smaller rivers freezing came in, and people began to talk of the possibility of the Thames itself freezing. Already there was so much ice floating on the river it was dangerous to the boats. Icicles grew everywhere, longer than any Eve had ever seen before, and she was grateful for the warm cashmere shawls Caroline lent her.

  They rarely left the house, and Caroline refused to contemplate dining with the Earl when he called one day to invite them.

  'Grosvenor Square is too far away,' she said. 'I would be too afraid of getting lost.'

  She did, however, agree to dine with Sir Peter in Berkeley Square which, she said, was only just round the corner and they could walk, for being driven in the chaise was far too dangerous. Several, she had heard, had been overturned when they had collided with other vehicles or the bollards in some of the squares, or been driven over some raised paving.

  So the women donned the warmest pelisses they had, and fur-lined cloaks, added shawls, wrapped shawls round their heads instead of wearing hats, pulled on half-boots and pattens, and carried slippers to change into. Footmen were sent ahead, carrying lanterns, and Caroline held onto Sir Bernard's hand, while the girls followed holding onto her cloak. Eve thought she had never before had to walk in such a manner.

  The Earl was present, and several of Sir Peter's close neighbours. It was the largest gathering Eve had attended since Sir Bernard's seizures, and she found she knew most of the people. Despite the freezing weather the guests were all in correct evening dress, though Eve suspected the men wore more than one shirt, and the women all carried warm, voluminous shawls. The talk was mainly about the weather, the older guests recalling other winters, but few could recall the last year when the Thames froze.

  '1789 was the last time we had a frost fair,' one elderly lady said. 'I had just been married, so I recall it well.'

  'Do you skate?' the Earl asked Eve. He was taking her into dinner while one of Peter's neighbours had been introduced to Amelia. 'Amelia tells me she was able to learn on one of the ponds near home a few years ago. It is not a skill one forgets, once acquired.'

  'No, I don't skate, but I would love to learn. My father did not permit me to learn with Amelia, he said it was undignified. Has the Serpentine frozen yet? Don't people skate there?'

  'I think it has frozen, and if this fog lifts so that it is possible to get there safely, I will borrow some skates and teach you.'

  'Really? Oh, then I do hope the freeze lasts!'

  She shivered in anticipation. To learn to skate she had to be held up by someone, and the very thought of the Earl's arms around her, perhaps holding her tightly, was delicious. Of course they had danced together, but she suspected skating would involve a closer, tighter hold.

  The talk, which had become informal, then turned to the war, and what was happening in France.

  'How long will it take Wellington to defeat the monster?' someone asked, and an elderly General began to give his opinion, which seemed to consist of criticism of Wellington's tactics, and a demand to know why Napoleon had not been defeated months ago.

  They were in the drawing room afterwards, drinking tea and reluctantly preparing to leave the fireside to venture outside, when Sir Peter's butler came in quietly and bent to speak to Sir Peter. Eve was sitting next to him and heard the softly whispered words.

  'A young lad has come, asking for Sir Bernard Montgomery, sir. He says the Earl of Newark's butler told him his sister is living with the family, and Sir Bernard's man directed him here. He is all but frozen, and I judge about to collapse. What shall I do with him?'

  *

  CHAPTER 6

  'Have him put to bed, and get Cooper to see to him. And send for the nearest doctor.'

  Eve had started up from her chair, but Sir Peter pulled her back.

  'I must go and see him!'

  'Later. Let Cooper get him to bed first, and warm. You can't do anything.'

  Eve subsided, but took no further part in the conversation. How on earth had James travelled to London, and why? He would not have known she was still here. Why had he tried to see the Earl?

  At last the endless party was over. Sir Peter spoke quietly to the Earl, then to Caroline as the other guests made moves to leave, and Caroline, looking puzzled, held Sir Bernard back when the rest went down to the hall to don their outer clothes.

  'What's the matter?' Sir Bernard said softly.

  Eve spoke quietly. 'My brother James has arrived, looking for the Earl. That's all I know.'

  'James? But how? Why?'

  'My dear, I cannot guess,' Caroline said, 'but soon, perhaps, we shall be told.'

  'He's being put to bed,' Eve said. 'And I think he is ill, a doctor has been sent for. Oh, how can I bear it! What has happened to the poor boy?'

  'Hush, we'll soon hear,' the Earl said, taking her hand and drawing her to sit on a sopha near the fire. 'Give Cooper and a doctor time to see to him. That's the most important for the moment.'

  At last, having seen off the rest of the guests, Sir Peter came back into the room.

  'A doctor is with him and then, if he permits, Eve, you may see him for a few minutes.'

  'Which doctor? Sir William? How did he get here so quickly?'

  'It's not Knighton. My butler, a sensible chap, sent for one who lives just a few doors away, who could get here quickly. Don't worry, he's very competent.'

  Eve fretted until the butler came to say the doctor permitted the lad's sister to see him for a few moments, but she was not to bother him with questions.

  With a sigh of relief, Eve followed the butler upstairs to a small bedroom at the back of the house. Sir Peter went with her. A maidservant was busy fanning a newly-lit fire, for the room was chilly, but James was lying back on a heap of pillows, covered with several blankets. He was deathly pale, had dark circles round his eyes, and his lips were bloodless, but he managed to smile at his sister. She almost collapsed onto a chair beside the bed.

  'Eve? You here?'r />
  His words were slurred, and Cooper, who stood on the far side of the bed, spoke softly.

  'The doctor gave him some laudanum, Miss. He'll be asleep in a few minutes. The best thing for him.'

  Eve suddenly noticed that James's right arm was strapped to his chest. 'His arm? What's happened?'

  'It was broken, the doctor says, but is mending well. But he must be kept warm and quiet. I shall sleep in the room in case he needs anything during the night.'

  'Tomorrow, no doubt, he'll be able to tell us his story,' Sir Peter said quietly. 'You must come and see him then.'

  Eve nodded. James's eyes had closed, and he was breathing stertorously He would not be able to tell them what had happened to him, and why he was here, until the next day.

  *

  On the following day however, when Eve struggled through the lessening fog to Berkeley Square, accompanied by one of Sir Bernard's footmen, it was to find James delirious and the doctor in attendance. She was permitted a glimpse of her brother, and then Sir Peter ushered her downstairs and into his library.

  'The doctor fears pneumonia,' he said as he handed her a glass of Madeira. 'He has said nothing Cooper could understand, but he rambled during the night. Don't worry, he is having the best of care, and he's young and strong. But it may be a few days before we can discover how he came to be here.'

  Eve swallowed her tears. 'Papa thinks he is gone to France,' she said, and her laugh was more like a sob.

  'Why?'

  She took a deep breath, swallowed more of the Madeira, and tried to speak calmly. 'A letter came, from Rachel. It has taken weeks to get here, because of the fog and the snow. Papa wrote that a boy who could have been James had been seen on the Falmouth to Lisbon mail boat, and he was following as soon as he could get a passage. He must be there by now.'

  'And presumably your father is not yet back in Herefordshire?'

  'He was not.' She laughed, a little hysterically. 'There was another letter, from Papa's curate, Nicholas. He knows I am still here. He wrote to say the Bishop is most displeased, and he had no time to spare while he was forced to undertake all Papa's duties. He sounded very annoyed.'