by June Francis
Nicholas grimaced. ‘Last time we saw each other we quarrelled. I can imagine the excuses he will make. He’ll mention the state of the roads and pressure of work. A simple ceremony, Jane, is what I have in mind. Just the two of us and the children would suit me.’
‘Well, it would not suit me,’ said Jane honestly. ‘A wedding should involve all one’s family and friends and be a real celebration. I deem you do not appreciate your family enough. I would have so loved to have my brother returned to me, but as that is not possible I would have your family here.’ Her voice cracked and for a moment there was silence. Then Matilda began to cry. ‘Now see what you’ve done,’ muttered Jane, rocking the child.
‘Me?’ exclaimed Nicholas with a comical expression. ‘It was you doing most of the talking and loudly too.’
Jane took a deep breath. ‘I might have raised my voice, but that is because I was upset. Perhaps after all we should not rush matters and wait until the period of mourning is over.’
He swore. ‘You would drive me away, Jane, have me believe a marriage between us is not what you want after all.’
Instantly she changed her mind. ‘I did not say that. I do believe a match between us is the right way for us to go. What about waiting until May? The evenings will be long then and the roads fit to travel, as well as there being more food available.’
‘But May is more than a month away,’ protested Nicholas. ‘Why is it that you women have to keep changing your minds?’
Her eyes widened. ‘I would that you would not lump me with the whole female race. It is not surprising in our case that I cannot make up my mind what is right and best. I certainly do not wish the preparations for our wedding to be rushed. What will people think?’ She almost said that her last wedding was rushed and folk must have gossiped. Fortunately she managed to bite on her tongue. ‘Now if you don’t mind I will take Matilda to Anna and when I return we will have supper,’ she added hastily. ‘We can discuss this another time.’
As she made for the door, the children entered. She paused to watch their reaction to Nicholas. As she expected, as soon as they saw him they hurried over to him.
‘We thought you might die when you swooned and we didn’t want you to die,’ said Margaret, beaming at him. ‘You gave us such a fright.’
‘I swear I will not do so again,’ said Nicholas gravely.
‘And you will not be leaving for a long time?’ asked Elizabeth, hopping from one foot to another.
‘No, and when I do, I have no intention of going without your mother or you children,’ said Nicholas, glancing over at Jane.
‘You mean you will take us with you?’ asked James, looking delighted and hugging his leg.
‘Aye.’
‘Are you going to marry Mama?’ asked Margaret seriously.
‘That is my plan.’
Elizabeth turned to Jane. ‘Mama, you must say aye.’
‘I have not said no,’ she said, giving Nicholas a look of reproof. Why could he not be patient? ‘But the date must wait. Do not forget we are still in a period of mourning for your father. Now you two younger ones warm yourselves by the fire. The evening has turned chilly again. Margaret, get Simon and come with me to Anna’s house.’
She watched Elizabeth and James hurry over to the fire. They kept glancing at Nicholas as if they could still not quite believe they could be having a man living with them who would protect and provide for them in the future. Such a man that they could be proud of, no doubt. Hopefully he would not disappoint them by finding living within the confines of a family too mundane and want to go off on his travels again. Suddenly she was filled with excitement at the thought of changes ahead, even though the next moment she had more misgivings.
‘I’m ready, Mama,’ said Margaret, approaching with Simon in her arms. Jane opened the door and the two of them went out.
As soon as the door closed behind them, James and Elizabeth, who had been whispering together, hastened over to Nicholas where he was sitting in a chair. ‘Is there aught I can get for you, Master Hurst?’ she asked, resting a hand on the arm of the chair.
‘No, Elizabeth. I am content to sit here and wait for your mother’s return.’
James leaned again Nicholas’s knee. ‘Will we live here when you and Mama are married, Master Hurst?’ he asked doubtfully. ‘It’s not a big house.’
Nicholas placed a hand on the boy’s head. ‘Would you like to move to a larger house, James?’
He nodded. ‘If it does not cost too much.’
Nicholas smiled. ‘I am glad your mother has taught you to consider such factors at such a young age. I tell you that I already have two houses and they are not such a great distance from each other that we cannot spend time in both.’
‘You must be very rich,’ said the boy, his eyes wide.
‘Are they near Oxford, Master Hurst?’ asked Elizabeth eagerly.
Nicholas hesitated. ‘Perhaps you are thinking that you would like to live near your Aunt Becky and Uncle Pip? If so, I deem that you will have to give up such a dream and make do with visiting them just now and again.’
Elizabeth looked disappointed, but James said, ‘Where will we live, Master Hurst?’
Nicholas lifted the boy onto his knee. ‘One house is in Bristol, which is a port and approximately three days’ journey away from here, depending on the state of the roads and the weather. The other is outside the town and nearer to the sea. Does that appeal to you?’
James crinkled his snub nose. ‘I’ve never seen the sea, but I know it is dangerous because of what Aunt Becky read to us of your adventures. I am not sure I will like it.’
Nicholas had foreseen such a reaction and knew he must reassure the lad. ‘All life can be dangerous, James, that is why one must take care and watch one’s step and always keep looking and listening. I will take you to see the sea before too long and you will realise not only its power, but also its beauty.’ He changed the subject. ‘But now I can smell your mother’s chicken broth. Are you hungry?’
Both children nodded and Nicholas rose from his chair. Within a short space of time the two children were seated at the table, eating their supper. Having decided he would await Jane’s return before having his meal, Nicholas left them alone and sat by the fire, staring into the flames. His shoulder throbbed painfully, but his megrim had eased and he was able to think more clearly about the message he was to send with Matt to Pip. He decided he would mention his plan to marry Jane, as well as the attack on him and of the women who had visited Mortimer’s manor and what the elder one had said about Matilda. He must not forget to ask whether his brother had heard aught about Tomas Vives. There was something else, too, he intended asking him, but at the moment he could not remember what it was.
Chapter Seven
By the time Jane and Margaret returned night had fallen. Elizabeth and James had settled on their pallets in front of the fire and were asleep. Nicholas thought Jane appeared distracted and, telling her that the children had been hungry so he had fed them, he asked if all was well with Anna and her family. Jane nodded, then she told him that Anna’s husband had granted his permission for his wife to stay here overnight.
His brow puckered. ‘You thought that necessary to protect your reputation?’
‘I do not want us to be the object of unsavoury gossip,’ she said hastily. ‘I also remembered to remind Matt about the care of your horse, but he told me that you had already done so and that he was to borrow it to travel to Greenwich on the morrow.’
He nodded. ‘I will need to exchange a gold coin.’
‘I have already paid Anna’s husband for her to stay here this night.’
Nicholas thanked her and handed most of his remaining small coinage to her. She placed it in a pot. ‘Sooner or later, Nicholas, we will have to hire another wet nurse for Matilda and Simon.’
He nodded. ‘I have already realised that. Do you know any women able to take on such a position living in the area?’
Jane nodded. ‘
There are several professional wet nurses used by the gentry in this shire, but I believe they are paid at least three pounds a year. The difficulty is not whether they are able to take on the role, but whether they would be willing to move.’
‘Are these women married?’
‘Aye, and I believe their husbands deem their role worthwhile—although it does mean them giving birth at least every other year in order for them to have a sufficient supply of milk.’
Nicholas ran a hand through his hair. ‘I never considered any of this when I decided to take on the responsibility for Matilda.’
Jane said lightly, ‘It is not usually the province of men to concern themselves with such matters. If only Berthe could have been trusted. Anyway, it is something we are going to have to give thought to before too long. If Ned could spare Tabitha, I would have her come to live with us whilst he is at court. She is still nursing Edward and so hopefully she would have sufficient milk.’
‘I will mention it in my missive to Pip.’
She nodded, hoping that Ned would agree to being parted from his wife and son. There was something solid and reliable about Tabitha.
After that Nicholas told Jane about his having spoken to Elizabeth and James about moving to Bristol and their reaction. ‘Elizabeth would have liked to have returned to Oxford and James is worried about the sea being a dangerous place. His mistrust apparently is due to what Rebecca has read to you of my adventures.’ He pulled a face.
‘That doesn’t surprise me,’ said Jane, stifling a yawn, thinking it was too late to say anything amiss about that now. This day seemed to have gone on for ever. ‘I will not ask how you plan to reassure him,’ she murmured.
Nicholas was glad about that because it needed some thought and besides, there was a question he must ask her. ‘What about the constable? Has Anna’s husband managed to get in touch with him?’
Jane groaned. ‘I forgot to ask and he did not mention it. I will speak of it to Anna when she comes.’
* * *
After that, she suggested that they have supper. She had watched him eat and was glad he appeared to have a good appetite. He praised her cooking and she thought how swiftly life could change in such a short time. It seemed longer than yesterday since Nicholas had collapsed and she feared he might die. Sleep was the great healer, she remembered her mother saying when she was a girl.
They did not converse much at table, although Nicholas suggested to Jane that she and Margaret should take the bed whilst he slept downstairs on a pallet. Instantly Jane shook her head. ‘That will not do, you are forgetting that Anna is to stay overnight and will be down here with the babies. Besides, you must not overtax your strength and it will be more comfortable for you in bed. Fortunately the weather is improving so it is not so cold upstairs as it has been during the winter.’
He would have argued with her, but he understood her reasoning and so fell in with her wishes. He bid her goodnight, kissing her lightly on the lips as he did so before going upstairs. She stared after him for a moment before taking out her account book and writing down the amount of money she had spent that day. Then she sat, considering what another house move would entail and the pitfalls that might be involved.
There came a knock at the door and she guessed it would be Anna. She welcomed her inside and they settled the babies in the cradle and then, over a tot of apple brandy, they talked in low voices as women do about matters close to their hearts. To Jane’s surprise Anna returned some coin to her and told her that she could not stay the night after all as her husband had had an accident and cut two of his fingers.
‘I’m sorry, Jane, but I am really needed at home. He cannot prepare the bread dough for the oven as the cuts are too painful. Our eldest son will do the bulk of the work, but he cannot do it all. If you are in agreement, I will take Master Hurst’s daughter back with me and return at dawn for Simon,’ she suggested. ‘I will use the back door. No one is going to think the worse of you for Master Hurst staying under your roof, knowing that he is wounded and the pair of you will shortly be getting married.’
Jane had no option but to accept Anna’s words, so she saw her out with Matilda. She decided it would be pointless to inform Nicholas of the change of plan at this late hour, so she unfolded her pallet and covered herself with a blanket. It was only as she was on the edge of sleep did she remember she had forgotten again to ask whether Anna’s husband had heard from the constable.
* * *
It seemed hours later that Jane was disturbed by the sound of a door opening. She murmured Anna’s name, but had difficulty opening her eyes. She thought her neighbour answered her and so drifted back into slumber.
She was roused for a second time by a hand on her shoulder and an urgent voice saying, ‘Jane, where is Simon? I have come to collect him and he is not in his cradle.’
Instantly Jane was wide awake. The room was full of sunshine and she could hear the children stirring. ‘What’s happening?’ asked Margaret sleepily.
Jane blinked up at Anna. ‘I heard you come in earlier. Did you not take him then?’
‘No! I was kept busy with the baking and then I fed Matilda, changed her and I have come straight here to collect Simon.’
Fear gripped Jane and she pushed back the blanket and stood up. She stumbled over to the cradle and stared down at where her son had lain last night. ‘Who could have taken him?’ she gasped.
‘Perhaps he is with Master Hurst?’ suggested Margaret. ‘Maybe he heard him crying in the night and came downstairs?’
Jane thought it unlikely, convinced she had heard a woman’s voice earlier. But remembering how Nicholas had tried to tend his daughter yesterday when she had been crying, she rushed upstairs despite knowing she was clutching at straws. She found him sitting on the bed, attempting to pull on a boot. There was no sign of her son. Her face crumbled and she sank onto the bed.
Nicholas stared at her with concern. ‘What’s wrong?’
‘Simon has disappeared!’ she croaked, her voice raw with emotion.
Nicholas dropped the boot and slid an arm about her waist. ‘What about Anna? Isn’t he with her?’
‘There was a change of plan. Her husband cut his fingers so needed Anna’s help.’ Her voice shook. ‘She decided to keep Matilda with her and to bring her back in time for Simon’s morning feed. It was Anna who woke me and told me he wasn’t in his cradle!’ A sob burst in her throat. ‘I—I thought I heard a noise earlier and presumed it was Anna, but I was so tired. It was such a long day yesterday that I just went to sleep again. If only I had woken up properly, I would have seen who has taken him. What am I to do?’ she cried, clutching Nicholas’s shirt front.
‘Hush now,’ he said, kissing her forehead and covering her shaking hand with his own. ‘Let me think.’
‘What is the use of thinking? I should have made sure both doors were bolted. A woman got into the house and stole him away!’
His fingers tightened on her hand, almost crushing it. ‘Aye, but if she was who I’m thinking she was, then she made a mistake and took the wrong baby.’
‘You mean she thought Simon was your daughter?’ said Jane in a trembling voice, catching on quickly.
‘Aye! Was it still dark when you thought you heard Anna?’
She tried to think, but her head was in a whirl.
‘Well?’ he asked.
‘I can’t think straight,’ she wailed.
‘Breathe slowly and try not to panic.’ He held her tightly against him, not wanting to believe what was happening. She dropped her head on his shoulder and attempted to do what he suggested and suddenly her head cleared. ‘It was still dark.’
‘And I presume she was able to get into the house because you left the door unlocked for Anna to enter?’
Jane nodded. ‘It was her suggestion that I did so.’
‘I wonder which one took him,’ said Nicholas slowly.
Jane drew away from him, remembering what Anthony had told her yesterday. ‘You mean wh
ether it was Berthe or the older woman?’
His expression was grim. ‘Aye. I would prefer it to be Berthe. For all she appeared to have betrayed me, she was fond of Matilda and, having lost her own child, my daughter filled a place in her heart.’
‘And the other woman?’
His shoulders slumped. ‘I don’t know. A strange occurrence happened yesterday whilst I was standing at the window. I thought I saw a woman whose figure and gait seemed familiar, but I could not see her clearly so as to distinguish her features.’
Jane started at him in disbelief. ‘What is this you’re saying? You think you saw the woman who was involved in the attack on you?’
Nicholas said, exasperated, ‘No. I did not see her clearly enough during the attack to recognise her. And yesterday I received just a vague impression of someone I knew to be dead.’
For several moments Jane could only stare at him and then she said, ‘You mean this woman was a ghost?’
Nicholas grimaced. ‘I know. It’s madness. I decided the bang on the head could have made me hallucinate.’
‘Who was this ghost? Why did you not mention her to me at the time?’
‘You distracted me with other matters when you came into the room, so she went out of my mind.’
‘So I am to blame for what’s happened!’ cried Jane, clapping a hand to her head.
‘You’re putting words into my mouth. Now be quiet and let me think.’ His lean weatherbeaten features were tight with concentration. ‘It couldn’t have been Louise who took Simon, so I deem it was probably Berthe who took him by mistake. We just have to find her.’
‘What do you mean it couldn’t have been Louise?’
‘I thought I saw Louise, but I was obviously hallucinating.’
Jane hated that he was imagining he saw Louise, but all that mattered right now was getting Simon back and that meant finding Berthe.
‘Berthe could have seen you standing at this window, but to take such a chance and enter the house knowing it was occupied?’ exclaimed Jane, starting to her feet.
