by Stella Riley
He gave the ghost of a laugh.
‘One or two.’
‘Quite. So if you’ll refrain from prying into my affairs, I won’t ask why you’re hot-footing it round the country enquiring about dead men.’ She smiled disquietingly. ‘I’ll even promise not to ask Father.’
Luciano remained complete unperturbed.
‘It wouldn’t do you much good if you did. Are you going? If so, goodnight – and goodbye.’
Kate promptly sat down yet again and broke all her rules.
‘The country is heaving with troops and you’ve just been as sick as a dog. You can’t still mean to go to Oxford!’
‘Why not? In fact, since it hardly seems worth going to bed now, I can start even earlier than I’d planned.’
‘Fine.’ She folded her hands carefully together and laid them on the table. ‘And I’ll make such a noise about tonight that Mother will do the ear-boxing you don’t want done – metaphorically or otherwise.’
She had anticipated the silence but not the look in his eyes; and when he didn’t reply, she was finally driven to say, ‘Well? Will you do yourself the favour of getting some sleep?’
‘I don’t respond to threats,’ he informed her silkily. ‘And neither do I need you to decide what I should or should not do.’
‘You need someone – and, just now, I’m all you’ve got.’ She drew a ragged breath and forgot to shield her expression. ‘I’m only trying to make you see sense.’
‘Are you? Somehow I don’t think so.’ The force with which he rose sent his stool screeching over the flagstones. ‘How many times must I say it? For a number of very good reasons, I am not available. And this kind of thing can’t go on.’
Later, she would realise how easily she could – and should – have dissembled. Instead, she opened her mouth on the first thought that came into her head.
‘I know that. Why else do you think I said I’d marry Kit Clifford?’
Catastrophe yawned all around them. Kate shut her eyes. Then, ‘Oh Christ,’ said Luciano wearily. ‘Not clever, Caterina. Not clever at all. If you wanted to call me a bastard, all you had to do was say it … remembering, of course, that it takes one to know one.’
And walked quietly away, leaving her alone.
* * *
There was no possibility of sleep after that and neither did the dawn bring counsel. Kate rose early with shadows under her eyes, a lead weight in her chest and just one question beating sickeningly in her brain. What have I done?
Once downstairs, however, she was given little time to brood. First there was Goodwife Flossing demanding to know who had been wasting precious spices on undrunk possets … and then, almost before Kate had finished apologising, Dorothy appeared in the hall.
‘I see,’ she said wryly, ‘that you didn’t sleep either. Do you think it would be asking for trouble if we sent Nathan to find out what’s happening?’
‘There’s no point. Unless the signor’s already left, Selim was keeping his ear to the ground in the village and I’ve had one or other of the Woodley brothers watching the Southam road since yesterday. So if there was anything to know, presumably we’d --’
She broke off in response to an urgent hammering on the door and moved swiftly to release bar and bolt.
Selim stood on the doorstep – a fact which immediately told her than Luciano must still be in the house. But in the face of the Turk’s obvious agitation, this was plainly not the moment to think of that. She said flatly, ‘What’s happened?’
‘The Roundheads have come and the King’s men are marching to meet them,’ came the equally bald reply. ‘I think they will fight.’
An unpleasant plummeting sensation took place behind Kate’s ribs and she turned to stare mutely at her mother.
‘He’d better come in,’ said Dorothy, in a voice what was not quite her own. And, when he had done so, ‘Now. Tell us everything you know.’
‘As soon as the light came,’ explained Selim, ‘I rode to the next village – the one named Cropredy – to see if there were soldiers. I found many. They were getting ready to leave and so I talk to them and ask where they are going. They say they march to meet Prince Rupert’s men because the Roundheads have come in the night to Kineton.’
‘I see.’ Dorothy drew a long breath. ‘And where exactly are the King and his nephew planning to meet?’
‘By the Vale of the Red Horse … in the place which is called Edgehill.’
‘Edgehill.’ Kate’s eyes locked once more with her mother’s. ‘And Lord Essex is at Kineton. This is it, isn’t it? And we’re going to be able to hear the guns from here.’
There was silence. Then Dorothy said, ‘Eden must be there. And Tom Tripp and all our people.’
‘I know.’ Kate looked sick.
Selim glanced uncomfortably from one to the other of them. Then he said diffidently, ‘Is it possible I can speak with my master?’
‘He’s still asleep.’ Kate tried to pull herself together. ‘And with two armies on the move, I wouldn’t have thought today an especially good time to leave for Oxford.’
‘No. This is what I have come to say.’
‘In which case, it hardly seems necessary to wake him. And in the meantime, I’d be grateful if you rode up the lane to the road and brought back the man you’ll find there – if only he hasn’t perished in this frost. Then, when you come back, there will be breakfast for you both in the kitchen.’
Mention of breakfast made the moustaches quiver.
‘A thousand thanks, hanım-efendi. I will go at once.’
‘There is,’ said Kate austerely, ‘just one more thing. Stay away from Meg and keep your hands to yourself in general. Otherwise, I’ll personally feed you to the pigs.’
When he had gone, Dorothy looked thoughtfully at her daughter and said, ‘Why are we trying to stop Signor del Santi from leaving?’
‘We’re not.’ Kate kept her expression perfectly blank. ‘But a small delay can’t matter. And who’s to say we may not find a use for him before the day is out?’
* * *
Afterwards, Kate always thought of that day as the one on which the war truly started. It was Sunday but no one went to church. Instead, Dorothy gathered her household for the usual morning prayers and then, as calmly and simply as she could, told them the news.
The little scullery-maid burst into tears, Celia dropped her prayer-book and Gianetta crossed herself. It was the last of these, Kate suspected, that inspired Mr Cresswell to fall on his knees and exhort them all to join him in praying for Lord Essex’s triumph. Dorothy, however, nipped this overture firmly in the bud by saying coolly, ‘Most commendable, Nathan. But it seems to me that this is less a moment to ask for victory than for the preservation of those we love … and that is something we can each do best in our own way.’
It was not until everyone was dispersing to attend to their various duties that Kate saw Luciano standing quietly in the doorway, listening. He looked a little drawn but otherwise fully restored; and, her heart sinking still further, she thought dismally, Oh God. Please let him not have believed me. Or if he did and he’s going to say something dreadful, please let him not do it now for them all to hear. Today’s likely to be quite bad enough without personal humiliation as well.
Perhaps Luciano was aware of this … or perhaps he had other reasons altogether. At any rate, he did not so much as glance in her direction but confined himself to exchanging a few words with Dorothy about the news Selim had brought, before drawing Gianetta to one side for a rather longer and less audible conversation from which she emerged faintly pink and more than usually subdued. Then he summoned Selim from the kitchen and took him off in the direction of the stables.
The morning dragged by on leaden feet. Kate spent most of it greasing the mechanisms of the small collection of firearms left by Eden, in between lurking at any window that afforded a view of the lane. By the time the family assembled for the noon-day meal, they were still no wiser than they’d been fiv
e hours earlier and Kate was forced to take the risk of asking her mother what had become of their guest.
‘I don’t know. He said he was going to see what’s going on. Presumably he’ll come back when he has something to tell us.’
‘Well, I wish he’d hurry up,’ grumbled Tabitha. ‘I don’t know why – but all I can think about is Eden, wearing his new sash.’
‘It seems to me,’ remarked Celia pettishly. ‘that stupid sash is the only thing you care about.’
‘Does it?’ Fatigue and strain were taking their toll on Kate’s temper and she came abruptly to her feet. ‘And what, may we ask, do you care about?’
The afternoon passed no quicker than the morning. Wrapped in a thick cloak, Kate took her ill-humour to the top of the gatehouse and paced up and down its brief length until her head started to spin. And then she heard it; a deep, distant thud, repeated over and over.
She froze, her fingers tightening painfully on the stone. Nothing to see, of course … nothing even to hear but for that irregular, menacing boom. But imagination was a terrible thing; and worse still was the knowledge that they were all over the cliff with a vengeance now and that, whatever happened today at Edgehill, nothing would ever be the same again.
A pall of silence grew in the house as the light began to fail. Candles were lit, curtains reluctantly drawn and they all assembled once more for a meal which nobody really wanted. And then, just as they were about to rise from the table, came the long-awaited sound of hooves on the cobbles.
‘Thank goodness!’ said Tabitha in heartfelt tones. ‘That will be Mr Santi. Now at last we’ll know what’s happening.’
Kate did not speak. Without stopping to think, she was out of her seat and into the hall to throw open the door.
He looked cold … but that was to be expected. What she hadn’t expected was to see something in his face that effectively prevented all the obvious questions and caused her to say merely, ‘Give me your cloak and come in to the fire. Where’s Selim?’
‘Stabling the horses – after which I’ve told him to go to the kitchen.’ His voice was remote and his manner uncharacteristically passive. Looking down at his boots, he said, ‘I’m rather dirty, I’m afraid.’
‘It doesn’t matter,’ she began. And then, ‘But go and change, if you wish. I’ll have some brandy sent up to you.’
His smile was faintly twisted.
‘That is the best offer I’ve had all day – but I’d better not take it. You will want the news. And if I go to my room with a bottle, I may not come out again.’
‘Then you’d better get it over with,’ said Kate. And led him in to face the others.
As usual, Celia sat idly by the hearth, watching Tabitha and Gianetta clearing the board of half-empty plates while Dorothy set a fresh place for the signor and put the chicken fricassée within reach. When he entered the room, all four looked across at him and Dorothy immediately saw the same thing that had struck Kate. It brought her the nearest she had ever been to liking him.
‘Come and sit down,’ she said. ‘There is food if you want it.’
‘Thank you.’ He eyed the chicken without enthusiasm. ‘Perhaps later? And, in the meantime, while I tell you what I can, there was some mention of brandy …?’
‘Here it is.’ Kate poured a generous measure and set the squat green bottle down at his elbow. ‘Take your time. We’ve waited all day – so a few more minutes won’t kill us.’
Luciano downed half the glass in one swallow and waited while the warmth of it began to invade his veins. Then he said slowly, ‘I imagine you already know there was a battle. It finally began at around two this afternoon on the ground between Kineton and Radway. Selim and I watched it as best we could from Avon Dasset. There was some artillery fire; then a troop of Parliamentary Horse appeared to change sides … and after that, the Royalist Horse made a charge that scattered half of Essex’s cavalry and part of his Foot as well. The chase seemed to go on for miles. Meanwhile, the other wing of the King’s cavalry also charged – and also disappeared from the field.’ He paused and took another drink. ‘After that, both lots of infantry became engaged and everything got rather confusing – or so it appeared to me. But then, I’m no expert. Suffice it to say that other Parliamentary regiments arrived on the scene and the King looked to be in some difficulty until part of his Horse returned to assist him. And then it got dark.’
There was a long silence when he stopped speaking but eventually Kate said baldly, ‘Who won?’
‘I don’t know. It didn’t look to me as if anyone did … but I don’t know how these things are measured. So far as I could tell, no ground was either gained or lost today. And when I left, it looked as though both armies were preparing to spend the night more or less where they were.’
‘But it’s so cold!’ exclaimed Tabitha, shocked.
‘Yes.’ He stared grimly into his glass for a moment before draining it.
Kate reached out and refilled it, leaving her mother to say flatly, ‘I’m sure you would rather spare us the details – just as we ourselves would wish to be spared. But one thing we must know. How great were the – the casualties?’
He met her gaze sombrely.
‘Heavy on both sides, I would guess. The field was littered … though how many were dead, it’s impossible to say.’
‘I see.’ Dorothy swallowed but managed to keep her voice lever. ‘I don’t suppose you saw anything of Eden?’
‘No. I’m sorry. We were quite some distance away and the various colours mean nothing to me. I could perhaps have gone down when it was over and tried asking - but the confusion was such that I doubt it would have proved helpful.’ He stopped and then, on a sudden explosion of breath, said, ‘Hell! That’s a lie, of course. I didn’t go down because I didn’t think my stomach would stand it. And I ought to warn you that, if I’m not to disgrace myself still further, someone had better remove that damned chicken.’
~ * * ~ * * ~
FIVE
Having taken the bottle to bed with him and finished it, Luciano awoke next morning with knives grinding inside his head. He decided, quite sensibly, to stay where he was – and ten minutes later a gentle tap at the door was followed by Gianetta’s head.
‘May I come in?’
‘Can I stop you?’ She had spoken in Italian and, closing his eyes again, he answered her in the same. ‘I hope you haven’t brought me anything to eat or drink – because a refusal, as they say, often offends.’
She put the laden tray carefully down on the clothes chest.
‘That’s why I came. I wanted to apologise.’
‘Did you? Why?’
‘You know why. Because that emetic was a stupid, childish trick and if I’d thought for even a minute, I wouldn’t have done it. Only I didn’t think. I just lost my temper because you didn’t trust me enough to give me Mario’s letter till after you were sure he was already married. And now I’m sorry.’
He opened his eyes and, not without difficulty, forced them to focus on her.
‘Have you been talking to Kate?’ Then, when she looked completely blank, ‘Obviously not. So why are you honouring me with an apology?’
Gianetta sighed and sat down on the edge of the bed.
‘It was partly what you said yesterday about trying to do your best for me. I suppose that’s always been true … only it was easier for me not to believe it.’ She hesitated, toying restlessly with her rosary. ‘I can’t really remember that time after Father died and you and Mother and I left for Genoa.’
‘That,’ he remarked rather grimly, ‘is just as well.’
‘Is it? I used to think so. Indeed, I don’t think I really wanted to remember it. Only, perhaps if I had, I wouldn’t have taken so long to remember that you are my brother.’
Very, very cautiously, Luciano sat up. He said, ‘It wasn’t your fault that you forgot. Vittorio and I did that between us. If you remember it now, that’s enough.’
‘Perhaps.’ She raised doubtful
eyes to his face. ‘But in all the senses that matter, we’re almost strangers. And last night I realised that it should not be so - particularly now.’
‘You’re worried about mild regret becoming life-long guilt? Don’t. I have no intention of dying.’
‘I’m glad.’ She smiled a little. ‘But don’t misunderstand. I’d like to know you better and hope that, in time we can have the kind of relationship we’d have had if things had been different. But I still don’t want to live with you in London; and --’
‘That’s fortunate – because I wasn’t about to ask you.’ He met her gaze wryly. ‘Mea culpa. Perhaps in future I should correct your misconceptions. But if it interests you, I’m well aware that you’re better off here – mainly because life in London is likely to become rather uncomfortable. And I may not be there much myself.’
She considered this and then said unexpectedly, ‘You’re doing something more than merely running your business, aren’t you?’
‘Yes. And one day I’ll tell you about it. But not yet.’ His tone was pleasant but final. ‘I believe you had a second point to make?’
‘Yes. I want you to try talking to me before you interfere with my life. I’ve grown up, Luciano – and you may find I’m less stupid than you think.’
The knives were still grinding and it was an effort to smile but he did it anyway.
‘You’re asking me to be less high-handed … and I’ll promise to try. But on one condition.’
‘Which is?’
He sighed and lay down again.
‘Find somebody who knows how to make a tisane. My skull’s splitting.’
* * *
Gianetta eventually passed on an edited account of their conversation to Tabitha. Consequently, by the time Kate was told of the budding rapprochement, she had spent several hours viewing the new, inexplicable cordiality with suspicion and wondering precisely what had caused the signor to delay his departure for yet another day.
