“I am sorry, Mrs. Muir,” said Percy. “I had no idea. Can nothing be done for him?”
“Nothing but what the good Lord Himself can do. My dear man is in His hands now.”
A few moments of reflective silence fell as they sipped at their tea.
“Is there anything he needs?” asked Percy at length. “Medications or the like, anything I might be able to obtain for you?”
“That is very kind of ye, Mr. Drummond,” replied Stevie’s mother. “With my man the way he is, we do struggle a bit to keep up with the garden and what things we are able to grow. The work’s a little much for just the two of us now, and Stevie’s got his hands full with the sheep and cows and chickens. But my brother helps us now and then, as he is able. That’s Gwyneth’s papa. With my daughter gone, Gwyneth comes and helps me clean the house. Don’t you, darling?” she said, turning to Gwyneth with a smile. “We do right well, don’t we, Stevie? We are more blessed than we can imagine. Stevie’s sister, ye see, is a servant at Burrenchobay Hall. It isn’t much Sir Armond can pay her, ye see, for he isn’t of old money like Lord Snowdon. But what my Gracie gets she brings home to us, and we’ve mostly got all we need.”
“If there ever is anything I can do,” said Percy, then glanced toward Stevie, “you come to the manor, Stevie. You find me.”
Stevie nodded. They chatted for another fifteen or twenty minutes.
At length they finished their tea and Percy glanced at Gwyneth. “Actually,” he said, “Gwyneth and I came up here for what I must confess is an ulterior motive. Gwyneth has been giving me riding lessons.”
“Has she now?” said Mrs. Muir.
“Galloping lessons, actually. I’m not so good on the back of a horse. Florilyn took me out a few weeks ago and succeeded in getting me both thrown and lost. Gwyneth told me she could teach me to ride fast enough that I could beat my cousin in a race. She said there is a place nearby where she wants me to practice.”
“The meadow on the way to the lake, Stevie,” said Gwyneth.
“Are you really going to race Miss Florilyn again?” asked Stevie enthusiastically.
“That is my plan,” answered Percy. “She doesn’t know it yet.”
“I would love to see that!”
“Then you will definitely be notified of time and place!” Percy laughed. “But bring your bandages and smelling salts in case I end up on the ground again.”
“You will win, Percy,” said Gwyneth confidently.
“How can you be so certain?”
“I have seen you both ride. You are almost as fast already. You will win.”
“I didn’t know you were such an expert teacher, Gwyneth,” said Stevie. “May I go with you? I might learn something myself.”
The three young people rose.
“Thank you for the tea and bread, Auntie,” said Gwyneth.
“Yes, thank you,” added Percy, shaking the hand of Gwyneth’s aunt. He walked across the room and again took Mr. Muir’s limp hand. “Good-bye, Mr. Muir,” he said.
“Are you the one from the manor?” asked the old man faintly. He glanced up but could not quite focus on Percy where he stood before him.
“Yes, sir.”
“Did the viscount send you?”
“No, sir. I came to visit your son and wife.”
“I have a son?”
“Yes, sir. Stevie.”
He mumbled a few unintelligible words, and then his eyes glazed over again.
The three young people left the cottage.
“I will run ahead,” said Stevie. “It’s only about a mile.” He turned and broke into a gentle loping stride away from the cottage.
Percy and Gwyneth remounted Grey Tide and set off at a leisurely pace after him. They arrived at the meadow ten minutes later.
For the next hour, both Stevie and Gwyneth coached Percy as he galloped back and forth over the grassy terrain. He was eventually comfortable enough to try jumping a tiny stream and did so several times without incident. Whenever he glanced over at Gwyneth, she reminded him, by extending her elbows and gently rocking them up and down, to feel the motion of the horse beneath him and to move in oneness with it.
When they were through, Gwyneth pronounced him ready, though Percy was still not altogether convinced.
41
Picnic in the Hills
Rhawn Lorimer had not been pleased with Percy’s rebuff on market day. She had been stewing and scheming ever since how she might try her wiles on him again. That Courtenay’s sister was so obviously uninterested left the field wide open for her to pursue him.
There remained the mystery of the strange floral bouquets to get to the bottom of. She still had not made the connection in her mind between Percy’s bouquet in the shop and the village witch-child. But whoever the secret girl was for whom Percy had bought the ribbon, Rhawn had no doubt that he could be enticed to forget her. But she had to get him alone.
And she couldn’t help it—she was jealous of Florilyn. After what he had done in the village, what a goose not to see that he was crazy about her. Percy’s words still annoyed her that he wouldn’t risk a fight for her. It made Rhawn all the more determined to win him over.
She did not lose much sleep speculating on what would be the result to Percy from Courtenay if she was successful, Boys had to be able to take care of themselves about summed up her thoughts on the matter. Alongside Courtenay’s view that girls ought to come to him, the two were ideally matched for one another in conceit.
Thus Rhawn Lorimer’s machinations continued. Every time she went near the manor, however, ostensibly to see Florilyn but keeping an eagle eye out for her cousin, there was no sign of him. And Courtenay always insisted on hanging around.
One day late in July, with high summer abroad throughout North Wales, Rhawn Lorimer decided that she would lure the rivals out for a ride. She would use Florilyn as the pawn for her stratagems. From certain comments from her friend, she gathered that the animosity between she and Percy had begun to wane. That fact concerned her more than a little. She had to act before it went too far and Florilyn took it into her head to return Percy’s attentions.
Rhawn appeared at Westbrooke Manor midway through the morning. “Florilyn,” she said excitedly, “it is a gorgeous warm day. I’m going to ask Courtenay to go for a ride toward the mountains. I haven’t been into the hills for longer than I can remember. Do you want to go? Let’s take a picnic lunch!”
“Why would I want to go with you and Courtenay?” replied Florilyn. “I don’t want to tag along with the two of you. Haven’t you heard about three’s a crowd? Courtenay would hate me.”
“It would be more fun with you along.”
“Maybe for you!”
“Well … perhaps it wasn’t such a good idea,” sulked Rhawn.
“Why don’t you just go without me?”
“I don’t know,” rejoined Rhawn hesitantly. “Courtenay’s been, I don’t know … a little funny lately. I don’t know if he would be such good company by himself.”
They were silent a moment. Rhawn was clearly disappointed.
“I’ve got an idea,” said Florilyn. “I could see if Percy wants to go … that is, if you don’t mind.”
“Oh … okay—that sounds all right. Then we would each have someone to ride with. Do you think he would?”
“I’ll ask him. He went to his room after breakfast. I think he’s still there. He reads a lot,” she added, as if the idea of reading a book was repulsive. Florilyn bounded out of the room and ran down the hall.
Percy’s initial reaction when Florilyn appeared at his door was not promising.
“Courtenay and Rhawn are going for a ride—do you want to go?” Florilyn asked.
He met her words with a blank stare. “Why would I want to go riding with them?” he asked.
“You’ll go with me. I’m going, too.”
Percy shook his head. Rhawn Lorimer was dangerous. He wanted nothing to do with her … especially with Courtenay watching
him like a hawk. “I’m sorry,” he said, “but the book I’m in the middle of will be better company than those two.”
“Please, Percy,” said Florilyn. “It will be fun.”
“Look, Florilyn, I don’t want to do anything to irritate your brother. When it comes to Rhawn Lorimer, Courtenay is very edgy. Believe me, he won’t want me around.”
“I won’t let him do anything to you.”
“How will you stop him?” smiled Percy sardonically.
“He’s not going to beat you up again with the two of us there.”
“You’re probably right.”
“Come on … please!”
“All right.” He nodded. “But you’d better keep Courtenay off me!” he added with a laugh.
It was soon arranged. Within half an hour, the four horses were saddled, Mrs. Drynwydd had packed a lunch and they set off.
Rhawn was in high spirits. It was obvious from the beginning that she intended to pay as much attention to Percy as to Courtenay.
Percy regretted his decision before the roof of the manor was out of sight behind them. He did his best to keep as far away from her as possible. He was hampered in this effort in that he was still not as skilled on uneven ground as the other three. But his skills had improved sufficiently that he mostly managed to keep one of his cousins between himself and Rhawn as they made their way eastward into the hills. The girls chatted away. Courtenay remained silent. Percy was content to follow his example.
As they went, he recalled a rumor that had come within his hearing in the village of a strange creature that haunted the lake regions of Snowdonia. It was said to walk on two legs and be the terror even of wolves and bears. He could not deny that he was curious to see what substance there was to the stories. He had no reason to trust what the village urchins said. Yet the fact that the younger of them, from reports pressed with great exaggeration upon the ears of their imaginations by older brothers and sisters, were terrified to venture much beyond the north-south road made him wonder what truth might exist in the tales.
A narrowing forced the girls to ride ahead. Percy found himself side by side with Courtenay.
“Is there any truth to the rumors of a lake monster in the mountains?” he asked his cousin.
Courtenay glanced to his side without much expression. “There is talk of it,” he replied. “I’ve not heard it called a monster. Most of the people who claim to have seen it say that the thing is tiny.”
“People have seen it?”
“People have claimed to see it.”
“What do you think?”
“That it’s nonsense. Colville and I have been riding in these hills since we were so high. We’ve never seen anything. That reminds me … we were supposed to take you hunting.”
“No thanks!” Percy laughed. “I don’t think your friend much cares for me. I’m not sure I want to go out in the mountains with him toting a rifle.”
Courtenay smiled wryly. “I see what you mean,” he said. “Yeah, he’s not too fond of you. But I still think the creature talk is rubbish.”
The girls ahead had been listening.
“Don’t be so sure, Courtenay,” said Florilyn over her shoulder. “What about Gwberr-niog?”
“What’s that?” said Percy.
“A water-kelpie who lives in the mountain lakes,” replied Florilyn. “We all grew up hearing about it.”
“Come on, Florilyn,” insisted Courtenay, “you know as well as I do that it’s all nonsense.”
“Who says? I would never ride out here alone at night.”
“I would,” said Rhawn, making sport of the whole thing. “That is … if I could get someone to come with me.”
Neither of the young men was inclined to take the bait.
“You’d be safe enough around here,” said Courtenay. “Gwberr-niog only lives in the lakes farther north.”
“I thought you didn’t believe in him.”
“I don’t. I’m only saying that’s where he is supposed to live.”
“He eats humans, you know,” said Rhawn. “And only comes out at night. That’s when his hunger for human flesh is greatest.”
“Rhawn—ugh,” said Florilyn. “Don’t talk so! You’re going to make me afraid. You’ll ruin our picnic.”
“Nothing can hurt us, Florilyn,” said Rhawn, turning to smile over her shoulder at Courtenay. “We have two brave men to take care of us.” As she turned her head slowly around, she allowed her eyes to linger on Percy’s face with an expression whose meaning was impossible to miss.
Percy glanced hurriedly away and did his best to ignore it.
The route before them widened again. The girls eased back. Again the horses continued along four abreast. They came to a long level pasture.
Suddenly Rhawn bolted. “Race you to the far side!” she cried galloping ahead.
Florilyn on Red Rhud was after her like a flash, with Courtenay, who did not like to be bested on the back of a horse by any girl, at her side.
Percy urged Grey Tide into an easy gallop. Even after his time with Gwyneth near the Muir cottage, he did not care about trying to keep up with the others. In seconds they were thirty yards ahead.
It was exactly as Rhawn had planned it. She knew what the other three were likely to do. As quickly as she bolted, she now abruptly reined in. Florilyn and Courtenay sped by, not immediately apprehending her intent. They were too caught up racing one another to look back.
Rhawn slowed, and Percy drew alongside. She cleverly kept Grey Tide at her side, gradually easing back until both horses had slowed to a trot and finally resumed a comfortable walk. Ahead, the other two sped on.
“So here we are,” said Rhawn, “alone at last.”
“I don’t want us to be alone,” said Percy.
“But I do.”
“I thought you were going for a ride with Courtenay.”
“That was only so I could be with you.”
“You don’t care what Courtenay thinks?”
“No. Why should I? Courtenay’s a bore.”
“That may be,” laughed Percy, though without humor in his tone. “But he’s a bore with a temper.”
Percy realized that it was time he put into practice everything Gwyneth had told him a few days earlier. He dug his heels into Grey Tide’s sides, leaned as far forward as he could, and eased into a gallop.
Rhawn laughed merrily and caught him within seconds. Percy saw he was not about to outrun her. But at least he could make a pretense of trying to keep up with his cousins. They rode up side by side two minutes later to where Courtenay and Florilyn sat waiting.
“I guess I’m not ready for that rematch quite yet, eh, Florilyn!” laughed Percy, trying to divert attention from Courtenay’s suspicious glances.
“You kept in the saddle at least,” she said. “That is an improvement!”
“What’s this about a rematch?” asked Rhawn.
“Nothing,” replied Percy. “Just a private little contest between Florilyn and me, isn’t that right, Florilyn?”
“Percy has challenged me to a race,” said Florilyn in fun, never one to keep anything to herself.
“Which I am obviously not yet ready for!” rejoined Percy.
For the rest of the day, as they ate their picnic lunch, and throughout the entire ride back, Percy remained more on his guard than ever. It was now he who watched Rhawn’s every move like a hawk. She knew what he was doing and enjoyed the cat-and-mouse game immensely. As a result of it, Percy was forced to attempt more conversation with Courtenay. He kept to his side like a twin.
“Is it true that you were in trouble with the police?” Courtenay asked as they rode along.
“I’m afraid so,” replied Courtenay.
“What was it for?”
“Nothing serious. Petty theft. I was stupid. I broke into shops and stole things.”
“Why—I thought your parents were well off.”
“They are. Like I said, I was stupid. It was just for the adventure o
f it. But it was to the point where my father couldn’t protect me any longer. I was close to getting thrown into jail.”
“You were actually … arrested?’“
“Not exactly. Most of the policemen knew my father. They usually brought me home with stern words and warnings. But for my father’s sake, they let me off. You know how it is. I imagine if you got in trouble, Rhawn’s father wouldn’t send you up for a stretch in Dartmoor.”
Another smile creased Courtenay’s lips. “Don’t be too sure,” he said.
Percy laughed. “What do you mean?”
“You know fathers—no young man is ever good enough for their little girls.”
“I see,” chuckled Percy. “Well, I suppose it is to your advantage that your fathers are friends.”
“Maybe … Now all I have to do is keep her away from you!” said Courtenay with a significant smile.
“Believe me, you have nothing to worry about.”
“So you say.”
“It’s true!” Percy laughed. “Besides, I’ll be gone in a couple of weeks.”
From high in a tree, the four riders were being watched as they went. Gwyneth had in truth been following for some time, running ahead, circling around, taking shortcuts up the steepest of the hills while they rode around them. She could not keep from curiously wondering what Percy was like when with the three older youths. It felt funny in her stomach to see her friend with them. Was he really the same person with them? As the afternoon progressed, she crept ever closer, hoping to catch sight of his face or hear his voice as they passed.
Suddenly Rhawn Lorimer looked up and let out an ear-piercing shriek. “Look, it’s the witch-girl!” she cried, pointing up in the tree ahead of them. “She’s right there. She’s spying on us!”
Courtenay followed her gaze and saw the little miscreant. Filled with rage and immediately assuming his role as presumptive heir and future viscount, he kicked his horse forward. “Come down from there this instant!” he yelled up into the tree.
From Across the Ancient Waters- Wales Page 22
