'Shall I teach you? I have spoken both French and English since I was old enough to speak, having spent half my life in France, and the other half in Ireland or England.'
In this way Philip began to teach Caroline French. She proved an apt pupil, and as they had much time to devote to it, she was soon able to converse in simple language.
Several more weeks went by, and March came. Many of the Royalists were coming back to the capital, cautiously and secretly at first, but as the new Parliament, which met at the end of January, seemed to be engrossed in its constitutional issues, they gradually plucked up courage and came more into the open again. Philip was still cautious, but he allowed Caroline to go out occasionally, as she had been cooped up all the time, while he had been able to venture out at night.
She took the opportunity to go once more to the house in Westminster, to discover whether Hannah's family had returned. To her delight she found the house occupied, and learned from the caretaker that the family was in residence, and not expected to move again for several months. She decided not to contact Hannah then, as she was afraid of being forced to leave Philip. She was reasonably certain she could now find Hannah whenever she needed to, and she went back to her lodging in high spirits.
At the end of March, when life was almost back to normal, Philip was out late one night when a loud knocking came on the door. Bessy went to open it, then came up to Caroline's room to tell her that a gentleman wished to speak to her. Puzzled, and worried, she went downstairs. She had never had a visitor, and could only imagine it was a messenger from Philip. When she came into the room where he was waiting, she recognised him as one of the men Philip had occasionally entertained at the house. He looked ruffled and out of breath.
'You are Charles Martin?'
'Yes. What is it?'
'I come from Philip. We were at the Ring O'Bells when some officers arrested us. I managed to escape through a window before they broke into the room, and Philip charged me to tell you to go at once to his sister's and stay there.'
'No! Philip arrested? What will they do to him? Why did he not escape too?'
'I have letters which it was vital to get away with. There was time for only one of us to escape. The soldiers were in the room as the next man was half over the windowsill. I must go now ere the ports are watched. I have to reach France as soon as possible.'
'Where will he be?'
'In Newgate, most likely.'
Anxious to be gone, he left the room, though Caroline had many more questions to ask him. She followed him to the front door and watched as he melted into the shadows. Then, wild-eyed, she ran to Bessy to tell her of the calamity and beg her advice.
'I must go to him, Bessy. Can I see him if he is there? Tell me what to do!'
Bessy, in her calm, practical way, soothed her, and suggested she waited till morning.
'I will get Jake, who lives further up the street, to go, and make enquiries. You must not go, since they will likely clap you in too as an accomplice, for whatever they think he has done. But Jake has a nephew who is one of the warders, and he could find out for you.'
With this Caroline had to be content, but she fretted anxiously until late the next afternoon, when Bessy came and told her Jake had discovered Philip was indeed in Newgate prison. She began immediately to make plans for his rescue, and Bessy, good hearted and fond of her two lodgers, humoured her, hoping to occupy her mind rather than thinking of success. Caroline ignored completely the instructions to leave London. She loved Philip and had no intention of deserting him now he was in trouble.
*
Chapter 10
Caroline spent most of the time the next day outside Newgate prison. She did not yet have any plan for the rescue of Philip, but needed to see what the prison was like and how it was conducted. She saw much coming and going, and entering into a tavern near by got into conversation with one of the warders who was sitting at a table alone, morosely drinking sack.
He told her, in between hiccups, that visitors were allowed, and those prisoners who could pay for them could have luxuries brought in. He was, she understood, at that very moment drinking the profits from his transactions with one of the prisoners.
Leaving him to fall asleep across the wet dirty table she went out to stare again at the prison. She noticed that many women came out, as the afternoon wore on. Many were weeping, some were carrying empty baskets. Some were laughing and made for the tavern. She went back in and settled herself on a bench near a group of these. From their comments she understood they were doxies sent for by some of the better-off prisoners, and they were regaling one another with tales of their lovers.
Nauseated, she made her way home. She had the beginnings of an idea darting about in her mind, and wanted to think out the details in peace.
During the rest of that day and the following one she did not leave her room. Bessy received monosyllabic replies to her kindly efforts at cheering Caroline, and removed all her meals scarcely touched. She went down to her kitchen worried that the lad was grieving so much at his cousin's capture. She did not know what Philip was supposed to have done, but people were always being arrested in these troubled times, and often emerged unscathed a few days or weeks later. Thus she was startled when Caroline burst into the kitchen late that evening, her eyes glowing and words tumbling over themselves as she explained her plan to Bessy.
At first Bessy was dubious, but Caroline's insistence and enthusiasm eventually infected Bessy with excitement, and she was only too anxious to help, adding ideas of her own to the plan Caroline had evolved. Together they worked until far into the night, then Caroline retired to bed, for she could do no more until morning.
Philip, meanwhile, after being taken by the officers and thrown into a cell, was also trying to plan for his escape. He had no hope of being acquitted, if he were brought to trial. He doubted very much whether he would be tried, unless the Council wanted to make an example of some Royalists. He thought it far more likely he would be left in the prison to rot, forgotten, and likely to die of prison fever. He had no intention of tamely submitting to that fate.
He looked round the bare cell, scarcely more than two yards square, and furnished with a plank bed, on which lay one very thin ragged smelly blanket, a stool, a small table, and a bucket. It was lit by a small opening high in the wall, but the walls were too thick for Philip to see far out of the window, which was out of his reach. There was no escape that way. He would have to bribe one of the warders. Philip carefully counted the money he had in his money belt. It was a considerable sum, but he took out only a few gold coins and put them in his pocket ready for an attempt at bribing one of the warders.
During the first day of his imprisonment he was given no food or water, but on the second morning, he was brought a crust of mouldy bread and a bowl of thin, cold soup. Hungry as he was, he had to force himself to eat the revolting mess. He had only glimpsed the warder, but on the next visit, that evening, he called to the fellow.
'Hey. Spare me a minute, will you?'
The warder looked surlily into the cell.
'Can you not procure something better than this for me?' asked Philip, indicating the soup and bread which again comprised his meal.
The warder advanced slightly. 'Can you pay for it?' he asked.
Philip was too wary to admit he had a large sum on him, so he shrugged, and pulled out a couple of coins.
'What could you get for this?' he asked.
The warder's eyes gleamed. He stretched out his hand for the coins, but Philip held them back.
'Will you get me a chicken, and a bottle of wine?' he asked.
At first he thought the warder was going to refuse, but the man's cupidity was roused at the sight of the gold.
'I could for twice that,' he muttered.
'I cannot afford twice this,' replied Philip. 'I am not one of your rich merchants to be plucked. Come, what I ask will cost less than half of this, and you will have a fine profit.'
After
hesitating the man agreed, but he refused to provide the food before being paid. Philip had no alternative but to give him the money, though he did so reluctantly. He did not really expect to see his chicken and wine.
However, when his breakfast was brought in the next morning, the warder produced a bottle of inferior wine from one pocket and a scraggy chicken from another. He was more pleasant in manner than before, and Philip concluded he was prepared to make what profit he could from his prisoners. He thanked him, and produced two more coins.
'Can you do the same for me tomorrow?' he suggested, and the warder agreed.
Philip did not dare suggest anything more until he had won the confidence of the man. He knew they made good livings from providing luxuries for those of their prisoners able to pay well for them, but the penalties for helping one to escape were extreme. He could not ask for such help immediately, but he hoped that soon he could bribe the warder to take letters outside for him, and some way of escape could be organised later, with the help of friends, when the warder was less on guard.
He occupied himself as well as he could, received his wine and chicken again the next morning, and followed the same routine. He was surprised when his door was opened again some hours later, for he had expected to be left alone again till evening as on previous days. The warder appeared, a lascivious grin on his face.
'Here's a visitor to see you. She has paid well for the privilege, and you seem a generous fellow. Lucky, too, to have such a faithful wench. I'd not deprive you of your fun.'
He stepped aside, and Philip, puzzled, looked beyond him. In the half-darkness he could see a somewhat buxom female shape behind the warder, but before he could distinguish more details, the woman had slipped past the warder and was standing with her shoulder turned to him. The warder, with a bawdy injunction to enjoy themselves quickly, as he could only allow them half an hour, went out and locked the door.
*
Philip turned to the woman, who suddenly looked up at him.
'Charles! What do you here?' he burst out, staring in amazement.
'Quick, there's no time to lose. I have extra clothes beneath these for you to wear. Help me to take them off, then we both must dress as women.' Caroline was already fumbling with the fastenings of her dress, hampered by the fact that underneath she was stuffed with many extra layers of clothing.
Philip grasped her plan immediately, and speedily unhooked the dresses. He helped Caroline out of them until she stood in her shift, then they both dressed again, Philip putting the petticoats and dress Bessy had provided on over his own clothes. Caroline produced a bonnet for Philip to wear over his hair. She also had a shawl which would hide his figure more. By the time they had finished, the half-hour was nearly up, and they had exchanged only a few words. Philip, who had been thinking furiously, now took charge.
'Sit on the bed with your back to the door. Here, roll up the blanket so that it looks as though I am lying down beside you. I will knock down the warder when he comes in, then we must tie him up and get out before the alarm is raised.'
Caroline seated herself, and pretended to be bending over a figure lying on the bed. Philip took up his position behind the door, holding in his hand one of the now empty wine bottles the warder had brought him. He was sorry to have to treat the man so, but in order to escape he had no alternative.
He had barely got into position when the sound of a key was heard, and the warder entered. Before he could turn round, Philip brought the bottle down on his head, and he crumpled to the floor without a sound.
Hastily closing the door, Philip picked up the limp figure and laid him on the bed. Caroline had ready some strips of the blanket, and they tied his hands and feet. Then, adjusting the shawl around his shoulders, Philip turned to Caroline. Giving her a warm smile, he opened the door and indicated to her she should go first. Closing and locking the door after him, he followed her closely along the dark musty passages and down the worn stone stairs until they came to the main gate, where the porter let them through with scarcely a glance.
Once outside, they could scarcely restrain themselves from running, but Philip took Caroline by the arm and they made their way towards Cheapside, not daring to breathe freely until they were safely in Bessy's kitchen where she welcomed them with her usual liberal meal.
They did not wait to change, but sat down immediately for a brief but hilarious meal. Caroline, in her ill-fitting dress, with her cheeks flushed and sparkling eyes, and telling the tale of how she had cozened the warder into believing she was a doxy of Philip's looked a most delightful girl, and Philip had difficulty in taking his eyes from her. Suddenly he became serious.
'Bessy, I must leave London at once. Now I am known and an escaped prisoner, the hunt will be up. Will you pack us some food, while we go and change out of these clothes? As soon as it is dark we will leave. I think there is about an hour until then, and I have much to do. We must hurry. Come, Charles.'
He smiled at Bessy, who made haste to do his bidding, and led the way up the stairs, stumbling over the unaccustomed skirts. When they reached his room, he opened the door for Caroline to enter, and then closed it firmly behind them.
'I have not thanked you properly for your rescue,' he said, 'I should be angry you disobeyed my orders, but I am grateful, though it was a desperately dangerous game you played. I can never thank you enough.'
Caroline, half drunk with the wine Bessy had pressed on them, smiled up at him.
'I seem to make a habit of bringing you changes of clothes,' she said, laughing. Then, as she realised what she had done, she blushed to the roots of her hair.
Philip smiled. 'I'm not quite sure I understand you?'
Caroline turned away to hide her blushes.
'Oh, nothing. I meant nothing. I am tipsy with the wine. I know not what I say!'
'Come here!'
Caroline stood where she was, unable to move.
'Must I come to you, or will you come here when you are bid, Caroline!'
At that she turned, astonished, to find him right behind her, looking down at her with a tender smile on his face.
'Did I guess your name aright?' he asked.
Still she was unable to speak, and he took her hand in his, gently pulling her round to face him. He put the other hand under her chin and lifted her face up so that she could not avoid his eyes.
'Is that your name?'
She nodded at last, and his arms went round her, protectively. She found herself crushed to him, then his lips sought hers, and he kissed her fiercely. Half swooning with delight, she responded timidly, and after a long embrace he released her.
He looked down at her tenderly. 'I have been wanting to do that for a long time.'
'For – then you knew!'
'Yes, I guessed it many weeks ago. I think when I first met you I had my suspicions, but I did not wish to charge you with it until you told me.'
'I – oh, Philip!'
They embraced again, then sat together on the bed.
Philip laughed. 'We are both men for many months, then suddenly we are both women, to play our first love scene.'
She laughed with him. 'I feel strange in petticoats, it is so long since I wore them. Please forgive me for deceiving you. It seemed the only thing to do, at first, and then I did not wish you to send me away.'
'There is nothing to forgive, for otherwise you might never have come into my roving existence. But tell me, what did you mean about making it a habit to bring me changes of clothes?'
'Do you remember, after Worcester, the little Puritan maid you met in the woods near Lichfield?'
'That was you?'
She nodded, laughing, and he looked closely at her.
'Yes. Now I see a certain resemblance, though you have changed mightily. You are twice as lovely. So it is for a second time I must thank you for rescuing me.'
He took the opportunity to kiss her again, then he began to plan their escape.
'You must revert to your breeches for a wh
ile. We will ride to the coast near Romney Marsh. I know some smugglers there who will take us to France. I can take you to my home and there you will be safe.'
'Philip, you ought not to take me with you. I will hinder your escape. Why do you not go alone, then I will follow later if you want me to, when any search for you has been abandoned.'
'I cannot leave you here, even if I would part from you now.'
'You can escape faster without me. You would not take me to Scotland for that reason. It is the same now, yet even more important. I shall be safe. I did not tell you before, but I have an aunt in London, and I am certain she will give me a home.'
'You will be sought as an accomplice to my escape. It is not safe for you to remain.'
'It is. I would not cause you to be in any danger, as might happen if we are together, and they seek two fugitives. Alone you can travel more discreetly. Philip, you must go alone. There is nothing to connect me with my aunt's house, since I have never yet been there. If I am traced here, Charles Martin will have disappeared, and a girl will have appeared in another, completely separate household. There can be no connection, and no danger for me.'
'No. It is too uncertain.'
'Let me do it, Philip. I will write to you in France when all is quiet again, and then we can make plans.'
'I love you, and intend to keep you with me. Now go and change.'
*
Caroline stared at him irresolutely. From wishing never to leave him, she now desired that very thing, so dear to her was his safety, and so great and unselfish her love. She was convinced she was right, and to go with him would be to court disaster for them both, but she could see her arguments were having no effect on him. She went slowly out of the room, and up to her own attic. Once there, she changed into her breeches, then the idea came to her. She would run away. She loved him so much it was like a pain gnawing into her. She did not want to part from him, but she was sure she would be a burden to him, and it was vital he escaped. If he were caught again there would be no second chance.
Cavalier Courtship Page 13
