“Which is a heavy fine or imprisonment,” remarked Twissleton, who had joined the group and was greatly bemused by the contratont.
“Nicholas can do as he pleases,” said Richard, not wanting to drag him into the dispute, “but whilst Lavinia is unjustly suspected, I will not stir a step further.”
Though Nicholas appreciated the gesture, it was clear that his cousin did not fully understand the precariousness of the situation, and with Roger and Twissleton listening attentively, he could not issue a warning. He therefore took his lead from Richard’s assertion.
“Roger, unless you pledge not to take proceedings against Lavinia, my assistance is also withdrawn.”
“You can give no such assurance, sir,” said Twissleton hurriedly. “To do so would…”
“Shut up!” Roger’s patience with the interfering toady had finally snapped. He took a deep breath. “Nicholas, Richard, you must do as your conscience dictates. But be warned, your relationship to Mistress Nash will not tell in your favour. I am sorry to part company with you this way, and when next we meet, I fear it will not be as friends.”
“Before that happens,” said a commanding voice, “you had better consult me first.” Distracted by the disagreement, none of the men had seen Alice and Lavinia emerge from the manor. Then, before anyone could react, Alice shut and locked the gate. “And as for you,” she said to Twissleton while pocketing the key, “never darken my doorstep again!”
Twissleton, who had commandeered a horse from a groom, almost fell out of the saddle as he cried, “Seize them! Seize the witches!”
Such was the brazenness and beauty of Alice and Lavinia respectively, that nobody moved. Then, capturing Roger’s gaze with a strange, almost hypnotic look, Alice unlocked the gate and said quietly, “Nicholas, Richard, come inside, quickly.” Neither man argued, and once inside the perimeter, both dismounted.
Perhaps it was the shock of seeing Richard embrace Lavinia. Perhaps it was the ‘clanking’ of the gate as it was locked again, but whatever influence Alice had exerted over Roger broke, and he shook his head as if waking from a dream.
Alice continued as if there had been no interruption. “So, Master Knowles, you seek to bring false charges against me. I defy your malice and that of your puppet.” The latter was said with a glance at Twissleton.
“Truly, madam,” said Roger somewhat unsteadily, “your appearance astonishes me. But, no matter. Consider yourselves under arrest. You will be conveyed to Holton forthwith. Smithers, do your duty.”
The constable hesitated when Alice laughed in his face. “Don’t be ridiculous. Besides, the gates are locked.”
“Then I will force them open,” roared Roger, dismounting and shaking them furiously.
“My servants are armed and ready. What do you think I was doing while you were busy flexing your authority? I warn you, the first man who enters will pay the price,” and as though to reinforce the dictum, Nicholas and Richard stood resolutely beside her.
One of the grooms advanced with a large stone and threw it at the gate. It shook for a moment but remained closed. In retaliation, three stout servants armed with halberds, suddenly appeared and brandished their weapons.
Roger and Twissleton retreated and engaged in a hasty conference, after which the latter, taking care to keep out of the reach of the halberds, approached the gate.
“Mistress Nash, in order to avoid the consequences should forcible entry be necessary, Master Knowles has granted you an hour's respite for reflection, at the expiration of which, he trusts you will see the futility of resisting the law. No further leniency will be shown you or any who aid your contumacy.”
“How generous of him,” said Alice sarcastically. “Anything else?”
“Yes. His worship offers friendly counsel to Master Nicholas and Master Richard that, rather than hindering the injunctions, to render aid in furtherance of them, otherwise he may be compelled to adopt measures that would be a source of regret to him. You should also take heed that a strict watch will be kept on all approaches to the manor. Nobody during the allotted time will be allowed in or out.”
Alice smiled graciously. “Rest assured that no person here has any such intention.”
Chapter Sixteen
The Siege
Lavinia and Richard were walking in the garden. Although barely acquainted twenty-four hours, both had accepted the decree of Fate, that they should fall in love without the usual protracted courtship. Propelled by the intensity of his feelings, Richard declared his readiness to give his life for her protection. Overwhelmed, Lavinia could only murmur a few words in reply, but they were enough to tell him that his passion was returned and his devotion greatly appreciated. They were about to kiss when Nicholas, politely averting his eyes, whistled and gestured towards the house.
“We’re wanted.”
Alice had been closeted in her bedchamber for almost an hour. She now entered the salon where the young people were waiting and announced, “I have a plan.”
“Good,” said Nicholas. “There is not much time for you to escape. Ha! I can’t wait to see Roger’s face.” He waxed poetical. “The hawks will return only to find that the doves have fled.”
Alice smiled. “I have no intention of abandoning my dovecot.”
“What?” Nicholas looked at her disbelievingly. “I know Roger of old, and he will not go away empty- handed. This affair is already dark and perplexing, and resisting the law will only complicate the matter. I urge you to find a place of concealment away from the manor until an arrangement can be made with him.”
“Nicholas, I will not surrender to the magistrate. If I did, my life would assuredly be forfeit, and so would Lavinia’s. Go if you wish. I will not think any the less of you if you do, but if you stay, it will be to help, not hinder.”
Nicholas stood up and kissed her cheek. “I admire your spirit and will stand by you. Now, what is your plan?”
A few minutes later, Alice and Nicholas exited the salon. Richard took advantage of the brief respite to reassure Lavinia that all would be well, but she did not look convinced. “You are still uneasy,” he said, taking her hand. “Do not despair. While there is breath in my body, no harm will befall you.”
“It is not for myself that I am uneasy, but for you. If anything should happen to you, I shall be the most wretched woman ever. I would far rather you left me to my fate.”
“Do you think I would abandon you to ignominy and destruction?”
Lavinia squeezed his hand. “I do not deserve such devotion. All I can give you in return is my love, but even then, I fear it may not prove enough.”
“Well,” said Richard, trying to smile, “they do say love is blind.”
“Please don’t jest.” Lavinia let out an anguished cry. “Oh, Richard, if you are determined to sacrifice your life for me, then it is only fair that you know the truth. Indeed, once you know, you might change your mind and I would not blame you if you did.”
This time, it was Richard who was uneasy. “Go on,” he invited.
“Richard, I was born in this house. I am Alice’s illegitimate daughter.” To Lavinia’s surprise, rather than shock, he grinned.
“I had already guessed as much. Dorothy practically announced it yesterday before we looked at the maps. It makes not a jot of difference.”
“But the identity of my father might.” Lavinia took a deep breath. “His name was Andrew Stoddard, a direct descendant of Henry Stoddard.”
Richard mentally ran through the family genealogy. “Nope,” he said presently, “still doesn’t make any difference.”
Lavinia hid her face in her hands for a moment, and then looking up, said in a rush, “Oh, Richard, too many strange things have happened to me in the past twenty-four hours that can only conclude in one explanation. And then this morning, before Dorothy departed for Craxton Hall, she told me a terrible story about what happened to us last night.”
“She was ill last night, and so were you.”
“B
ut that’s the point, we were not. I mean, yes we were ill, but food poisoning was not the cause, and Dorothy certainly wasn’t delirious this morning.” She took a deep breath. “Richard, the insinuations made by Master Knowles and Master Twissleton… are true.” There was a dreadful pause in which Richard’s mind went blank. “I am damned by association,” Lavinia continued. “For the love of God, leave this house and save yourself. I am already lost.”
Richard grasped her hands and pulled her close. “Look into my eyes and answer honestly – are you a witch?”
“No.”
He kissed her. “Then nothing between us has changed. Come with me. We’ll go to Germany or some other such place and be married. I have enough money to live on, and if needs be, can sell Foxbury Chase. As for Alice, she can fend for herself.”
“No. Whatever she has done she is still my mother. I will not leave her.”
“If you stay, then so do I, but oh, how can I defend one whom I now know to be guilty?”
Just then, Alice entered the room with three armed men. “All is ready,” she announced, and then stopped. One look at Richard’s face was enough. “So, you know. Perhaps you now regret your involvement. If so, depart at once.”
“Nay, I will not withdraw my help,” he answered, glancing affectionately at Lavinia. “Where is Nicholas?”
“Preparing the horses.”
***
Richard exited without further word, closely followed by the three armed men. Scarcely had they joined Nicholas when a hubbub at the gate proclaimed Roger’s return, and he’d brought reinforcements.
At sight of the contingency, Nicholas’s confidence began to wane. He counted some forty men, each heavily armed. Richard was also uneasy, compounded by the fact that his mind was in a whirl. He looked back at the manor. Alice was watching from an upper window but there was no sign of Lavinia.
Roger looked at the sky. Dark clouds were gathering on the horizon. He hoped it wasn’t portentous as he dismounted and walked to the gate. “Gentlemen,” he said, addressing Nicholas and Richard, “I see the gate is still locked. I call upon you in the name of the King to open it.”
“You must unlock it yourself,” replied Nicholas. “We stand united with Alice.”
“I see my grant of an hour’s delay has been put to use. Mistress Nash has taken full advantage to persuade you to her cause. Very well. I shall not show her or Lavinia Ashmore any further consideration.
“To you, however, I give a final warning. You are acting contrary to the law, and your opposition may be deemed treasonous. If you persist in aiding a witch, not only will your characters be irrecoverably stained, but the penalties for such are extreme. Either assist me or stand aside.”
Nicholas bowed. “Since you have been kind enough to issue a friendly warning, allow me to do likewise. If you persist in this abominable persecution, it will be your character that is stained, not ours. I always thought you a fair & just advocate, but like him,” he pointed to Twissleton, “you have developed a thirst for blood. There is not a shred of evidence against Alice or Lavinia, and yet you pursue them like rabid dogs. Anyone who manipulates the law to bring a false charge against someone, knowing full well that it cannot be successfully refuted, is not entitled to respect or honour. We are determined to resist this unjust arrest.”
The speech, though primarily aimed at Roger, had an unexpected consequence. Many of the assembled ‘troops’ walked away. Of those who remained, their expressions betrayed doubt and uncertainty. Twissleton stood high in the saddle and repeated his former arguments, but none of the deserters returned. A furious Roger, seeing that it was pointless to delay, ordered his men to advance.
With the attacking force now greatly reduced, rather than a pitched battle, the siege was little more than a skirmish. To the unrestrained delight of the defenders, it was Twissleton who bore the brunt. Climbing over the back wall and dropping into the garden, his reception committee was two snarling wolfhounds. The solicitor scraped his knees on the rough stonework as he tried to scramble up again, but Roger had climbed to the top of the wall, slipped, and landed on top of him. And then the dogs attacked.
Nicholas whistled and with obvious reluctance, the dogs withdrew. As the two now injured and blood- splattered men were led away, the defenders cheered heartily, hailing Nicholas and Richard as masters of the field.
Many of the deserters, who had been hiding in various locations beyond the gate, now came forward and pledged their allegiance to Alice and Nicholas. But the hero of the siege was not so ready to accept the plaudit. Directing several men, he was about to conduct a search of the grounds, when a familiar voice called his name from the gate. It was Erasmus Pope.
“Master Nicholas,” he said in a shocked voice, seeing the carnage, “for the love of God think of what you do.”
“Do you sanction the injustice of Roger’s attack?” he responded angrily.
“Of course not, but you cannot take the law into your own hands.”
“Why not? Was not Roger intent on doing the same?”
“Yes, but he has the authority, you do not. What do you intend to do with the captors?”
“That is for Aunt Alice to decide.”
The churchman’s face was full of anguish as he stammered, “She will not… I mean… she won’t…”
Nicholas laughed. “Have no fear, and do not believe everything you’ve heard. Roger and the solicitor will be perfectly safe. I give you my word on it.”
“Does your father know of this?”
Nicholas shrugged. “Roger may have despatched a rider to him earlier, but even if he didn’t, the news will soon travel far and wide. Now, if you would excuse me, I must make sure all is secure.”
***
Meanwhile, Roger had been conveyed to the salon and placed on a couch. Twissleton, his commodious backside now impregnated with teeth marks, had been banished to the library so that his constant stream of threats and foul language could not be overheard.
“You foolish, foolish man,” said Alice, handing Roger a goblet of wine.
“I would rather be in my place than yours.” Roger was about to drink but then stopped.
“It’s not poisoned,” said Alice bemusedly, noticing his hesitation.
“Taste it,” he insisted, holding out the goblet.
Alice sighed and took a drink. “Satisfied?” she said, returning the goblet. Roger took a tentative sip and reluctantly admitted that the wine was good.
“Am I free to go?” he asked.
“Not yet. I am anxious to put an end to this misunderstanding.”
“There is no misunderstanding, madam. Though you have the upper-hand at present, your day of reckoning will come.”
“Instead of making threats which we both know to be empty, it would be more advantageous if you listen to me. I have a proposal.”
“I don’t make bargains with witches,” he said sternly.
“You believe me a witch?”
“I do now.”
Alice ‘tested’ his sincerity. “And do you also believe that I have the power to inflict sickness upon you, perhaps even kill you where you sit?”
“Your charms and enchantments, no matter how strong or baneful, are ineffectual against a magistrate in the commission of his duty. If it were not so, there would be no need to bargain with me.”
Alice flared at his naivety. “Don’t be so bloody ridiculous! I see Master Twissleton’s hand in your words. You are quoting from Dæmonologie, written by an equally arrogant man who cares more for his comfort than his country.”
“So, you have no respect for the King either.”
Alice snorted. “A jumped-up heathen Scotsman who’s only the King because his mother fell in love with Darnley’s legs. She would have done better to keep her own closed.”
“How dare you!” Roger had met the King several times, and brogue notwithstanding, thought him a fine fellow. “You will gain nothing by my detention. Even as we speak, a horseman is riding to Holton to a
pprise Sir Howarth of the facts.”
“You mean the facts as you perceive them. Sir Howarth is my kinsman and will not believe a word. You would do better to listen to my proposal, and if you agree, leave forthwith.”
“Then speak and get it over with!”
“If you retract all accusations against Lavinia and myself - and in the presence of credible witnesses too, then Master Metcalf can have the disputed land.”
Roger looked at her aghast. “Never!”
“Master Twissleton can prepare the conveyance at once,” Alice continued. “A sum can be stated to lend weight to the contract, which of course will never be paid. If a few acres of land is the price for my freedom…and yours, then so be it.”
“And how can I be sure this is not a trick? The writing may subsequently change or disappear, or indeed, the parchment turn to ashes. Such things are known to witches.”
“Idle fears. But, it is no idle threat when I say that you will not go forth until you consent.”
“You cannot restrain me, woman,” said Roger, rising unsteadily to his feet. Amongst other injuries, one of the dogs had bitten his foot quite badly.
“You think so?” said Alice with a laugh. “Perhaps a demonstration will convince you,” and so saying, she waived a hand in his face. His limbs instantly stiffened like iron. “Now, move if you can.”
Roger tried to cry out but his tongue refused to work. Alice went to a fruit bowl and calmly peeled an orange. Presently, she touched his brow with a finger and said, “Your speech is restored. Do you agree to my terms?”
“I need time to think.”
“Take all the time you need, but there can only be one answer.” Alice clicked her fingers and released him. Roger instantly sank onto the couch, his limbs throbbing as though with rheumatism.
“You have terrible power, madam.”
“And you would do well not to test it again.” Alice rang a bell to summon a servant but it was Nicholas who answered. “What is the condition of Master Twissleton?” she asked.
The Sisterhood:: Curse of Abbot Hewitt Page 17
