Her Favoured Captain

by Francine Howarth

  Morton stepped toward his father, and Anna thought him about to strike out but he stopped short. “You deign to dishonour your wife, my mother, when this fight is between you and I?”

  She had no words adequate to quell the rising storm, and sensed his lordship so angered he might say something he would live to regret. She had not imagined he would reach for his sword, its strap and scabbard hanging over the back of his chair. She had not thought he would threaten his own son with death by father’s blade, yet indeed, standing before them he drew forth his sword, his words akin to that of dagger to her heart. “A traitor in the family, I’ll have you dead before the Gantry name shamed forever.”

  Morton stepped back, air of defiance, his eyes steel cold and not leaving his father’s for a second. He had no weapon to hand, no means of defence save a chair to ward off blows from a sword. Still his father advanced and Morton took another step backwards.

  She, albeit a girl, had to do something, say something, and rose to her feet. “You cannot your lordship, please, I beg of you.”

  “He is but eight and ten years, William,” said the Lady Arabella face stricken with fear. His mother rushed forward and placed herself between Morton and her husband. “You shall see me run through first, for I will not have my only son dead at my feet.”

  “Step aside, my lady,” warned his lordship, his sword twirled most threatening. “Your son,” he railed, face rage reddened. “Ha, so you admit he’s not . . .”

  “Nothing, I admit to nothing unseemly,” intoned her ladyship, cutting him short, “for you know the truth and choose to deny it.” Her face turned ghostlike, drained of blood. “You are drunk my lord, your head unwise upon your shoulders tonight.”

  Anna’s heart levelled, and she spoke her thoughts. “Please, please, don’t strike out, don’t kill Morton, I could never forgive you that, never.”

  His lordship swung round to face her, his anger erring madness. The abrupt silence hung heavy with malevolence and alarm. She quite thought she might be his next victim for daring to open her mouth, yet his enraged state dissipated and implied her safe. Finally his sword hand fell to his side, his attention redirected to the Lady Arabella protecting her son. “He leaves now, and never, never to set foot on this estate. Do hear me, madam, never to set foot in this house. His choice lies with the very devil intent on bringing the king to his knees. Now get him out of here.”

  Lady Arabella seemed to sway as though about to fall faint, but recovered and barely that of a whisper said, “Heartless avenger, may God judge you as you deserve.”

  Lord Gantry edged back two steps and sank into his chair, expression of disbelief at his own action of conceding defeat to a woman and chit of a girl. Nonetheless a mortal blow had been struck bar that of death, for Morton was now banished from his birthplace, the house and land he loved, and the people he loved.

  Amidst whispered comments Lady Arabella turned away from her husband in disgust and ushered Morton from the dining hall. Anna felt a cold chill strike her face as the door opened and closed behind mother and son. She wanted to follow, but grace and manners forbade her from doing so.

  “Well my little sprite, are you happy now, happy that I let a traitor to the King and England walk free tonight?”

  “I am glad you spared him, my lord, but I shall grieve his banishment, forever.”

  “Oh you will, will you?” A derisory chuckle, preceded, “Your romantic ways my little sprite will see you in serious trouble some day, and who will you turn to, eh, to get you out of it?” Despite his previous rant and rail a smile crept to his face. “Who did you run to tears streaming a few days past?”

  “I did not run to you, my lord, I bumped into you.”

  “Split hairs all you like, my lady, but I am still of mind to suppose that boy to be the cause of all your heartfelt weeping.” He raised his hand to shoulder. “This left sodden with tears that day, and you pleading for Morton’s life but a moment past. Am I right to think him the cause of all your tears, despite his mind dwelt on treachery these past months?”

  Although angry with his lordship, a flush rose to her cheeks for she had not revealed the truth behind her distress on the day of Morton’s kiss, and never would. She owed much to Lord Gantry for a roof over her head and the rich cloth on her back. She was, after all, merely his ward. He at all times had bestowed affection upon her as though she was his very own daughter, and now she understood why Morton had no brothers or sisters. It was not so difficult to puzzle the reason.

  “May I take leave, your lordship?”

  “You may, and be sure to tell Morton I grant him a spare horse. And tell him to be gone before the clock strikes the hour.”

  “But my lord, that is but a few minutes from now.”

  “He will be gone by then or by God and King Charles I will not be responsible for what I might do.”

  His lordship’s expression turned to that of a man hurting, hurting deep inside, and his sword fell to the floor with a clatter. He leaned forward head in hands, and her heart went out to him. She could not understand why Morton had chosen to support Parliament, for it seemed so at odds with a royalist household. Now, now it seemed as though the house had always harboured secrets.

  The Lady Arabella and Lord Gantry’s heated exchange was more than reason to surmise his lordship believed himself cuckolded by his brother-in-law. And it seemed betrayal of a political nature had existed within the walls as well, and she all the while ignorant in innocence. But how could Darnley, a man of parliament, have influenced the Lady Arabella? The man never came to the house without Lord Gantry’s sister. At least, not as far as she was aware, and surely Darnley had not betrayed his wife?

  Torn between need to comfort Lord William and selfish need to see Morton safe and out of his father’s reach for the time being, she doubted not the day would come when his father would relent. She could only hope and pray for that outcome, and setting her own desires aside, said, “Shall I stay?”

  “Be gone with you, girl, and see him on his way and provided with that second horse.”

  “Thank you, my lord.” She fled the dining hall, her thoughts in turmoil, for it seemed she had much to learn in the ways of adult deceits and betrayals. In the great hall bedlam prevailed with servants dashing to and fro, the Lady Arabella most distraught and Morton already sword to belt. “His lordship said to take a spare horse,” she informed, and in need of answers asked outright, “Why Morton, why, why displease your father so wanton cruel?”

  “To stay and explain my motives for joining the Parliamentarian cause would be folly with father intolerant of my presence,” came the reply. He then turned to a servant. “See to it Joseph is informed of his lordship’s granting a spare horse.” As the servant dashed away Morton furthered, “I shall write you, Anna, when time affords.”

  A footman came rushing down the staircase cloak slung over arm, which met with Morton’s shoulders directly. The Lady Arabella secured the clasp of his cloak, and then kissed his cheek. “God keep you safe, my son, and believe it, your father will see the folly of this night.”

  “He will not cave, dear lady, and on my head lies my punishment.”

  “Where shall you go?”

  “Taunton, where I believe I shall encounter Waller’s Army.”

  Lady Arabella turned to Anna. “Come quick dear girl, and say your piece.

  Hastened to take leave by the Lady Arabella: the main door cast wide in readiness, Anna threw herself at Morton, servants or no servants in attendance. She did not care, she hugged him tightly and he hugged her to him in like manner. “I shall miss my meadow nymph,” his whispered endearment, “and never doubt I love you.”

  “I love you, too,” she whispered, tears aplenty to the sound of two horses arrived outside.

  He eased her away, turned and strode to the horses. Once mounted on Calendar and lead rein in hand he rode away from Axebury Hall on his favourite horse, the spare courtesy of his lordship, but only the clothes on his back as se
en at the dinner table beneath his cloak. What would become of him? They watched his departure until no longer able to see him.

  Finally the Lady Arabellas arm about her shoulder fell away. Sense of heartache and sadness hung like a dark cloud, and the Lady Arabella stepped back inside the hall. “Anna, will you kindly inform his lordship I have retired to my bedchamber?” Her ladyship faltered mid-step, swayed a little, and Anna rushed to her side, so too her lady”s maid, and between them they prevented her falling to the floor. “It is nothing,” declared her ladyship, face snow white, “I am merely a little tired.”

  “First I shall see you to your chamber, and then I will go to his lordship.”

  “Be not harsh with him, Anna. He is a good and honourable man if a little misguided at times. No matter the cost he will never waver in loyalty to Charles Stuart.

  Her ladyship made steady progress aloft but on entry to the bedchamber collapsed, and grave ill it seemed.

  ~

  It pained him to see his mother in distress, yet it was her wish, maybe her influence that drove him onward rather than his turning back to stand side-by-side with his father, albeit as a reluctant Royalist Officer of Horse. The main gates reached he reined Calendar and spare steed south. At a brisk trot and luck riding with him he would happen upon a wayside inn and gain a room for the night once safely distant from Axebury.

  His heart plummeted, for this might be the last time he would ride the boundary wall of the estate. He could not return any time soon, maybe never. Even supposing he survived the damn war, the reason less obvious to his mother but his father’s sword had given clear warning of a traitor’s lot. The Civil War had wreaked havoc in tearing the country apart. His family too now wounded by divided loyalties.

  What of Anna? She deserved explanation to his unreasonable and unjust treatment of her, and as soon as able a letter would wing its way into her hands. But this day had to be, and he could not have asked her to go with him though doubted not she would have done just that if given the chance. She deserved better, for he had nothing save two horses, the clothes on his back and a purse with gold and silver coin enough to see him and the horses fed and watered for a few weeks.

  With two horses to his name he would be put to use in a cavalry regiment, that was a surety. Soon his military dress would be buff in colour and perchance a hat with red plume as well as steel helmet. Ironic really. For as a royalist officer his hat plume would have been white, and his coat of royal blue as was his father’s and Prince Rupert’s regimental colours.

  Anna, my sweet meadow nymph, what have I done? Pray God keep you safe, for I shall love you always.

  ~

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  Contemporary Romances

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  Love Walked In

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  Headline News:MI6 Officer Assassinated.

  ~

  Witness to the tragic death of her husband, traumatized and terrified, Cassie’s world has collapsed, and nine months after the incident she’s still struggling to gain sense of normality. Meanwhile her son makes use of his late father’s computer without permission, and discovers what he thinks is a cool computer game. Whilst playing said game Dominic is unaware it is sending coded messages across the ether.

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  The Billionaire’s Dilemma: Identical Twin Mistresses.

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  In the past Tania has masqueraded as Nina at parties, and likewise Nina had to pretend to be Tania. As far as Tania is concerned one more act of deception isn’t going to hurt anybody. Despite Nina’s reluctance, she’s won over by Tania’s pleading ways and travels to London on a pre-arranged date with a polo playing playboy

  Allessandre, convinced he’s been duped, is determined to unveil the twins and teach them a lesson they won’t forget. Revenge proves bittersweet when the one he desires takes flight. Forced to travel half way around the globe in attempt to redeem his unforgivable behaviour he has no idea the woman he loves walks with lions, nor that a lioness will challenge his desire to be her one and only.

  ~

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