Harstairs House

by Amanda Grange

  "We should go," he said. "I think it will be better if-"

  His eyes fell to her feet.

  "I took my boots and stockings off in the passage," she explained. "The steps were slippery, and I did not want to fall. It was easier to negotiate them in bare feet."

  He smiled. "Riding with a man's saddle, bare-foot scrambling—it must have been an idyllic childhood. At least, I assume you learnt to scramble over rocks in your childhood?" he asked.

  "Yes," she said with an answering smile. "Great Aunt Caroline would have been horrified if I had started to do it as an adult!"

  His smile widened. Then his eye fell to her feet again.

  "But you cannot go upstairs like that. Sit down."

  "It's all right, I can manage," she protested.

  He took no notice of her, but pushed her gently into a chair, then pouring a clean bowl of water he knelt before her, lifting her left foot on to his knee.

  "So tiny," he murmured in wonder.

  He took up a cloth and began tenderly washing her foot. As she felt the rhythmic stroke of the cloth on the sole of her foot she began to tingle, and an unnerving heat radiated outwards from every spot he touched. He washed away the caked sand, and then lowered her foot gently into the water, rubbing it with his long, strong fingers to dislodge the remaining specks of sand and lichen.

  He lifted her other foot on to his knee and cleaned it equally gently. She began to tremble. She felt him stiffen, and looking down she saw that he would not raise his eyes to hers. She was not surprised. If he did, she knew that lightning would flash between them, the same lightning that had caught them in its grip when they had been riding on the cliff top. It threatened to consume them if a careless word or gesture summoned it, and she bit her lip in an effort to keep it at bay.

  He took up a towel and dried her feet slowly, with great tenderness. Then he spread a towel on the floor and lifted her feet on to it.

  "Susannah…" he said, at last looking up.

  "Yes?" she asked, trembling at the look of longing on his face.

  "Susannah, when I leave here…"

  There came the sound of footsteps hurrying along the corridor, and Oliver turned away in frustration, cursing under his breath. A minute later the door opened, and Constance said, "The militia have finished searching the attic. They are making their report to the captain in the library, but once they have done so, I feel sure he will send men down here without delay."

  Oliver rose quickly.

  "Come, Susannah," he said. "It's time for us to fool the captain once again."

  Susannah rose, then looked down at her feet. They were clean and dry, but she still had no shoes and stockings. She could not possibly go upstairs in such a state.

  "What happened?" asked Constance, following her gaze.

  Susannah explained.

  "Oh, dear, the captain will be sure to be suspicious if he sees you like that, and I can't fetch you some more from your room. There isn't time."

  Acting quickly, she sat down on one of the hard wooden chairs. Turning her back on them, she began taking off her own shoes and stockings.

  "But what will you do?" Susannah asked. "If you are barefoot it will seem just as suspicious."

  "I will wear my slippers, and if the captain notices, I will plead bunions," Constance said.

  She handed her shoes and stockings to Susannah, then put on her slippers, which were warming by the fire.

  "You had better tell Captain Johnson we have returned from a ride," said Oliver to Constance, when she had done. "Bring him to meet us in the sitting-room."

  Then, whilst Constance headed towards the library, Susannah and Oliver went into the sitting-room. It seemed placid, a place of warm contentment, and was the perfect setting for the act of innocence they were about to perform. The fire was glowing in the fireplace, whilst the candles bathed the room in a warm glow. The clock ticked quietly in the corner. Susannah sat on the sofa and arranged her skirts around her, whilst Oliver sat next to her, assuming a pose of relaxed ease.

  "Here," said Susannah, handing him some of the engravings Mrs. Wise had sent to her. "These are from Ackermann's Repository. We are choosing new furniture, as we are going to refurbish the house. We have just decided against a lacquered cabinet, and we are contemplating a new set of chairs."

  There was time for nothing more. There came the sound of the library door opening, and voices could be heard in the hall, then the sitting-room door opened and Captain Johnson entered.

  "Captain Johnson, you are here again," said Susannah. Her tone of voice was mild, but with a hint of reproof. It said, As I am a lady I will receive you with all due courtesy, but you have made a false charge against my fiancé, and you are not welcome here. "How may we help you?"

  The captain's eyes flew to Oliver and then back again. He had obviously thought Constance was lying when she had said that Oliver had returned, and his face was a picture of confusion, anger and chagrin.

  "You were out," he said. "Where? May I ask," he added belatedly, as though realizing how rude his outburst had been. But his eyes were shrewd and it was clearly no idle question.

  "If it is any business of yours—which, however, I doubt— we were riding," she said coolly.

  "Your housekeeper said you were out walking," he returned sharply.

  "To begin with, yes," said Susannah. "Then Oliver suggested we take the horses and go for a ride."

  "In the dark?" he sneered.

  "In the starlight," returned Susannah. "Have you ever ridden in the starlight, Captain? You should, you know. It is the best way to see the land and the sea, when they are bathed in the silvery glow. It is very romantic."

  The captain's mouth set in a grim line. "No doubt." He turned to Oliver. "You are busy, I see, sir," he said, glancing at the engravings on Oliver's lap.

  "Choosing furniture," said Oliver. "My fiancée has a mind to refurbish the house before our marriage. She has been showing me some engravings of the styles she finds particularly attractive. A friend of hers has kindly sent them from town. There are some very fine tables and chairs to be had in London."

  "Tables and chairs?" said the captain, with barely concealed contempt. "I should have thought boats and guns were of more interest to you."

  "Really? How extraordinary," said Oliver, looking the captain in the eye and challenging him to contradict him.

  The captain's face went red. He fought hard to suppress his anger, but he was clenching his fists by his side.

  "And where did you go on your ride?" he demanded.

  "We rode inland," said Susannah. "We were planning a garden. The grounds are neglected at the moment, but all that will soon change. I'm thinking of a knot garden. What is your opinion, Captain? It is rather old-fashioned perhaps, but as the house is old, I thought it would go very well."

  "I know nothing about gardening, ma'am," he snapped.

  "Then you should take it up. It is very healthful, and very relaxing. It would be the perfect antidote to your professional life," she said calmly.

  The captain's face was like thunder.

  "And what about your friends?" he asked. "Mr. Catling and Mr. Owen, if I am not mistaken. Did they go riding, too?"

  "No, but they kindly offered to see to our horses when we returned. They are in the stables."

  "A popular occupation," sneered Captain Johnson. "If I'm not mistaken, you were in the stables the last time I called. I thought you had a groom to see to such things… but perhaps, he is in the stables with them?"

  There was something almost satisfied in the captain's voice, and Susannah felt Oliver stiffen at her side. What had happened to Kelsey? she wondered. In all the confusion she had forgotten about him, but he had been missing since they had heard the shot on the beach. He could be injured or dead. And if he was injured, he could be a captive of the captain's.

  Oliver spoke levelly, and if not for the fact that she could feel his body hard against her own, she would have thought he was relaxed and at ease.<
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  "He is… indisposed," he said.

  "Is he now?" enquired the captain. His frustration had disappeared and he was growing more and more confident. "He's in bed, I take it?"

  "No. I sent him to the apothecary. He will not be back tonight."

  "Really? That's interesting. Very interesting. Because I have him right here."

  He jerked his head towards one of his men, and Susannah leant closer to Oliver, taking some comfort from his body heat. The soldier went out, but returned a minute later with Kelsey. Then he has been caught, thought Susannah with a sinking feeling.

  But then she realized that Kelsey did not have the look of a captured man. Though his rough clothes were dirty with the crossing and his hair was tangled, his head was up and there was a smile playing around his lips.

  "Now how do you explain that?" asked the captain.

  "I find that hard to explain," said Oliver softly. "Very hard indeed."

  "Do you? Your groom's an interesting man. He's been telling us some very interesting things about you." Captain Johnson suddenly dropped his polite air. "The time for pretending has gone. We know exactly what you're doing here, Bristow, and Duchamp wants it stopped."

  "Duchamp?" enquired Oliver.

  "It's no use playing the innocent with me. I suspected you as soon as I heard rumours of three men living alone in an isolated house, so I set out to make sure. A direct approach didn't work, so I tried something more subtle. A bribe to your servant was all it took to confirm your activities."

  "This is all very interesting, Captain, but I don't know what you're talking about," said Oliver, with a hint of impatience in his voice. "My fiancée and I have listened to you politely, but if you have nothing intelligible to say then you must excuse us, as we have plans to make."

  "I know all about your sailing over to France and breaking men out of prison before bringing them back to the safety of England."

  "And who has been telling you this nonsense?" asked Oliver with a sigh. "I do hope it isn't my groom. You should know, Captain, that he has an unfortunate penchant for gambling, and he cannot support the habit on the wages I give him. If you've paid for this information, then I suggest you ask for your money back — although I doubt if you'll get it. Unless I'm much mistaken he's already given everything you paid him to his creditors. But don't take my word for it. If you think there are members of the French nobility hidden in the house, you are welcome to search it. But please do so quietly."

  He turned his attention back to the engravings. Taking her lead from him, Susannah turned the pages of the book and then pointed to one of the engravings.

  "The Chippendale chairs, I think, for the dining-room," she said. "They are so much more elegant than the ones we have at present. The ones with the shield back, I think, or do you prefer the lyre back chairs?"

  "You think you've outsmarted me, but you're mistaken," said the Captain. "We'll find them, wherever they are."

  "Perhaps when you do so, you will bring them into the sitting-room," said Susannah. "The French have excellent taste, and they can advise us on what sort of furniture to buy."

  The Captain's face grew red with anger. "You'd better be right about this," he said, turning to Kelsey.

  "I am," said Kelsey. "There were seventeen people in the boat. They all came ashore. I don't know where he's hiding them, but they have to be here somewhere. He must have known about another passage into the house and brought them in through that."

  "Then all we have to do is look." He turned back to Oliver. "You'd save us all a great deal of time if you'd tell us where they are. If not, we might damage the house in our zeal," he said menacingly.

  "If you do, my lawyer will hear of it," returned Susannah.

  "Hah!" said the captain. "You, you," he said, pointing to two of the soldiers, "wait outside the door. The rest of you, come with me."

  The militia filed out of the room, followed by the captain and Kelsey.

  "Oh, Kelsey," said Oliver, as Kelsey was about to step out of the door. "I am sure you have guessed by now, but in case you haven't, your services will no longer be required."

  Kelsey threw him a sneering look and departed.

  "So it was Kelsey," said Susannah, when they had gone. "I never imagined for a minute he would betray you."

  "Neither did I," said Oliver. "I thought it was one of the villagers, or possibly Jim."

  "Jim?" asked Susannah in surprise.

  "Yes. It never occurred to me that the traitor was closer to home."

  "Why did he do it, do you think?"

  "Money. I wasn't lying when I said he has a gambling habit. He does. I've helped him out on a number of occasions when he was being pursued by his creditors, but he will always need more."

  "And he repays you by turning on you?"

  "Not everyone is as trustworthy as you," he said, turning towards her. "You saved us tonight, Susannah. Without your help, the last group of émigrés would have been returned to France and killed, and Edward, James and I would have suffered a similar fate."

  "I did it gladly," she said.

  "I know." He looked round the sitting-room. "There is nothing I will regret when we leave here on Tuesday. Nothing except you." His look intensified, and he put his hand up to brush her cheek. As the back of his hand grazed her skin she shivered, and he drew her into his arms and kissed her.

  At last he drew away.

  "When I came to Harstairs House, I was a disillusioned man," he said, looking into her eyes. "I had lost my faith in human nature. I had seen a woman whip a man for being poor, and I had seen men murdering each other for saying 'Long live the King.' I came home, sickened by what I had seen, but instead of finding balm for my spirit, the things I saw here sickened me even more. I saw husbands and wives having affairs behind each other's backs; moreover, I was approached by a number of women intent on using me as part of their deceptions. I saw children wishing for their parents' death so that they could inherit their fortunes; and brothers and sisters turning against each other for the sake of money. It seemed that everywhere I looked I saw betrayal. And then I met you, and I discovered that trust and loyalty still existed. I wanted to call you my friend — until I kissed you, and knew friendship would never satisfy me. I love you, Susannah."

  He slid from the sofa on to one knee.

  "I told the captain we were betrothed and it was not true, but I want to make it true. Susannah, will you be my wife?"

  Susannah could barely speak. She loved him so deeply that she could not remember a time when she had not loved him, and to know that he loved her in return filled her with joy. And to know that he wanted her to be his wife…

  "Yes, Oliver, I will."

  He smiled, and it lit his face. His blue eyes gazed into her own. He took her chin between his finger and thumb, and then he kissed her.

  Susannah did not want it to end. It felt so wonderful that she wanted it to go on for ever, but at last he let her go.

  "We must be married soon," he said, sitting beside her again. "Shall it be here, or on my estate, or in London?"

  "In London, I think," said Susannah. "I would like my great aunt's friend, Mrs. Wise, to be present. She is the closest I have to a family."

  "Very well then, it shall be in London."

  "It's hard to believe I have been here a month, and that I will be leaving tomorrow. Mr. Sinders will be calling for me in his coach," she said. "I will be going to his office to begin with, to finalize the details of my inheritance, and then I will be going on to Mrs. Wise's house." She hesitated, then asked, "Will you carry on with your rescue work, once we are married?"

  "No. I told you once before that I was not afraid, and it was true. But now I am afraid, because now I have something to lose. There are other men who will take over and help those in need, but now I want to spend my time with you. I've had enough of bloodshed. Once I have helped the émigrés we rescued tonight, taking them to their safe houses, then I will join you in London and my days of adventuring will
be done."

  Susannah thought of the people in the wash house.

  "The captain won't find them, will he?"

  "No, my love, he won't. They are too well hidden for that. He might leave men posted outside the gate for a few days, with perhaps a few posted on the coast, and we might have to delay their journey onwards, but he will not be able to stay here for ever and as soon as he leaves I will be able to finish my mission."

  "Even so, I will be happier once he has left the house."

  "As will we all."

  They fell into a companionable silence, broken only by the shifting of the coals in the fire. Susannah leant her head on Oliver's shoulder and he slid his arm round her as she lost herself in dreams of the happiness to come.

  She was finally roused from her happy musings by the sound of footsteps in the hall, marching away from the sitting-room door, and then came the sound of the front door opening and closing. She sat up straight, moving a little way away from Oliver, and a minute later Constance entered the room.

  "They've gone," she said.

  "Oh, thank goodness," said Susannah, heaving a sigh of relief.

  "I asked Captain Johnson if he'd taken his leave of you, but he didn't reply. Instead, he pushed past me and stormed out of the house. He was very annoyed. But at least he has gone. It is not all good news, though, I'm afraid." She turned to Oliver. "He had your groom with him. He seemed to have arrested him."

  "Good," said Oliver.

  "Good?" asked Constance in surprise. "I don't understand…"

  She looked from one to the other of them.

  "I must find Edward and James, and tell them the militia have gone," said Oliver. "Can you explain?"

  Susannah nodded. "I will tell Constance everything, never fear."

  He kissed her on the cheek, then left her alone in the room with Constance.

  "Explain?" asked Constance. "Don't tell me there is more that I don't know?"

  "Unfortunately, there is. I think you had better sit down."

  Constance looked surprised, but sat down nevertheless, and Susannah told her the full story.