It was still before noon, and they had few things to pack. Harry had taken their saddles in the cart, so they were soon on their way. The journey to Harry's cottage took but a couple of hours, and fortunately Harry was there when they arrived, and they were able to explain the position at once.
'Harry, can you get the horses now?' Lysbeth asked anxiously.
'They are not available, Mistress. Besides, 'tis not safe for yet awhile. The Parliament men are still in the district.'
'We must go soon,' Lysbeth protested, 'and we cannot stay with you, 'twould be too risky for you and Joan.'
'I hear they will leave soon, within a few days,' Harry reassured her, 'and for that time I have a place for you to go.'
'Oh, Harry, you have helped us so much. Where is it this time?'
'A half-ruined cottage a few miles hence, deep in the woods, and used to belong to a witch. At least, that is what the locals think.'
Sir James smiled appreciatively. 'So they do not go there?' he asked.
'Aye, that's the way of it.'
'It sounds perfect. When can we go?'
'You should make your way there when 'tis dark,' Harry said. 'Wait here a while. Joan can cook you a meal, and then I can take you there when 'tis getting dark.'
'I'll have to leave my sword with you, it does not match these clothes.'
'I'll hide it safely.'
Thankfully they accepted his suggestion, and as the afternoon drew to a close they bade Joan farewell, and set off once more. Harry led them northwards along the lanes for about three miles, then he struck off across some fields until they came to a large wood. Skirting the edge of the wood, Harry eventually came to a path. Turning into it he stopped.
' 'Tis about half a mile along this path,' he told them. 'You cannot miss it. 'Tis not quite dark yet.'
'We shall find it, do not worry,' Sir James answered quickly. 'Now you had best go back, Harry. Thank you for your help. But you must not come further.'
'I think there is no need,' Harry answered. 'I will come in three days' time. Have you enough food till then?'
'Aye, Joan has provided well for us.'
'By then I should know more about the movements of the troops. When they leave I will borrow the horses and you can set off.'
Again they thanked him, and waved as he returned across the fields. Then they started along the path. It was dark under the trees and they had to pick their way slowly, which enabled them to hear noises in front of them. Sir James halted, and caught Lysbeth's hand to halt her too. They listened intently, and Lysbeth looked enquiringly at Sir James.
'I fear that 'tis some soldiers,' he whispered quietly. 'They will most likely have heard us too. We must not try to hide, that will look suspicious.'
'What else can we do?'
'There is but one good reason for a man and a girl to be here at this time.' Sir James chuckled softly. 'I regret, but 'tis the only safe way.'
Before Lysbeth grasped his meaning, he had stepped to the side of the path, and pulled her with him. He turned her to face him and put his arms round her, holding her lightly but firmly.
'We must pretend to be oblivious to them,' he whispered into her hair. 'Pray excuse the necessity, Mistress Lysbeth!'
Lysbeth gasped in surprise, but did not resist him. He held her close and bent his head to hers, holding her in such a position that he could see the path in the direction of the soldiers.
She stood rigidly for a few moments, then accepting his reasoning, relaxed. He was holding her firmly and she found his warmth and strength comforting. She was listening intently to the footsteps of the soldiers as they came nearer, but dared not turn to see where they were, or ask Sir James, but he answered her unspoken question by putting his mouth very close to her ear.
'They are but twenty yards away. Now, Lysbeth, you must let me kiss you.'
Without waiting for her response, he tightened his arms round her, and his mouth came down on hers. Lysbeth, with her recent experiences at the hands of the Roundhead soldiers, had been steeling herself not to flinch at his touch, and so betray them, but somewhat to her surprise she found his kiss very different from the ones she had suffered earlier that day. She relaxed more, breathed deeply, and when his lips became more urgent on hers, she responded without realising it. She almost forgot their reason for being in this strange situation. It was only when a raucous laugh from behind her was heard that she came back to reality. She stiffened involuntarily, and wondered whether they should ignore this or not. Sir James's hand pressed her back warningly, and she remained where she was. Another laugh came, and some coarse jests that made Lysbeth blush hotly. Sir James lifted his head, and then, with every appearance of embarrassment, he turned Lysbeth, put his arm round her waist, and guided her along the path, pushing past the soldiers, who stood there looking after them, still laughing. His head down as though embarrassed to be caught in such a situation, he hurried Lysbeth away. They were both relieved to hear the troopers moving on away from them.
Sir James hurried on, not pausing, until several twists of the path had taken them well away from the soldiers and they could no longer be heard, then he took his arm away from round Lysbeth and stopped. She halted beside him, but did not look at him.
'Will you forgive me?' he asked quietly. 'I am sorry, but 'twas the only thing to do.'
'Why, yes, of course I understand,' Lysbeth replied in a subdued tone. ' 'Twas clever of you to think of it.'
He smiled, but as she was not looking at him she did not see it. He resumed in a more normal voice. 'We must be near the cottage now.'
*
This time, taking great care not to touch one another, they walked on side by side along the narrow path. Within a hundred yards they came to a clearing, and on the opposite side they saw the cottage. One end wall had collapsed, but there appeared to be a couple of habitable rooms at the other end, where the front door was standing ajar.
They made their way quickly across the clearing, and Sir James led the way into the cottage. It had the musty unused smell of a long-uninhabited building, but they were thankful for its shelter.
'I fear we may not sleep as comfortably as on the hay,' Sir James said somewhat ruefully.
He pulled out his flint and lit a piece of candle he had in his pocket. In its faint glow they made their way through the narrow passage and into the room at the side. They looked around apprehensively, but everything seemed normal, though obviously deserted for a long time. A huge fireplace took up most of one wall. At the side of it was a big settle. A table was in the middle of the room, and in the far corner a straw mattress covered with a pile of rags. Sir James walked over to this, threw the rags to one side, and felt the mattress, shaking it experimentally.
'You may have a few companions tonight,' he said, looking at Lysbeth and raising his eyebrows. 'The mice may have made a home here, but there is nought else. 'Twill have to do.'
Lysbeth smiled at him shyly. 'I have this cloak Harry gave me. I can wrap myself in that.'
Sir James smiled at her approvingly. 'Good girl.' He looked over at the settle. 'That will do for me.'
'Oh, but – ' Lysbeth paused uncertainly. 'Your wound, 'tis not completely healed. Why do you not take the mattress? I can rest on there.'
He shook his head. 'For tonight, do as I say. In the morning we can find something better. Perhaps small branches, or heather or ferns. With these we can contrive beds for us both. But now, do not argue. We have had a long day.'
Lysbeth made no further demur, and they quickly settled down in their strange new quarters. Despite the somewhat hard bed Lysbeth slept well, and when she woke felt ashamed of this as she recalled the uncomfortable settle Sir James had had to make do with. She looked across, but he was not there. She assumed he had gone out since it was already light, with gleams of sunlight thrusting their way through the broken windows. She rose, and went out of the cottage. A cheerful whistling greeted her, and she walked in that direction, and saw Sir James had found an axe and was busy splitting logs into firewood.
'Good morning,' she called. 'I hope you did not have too uncomfortable a night.'
' 'Twas no worse than many others I have spent during campaigns,' he reassured her, straightening up and smiling as she walked across to him. 'Soon I will have enough to start a fire. Over there is a well, and a bucket with not many holes in it. Could you draw some water?'
'Of course.' Lysbeth went over to the well and pulled up some water. It was bright and sparkling in the sunlight, and she tasted, finding it sweet and fresh. Walking back to the cottage, she found some old cooking pots by the fire, and was able to wash one of these out. She poured some fresh water into it and hung it on the hook over the fire. At that moment Sir James came in, carrying an armful of wood.
Laughing like children, they made a fire and Sir James, an old campaigner, soon had it lit. They set the pot above it, and Lysbeth began to unpack the bundle of food Joan had pressed on them the day before. There was meat, cheese and bread, and they made a hearty breakfast.
'I set some snares earlier,' Sir James said, 'there may well be a rabbit in one by now. And there are many herbs growing round about. We will be able to have rabbit stew for supper.'
During the next few days their life settled into a pattern. They found soft branches and ferns, and contrived two beds. One of the other rooms in the cottage was reasonably weatherproof, and Sir James put his bed in there, so for the first time since they had met after Naseby battle, they were able to have some privacy. Sir James chopped wood and snared rabbits and birds, while Lysbeth kept house. It was almost as if they were children playing, and they were light-hearted and happy, free for a time from anxiety and cares.
On the third day Harry appeared late in the afternoon. He had welcome news.
'The Parliament troop leaves the district tomorrow, and your horses will be available the day after. Think you that you can find your own way to my cottage then?'
'Why, of course. When would you have us come?'
'As early as you can. I am keeping the horses overnight, and you can set off as early as you wish.'
They thanked him warmly, and promised to be there early, two days hence.
'If the troop does not leave, or there are other problems, I will come tomorrow,' Harry promised, and they waved him farewell soon after. Lysbeth spent the following day alternating between relief their perils would soon be over, at least for the immediate future, and regrets that this strange interlude in her life was soon to end. The anxiety while Sir James had been ill, then the past few days in their very ordinariness had helped her to support the shock of Arthur's death, and though his loss made her exceedingly sad, she was not cast down by it as much as she might have been in other circumstances.
As they sat on the grass in front of the cottage on that last afternoon, she turned mischievously to Sir James.
'You will soon be rid of your charge.'
'You accept you are my charge?' he asked her, grinning.
'Of necessity,' she replied. 'I think we have needed each other. Thank you for all your help, rescuing me from my various misfortunes.'
'Thank you, child,' he answered.
She frowned quickly. 'I am no child. When will you realise this and treat me as a grown woman?'
'I beg your pardon.' He smiled apologetically. 'When I first met you, you were but a child, and the impression you made on me was very strong.'
She frowned again. 'You mock, Sir! Let us forget it.'
'If I agree you are no longer a child, and do my utmost to remember not to call you one, can we be friends?'
'It would be hard not to be after this time,' she answered slowly.
'Do you still resent what I did for the King?'
'I know not. I did not then realise the fearsomeness of war. Besides, the Parliament men have treated me and mine far worse than you treated people. Was it really necessary, what you did?'
'Aye, I fear so,' he answered sombrely. 'If people do not support the King, when he has dire need of support, we must take it for him. If not, many troubles come upon the land.'
'They seem to have come anyway,' Lysbeth said. 'I wonder what will happen now?'
'We have had no tidings of the King, where he is, what has happened to the army.'
'No doubt we shall hear as we join the road to Yorkshire.'
'You accept my escort now?'
She smiled at him quickly. 'I would be grateful, Sir James,' she said graciously. 'I apologise for my behaviour. I was distressed, angry about the time at home when you treated me as a child, and determined to show you I was not.' She smiled at him somewhat shyly. 'But you have lost much time already. What will you do now? Do you go to rejoin the King?'
Sir James shrugged. 'I doubt there is much army to rejoin. From what I saw, most of the Royalist army was destroyed or dispersed at Naseby, but I shall attempt to join the King again. We must fight on.'
Lysbeth nodded slowly. 'But if the King is defeated, and cannot raise another army, what can he do?'
'There is still the army of the West, also Goring, for he did not join us as we hoped before Naseby. Mayhap if he had, the result would have been different, but as 'tis, much of the West is held for the King, so we can start again there.'
Lysbeth nodded.
'And you?' he asked. 'You will remain with your aunt and uncle?'
'I have no other close relatives now. They will be glad to give me a home, for their own children are left, married.'
'You said their home was not so badly damaged as your own?'
'No, from the reports I heard. I expect Aunt Mary will have returned there. There will be parts of it habitable, no doubt, and I can assist them, in getting things straight. There will be much to do.'
*
In this gentler mood, when they seemed to be in agreement, they fell to talking about the war and the reasons for it. Sir James was surprised at Lysbeth's knowledge, and admitted that her understanding was far from childlike. He explained much that she had been puzzled over before, about the grievances people held against the King, especially the time when he had ruled without Parliament. Lysbeth surprised him by her intelligent questions and shrewd comments, and by the time they had their supper he had almost forgotten she was young and a female, and was talking to her as he would have done another officer. She was not unaware of this change in him, and greatly appreciated it, but did not again tease him by reminding him of his earlier rejections of her questions.
They retired to bed early that night, as they had to start very early the next morning. The journey to Harry's cottage was uneventful, and they arrived soon after sunrise to find he was ready for them. The horses he had obtained, some stolid animals belonging to a local farmer, were already saddled and waiting. Joan had packed food for them, and with profuse thanks they prepared to set off on their long journey.
Sir James asked Harry how much he owed for the horses. They were to leave them at Grantham to be collected, for it was expected they could hire more horses there. Harry named a modest sum, and Sir James took a handful of gold out of his pocket.
'There is also what you have provided for us,' he said, holding several coins out to Harry, but the man shook his head vehemently.
'I would do as much for any Royalist,' he said, 'had I the chance, and I'll be offended if you insist on offering payment.'
Sir James did not make the mistake of arguing, and left just the sum for the hire of the horses. He and Lysbeth mounted and set off, turning to wave at their good friends, until a bend in the lane took them out of view.
They were able to hire more horses at Grantham, and made good progress for the next few days. They found accommodation at inns along the way. Occasionally they met small troops of Parliamentarians, but little notice was taken of them, apart from many admiring looks at Lysbeth, and their fears gradually receded, though they took care not to draw attention to themselves when the soldiers were around.
Lysbcth was heartily glad of Sir James's protection, for she now realised full well that without him she would have been subject to unpleasant advances by the soldiers.
After a quiet journey they arrived at the Wades' house in the middle of the afternoon. As they rode through the gates, Lysbeth stared round at the damage which had been caused by the Parliamentarians, and wondered that more of it had not been set to rights.
'It must have been worse than I thought,' she commented to Sir James, 'for Uncle John would never have left it in this state unless there were more urgent things to do.'
They went on along the drive, now overgrown with weeds, and rode round the side of the house into the stableyard. It was ominously quiet. There was no sound from the stables, where normally the stamping and whickering of the horses were continuous. There was no one about. With a puzzled glance at Sir James, Lysbeth dismounted and ran across to the door which led into the kitchen. She lifted the latch and pushed, for normally in the daytime this door was unbarred, but this time it did not give to her push. She moved to peer in at the windows, and came back to Sir James shaking her head.
'There can be no one in. There is no fire, and everything is tidied away, as it would not be if people were working here '
'Mayhap your uncle has returned to Lincolnshire.'
'That would be odd. Why are there no servants here? And surely there has been time for him to set the house to rights and bring Aunt Mary home? It does not look uninhabitable. And the kitchen is clean and tidy. Someone has been here since the troopers. But why are they not here now?'
'Let us ride to the village and enquire. Many of the servants must have lived there.'
'Yes, that is best.' Lysbeth mounted again quickly, and they retraced their steps down the drive.
In the village, Lysbeth made for the inn, and after handing their horses to the ostler, she led the way into the parlour, where the landlord greeted her with pleasure and surprise.
'Why, Mistress Lysbeth, what brings you here?'
'Good day, Jarvis,' she answered. 'Where is my uncle? Do you know what has happened? Why is the house deserted?'
'Mistress, did you not know?'
'Know what? I have been away. I have had no news,' she explained. 'What is the matter?'
' 'Twas your aunt. The shock of what happened to the house caused her to be ill.'
'Ill?' Lysbeth asked, in sudden apprehension, and instinctively held out her hand to Sir James, who clasped it firmly.
'She is not seriously ill,' the landlord said quickly, realising Lysbeth's fears, 'but your uncle has shut the house and taken her to his daughter's house. She intends to stay there for some months.'
'But the house? Is my uncle leaving it like that?'
'No. He had been busy, and he has made arrangements for repairs to be set in motion, but he left with your aunt only three days ago, and preferred to be here to supervise the work himself, so he sent everyone away for a few days, till he returns.'
'A few days! Know you exactly when?'
'No, Mistress Lysbeth. He said it would depend on how your aunt did, as he would not leave her if she became worse.'
Lysbeth looked at Sir James in some dismay. 'What shall I do?'
'We can think of that tomorrow,' he said to her, then turned to the landlord. 'Can you give us rooms for the night?'
The man nodded.
'Then bring us wine while they are being prepared. Have you a private room?'
'Aye, Sir. This way, if you please.'
He led the way upstairs to a small room overlooking the road, and Lysbeth thankfully took off her cloak and sat down. ' I cannot ask you to escort me all the way to my cousin's,' she said worriedly.
'Do not be concerned about that. We will leave it till tomorrow.'
'Perhaps Uncle John will be back soon. I could stay here.'
'That would be unwise.'
'But I have delayed you overmuch already. You wish to rejoin the King.'
'That can wait,' Sir James said calmly. 'It will take His Majesty time to reorganise, and though I flatter myself I am indispensable, mayhap he can do without me for a while.'
'This is most unfortunate.'
At that moment a maidservant entered with wine, and Sir James poured a glass and carried it over to Lysbeth.
'Here, drink this. 'Twill restore your spirits.'
She smiled at him wanly, then drank the wine and sat silently, puzzling over this new dilemma. Sir James excused himself and went down to talk to the landlord and learn more of the situation regarding Mr and Mistress Wade, and also the political situation, and the whereabouts of the various troops.
While he was questioning the man, who was able to give him little information, there was the sound of another arrival in the yard, and soon a young man, dressed in Parliamentary uniform, walked into the taproom where they were.
*
'Good day, Jarvis,' he said cheerfully, and bowed to Sir James, who had discarded his rustic clothes and purchased some more suited to a gentleman.
'Good day to you, Sir.'
'Why, good day, Mr Bridges. We did not expect you back so soon.'
'I had some unexpected leave, and decided to come here before travelling home. How is Mistress Wade?'
The landlord shook his head. 'She was worse than when you were last here. I have been telling this gentleman, who has also been inquiring for them, Mr Wade took his good lady down to his daughter's in Oxfordshire, and we know not when he will return.'
Mr Bridges looked somewhat put out at this intelligence.
'Oh, 'tis a pity. But I will put up here for the night.'
'Aye, Sir.'
The landlord turned away and shouted orders through a doorway leading into the kitchen, then he came back towards Tom.
'Mistress Lysbeth has just arrived with this gentleman,' he volunteered. 'She is puzzled as to what to do.'
'Lysbeth?' Tom queried in surprise. 'With you, Sir? May I ask how she comes to be in your company?'
Sir James narrowed his eyes at the haughty tone in Tom's voice. 'And what is it to you, Sir?'
'Mistress Lysbeth is an old friend of mine. My father's lands are close to those of her family. I have known her since she was born.'
Sir James's face relaxed. 'I cannot claim that pleasure,' he smiled at the other man. 'I am Sir James Howard. I have known Arthur well for some years. Did you know he had been killed at Naseby?'
Tom shook his head.
'He was mortally wounded in Prince Rupert's charge, and died a few hours later.'
'And Lysbeth?' Tom looked at him narrowly.
'I promised Arthur to escort Lysbeth here if aught happened to him.'
'It is three weeks since Naseby,' Tom interrupted quickly.
'Aye.' Sir James smiled slightly. 'I was wounded too, and could not travel immediately. Besides, we had to hide from your comrades.'
Tom nodded, accepting this matter of factly.
'Poor Lysbeth, she is all alone now. But you may safely resign her care to me. I thank you, on behalf of her aunt and uncle, as well as for myself, for your care of her, Sir.'
Sir James raised his eyebrows. 'You propose to escort her to Oxfordshire?'
Tom shook his head slowly. 'I think not. Her aunt is not fit to take charge of her. I will take her to my mother. 'Tis nearer, and she will be back in her own country. Besides, there are other reasons – ' He paused in confusion, and blushed. Sir James, who suddenly guessed at what was in his mind, decided to take pity on him, for he looked young and vulnerable.
'We will ask her. Come up to our parlour.' Sir James turned and led the way out of the room and up the stairs, and Tom, eagerly enough, followed him and was hard on his heels when he stepped into the room he had hired for Lysbeth.
She was sitting where he had left her, and scarcely looked up when the door opened, but when Tom spoke she came to her feet with a startled yet glad cry.
'Lysbeth ! I am sorry your homecoming is so strange.'
'Tom! Why, what do you here? Oh, Tom!'
Lysbeth ran across the room to him and clasped his hands, and stood there looking at him, the pleasure at the meeting most obvious in her face. Tom smiled down at her.
' 'Tis all right now. I am going to relieve Sir James of his guardianship. I am going to take you to my home. Mother will welcome you, and 'twould be better than bothering your aunt at such a time.'
'Tom, is she really ill?'
'Jarvis says she is worse than when I last saw her, and she was far from well then.'
'Perhaps I ought to go to her. I could help to nurse her. Tom, would you escort me there?'
'Methinks she would worry more about you if you were there. If she knows you are with my mother there will be nought for her to be concerned about.'
Lysbeth nodded slowly. 'Mayhap you are right. Tom, can we start tomorrow?'
Tom nodded, and she released his hands and turned towards Sir James, who had seated himself some distance away.
'Is this not fortunate?' she asked. 'Now you can be relieved of my care, and Tom will look after me. Are you not pleased?' He was frowning. 'But, Sir James, I thought it irked you to look after me? You did not wish it, and were merely carrying out your promise to Arthur. Now that Tom is here all is different. I am in safe hands. I have known Tom for ever.'
Sir James smiled suddenly. 'If that is what you wish, Lysbeth, then so be it. I would have escorted you willingly to your aunt, but if you both think this other plan is better, then I will agree to it.'
Lysbeth smiled brilliantly at him, and turned back to Tom, asking anxiously after mutual friends. They tried when they remembered to include Sir James in the conversation, but most of the time they were exchanging news or reminiscing about their childhood. Sir James watched thoughtfully, and unobtrusively studied Tom. He was a large handsome man, already with a hint of pompousness, but this could be due to his youth and inexperience. He was obviously very attracted to Lysbeth, and she seemed delighted to be with him. Sir James wondered how, if they married, they would deal together.
On the following morning, they broke fast together early, as Tom intended to do the major part of the journey in the first day. Lysbeth was very quiet this morning, and Sir James and Tom conversed sporadically, both avoiding the topic of the war, and both unable to think of many other subjects of conversation. When they had finished, Tom went out to the stables to see to the horses, and Sir James turned to Lysbeth.
'I feel disturbed our journey should end so. I have not delivered you to your aunt. It is well, you think? Do you wish me to accompany you further? I will gladly come with you to this young man's home, if you wish.'
'I shall be safe enough with Tom,' she said, smiling at him.
'I can see that,' Sir James answered. 'Well, 'tis goodbye. I thank you, Lysbeth, for your help and companionship.'
'And you too. It has been such a strange time, since the battle.' She held out her hands to him. 'Something I will remember always. Now I wish you well.'
'And I you.'
'Mayhap we shall meet again sometime.'
'If you are with a Parliamentary family, methinks that is unlikely, but who knows? Fate plays some strange tricks.'
He held her hands tightly, and pulled her close to him so that he was looking deep into her eyes. 'Goodbye, Lysbeth. Fare well.'
She tried to smile, but it was a very trembling attempt, and she suddenly dropped her eyes in confusion, and pulled her hands away from his grasp. He released her immediately, and she busied herself with fastening her cloak. Fortunately at that moment Tom returned, and they all went down to the stableyard, where Tom helped Lysbeth to mount before he sprang on to his own horse.
'My thanks to you, Sir James. Though we are on opposite sides, I wish you well.'
Sir James inclined his head. 'My good wishes also, Mr Bridges,' he replied, and stood there waving as they clattered out of the yard.
He moved to the entrance and watched them as they cantered along the road until a bend hid them from sight. Then he slowly made his way back into the inn, paid his reckoning and set off himself towards Wales, where he had last heard of the King.
*