The Rebel Captain's Royalist Bride (13 page)

‘I am not sure how long we can hold out,’ he said. ‘Ten men have died already and they are too strong for us. They have fearful machines of war—and if we fight on we may all die.’

‘Lady Alice and the child must be safe,’ Babette said. ‘There is a way of escape—if you can hold out for a few hours?’

‘A way of escape?’ She saw hope flare in his eyes. ‘Where—how?’

‘A secret passage in the Earl’s chamber. You must promise me to hold out for long enough for us to escape... Please, for Lady Alice and the child?’

‘Very well. I shall tell the men that the Earl is merely resting,’ he said. ‘We can hold for a few hours.’

‘Thank you, sir. I am grateful.’

Babette left him and hurried to Alice’s chamber. There was no choice now—they must go quickly before the castle fell to this determined assault, though why its defences should have proved so ineffective she did not know.

* * *

Alice looked into the darkness of the tunnel. She was carrying the child wrapped in shawls, while the two maidservants carried bundles of clothing and some food, which would be needed for their journey. Babette carried a bundle containing Alice’s jewels and some gold John had left in her charge, also her own few trinkets. It was heavy and she’d looked with regret at her father’s alabaster bowl, for she could not take it with her. Jonas had brought a pistol and some other bits and pieces stuffed into a sack, which he carried over his shoulder. He had not wanted to leave the castle until she reminded him that it was his duty to look after Lord Harvey’s heir.

They had decided they must try to reach Brevington Manor, which was in the county of Hampshire and some leagues hence. Perhaps they would be able to buy horses for themselves—or perhaps a wagon. As yet Babette had had no time to think what she must do. She was anxious to remove her sister-in-law and the child from danger, though a part of her felt guilty at leaving when she knew some of the men were wounded and needed help.

Martin had come to her as she prepared to leave. When she told him of her fears for the wounded, he brushed them aside.

‘Our men have fought for your sake and the Lady Alice. Her child will one day be Lord Harvey. Your duty is to take them to safety. I have the cures and salves you made for us, mistress. I shall do what I can for the injured, though some will die...whether you are here or not.’

Babette knew he was right. Alice was nervous of escaping through a dark, secret tunnel and would never have the courage to go alone. Besides, the journey would be dangerous and she could not desert her now.

‘It looks so dark...’ Alice said fearfully. ‘There are cobwebs and spiders.’

‘I shall go first and break through them.’ Babette held her lanthorn high, the yellow light of the candle lifting the pitch-black of the tunnel. She waved her bundle at the cobweb that had spread across the narrow passage and saw several spiders go scurrying. A shudder went through her, for she liked them no more than Alice, but there was no choice but to leave this way. It was up to her to go first, because she was the only one who knew how to work the lever that would open a door into the ancient church in the village. ‘Come, dearest one, have courage. It is better than facing enemy soldiers, is it not?’

Hearing shouting and cheering, she glanced over her shoulder. Surely the castle had not surrendered already? Captain Richards had promised to hold out for a few hours, but even as she looked back, Martin came into the chamber.

‘Go quickly, my lady,’ he urged. ‘Captain Richards put up the white flag and the enemy are within the gates.’

‘You must come with us,’ Alice said, but he shook his head.

‘Nay. The door must be secured from here—and I shall be needed here to protect the vulnerable if I can. Go before they come.’

Alice and the two maids followed Babette into the passage and the door was shut from within the Earl’s chamber. Since it could not be opened from inside, they now had no choice but to escape through the church.

Captain Richards had made terms in the hope of saving his own skin, Babette thought angrily. Indeed, it surprised her that he had not insisted on escaping with her through the passage. Her lips curled in scorn, for she knew that had her father been in the castle, he would have fought to the last and his men would have stood with him. The Earl had been a brave man, but foolhardy, and with his death there had been no one to rally the men or give them a reason to fight on.

‘It’s cold in here,’ Alice said. ‘How far is it, Babs?’

‘Not long now,’ Babette said. ‘Have courage, dearest.’

‘I’m trying...’ Alice made a little sound of disgust. ‘Something just ran over my foot.’

‘Do not think about it,’ Babette said. ‘We must get your son to safety—think only of him, Alice.’

‘I’m not sure I can bear this,’ she moaned as something brushed against her face. ‘I can’t breathe...’

‘It is just fear,’ Babette told her. ‘Take a deep breath. Another few minutes and we shall be there.’

Babette did not tell her of her own fears—which were that there might be Roundhead soldiers stationed in the village.

* * *

‘Marston’s force is attacking Haverston Castle,’ Cromwell said. ‘It is well defended and I think he may need reinforcements. I want you to lead a supply troop and back him up, James.’

James felt the pulse start to beat rapidly at his right temple, and his fists curled at his sides. He had feared this day might come, for this new policy of attacking randomly and forcing the Royalists from their strongholds had always meant that Mistress Babette might one day be in danger. He had hoped that he might be a part of the attacking force so that he could protect them and prayed that he might not arrive too late. Yet from what he had seen from a distance the castle was stout and ought to hold out against a siege of some weeks.

He saluted his commander, then went to assemble the supply wagons and gather his troop. If Captain Marston was dug in for a long siege, he would need these extra supplies of ammunition and food. The Earl of Carlton was known to be a brave and stubborn man, though whether he had the skill to defend the castle was an unknown factor.

James could not help wondering about Babette and her sister-in-law. Mistress Babs had told him that her brother’s wife was with child, which was her reason for returning to the castle. That child must have been born some months previously. Were they all still at the castle or had they gone to Oxford to join the King? Had he been Babette’s brother and on the King’s side, he would have taken his wife and sister there—in times of war castles were not the place for women and children, for they were liable to be attacked. Oxford was too well defended to invite attack at the moment, though if Cromwell had his way the day when they would be strong enough to march against it was not so far distant—if, of course, they made the advances they hoped this summer.

James’s mind returned to his present problem. Marston was not a monster. He would surely give the women a free passage and let them leave in safety, as he would the men-at-arms—if they surrendered on honourable terms.

Yet even if they were allowed to leave the castle they would be defenceless women alone in troubled times. He believed Lord Harvey had another house. Would they try to go there? James frowned. If he were in time, he would help escort them to safety, but...

He pushed the anxious thoughts from his mind. From here he could do nothing. He must take his men to Marston’s aid and see what the situation was when he arrived.

* * *

‘Thank God we are out of that wretched tunnel,’ Alice exclaimed when they stood in the church. They had come up in the vestry and were busy brushing the dirt from their clothes and hair when the vicar entered. He looked shocked to see them and then hurried forward to greet them.

‘Lady Harvey, Mistress Babette,’ he said. ‘How glad I am to see you. We knew that the castle was under attack, but we thought it would hold out for much longer.’

‘Had my father or brother been there we might have held for at least two or three weeks,’ Babette said with a touch of bitterness. ‘The Earl was killed in the first attack and his subordinates could not hold the men to their posts.’

‘I am sorry to hear that Carlton was killed,’ the vicar said, shaking his head. ‘Lord Harvey would have fought to the last, I know. I do not think these Roundheads would have beaten him so easily—but what of you? Where will you go?’

‘I think we must go to my brother’s manor,’ Babette said. ‘Tell me, are there soldiers in the village?’

‘They are all at the castle for the moment, though I think some may return soon. You should leave at once, for I think they will look for you once they know you have fled.’

‘Yes, we shall go. Do you know of anyone who would let us buy a wagon and horses?’

‘You may have my own cart, Mistress Babette—and I need no payment. Your father was a good patron of the church and of me. I fear I cannot let you have my riding horse, for I need it for my work in the parish—but the cart will not be needed until the harvest and one of my neighbours will lend me a cart if it is still of use to you by then.’

‘I shall send it back to you with Jonas, once we are settled at the manor,’ she promised. ‘Your kindness will not be forgot, sir.’

‘I wish that I could do more, mistress—but my duty is here with my flock, and you have Jonas to protect you.’

‘Yes, thank you,’ Babette said. ‘Please have your cart made ready. We shall stay here in the church until we can safely leave.’

The vicar nodded and went out swiftly. He returned in a very few minutes, saying that the cart was ready. ‘I am delighted to tell you that my curate has offered his own horse for your use, Mistress Babette. He says it is but a docile nag and not fit—but it will carry either you or Lady Alice.’

‘I shall ride in the cart with my son,’ Alice said. ‘Babette must take the horse.’

‘But what of Mr Smith—how will he manage his parish work?’

‘He says the Lord gave him legs to walk and he will walk as Jesus did himself. Perhaps I ought to do the same—but my legs will not bear me too far these days.’

‘No, sir.’ Babette smiled at him. ‘You have done more than we could have expected. Your cart and the curate’s horse will be sufficient for our needs.’

‘Mistress...’ The maidservant Janice looked at her, a self-conscious expression in her eyes. ‘Will you forgive me if I do not come with you? I should not like to go so far from my home. With your permission I shall stay here in the village and wed my promised lad.’

‘If that is your wish, Janice. Maigret—do you also wish to stay?’

‘Nay, Mistress Babette. I shall come with you wherever you go.’

‘Then you will come and Janice will stay. It will be one less for the cart to carry.’ She slipped her hand into the purse at her waist and took out a silver coin, pressing it into Janice’s hand. ‘This is for your marriage gift. I bear you no ill will for wishing to stay.’

The girl’s eyes filled with tears as she turned her head away, shamed that she had let her mistress down. Babette had no time to comfort her. Jonas was urging them to leave and she followed him outside to the cart and horses. The nag the curate had loaned her was worse than the old grey cob Jonas normally rode. Babette longed for her own mare and felt regret at having to leave her in the castle stables, but there was no way she could have brought the horse with her.

Lifting her head proudly, she allowed Jonas to help her into the saddle. Resolutely, she led the way from the church, down a narrow lane and towards the road that led towards Hampshire and London. Brevington Manor stood beside some sweet water meadows and was a lovely old house. She could only pray that it was still standing and that they would reach it in safety.

They had escaped the dangers of the castle, but who knew what awaited them on their journey?

* * *

‘You say the Earl surrendered after the second attack?’ James asked incredulously. ‘But you could not have breached these walls so quickly.’ He’d seen little sign of damage as he and his men rode up, apart from one hole in the wall that had brought down a part of the turret.

‘The Earl was up on the ramparts and killed in the first round of cannon fire—and his subordinate surrendered on terms favourable to himself and his men. We were to let them lay down their arms and then march out, which I was happy to do, for we are not murderers.’

‘No, for we should betray the cause we fight for—justice and freedom for all.’ James looked at him anxiously. ‘What of the ladies? Did they go with the men?’

‘We saw no sign of ladies...were there women here?’

‘I heard as they escaped through a tunnel,’ one of the soldiers said. ‘The servants here were talking amongst themselves. Martin, the steward, ordered them to be quiet. He has stayed here, tending the wounded and trying to keep things in order.’

‘I would see him,’ James said. ‘Excuse me, do you know where I may find him?’

He was frowning as he went in search of the steward, who had so bravely stayed to tend the wounded. Where had Babette and her sister-in-law gone? Did they not know how dangerous it was to roam the countryside alone? Not everyone was as gallant as Captain Marston. Renegades from either side could set them upon them... He must discover which way they had gone and go after them for their protection. If it was to the manor at Brevington, he would see them safely settled before he returned to his duty.

* * *

‘Try to keep the child quiet,’ Babette hissed as it whimpered. ‘If they see us, we know not what they will do.’

They had hidden in the trees twice thus far, once to avoid a troop of Roundhead soldiers and a second time when they saw a band of gypsies. This time Jonas had caught sight of riders behind them and ordered them all into the woods to hide.

‘He won’t stop crying,’ Alice said. ‘He needs to feed, I think, or perhaps his napkin is soiled.’

‘Hush!’ Babette warned as she heard the sound of men’s voices, but as if to spite her, the little boy let out a mighty wail and started to scream as loudly as his lungs would allow. ‘Oh, no...’ she moaned as the men stopped and looked towards them.

* * *