A Captive Heart

by Patricia Scott

  ‘Does he know what he is about to do with that?’ Adam said observing the knife in Reuben’s steady hand as Tamsin took hold of his arms to hold him back down on the ledge.

  ‘He does. His father was a renowned Cornish healer. I promise you, you can trust him.’

  He groaned and said, ‘Then I have little choice but to do so too. You can start now, Reuben.’

  Reuben nodded. He had summed up quickly the bad state that Adam’s shoulder and arm were in, the shot ripping into and through the shoulder muscle and bone. After giving Adam a thick wad of linen rag to bite hard on Tamsin held him down as best she could. Reuben probed deep and dug out the musket shot skilfully and swiftly with the knife. The wound bled copiously at first then stopped and Adam gasped collapsing against her and into her arms before losing consciousness for a few minutes.

  Tamsin winced as she saw the size of the bloodied lump of lead in Reuben’s hand and tasted blood in her own mouth where she had bitten sharply into her bottom lip when she saw it quickly removed from Adam’s shoulder.

  Adam came round and managed to say afterwards in a dry husky whisper, ‘Thank your friend for me, please. I am eternally grateful to you both,’ before losing consciousness once again.

  ‘I thank you too, Reuben, for all you have done. We could not have managed without you, dear friend.’ Tamsin told him as she waited to bandage up Adam’s arm and shoulder.

  *

  An hour or so later their patient Adam was sufficiently recovered and able to sit up and eat some of the food she had brought him. He ate slowly, enjoying every satisfying mouthful of the piece of roast chicken and cooked pasty - the first solid food he’d eaten for a good while. Tamsin meanwhile went to Reuben who knelt down by the freshwater pool, slowly washing away carefully the blood on his large, capable hands and the sweat from his pleasant face; it had been quite an experience and a strain for her young friend too.

  She placed her hand on his shoulder gently. ‘Thank you.’ He looked up, smiled at her and caught her hand in his. ‘I can never thank you enough for what you have done today. Will you promise, me, Reuben, please that you will not let anyone know of this? Not my father, or your mother, till I am ready to say something to them?’

  He answered her quickly with a warm smile and a firm nod of agreement.

  She trusted him implicitly. Whatever Tamsin had in mind, she knew that Reuben would never let her down. If he had further doubts he would be sure to tell her what he intended to do before he did it.

  She went back over to Adam. He had eaten his fill of the fresh crusty baked bread, chicken and the cold mutton and vegetable pasty. His face had renewed colour in it and she could see that the doubt that had filled those cool sea green eyes at first was no longer there. His mind surely able to think much clearer now, and she hoped he would trust them for a while longer at least.

  Chapter Seven

  Adam had already decided that when he was fit again he would try to leave the cave under the cover of darkness. Tamsin had said she would bring her father’s men to help him back up the cliff. She had given him fair warning, she could do no more than this.

  ‘You must learn to trust us.’ A dark brow rose quizzically at this and a smile quirked his generous mouth. ‘If you had been fit and well when I found you it could have all ended so differently.’ She shrugged her slender shoulders. ‘Then perhaps I might have told my father immediately. I shall have to find the right moment to explain this to him and it is possible that he might spare you, Adam. He is a just, kind man.’

  He laughed and it echoed throughout the cave. He obviously thought that she lied. She could see the doubt clouding his eyes even now. There was only one possible ending for him if he was given away and they both knew it.

  ‘But now you must rest and regain your strength.’

  She made him up a more comfortable bed with the extra blankets on the ledge, placed a soft feather pillow under his head. It was one taken from her own bed that morning. He would perhaps realise this when he smelt the sweet scent of lavender, and roses coming from it. Martha wouldn’t notice it missing for a while, she hoped. She wished that she could bring him back to the castle to sleep safe and sound in a bed where he could recover more fully. But that was impossible. If found he would be put with the other prisoners, brought to trial and executed.

  She did not want to leave him there on his own now that she had found him. But today he was the enemy and must be treated as this. She knew that he would have been forced to be unforgiving too, if she had been discovered by the Roundheads spying for the Royalists and their King. They were at war and as far as she knew they would never be otherwise.

  But she wanted to know so much more about Adam. What did he feel about her? She didn’t know what made her behave so foolishly, filling her with such indecision. They had been children together before. He was so much older than her of course and had teased her mercilessly. Oh how he’d enjoyed that. For the first time in her life these thoughts made her wish that she was wearing a silk gown, instead of the stout fustian jacket and breeches, to please his eyes and paint a different picture of her for him.

  She’s studying me now closely. Oh yes I think she does remember me well. So will she give me away? And when? She really has no other choice if she chooses to be wise instead of foolish. These thoughts ran willy-nilly through Adam’s throbbing head as he eyed her closely while she placed a cool hand on his forehead. He could hardly blame her. This lovely young girl who so trustingly believed that the use of boys’ clothing as a disguise would protect her from all harm seemed so naively innocent, despite the tangle of glorious copper hair which could denote a similarly fiery temper. He must make no mistake that she had a will of her own too. And courage. She had shown it to him already.

  He also knew that she was prepared if necessary to give him up. Because she must. In her eyes he was the enemy, one of those Roundheads who had vanquished the Royalists, and held their King prisoner.

  She was vastly attractive to any full blooded man’s gaze and to his eyes especially appealing at the moment. He found he could not get her out of his thoughts, or out of his mind. He knew full well that she represented all the good and beautiful things in his life he could still remember, and might have had if the country hadn’t become entangled in this war.

  He knew that he must fight hard against his feelings. It was wartime and for the moment he represented the enemy to Tamsin, and there was no room in his life for anything else but the work he had still to do. But he also knew that from now on she was going to mean so much more to him than anyone else had ever done before...

  She was risking so much for him already and until he recovered his fate remained in her hands entirely. He laughed softly, for the first time in his life he had listened to his heart rather than his head, which had ruled all his dealings of late.

  ‘I would not think any less of you if you tell your father about me. As you must certainly do soon,’ he said quietly to Tamsin, his eyes on Reuben, who stood by the pool of water wiping his face and hands on a rough linen towel now. ‘Or your young most resourceful friend there. He is obviously sorely troubled by my presence here and what you are doing for me. And I cannot entirely blame him. No one else would have behaved so kindly and generous towards me given the same circumstance. I owe you both so much...’ And dear heart, I have fallen deeply irrevocably in love with you he added to himself silently and smiled as she studied his face anxiously attempting to read his thoughts. He sighed. ‘I can only thank you for coming to my rescue therefore I will leave you to make up your mind what to do about me. I am in your hands entirely… and Reuben’s.’

  ‘Reuben will not say anything, Adam. Unless I tell him to.’

  She felt choked up now by her emotions. What else should she do? Should she turn him over to her father, a good kindly man, and hope that he would be merciful?

  Chapter Eight

  Tamsin’s mind was made up for her later that evening, purely by chance, when her father confi
ded to her thoughtfully at the dining table: ‘You know, my dear, a day or so ago, I could have sworn that I saw Philip Carey’s eldest son, Adam, here in Tresco.’

  ‘Adam Carey! Here, Father?’

  ‘Yes, child, I thought I saw him on horseback on the hillside overlooking the harbour, before the Roundheads landed in their boats and invaded us. He rode off quickly when I came into view. It looked as if he was expecting them.’

  ‘Are you sure of that Father? You could be mistaken - it’s some time since we last saw the Careys, isn’t?’

  He sighed heavily, shook his head and looked troubled. ‘I’ve heard rumours that Adam has fallen out with Philip and his family over his beliefs. And worst of all I fear now that he could be a spy for Cromwell. Why else would he be here today of all days? And why would he not have made known his presence to us?’

  ‘A spy!’ Her knife clattered on her dish. ‘You cannot be sure that it was Adam Carey, Father. You could be mistaken.’

  He nodded. ‘I only wish that this was true. But I am sure it was him.’ He sighed, ‘You played as children together. I found him to be a pleasant, handsome young lad. Some years older than you of course. I hoped that one day a marriage might be arranged between you.’ He shook his head. ’He recognised me, I am almost sure of that.’

  Adam had not mentioned this incident to her. He obviously thought that it was better that he did not. Was this the time to tell her father what had really happened to Adam Carey since then?

  ‘I have heard you speak of the Careys often, father. And yes of course I recall that I met and played with them. Mother was with us still then and we visited their family home often.’

  Her father smiled. ‘They were the best of days to remember, it’s good that we still can, my dear.’

  She hoped that he could not read the guilt that she felt was plain to see in her eyes. But luckily he was still deep in thought, obviously worried and no longer observing her reactions to what he had told her.

  ‘I’m sorry to hear that Adam has fallen out with his father. I remember he seemed headstrong to me.’

  ‘That is right. Quite a bit.’ He nodded his face grave now. ‘Yes - you may well remember much more about him than I do.’ He stayed deep in thought for a moment or so.

  Tamsin knew that a further attack on Tresco could be imminent before long. Richard Trevenian, a good Royalist, soldier and father, could not pay as much attention as he wished to his only child, Tamsin, and he knew he had to insist that she was kept safe and out of danger at Treganna for as long as possible.

  ‘I want you to leave Tresco as soon as possible, Tamsin. I will arrange for you to stay with your Aunt Phoebe at our family home in the Helford passage on the mainland. She will be pleased to have you there for company while your uncle Bevil is away with prince Rupert at Oxford.’

  ‘Father, I cannot leave you. I do not want to go.’

  So far he had not persuaded her to leave. But now he had decided her fate for her. She had little choice but to listen and obey his wishes. What could she do about Adam? She could not leave him till he was completely recovered, or hand him over to her father. No she had to give him a chance to get back to the mainland if he gave his word never to return to Tresco or use the knowledge he’d obtained to help the enemy. She decided she would have to confess all to Martha and get her assistance over this.

  Martha and Nancy, Tamsin’s maidservants, were her only woman companions in the castle. Martha was strict, but kind and attempted in vain to keep Tamsin in order. She highly disapproved of Tamsin riding around Tresco on her mare Bella, especially when she went out dressed as a boy.

  Martha was at that moment busy with Nancy and the Army doctor, caring for some of the Royalists’ sick and wounded and some of the badly injured prisoners, who were mostly untrained youths or schoolboys.

  Tamsin found herself perfectly at liberty to take food and supplies from the kitchen pantry and clean linen for Adam without being questioned, at least for the moment. But for how long could she manage to do this without discovery?

  Chapter Nine

  Tamsin wanted to know so much more about Adam. She didn’t know what made her behave like this, or what provoked the feelings inside her that were so strange and overwhelming. He was the first young man she had encountered for so long - her father had not encouraged her to meet any of his young officers other than formally. He did not wish her to fall in love with any young men that would give her cause to weep for their loss in this terrible conflict.

  Her father spoke out about Adam again that evening at dinner.

  ‘I am sure now that Adam was not injured or killed in the fighting. I have looked out for him amongst the prisoners that we have taken in here since today, but he has not been found anywhere on the island as yet.’

  Could he have guessed that she was involved with Adam in some way? She hoped not. She knew he must have been thinking long and hard about Adam. More than likely he had worried about him as much as she had.

  ‘And what if we do find him alive or dead here on Tresco? What then?’’

  He shook his head and looked troubled, ‘It will not be good for either us or him. I pray that we do not meet again on the field of battle.’

  ‘You would have to take him prisoner then, Father? If you should find him anywhere here on Tresco?’

  He nodded. ‘Alas, yes child. I would be forced to hand him over to the Star Chamber on St Mary’s where he would no doubt be charged and executed immediately as a spy.’

  He spoke out frankly and her heart reacted as she knew it would. She had to get Adam away.

  ‘Father! That is terrible. How could you do it?’

  He studied her worried face. ‘Philip I know would never forgive me if I allowed anything to happen to his only son, whatever he may have done.’

  ‘Perhaps he got away in the boat that he came over in. Some must have done. Is that possible do you think?’

  ‘Perhaps.’ He took hold of her hand and patted it gently as she reached out to him across the table. ‘Philip was once so proud of his dear boy. He must be so gravely troubled now about him.’

  If only he knew. Did her trembling hand held in his betray her? So she had done the right thing after all. She must not give Adam away. It would be almost certain death for him and desolation for both their families in years to come when this terrible war was over and done with.

  She held onto his hand tight. ‘Father - you will always have me.’ She sighed. ‘I only wish that I were the son and heir that you always wanted. Instead Treganna will go to someone else in the family if you should inherit the house and estate after Uncle Bevil. He has no heir to inherit Treganna other than you now that his only son Jago is dead. And I am truly sorry. This war has taken so much that we treasure away from us.’

  He smiled. ‘You are so like your dear mother. I have always thought that. I would never wish to change you for a son. Be content with that but you must do as I say and leave soon, Tamsin, for your own safety. You cannot stay here any longer.’

  She cried out in alarm, ‘Must I, Father? I do not want to leave you ever. I might never see you again.’

  He kissed her hand, ‘Hush now child, you must do what I ask and leave.’

  ‘Tresco could be attacked again any day. Cromwell will not give up his purpose to take over all of Cornwall.’

  ‘If the worst comes and Cromwell takes Tresco with the other islands here then I shall have to leave immediately for Jersey, and to France to join the Queen’s court in Brittany. As a serving officer I cannot come back here to the mainland.’

  ‘Then I shall go with you by passage to France, Father. Please say you will take me with you.’

  He shook his head. ‘No, child, you can mean no harm to the Cromwellians. You must make a new life for yourself in Cornwell. You are young, Tamsin. You must marry, have children and be happy. This war cannot go on for ever.’

  She could not shake him from this. With this in mind she went sadly to her bed that night thinkin
g about Adam, taking a picture of his face into her dreams, and wondering how she could help him to leave Tresco. But could she trust Adam not to give away what he had learnt already about the true strength of the Royalist forces on Tresco? She tossed and turned on her feather bed and slept little that night.

  Chapter Ten

  To enable Adam to escape, Tamsin, after a great deal of thought, reasoned that it would have to be by boat and after dark to cross the seas over to the mainland. She could pretend she was going fishing with Reuben. That way she had an excuse to take to sea in the daytime. Then they could get Adam from the cave into the boat but she couldn’t leave her father without some good explanation and if she did this she was sure that Reuben would tell his mother and Martha would stop it all instantly. It would be very dangerous attempting the crossing in a small boat on their own.

  Thinking long and hard about Adam’s family, she wondered how the Carey’s had come to be divided by the Civil War which had hurt so many already with its conflicting loyalties.

  How must his mother, Lady Margaret, feel about the rift between her two sons, and his father? And how did his brother Benedict feel about him for changing sides? Would they, could they, ever forgive Adam?

  But had she not done the same? Had she not betrayed her father and the rest of the Royalists on Tresco by her own actions when she took Adam’s life in her hands? When she had promised to save him? Their enemy. She had to remember that because that’s what he was. She was still not sure what had made her do it. She only knew that she could not leave him there to suffer alone, friend or foe.

  She made up her mind then, whatever lengths she had to go to, once Adam had recovered sufficiently enough to travel, she would help him get away by boat back to the mainland, and then she must forget him, hard as it might be afterwards.