A Captive Heart

by Patricia Scott

  Chapter Eleven

  Adam in his turn lay wide awake that night on the stone shelf listening to the loud, crashing echoes in the cave of the waves pounding up against the rocks outside. The throbbing pain in his shoulder was partly to blame for his insomnia, but so was Tamsin. His heart was behaving in the same foolish fashion as it had been when he had first hear her voice and seen her bending over him. She had to be a part of his life from now on - he was hers and hers only for ever.

  She had captured his heart and soul entirely and she stayed with him in his thoughts constantly now. When she wasn’t close by he missed her desperately, wanted to reach out to take her hand and kiss away the tears he’d seen fall on her cheeks when she thought he wasn’t looking.

  Tamsin had risked so much for him; she was so young and so innocent, she did not want to see bad in anyone, not even in her enemy. Although she had declared how she felt about his seeming betrayal and shown anger she certainly had not treated him badly as most loyal Royalists would have done.

  But would she give him away eventually? He had to be on his guard. Reuben could also give his presence away. Or Tamsin’s father could become suspicious about her trips out if she made too many during the next few days. For her sake and his own he would have to leave as soon as he could.

  Chapter Twelve

  Two days later Adam sat on the ledge waiting for Tamsin and Reuben. Good food, and having his arm bound up in a linen bandage sling, rested and healing, had helped to put the colour back in his cheeks. This made everything seem more than worthwhile to Tamsin, whatever the cost in the future.

  ‘You are very young, Tamsin, and you must surely know that I also have a sister like you at home. I doubt though that she would help a Roundhead, even if he was her brother,’ he said as he finished eating a roast chicken leg with obvious pleasure. ‘I hope for your sake that your cook is not suspicious about this missing food. This fowl was delicious by the way,’ he chuckled quietly. ‘I would say give the cook my compliments were you able to do so.’ He smiled at her then as he heard her low sigh and realised that she was troubled by this gesture. ‘I am sorry you have gone to such great lengths to help me and I hope saving me does not lead to punishment in the future for you. I cannot allow this to happen.’ He shook his head. ‘I must give myself up to avoid any of this. I knew that this could be my fate when I became an agent.’

  ‘No - no! You cannot!’ She shook her head. ‘It is no matter. But I must tell you, my father believes that he saw you here on Tresco. And said that your father Philip Carey will not acknowledge you now as his son, Adam.’ She saw shock sharpen his handsome features and flare a warning in his so bright green eyes.

  ‘That I believe is true,’ he accepted with a wry smile.

  ‘As you well know they are old friends, and he could let your father know about your safety. After you have gone from here of course.’

  ‘Of course, he could.’ He laughed scornfully. ‘If he did my father might wish to hand me over too! He has no feelings for me at all now, apart from anger and disappointment.’

  ‘You cannot mean what you are saying, Adam. Your father must love you still.’ She attempted then to ease him from his dark mood. ‘You might think I am silly and childish but when I first came across you in here, I think I have told you, I first thought I might have found a Merman.’ She smiled. ‘A childish fantasy perhaps. But I have always believed in them. ‘Tis sometimes said that this cave was once used by Mermaids, but instead I found you, Adam.’ After a pause she said, ‘Will you not let me get in touch with your father? May I not tell your family?’

  ‘That I am a self-confessed spy! Never!’ He frowned, then shook his head and laughed again. ‘You cannot change how things are with my father! As you know he already thinks of me as dead. I only hope your own family or the good people of Tresco do not learn of this,’ he said as he drank down the pewter pot of good ale appreciatively that she had brought to him. ‘I would not wish for this to happen. They would be far from happy if they knew that you have been harbouring a Roundhead in this cave. Am I not right? And it can mean only danger for you.’

  ‘There is no one else but my father here with me. And my nurse, Martha. My mother is dead. The rest of our family live at Treganna House in Helford Passage. You could be like my own brother if I had one,’ she said bravely then as quickly wished she had not said it. He was much more than that to her now. Much more… she wished she could put into words what she could only say silently now. Because I am in love with you, Adam.

  He shook his head, mischief dancing a merry jig in his green eyes. He had not changed much after all. ‘Never think that, Tamsin. What I feel for you now it could never be a brother’s love, I can promise you that,’ he teased, and reached out to take hold of her hand in his.

  ‘No! You know it cannot be.’ She flushed with colour as she felt the strength and warmth of his hand enclosing hers and snatched it away quickly. ‘Remember you are still our sworn enemy, Adam Carey. Pray do not forget that and I must treat you as such. If I help you at all it is because I wish to save my father further pain and your family too.’

  Chapter Thirteen

  The next day Tamsin ventured to the cave on her own, early in the morning. She had refused Reuben’s offer to accompany her as he saddled her horse, in case it invited free talk amongst the Royalist men on duty at the castle. There would be whispers, as a young girl she most certainly attracted the mens’ eyes around her, and they might report this to their officers and her father. This troubled Tamsin - she did not wish her loyal young friend Reuben to get into trouble.

  Today for the first time she noted a change in Adam’s face. It showed signs of strain and his eyes were looking feverish and bright. This worried her immensely. The cause for this was soon discovered when she uncovered his wound and found it still weeping and slow to heal. ‘This should be getting better. I must help you to leave and sooner than I thought, Adam. We risk your life the longer we keep you here. Your wound is not healing as it should have.

  ‘I shall have to ask Reuben for his help again... Your wound will give you a high fever and you could die if the poison from it disperses quickly into your blood.’

  ‘And I will not be well enough to leave here even with your help.’ He groaned and she could see he would need help quickly if he was ever going to survive this at all.

  It could not be allowed to fester further, and she had to ask Reuben for his help once again.

  Would he give it willingly though? His father had been a Cornish healer and Reuben was far wiser than his eighteen years and had inherited his knowledge and usage of herbs. If he could have had an education Tamsin felt sure that Reuben could use his skills well as a doctor.

  ‘I must leave you, Adam, at once. But I promise you I will get you well enough to leave here before long.’

  He reached out for her hand and lifting it to his lips kissed it. ‘Tamsin Trevanian you are an angel in disguise. You have already risked far too much for me. I know that I do not deserve it but I must escape before I lead you into more trouble.’

  She sighed. ‘But if you do not let me go now I cannot get the help you need.’

  Chapter Fourteen

  On her return to the castle stables she found Reuben looking out anxiously for her. ‘Your father was asking for you,’ he signed to her. ‘Why have you been so long away? It is no longer wise to do this. And he worries about your safety daily.’

  ‘Reuben, you are the only one I know who can use the herbal medicines wisely. Please listen to me. You are the only one I can trust to help me. You can make Adam better. He needs you now. We must leave here with him soon.’

  He didn’t look happy but he agreed to do what she asked. He understood what had happened to Adam’s wound. It was a setback that now had to be overcome quickly. He shook his head at first but listened to her plea carefully. Yes he did have the healing plants close at hand that Adam needed, and he could not let his earlier attempts to save him go to waste. He saw the f
ear in Tamsin’s eyes and had no to wish to cause her any more stress.

  He hoped that this encounter with Adam would not hurt or harm her in anyway. Without attracting his mother’s curiosity he set about carefully procuring the necessary herbs from the small herb garden he kept within the castle grounds.

  *

  After an hour or so Reuben returned with Tamsin to the cave, albeit reluctantly, to take a fresh look at the injury. After bathing and cleaning it he used the healing poultice of Chamomile to draw out the virulent poisons in the wound. The look he wore in his blue eyes while doing this made his own reservations very clear to Adam as he worked on him even if he could not put his opinion into words.

  ‘You may not fully approve but you have not given up on me quite yet as a lost cause then?’ Adam said. ‘Thank you, Reuben. Thank you, Tamsin.’

  Adam felt frustrated by this fresh complication, his arm and shoulder were painful and ached badly, his head felt warm and feverish. It meant that he would not be able to leave as quickly as he had first hoped.

  They had been lucky so far that no one had come to search the cave. Adam knew that the fears that he had for her safety far outweighed any that he might have for his own. He could not, must not admit that he felt such deep feelings for her and what he felt grew with every hour he spent in her company. This spelt danger in the field of work he did. They were enemies for as long as the war and conflict continued.

  Tamsin, he knew, could be in real trouble because of him. She had taken so much on her young shoulders and he smiled when he thought of her shy confession that she had first thought on discovering him that he could be a Merman, a legendry creature from the sea. Would that he could have been for her sake. He could then have returned quickly from whence he came...the sea was only short distance away.

  The longer he stayed only served to increase her difficulties. Someone might soon notice her taking meats and pastries from the kitchen pantry daily and her frequent rides across the countryside. It could possibly ruin her Royalist father’s good reputation as well because he was Sir Philip Carey’s best friend, and Tamsin had protected and saved his son, a Roundhead spy. He could not allow Richard Trevenian’s good name to be besmirched by his daughter’s innocent intent to save him.

  He could not allow her to risk anything more for his sake. He could not allow anything or anyone to hurt her. He would have to leave as soon as he felt able to take the climb back up the cliff. He still remembered the appalling, agonizingly, difficult descent he had made, losing blood from his open wound.

  Once again he thanked Reuben gratefully, as he finished his work on his shoulder and knew in his heart that the youth only did this because Tamsin asked it of him. The sooner he left Tresco the easier it would be for Reuben too. He could be punished most severely for helping the enemy even if it was instigated by the Colonel’s daughter.

  Once hostilities infringed on their lives again, it would force them apart to be on different sides. It would make no difference to how he really felt about her. He knew he could never forget her.

  Chapter Fifteen

  As she left Adam once again, Reuben riding silently by her side, Tamsin’s mind was racing. It was a lovely day, the afternoon sun was shining, so how could she feel as desperate and miserable as she did now? How could the war make things so bad for everyone here on Tresco, such a beautiful island? Adam was supposed to be her enemy. Maybe he would have no course but to betray them once he was safe back with his own men, but how could she hate him? He was fighting for the cause he believed to be right too.

  Every time Tamsin said goodbye to him it became so much harder for her to bear. She took the picture of his face back with her. It haunted her constantly as she wondered how he really felt left alone in the flickering candlelight. But he could be using her for his own purpose and she had to remember this, however much he set out to charm her.

  Brushing her hair out hard that evening until it shone like molten copper silk in the candle light, she looked at herself in her small hand mirror and wished that she could picture his face close to hers in it. Wished too that his arms could reach out, to enclose her with their warmth and strength to tighten around her right then as they once did when they were children.

  She had never felt like this before for anyone. She ought to hate him but instead as she touched her cheek, she wondered how the dark stubble on his chin would be if it brushed against her skin. What if her parents had arranged a marriage between them, would she know now what it was like to have him share her marital bed where he would shower her with kisses as men did if they really loved you?

  Reuben had shaved Adam’s chin smooth for him with his knife that day, leaving some small cuts on his skin, but his face was looking much better and even more handsome than before, if that was possible, Tamsin thought. She sighed - she doubted now that she would ever discover what real love was like.

  Tamsin knew she must get Adam out of her life forever but she found it hard to find the strength to do so when she thought of the heartbreak that would inevitably follow his leaving.

  *

  The next morning, Martha, watching Tamsin carefully, made clear her plans for her. She knew that Tamsin’s father wanted her to leave so she could take her rightful place in country society once again, but as she was behaving at the moment - like a young madam - it was going to be hard work for her part.

  ‘It’s high time, young lady, that you spent your days learning how to manage a household as a wife.’ Martha took her firmly in hand as Tamsin was once again preparing to set out on her early morning ride to the cave. ‘You are spending far too many days abroad riding and roaming the countryside. You are a young woman not a lad, and it is your father’s wish that you behave like one. You could soon be somebody’s wife.’

  ‘No!’ Tamsin frowned and tossed her head. ‘I do not wish to marry anyone.’

  Martha shook a long forefinger at her. ‘One day quite soon you will wish to marry and you need to be prepared to become a wife and mother. You’d best listen to what I have to say.’ She frowned sternly at Tamsin. ‘You are still in my charge. You shall do as you are told and take a turn in the stillroom, in the kitchens and the linen room. You shall learn all I can teach you about housewifery.’

  Tamsin had little choice but to do as she was told. She dared not disobey. She knew that Martha had right on her side. She was still looking after her, a motherless girl, to the best of her ability and Colonel Trevenian would support her in this.

  Adam would have to wait a while longer till Tamsin could get away without causing Martha to question her further. She dared not arouse her suspicions more or she would never be able move freely around the island.

  With Martha’s help Tamsin put on a petticoat and an elegant silk lilac gown, and dressed her curling, titian hair into pretty ringlets around her face. Afterwards, Tamsin was forced to admit she hardly recognized the fashionable young lady she saw in the mirror. Martha, taking her severely to task, tut-tutted over the tiny sprinkling of light freckles that she could see marching in procession over the bridge of Tamsin’s pert nose.

  ‘Just look at you,’ she declared sternly. ‘Too much time spent out in the sun without a bonnet. Take a good look, madam. It will take some hard work with a camomile and honey lotion to be rid of these.’ Martha scolded her severely, holding up the hand mirror so Tamsin could see better for herself. ‘If you wore a straw hat while out riding on these hot sunny days you would not be kissed by the sun so easily. A lady, if she really wants to look her best, takes care that her skin remains unblemished, fair and stylishly pale.’

  Tamsin wrinkled up her nose in the mirror and laughed. ‘I insist I am not looking for a husband. With this terrible war and all the fighting going on around us how can I expect to meet any young men that are free to marry and want to settle down?’

  Martha nodded. ‘Aye - that it is true. But the war will not go on forever, child. Sooner or later you must marry and marry well.’ Tamsin’s fine brows rose at t
his. ‘Oh, yes, your father will soon wish it. He will see to it that a marriage is arranged for you and it would be better for you if he were a young man of your own choosing. A young man of good birth and with enough wealth to take care of you well and support a family.’

  Tamsin threw her arms up in the air. ‘Oh! And where am I ever likely to find such a Royalist gentleman, pray? One who pleases me? One that is, young, free and healthy and handsome? I doubt that they will be rich because if Cromwell wins he will strip them of everything: their lives, wealth and estates. What will happen to our young Cavaliers then? If they survive at all and are able to emigrate to France they will not own anything.’ She paced the bedchamber floor and gestured again with her slender arms. ‘They will have their homes and land taken away from them unless they have friends in high places with Cromwellian sympathies.’

  Martha was much disturbed. She did not like to hear her young charge talking as freely as this. She seemed to have grown up so quickly in the last few days. And it appeared that her words were coming true - so many known Royalists were now going abroad to live in France, their homes and estates falling forfeit to their enemies. Soon there would be no young men left in England able to court the young women of their choice.

  Tamsin longed to get away out of the restricting walls of the castle, but she did as she was told and listened carefully to Martha’s instructions on how to clean soiled clothes with fullers earth, how to make wax candles, syllabubs and many other useful things. If she did not, she knew she would never be free to spend her time as she wished…

  Chapter Sixteen

  Tamsin changed back into a simpler blue gown, one more suitable for riding. This would be the first time that Adam saw her wearing a dress of any kind and her hair tidied into fashionable ringlets. When she approached him in the cave he was waiting for her. Standing up to greet her his face seemed to have filled out well for the better. He held out his arms but she carefully kept her distance. She thought it wiser to do this in case she betrayed how she felt about him.