by Wendy Bayne
Dr Grimes assisted my mother down from her horse and took the reins of both horses, casually handing them to the other men who promptly mounted and raced away. Mother turned in shock and was ready to object when Dr Grimes put his hand up quickly. “It’s best that we go on foot from here, Mrs Turner. Burley has taken the house, and no one is allowed in or out except for servants.”
“That’s very good to hear, Dr Grimes, it means our surprise should be in place.” He looked perplexed as did Miles who just shrugged. “Did Gabriel and Edward find you?”
Miles grimaced. “Yes, they did and said there was a plan to take the house, but where Colin is?”
Mother shrugged. “I don’t know, somewhere in the area, I imagine. Do either of you have weapons?” Dr Grimes pulled back his coat to display an array knives and pistols in his belt, Miles only nodded. “Good, then we need to get to the house and be in position.”
Miles was used to the machinations of my parents and didn’t seem so much perplexed as curious. “Then what exactly is supposed to happen, Mrs Turner?”
We had started walking towards the house as she answered, “All the servants have been replaced with women from your gypsy troop, Mr Johnson.” He stopped dead in his tracks.
Dr Grimes merely chuckled. “Ah, this sounds like a plan of Grandmama’s.” He turned and started walking ahead leaving us to follow.
My first sight of the house was as the sun rose, it was a two-story rambling edifice of indeterminate age with several outbuildings. Smoke was rising from most of the chimney pots and people were moving about in the yard. Once we got closer I could see the attraction of this place, the view was magnificent! The surf was pounding on the sandy beach below with sheer granite cliffs on either side. There were seals down on the surrounding rocks barking and cavorting in the surf. The trees close to the cliff were almost bent back on themselves and their growth had been stunted from the constant sea breeze. We approached as close as we dared and took cover behind a Cornish hedge made of field stone and earth near the side yard. From there we had a clear view of the back of the house and stables. Shortly after we were in position the maids were in the yard feeding the chickens, milking the cows and starting the wash. Suddenly this pastoral scene was interrupted when the stable door was flung open and out came a rush of horses sending chickens and geese squawking across the yard. Then several men came running around from the sides of the house and garden heading towards the stable. Smoke was now pouring out the stable door. Panic set in among the men who started screaming at the women to abandon their work and start drawing water as three of the men entered the stable and the other six went off to retrieve the horses. An older man with aristocratic bearing came out of the house and stood in the middle of the yard gazing around as water was drawn and an efficient bucket line formed to run water into the stables. He didn’t so much as give the stable a single glance, he seemed intent in scouring the area beyond the out buildings. A younger man dressed as a gentleman came to the door and gestured urgently for the older man to come inside. It was impossible to discern from this distance what either man said but the older man turned, walking swiftly to the door and before entering looked once more over his shoulder directly to where we were hiding. We were well-hidden and watched through chinks in the earthen mortar, still my blood froze, and I held my breath, it was as if he was looking directly at me. Then he shook his head and entered the house, slamming the door behind him. I finally took a deep breath. “Who let the horses out?”
Dr Grimes smiled and pointed to an area just visible behind the stable. “That looks like young Robert and Gabriel.” And he chuckled. “Jibben must have found them.”
Mother shook her head. “I think it was more likely Magda who sent them, she seems to have orchestrated this whole plan. I suppose we should just sit back and watch.”
Dr Grimes and Miles both grinned. “Au Contraire, Mrs Turner, we can now head into the yard.” I noticed that the women had stopped drawing water and the men that had gone into the stables hadn’t come out. Then I saw one woman look right at our hiding place, waving at us to join them, so we quickly scrambled over the wall.
Berta, one of Magda’s daughters, took us aside and explained that the outside guards had all been captured. I looked to the stables, the smoke was still floating out the door as she explained that the fire had been only a smudge pot quickly fired up and put out, but it would smoke for some time yet.
We ventured close to the house avoiding the windows. One of the scullery maids came out the kitchen door with a huge pan of dirty water throwing it across the yard then she turned towards us and held up three fingers and then five. Berta nodded and signalled to the other women in the yard to draw their weapons. Besides Berta and the four of us there were three more women that joined our group. The others remained on guard in the yard assuming positions that would conceal them. I looked back over my shoulder as the scullery maid gestured for us to follow her inside, I couldn’t see a soul anywhere, but I knew they were there.
We all entered the scullery and stood quietly as the maid went back into the kitchen. From our vantage, we could hear three men talking as well as the sound of cutlery on plates. At which point my stomach chose to rumble. Miles put his hand on my shoulder and a finger to his lips. I glared at him as if I could control my stomach. He gave me a smirk, nudged my shoulder and as much as I wanted to continue to glare at him I couldn’t help myself and I smiled back. Mother was staring over my shoulder with a blank expression on her face. I turned to see what had her attention and saw my father’s hat and coat tossed on a barrel, both were considerably worse for the wear and one sleeve was almost torn and covered in blood. I was worried that she would swoon but as I moved to towards her she caught my eye and shook her head no. Miles was looking in the same direction and knew what had upset her. He reached out and squeezed her shoulder while she gave him a weak smile in return. It was then I suddenly realised that Miles could see again. I grabbed his hand and wrote the word ‘eyes’ in his palm and he nodded to me. I wanted to know right away what had happened. How he was cured? But that would have to wait, our families were in dire need of our assistance.
Suddenly the sounds of breaking crockery and falling cutlery came from the kitchen then someone whistled. Dr Grimes pushed us from behind and we all fell into the kitchen amidst broken plates and three men sprawled across the large central table with the cook, her assistant and the scullery maid standing behind them, each holding onto a large iron skillet. Miles and Dr Grimes took rope and linen from one of the maids and started binding and gaging the men. When this was accomplished they were dragged into the pantry and the solid oak door was locked behind them. My stomach growled, and I rolled my eyes heavenwards just as I caught sight of Miles who tossed a warm roll to me. I caught it perfectly and devoured it in four bites. The cook, Mrs Rook, knew my mother on sight, she had refused to abandon my aunt when she had been approached by Old Jessica.
Mother spoke kindly to her but was dancing around the obvious question, so I interjected, “Mrs Rook, we’ve never met but I assume from the hat and coat over there that my father was taken prisoner? Do you know what happened and if he’s alright?”
She pursed her lips and smiled. “I’m sorry about that, miss.” Mother gasped, and I could feel tears forming. “But I swear Mr Turner’s head is made of Cornish granite. He came skulking across the yard just as I was about to go out and gather the eggs…it weren’t even light yet. But this bunch what is staying here eats constantly. And as I gathered up my basket I saw your father through the scullery window; he was only a dark shadow, so I took the cudgel that I use for knocking out pigs and whacked him on the head. I didn’t know who he was until we pulled him inside…so I stuck him in the second pantry. It’s nice and warm in there but I’m afraid he’s still out, he’s breathing easy, ma’am, but I’m afraid he’ll be missing all the fun, miss.”
I clasped my hand over my mouth, I didn’t know if I would laugh or cry with relief. Mother smirked, to
ok a step back then went down the two steps into the room where my father was. She came back, “He’s sleeping like a baby; James is definitely the spitting image of him.” She took Mrs Rook’s hand. “But where is my brother?”
The cook looked at a loss. “I don’t know, Mrs Turner, I never saw him.”
Mother huffed but there was nothing that could be done about it, we would find him sooner or later.
Dr Grimes and Miles in the meantime had taken up guard by the door leading into the main house. Listening proved to be useless there was nothing to hear so they relied on my mother and the cook to tell them the placement of the rooms and all the points of access. There was only the main entrance at the front of the house and fortunately the foyer was not large. Back here our door led into a small service corridor that gave access to the back stairs to the upper floor. Then there was a back hallway to the outside and to the right of this door you would find the writing room, billiard room, and the summer parlour. Off the main foyer were the library, morning room, dining room and the main drawing room. The conservatory, study and winter parlour were down another hallway at right angles to the main, one just past the billiard room running behind the main staircase.
Mrs Rook whispered, “Everyone should be gathering to eat shortly.” as she looked back at the maids preparing the trays and serving dishes. “Now the Spencers and Johnsons are served all their meals on trays in their rooms as well as the guards on that floor. The other henchmen eat in the main dining room; the ones from outside usually eat here in the kitchen and we’ve already taken care of all them.”
Miles smiled, “What about Lord Burley?”
She cleared her throat. “Ah, yes, well, his Lordship and the young dandy with him would normally eat in the library, that’s where they’ve taken all their meals. But his Lordship came out to see what the ruckus was in the yard then the dandy came rushing through here and called him back. They both went upstairs, I can’t say though what’s going on up there, ma’am.” When she realised what she had said, bit her lip and looked very worried.
Dr Grimes stepped in front of her and the cook’s eyes got as wide as saucers taking in his appearance, but he gave her a beautiful smile. “May I enquire ma’am as the to the health of the families?”
She smiled shyly back at him. “Well, the wee girl, she has a cold, poor thing, and Lady Jane, she was looking a might piqued when she first arrived, but she got roses back in her cheeks once we got her stomach settled down if you know what I mean.”
He nodded then gave a knowing look to my mother who was blushing. Mrs Turner, given your condition I would prefer it if you waited here with Mrs Rook. With Dr Jefferson absent on this adventure I would prefer not to have to worry about two ladies that are in the delicate way."
Then he looked at me and I glared back at him. Miles chuckled and slapped him on the back of the head hard enough to make the point that he was being impertinent.
Just then behind us there were sounds of a scuffle, Miles went back to see what the problem was and returned with Gabriel and Robert. Robert came straight to Mother while Gabriel stood back and glared at Dr Grimes. “Mrs Turner! Mr Hughes and my uncle are ready to storm the front of the house, they just need us to give them a signal.”
Miles explained the current situation to them and that stealth was needed now. Robert didn’t say a word but turned around quickly and soundlessly to make his way out the back. Gabriel looked torn as to which way he should go, “Where’s Burley?”
Dr Grimes pointed upwards, he assumed like the rest of us that after the fire in the stable that Burley went to check on his prisoners. Gabriel pushed forward and before we could stop him he was marching out through the service door. There was a grunt then the sound of something falling to the floor, followed by two more in rapid succession. The doctor stuck his head out the door as Gabriel was striding down the hallway, the slumped forms of three men were laying in our path. Just as Gabriel reached the hallway to the conservatory, a man jumped out at him with a gun aimed at his chest. He smiled at Gabriel, at the same time that I felt a rush of air across my cheek, then a knife was protruding from the man’s chest as he too slumped to the floor. Gabriel never looked back, he stepped over the man and continued towards the main foyer where two guards stood by the front entrance. The doctor pulled out another throwing knife in one hand and a pistol in another. One of the men recognized Gabriel and called him Cap’n, he stepped forward, but the other man watched him suspiciously. Gabriel put his arm around the man who knew him and spoke to him in Spanish. The man’s eyes got very wide when he looked at his fellow guard. He stepped forward and clubbed is partner under the chin with his rifle stock, knocking him out and into Gabriel’s arms.
As Gabriel pulled out a knife to cut the man’s throat but Dr Grimes stayed his hand. “No, my friend, as little blood shed as possible please, people live here and the fewer bad memories associated with it the better.” Gabriel looked glum, but he nodded. Dr Grimes turned to the other man, pulled the cook’s cudgel out of his waistband and smiled at the other man. “Hello, Jose,” and then he clubbed the man soundly on the head, catching him and easing him to the floor.
Gabriel looked at him and nodded saying. “I could never trust Jose either.”
Dr Grimes clapped him on the back. “Neither could I, I should have killed him years ago. But I think he would be better off in an English prison.” They both grinned at each other and turned towards the stairs without a backward glance. But Grimes stopped him and put his finger to his lips and pointing back our way.
Miles had moved forward and motioned for Mother and I to stay put. Then the maids came in with some of the women from the yard and started pulling bodies out of the hallway armed with ropes and gags to tie them up. Then they joined the men at the bottom of the stairs and ascended as stealthily as Dr Grimes. Gabriel stayed behind with Miles, Mother and me. They moved to the library door and once it was opened motioned for Mother and me to join them. Inside the air was stale with the odours of tobacco and brandy which permeated every surface. Gabriel opened the windows then went back out into the hallway. Robert climbed through one of the windows followed by several gypsies. There was a no noise anywhere until Dr Grimes came running down the stairs grim-faced. Mother bit her fist when she saw his face. Then he put up his hand. “No, no, Mrs Turner, your family and the Johnsons are fine. They didn’t have time to hurt them, but Burley and his associate have escaped.”
Gabriel yelled from the back of the house. The doctor, Miles and I went after him and found him standing over Mrs Rook, a knife protruding from her chest. Gabriel balled up his fist and punched the wall in front of him hard enough that he cracked the plaster. “They must have come down the service stairs once we went through to the main house.”
Miles yelled. “The beach!” he started towards the yard running out the door followed by Dr Grimes. We all ran to the cliff side. Below a small boat was being rowed out to a waiting schooner. We stood and watched two people climb from the small boat onto the ship. Miles groaned, “We checked the beach, how did he hide a boat!”
Gabriel was staring across the water. “That ship was probably standing off behind those rocks waiting for a signal.”
The doctor slapped his forehead. “That’s why the seals were so active this morning someone or something had disturbed them. The bloody bugger gets away with it and we can’t prove a damn thing.”
We walked back to the house and found my father sitting by my mother in the large drawing room looking as green as the sea with huge knot on his forehead. The rest of our families and friends were arrayed about the room. Jibben was outside seeing to his people and of course the horses. The Assistant cook who lived in was sitting with Mrs Rook’s body in the kitchen. Jibben had sent one of the gypsy women to Old Jessica to get word to Mrs Rook’s family and fetch the real servants back. It wasn’t long though before the assistant cook Bonnie Bell brought in a tray of tea and the drinks decanters along with some sandwiches and promised us someth
ing hot for later.
Mrs Rook’s husband, son and daughter arrived within the hour with a wagon. Father, Mother and Uncle Samuel spoke with them privately. Aunt Mary joined us and when they were ready to leave, she promised to deed the land that the Rooks currently worked for the estate to Mr Rook and his family, saying, “It is poor compensation, Tom, for the loss of Sadie, but I should have done it ages ago.” He thanked her then turned away to follow the cart carrying his wife with his son and daughter walking at his side. The horse led the way at a slow pace as if knowing the sadness that accompanied the burden he pulled.
When we came back in the Johnson family were congregated together at one end of room with Miles standing in the middle. Miles came to me and introduced me to Lady Jane, John, William and little Diana. All four of them seem to have no idea what had transpired or that they were on the verge of losing their lives. Lady Jane was just as Miles had described her, a very pretty, kind and socially acceptable woman without an original thought in her head. But it was obvious that she loved her children. When the Earl finally arrived, it was obvious too that Lady Jane was fond of him, but she showed no sign that he was her grand passion, while the children on the other hand worshipped him. Perhaps that’s where her fondness for him came, that her children loved their father unconditionally. They sat together making plans for a grand vacation that eventually went from four months on the continent to three months in the lake district and then to just two in Scotland visiting the Earl’s sister.
My own family sat together as if it was just another day and perhaps it was. Meg and Beth had returned, they had been with several young gypsy women leading the outside guards into the woods but instead of the men having a tryst with some comely young women they were met by Jibben and his men. In total, we had captured sixteen men not counting the one that the doctor had to kill. Jibben had them all securely bound and in the stables under guard. The local police constable appeared when he heard of Mrs Rook’s death, but matters were settled quickly and he was amenable to calling out the local militia to escort the prisoners to London and into Sir Thomas’s custody, especially now that the murderer had escaped, and he was assured that agents of the Crown were actively engaged in pursuing him.