“That bloody gun,” Luke muttered. “It will beat us into submission.”
“I know,” Deliverance said and instinctively shut her eyes as another shot from the Thunderer crashed into the Hawk Tower, rattling her teeth. The gunners had their aim now. The tower would be gone by nightfall.
When she opened her eyes she saw Luke looking at her. He raised a hand and his finger lightly brushed her cheek.
“I do love you, you know,” he said.
She stared at him. “Don't be silly. You are feverish,” she said, as her heart cried out ‘Tell him you love him too. Now before it is too late.’
“Could never…Didn’t mean…” His eyelids flickered and closed, his hand falling to the bedcovers.
For a horrible moment, Deliverance thought he had died but the gentle rise and fall of his chest assured her he had only fallen asleep.
She sat looking at him, her heart swelling with his words. He had said he loved her.
Why couldn't she have brought herself to repeat the words back to him?
She put out her hand and with the back of her forefinger stroked his cheek, feeling the rough bristle beneath her skin. His eyelids fluttered before he muttered something and sank back into sleep.
“I love you, Luke Collyer,” Deliverance whispered, voicing the words at last.
She bent down and kissed him gently on the mouth. His lips were soft and unresponsive beneath her touch. She picked up his hand and pressed it to her cheek as cold fingers clawed at her heart. She had come so close to losing him and she couldn't bear the thought of living without him.
If he died...
She gave a strangled sob, biting it back as the door opened and Lovedie re-entered the room, carrying a tray with a bowl of the weak broth that would be their main meal for the day. Deliverance restored Luke's hand and hastily stood up making a show of straightening the bed clothes.
“Mistress Felton?” Lovedie asked. “Are you alright?
“I’m fine,” Deliverance said. “Just a little tired.”
Lovedie bent over the man in the bed and smoothed his pillow, fiery curls falling around her face from beneath her cap.
“You’ve had a bad shock today. I’d go and get some rest,” Lovedie said without looking up.
The green demon of jealousy gripped Deliverance as Lovedie stroked Luke’s cheek. Had she missed something? Was Lovedie the reason Luke had pulled away from her? She had no doubt in normal times Lovedie Brown would be exactly the sort of girl, Luke Collyer would have pursued.
She hated leaving Luke with the girl but being around Luke Collyer seemed to turn her reasoning power to gruel and she needed to think.
Deliverance strode from the room. She reached the library and shut the door.
Chapter 18
As dark descended on Kinton Lacey, the Thunderer finally fell silent. Deliverance left her father's library where she had spent the day, trying to distract herself from the destruction of the Hawk Tower with an illicit copy of Shakespeare's plays she had purchased on a long ago visit to her bookseller in Ludlow. Her restless wandering took her to the East wall. As the moon rose, she leaned on the wall looking down at the dark ribbon of the river beneath her.
Behind her the castle inhabitants, subdued by the pounding of the Thunderer, were inspecting the damage. Sergeant Hale's booming voice reached her as he supervised the clearing of the rubble and she knew if she turned around she would see the ruins of the Hawk Tower rising like a broken tooth above the wall. The once mighty tower where she and Luke had argued only that morning had been reduced to rubble.
She didn't want to look. She wanted to be down there, beside the river, away from the stench of the castle. After several weeks the effect of one hundred human beings living in close proximity along with assorted livestock, had begun to overpower the castle and the smell from the midden they had created in the ditch outside the south wall of the tower was overpowering.
She thought of the cool, peaceful pond. Never before had the need to talk to James been so strong. It would be so easy to slip through the sally port and ... She dismissed the thought. To leave the castle would be utter madness.
“There you are.”
At the sound of her sister's voice, Deliverance turned her head.
“What are you doing out here?” Penitence enquired and shivered, wrapping her arms around her. “It's cold, come inside, Liv.”
Deliverance leaned on the wall, her head in her hands. “I can't think any more, Pen.”
“It's the effect of that gun,” Penitence said. “My ears are ringing.”
Deliverance shook her head. “No, it's more than that. I'm so tired.”
Penitence put her hand on her sister's arm. “Have something to eat and an early night. You will feel better.”
Deliverance let her sister lead her away but Penitence overestimated the restorative power of the weak broth that constituted their supper and even after they had gone to bed, Deliverance lay awake staring at the panelling of the bed above her.
When the castle finally fell silent, she rose, dressing in an ante-room. She crept through the residence, pausing outside Luke's door. Candle light shone through the half-open door and she entered, grateful to find him alone and unattended. He had slept through the day and now lay sprawled across the big bed, still asleep.
She looked down at his face, peaceful in the candlelight and her heart swelled. She drew up a stool to the bed so her face would be on a level with his and stroked his unshaven cheek. They couldn't go on like this, not when people she cared about were getting hurt.
If only I could clear my head, she thought in despair.
She picked up Luke’s hand, pressing his fingers to her lips.
So tired… She laid her head on the bed, her fingers still meshed in Luke’s.
Behind her the door clicked open. At the sound of skirts she sighed. Lovedie had returned.
She shook herself awake, releasing Luke’s hand and straightening
“It’s all right, Lovedie. I’ll sit with him,” she said without looking around.
“’Tis good you’re here, Mistress,” Lovedie said. “You’ve made it so much easier for me.”
The girl moved behind her. Deliverance’s nose twitched at the scent of raw perspiration and something else, indefinable and acrid. From the corner of her eye, Deliverance caught the cold glint of steel and a knife bit into her throat. She squeaked in alarm, prompting Lovedie to press the knife harder. The knife pressed harder and a trickle of blood left a warm trail down her neck.
“Don’t make any sudden moves, Mistress Felton,” Lovedie whispered in her ear.
“Make no mistake, Mistress Felton, one move and you will be dead. Now stand up slowly.”
Deliverance complied, rising on shaking legs. She swallowed, feeling the sharp blade of the knife against the thin flesh of her throat. One slip and she would be dead. Her gaze dropped to Luke as she wondered how she could wake him.
Lovedie gave a low, unpleasant laugh. “Don’t you be looking to him for help. I’ve given him a sleeping draught that will keep him quiet till morning.”
She saw the whole situation with biting clarity and cursed herself for a fool for not guessing sooner. Everything pointed to Lovedie.
“You’re Farrington’s agent?”
“Time to talk later, my lady. You’re coming with me.”
The knife withdrew from her throat but if Deliverance had any thoughts of escape, they dissipated as she felt the sharp point against her ribs. Lovedie jerked the knife, pushing her towards the door.
“After you,” Lovedie said, her tone calm. The very calmness of her tone, made Deliverance’s skin prickle with fear.
To a casual observer, they would have appeared to be two women walking side-by-side but they encountered no one as they slipped out of the side door of the residence and crossed the short distance to the Jewel Tower. Deliverance scanned the wall looking for the sentry but the wall was dark and still.
Lovedie pushed h
er inside the door and up the stairs to the room where Jack Farrington was imprisoned. At the door, Lovedie stopped. She held out a key on a leather thong.
“Unlock the door,” she ordered.
With shaking fingers, Deliverance complied, stumbling as Lovedie pushed her across the threshold.
Jack Farrington sat up on the cot, pushing hair from his eyes.
“Deliverance? What’s happening?”
“No time for polite chatter, Captain Farrington,” Lovedie said. “You’re coming with us. Yer brother is waiting.
“You’re his agent?” Jack sounded shocked, but even as he spoke he was reaching for his jacket and boots.
“Deliverance, I’m sorry…” Jack stood.
Lovedie gave a hiss of exasperation. “She’s coming with us. Now hurry up.”
They stumbled out of the Jewel Tower and keeping to the shadows, crept along the wall to the sally port. Deliverance cast around for a sign of the sentry but it was only as they stepped into the dark recess of the gate that she saw the still form slumped against the wall.
She turned to the woman behind her. “What have you done to him?”
Lovedie’s answer was to press the knife harder against her ribs. She tossed a key to Jack, and Deliverance was in no doubt that it would be the same key that Luke had taken off Penitence. Lovedie had been through Luke’s possessions.
Jack unlocked the gate and they slipped through into the corridor, carved in the rock, that led out on to the narrow path. Jack relocked the gate behind him.
Deliverance knew this path well but even though Lovedie relaxed her grip, there was no chance of escape and her disappearance would not be noticed for hours yet. With Jack in front and Lovedie behind with the knife still at her back, she had nowhere to go.
They made the riverside path and once again, Lovedie took Deliverance’s arm, pressing the knife into her ribs.
“Not a sound,” she whispered, pushing Deliverance ahead of her towards the woods.
Once they gained the shelter of the trees, they stopped. Deliverance scanned the dark trees and the breath in her throat stopped as five dark shapes stepped out of the shadow, men in dark clothes with their shapeless felt hats pulled down well over their faces so she wouldn't see the glow of white faces.
Four muskets and a pistol were levelled at her.
“Now then, Mistress Felton, it’s late to be taking a stroll by the river,” the man holding the pistol spoke. She didn't recognise his voice. How did he know who he was addressing?
“Come along with us. The Colonel is waiting for you.”
The clergyman's house in the village had been commandeered as the Farrington headquarters and it struck Deliverance as strange to be standing on such a familiar doorstep as the commander of her guard knocked on the door.
Leaving the four common soldiers on the doorstep, accompanied by the young officer, Deliverance, Jack and Lovedie were shown into the parlour.
Charles Farrington stood by the fireplace, a glass of wine in one hand. To judge by his unshaven chin and crooked shirt collar, he had been roused from his bed but there was nothing soporific about his eyes. They gleamed with malevolent delight and he held out his hand to Lovedie.
She went to him and he drew her in to him, kissing her on the mouth.
“You’ve done well,” he said.
He put his arm around the girl’s waist and turned to face Deliverance. “Mistress Felton, welcome to my humble abode. I have a pleasant bedchamber prepared for you. As for you,” he turned to his brother, “what in God’s name were you playing at, trysting with Penitence Felton. You deserved to be caught.”
The young man flushed beetroot red under his brother’s withering condemnation. Deliverance almost felt sorry for him. It had never been easy for Jack, living in his brother’s shadow.
“Sorry, Charles. It was stupid of me.”
“Stupid,” Charles expostulated. “You could have ruined everything. It was just fortunate that we managed to bring Collyer down. Is he going to live?” He asked Lovedie.
She pulled a face. “Aye. He’ll be up and around in the morning.”
“Pity you didn’t think to dispatch him before you left.”
Lovedie glared at Deliverance. “I would have but I found this one in his chamber.”
Deliverance’s heart jolted. If she hadn’t been there, would she have been the one to find Luke in the morning with his throat cut or would Lovedie have come in search of her after dispatching Luke?
Charles shrugged. “It makes no difference. One way or another, Collyer will be dead by sunset tomorrow.”
Chapter 19
Deliverance passed a sleepless night on a hard, narrow cot in a small room at the top of the stairs. She lay awake staring at the small patch of black sky through the high window. When exhaustion eventually claimed her, she dreamed of explosions, and Luke lying dead with blood around his head. She woke in a cold sweat.
A grey light now filtered in through the window. The endless night had passed and daylight was not far off. A day that could only end in death. Hers? Luke’s? How many of her garrison?
As she lay with her hands clenched together, , planning how best to deal with Charles Farrington the next time she saw him, she heard the key turn in the lock. She sat up, swinging her feet to the floor as the door opened.
The smell of fresh baked bread made her traitorous stomach growl but she lost her appetite when she saw who carried the tray.
“Lovedie.” The name fell from her lips, dripping with venom. “You treacherous harlot. I’ll see you hang.”
“Now, now, Mistress Felton, that's no way to talk to me,” Lovedie responded, setting the tray down on the floor. She straightened and surveyed Deliverance's dishevelled appearance with her hands on her hips. “Not such a fine lady now, are you...ma'am?”
Deliverance rose to her feet with what shreds of dignity she could muster and faced the girl. Lovedie’s long tresses were no longer confined in a modest cap, but hung in glowing waves around her shoulders, displayed for view in an indecorous and inappropriate gown of green satin. She looked like the slattern she had proved herself to be.
“How long have you and Farrington, been...been...”
The girl gave her a cool, appraising look. “Lovers?” Lovedie shut the door and leaned against it, crossing her arms. “That day you and Collyer came to Byton, I could see how things would be if I stayed, so as soon as Charles and his father were on the horizon, I offered my services to Charles.”
“And did you play agent in Byton?”
Lovedie gave a snort of derision. “Curtis was fool enough to be his own destruction but I might have helped a little.”
“But your own brother was in Byton. You must have known what would befall it.”
She had hit a nerve. Lovedie straightened and sniffed. “Toby's old enough to know his own mind.”
“Does he know about you?”
“Toby? Don't be a fool, of course he doesn't.” Lovedie took a step forward. “I want you to know, Mistress Felton, that Toby had no knowledge of,” she paused as if searching for the word, “my business.”
“Your ‘business’?” Deliverance drew herself up to her full height, failing to overtop Lovedie. “It was you who destroyed the food?”
Lovedie nodded. “Of course. It was a simple matter to copy your key.”
“And did my sister or Jack Farrington, have any part of this?”
Lovedie laughed. “Jack Farrington hasn't got the stomach for war. He's a quarter of the man his brother is but once the plan changed I had to get him out of the castle. Couldn’t leave him there for Collyer to bargain with.”
Deliverance shivered. “The plan changed? What did you intend?”
She shrugged. “I was to seduce Collyer and then see to him one night.” She drew a finger across her throat and Deliverance shivered. “Without Collyer you’d have had to surrender.” She frowned. “But he wouldn’t have any part of that. Him being wounded was a godsend. I knew all I
had to do was finish him off, take the key and release Jack and you’d have nothing to bargain with.”
Deliverance blinked trying to digest everything Lovedie had just said. Traitorously the only thing that came to mind was the revelation that Lovedie had tried to seduce Luke and failed. That thought made her feel oddly happy.
But she didn’t have long to process the implication as Lovedie stepped aside to let Charles Farrington into the room.
He stood in the doorway, his legs apart and his hands on his hips.
“Lovedie, my dear, you talk too much. The solution to your current difficulty must be clear to you. If Collyer wants you kept in one piece, my dear Deliverance, he will hand over Kinton Lacey to me this morning.”
Deliverance whirled around to face him, trying to muster her last ounce of defiance and courage. Jack Farrington stood behind his brother. The younger man looked grey with fatigue.
“And what would you do with me if he doesn't agree?”
Farrington appeared to consider that point. “That's a good question. Probably hang you in sight of the castle. That would be amusing.”
Deliverance flew at Charles, her fingers clawed and reaching for his face. She managed to drag her nails down one side before Lovedie and Jack pulled her off.
Charles mopped the blood from his face, his eyes blazing. “You'll pay for that, you little cat.” He advanced on her with an upraised hand.
Jack twisted her out of his reach. “Leave her, Charles. You wouldn’t dare hang her and you know it.”
To her surprise Farrington lowered his hand and reached out and clasped her chin, twisting her face up to look at him. “No, that would be too easy. There are other ways of dealing with you, Deliverance. You need to learn a little humility and that you are only a woman who should stop playing a man's game.” His eyes narrowed. “There is only one good use for a woman, and trust me, that would give me great pleasure. I might be generous enough to share you with some of my men in plain sight of the castle walls.” The obscene tilting of his hips made his meaning clear.
Jack gave a sharp intake of breath but said nothing.
Her Rebel Heart: A romance of the English Civil War Page 18