The Rufford Rose

by Margaret Lambert

  The great screen came under intense scrutiny and all declared that they had never seen its like anywhere else. They touched the crisp carvings, peered up at the unusual speres and agreed that the masks of their sovereign and his queen was a splendid idea, just what Lord Hesketh had expected.

  Abel and his workmen had been watching all this activity from a distance, amused at the comments they overheard and pleased that everything seemed to meet with approval.

  ‘Too late now if they don’t like it,’ murmured Alfred.

  ‘Hush, someone’s coming over,’ hissed Cuthbert, as a young squire approached.

  ‘His lordship asks that all involved in the construction of the hall come before him in the Great Hall,’ he pronounced, turned and led the way back, clearly expecting them to follow.

  ‘Best obey his lordship, then,’ said Abel, and took his men up the steps and in through the main door. Lord Hesketh beckoned them forward and they stood before him where he sat on the bench behind the table at the western end.

  ‘Abel Carter I commend you for the fine work you have done here in building my marvellous new home. I have never seen such craftsmanship.’ He gestured around the Hall, a beaming smile upon his face. ‘This will be a fitting home for my family for many generations.’

  ‘Thank you, my lord,’ replied Abel, touching his forelock in respect. ‘We are pleased that it is to your satisfaction.’

  ‘It is most definitely. The funds I put at your disposal were sufficient for the work?’

  ‘Yes, certainly, and I was able to take on some extra men when we needed to complete the roof before winter. Is there anything else you require us to do?’

  ‘Ah, now there is a question.’ He looked towards his wife. ‘I believe my good lady has some small requests to make, for additional furniture mainly, but it would not require all your men to complete the work so I have a proposal to put to you. I wish to retain the services of a small number of men, maybe three or four to work for me and for the estate. Initially there will be these extra commissions from my wife but thereafter I intend to keep a small permanent number to handle maintenance of this and all my tenants properties hereabouts. There are several farms and cottages which require work. They will be paid from my estate and a cottage will be made available for their use. The woodman, Ezekial, is already employed by the estate so he will be your source of timber for any work undertaken. Would you be prepared to let such men remain here for the foreseeable future?’

  Abel looked surprised. It was an unusual request but, on second thoughts, not impossible. Some of his men were bound to him as they were still working their apprenticeship, but the others were free to go where they chose.

  ‘I would be willing to agree to your request,’ he said, after a few moments, ‘but I would like to consult them first.’

  ‘There is one other request I make, in fact, I insist upon.’ He looked across to Cuthbert. ‘There is one man I would insist stays here and that is Cuthbert Watts.’

  Cuthbert gasped. Why would he want him particularly? Abel looked as surprised but before he could speak, Lord Hesketh went on.

  ‘Cuthbert came to you on the recommendation of Lord Derby after he had seen his work at Whalley Abbey. Whilst he has been here he has produced some exceptional carvings, I have seen them all over the house and there is nothing to compare with them in any other property which I have had the pleasure of visiting. Both Lord Derby and I would like Cuthbert to make some special commissions for both of us, for our homes and for various religious houses which we support. There are gifts we wish to be made for prominent people with whom we are acquainted, gifts which we feel only Cuthbert can produce. Both Lord Derby and I attend the Royal Court when we are summoned and work from the hand of Cuthbert would be most acceptable to such people. I will name no names but do I make myself clear?’ He raised an eyebrow as he asked the question and all understood exactly what he meant. Royal gifts, no less.

  Abel gaped at the request, opening and closing his mouth as he tried to think of a suitable reply. Lord Hesketh laughed and slapped his thigh in mirth.

  ‘I see I have surprised you,’ he cried. ‘That is probably the last thing you expected me to say, eh? Come now, what do you say?’

  ‘It would be a great honour for Cuthbert to do such work,’ he managed at last. ‘I always knew he was an exceptional craftsman and that he would go far, but the Royal Court?’

  ‘Hush, hush. We don’t spread abroad such things, some would say we were trying to buy Royal favours but a gift here and there would be appreciated. So, what does Cuthbert say?’

  ‘I would be honoured, my lord,’ replied Cuthbert.

  ‘Very good. I leave my steward to agree the arrangements and enter the names on the estate workers roll. Now, I would like to have a private word with Cuthbert. Young man, come with me to the room I have chosen to be my place of business.’

  He made his way out from behind the table and left by one of the doors into the west wing, Cuthbert following. They mounted the stairs to the first floor and went into a moderately sized room with a south facing window where a large table and two benches had been placed. Lord Hesketh closed the door and sat on one of the benches, gesturing to Cuthbert to sit opposite to him.

  ‘It has come to my notice that there has been some trouble here during the last week. A young woman, the woman you were about to marry, was abducted, a man was murdered and the murderer cornered and died by his own hand. Is that so?’

  ‘Yes, my lord. That is so.’

  ‘Is the young woman in question all right? Was she harmed? In any way?’

  Cuthbert knew exactly what he was being asked; had Jennet been raped by the man?

  ‘She is well, apart from a few cuts and scratches. She was greatly shocked but is glad to be free once more and back with her family.’

  ‘That is good. Now I want to hear the precise circumstances from your lips. I have been fed rumours and gossip but I want to hear the truth.’

  So, for the next half an hour Cuthbert related exactly what had happened from the day that Will had left Rufford including all the attempts to damage and even burn down the hall. Lord Hesketh was a good listener and did not interrupt until the tale was told. Cuthbert left nothing out as he did not want his new master to fill any gaps with the false rumours he had heard. Lord Hesketh betrayed nothing in his face until the tale was finished when he sat back and contemplated Cuthbert.’

  ‘You are an honest man. I believe every word you have said and I am truly sorry for the trials that man brought upon you and all here. Your conduct throughout has been exactly what I would expect from what Lord Derby told me of you. I had already decided I wanted you to work for the estate before I heard all this and I am only confirmed in the wisdom of my choice. It is seldom that I have come to owe so much to a humble craftsman but not only did you save the life of my son and heir but my house as well. I know what it is to struggle as a young man, my father’s family rejected me from birth, but I have triumphed over adversity and so will you. From this day forward I will be watching your progress with great interest and I believe you will go far.’ He stood up and came round the table. ‘Come we will return to the hall and this conversation will remain privately between us.’ He looked at Cuthbert for confirmation of this and at his nod, he turned to the door, saying with a twinkle in his eye, ‘Let us go and see what my Lady has decided she needs for her comfort in her new home. Be ready when you marry your girl for her to always find something else she needs. It is the way of women, I find.’

  Cuthbert followed him down the stairs and into the Great Hall. Abel and his men had left, some of the gentlemen also, but the ladies were walking about the Hall imagining it furnished and lit by candles and the firelight.

  ‘Grace, my dear, Cuthbert would like to know what items you have decided you need for your greater comfort.’ He gave Cuthbert a look that warned him to be prepared to indulge his wife.

  Cuthbert stood before the ladies and listened as she ticked of
f on her fingers numerous pieces she had decided were needed, mostly additional chests for clothes or comfortable seats in her solar, a decorated box for her to store her embroidery silks, another box for the family bible and some furnishings for the little chapel. There was going to be plenty of work for him in the coming months and most of it involved his beloved carving. At last he was to be able to spend most of his time on doing the carving he loved above all else. It was turning out to be an exciting day.

  As Lady Hesketh came to the end of her requirements Cuthbert felt a tug on his sleeve and looked down to see young Thomas standing patiently at his side.

  ‘Have you made the sword you promised?’ he asked in his high, piping voice.

  ‘Thomas! What did I tell you before we came?’ admonished his mother.

  ‘Not to interrupt, not to run about and …’ His brow furrowed as he tried to remember. ‘not to go near the water,’ he finished triumphantly, and grinned up at Cuthbert. ‘You didn’t say I couldn’t talk to my friend Cuthbert though.’

  His mother made a tut of annoyance but she was smiling at the same time.

  Cuthbert crouched down by the boy and looked him in the face.

  ‘I made you a promise, didn’t I? Well, I try to keep my promises, so, if her ladyship permits,’ he asked looking up at her, ‘I will take you to the forge where I live and show you something.’

  ‘Very well,’ agreed Lady Hesketh, ‘but stay with Cuthbert and don’t run off.’

  ‘Thank you, my lady.’

  Cuthbert and the excited child left the Hall and took the short path to the forge at the end of the village. Cuthbert noticed that one of the young squires was following them at a distance, probably on her orders. Thomas chattered away as they walked.

  ‘We are going to come and live here very soon. I will be able to watch you make all those things for my mother. Father says I will have my own pony soon and he will teach me to ride. Can you ride? I want a little brown pony like father’s big horse and when I am bigger I will have a proper horse as well. I will be able to bring it here to have its shoes put on and then I can watch the smith working as well. I like horses, don’t you?’

  Cuthbert let the child prattle on. To think that this vibrant little life could so easily have been snuffed out that day in the Mere. What a joy he was.

  On reaching the forge Cuthbert left Thomas watching Jehan at work whilst he slipped into his room at the back and returned carrying something behind his back. As soon as Thomas saw him he ran to him and jumped up and down.

  ‘Is that it, behind your back?’ he cried.

  ‘Close your eyes,’ said Cuthbert and Thomas squeezed them shut and held out his hands. Cuthbert laid the wooden sword across his arms and looped the strap of a shield over his shoulder. Thomas opened his eyes in wonder.

  ‘A sword and a shield,’ he cried, and waved the sword around his head.

  ‘A soldier can’t go into battle with only a sword, can he?’ said Cuthbert.

  ‘Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you’ and he ran off back to the Hall with the squire in close pursuit.

  Jehan laughed.

  ‘He’s a lively one, isn’t he? When they finally arrive to live here I can see I am going to have to watch out for him. Have they said when they are coming?’

  ‘Not exactly, but I do have some good news. He wants four of us to stay and work for the estate and we are to have one of the cottages to live in. We are to look after all the buildings which he owns. There will be work for years to come and there will also be work for us on Lord Derby’s property.’

  ‘That is good news!’ declared Jehan. ‘Just wait till I tell Liliath.’

  ‘Can you not tell her until I’ve seen Jennet? She was worried that we would have to go with Abel and she would miss her sisters so much.’

  ‘I think I can manage that.’ He clapped Cuthbert on the back. ‘Remember when you first arrived, Abel couldn’t stand the sight of you, Will was jealous and you got all the awful, boring jobs? You didn’t let any of that stop you doing your best and finally that has been recognised. Well done! What do you think Martha will think over in Chester?’

  ‘I must try to get a message to her next time someone is going that way. She doesn’t know I’m getting married yet either. I’ll go and find Jennet and tell her now.’

  He walked away with a smile on his face and a wonderful feeling deep inside. He was about to get married to a wonderful girl, he had work for as long as he wanted it, a home here among people he had come to love and respect and the opportunity to produce carvings that may be seen by members of the Royal Court. No wonder his footsteps were light as he headed for Ezekial’s house.

  Jennet and her sisters were in the garden of their house raking the soil ready for the planting of the vegetables. He stopped to watch them. What a pretty trio they were with their light auburn hair, glowing skin and soft brown eyes. Dressed in their simple dresses, tied about their waists with a fine cord, chattering away, laughing and tossing their hair he couldn’t help but smile. Mary looked up and saw him, nudged Jennet and gave Cuthbert a huge grin as she and Martha went indoors, leaving Jennet and Cuthbert alone.

  ‘Shall we walk down to the Mere?’ asked Cuthbert, putting his arm about her waist and hugging her close to his side. ‘I’ve got lots of things to tell you.’

  She looked up into his face.

  ‘Nothing bad, I hope.’

  ‘No, why should there be anything bad?’

  ‘After all that has happened this week I wondered, that’s all, and I believe Lord Hesketh has been to see the house, too. Is everything all right?’

  ‘Yes, fine, but let’s walk.’

  Arm in arm they wandered down to the shore, deliberately turning away from the scene of her abduction, and, with the water on their right, strolled along the shoreline until they came to a tree stump and sat on it, close together.

  ‘Well, what’s all this news?’ she asked eagerly.

  ‘Lord Hesketh is very pleased with the building. He and his friends looked at everything and showed their approval of all we have done. The family will be coming to live here very soon.’

  ‘That’s wonderful but I feel there is something more.’

  ‘Abel is going to work on a house in Yorkshire which he built a few years ago and the owner wants extending.’

  ‘Yorkshire? Does that mean we will have to go there too? ‘I’ll miss …’

  ‘Slow down,’ he laughed. ‘Let me finish. I am not going with them.’

  ‘What? Why? I thought Abel had accepted you.’

  ‘He has and most of the men are going with him but a few of us aren’t.’

  ‘Where are you going then? Back to Chester?’

  ‘No, Lord Hesketh wants four of us to stay and work for the estate. He owns lots of cottages and farms around here and they all need repairs and other work on them so we will be employed by the estate and will have work for years to come.’

  ‘So we won’t have to move away? Oh, Cuthbert, that will be marvellous! I was going to miss my mother and father, and my sisters, of course, so much if we had to go away. Now I will be able to see them every day. But where will we live? I suppose we could stay with mother and father though it will be a bit crowded.’

  ‘There is a cottage he will let us all have for as long as we stay. It means we will have to share with the others but at least we will be together.’

  ‘Who else is staying?’

  ‘Probably Harry, Ben and either Alfred or Japheth. Alfred may want to stay with Abel as he’s worked with him longer than the others. Could you bear to share a house with three men as well as your husband?’

  ‘As long as you are there I am happy wherever we are.’ She squeezed him tight against her. ‘You have made me so happy. Oh, what’s this?’ She put her hand in the pocket which was squeezed between them and pulled out the little carving of the rose which he had made for her. ‘My rose! This will be my lucky charm.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘Because
it was the first thing you made for me, and because if it hadn’t fallen out of my pocket when Will took me away and Alfric hadn’t stepped on it, we might not have been sitting here like this, and who knows …’

  Cuthbert pulled her to him and silenced her with a kiss on the lips which she leaned into for a long moment. They parted and she gazed up into his face.

  ‘What are you thinking about?’ she asked.

  ‘I never imagined when I left Chester that I would end up with someone like you, somewhere like this. The Abbey was as far as I expected to go. There was still so much work to do there.’

  ‘Do you miss it?’

  ‘Not really. I could never be a monk. Their life is so ordered and restricted and getting up during the night to go into a freezing cold church was not good. I enjoyed the work I was able to do there but this is much better, oh, and lady Hesketh has all sorts of things she wants me to make for the house which mean I will be doing far more of the carving. I can’t wait to get started. I have so many ideas.’ He looked out over the water. ‘I have enough drawings of the animals and birds, the trees and the butterflies around here that I will have work for years.’ He looked into her eyes. ‘You have made me so happy. We will raise our children in a beautiful, peaceful place.’

  ‘Children?’ she asked.

  ‘You do want children, don’t you?’ he asked in alarm and she laughed.