Civil Conflict

by Oliver, Marina

  'Well, I've picked a beauty this time,' he said, grinning. 'How about a kiss, then?'

  Lysbeth began to slip from the wall on the opposite side from where he was standing, but he was too quick for her. His hands shot out and grasped her by the waist.

  'Oh, no, my pretty! You do not escape me thus.'

  'Let me go, wretch! '

  'Not until you have paid me, and twice for that word.'

  'Will you please let me go?'

  'After you have given me a kiss, I might consider it.'

  Lysbeth began to struggle, but she was in an awkward position. He was behind her, and sitting on the wall as she was, it was difficult for her to turn round to use her hands to push him away. As she struggled to do so, he pulled her backwards and she lost her balance and would have fallen to the ground had he not been holding her. With a delighted chuckle, he held her to him, and as she fell from the wall, helpless in his grasp, he twisted her round and set her on her feet so that she was facing him. He had one arm round her, imprisoning both of her hands with it. With his other hand he grasped her chin, and she could feel his hot breath on her face. She attempted to kick him, but he merely laughed and held her closer. His mouth came down and closed over hers. She shut her eyes and tried to twist her face away from him, but his hold on her was too secure. Suddenly Lysbeth heard a shout behind her, and with great thankfulness realised Sir James had emerged from the farmhouse.

  'Let the girl go, ruffian!'

  Lysbeth's attacker lifted his head to see what this interruption was, and as he did so, found his arm which was round Lysbeth pulled and twisted. He released her quickly, and tried to shake off Sir James who was holding him.

  'Oh, no, my bully. You are going to learn a lesson.'

  'What do you mean?' the man blustered.

  'If a lady does not wish to grant you favours, then you will learn not to force her.'

  The man laughed shortly. 'All women will grant their favours,' he leered, 'but do not like to seem too eager. Be off, and leave me to the wench.'

  'If you do not remove yourself, I shall be forced to do it for you. Will you go, or must I administer the lesson?'

  The man stood there, then suddenly sidestepped, and tried to push past Sir James towards Lysbeth, who had retreated against the wall. He did not get far. Sir James's fist swung out and caught him cleanly on the jaw. With a surprised look on his face, he fell to the ground, and Sir James stood surveying him with much satisfaction.

  Lysbeth moved quickly to him and caught his arm anxiously.

  'Are you hurt? Your wound! Oh, James!'

  He turned and smiled at her reassuringly. 'I am fit now, child. Do not fret.' He covered the hand which still rested on his arm, and pressed it. 'But I fear when his companions discover what has happened, they will be seeking revenge. Come, we must leave at once.'

  Lysbeth nodded, confused at having called him 'James', and at his touch. She pulled her hand away. He smiled as he released her, and without more words they turned and made their way huriedly back to the barn.

  'We must go to Harry at once,' Lysbeth suggested as they reached it.

  'Aye, that was my thought. We will pack what we can carry, and make our way there.'

  *

  Chapter 11

  It was still before noon, and they had few things to pack. Harry had taken their saddles in the cart, so they were soon on their way. The journey to Harry's cottage took but a couple of hours, and fortunately Harry was there when they arrived, and they were able to explain the position at once.

  'Harry, can you get the horses now?' Lysbeth asked anxiously.

  'They are not available, Mistress. Besides, 'tis not safe for yet awhile. The Parliament men are still in the district.'

  'We must go soon,' Lysbeth protested, 'and we cannot stay with you, 'twould be too risky for you and Joan.'

  'I hear they will leave soon, within a few days,' Harry reassured her, 'and for that time I have a place for you to go.'

  'Oh, Harry, you have helped us so much. Where is it this time?'

  'A half-ruined cottage a few miles hence, deep in the woods, and used to belong to a witch. At least, that is what the locals think.'

  Sir James smiled appreciatively. 'So they do not go there?' he asked.

  'Aye, that's the way of it.'

  'It sounds perfect. When can we go?'

  'You should make your way there when 'tis dark,' Harry said. 'Wait here a while. Joan can cook you a meal, and then I can take you there when 'tis getting dark.'

  'I'll have to leave my sword with you, it does not match these clothes.'

  'I'll hide it safely.'

  Thankfully they accepted his suggestion, and as the afternoon drew to a close they bade Joan farewell, and set off once more. Harry led them northwards along the lanes for about three miles, then he struck off across some fields until they came to a large wood. Skirting the edge of the wood, Harry eventually came to a path. Turning into it he stopped.

  ' 'Tis about half a mile along this path,' he told them. 'You cannot miss it. 'Tis not quite dark yet.'

  'We shall find it, do not worry,' Sir James answered quickly. 'Now you had best go back, Harry. Thank you for your help. But you must not come further.'

  'I think there is no need,' Harry answered. 'I will come in three days' time. Have you enough food till then?'

  'Aye, Joan has provided well for us.'

  'By then I should know more about the movements of the troops. When they leave I will borrow the horses and you can set off.'

  Again they thanked him, and waved as he returned across the fields. Then they started along the path. It was dark under the trees and they had to pick their way slowly, which enabled them to hear noises in front of them. Sir James halted, and caught Lysbeth's hand to halt her too. They listened intently, and Lysbeth looked enquiringly at Sir James.

  'I fear that 'tis some soldiers,' he whispered quietly. 'They will most likely have heard us too. We must not try to hide, that will look suspicious.'

  'What else can we do?'

  'There is but one good reason for a man and a girl to be here at this time.' Sir James chuckled softly. 'I regret, but 'tis the only safe way.'

  Before Lysbeth grasped his meaning, he had stepped to the side of the path, and pulled her with him. He turned her to face him and put his arms round her, holding her lightly but firmly.

  'We must pretend to be oblivious to them,' he whispered into her hair. 'Pray excuse the necessity, Mistress Lysbeth!'

  Lysbeth gasped in surprise, but did not resist him. He held her close and bent his head to hers, holding her in such a position that he could see the path in the direction of the soldiers.

  She stood rigidly for a few moments, then accepting his reasoning, relaxed. He was holding her firmly and she found his warmth and strength comforting. She was listening intently to the footsteps of the soldiers as they came nearer, but dared not turn to see where they were, or ask Sir James, but he answered her unspoken question by putting his mouth very close to her ear.

  'They are but twenty yards away. Now, Lysbeth, you must let me kiss you.'

  Without waiting for her response, he tightened his arms round her, and his mouth came down on hers. Lysbeth, with her recent experiences at the hands of the Roundhead soldiers, had been steeling herself not to flinch at his touch, and so betray them, but somewhat to her surprise she found his kiss very different from the ones she had suffered earlier that day. She relaxed more, breathed deeply, and when his lips became more urgent on hers, she responded without realising it. She almost forgot their reason for being in this strange situation. It was only when a raucous laugh from behind her was heard that she came back to reality. She stiffened involuntarily, and wondered whether they should ignore this or not. Sir James's hand pressed her back warningly, and she remained where she was. Another laugh came, and some coarse jests that made Lysbeth blush hotly. Sir James lifted his head, and then, with every appearance of embarrassment, he turned Lysbeth, put his arm roun
d her waist, and guided her along the path, pushing past the soldiers, who stood there looking after them, still laughing. His head down as though embarrassed to be caught in such a situation, he hurried Lysbeth away. They were both relieved to hear the troopers moving on away from them.

  Sir James hurried on, not pausing, until several twists of the path had taken them well away from the soldiers and they could no longer be heard, then he took his arm away from round Lysbeth and stopped. She halted beside him, but did not look at him.

  'Will you forgive me?' he asked quietly. 'I am sorry, but 'twas the only thing to do.'

  'Why, yes, of course I understand,' Lysbeth replied in a subdued tone. ' 'Twas clever of you to think of it.'

  He smiled, but as she was not looking at him she did not see it. He resumed in a more normal voice. 'We must be near the cottage now.'

  *

  This time, taking great care not to touch one another, they walked on side by side along the narrow path. Within a hundred yards they came to a clearing, and on the opposite side they saw the cottage. One end wall had collapsed, but there appeared to be a couple of habitable rooms at the other end, where the front door was standing ajar.

  They made their way quickly across the clearing, and Sir James led the way into the cottage. It had the musty unused smell of a long-uninhabited building, but they were thankful for its shelter.

  'I fear we may not sleep as comfortably as on the hay,' Sir James said somewhat ruefully.

  He pulled out his flint and lit a piece of candle he had in his pocket. In its faint glow they made their way through the narrow passage and into the room at the side. They looked around apprehensively, but everything seemed normal, though obviously deserted for a long time. A huge fireplace took up most of one wall. At the side of it was a big settle. A table was in the middle of the room, and in the far corner a straw mattress covered with a pile of rags. Sir James walked over to this, threw the rags to one side, and felt the mattress, shaking it experimentally.

  'You may have a few companions tonight,' he said, looking at Lysbeth and raising his eyebrows. 'The mice may have made a home here, but there is nought else. 'Twill have to do.'

  Lysbeth smiled at him shyly. 'I have this cloak Harry gave me. I can wrap myself in that.'

  Sir James smiled at her approvingly. 'Good girl.' He looked over at the settle. 'That will do for me.'

  'Oh, but – ' Lysbeth paused uncertainly. 'Your wound, 'tis not completely healed. Why do you not take the mattress? I can rest on there.'

  He shook his head. 'For tonight, do as I say. In the morning we can find something better. Perhaps small branches, or heather or ferns. With these we can contrive beds for us both. But now, do not argue. We have had a long day.'

  Lysbeth made no further demur, and they quickly settled down in their strange new quarters. Despite the somewhat hard bed Lysbeth slept well, and when she woke felt ashamed of this as she recalled the uncomfortable settle Sir James had had to make do with. She looked across, but he was not there. She assumed he had gone out since it was already light, with gleams of sunlight thrusting their way through the broken windows. She rose, and went out of the cottage. A cheerful whistling greeted her, and she walked in that direction, and saw Sir James had found an axe and was busy splitting logs into firewood.

  'Good morning,' she called. 'I hope you did not have too uncomfortable a night.'

  ' 'Twas no worse than many others I have spent during campaigns,' he reassured her, straightening up and smiling as she walked across to him. 'Soon I will have enough to start a fire. Over there is a well, and a bucket with not many holes in it. Could you draw some water?'

  'Of course.' Lysbeth went over to the well and pulled up some water. It was bright and sparkling in the sunlight, and she tasted, finding it sweet and fresh. Walking back to the cottage, she found some old cooking pots by the fire, and was able to wash one of these out. She poured some fresh water into it and hung it on the hook over the fire. At that moment Sir James came in, carrying an armful of wood.

  Laughing like children, they made a fire and Sir James, an old campaigner, soon had it lit. They set the pot above it, and Lysbeth began to unpack the bundle of food Joan had pressed on them the day before. There was meat, cheese and bread, and they made a hearty breakfast.

  'I set some snares earlier,' Sir James said, 'there may well be a rabbit in one by now. And there are many herbs growing round about. We will be able to have rabbit stew for supper.'

  During the next few days their life settled into a pattern. They found soft branches and ferns, and contrived two beds. One of the other rooms in the cottage was reasonably weatherproof, and Sir James put his bed in there, so for the first time since they had met after Naseby battle, they were able to have some privacy. Sir James chopped wood and snared rabbits and birds, while Lysbeth kept house. It was almost as if they were children playing, and they were light-hearted and happy, free for a time from anxiety and cares.

  On the third day Harry appeared late in the afternoon. He had welcome news.

  'The Parliament troop leaves the district tomorrow, and your horses will be available the day after. Think you that you can find your own way to my cottage then?'

  'Why, of course. When would you have us come?'

  'As early as you can. I am keeping the horses overnight, and you can set off as early as you wish.'

  They thanked him warmly, and promised to be there early, two days hence.

  'If the troop does not leave, or there are other problems, I will come tomorrow,' Harry promised, and they waved him farewell soon after. Lysbeth spent the following day alternating between relief their perils would soon be over, at least for the immediate future, and regrets that this strange interlude in her life was soon to end. The anxiety while Sir James had been ill, then the past few days in their very ordinariness had helped her to support the shock of Arthur's death, and though his loss made her exceedingly sad, she was not cast down by it as much as she might have been in other circumstances.

  As they sat on the grass in front of the cottage on that last afternoon, she turned mischievously to Sir James.

  'You will soon be rid of your charge.'

  'You accept you are my charge?' he asked her, grinning.

  'Of necessity,' she replied. 'I think we have needed each other. Thank you for all your help, rescuing me from my various misfortunes.'

  'Thank you, child,' he answered.

  She frowned quickly. 'I am no child. When will you realise this and treat me as a grown woman?'

  'I beg your pardon.' He smiled apologetically. 'When I first met you, you were but a child, and the impression you made on me was very strong.'

  She frowned again. 'You mock, Sir! Let us forget it.'

  'If I agree you are no longer a child, and do my utmost to remember not to call you one, can we be friends?'

  'It would be hard not to be after this time,' she answered slowly.

  'Do you still resent what I did for the King?'

  'I know not. I did not then realise the fearsomeness of war. Besides, the Parliament men have treated me and mine far worse than you treated people. Was it really necessary, what you did?'

  'Aye, I fear so,' he answered sombrely. 'If people do not support the King, when he has dire need of support, we must take it for him. If not, many troubles come upon the land.'

  'They seem to have come anyway,' Lysbeth said. 'I wonder what will happen now?'

  'We have had no tidings of the King, where he is, what has happened to the army.'

  'No doubt we shall hear as we join the road to Yorkshire.'

  'You accept my escort now?'

  She smiled at him quickly. 'I would be grateful, Sir James,' she said graciously. 'I apologise for my behaviour. I was distressed, angry about the time at home when you treated me as a child, and determined to show you I was not.' She smiled at him somewhat shyly. 'But you have lost much time already. What will you do now? Do you go to rejoin the King?'

  Sir James shrugged.
'I doubt there is much army to rejoin. From what I saw, most of the Royalist army was destroyed or dispersed at Naseby, but I shall attempt to join the King again. We must fight on.'

  Lysbeth nodded slowly. 'But if the King is defeated, and cannot raise another army, what can he do?'

  'There is still the army of the West, also Goring, for he did not join us as we hoped before Naseby. Mayhap if he had, the result would have been different, but as 'tis, much of the West is held for the King, so we can start again there.'

  Lysbeth nodded.

  'And you?' he asked. 'You will remain with your aunt and uncle?'

  'I have no other close relatives now. They will be glad to give me a home, for their own children are left, married.'

  'You said their home was not so badly damaged as your own?'

  'No, from the reports I heard. I expect Aunt Mary will have returned there. There will be parts of it habitable, no doubt, and I can assist them, in getting things straight. There will be much to do.'

  *

  In this gentler mood, when they seemed to be in agreement, they fell to talking about the war and the reasons for it. Sir James was surprised at Lysbeth's knowledge, and admitted that her understanding was far from childlike. He explained much that she had been puzzled over before, about the grievances people held against the King, especially the time when he had ruled without Parliament. Lysbeth surprised him by her intelligent questions and shrewd comments, and by the time they had their supper he had almost forgotten she was young and a female, and was talking to her as he would have done another officer. She was not unaware of this change in him, and greatly appreciated it, but did not again tease him by reminding him of his earlier rejections of her questions.

  They retired to bed early that night, as they had to start very early the next morning. The journey to Harry's cottage was uneventful, and they arrived soon after sunrise to find he was ready for them. The horses he had obtained, some stolid animals belonging to a local farmer, were already saddled and waiting. Joan had packed food for them, and with profuse thanks they prepared to set off on their long journey.