The Monmouth Summer

by Vicary, Tim

  “No ... " He felt a heavy smack on one side of his jaw, and then the other. He glared at the sergeant, enraged.

  "Get in line, soldier, and hold that musket! You'll be dead, too, else!"

  Adam found himself back in his line, with the rest pushed there by the sergeant, facing the road into the village where the horsemen had gone. Behind him, Roger Satchell was forming a second line facing the other way to defend their backs. When that was done the sergeant lined the hedges too, so that they formed a defensive square.

  But they were too late. The royalist cavalry had been and gone. They heard shouts and shots from other parts of the village, but no-one came their way.

  After about an hour, Colonel Wade came to Roger Satchell with the news that the army had been attacked by troops of horse from two directions at once. The royalists had been beaten off with some losses, the Colonel said, and three prisoners had been taken. From the prisoners they had learnt that Lord Feversham, the royalist commander, had brought the entire royal army up to face them, and that they were therefore to retreat immediately to Bath, rather than risk a battle.

  It began to rain heavily about eleven o'clock, so that the soil they buried Philip Cox in turned to mud as they threw it over him. They began the retreat about midnight, without having had any of the rabbit stew he had tried to save.

  27

  "SO YOU had no idea that Parker's troop was there, as well as yours?" Robert Pole handed the messenger a glass of wine, eager for his news. Ann felt suddenly cold, as though the man had left the door open to a winter wind, instead of the warm, damp breeze of June, rich with the scent of flowers and the tumult of birdsong.

  "Parker? My dear sir, we had no idea that Monmouth was there, let alone Parker! We simply stumbled on them by accident."

  "But hadn't they put out a guard? You could have been caught in an ambush!"

  "So we should have been, if the rebels had any horsemen worth the name. But they've only ladies' riding-horses, and hacks, and coach-horses, that never heard a shot fired in anger before. We cut our way through them soon enough, and then beat up the camp - the foot were still cooking their supper! I beheaded one myself, by his stewpot!" The big, smooth-faced young cornet laughed at the memory.

  "But you say Parker was in trouble?" Robert lounged by the mantlepiece, frowning and watching the messenger carefully.

  "Yes, at first - and when we found out what was up, we went to rescue him. Feversham had sent him out to fright the rebels, and they'd sent nearly all their horse against him - three times his number, so he was in trouble, till we came at them from behind. But then they ran soon enough. The whole army was gone by morning."

  "The whole army? But man, from what you say, your forces combined could not have been above four hundred! And Feversham had only a few hundred more, to defend the whole of Bristol!"

  "God's truth. But they were there in the night, and gone in the morning. We found a whole room in an inn laid for supper, with plates and napkins all ready, and fifteen pairs of boots by the door. I took a pair myself - fine Spanish leather too!"

  "I don't believe it! So what did you do - sit down and eat the meal for them?"

  "No, Rob, 'twas a little burnt by then, what with the cooking all night. 'Tis something I mean to take up with our friend James Scott, if I meet him again - 'tis churlish in a man who wants to be King to burn his friend's supper, and flit before he comes."

  Ann sat silent through their laughter, a laughter quite different from her own and Robert's the night before. Oddly, she did not think so much about how bad the news was - she thought, with the surface of her mind, how she disliked this stranger, this young Cornet Smythe, with his big, blond good looks, and the affected way he had of stroking the moustache on his upper lip as he spoke, as if he were afraid people would not notice the fair hairs against his blond skin. He stroked it again as he caught sight of her, and whistled softly, raising his eyebrows in appreciation.

  "God's fish, Rob, they said you'd a lady with you, but I never thought 'twould be such a piece as this! You must introduce me at once!"

  Robert did so, and explained her presence as best he could. Ann stared stonily at his elaborate bow.

  "But if your father has the bad fortune to be with our mountebank friend, James Scott, Duke of Monmouth, I can only sympathise, Miss Carter. For I'm afraid I have worse news for you still."

  "What's that?" Her anxiety to know overcame her reluctance to speak. Was it her father?

  "'Tis that the rebels have failed also in their noble attempt to take Bath."

  "What? They fled from a few hundred at Bristol, and tried to take Bath the next day?" Robert's surprise made him abandon his lounging position by the mantlepiece.

  "God's truth. They launched a frontal assault on it with their crack troops, drawing immediate fire from Lord Fitzharding's militia within."

  "Well, good for them. 'Tis no mean feat to attack a city after a night's march in the rain, even against the militia."

  "Ah, no, Rob, wait." Cornet Smythe stroked his moustache solicitously, savouring the moment. "You see, his crack troops, in this instance, considering the importance of the noble city of Bath, comprised of a single herald, who rode boldly up to the walls and immediately let fly a salvo of fine words to the effect that if they did not open their gates at once he would burn the city single-handed over their heads. Whereupon the gallant militia, showing their full knowledge of the rules of war to a nicety, shot him dead; and James Monmouth. honour being satisfied, marched his army away again."

  "Never! It can't be true!" Robert stared at him open-mouthed, then burst into amazed laughter. The messenger beamed, enjoying the reaction hugely. "But wherever does the man think he is going?"

  "On a winding road to the chopping block, by the looks of it. But here's a point, Rob. Orders from Lord Churchill. You are to proceed to meet him in Bath tonight with the supply carts, so that we may join up with the main army in time to give him the final blow. After, of course, congratulating Lord Fitzharding's noble militia on their stirring victory over an unarmed herald."

  "Thank God for that. I'd better start as soon as possible, then, before someone else comes with a message for me to trot up to London and fetch him a consignment of oranges."

  Robert spoke a little bitterly, conscious that he was missing most of the excitement. When they had left Chard, John Churchill had ridden north as fast as he could with most of the dragoons and horse, closely followed by Colonel Kirke and his Tangier infantrymen, to join up with Lord Feversham near Bath. Robert, meanwhile, had been left behind with a small detachment of troopers to guard the slower-moving forage-carts, and find as much food as he could on the way. It was a necessary task, but hardly one that he enjoyed, although he suspected he had been given it so that he could enjoy some time with Ann, who also had to travel with the carts.

  Half her life seemed to be spent on carts. Next morning Cornet Smythe left, clattering urgently back to the war, and Ann climbed miserably onto the forage-cart. She sat there dully as they lurched up and down the steep, muddy roads towards Bath, indifferent to the profusion of summer life all around her. The rain had passed on, and the long grass of the hedgerows steamed in the sun, while the flowers vied with each other to offer the brightest colours to the busy insects. Robert had picked her a nosegay of the best of them - red campion, forget-me-nots, ragged robin, moon daisies - but they lay unheeded beside her, wilting in the heat.

  She felt herself as useless and unnecessary as the flowers; something picked up in delight for a moment, and then dragged around endlessly until her attraction was entirely gone. She pushed her hair irritably away from her face. The other night at the inn she had felt her passion for Robert return, sweeping aside her loyalty to her family and sense of duty. For an evening the idea of a future with Robert had seemed once again a thrilling dream that could really come true; now it seemed just a dream, and nothing more - a confusion of thoughts in the night. She felt no emotion but weariness and sick worry for her fath
er, somewhere wandering these lanes behind a fearful, irresolute leader.

  They stopped at midday to eat bread and cheese at a place where the road forded a little stream. and kingcups and water-lilies floated in the eddies. A heron flew morosely away as they arrived, and a kingfisher zipped downstream in a flash of dazzling blue. She got out of the cart gratefully, and Robert came back to talk to her. She noticed how his freckles seemed to grow darker in the heat of the sun, and had a sudden longing to put out her hand and touch them playfully. But there were too many eyes watching.

  "How is my lady in her fine chariot? I am sorry I have to force you to travel so roughly."

  "There is no need to force me to travel at all."

  "I have to obey my orders. And orders are not always unpleasant." An ironic smile crossed his solemn face.

  "Orders! But, Rob, it is nonsense. I can tell you nothing more about Monmouth's army than you know already. And if you were to let me go I could tell them even less about you."

  He did not answer at once, but watched a group of swifts swooping low over the river, changing course erratically as one insect after another caught their eyes.

  "Agreed. But my orders were also to take as good care of you as possible, and see that you fell into no more danger from troops of either side. Which I have done."

  "Unless you think of the danger of having my bones shaken out of my body, from forever being jolted to pieces in carts." She put her hands on her back and arched it cautiously, hoping it would still bend as it should. Several eyes watched her, and she turned away from them, glaring scornfully downstream. "And having my body shot through with hungry glances from your troopers."

  "Eyes cannot hurt, Ann. But you are right, this is no place for a woman. Look, I have friends in Bath. We will be there in a couple of hours and I will find a safe place to for you to stay until this is all over. It will be better than following an army."

  "Do you think it will be over soon, Rob? Do you really think it will be that easy?" She kept her eyes on the stream, her voice level, trying to hide the sick fear in her heart. So soon things seemed to have changed, after the euphoria of Taunton. Or was it all nothing but royalist lies?

  His laugh was almost embarrassed. "From what Nick Smythe said, it hardly seems that the rebels are making the best of their chances. does it? I almost feel sorry for your father, Ann, even if he did shoot Will Danvers - but perhaps he will have the sense to leave before the end, when he sees the way things are going."

  "My father won't run away." Ann remembered the night her father had decided to go to Lyme, and the nights before that, when he had spoken of it. She remembered how solemn the decision had been, how sure he had been that it was right. She remembered Israel Fuller's words. "Those who die in the service of the Lord shall be saved, but those who abandon His cause shall be lost forever." She shivered as she thought where that placed her.

  "Then your father is a brave fool, like the Duke of Monmouth himself - though Monmouth is more fool than brave, if he gave up Bristol to a handful of troopers as Smythe says." Robert shrugged, an embarrassed pity in his eyes.

  Late in the afternoon they reached Bath, and joined the rest of the royal army. The city was buzzing with life, as Ann remembered Taunton had been. But here there were no green branches or Protestant texts in the windows, only the banners of the regular army and militia regiments. Men and women were hurrying everywhere to buy and sell, organise, watch and cheer.

  Ann was impressed by the smart uniform coats and orderly drill of the soldiers, but there was none of the eager light or purpose in their faces that she remembered from the soldiers at Taunton. These were merely men doing what they always did, with the casual skill of long practice. Their chief interest in the town seemed to be in spying out the ale-houses, or the girls who passed them in giggling bunches, pretending to ignore the stares they provoked.

  Robert left her sitting in a cart outside an inn where he had heard Lord Churchill was, and went inside. It seemed strange to be among such a crowd of townsfolk, who were not connected with the army. For a moment she wondered if she could escape, but she saw how most of the people were looking at her, and heard some of the remarks they muttered to their neighbours as they went past.

  "Soldier's fancy piece, must be."

  "Poor girl - do you see her dress?"

  "Don't look so happy, do she?"

  "'Ere, girl! 'Tis me you been lookin' for!"

  "See what happens if you run after soldiers."

  So she sat quietly, hanging her head and feeling how hopeless it would be to ask for help from strangers here, if that was what they thought of her. She must get back to her father. She could not bear the shame of it; the double shame of everyone thinking she was Robert's whore, and her own shame of knowing she dare not play that part; that she wanted to do what was wrong and dare not, so that she did not even satisfy him.

  She got out of the cart quietly, ignoring the sergeant's reproachful eyes, and waited, alone amongst the soldiers, until at last Robert came out. He was relaxed and smiling.

  "So, are you ready? I find I have a cousin in Bath, whom you can stay with. I never thought she would be back from London so early, but she is - and her husband has offered to entertain half the officers tonight. We could scarce have come at a better time."

  It was as though the incident of last night had not happened. They hurried through the bustling streets, Robert pointing out the uniforms of the different regiments they saw, and telling her of their recent exploits. Several times he saluted an officer he knew, and each time Ann felt the man's eyes linger speculatively on her as they passed.

  They stopped outside a tall, terraced house in a smart area near the centre. Robert knocked gaily on the door, which after a delay was opened by a liveried footman in buckled shoes and a white powdered wig. He had a long, melancholy face whose mouth opened into a weak smile as he saw who it was.

  "Master Robert, sir!"

  "Simeon! How good to see you! I am come with the army, all unannounced and unexpected. Is my cousin at home, or mine host her husband?"

  "Your cousin Marianne is here, Master Robert, but Mr Ashley is in town. However he is expected home shortly."

  “All the better - it's the lady I need now. Simeon, this is Mistress Ann Carter, a friend of mine whom I have rescued from the rebels. She is in dire need of hospitality."

  "I see." The man's cadaverous eyebrows rose in a faint expression of surprise as he looked at Ann. "Then I will announce you to Mrs Ashley at once. Perhaps you could wait in here, sir."

  He showed them into a spacious room with pannelled walls, a window overlooking the street, a large fireplace and two carved wooden chairs, as well as several stools and benches around a table.

  Ann turned on Robert as soon as the footman had gone out. "Robert! What ever made you tell him that? You have not rescued me from anyone!"

  "Have I not? I thought I found you wandering naked in a wood?"

  She blushed, unnerved by his air of ironic self-assurance. "You know why that was."

  "I know, but I think you will get a much better welcome in this house if we change the story a little. They are my family, after all, and so, I suppose, loyal supporters of the King."

  "But ... "

  "Robert! What a charming surprise!" The woman who burst into the room and greeted Robert with a rapturous kiss on both cheeks was slightly shorter than Ann, dark and vivacious with curly black hair pulled in ringlets over her head. Her face was soft like a child's, lightly powdered with a patch on her left cheek, and her rich royal blue satin dress, cut low over a swelling bosom decorated by a string of pearls, proclaimed, if the house and footman had not already made it obvious, how far above Ann she was in worldly possessions.

  "Marianne, this is Mistress Ann Carter from Colyton, whom I have had the good fortune to rescue from the rebels."

  Ann curtsied, terrified; yet she could not help noticing the similarities in the two faces that watched her as she did so. Marianne's face had no
freckles, and was more lively; but there was the same slightly earnest frown, that in Marianne's face instantly dissolved into a smile of welcome.

  "Then I don't know whom to congratulate first - you on choosing such a charming damsel in distress, or Miss Carter in having found such a dashing knight-errant! But you look tired, my dear, and hungry. Have you travelled far? He hasn't forced you to ride all day, has he?"

  "Yes, my lady. Well, nearly, that is ... " Ann's answer was really to the first question, but Marianne's words bubbled out so fast she could not stop them.

  "How exactly like Robert! He always had to go over just one more hill when I had already told him a dozen times I was wore out. And I suppose it’s even worse when he is in the army - he treats you as one of his troopers, no doubt! Sit down, my dear, sit down, while I ring for some refreshment."

  Ann sat down nervously on the window-seat, fearing to sully the beautiful tapestry cover with her borrowed blue dress, which was stained with the mud of the past few days. She jumped in surprise as Robert's cousin pulled a long, green, tasselled rope that hung from the wall beside one of the chairs. She heard nothing, but a moment later the footman reappeared.

  "Cups of chocolate for myself and these poor travelers, Simeon! And some of those honey cakes of Mrs Taylor's. That's the one thing we missed in London, Robert - Mrs Taylor's cooking. You can say what you like about your Whitehall chocolate shops and caffys, none of them could hold a candle to our Mrs Taylor!"

  "I am glad to hear it. Marianne. But I'm afraid I shan't be able to stay and taste them if I am to come to see you this evening. For I have to see my men are safely billeted and the supplies disposed of as they should be ... "

  "But you have only just come! You can't be in and out like this!"

  "My dear Marianne, we are at war, you know." He put his hands on her shoulders and looked down at her like an affectionate elder brother, though really she was older than him. "I will come again to your party this evening, but really I have only come now to introduce poor Ann, and beg you to find her a room for the night and perhaps lend her some clothes, so that I may make all Lord Feversham's officers jealous of me.”