Caroline had not had time to think properly since she had realised Philip knew she was a girl. She loved him so much that her only thoughts on discovering his feelings for her had been joy, without thought for the future. The possibility of marriage had never occurred to her, but as she comprehended it, she felt faint with wonder, and could only nod her head in reply to his question.
With a shout of joy he sprang up, pulling her up with him, and kissed her again, this time tenderly. She recalled the first time he had kissed her, without passion, in a woodland glade, and laughed softly with happiness.
'It is fitting, that as we met in a wood, and you kissed me there, we should plight our troth in another wood,' she told him.
'I was grateful to you then. Now I have reason to be yet more grateful, and as for my other feelings for you, words cannot do them justice.'
They broke apart reluctantly, and Caroline set out some food while Philip attended to the horses, for it was nearly dark, and they must set off as soon as possible. Having eaten and packed up their belongings, they led the horses out of the wood, mounting when they reached the road. This night was less cloudy, and the moon was nearly full, so they were able to make good progress.
On this busy highway there were often travellers at night, and Philip was able to change horses again before they came to the outskirts of Canterbury. Near the town, he took a lane to the right, and their speed dropped, but they still covered several more miles before it began to get light. They could see through the morning mist the Downs rising in front of them, and Philip decided to find a place to sleep before they came to the higher land. They found a copse, not so thick as the wood where they had spent the previous night, but as they were away from the main roads, this was unimportant, and they rode into it and prepared for sleep as before. But this time they were not so tired, and spent a long time in each other's arms, planning the future, before they fell asleep.
Some time before it was dark, they were woken by drips of rain coming through the trees and falling on their faces. They got up and shook out the cloaks, which were not very wet, but when they looked out of the copse the sky was heavy with cloud, and the rain was obviously going to continue for a long time.
They retreated to the comparative shelter of the wood while they ate the last of the food Bessy had prepared. Caroline was anxious to save some for the rest of the journey, but Philip was in a jubilant mood and assured her they would reach the cottage of his smuggler friends before midnight, and could enjoy a hot meal there before setting out to the boat which would take them from the shores of England.
'Can you find the way? There will be no moon tonight in this weather.'
'Yes. I have travelled this road many times. It is my usual way of entering or leaving the country. We will not be able to go quickly, but I have no fear of losing the way.'
'Can we start yet? It is not dark for an hour or two, but I am cold sitting here. The rain is coming through the trees more persistently.'
'It should be safe enough, and it would help us to get on our way across the Downs before dark. Let us pack.'
They collected their belongings and set off once more. Though it was not yet dark they could see only a little way ahead because of the rain, but they met no other travellers in those narrow lanes on such a night. As the darkness came, they were over the highest part of the Downs and descending the gentle slopes on the last stage of their journey to the coast. In an hour or so they would come to Romney Marsh, and on their left lay the old town of Hythe. They had to cross a fairly busy road out of Hythe, but would avoid the town itself. By the time they came to the road, it would be completely dark, and they did not anticipate meeting anyone on it at so late an hour.
So they travelled on, wet and cold, but happy in their love for one another, talking softly when the paths were wide enough to permit them to ride together, at other times thinking of the future or remembering with new insight episodes from the past few months when they had been together.
They came to the road which crossed their path, at a tiny hamlet of no more than two or three houses. The lane they rode in was low and sheltered by the wall of the barn which occupied the corner, and stretched right to the road. The rain was beating against the wall, and they did not see or hear the other horses until they had rounded the corner. It was too late to draw back, so with an encouraging smile to Caroline, Philip turned towards Hythe and rode on. Caroline could see a group of six or seven horses at the side of the road, and beyond them several men. They seemed to be arguing.
As they came nearer, they were hailed by one of the men.
'Hey, you! Is there a smithy before Hythe?'
At that moment someone appeared from the nearest cottage carrying a lantern which faintly illuminated the group, and Philip and Caroline saw to their dismay that the men were troopers. Philip replied without hesitation.
'The nearest one is at Hythe. 'Tis but three or four miles.'
He made as if to ride past, but the trooper who had spoken stepped forward and grasped the bridle, and Philip was forced to rein in.
Another trooper detached himself from the group and came towards them.
'We cannot waste time walking the horses all the way to Hythe. What say you we take one of these beasts? These fellows can walk our horse to the smithy and collect their own there.'
Philip began to protest, though he knew the danger of flouting the all-powerful army. At the sounds, the leader of the troopers left the cottager to whom he had been talking and approached them.
'I am on Parliament's business. Do you seek to delay me?'
At the sound of his voice, Caroline gasped with horror. It was Colonel Masters, the very man she had escaped from by running away from home.
Philip glanced at her, and was struck by the terror on her face. It was more than the ordinary fear of being caught. He was soon to learn the reason for it.
The Colonel had also heard the gasp Caroline had given. He turned and took the lantern out of the cottager's hands, and held it up the better to illuminate the riders. He took in their general appearance quickly, then, puzzled, swung the lantern closer to Caroline. He laughed, and looked from her to her companion, leering.
'Zounds! Whoever would have thought to meet you so, my little Puritan maid? You do not look so pious now in your breeches as you did in your plain grey petticoats. So you ran away from me, did you? I do not forgive such an insult easily. I hope you have found a bed more to your liking with him!' He indicated Philip contemptuously.
Caroline had told Philip something of the Colonel on the journey, and he immediately understood what the man was referring to. At his last remark, Philip raised his whip and cut the Colonel across the face with it, at the same time kicking the lantern out of his hands.
'Quick!' he shouted to Caroline, grabbing the reins of her horse and urging his own to a gallop along the road towards Hythe.
Caroline needed no second bidding, and dug her heels into the horse's flanks. As they started off, one of the troopers tried to catch the reins, but in the sudden darkness after the extinguishing of the lantern, he missed and fell to the ground.
*
They had a good start, for none of the troopers had been mounted, and Philip hoped to outdistance them, since his horses were fresh, while those of the soldiers had obviously come some way. It was a moonless night, but while this would hide them from their pursuers, it would also hinder them. He hoped the road was in good repair, but had little confidence in it. Most roads were mere cart tracks, pitted with holes which often had mud in them. After the bad summer of the previous year and the hard winter, they were not likely to be in good condition.
When they were only a few yards down the road, they could hear the sounds of the chase beginning. The Colonel was swearing mightily, and the rest of the troop were mounting and preparing to ride after the fugitives who had dared oppose the army and even strike an officer of it.
At that time the army was much hated by ordinary folk, but it was als
o much feared, and the troopers were unaccustomed to such treatment and angry at it. They did not need the curses and exhortations of the Colonel to spur them to action. The sole thought in every man's mind was to catch the fugitives and bring them swiftly to punishment.
Philip and Caroline had only gone a hundred yards before they heard the regular pounding of galloping hooves behind them.
'We must stay on the main road,' gasped out Philip, who still held the reins of Caroline's horse. 'They are too near for us to shake them off by taking a side road. That way they'd trap us. We must get far ahead and then turn off.'
'Yes. I'm all right,' Caroline replied, and Philip released her reins the better to urge his own horse to speed. Together they raced along the dark road, the sound of hooves behind them loud in their ears. It was still raining and the road was muddy, which slowed them down.
Philip glanced over his shoulder but could see nothing. He thought the troopers were dropping back from the sounds, but could not be sure and urged his own horse to even greater efforts.
Caroline kept alongside, terrified of what would happen to them if the Colonel caught them. She had read his intentions towards her in his leering eyes, but she was more afraid for Philip. A man such as the Colonel would never forgive that whiplash.
Suddenly the road in front of them curved round to the right. They could see only a few yards in front of them, and at that headlong speed it was all they could do to prevent their mounts from going over the edge. As they desperately hauled on the reins, Caroline's horse missed its footing and stumbled. Caroline saved herself from falling, but the horse stumbled again before she had properly recovered her balance, and went down in the road, with Caroline sent flying over its head. Philip managed to pull his horse to a halt, and turned back to where both Caroline and the horse were struggling to their feet, but before they could do anything, the troopers were on them, and with shouts of triumph surrounded them.
The Colonel himself leapt from his horse and caught hold of Caroline. She struggled with all her strength, but he was a burly man and soon twisted her arms behind her back and held her, wincing with pain.
Philip, drawing the sword he carried, managed to wound two of the troopers who surrounded him before he was seized from behind and dragged from the saddle.
His sword arm was held, but he still used his feet, kicking out and hitting another man on the side of the head before the other three who remained were able to overpower and disarm him, after a fierce struggle.
'Tie them up,' ordered the Colonel brusquely, and the troopers who were still in action obeyed him speedily. Caroline found herself with her hands and feet tied and lying on the side of the road on the wet grass beside Philip, who was similarly trussed. She was sobbing with fear and anger, but Philip managed to whisper to her under the general confusion as the troopers rounded up the horses which had been abandoned at the start of the fight.
'My love, do not despair. We will come through safely. Try not to anger them unnecessarily, or they will harm you for the pleasure of hurting you.'
The Colonel came up to them then. The rain had stopped, and as the clouds parted, a faint ray of moonlight illuminated the scene. They could see him stroking the angry weal on his face which had been caused by the whip.
'You are fools!' he spat at them. 'You, my fine cockerel, will pay for your insolence with your life! As for Mistress Prudence here, she will wish she had had more prudence when I have finished being entertained by her!'
'You filthy cur!' burst out Philip. 'Do what you will with me, but let the girl go.'
'Oh, the knight of old?' sneered the Colonel. 'Don't try to bamboozle me with that nonsense. I'll wager you've had your way with her. If you have not, and I'll soon find out whether you have or not, I'll not think you much of a man!'
Caroline was unable to speak, but Philip began to curse the Colonel, threatening him with all sorts of dire calamities if he treated Caroline so. He seemed to have forgotten his injunction to Caroline not to anger the troopers, he was so furious himself.
The Colonel soon tired of this invective, and ordered the troopers to lift their captives on to the horses. Turning away, he kicked Philip viciously in the ribs, and mounted his own horse. Philip and Caroline were thrown face downwards on to the saddles of their own horses, and the troopers mounted. Those who had been wounded by Philip were dazed but able to ride, so two of the others took the reins of the captives' horses and they were ready to start.
'On to Hythe!' ordered the Colonel. 'There is an inn out on the Dymchurch road where we can take these fine birds, and get our pleasure from them.'
The soldiers laughed, unpleasantly.
'Will we have the pickings when you're tired of the wench?' one of them asked the Colonel.
'Aye, if there's anything left you think worth fighting over,' he answered, in a tone of voice that made Caroline tremble, and Philip fume, but which seemed to amuse the troopers highly.
After what seemed an eternity to Caroline and Philip they reached Hythe. It was deserted, and the fickle moon had once more retreated behind clouds, no doubt disgusted at what she had seen. Here the Colonel gave orders to the injured of the party to ride to one of the inns in the town, and he told them he would himself join them there on the morrow.
The troopers leading Caroline and Philip, plus the other who was whole, he retained as an escort, and they set off along the road to Dymchurch. About a mile out of the town they came upon a small inn. It was in complete darkness, but when the Colonel hammered on the door with the handle of his whip, it was opened almost immediately. A bent old crone holding a lantern peered out.
'Who's there at this time of night, waking up decent folk with their clattering?'
'Come now, Mother Carney, do you not recognise me?' asked the Colonel, and the crone lifted the lantern to his face. She seemed to shrink even smaller as she recognised him.
'What do you want?'
'We have some important prisoners here, and need rooms to put them in, as well as rooms for ourselves. Come, you will oblige an old friend. I must put these fine birds in your two rooms with the strongest locks. Lead us to them.'
Grumbling under her breath the old woman led the way up a narrow flight of stairs. Caroline was lifted down from her uncomfortable position by the Colonel himself, but she found her flesh creeping at the touch of his hands on her. Two of the troopers carried Philip between them, while the other took all the horses round to the rear of the building, where there were presumably some stables. The procession made its way upstairs, and the crone opened a door near the top.
'This is a safe enough place for a prisoner,' she told them, and without waiting passed on to another door at the end of the narrow passageway. She opened it, then handed two keys over to the Colonel. 'As for the rest, help yourselves.'
With that she went downstairs without a backward glance. The Colonel inspected the rooms, then ordered Philip to be put in the one nearest the stairs, while he took Caroline into the other. He left her for a moment, and she could hear him giving orders Philip was not to be untied, but left trussed as he was on the bed.
'That will cool him down,' he laughed.
Coming back into Caroline's room, he untied her hands. She attempted to strike him as soon as they were free, but he was too quick for her, and her arms were numb from being in an awkward position for so long. He caught them and held them in a cruel grip that made her cry out.
'So you are a little tiger, are you, my Puritan maiden?'
'I am not a Puritan!' she said, through clenched teeth. 'Let me go! You're hurting me!'
'I shall hurt you far more by the time I have finished,' he promised. 'In some ways I am glad you have spirit, for it will make the game much more interesting, and give me great pleasure to have you crawling to me afterwards, begging for my favours!'
He left her then, to untie by herself the bonds which were round her ankles. She heard the key turn in the lock, and sank down hopelessly on to the bed. After a while she fo
und the energy to untie her bonds, but she had no light and could see nothing. The bed was hard, but she could not sleep, as she had slept nearly all that day, and it was still before midnight, so far as she could tell, though so much had happened in the last few hours. She was tormented by her thoughts and fears of what the troopers would do to Philip and herself.
Some time later, she heard the soldiers coming up the stairs to bed, and she steeled herself for a meeting with the Colonel, but no one came. She was probably going to be starved into submission but for the moment she was only too thankful to escape the man's company for a little longer.
The night seemed endless. She had only her thoughts to occupy her, and she spent a very bitter and worried night. It was dawn when she eventually sank into a sleep of mental exhaustion.
*
Chapter 12
Philip, meanwhile, had been thrown with some force on to the hard bed and left there, face downwards. He heard the soldiers go out of the room and close the door.
The key turned in the lock and he heard no more. He strained hard at his bonds, but they had been tied firmly, with good cord, and he was unable to break them. He then rolled over on to his side, and found that by arching his body as much as possible, and doubling up his legs, he could just reach the cords round his ankles. To his intense relief he discovered the end of the cord was within reach, and he began to try to untie the knots. It was a long, agonising process, and he frequently had to relax his strained position in order to rest, but at length, after what seemed hours to him, he felt the cord loosen, and was able to pull it out of the knots. Some time before he had heard the troopers come up the stairs to bed, and he reckoned they were by now all asleep.
His legs were now free, and he could move round the room. It was black, no gleam of light came into it, but he dared not risk being discovered like this. If only he could free himself completely from his bonds he had a chance of escaping and of rescuing Caroline. So he got up from the bed, flexing his ankles to restore the circulation to his numbed feet, and cautiously began to explore the room. With his hands tied behind his back and no light to guide him, this was a tedious, frustrating business. He found a small table against the wall, and felt eagerly over it as far as his hands could reach, but it seemed bare of everything except a cloth. There was also a chair, but though he felt eagerly along all the legs, they were smooth, and offered no rough edges which might have frayed his bonds. He moved on, past the window, which had no broken panes or rough edges, and came to a washstand in the corner of the room. Here he was more hopeful. His expectations were justified, for his groping hands encountered a jug and bowl. The jug was whole, but he could break it and use it to saw at the cord. Picking up the jug, he carried it back to the bed and laid it down carefully. He had no wish to break it prematurely and rouse the house with the noise of the crash.
Cavalier Courtship Page 15