Devonshire

by Lynne Connolly

  “Now then.” Cawnton rubbed his hands together. “I might want many things, mightn’t I? You killed one of my men, and I intend to get his worth, one way or the other. I can’t see the law giving me anything, so, as usual, I’ll have to take it for myself.”

  In one unhurried movement, he stood up, moved forward and kicked Tom in the stomach. If Tom hadn’t seen his intention and squirmed aside, it would have been in the groin, but it was bad enough. He didn’t cry out; he couldn’t. All the breath was forced out of him with that one cruel kick. He doubled up and gasped for breath, making small noises.

  Cawnton walked back to his chair. “That’s just the start. Understand, I have no personal feelings for you one way or the other, but I can’t let my men be hurt by other people. I have to keep order.” He looked from one to the other of us thoughtfully. “All right then, here it is. Is he ready to listen?”

  “No,” I said. Tom still gasped painfully. I wet my lips, as I watched him, and although I would have died rather than ask, Cawnton must have seen the gesture, because he came to me and knelt down to where I sat. His eyes were on a level with mine. Grey and thoughtful eyes they were, the eyes of an intelligent man. I flinched and turned my head away, but he held up what he had in his hand. A pewter mug filled with some liquid. He held the back of my head and put the mug to my lips. “It’s only small beer. Nothing funny about it.”

  I had little choice. I drank. Close to him, I smelled him, that rank, damp smell caused by little washing and unhealthy cottages. He must have noticed when I instinctively flinched away, because as I drank he sniffed and commented, “You should see me when I dress for a ball. I smell beautiful then.” His two companions laughed, and I feared this closeness. My panic rose at the thought of what they might do, but Cawnton moved away again and sat.

  Tom had regained something of his self-control, for he sat up glowering at Cawnton. “My father will find you.”

  “No he won’t,” Cawnton answered. “Or at least, he won’t find you in time. Don’t worry, I may be a bad ‘un, but I’m not stupid. Your father will get you back, and you, Miss Golightly, will return to your lordling—if they behave themselves.” He waited, smiling for us to give him our full attention. The gloating expression he wore indicated how much he relished the impact he’d made.

  I refused to let my face show any of the turmoil I felt. Tom was still recovering from that brutal blow. Cawnton continued. “There’s a run on Friday, a big one. We need all our local hands for it.” He nodded at Tom. “Your father will allow us to run our goods through his land this time.”

  “Never!” Tom gasped.

  His brave, pointless words exasperated me. “Oh don’t be silly, Tom. Your father will want you back. Cawnton has the right of it. Just listen.”

  I heard Cawnton’s whistle. “Sensible.”

  I turned back to him. “I don’t believe in the romantic notions of villains. What about me?”

  “Your little lord caused us some problems a while back, and we’ve heard he’s been asking questions.”

  “He takes an interest in local affairs,” I replied, trying to be cool.

  “He does, doesn’t he?” Cawnton said. “To be honest, Rose—I can call you Rose? I’ve always wanted to hobnob with the gentry.”

  “Call me what you like.” I refused to be riled by him.

  “All right then—Rose. I didn’t really want you taken. Your Lord Strang has somebody in his employ I wouldn’t particularly like to cross swords with.”

  “Thompson.” I remembered the note in Richard’s pocket that day, and felt relieved that, as Richard had hoped, Cawnton assumed Carier ran Thompson’s. Tom stared at me, surprised, but I ignored him.

  “He told you, then?” Cawnton said. “Yes, Thompson. He says he’s only here for your wedding, but I’m not so sure. He’s a thief-taker, and we don’t like them here. So, since we’ve got you, we’ll ask your pretty lord to see he does nothing else while he’s here. Then we can get on with our run, and you can get on with your wedding, and nobody’s put to any more trouble.”

  At least Richard would be told I was here, wherever here was. Cawnton gestured at one of his men who came over to us. First he felt for Tom’s fob, and he pulled that off, then he took my hand and slid off my ring, that gorgeous ruby I had worn for such a little time.

  Cawnton whistled. “It would be almost worth killing you for this.” He held the stone up to the candle to watch its glitter. “I’m no expert on stones, but I’d say this could buy a run or two. He gave you this?” I nodded. “Well, I’ll take it to him to prove you’re alive, but I might choose to keep it for myself. It’s a bonny stone.” He put the fob and the ring away in his pocket. “I’ve got to show people you can’t cross me, otherwise my authority won’t be worth an icicle in summer. You understand?” We both nodded this time. “But I’m not an unfeeling man. I’m thinking about releasing you from your ropes, but you’ve got to understand first it’s no use you fighting and shouting. If I don’t release you, it could damage you, and I never deliver damaged goods. My bargains are always straight.” His two acolytes murmured agreement.

  “There’s a man outside this door, armed, and if he has to, he’ll stop you. He won’t come in for any reason at all, not until I get back. You’re in a place where noise doesn’t matter. Nobody will hear you. You can’t get out of here. If I release you, you will wait, or you’ll be trussed up like chickens, harder this time and you might end up with useless fingers and toes. Understand?” He glared at us. We both nodded. We couldn’t do anything else.

  Cawnton held up his hand and waved to the man behind him, his attention still on us. The man came forward, and drew a large knife out of his pocket. He cut our bonds, starting with mine.

  Pain shot up my arms as the blood coursed freely through my veins again, and despite my good intentions, my face contorted. I saw Tom, his head down, holding his wrists, and then I heard the furniture being moved and saw they were leaving the room. My little fruit knife seemed like a futile gesture when I saw the man at the door, a flintlock in each hand, and two more stuck in his belt.

  A man came in once, and put some things on the floor, and then the door closed and we were left in near darkness.

  Chapter Eighteen

  THEY LEFT US A POTTERY chamber pot, a loaf of bread, a pitcher of small beer and some blankets, remarkably clean ones smelling of lavender. I wondered why they should fritter such luxuries on us, but perhaps Cawnton meant it when he said he was a straight dealer. I was glad of the chamber pot, and Tom turned his back like a gentleman and let me go first. I could have done with some water to wash with as well.

  At least I had a comb. I found my little necessaire and emptied it. Together Tom and I examined the little silver fruit knife and agreed I should take charge of it in case they searched him once more. I put it at the top of my stocking, under my garter, where it would be easier to get hold of should they tie us up again. There was also a mirror, a comb, a needle, thread, and my keys.

  For something to do, I took all my hairpins out and combed my hair. It was unruly at the best of times, now it was so tangled it would take me a long time to put it to rights.

  Tom watched, fascinated. “How can you think of your appearance at a time like this?”

  “It’s something to do. In any case, I don’t want to give them the satisfaction of seeing me at my worst. I want to face them with as much pride as I can muster. And that includes tidy hair.” I drew the comb through the only smooth bit I had managed to make so far.

  “You have lovely hair,” said Tom. “I always thought so.”

  I looked at him, surprised at the unexpected compliment, but he began to examine the walls of the room, looking for peepholes or weak spots, running his hands over them.

  I got on with my hair and Tom examined the room. He came back and sat down glumly by my side. “If we knew where we were, we might stand a sporting chance. We should try to find that out, first. I say, Rose.”

  “Yes?” I s
topped combing.

  “Do you remember when we were children, and you used to sit on my shoulders so we could reach the best apples?”

  “Yes.” I began to get his drift.

  “Do you think you could do it now? You might be able to see out of one of those chinks up there, where the light is coming from?”

  I looked up. It was difficult to judge, but it might be possible. “Let’s try.”

  So Tom hunkered down, I sat on his shoulders, after wrapping my skirts around my legs both for modesty, and so Tom could see. Slowly, he stood upright, and he gave a quiet whoop of triumph. “Come on, then.” He walked slowly towards the chinks of light. I held tight until we were there, and then, using the wall to support myself, I stretched up as far as I could.

  But it was no use. The light was still far above my head, and stretch as I might, I couldn’t reach it. It was so frustrating. “I’d need to be an acrobat and stand on your shoulders,” I whispered down to Tom.

  “You don’t feel you could stand?” he asked eagerly.

  “No. If I fell, it would make such a noise they’d come in, and we don’t want to antagonise them. Not yet, anyway.”

  He had to see the sense in that. It was one thing being brave but quite another to carry bravery to the point of stupidity. He knelt down and let me off. I stumbled when I stood, and Tom put out his arms to catch me, as he had so often before, but this time it was different.

  Instead of releasing me when I regained my balance, he drew me to him and kissed me—not a friendly kiss. It held a passion I’d not been aware of in him before. His tongue probed at my lips and I almost opened, but it felt wrong. It wasn’t Richard.

  Appalled, I pushed him away. He opened his eyes and stared at me, his eyes filled with horror. “Oh, Rose, I’m sorry, I never meant—oh, God.” He turned away, his hand to his head, and I realised he had let something slip, something he’d never meant me to see.

  “Oh, Tom, no! Why didn’t you tell me before?”

  “Before you went away, you mean?” He turned back to me, but I couldn’t see his face properly in the gloom, so I moved closer. He made an instinctive gesture, not wanting me to come close, but I took his hand and we sat. He wouldn’t look at me. He stared at the floor. “I didn’t know myself. It was only when you were away, and I missed you so much I realised I felt more for you than mere friendship, and then you came back betrothed—it was all so quick, maybe you hadn’t thought it through, I’d give you time. I don’t know,” he continued, miserably staring at the planked floor. “And then I saw him, your betrothed, and I knew I couldn’t compete with all that, so I decided to keep it to myself.”

  “Oh, Tom, if this had been two years ago, a year ago even, I would have been so pleased.” He looked up at me, hope in his eyes. It broke my heart.

  I couldn’t let him think there was any hope. I had to explain. I tried to keep my voice steady. I thought if I started to cry he might too. “Although I never loved you in that way, I was always fond of you. We could have had a successful partnership. Love grows between people who marry for other reasons. We’ve seen it.” I kept watching him, willing the misery I saw in his eyes to fade. “But when I met Richard my world changed. Like you, I didn’t think I had a hope. You never saw Julia Cartwright, did you?” He shook his head dumbly. “She was so perfect—beautiful, perfectly dressed, rich. I never had a chance, or so I thought. But she turned out to be empty inside and she would have driven Richard mad within a twelvemonth. Still, I tried hard not to think of him until the accident. Then I had no time to think properly, you see, and when he was hauled out of that coach, covered with blood, I thought he might die. All I could think of was to stop the flow and try to save him.”

  I paused, glancing away, but I forced myself to meet Tom’s eyes again. “Then he opened his eyes and looked at me. He said later he fell in love with me the first time he saw me, but I didn’t fall for him until that moment.” I was quiet then, as I thought of that moment, my despair, my stoical promise to myself to put those thoughts away, and I could imagine how Tom felt—except it probably hadn’t been as cataclysmic with him.

  “You’re in love?” Tom asked, despair etching his voice. “He loves you?”

  “Yes. It made me do some stupid things, but here I am, and if we get out of this, next week I’ll be Lady Strang, sailing the high seas.”

  Tom stared at me, puzzled. At least it had made him forget his melancholy. I forced a smile. “He has a yacht, silly.”

  His face cleared. “Oh, Rose, are you sure he’s for you? He’s from another world you might not like. You belong here, in Devonshire.”

  “With the smugglers?” I said scornfully. “No, I belong with him now. Your mother said much the same thing when she first met him, you know, then she spoke with Martha. I let her see a side of him he doesn’t usually let people see.”

  “My mother still has her doubts. Rose, he could hurt you. He’s done some things in the past which I don’t think you’d quite like.”

  “I know. I read all about them, and he’s told me some of the less disreputable episodes himself. Many of them were exaggerated, but he never excuses himself, or says he had a lot to contend with.”

  “Like a privileged life, women throwing themselves at him?”

  I heard his bitter tone, but I smiled. “No, Tom, like having a brother so close he’s almost you, and then seeing him leave for more than ten years, disgraced. Richard was left to bear the whole scandal on his own. That scandal could have broken him, and did make him try to outdo Gervase in outrageous behaviour. But we all grow up one day. He told me he’d done that just before he met me. He was ready for me when I arrived, although he didn’t know it.”

  “Do you know,” said Tom thoughtfully, “there’s something queer about all that. Why should Mr. Kerre’s elopement have caused so much disgrace? Ten years’ worth?”

  I frowned, and tried to smooth my hair back. It still hung loose, and was beginning to tangle again. “There is something more, but I can’t tell you, Tom. It was told me in confidence, and it’s not my secret to tell.”

  He nodded. “Yes, I thought as much. I won’t pry. You know what you’ve told me? About falling in love?”

  “Yes.” I began to pin my hair back up into place again, as best I could without a mirror.

  “Are you sure it isn’t infatuation? Are you sure it won’t last six months, and then you’ll find yourself with a husband you hardly know, who might use you terribly?”

  “I know I love him now,” I said, despite my mouth full of hairpins, “and I like him, too.” I put the last pins in place. “He keeps his promises, he’s loyal to his friends, good to his servants, and he will make the best kind of husband. On the other side, he has a terrible temper, mostly under control, he doesn’t suffer fools at all and he has a disinclination to let anyone into his life, even his parents. Only two people know him properly—Gervase and myself. He seems unable to let anyone else in.” I found it helped to talk about Richard, think about the good things in my life. When I thought ahead there was only a black void. I felt, somewhere deep inside, we weren’t meant to get out of this alive.

  “It must have been lonely for him,” said Tom sardonically.

  Having let his guard down so disastrously, we spent a long time trying to get back to normal, as much as we could in this place, but we achieved it by the end of the day. We talked about our childhood, and went over again any plans we might have to get out of this place unhurt.

  Tom was every inch a squire’s son. His sense of obligation was absolute and his desire for the status quo never to change as entrenched as any other countryman’s. The changes in our lives would affect him, too, even if only that he had grander neighbours, but that in itself would bring change to our part of Devonshire. Perhaps his desire to keep everything normal persuaded him to try to keep one thing normal—our relationship. But he couldn’t have that. Tom would have to live with it. I hoped it was just a passing fancy, that he’d find someone to care f
or one day, but I’d always been sure it wouldn’t be me. I didn’t think I was wrong now. Tom hated change, and I suspected his impulse to keep me had something to do with that. I’d have accepted him gladly, though, had I not met someone else, and I was sure we’d have had a good and productive life together, but I couldn’t be sorry now.

  We ate the bread and drank the beer, and when the light faded, wrapped ourselves in the blankets and tried to sleep, no nearer a solution than when we had first been brought here. I knew Sir George Skerrit and Richard would do everything they could to find us. I prayed it would be soon.

  In the morning, Tom’s headache had gone, and he seemed none the worse for the bump. Someone brought us bread, beer and cheese, and dealt with the chamber pot, and when I asked for it, they brought some water in a bowl. I sacrificed one of my petticoats to make a washcloth and towel, and we managed well, considering our miserable situation. I helped Tom rub away some of the thick crust of blood on his head after we’d washed ourselves. Underneath, it wasn’t a large wound, and was beginning to heal, which put my mind at ease about that at least.

  They left us to ourselves all day. With the chinks in the planking anyone could have been listening and watching, so there was no guarantee we were truly alone. The only way we had any privacy was to get close and whisper, and then they would know we were plotting. So we talked the day away in useless chatter, and the occasional murmur. I was glad I wasn’t here alone. I would have given way to despair, but having Tom here meant I had to put up a front of bravery. But I was sorry he was in this mess with me. If he could have got away he might have got help sooner. That went for me, too, but there’d been no chance.

  No one came that day, and we were left to manage the night as best we might. It wasn’t cold in that little room, so we managed to sleep well enough again, but now the excitement and terror had diluted, anxiety surfaced once again. I thought I would never sleep, going over in my mind what we could do, what they would do to us, if we’d ever be allowed to leave. There was a heavily armed man left outside the door at all times, and for all we knew, another stationed where we couldn’t see him.