The Rebel Captain's Royalist Bride Page 17

  Feeling faint, but determined not to give way, Babette clung to his arm. ‘Mistress Brisket will bind me and apply her salves. There is no need to send for a...’ Giving a little moan, she fainted into James’s arms.

  * * *

  Babette knew nothing more until she woke in a bed that smelled of clean linen and lavender some time later.

  Mistress Brisket was standing by the bed. She had been applying a cloth soaked in cool water to Babette’s forehead and she smiled down at her.

  ‘I told the master you would wake soon,’ she said. ‘You’ve slept the night through. The tisane I gave you has eased you, though I think you do not recall it, for you were very faint and hardly knew when I bound your arm.’

  ‘Indeed, I knew nothing of it,’ Babette said and pushed herself up against the pile of pillows. ‘Forgive me for being such a nuisance, Mistress Brisket. I have caused you a deal of trouble.’

  ‘Nothing is too much trouble for the lady who saved my master from almost certain death. I will confess that I did resent you taking Miss Jane’s place, for a sweeter creature never drew breath—but she would have been horrified to see what her brother did. And besides, my master needs a wife and children, as all men do.’

  ‘Yes...’ Babette smiled at her weakly. ‘How lucky I am that you have skill in the healing arts. I fear I have lost a deal of blood, for I feel weak from it.’

  ‘Yes, it is likely you will for a day or so, though I will bring you some good broth that may give you strength.’

  Babette thanked her again and she went away. As the events of the previous evening played through her mind, Babette wondered what had happened after she fainted. What had they done with Jane Melchet’s brother? And where was James? He had promised they would marry before he left...but Babette was not certain she had the strength to stand, let alone be married.

  She lay back against the pillows, fighting the desire to weep, and then the door opened and someone entered her room. She opened her eyes and saw that James was standing by the bed, looking at her anxiously. He had picked a delicate lily from the garden and, as she smiled at him, presented it to her.

  ‘Thank God you have no fever,’ he said. ‘I thought...I feared...’ His voice caught with emotion, and she knew that he had feared she might die, as Jane had.

  ‘I have no fever,’ Babette said and smiled at him, for he certainly cared for her, even if she was not the love of his life. ‘It was a glancing stroke, though it bled mightily. I am a little weak, but I shall manage to get up for our wedding—if you have managed to arrange it before you leave?’

  ‘Reverend Simmons thought it best to read the banns in church. I have decided to stay until Sunday to hear the first reading and then I will report to headquarters, but I shall ask permission to take some leave and we shall be married on my return.’ He saw the protest in her eyes and smiled tenderly. ‘I know you would force yourself to leave your bed if I would let you, dearest Babs, but I prefer that you rest. If you are strong enough, we will hear the banns read together, if not, I will hear them alone. It will be no more than two or three weeks at the most before I return to you.’

  Babette held her sigh inside. She gave him her hand as he sat on the edge of the bed and then leaned down to kiss her. His kiss was gentle and without passion, but she longed for more. How immodest she was! If James could wait for their wedding, then so must she. It would be unseemly to insist on a hasty wedding since he seemed content to wait and would alter his plans to return to her.

  ‘It shall be as you desire,’ she said meekly and saw the light of laughter in his eyes.

  ‘Oh, how hard that was for you to say,’ he mocked her gently. ‘I know you for the bold, brave wench you are, Babette, and would have you no different—but in this case I think it best to wait a little. I should be a brute to insist on my wedding night when my bride was injured in the most foolish and yet bravest action I have seen in a lady.’

  Babette’s throat felt tight. The way he looked at her now she could almost believe that she was the most precious thing in his life—but she knew that no one could replace his sweet Jane. She was not his first love, but perhaps she would be his last. He would come to love her, because she would be all that he could ever desire in a wife.

  ‘What happened to—?’ she began tentatively, but he anticipated her.

  ‘Herbert Melchet has gone,’ James said. ‘He has been warned that if he dares to venture on to my land again he will be shot like the mad dog he is. For some reason he blames me for his sister’s death, though God knows I would never have harmed her. He claimed that I pushed her into marriage, but it is a lie. She named the day.’

  ‘I think that perhaps he was jealous of her love for you. He must be truly out of his mind,’ Babette said, looking at him anxiously. ‘To try to kill you in your own parlour...’

  ‘I had only to raise my voice and the men would have come,’ James said, frowning at her. ‘Promise me you will not do anything so foolish again. I could have defended myself with a chair had I chosen, but I was shocked that he should attack me when he had been my friend. I hoped to talk to him, to make him see sense and put away his sword and make an end to this feud—but it will not happen now. He attacked you and I shall never call him friend again.’

  Babette remained silent. She believed that only her swift action had saved him. No doubt James would have found some kind of a weapon had she not struck first, but Melchet had been out for blood, and James had had no sword. She was not sure that he could have fought off a man determined on murder, but she would not argue for it was not seemly in a woman to argue in such a case.

  ‘I promise only to restrain myself until I see that action is necessary,’ she said and smiled up at him. ‘Mrs Brisket is to make me some broth and I think that will restore me—enough to hear the banns read on Sunday.’

  At least she would have two more days more before he left her to return to his unit. She prayed fervently that it would not be more than three weeks before he returned to wed her.

  * * *

  ‘I have come to apologise,’ Alice said as she crept a little shame-faced into the room the next morning. ‘I said some unforgivable things to you on the way here and I am sorry.’

  ‘You were tired and anxious,’ Babette said. ‘There is nothing to forgive, Alice. I hope we shall continue to be friends—even though I know you do not wish to be here.’

  ‘No, I do not wish it, though I admit it is a comfortable home and I envy you your future life, Babs. Captain Colby is a gentleman—and wealthy, I think. I do not know how we shall go on. John has lost everything in the King’s cause.’

  ‘Perhaps not quite all,’ Babette said. ‘We managed to save your jewels and a little gold. It is enough to set you up in a small house until John can find some way of restoring his fortunes. If the King wins the war, the castle will be his again—and perhaps reparation will be made for Brevington.’

  ‘Perhaps...’ she said, a sullen look creeping back into her eyes. ‘But what if the King does not win?’

  ‘You must not doubt it,’ Babette said, though in her heart she believed that it might happen. From what she’d seen at the castle she believed the men Cromwell had trained were more determined than many Royalists. ‘As soon as John gets your letter he will make arrangements for you to join him somewhere.’

  Alice nodded, but did not look happy. Having begun by apologising, she went on to complain about almost everything: she did not have enough clothes, many of her trinkets had been left behind and she did not like having to sit at table with men who were her husband’s enemies.

  Babette listened and soothed her as best she could, agreeing that they would spend a little of John’s gold by buying cloth in the market as soon as they were able. However, there was no contenting her and she went away as sullen as before.

  Babette sighed, because her head had
begun to ache. She was glad when Mrs Brisket entered with a tray bearing a bowl of good oxtail soup and some fresh bread and butter. She set the tray over Babette’s knees and was about to depart when Babette asked where the nearest cloth merchant resided.

  ‘Is there a market where we could buy clothes? Most of ours were left behind when we fled the castle...’

  ‘I dare say there are trunks in the attics...cloth and whole garments. The clothes would need alteration, for they belonged to the old mistress, but I am certain the master would permit you to use them.’

  Babette thanked her and ate her broth. It was tasty and warming and she felt better as the food filled her stomach. She had not eaten food like this for some days and felt glad to be somewhere she could be at ease. Her hands stroked over the silken coverlets and the soft fresh linen. How much luckier she was than Alice. It was no wonder that her sister-in-law was out of sorts, for she had lost two homes in as many weeks. Babette had come home and felt the surge of pleasure as she contemplated living here for the rest of her life.

  How lucky she was to have found James.

  * * *

  Babette was able to get up that afternoon. She walked a little shakily to the window and looked down at the courtyard garden; it was much as she had tended at her aunt’s house, filled with flowers, herbs and the hives that would give them a wealth of the rich honey that was so important to all their lives.

  ‘Are you certain you should be out of bed?’

  At the sound of James’s voice, she swung round, grabbing at the back of a chair for support. She was still a little unsteady, but better than she had been and she smiled at him.

  ‘I shall be able to accompany you to church to hear the banns read,’ she said. ‘I am getting stronger all the time.’

  ‘Mrs Brisket has made me aware of your lack,’ he said. ‘You are, of course, free to make use of any clothes or materials in the attics, but I shall order cloth for you from London—and a gown for your wedding. A seamstress will be fetched to make up the silk for you.’

  ‘I can make it myself if I have the material,’ she said. ‘I like to sew and it is something I do well.’

  ‘Then you may find much of what you need in my mother’s trunks,’ James said. ‘However, my wife shall have whatever she needs in the way of finery. I have money enough for all the little pleasures of life and you have only to ask for whatever you need.’

  ‘Alice is also in need of clothes,’ Babette said. ‘I am certain we can find garments that may be altered for us both—and if there is cloth we shall make new ones.’

  It would be something to do in the long days and nights when he was gone from her. Even though he had promised to return and wed her, she knew that the visit would be brief. He would leave her again and again over the months to come, because there was a war he was determined must be won.

  * * *

  Babette sat beside James in the church as the vicar gave his sermon and then read out the announcement of their wedding. She knew that she looked pale and she still felt a little weak, but she had been determined to be here for the first reading. Holding James’s hand, she smiled as she felt the pressure of his fingers. He turned his head to look at her, his eyes caressing as they moved over her face.

  ‘Are you tired, dear heart?’

  ‘A little,’ she replied, ‘but I am gaining strength daily. I shall be well again when you return.’

  ‘Yes, I am sure of it,’ he said and held her hand so tightly that it was almost painful.

  * * *

  Afterwards, he held her arm so that she leaned on him as they walked from church. Outside in the sunshine, his friends and neighbours came to greet him and smile on her, welcoming her to their midst and promising to call on her. James invited them all to the wedding and a reception at his home afterwards, saying that the date was not set, but they would all be welcome when it happened.

  ‘I think you will have friends to make now,’ he said. ‘My neighbours are kindly folk and they will take you to their hearts. I am sure that the way you fought for me will have been heard in every house by now. I saw the admiring glances my friends gave you and I shall be envied by every man in the district.’

  ‘No, surely not,’ Babette laughed, enjoying his teasing. ‘I saw some very pretty young ladies in church...’

  Chapter Eleven

  Babette stood and watched her affianced husband ride away later that afternoon. He had left five of his men at the manor, added to the ten who had always remained to guard his property. There were three women servants besides Maigret who had come with Babette, the steward and a score of men who worked either in the gardens, the kitchens or the various workshops that supplied the house. With Mrs Brisket, Maigret and the other servants Babette would be well served and cared for and she had her sister-in-law as her companion, but she felt bereft, as if cast out alone.

  She was so foolish! Babette shut away the tears that pressed against her eyes and the feeling of despair that swept over her. James had his duty and like any man must attend his affairs, and she had a new home to order as she wished.

  ‘This house is your home, Babs,’ James had told her, holding her hands as they took leave of each other in private. ‘You must have things as you wish. Mrs Brisket has run it well enough in the absence of a mistress, but you are to be my wife and if there is anything you wish to change you must do so.’

  ‘Yes, of course, in little ways and gradually,’ she replied and smiled. ‘Mrs Brisket is a good housekeeper, James. We shall discuss what food is ordered and served and I may make suggestions. As for the linen and stores...well, as a good wife I must make lists and see what may be improved.’

  ‘I can see you need no advice from me,’ James said and bent to kiss her softly on the lips. A sound of regret left his lips as he drew away, and he looked rueful. ‘How I wish that I might stay here for ever at your side, but my duty calls.’

  ‘Yes, I know,’ she said and kept her sigh inside for he must take the memory of her smile with him; to cling and weep would only make the parting harder. ‘Go, James. Your duty is clear. When you return we shall be wed and then...’ She shook her head, because she knew that life was uncertain for perhaps years to come.

  ‘You will be all right here?’

  ‘Yes, of course,’ Babette said. ‘Your people are loyal to you and will protect me as your wife-to-be. Go with an easy mind, James. I shall be waiting and ready to be your wife when you return.’

  And so he had ridden away, leaving her feeling bereft, but she must not let her unease show. Alice refused to be comforted and continued to grumble, despite the comfort and attentions that had been paid her. She might have been content here at Colby had she wished, but her face wore a permanent look of dissatisfaction.

  As the little column disappeared from her sight, Babette went inside the house. Mrs Brisket had set the maidservants to polishing and the scent of lavender and beeswax met her as she walked into the small parlour she had come to think of as her own. Alice was already there with a piece of embroidery. She looked up as Babette entered.

  ‘Have they gone?’

  ‘Yes. James promised to pass your letter on. A courier will be dispatched to Oxford. If John is there, it should find him, but it may be some weeks before he can come for you.’

  ‘You will be married before then—if Captain Colby returns for you.’

  ‘James will return as soon as he is able,’ Babette said, struggling to keep the impatience from her voice. She did not need reminding that James could be wounded or killed. She had lived with the knowledge for the past year or more and her joy at having seen him, held him and kissed him would sustain her in the next few weeks. Despite Alice, she would not let herself think of the alternative.

  James would not die. He would return to claim her as he had promised.

  ‘It is more th
an six months since John came back to me,’ Alice replied, a look of such misery in her eyes that Babette was touched. ‘I think he is dead. I think he is dead and I shall never see him again. I am alone with my son...I have no home...’

  Babette knew that she was waiting for her to reassure her, but she refused to be drawn down that road. ‘John will come as soon as he can,’ she said. ‘Had he been killed someone would have come to the castle to tell us.’

  Alice sniffed and blew her nose on her handkerchief. She did not answer, but bent her head over her needlework, the picture of dejection.

  Babette left her to her work. She had decided that she would talk to Mrs Brisket about what was needed for their stores and whether an inventory of the linen had been taken in the spring.

  * * *

  Ten days passed pleasantly enough. Babette kept busy and refused to allow Alice’s grumbles and dark hints to disturb her. She joined her housekeeper in the kitchen each morning, and they discussed the tasks for the servants, menus and the various stores needed. Babette sometimes showed her maids how she liked a certain dish made, but she did not cook meals or perform menial chores, for James expected his wife to be a lady and the chaperon of his home. On warm afternoons she walked in her gardens, discussing the planting with the gardeners and making sure that they were growing the herbs and flowers she needed for her cures. She had begun to make one or two of her own cures and spent some happy hours discussing the recipes with Mrs Brisket, who was also very knowledgeable in such matters and did not imagine that her mistress was a witch for knowing them.

  After their first hostile meeting, the housekeeper had unbent more and more and was now devoted to her new mistress and the child. She fussed over the baby, changing his nappy when he cried and giving him more attention than his mother ever had. Although she did not say so, Babette knew that Mrs Brisket did not approve of Alice very much, but the words remained unspoken.

  It was on the afternoon of the tenth day that one of the servants came into the garden to look for Babette and tell her that a visitor had arrived.