A Christmas Courtship (9 page)

They found Hannah and Mr Amberley waiting anxiously in the kitchen at Orchard Cottage. Blanche’s father had been too disturbed to remain in his bed, and too agitated to eat the roast salmon that Hannah had so painstakingly prepared, and it reposed on a plate in the pantry to be eaten cold the next day. Hannah had persuaded him to at least drink a soothing posset cup, and this he had reluctantly agreed to. Hannah occupied herself with darning some of Jake’s woolen socks, for she
couldn
’t just sit there while she waited.

The kitchen was a rambling, whitewashed room with low beams from which hung strings of onions, dried mushrooms, bunches of herbs, several cured hams in muslin bags, a bread cage, and a sugar loaf. Against one wall stood a tall dresser laden with copper pans and the blue-and-white crockery that was to be found in so many country cottages. Against another wall stood a stone sink with a pump that drew water from a well beneath the floor, and next to it was the door of the little
stone-shelved
pantry where the butter, milk, eggs, fresh meats, and jars of pickled and bottled fruit were stored. The cold roast salmon had been placed next to the round plum pudding Hannah had made the previous month in readiness for Christmas Day, and in a corner was the covered bowl of mincemeat she intended to use for the mince pies everyone found so delicious. Above the
lime-washed
back door, where the air was cooler, hung several single Gloucester cheeses in protective cloths. Hannah prided herself on the quality of her cheeses, as indeed she could pride herself on the quality of all her culinary efforts, but as she sat jabbing the needle into Jake’s old sock, she felt tears stinging her eyes, for
how much enjoyment would there be this Christmas? How tasty would the goose be? How delicious the plum pudding and mince pies? How would anyone be able to enjoy the festive food with this dreadful business of Master Jonathan hanging over them?

A large fire crackled in the hearth, its flickering light dancing over Mr Amberley as he sat on the high-backed settle that had been placed between the back door and the fireplace to keep out the draft. He wore his purple paisley dressing gown, Turkish slippers, and tasseled black cap, and his bony hands were clasped anxiously on the handle of his walking stick as he too pondered the nature of the Christmas that lay so very few days ahead. Would his beloved son be with them, his name cleared of these dreadful accusations? Or would he still be a hunted felon, the victim of a diabolical conspiracy? The old man had no doubt that Jonathan was the prey, and Roderick Neville and Deborah Jennings the predators, for as a loving father he believed the long letter his son had written, and therefore discounted absolutely all that Roderick Neville had claimed.

Hannah heard the horses return and got up from the scrubbed table where she’d been working. She went to the window,
holding
the curtain aside to peep out into the dark yard, then she turned back to shake her head sadly at the old man by the fire. ‘Master Jonathan isn’t with them, Mr Amberley.’

He sighed and nodded slightly. ‘I didn’t really expect him to be,’ he said heavily.

Blanche left Jake to attend to the horses, and went into the cottage, going straight to her father. ‘He’s all right, Father, but doesn’t feel able to come out of hiding yet.’

‘My poor boy….’ Mr Amberley blinked as tears stung his eyes.

‘Oh, Father …’ Blanche knelt before him, hugging him close. ‘We’ll clear his name, I promise,’ she breathed.

Hannah touched her shoulder. ‘Sit down and drink this hot milk, my dear, for you’ve been out in that cold for far too long. You should have had a quiet evening and a good warm bath, instead of going out again like that.’

Mr Amberley patted the settle beside him. ‘Sit with me, my
dear, and tell us exactly what Jonathan said.’

She did as he bade, and when she’d finished, her father gave a long, despairing sigh.

‘They’ve been clever, for there is no way at all that Jonathan can prove his innocence.’

‘I’m going to see Miss Jennings tomorrow, to see if I can persuade her to tell the truth.’

‘A vain hope, I fear.’

‘Maybe, but it has to be tried.’

He looked at her. ‘And when it fails, what then?’

‘Father, Jonathan knows he must face the charges, and he is prepared to do so, but he just needs a little time first. If we can use that time to prepare a case for his defense, then so much the better.’

He was silent for a moment. ‘A man does not need to have a fellow officer to defend him at a court-martial, does he?’

‘I really don’t know. Why?’

‘Sir Benjamin Holden is a very old friend of mine.’

‘Sir Benjamin Holden? The famous barrister?’

He nodded. ‘He and I went to school together, and then on to Cambridge. He owes me a favor from those days, and I never thought I’d be calling upon him to repay it, but I think that that time has now come, don’t you? With an advocate as persuasive and talented as Sir Benjamin, we will at least know that we have done the very best for Jonathan. I will write to Sir Benjamin first thing in the morning, and the letter carrier can take the letter into Gloucester. Yes, that’s what I’ll do.’

Blanche didn’t say anything, for she knew that her father was just giving himself something to cling to. It didn’t matter how brilliant a man of the law Sir Benjamin Holden was if he didn’t have any evidence that would prove Jonathan’s innocence.

She sipped the hot milk, and gazed unhappily into the fire. How she wished Antony was with her now, instead of in Gloucester, which suddenly seemed a world away from events in Amberley St Mary. She wanted to tell her father how she felt, but couldn’t, for both he and Hannah thought her attachment to be more than a little ill-judged; why, even Sir Edmund had presumed to advise her against it…. But they were all wrong,
as time alone would prove.

No one heard anything happening outside in the yard, they knew nothing until Jake suddenly burst into the kitchens. ‘It’s the army come back again!’ he cried, but was almost
immediately
pushed aside as Roderick Neville strode in once more, followed by some of his men.

Blanche leapt to her feet, almost spilling the cup of milk. ‘How dare you force your way into this house, sirrah!’ she cried, alarm surging through her.

Roderick looked coldly at her, unmoved by her anger. ‘I have the authority to search this property as and when I choose, madam, and I choose to do so now.’

‘You will not find anything, Lieutenant,’ she replied, putting a quick hand on her father’s shoulder, for he’d gone very pale and still.

‘We have already discovered something of interest, madam. The two horses in your stables have only just returned, they’re still in a sweat, and since I see you clad in a riding habit, I have to wonder greatly where you’ve been.’

‘To the church,’ she said, meeting his eyes squarely. ‘I can prove it if you wish, for I spoke to Sir Edmund Brandon there.’

‘Did you indeed?’

‘Sir Edmund is a good friend of this family, Lieutenant Neville, so I advise you not to run the risk of antagonizing so senior an officer.’ It was a calculated statement, which she hoped would at least go some way toward deterring him.

An unpleasant smile lingered on his sensual lips. ‘I’m sorry to disappoint you, madam, but your threat falls on somewhat stony ground, I fear.’ He turned to his men. ‘Search the place!’

They pushed past into the hallway, and once again Orchard Cottage echoed to the rough sounds of a thorough search.

Jake came over to where Blanche stood by the settle. ‘I didn’t hear them coming, Miss Blanche, they rode up the village green like before. Suddenly they were in the stables….’

She put a reassuring hand on his arm. ‘It’s all right, Jake, it isn’t your fault.’

Roderick Neville watched them, a supercilious twist on his lips. ‘How very touching, the mistress of a faded family and the
faithful old retainer.’

Mr Amberley rose shakily to his feet, a look of outrage on his patrician face. ‘How dare you, sirrah!’

Blanche restrained her father, ushering him gently back onto the settle. Then she faced Roderick. ‘You may sneer, Lieutenant, but I suggest you look long and hard upon our faithful old retainer, for it’s as close as you’re ever likely to come to such a being!’

A hard light passed through Roderick’s eyes. ‘Have a care, madam.’

‘Go to perdition, sir, and take your lying mistress, your vile deceit, your dishonor, and your knavery with you!’

The kitchen was very quiet, and she could hear her own
heartbeats
. She’d been unwise, for by her words she’d informed him that she’d heard the other side of the story, Jonathan’s side.

His lip curled disdainfully. ‘So, now we come to it, don’t we? You know where your brother is, don’t you?’

She didn’t reply.

‘Well, it can’t be very far away, that’s for sure. As I warned you earlier, the name of Amberley is about to reviled throughout the county.’

‘You are the guilty one,’ she whispered, ‘you and that sly vixen you claim to be marrying.’

‘Blanche!’ Her father rose to his feet again, and faced the
lieutenant
. ‘You, sirrah, are a disgrace to your uniform, and to the name of gentleman. My son is innocent of the charges you’ve concocted against him, and we intend to prove it. Before this is over, your father will know your true worth, and will carry out his threat to disinherit you. What price all this villainy then? What price your fine stolen promotion, and your scheming
chienne
of a bride?’

Roderick gave another of his cool, thin smiles. ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about, Mr Amberley,’ he said in a
convincingly
innocent tone. ‘I haven’t plotted against your son, and I deeply resent and refute the suggestion that I have. I also resent the insulting and unjust words you choose to describe my intended bride, Miss Jennings, who is totally innocent of all your son’s dishonorable claims about her. As to the promotion, well, I 
concede that I came second to your son, but that does not mean I must decline it when your son proves unworthy in every way. I look forward to serving my country in battle, and I know that I can do that best at the side of a great commanding officer like Sir Arthur Wellesley.’ He was a master of the silken lie, opening his eyes with such believable honesty that it was almost possible to think he was telling the truth.

Blanche gazed at him in dismay, knowing how very
persuasive
he’d be at a court-martial.

He gave a low laugh. ‘Your brother is guilty, Miss Amberley, and the sooner you accept the fact and hand him over, the better for all concerned.’

‘I would as soon betray him to the devil himself!’ she cried, almost in tears of distress and loathing. ‘I intend to inform Colonel Cummings of your disgraceful conduct, of that you may be sure. By the time we’ve finished, it won’t be the name of Amberley that will be reviled, but the name of Neville!’

‘You’re no match for me, madam, so I suggest you spare
yourself
the wasted effort,’ he replied tersely.

‘Don’t underestimate the strength of your foes, or the depth of their determination to defeat you, sirrah,’ she said in a more collected tone.

He didn’t respond, for at that moment his men returned to say that they’d found nothing. He sent a corporal out to some other men who were searching the outhouses and the orchard, but he returned with the same information; there was no sign of Lieutenant Amberley.

Roderick faced Blanche again. ‘You haven’t seen the last of me, madam. Persuade your brother to give himself up to face the charges against him, or every house in the area will be searched, and the inhabitants informed more than swiftly about the
scandalous
shame your brother has brought upon your family.’ He turned to incline his head briefly to her father, and then he left, his men following.

As the door closed behind them, Hannah hurried through to the parlor to watch their departure. A few minutes later she returned. ‘They’ve gone.’

Blanche exhaled slowly, closing her eyes. ‘I believe I hate
Lieutenant Roderick Neville more than anyone else I’ve ever met,’ she said softly.

Blanche paced uneasily up and down the kitchen. ‘What if he carries out his threat to search the entire neighborhood? If he does that, he’s bound to discover the fishing house.’

Jake had been gazing into the fire, but now he turned. ‘Do you think the lieutenant would dare to carry out a search of Amberley Court park?’ he asked thoughtfully.

Mr Amberley pursed his lips, and then shook his head. ‘A mere lieutenant search the property of a major-general? I doubt it very much, why?’

‘Maybe it would be safer for Master Jonathan to be hidden there.’

‘Have you somewhere in particular in mind?’ inquired Mr Amberley, giving him a suspicious look. ‘Somewhere from your poaching days, no doubt?’

‘There’s a cliff where the land rises alongside the Severn….’

‘Red Cliff?’ interposed Blanche quickly, her pacing stopping. ‘What about it?’

‘There’s a cave there, its entrance low and hidden by bushes. It’s tricky to get to if you don’t know your way, but once there … That lieutenant would never find it.’ Jake went to the window, looking up at the sky. ‘There’s going to be snow before morning, so I reckon it’d be best to move him tonight. Otherwise there’ll be footprints to follow, and that wouldn’t do.’

Blanche turned urgently to her father. ‘What do you think, Father?’

‘I think Jake is right, and that unfortunately it is no longer at all advisable for Jonathan to remain at the fishing house. Jake, do you think you could return to him tonight without being detected?’

‘As sure as a fox can steal a fowl, Mr Amberley. I’ll go on foot, and keep to the park, then I’ll take Master Jonathan to the cave by going all along the riverbank.’

Hannah went anxiously to him. ‘You take care now, Jake Cutler, for I’m not of a mind to have to visit you in Gloucester prison, or to put flowers on your grave in the churchyard. Just have a care of Sir Edmund’s keepers, do you hear?’