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well, he was not one to be put off by a rebuff. The barricades might
be up, but perseverance would breach them, in time.
Rachel retired early to her bedchamber that night. She wished to be
alone, for she had much on her mind.
Sitting before the inadequate fire she thought, 'Surely John would
have heard if George had been killed? Major Dowd would have
mentioned it. He must have escaped with the rest '
She sat there, frowning at the slow-burning logs, crouched on the
stool, hugging herself, her eyes narrowed, her brain working fever-
ishly. Finally she got up, smoothed her skirts, and went over to the
toilet table. In the light of the branch of candles standing there, she
examined her reflection carefully in the hand-mirror, patted a curl
into place, and then, satisfied that she was looking her best, put the
54 CROMWELL'S CAPTAIN
mirror down and left the room.
A few moments later she stood outside Denham's door. Hearing
no response to her knock, she knocked again, and then opened the
door and went in. The room was shadowed, lit only by a couple of
candles, and Adam was not there. Her gaze went to the bed. The
Captain appeared to be asleep.
Closing the door quietly behind her she advanced towards the bed
and stood there, gazing curiously down at him. His face was in
shadow. The bandage had been removed from round his head. She
bent over him, peering at the scar that went diagonally across his
forehead.
As she did so, he stirred, and opened his eyes, gazing blankly up
at her. She realised he was not fully awake, was but half aware of her
presence. She drew back a little.
'Forgive me; I did not intend to disturb you. I came to see if there
was anything I could do for you, but I will leave you to sleep. Until
tomorrow, Captain Denham.'
She went away and he lay there, still only half awake; wondering
indeed whether he had dreamt it a soft, seductive voice in his ear,
a cloud of perfume, a whisper of silk. In the dim light it had been
difficult to distinguish her features clearly, but he had gained the
impression that she had been more than usually attractive, with"
night-dark hair and white skin.
By the time Adam returned, he was wide awake. 'Who,' he
demanded, 'was in my room just now? A dark woman, young,
beautiful '
Adam looked wise. 'That would have been Mistress Devereux.'
He recounted all he knew of her, culled from servants' gossip.
Those at Fern Place had little time for her or for her tiring-woman.
Mistress Devereux made no attempt to conceal her boredom, and
was for ever complaining of the dull life they led here. As for Grace,
she was a high and mighty piece, deeming herself to be far above the
others.
'They haven't a good word to say for her,'Adam said, adding:
'There's nothing wrong with her that a tumble in the hay wouldn't
put right not that I'd suggest it to her!'
Denham chuckled. 'If she is anything like her mistress, I wonder
you haven't!'
'Too thin for my taste. Mistress Devereux, now she's some-
thing different!'
'So I believe.'
CROMWELL'S CAPTAIN 55
'I'd like to know why she came in here. She's never set foot inside
the door before.' Adam gave Denham a significant look. 'I'd be wary
of her if I was you, sir. That kind are for ever causing trouble.'
Denham's eyes gleamed. 'True. Nevertheless, I am considerably
intrigued by her sudden interest in me. Perhaps I shall discover the
reason for it tomorrow.'
CHAPTER
FIVE
REUBEN had reported to Mary that some of the cottages on the estate
had had their thatch badly damaged by the storm that had swept the
countryside a few days before.
When, on the following morning, John announced that he was
going to call upon Hal's parents to give them his news of him, Mary
asked him to go and inspect the damage on his way back. It seemed
she would have to give her consent for it to be made good. She hoped
the re-thatching would not prove to be extensive, for she felt uncom-
fortably certain that the halcyon days of Fern Place were over, and
they would be forced to keep expenses to a minimum.
The loss of their sheep was a blow from which it would be hard to
recover; and apart from that the future was extremely uncertain. No
one knew what would happen when the war was over, but the
reckoning would have to be paid.
She went heavily upstairs to the linen-room, a frown between her
brows. From the Captain's room she heard a sudden rippling laugh,
and paused in surprise. Rachel in there? She was the last person
she would have expected to find with the Roundhead officer. Her
frown deepened.
Rachel had waited until John had ridden away and Cathie was
occupied in the stillroom, before going upstairs and tapping on
Denham's door. In her hand was a book. 'I thought this might help
to pass the time for you,' she said, having exchanged polite greetings
with him.
He glanced at it and then up at her. 'Thank you. I have not read
John Milton's Comus before. I shall look forward to doing so. Pray,
sit down, Mistress Devereux.' [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]