Lament for a lost lover

“I think that Arabella and Harriet make my story more plausible,” said Edwin. Carleton shrugged his shoulders. “That might be,” he admitted. “They know, of course, the purpose of your mission?”

“Yes.”

“Well, then, they will know how much depends on their caution and discretion.”

“We understand well,” said Harriet. She was looking at him earnestly, and knowing her well now, I realized that she was trying to claim his attention. I knew, too, that he was a man who would have had many experiences with women and would not be the easy victim of any. He might be aware that Harriet was trying to win his admiration, but if he did admire her he was not going to show it.

He was looking at me. I suppose as Edwin’s wife I interested him.

Then he said: “You’re General Tolworthy’s daughter, I believe. Oh, don’t look so surprised. I am kept informed of what is going. I trust you will behave with the good sense he would expect of you while you are here.”

“What is the position?” asked Edwin.

“Good. That is, hopeful. There is much we shall have to discuss.’ He looked at us and I knew he meant: When we are rid of the women. “There is a good support hereabouts. But a certain amount of probing to do. We have to be certain who are our friends.” He was looking from Harriet to me with some amusement. “It may well be that you ladies can be useful. You can pick up a good deal from gossip. The great thing will be not to betray yourselves. Not too many airs and graces, please. Save those for the days when the King is safely back.”

Harriet said: “You may trust me. I am an actress and know how to play a part. I will instruct Arabella.”

“I think Arabella’s best guide will be her regard for her husband,” he retorted. “Know this! All might seem peaceful on the surface, but there is a torrent of unrest just beneath it. What we have been trying to do is find out how deep it goes. The ladies will have tasks to do in the kitchen and in the gardens. Everyone works. There is no idleness here. Listen to the servants. Be very careful in your own conversation. Don’t forget your home is in Chester. I hope they are well versed in their parts, Edwin.”

“They soon will be. I can assure you, Carleton, you need have no qualms on their account.”

“Good. I brought you all here to show you how precariously we live. You must realize that if it were discovered that I had stored away some of our treasures which I had salvaged from their destructive hands, they would know me at once for the King’s man. There would be no mercy. I should be strung up by the neck, I doubt not, and the fact that it would be done most piously with Prayers said for my erring soul would give me little comfort. Our puritan rulers are afraid. Perhaps they can hear the rumble of Royalist thunder in the distance. Fear breeds viciousness. So we must e wary. I have business to talk with Edwin. I shall leave him here to examine some of the treasures I have managed to salvage. Now I shall conduct you ladies to your rooms. There you may wait until one of the servants comes to you. She will take you to the kitchens where you will be expected to make yourselves useful. Is that understood?”

“Perfectly, “I said.

He looked at Harriet. “Of course’ she added softly.

We stepped into the library. The panel slid to, he unlocked the door and conducted us to our rooms.

“Remember,” whispered Carleton and put his finger to his lips. When he had gone, Harriet threw herself onto the double bed in the room which had been allotted to Edwin and me and, looking at me, started to laugh. “What did you think of the worthy cousin?” she asked.

“Edwin had mentioned him to me so I was prepared.”

“What a man,” said Harriet softly.

“He certainly is somewhat forceful.”

“I liked the double act,” murmured Harriet smiling. “My God, what a Puritan he was. You could imagine him delighted in inflicting punishment on those who offended against the laws of God, which would be his own, of course. In his eyes I am sure he is God. And then, hey, presto ... the doors slide and we see another. It was fantastic the way in which he changed. Did you notice it? The way he looked at us was different. You didn’t notice that, of course. He was assessing us as ... women. Whereas when he was a Puritan he was trying to probe how sinful we were.”

“You seem obsessed by him.”

“Aren’t you?”

“What do you mean, Harriet?”

“Nothing. This is fun. Poor Arabella, but for me you would be sitting sadly at your spinning wheel waiting for the return of your husband.”

“I don’t spin.”

“Just a figure of speech. I don’t like that talk about working in the kitchens. I didn’t come here to be a kitchen maid.”

“What did you come here to be?”

“I only came because I knew you were pining to be with your husband.”

“Sometimes, Harriet,” I said, “I think you do not tell the truth.”

“Dear Arabella, you are learning at last.”