Saraband for Two Sisters

“The General may command his armies if he wishes but he could not command me.” I saw the faint color in his cheeks and I knew that he found it difficult to take his eyes from me. Women such as myself, who are attracted by men, attract them in turn. Something passes between us. I was aware of it now with Luke Longridge; though my thoughts were obsessed by Richard Tolworthy, strangely enough I could still be interested in Luke Longridge and feel an upsurge of spirits because he, this stern Puritan, was not entirely indifferent to me, although I came from what he called a Royalist background.

So it was an interesting hour I spent in the Longridges’ farm kitchen and afterward Luke insisted on riding back with me.

He admonished me mildly as we rode, telling me that it was unwise for me to take solitary rides. “There are footpads lurking around,” he said. “A lady alone would be easy prey.”

“I would never be easy prey, I do assure you.”

“You do not realize how rough these men can be. I would beg of you to take care.»

“It is good of you to concern yourself,” I told him and he replied, “I look forward to more interesting discussions. Do you think I could turn you to our way of thinking in time?”

“I doubt it,” I answered. “Although I have an open mind.”

We soon came to Far Flamstead. He bowed gravely and as I took my leave I was aware of that expression in his eyes which I aroused in others, and I was amused, he being a Puritan.

The encounter had made something of that dull day. I had discovered that scarred or not I was still attractive.

I went into the Blue Room where Angelet was still asleep. Meg was hovering about and I asked if her mistress had not wakened since she had had the posset. “No, she have been in this deep and peaceful sleep, mistress.”

She was still sleeping in the evening and I went down to see Mrs. Cherry. I said, ‘The posset is very potent. Mistress Tolworthy has slept all through the day.”

“Tis the poppy juice,” said Mrs. Cherry comfortably. “There is nothing like deep sleep to get us through our ills.”

“Should she have another dose when she awakens?”

“The tooth will have recovered, I doubt not. But keep the bottle in case she should need it.”

She slept through the night and when I went in to see her she declared her toothache was better.

The next morning we went for a ride and in the afternoon Richard returned. He had a great deal of work to do, we were told, and he went to his library. We supped together in the small parlor and Richard told us that as he thought that he would have to be in Whitehall often it might be a good idea if he stayed there. It would save the journey back and forth from Flamstead. I asked if the trouble with the Puritans and the Scots had anything to do with his business there.

“Not any more than other matters,” he told me. “The Army is below strength and I am constantly attempting to have that rectified. This entails meetings with the King. There have been too many troubles. The war with Spain was a disaster.”

“I believe he went into that to gratify his great friend Buckingham.”

“There is no doubt that Buckingham had immense influence with the King.”

“His murder, while untimely for him, was timely for England.”

“Who can say? But our troubles seem to be rising through the financial embarrassments caused by the wars with France and Spain and this means that everyone not in the Army fails to see the importance of it. This is what I have to drive home.”

“Perhaps if the King did not govern like an absolute monarch, there would not be this trouble.”

Richard looked earnestly at me. “Who shall say?” he said. “But I regret the murmurings against His Majesty. I cannot see that they will bring aught but ill to the land, and I want us to be ready to meet whatever comes.”

“How knowledgeable you are, Bersaba,” said Angelet.

“Knowledgeable enough to realize how little I know,” I replied. “I read a good deal and listen when I can and thus I pick up certain information.” Richard smiled at me approvingly and, remembering the admiration I had seen in Luke Longridge’s eyes, a glow of confidence came to me and I think perhaps it was this which made me act as I did.

As she was eating, Angelet suddenly put her hand to her cheek.

“The tooth?” I asked.

She nodded. Then she said, “I had a rather painful tooth while you were away, Richard.

Mrs. Cherry prescribed one of her possets. I must say they are good.” He expressed concern that she had suffered and his pleasure that Mrs. Cherry had produced the cure. And we talked of the effects of the ship tax and other such matters, which excluded Angelet from the conversation, and when the meal was over he went back to his study to work.