Saraband for Two Sisters

“I have not done wrong to promise her, to give her hope?”

“I wouldn’t have you do anything else. Go down to the barn and bring her to the house.”

Exultantly I went.

Phoebe drew back the bolt when I said who it was. Her eyes were shadowed and still filled with terror.

“It’s all right,” I told her. “You are going to stay here. I have spoken to my mother.

She says you are not to worry. The baby will be born here and then we’ll see.”

Phoebe fell to her knees and, taking my hand, kissed it.

I felt wonderfully happy. I had not felt like that since I had heard of Bastian’s deception and I had thought I never would again.

It was impossible to keep Phoebe’s presence at the Priory a secret. Not that we had attempted to. My parents said that Thomas Cast would have to know sooner or later and the sooner perhaps the better. His daughter’s disappearance would have to be explained, and it could only be a matter of hours before one of the servants talked to someone in the village and such news would spread like wildfire. It was not therefore surprising that the following day Thomas Cast presented himself at the Priory.

Phoebe saw him coming and - much to my gratification - immediately came to me as though I was the one who could best protect her.

She, Angelet, and I went to one of the peeps in the solarium where we could look down on the hall without being seen, and where not only could we see but hear what was going on. Angelet and I had used those peeps in our childhood when we had watched our parents entertaining in the great hall. My sister had thrown herself wholeheartedly into Phoebe’s cause as I had known she would, and was as determined as I that Phoebe should not go back to the fiery blacksmith. With characteristic enthusiasm she had been busy finding discarded garments which Phoebe would be able to adjust to her ever-increasing size and materials which could be transformed into baby clothes. The blacksmith looked less fierce in our hall than he did in the smithy. I missed the glow which the fiery furnace cast over his face and the ring of the anvil which because of him sounded Satanic. I think he was perhaps a little subdued by what would seem to him the grandeur of our home. At the same time he would disapprove of it and I could imagine his thinking of it as treasures upon earth which rot and decay. Our mother came down to the hall. She looked very fragile confronting that mighty man, but there was that air of dignity about her of which he could not help but be aware.

“My lady,” said Thomas Cast, “it’s come to my ears that you have my daughter here, and I am come to take her from you.”

“For what purpose?” asked my mother.

“That I may treat her according to her deserts, ma’am.”

I could feel Phoebe tremble beside me. “Don’t be afraid,” I whispered. “You’re not going. Watch.”

“It is for that reason that we have decided she shall stay here at least until the child is born. A girl in her condition must not be subjected to harsh treatment if only for the sake of the unborn child.”

Thomas Cast was temporarily taken aback. My mother was speaking as though this was a child about to he respectably born. He spluttered. “I don’t follow you, ma’am. It must be you don’t know…“ My mother seized her opportunity. “I know what has happened. Poor Phoebe has been seduced by a man who can’t marry her. She is young, little more than a child herself. We must be merciful. There is a new life to consider. I am sure she will realize the error of her ways and that it won’t occur again.”

The blacksmith’s fury broke out. “Ma’am, she be my daughter, more’s the pity. I would she had been strangled at birth rather than bring this disgrace on me and mine. I want that girl. I’ll thrash her till she screams for mercy. ‘Tis the only way to cast out the blackness of her sin. Not that it will ever be cast out. She’ll know the folly of her ways when she goes to Hell... but first she must have a taste of Hell on earth.”

“She has had that most of her life,” said my mother tartly. “Thomas Cast, your Puritan piety has brought misery to your entire family. We are not going to give Phoebe back to you. She is staying here. We shall employ her in the household and that’s an end to it.”

The blacksmith was like a lion cheated of his prey. “I’d respectfully remind you, ma’am, that she be my girl.”

“That does not give you the right to ill-treat her.”

“Begging your pardon, ma’am, I have every right. Give her over to me that I can help her mend her ways and maybe save her soul from eternal damnation. »

“If we gave Phoebe back to you, Thomas Cast, and if any ill befell her or the child through your treatment of her, do you know that would be murder? »

“You seek to bemuse me, ma’am. I only want my girl.”

My father had come into the hall. He stood beside my mother and said quietly, “You will go now, Thomas Cast. Your daughter will remain here until her child is born, I forbid you to harm her and you are trespassing on my land. I gave you no permission to come here.”