Saraband for Two Sisters

But it was not Luke I felt an urge to see. It was Ella, and the more I thought of that kitchen with the appetizing smell of baking coming from the oven and the sound of ale being poured into a pewter tankard the more I wanted to be there. I rode out in the early morning. I would call, spend an hour there, and be back in time for dinner. No one would know that I had been there. After all, they had invited me to call when I wished and it might be that when Richard returned he would not wish me to continue the friendship. How friendly could one feel toward a man whom one had challenged to a duel? Perhaps it was not good wifely conduct to seize an opportunity to act against what might well be her husband’s wishes, but I did want the Longridges to know that I at least felt nothing but friendship for them no matter how their views differed from those of my own family. My mother used to talk a great deal about tolerance. She believed it was a good thing, and that belief was something I had inherited from her.

So I set out and in a short time the farmhouse came into view. I rode into the yard and was about to dismount when I was seized by cramping pains. I managed to get off my horse and as I did so I was dizzy and I knew that I could not stand much longer so I let myself slide to the ground. It was there that a serving maid found me.

“You’re ill, mistress,” she cried and ran into the farmhouse.

Ella came out, all concern.

‘Why, it’s Mistress Tolworthy,” she said. “Here, Jane, help me into the house with her.”

I was able to stand and they helped me in, and very soon I was lying on a settle with rugs around me.

The dizziness passed but the pain continued.

“I don’t know what is happening to me,” I stammered. “I meant to call on you...”

“Never mind now,” said Ella. “Stay there and rest.”

That was all I wanted to do and very soon I did know what was happening to me. I was losing my baby.

Ella Longridge put me to bed and sent over to Far Flamstead for Grace, who came and very soon confirmed my fears.

“You’re safe enough, mistress,” said Grace. ‘Why, ‘twas nothing to speak of. ‘Tis just the sorrow of losing it. But at this stage you soon recover and you’ll have more. Tis a warning to us, though, that we’ll have to take special care of you. Must have had a shock like.”

She had brought some of her herb medicines with her and she said that I shouldn’t move for the rest of that day but I’d be well enough to go home tomorrow, she was sure, but she’d want to see me first.

Ella said that Grace must stay the night and accompany me back the next. She would feel happier with Grace in the farmhouse.

So there I lay in this plain bedroom with its bare boards and somber colors and I thought of what losing my baby would mean. My dreams had evaporated. I had lost the child just as I was becoming sure of its existence. I was glad I had not told my mother and sister; I was sorry that I had told Richard. I would have to write to him now and tell him that I had lost the child.

Ella came and sat by my bed; she brought her sewing with her, not embroidery, which I supposed she would consider frivolous, but the plain material she was stitching into garments for herself and her brother.

She told me how sorry she was that this had happened. Although she was a spinster who had no intention of marrying, she could well understand my feelings.

“I wonder what went wrong?” she said.

I told her what had happened the previous night.

“That explains it,” she said. “The shock must have brought on this miscarriage.”

“I felt nothing at the time.”

“I believe it happens like that sometimes. I wonder who was there in the Folly?”

“You have heard of Strawberry John, have you, Mistress Longridge?»

“I have. He is a strange-looking man. Very strong, I believe. His father was a very strong man indeed and John inherited that strength. He has this mark on his face and it is easy to identify him because of it. One doesn’t hear of him often. I don’t know were he lives ... nobody seems to know.”

“Mrs. Cherry, our housekeeper, suggested that he found some way into the castle.»

“That seems a very likely explanation. What a pity that you happened to be disturbed by it.”

“I don’t know what my husband will say when he comes back. He is insistent that no one go near the castle, as it is unsafe.”

“I daresay he will demolish it.”

“I don’t know. He feels it would not be right, as his ancestor set such store by it.”

It was comforting talking to Ella, and later in the day her brother came in, but as she insisted on my remaining in bed and the Longridges would not think it fitting for me to receive a gentleman in my bedchamber, I did not see him. I slept peacefully that night and in the morning felt well enough to get up. Grace pronounced me fit to travel, but Luke Longridge would not hear of my riding and he took Grace and me back to Far Flamstead in one of the farm carts, which was drawn by two horses. He said he would send a man over with my horse and Grace’s later that day.