A Captive Heart (9 page)

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Tamsin was woken up suddenly from her night slumber by noises from outside the house in the gardens below. Could it be the Roundheads come already by stealth to take Treganna from them?

She sat up, rubbed her eyes, listened, frowned and then smiled. She was being foolish, nothing could harm her here. She was amongst friends and family. If it had been on Tresco it could be a noisy sentry that disturbed her. Here it could be anything from to the bats that nested in the old stone folly to the owls from the outlying barns.

She heard movement again and was sure it
was something more though than birds that had alerted her. She drew back the curtains, clambered out of the four poster bed and ran over to the polished wooden flooring to the windows to look out on the moonlit garden. She saw several dark shadowy figures hurrying across the lawns and disappearing into the trees where the faint silvery gleam of moonlight on water filtered through. They were going towards the small jetty where the boat was kept on the river.

Edward
Whittle was in charge of the household and he would not allow anything to take place there or in the house that could harm the family. It puzzled her. What was going on here? She thought of calling Martha but decided against it. Martha was tired - she had taken on so much of late - and it was best to let her rest.

Should she slip downstairs to see for herself? She decided against it and waited instead on the cushioned window seat resting her head against the small cool glass paned window. Her patience was eventually rewarded just after the clock downstairs in the hallway chimed melodiously and cleared the midnight hour and she saw one, two, three, four dark figures crossing the moonlit lawns carrying round barrels and large covered packages on their shoulders.

One
of them, pushing a barrel in a large wheelbarrow, she recognised to be Margriam, and the youngest gardener, Ned Penganner, after him, carried another barrel, and there was Reuben and Edward Whittle too.

Edward
was speaking to a thin balding capped man. She caught the French words exchanged between them; it was Captain Jacques and all suddenly became clear to her. She chuckled. Of course she should have realised she had been watching the time old occupation of smuggling that had long been carried out there. They had been meeting the smuggler’s ship in Helford passage. She knew Uncle Bevil kept a cellar of good wine and brandy and no doubt any silks lace or satin Aunt Phoebe might acquire from France would be used to make up her proposed new wardrobe of fashionable gowns. Wool from their sheep’s backs from the farms was often used in exchange in the deal as well as gold.

If
she heard anything at all in her adjoining bedchamber, Martha would simply have ignored it. Aunt Phoebe likewise was leaving Edward Whittle to oversee it through safely. This was another pursuit that the pious Roundheads would forbid and stop immediately. There were so many things they cherished in their community that would have to cease if their enemies had their way.

A
half an hour or so later and the movement and activity in the gardens below had ceased. Peace and quiet held sway there once again.

Tamsin
clambered back into bed. Once again her thoughts turned back to Adam, no longer lying in the cave with the recurring splash of the waves outside for a lullaby. Where was he resting that night? Did he think of her at all?

Then she thought of her father. Was he furious with her for what she had done? Would he ever forgive her? She prayed that he would and she knew she did not regret the part she had played. She could never have forgiven herself if she had told the soldiers to take Adam prisoner.

She
could not get back to sleep and began to shed fresh tears into her pillow. A gentle knock came on her door, and a soft call from Martha. ‘What is wrong with you, child?’

‘Martha, come in.’

‘You’re
still awake. What troubles you?’

She
sat up in bed. ‘I was woken up by something... I thought I heard someone out there. Horses hooves... And I so I wished it was Father coming home to us. Do you think Father will forgive me, Martha? Will he?’

‘You
were dreaming.’ Martha smoothed back Tamsin’s hair gently. ‘He can scarce be angry for long. He has a very dear daughter who cares for him so much. A daughter who doesn’t like to hurt anyone. Friend or foe.’

‘You really think this, Martha? I could not bear it if he treated me like Adam’s father has treated him.’

Martha
shook her head. ‘A father cannot be so hard to a son or a daughter. Remember the prodigal son? Love is strong. It can overcome almost anything.’

‘Even betrayal, Martha?’

‘Even betrayal, Tamsin. Go to sleep. That young man will surely survive to live another day.’

‘I shall never, never see him again, Martha.’ She sobbed. ‘He could be killed and I would never know his fate.’

Martha
laughed. ‘The devil takes care of his own, my girl. He is not ready for that yet.’

Tamsin
knew that she had to be satisfied with that and said no more. Martha was no doubt right. Adam had managed to take care of himself so far.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Adam had thoughts of Tamsin constantly with him on his long walk across the moonlit cliff top and down the cobbled street into the small town of Illogan. His heart lifted at every fresh step he took nearer to his friends at The Rovers Return. There he would find welcome too from his horse Rufus who had been awaiting his return for four long weeks.

His
welcome in the stables came from the boy who was grooming the big black horse: ‘Adam! You are here at last. Molly said she knew you would come back safely.’ He said turning to throw his arms around Adam.

‘You
had my message then, lad.’

‘Aye,
we sent the news on to those up country like you told us. And we got a reply back yesterday. Received. Bonny brought it to us safely.’

‘Adam!
We thought it must be you.’

‘Molly
you’re a good sight to see,’ Adam said with a laugh as the pretty dark haired girl threw her arms around him and kissed him twice on his cheek and then held up her candle lit lantern high to take a good look at him.

‘You
look thin and peaked. You’ve been hurt, Adam.’

He
grinned. ‘A shot in my left shoulder.’

‘I
knew that something was wrong when we didn’t hear or see you back here again after that last message reached us.’

He
smiled as her blue eyes studied him carefully from head to toe.

‘I
feel all the better for seeing you now, young woman.’ he said, as he placed her curly head against his chest. ‘And young John there.’ He patted Rufus who whinnied and neighed a loud welcome. ‘I have much to thank you for - you can’t know how glad I am to be back here with you all. But I cannot stay for long, there is much more that I have to do.’ He sighed. ‘Cromwell will be calling on me before long.’

‘So
who looked after you, someone must have done. Your shoulder pains you still?’

He
laughed and nodded. She hadn’t missed the look of pain in his eyes when she’d touched his shoulder while greeting him so enthusiastically. ‘It does a little but it’s nothing. It’ll not stop me from doing what I have to in the next few days.’

But
as he uttered this he knew the pain he was experiencing in his heart meant much more to him than this. In the last few dark hours on his journey he thought of nothing else after he had said his last goodbye to the one person he could not bear to be parted from. He did not know when he would see her again. Tamsin had made it pretty obvious when they had parted company that she did not trust him or believe him when he said that he had no wish to harm her or her father. But he was equally determined that he could not let their short acquaintance end like that. She meant so much to him that he knew he would defend and protect her till the day he died.

‘You
must let me take a look at it, Adam, a night’s sleep in a bed upstairs and a good meal inside you would not go amiss. You need a good woman to take care of you. When are you going to let someone into that stubborn heart of yours?’

Adam smiled.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

The next day some unexpected visitors on horseback arrived at Treganna House. Tamsin, whilst helping her aunt pick flowers for the dining table, watched the three men riding leisurely up the long leafy driveway to the house. Their garb, even at a distance, showed them plainly to be Royalists, and the friendly reception they were given by the footman told Tamsin that they were apparently well known to her aunt. Their weary mounts looked as if they had travelled some considerable distance already that day.

Lady
Phoebe who was picking the scented golden roses and white marguerites overseen by old Margriam came forward immediately and showed her great pleasure and surprise at seeing them, greeting them with obvious sincerity.

‘Gentlemen,
it gives me great pleasure to welcome you to Treganna House. Have you travelled far, sir?’

‘We
have indeed, dear lady. We are grateful to be amongst true friends today.’

Tamsin’s curiosity was more immediately aroused by the tall, handsome young man with the thick curling raven black locks. Dressed in a servants clothing, stout brown leather jerkin and country russets he alighted lithely from his grey and stood back from his older companions. He was not introduced immediately to her aunt.

Tamsin
caught her breath sharply, and her chest tightened as her eyes met the bold twinkle of amusement that danced in his dark eyes. He’d noticed her too standing well back in the shade of the old mulberry tree with her armful of colourful flowers. He gently inclined his head in greeting as she viewed him with curiosity. His bearing, she thought instantly, was not that of a servant. So who was he?

‘Come
in. Come in, gentleman. Have you any good news for me of my husband?’ She looked for Tamsin and beckoned to her. ‘This is Tamsin, my niece, Richard Trevenian’s daughter. Lord Lambton and my Lord Ellison, Tamsin. My Lord Bevil’s good friends.’

Tamsin curtseyed as she was introduced to them. ‘Trimble will show your man where the stables are.’ Lord Lambton nodded to the young man who smiled, and accompanied the footman and the horses round the back to the stables.

Aunt
Phoebe took their visitors into the parlour and offered them ale from the good October brewing and Trimble came in with some dishes of cold meats, bread and cheese. They sat down with sighs of pleasure and picked up the brimming mugs of the ale and drank them down appreciatively.

Lady Phoebe leant forward to enquire eagerly: ‘What brings you, here, sir? This cannot be a casual visit. I hope that you have some good news to tell us. It has been some time since we have heard any news from up country.’

‘We
are on our way to Pendennis castle shortly, and then we shall take passage to sail to the Scillies and if we may we would wish to stay here for a day or so, my lady,’ Lord Ellison said smiling broadly.

‘You
are most welcome, gentlemen. I will see to it that your chambers are made ready for you immediately.’

‘We thank you, my lady. We have had a hard journey across country these last two days. If you could be so kind,’ Oliver Lambton said. ‘We shall only need to be under your safe roof here for a day or so.’ He smiled. ‘I trust that you have a loyal household here, Lady Phoebe, as I must impress on you that it is of the utmost importance that our visit does not become known to our enemies. Or to your good friends. We cannot encourage idle tongues here. Your silence is required and vital to our cause.’ He spoke out seriously and his companion nodded.

Lady
Phoebe looked worried. ‘Sir, all here in this household are loyal to our Royalist cause and our Royal family. I give my word that none here would seek to betray Prince Charles or his mother, the Queen.’

‘I
am glad to hear so - we need your discretion and support, madam.’ Lambton studied the women’s faces as he spoke quietly and his companion nodded in agreement. ‘I trust that anything that is said here will not go out of this room, my lady.’

‘My
niece I can assure you is trustworthy, gentlemen. She is the daughter of a Royalist officer and a Trevenian.’

Lambton nodded. ‘I have to state this because so much depends on you all here. I have to inform you here and now that Cromwell has now offered an award of five thousand pounds for the capture of the Stuart heir to the throne alive or dead...’

Lady
Phoebe gasped and paled immediately. Her fan soon came into play. ‘God have mercy on him and us, my lord.’ Tamsin hurried quickly to her side. ‘Sirs, tell me this cannot be true. Cromwell wreaks vengeance this day on us all. This last wicked act goes beyond all boundaries between right and wrong. It cannot surely be borne.’

Lambton
shook his head. ‘I’m afraid it is, my lady. And because of this we would like to introduce you to someone shortly whose safety is most vitally important to us all.’

‘Pray
do tell me more, sir…’ Lady Phoebe said wiping her tears from her face with a lace handkerchief, shaking with distress.

Tamsin
put her arm lovingly around the older woman. ‘Please don’t cry, Aunt.’

Lady
Phoebe’s head turned quickly as she was interrupted by a light knock on the parlour door. It opened to reveal Lord Lambton’s young handsome serving man, who came in closing the door quietly behind him.

Lady
Phoebe’s tearful blue eyes grew rounder with surprise as he came forward quickly to make a low courtly bow to both her and Tamsin.

‘My
Lady Phoebe, Mistress Trevenian, it is indeed my pleasure to meet you both here today. I hope you will forgive me for arriving without invitation and so informally at Treganna house, my lady,’ he said with a smile on his dark handsome face.

‘Lord
Laurence... Who - who is this young man? Should I know you, sir?’

‘This,
Lady Phoebe, is Charles Stuart, our late King’s son. And our rightful heir to the English throne.’

‘Oh!
Glory be! Prince Charles... Your Royal Highness! Sire!’

Lady
Phoebe dropped her fan and the Prince picked it up and handed it over to her with a low courtly bow.

‘My
lady…’

‘Oh,
pray, please do forgive me, your Royal Highness. Please forgive me.’ Lady Phoebe rose and bobbed a curtsey covered in pink confusion and joy - totally unprepared for this disclosure of her unexpected royal guest.

Tamsin
smiled. She knew now why he had seemed so familiar to her. She came forward and curtseyed. ‘Your Highness. On behalf of my Aunt Phoebe and everyone here we welcome you to Treganna house, sire.’

Aunt Phoebe filled with excitement now, tossed her fair ringlets and fluttered her fan. ‘Your Royal Highness! My Lords! What can I say? Why have you come here? This is indeed a great honour. What do you want with us, gentlemen? Lord Lambton? Tell us and we shall do it forthwith.’

‘Dear
lady, we only ask that you keep the Prince’s presence here secret under your roof here for a day or so. We shall be leaving here as soon as our stay at Pendennis castle is fully safely arranged.’

‘You
have our sole discretion, my lord, your Royal Highness.’

‘We
do not wish to bring attention to anyone here that has Cromwellian leanings. It would be best if his Highness keeps his anonymity from everyone or anyone that might call on you here during the day.’

‘My
servants are loyal and my maids have brothers and fathers fighting for the Royalist cause, your Highness,’ Aunt Phoebe said. ‘My steward Edward Whittle was wounded in battle. He shall see to it that you are kept safe and protected.’ She gasped, ‘Oh dear! Oh, my lord! I quite forgot! I have arranged for a dinner to be held here tonight.’ She shook her head. ‘I wished to introduce my niece Tamsin here to my friends. But I shall of course cancel it forthwith.’

‘Pray
do not, my lady,’ Lord Lambton said. ‘This will only serve to draw attention to Treganna. It is best that everything should go on as normal for the next few days. No one should think that something has changed your present arrangements for the evening.’

‘Pray
do not attempt to alter your plans on my account, Lady Phoebe,’ Prince Charles said smiling. ‘Alas, I must confess that I am weary after long days of travel and shall be glad of a good night’s rest in this beautiful house before I leave England for a foreign shore in France.’

‘I
shall see to it instantly, sire,’ Lady Phoebe said.

Charles
said with a warm smile, ‘You have my immediate thanks, my ladies. We have been long on the road and I must admit that I am grossly saddle sore,’ he added with a rich chuckle.

Aunt
Phoebe pulled hard on the bell rope. ‘Please ask Mr Whittle to come and see me here at once, Trimble.’

Minutes
later Edward Whittle came in shutting the door behind him carefully; his grey eyes showing instant recognition and little surprise when he saw the young Charles Stuart standing at ease by the fireplace. He bowed. ‘Your Royal Highness, my lords. My lady Phoebe...’

He was given a quick summing up of the situation by Lord Lambton. He said instantly, ‘Everything here will be directed and managed the same for your invited guests as it would normally. I will see to it his Highness has his good bedchamber, rest privacy and refreshment immediately.’

Prince Charles nodded and smiled. ‘I could not ask for anything better, Whittle. My Lady Phoebe, Miss Trevenian. Thank you.’

*

One hour later, as the day neared noon, another visitor also called at Treganna House. A young man on horseback caused much alarm to Tamsin when from her bedchamber window she saw him riding leisurely up the driveway to the house and alighting as Trimble came forward to greet him. How dare he come here at this most awkward of all times to make a most unexpected appearance.

Why had
Adam come here now? He could be an immediate danger to their royal guest, Charles Stuart. Tamsin took to the stairs quickly to greet him in the front hall as Trimble prepared to announce his arrival to Lady Phoebe in the parlour, ‘Master Adam Carey, Miss Tamsin.’

His
keen green eyes took in immediately the high colour she wore in her cheeks. Did this reflect her pleasure in greeting his arrival or was it caused by apprehension? He hoped it was the former.

‘Good
day to you, Master Carey. What business brings you to Treganna today, sir?’

She
fought hard to hide her true feelings on seeing him. He could not have arrived at a worse time for her and everyone, though she knew that Charles had already been taken to a secret place of safety to recover and rest.

She
observed that Adam had taken pains with his dress and wore a fine olive green velvet suit and green feathered brown hat that gave no outward hint that he was other than what he wished to portray that day; a young Royalist gentleman.

Tamsin
did not know how to take his unexpected arrival at Treganna. He had not spoken of this but was he using his previous meeting with her aunt as an excuse to call on her? What were his real intentions that brought him there? Tamsin so wished that it was to see her alone. He seemed pleased to see her.

Adam swept off his feathered hat and bowed low in courtly greeting. ‘I trust I find you well and in good health, Miss Trevenian.’

‘I
am… quite well, thank you, sir.’

‘I
called to return something today that belongs to the colonel, your father,’ he said with a broad smile and handed over the linen wrapped parcel he held under his arm which she accepted from him with a curtsey. ‘And to thank you, for the much kindness and generosity that prompted this loan.’ His bright green eyes gave away more to her than he said, but his natural caution made him careful. How could she handle this unexpected meeting carefully without giving away her nervous state to him? Or the strong feelings she knew she had for him?

‘Thank
you, sir. I trust you are in good health?’’

‘I am, Miss Trevenian.’
And all the better for seeing you again. Oh my dearest, beloved, how I wish I could take you in my arms and claim a kiss from your lips,
Adam thought as she took the package gently from him with a low curtsey.

‘My
Aunt will be pleased to see you, Master Adam.’

Tamsin knew that Adam’s
unexpected arrival could be the worst thing possible for everyone. She dare not betray her true feelings towards him or to anyone else.

Her
Aunt was naturally delighted to receive him in the parlour. Greeting him like a dear family friend, which she believed he was when he took the glass of wine she offered him with a smile of pleasure. Tamsin could make a guess that she was thinking that he would be excellent company this evening at the dining table for her niece.

‘You
are very welcome, sir.’ Lady Phoebe smiled generously at him. ‘We are pleased to have some young company to join us here. And if you are in no great hurry, Master Carey, we would be most pleased if you would join us for a meal this evening. You must stay with us a while at Treganna.’ She sighed. ‘It would delight us much. We have so few visitors here to stay these days.’