The Painter's Apprentice (23 page)

‘Well …’ He frowned. ‘Perhaps I do run on about my latest work. But she’s always fascinated. She even said she’d like to come
to the city with me to learn more about what I’m doing.’

‘I’m sure that she did.’

Noah changed the subject. ‘Shall we go for our walk now? We can take our sketchbooks, if you like?’

‘I’ve finished here.’ Jealousy was a painful emotion, she reflected and, apart from the usual sibling rivalries, not one she’d
experienced before.

They went to sit in their favourite place beneath the oak beside the moat, where the late afternoon sun restored Beth’s good
humour. She missed the summer afternoons when she and Johannes had sat, sketching and chatting, on the garden bench at Merryfields,
and following the same pursuit with Noah made her recall those happy times.

Noah leaned back against the rough bark of the tree, sighing in contentment. ‘I’ve spent the afternoon smoothing over petty
squabbles between stonemasons and joiners,’ he said, ‘and I’ve looked forward to being here with you all day.’ He opened his
sketchbook and began to draw the tree canopy above.

Beth, drawing the bulrushes clustered on the bank of the moat, watched Noah’s charcoal slip from his fingers as he drifted
into a doze. A soft breeze stirred the branches above, dappling the filtered sunlight over his fine, straight nose. A lock
of auburn hair fell across
his forehead. Smiling, Beth turned to a new page in her sketchbook.

Twenty minutes later, absorbed in smudging the graphite with her thumb to mould the shadows beneath Noah’s cheekbones, she
realised that he was awake and regarding her with lazy eyes.

‘So I am to be the subject of your next work?’ he smiled. ‘Something of a change from a flower portrait.’

‘Johannes told me to experiment. And you were sleeping so peacefully that I thought I’d attempt your likeness.’

‘May I see?’

Beth handed him her sketchbook.

‘You have captured me,’ he said after a moment. ‘This is clearly the face I see in the mirror when I shave every morning.
But I believe you have made me look unnaturally heroic.’

Beth flushed. It was true that as she sketched the line of his jaw she had imagined him as the knight in one of the tales
of chivalry she had enjoyed as a child.

‘It will serve to remind you of me after I have returned to Virginia,’ Noah said. He drew up his knees to his chin and turned
to stare at the moat, his face set.

‘Perhaps then,’ said Beth with a lightness of tone that she didn’t feel, ‘perhaps you should draw me and then you won’t forget
me, either?’

‘I shan’t forget you. How could I?’ he asked, turning to face her again.

Covered in confusion, she couldn’t meet his eyes. ‘May I see your sketchbook?’ she asked. As she turned the pages, she was
fascinated to see how his drawings differed from her own.

‘You don’t attempt to make an exact likeness of what you see?’

‘You see the oak leaves above? I’ve used them as an inspiration for a carved stone corbel I’m working on.’ He came to sit
beside her and took back the book. ‘And look, if I draw the leaves like this …’ Snatching up her graphite stick, his hand
moved rapidly over the page as he sketched a garland of oak leaves. ‘This will make an
excellent length of plaster cornicing or a carving to decorate a chimneypiece.’

‘It’s very handsome,’ said Beth, fired by his enthusiasm.

‘One day,’ he said, ‘I’ll use these details when I build a house of my own.’

‘What a shame I’ll never see it,’ said Beth.

Then a cloud passed in front of the sun and she shivered.

A few days later the boatman tied up at Merryfields and Beth and Cecily jumped on to the landing stage, eager to see their
home again. After Beth pulled on the bell they waited impatiently until the gate in the wall opened.

‘Joseph! How are you?’

A wide grin spread across Joseph’s face as he took their bags. ‘All the better for seeing you two young ladies again! I wasn’t
sure if you’d come.’

‘What! Miss your wedding?’

‘Tell me, has Sara made a beautiful dress to wear?’ asked Cecily.

‘She’s been closeted away in secret with Peg every evening,’ said Joseph. ‘Strangely, she always seems to have little bits
of thread caught in her hair so I expect there’s something afoot in the sewing department.’

They walked through the orchard towards the house and Beth felt a pang of sadness as they passed the apple tree where she
had found
Johannes hanging. Refusing to let such a thought mar a happy event, she pushed it away.

When Joseph opened the orchard gate to the garden Beth stood still, gazing at Merryfields. The faded red bricks glowed in
the golden sunshine, the twisted chimneys reached up towards an azure sky. Oh, how she had missed it! The gardens were as
neat as ever, though she was surprised how small they looked now that she had become used to the extensive grounds at Fulham
Palace.

John and Old Silas were weeding one of the flower beds. Silas waved when he saw them and John ran to greet them.

‘Beth! Cecily!’ He hugged them both together. ‘I’ve m-m-missed you both so much!’

‘Mind my new hat!’ said Cecily, straightening the brim and stroking the feathers back into place. ‘You’re all covered in earth!’

‘Let me look at you.’ He held her at arm’s length. ‘My little sister has grown into a b-b-beautiful lady.’

‘Do you really think so?’ asked Cecily eagerly. ‘Grandmama is teaching me everything she knows about how to behave in polite
society so that I can find myself a rich husband.’ She glanced at Beth. ‘I’m determined
one
of us Ambrose girls must marry well.’

‘Come on in,’ said John, linking arms with Beth. ‘You c-c-can’t imagine how strange it’s been with both of you away, especially
with Kit in Virginia, too. I don’t like being an only child. Mama and Father are pacing about indoors waiting for you to arrive
and I’m d-d-determined to sit you down with me for a couple of hours, Beth, while you tell me all about G-G-George London.’

‘There’s a great deal to tell. I painted a particularly beautiful auricula, red and yellow and bronze, and mentioned how you
would love to grow some here so Mr London has sent you a gift of some seeds. I’ve brought my painting, too, to show you how
they will turn out.’

John hugged her tight. ‘So you d-d-didn’t forget me, then, while you’ve been away?’

‘Of
course
not!’

Joseph had gone on ahead with their bags and now Beth saw her mother hurrying towards them with Orpheus at her heels. Beth
ran to her with her arms wide and pressed her face to Susannah’s soft cheek, breathing in her familiar perfume of rose and
lavender.

Eyes bright with joy, Susannah kissed Beth before gathering Cecily into her embrace, too. ‘Welcome home, my beautiful girls,’
she said.

Orpheus jumped up to rest his paws on Beth’s shoulders and lick her face.

‘Down, sir!’ Beth bent to fondle his ears and pat his wiry coat. ‘So you missed me, too?’

William was waiting for them in the little parlour and Beth was moved to see the pleasure on his face as he greeted them.
‘Come and sit by me and tell me all your news, or are you too grand now, Beth, since you’ve been living in a palace?’

‘It isn’t anything like as grand as it sounds, in fact, parts of it are in worse repair than Merryfields,’ she laughed.

‘What news from the city?’

‘All the talk amongst the household is of unease about the standing army being so large when we are not at war. Bishop Compton
is worried that the Jesuits have twisted the King’s promises to alter nothing in the established Church.’

‘I never thought to hear you interested in politics, Beth,’ said Susannah.

‘I never was. Only now, when I hear about happenings at Court from Josh and Sam or about events from Bishop Compton, it
is
interesting when I hear how these affairs may change how we all live.’

‘Have you been very homesick?’ asked Susannah.

‘At first,’ said Beth, ‘but I’ve made friends now and Noah usually comes to see me at the end of the day before I return to
Chelsea.’

‘Don’t you want to hear what I’ve been up to?’ asked Cecily. ‘
Much
more interesting than Beth’s crumbly old palace!’

‘You don’t find it too irksome to stay with Lady Arabella?’ asked Susannah.

‘Irksome!’ Cecily laughed. ‘It is not irksome at all. She takes me shopping to the Exchange and we visit her friends for coffee
and we’ve been to the theatre with the twins and Harry de Montford. Why, Grandmama Arabella has quite adopted me!’

William raised one eyebrow. ‘It seems you are having a fine old time.’

Cecily’s eyes sparkled. ‘I certainly am. Grandmama’s dressmaker is making me a new gown of yellow taffeta and I love going
into the city. It’s all so exciting! And then the twins bring back all
kinds
of scandalous gossip from the Court, too.’ She lowered her voice. ‘Only the other day Harry told me that Josh had told him
that the King had a common whore brought up the back stairs to his private quarters …’

‘Cecily! That’s quite enough!’

‘But, Father, it’s true!’

William’s face had darkened with anger. ‘Is it not bad enough that your uncle should relate such a wicked and treasonable
tale, without you repeating such a thing?’

Cecily gave a long suffering sigh. ‘Yes, Father.’

‘Perhaps you should retire to your chamber for a while to reflect upon a proper mode of conduct for a young lady?’

‘You’re sending me to my chamber?’ Cecily’s expression was incredulous.

‘If you behave like an ill-mannered child you must accept the consequences. I cannot think that Lady Arabella would like to
hear such words pass a young
lady’s
lips.’

‘Mama?’ Cecily looked to her mother for support and found that it was not forthcoming. Pouting, she stood up. ‘Oh well, I
must hang up my new skirt to let the creases fall out before the wedding.’ She closed the door a little too firmly behind
her.

‘What was Harry de Montford thinking of to relate such disgraceful tittle-tattle to a young girl,’ asked William, shaking
his head in disbelief.

‘Cecily is extremely taken with him,’ said Beth. ‘Of course, he can be very charming.’

‘Is Arabella maintaining proper control over your sister?’ asked Susannah, with a worried frown.

‘Lady Arabella likes to surround herself with handsome young men but she wouldn’t allow it if they paid more attention to
Cecily than herself.’

Susannah gave a wry smile. ‘That does sound exactly like Arabella.’

‘Shall we forbid Cecily from returning to Chelsea?’ asked William.

‘You must do what you think right, Father, but I believe it might be better to let Cecily enjoy herself a little longer. I
cannot imagine that it will be long before she becomes disenchanted with both Lady Arabella and Harry de Montford’s capricious
and shallow ways. Quite apart from a prolonged fit of the sulks if you drag her away from her new friends, should Cecily not
come to this understanding herself?’

William thought about this. Then he turned to Susannah. ‘What is your opinion, my dear? Instinct tells me that, although I
would prefer to keep Cecily close to hand, Beth has the matter in a nutshell.’

‘And Beth can keep a watchful eye on her.’ Susannah sighed. ‘When she was a child, Cecily wasn’t called So-Silly by her siblings
without good reason.’

‘Unlike our Beth, who shows such good sense,’ said William, reaching for her hand.

Beth flushed with pleasure. William’s praise was precious to her. ‘I will endeavour to curb any excesses on Cecily’s part,’
she said.

The following morning, Joseph and Sara’s wedding day, the Ambrose family and the guests and servants gathered in the hall
in their Sunday clothes before they walked to church.

Phoebe, quietly dignified in a turquoise turban and gold hoops in her ears, clung to her son’s arm, her ebony skin glowing
with pride.

The bridegroom wore a blue velvet coat and fidgeted nervously with the lace at his throat.

‘L-l-last day as a free man,’ joked John, punching him on the arm.

Joseph nodded and gave a sickly grin, his brown face paler than usual.

The church bells began to peal.

‘Shall we go?’ said William, holding out his arm to Susannah.

The church was dressed in flowers from the garden at Merryfields and the bride, wearing a blue dress with embroidered butterflies
on the petticoat, was as sweetly charming as only a blushing bride can be. Emmanuel’s proud smile as he tenderly accompanied
his daughter down the aisle tugged Beth’s heartstrings.

Cecily cried prettily into a lace handkerchief all the way through the service. ‘I wish I was being wed today,’ she whispered
to Beth. ‘But I would wear white flowers in my hair and have a green silk dress to match my eyes and ribbons on my sleeves.’

‘Marriage is far more important than the clothes you wear,’ said Beth severely. But she, too, watched Sara and Joseph exchange
their vows with a tear in her eye. She had grown up with both of them and witnessed their love develop. A strange melancholy
took possession of her. She would never be a bride like Sara, with all the hopes and dreams that marriage promised. There
would never be a husband to care for her and share her life. She would never have children to love. She sighed deeply and
Cecily nudged her.

Beth sat up straight. It was no good to go into a decline; this was the path in life she had carefully chosen to prevent her
special gift from being wasted. Anything else would make a mockery of Johannes’s faith in her talent.

After the ceremony, the wedding breakfast was laid out in the great hall and the family and guests feasted on chicken pies,
roasted lamb, a great pike and a selection of jellies, syllabubs and sweet pastries. Afterwards there was music and dancing.

Beth was amused to see Old Silas take Nellie Byrne for a turn around the floor.

Orpheus, who took against the fiddler and howled every time a new tune began, had to be banished to the stables.

At last the sun began to streak the horizon with gold as the day grew to a close. Clarence Smith proposed a final toast to
the bride and groom and William made a speech to wish them a long and fruitful marriage. Then the party processed outside
and threw rice and rose petals at the happy couple as they made their way up the stairs to the room they would share over
the stables.

Phoebe and Peg cried tears of joy in each other’s arms and speculated on how long it would be until they became grandmothers.

The guests returned to their dormitories and Cecily, having imbibed two glasses of wine, fell asleep with her head upon the
table.

Beth and Susannah set to work with Jennet, Phoebe and Peg to restore order to the great hall.

‘What a perfect wedding,’ said Beth as she carried a teetering pile of plates into the scullery.

‘They do look happy, don’t they?’ said Peg, her arms in water up to the elbow as she washed the pots.

‘You only have to see the way they look at each other to know it’s the right choice,’ said Beth, wondering why her own spirits
had suddenly sunk so low.

Peg blew a loose strand of fair hair off her face. ‘I knew when I met my Emmanuel that he was the one for me and I was only
fourteen then.’ She smiled dreamily as she scrubbed the plates and Beth could see the eager young fourteen year old girl again
in her freckled face. ‘And he’s still the one for me, even after twenty years. He always could make me laugh, even when life
is difficult. Laughter, that’s the secret of a happy marriage.’

Beth awoke with the dawn chorus and slipped out of bed so as not to disturb Cecily. She pulled aside the curtain to peep through
the casement. The sky was a hazy blue suffused with pink and mist shimmered over the grass. The scene was so delicately pretty
she longed to paint it and spent several minutes wondering how she might capture the veil of peachy clouds all edge-lit with
purest gold. Suddenly desperate to be outside, she scrambled into her clothes and tiptoed barefoot out of the bedchamber.