The Painter's Apprentice (31 page)

Judith peeled a strand of damp hair off her forehead and tucked it behind her ear. ‘The Dutch stock market has crashed.’

Beth wrinkled her brow. ‘I don’t understand.’

‘Nicholas says it’s because Prince William of Orange is leaving his borders undefended against the French. He’s been secretly
amassing his forces for months and is risking everything to come to England to restore Princess Mary to her rightful place
as heir to the throne. What do you think of that!’

Beth stared at Judith, while she absorbed the news. So Princess Anne’s secret was true.

‘Beth, don’t you see?’ Judith shook Beth by her arms. ‘Prince William is going to save us all from the papist threat!’

Bishop Compton spoke to the household at dinnertime, confirming the news.

Afterwards, Nicholas Tanner, who had joined Beth and his sister, picked at his roasted chicken in near silence, while the
great hall resonated with excited conversation.

‘Nicholas?’ said Judith, catching his sleeve. ‘It’s good news, isn’t it?’

‘It may be,’ he said. He wiped the sheen of perspiration off his forehead with a brawny arm. ‘But can we be sure that the
Prince of Orange will simply land on our shores and put Princess Mary on the throne without meeting any resistance? The Bishop
says the King is amassing a great army at Hounslow Heath. He’s not simply going to hand over his crown to Princess Mary, is
he? He’ll fight. To the death, if necessary.’

Judith’s face paled. ‘Nicholas, you won’t have to fight, will you? Surely you’re needed in the smithy?’

‘I may have no choice,’ he said in a low voice. ‘We may all have to fight. And how will we know our enemies? There are Catholics
all over the country, ready to kill for their cause.’

Beth shuddered, suddenly picturing Sir George coming after her with a pike in one hand and a musket in the other.

Two weeks passed and Beth saw little of Noah, apart from a few snatched kisses on some evenings as she hurried back to Chelsea.
He continued to work long hours and on some days she didn’t see him at all. The thrill of his declaration had worn off a little
to be replaced by a niggle of doubt. Why did he not come to see her more often? She wanted to shout aloud the secret of their
love and begin to make plans for their marriage but nothing could move forward until he had gained Father’s permission.

One evening, determined to pin him down, she waited on the landing stage until at last she saw a boat carrying him towards
her. She was relieved to see his face break into a smile when he saw her.

‘I thought I might have missed you again,’ he said. ‘It’ll be dark soon. Jump into the boat and I’ll accompany you back to
Chelsea.’

It wasn’t quite what Beth had in mind, as she didn’t want a boatman listening in when she spoke to Noah on private matters.

The warm breeze gusting across the river was pleasant after the suffocating heat of the day, in spite of the summertime reek
of the river. She sat hand in hand with Noah, watching the great golden orb of the sun sink in the sky.

‘I’ve hardly seen you,’ she said.

‘There were drawings to finish for St Paul’s and a great many meetings with stonemasons and carpenters.’

She wasn’t sure but she thought he sounded defensive. ‘I’m not complaining,’ she said. ‘It’s just that I’ve missed you.’

He smiled briefly and squeezed her hand.

There was another important matter to discuss. It had troubled her a great deal but it must be raised. ‘Noah, I need to talk
to you about something.’

He turned to face her. ‘You don’t want to go to Virginia, do you?’

Mutely, she shook her head.

‘I thought not.’ He shrugged and his mouth set in a thin line. ‘Then we’ll stay here. I know you want to be near your family.’

It was as easy as that! Beth sighed in relief but then, strangely, she visualised Noah’s house that would now never be built
on the foothills of the mountains in Virginia and experienced a profound sense of loss. When she glanced at him he was staring
at the water again, his face unreadable. Full of guilt, she struggled to find something to say to appease him. ‘There is important
work for you to do here,’ she ventured.

‘That Sir Christopher will claim as his own.’

They sat in silence for a while, Noah’s knee jiggling up and down as he stared out over the water. At last he sighed. ‘Beth?
I need to go home to Virginia.’ The words tumbled out of him as if he’d had to find courage to say them.

‘Go home? Now? Just when we …’ She was confused.

‘There’s some unfinished business I must attend to,’ he said. ‘That’s why I’ve been so busy of late, trying to tie up all
the loose ends here. I must return to Virginia for a while. I’ll be back as soon as I can. Then I’ll speak to your father
and we’ll be married.’

‘Why don’t you speak to Father before you leave? You’d be away for months.
Must
you go?’

‘Yes, I must.’

‘I don’t understand.’

‘No,’ he said. ‘I don’t suppose you do.’

The light was fading rapidly but she was still able to see his face, set and anxious. What business could possibly be so important
that he had to return to Virginia? She was intensely curious but something in his expression prevented her from asking. ‘But
you will
come back for me?’ she asked, gripping hard on to the side of the boat.

‘I promise,’ he said.

She had to be content with that.

August 1688

A week later, Judith poked her head around the studio door. ‘A little bird told me it’s your birthday. Can I come in?’

‘Please do!’

Judith carried a large cake which she presented to Beth with a flourish. ‘A birthday cake for you. Almond and honey.’ She
beamed as Beth’s eyes widened at the sight of the cake generously studded with toasted almonds and the whole frosted with
powdered sugar.

‘What a beauty!’ gasped Beth.

‘Thought you’d like it. There’s half a pound of Mr Skelton’s best honey in there; you can taste the lavender.’

Judith and Beth were just finishing their second slice when Noah arrived. ‘If there’s any left, I’d like some too,’ he said.

‘Perhaps we can spare you a very
small
slice,’ teased Beth.

Judith licked crumbs away from the corner of her mouth. ‘If I don’t hurry back to the kitchens there’ll be no pies for dinner.’

Noah waited until the door closed behind her before enfolding Beth in his arms. ‘Happy birthday, sweetheart.’

She slipped her arms around his neck and held up her face for his kiss.

‘You taste of honey,’ he said a moment later. ‘I’m exceedingly fond of honey.’

He kissed her again, taking his time, and her knees were weak with longing when he released her.

‘You have bewitched me,’ he whispered. ‘How can I bear to leave you, even for one minute?’

‘Don’t, then. Stay with me!’

He ran his fingers into her hair, cupping her face while he covered her cheeks in tiny, hot kisses. Sighing, he let her go.
‘I have something for you.’ From inside his jacket he pulled out a box about four inches square.

Beth lifted the lid. Inside was a silver bracelet, wrapped in a wisp of forget-me-not blue silk. Exclaiming in delight, she
saw that the catch was fashioned like a pair of clasped hands. ‘It’s beautiful!’

He fastened it around her wrist. ‘Imagine that these clasped hands are mine, holding you until I return.’

He kissed away her tears of happiness with a touch as gentle as a feather. ‘I’m working at St Paul’s again and I’d better
leave now,’ he said, ‘or I shan’t be back in time to accompany you to the playhouse this evening.’

She cut him a slice of cake to take away for his dinner. ‘Don’t be too late!’ she cautioned, as she kissed him goodbye.

After he had gone, she picked up her paintbrush and stared unseeingly at the plump mauve peonies which awaited her attention.
Had she done the right thing in expecting Noah to stay in England after they were married? His dreams were so clearly set
on building a new Virginia but she could just as easily paint flowers there as at home. It was clear to her now that she produced
her best work when she was happy and she
would
be happy if she was with Noah. But would Noah’s work suffer if she forced him to change his plans?

Of course, if she went to Virginia the prospect of saying goodbye to Mama and Father was terrible but they would still have
Cecily and John to look after them in their old age.

She chewed the end of her paintbrush while she imagined living in the handsome house Noah envisaged. Kit would be so happy
to have her close to hand and she was sure Noah’s family would welcome her. And then there were the flowers. When she saw
the variety of astonishing and exotic plants and trees that were regularly arriving at Fulham Palace from Virginia, her heart
began to race at the artistic opportunities that would be open to her. Perhaps she could even make her own book of flower
painting; a collection illustrating all the exotic local species?

There was a lot to consider but deep inside her a bubble of excitement began to grow and grow. Going to Virginia would be
the start of a great adventure. Noah had already proved his love for her by forgoing his ambitions and agreeing to live in
England but perhaps the greatest wedding gift she could give to him was her heartfelt support for what he truly wanted?

Beth left the palace in good time to change for the planned birthday outing to the playhouse with Cecily, the twins and Harry
de Montford. When she arrived at Chelsea, Lady Arabella’s maid told her that Cecily was not at home, having gone to the New
Exchange with the mistress.

Beth took time over her appearance, putting on the lovely aqua silk dress given to her by Princess Anne and dressing her hair
in an artfully simple way that took a great deal of effort. She smoothed her hands with the lavender hand cream made by her
mother for her birthday present and rubbed precious attar of roses behind her ears. The Princess’s ring sparkled on her finger
and she kissed the gleaming silver of Noah’s bracelet.

When she was ready she studied her reflection in the mirror, wondering if the low-cut neckline was too daring since the tight
lacing accentuated the swell of her breasts. But it was her birthday and she
wanted to look ravishing for Noah. More than anything she wanted him to desire her as much as she desired him. Her nights
had been disturbed of late as she lay wide-eyed in the dark, yearning for his touch, and when she finally fell asleep her
dreams made her blush when she remembered them in the morning.

She walked slowly downstairs, taking pleasure in the sound and feel of her silken skirts swishing around her ankles as she
walked.

In the parlour, Joshua and Samuel were playing a hand of cards and Harry leaned against the chimney piece cleaning his nails
with a knife. Beth paused in the doorway to reflect on the pretty picture that they made: the twins, so blond and identically
good-looking, contrasting so dramatically with Harry’s olive skin and black hair.

As elegant as ever, Harry slid the knife into a sheath inside his coat of topaz velvet. He kissed her hand, never taking his
dark eyes off her face. ‘You are looking exceptionally fine, tonight, Miss Ambrose.’ he said.

The touch of his lips, the faint graze of his stubble on the back of her hand, made her shiver. The intensity of his gaze
always unsettled her and she could quite see why Cecily had lost her head over him.

‘How kind of you to grace us with your presence,’ she said, unable to meet his eyes and looking instead at his full lips.
As he continued to hold her hand, she cursed inwardly as a blush began to warm her cheeks. ‘I hear that you have been spending
a great deal of time of late with the butcher’s daughter.’

‘Why, how gossip travels!’ Harry raised an eyebrow at Samuel.

‘And how is Miss Plumridge? Is she soon to become Mistress de Montford?’

‘I think not.’ Harry leaned a little closer to whisper. ‘Delightful though she is, plump little Miss Plumridge resembles,
just a shade too much, one of her father’s pigs.’

‘Most ungallant of you!’

‘But you, my dear, are in extraordinary good looks tonight.’

‘Once you wash the paint and charcoal smudges off her, it’s plain to see that my niece is a pretty little thing,’ drawled
Joshua with a mischievous smile.

‘Pretty as paint,’ added Samuel.

‘Why, thank you, Uncles! That’s the kindest thing you’ve ever said to me.’

‘We promise not to make a habit of it,’ said Joshua. ‘Don’t want to turn your head.’

Footsteps ran along the hall and Cecily threw open the door. ‘Am I going to be late?’

‘Not at all,’ said Beth. ‘Besides, Noah won’t be here for a little while yet.’

Then Lady Arabella hurried into the parlour. ‘Joshua and Samuel, Sir George wants to see you in his study.’

‘What now?’ grumbled Joshua.

‘At once, if you please! Do not let me have to remind you that you owe your positions at Court entirely to Sir George.’

The twins followed their mother from the room without a backward glance.

Harry smiled at Cecily. ‘You look charming, as ever. But perhaps you will wish to wear something a little more festive as
it is Beth’s birthday?’

‘I certainly do!’ Cecily leaned forward conspiratorially. ‘Grandmama was persuaded to buy me a new gown. It’s gold with red
ribbons and it makes me look so lovely I shall amaze you all.’

‘I’m sure you will, Miss Cecily.’ Harry smiled lazily at her. ‘We don’t want to be late and you will need a little time for
your
toilette
if you are to amaze us. Off you go now!’

‘I’ll be back soon,’ said Cecily, closing the door behind her.

‘Well, well! We’re all alone,’ said Harry, regarding Beth with heavy-lidded eyes.

All at once Beth found that the air in parlour was very warm. ‘Not for long,’ she said with a lightness she didn’t feel.

‘Perhaps not.’ His expression grew thoughtful. ‘But maybe for long enough.’

She sat very straight-backed and wished she were somewhere, anywhere, else. ‘I should see if Cecily needs help to dress.’

‘No, stay! I had meant to take more time to …’ He hesitated and flickered a smile at her.

Beth narrowed her eyes. If she didn’t know him better, she’d have thought him nervous.

‘Hell and damnation, Beth! Don’t look at me like that!’

‘What are you trying to say, Harry?’ She spoke in as cool a voice as she could muster.

‘You’re a sensible girl and, unusually, not susceptible to my flattery. So I see no merit in waiting.’

‘Waiting for what?’

‘I will not insult you by treating you like an innocent.’

‘Like Cecily?’

‘Perhaps.’ Amusement crinkled the corners of his eyes but then he grew serious again. ‘I know all about you from the twins,
you know. They tell me that, for a woman, you are an unusually gifted artist. Not only gifted but wealthy and ambitious. And
that you have declared you will never marry.’ He stood up and walked slowly towards her, standing rather too close for her
comfort. ‘Is it true?’

She allowed a hint of a smile to play upon her lips as she thought about Noah. ‘I certainly did say that.’

He reached out his forefinger and she froze as he ran it slowly down the side of her cheek, pausing to touch the corner of
her mouth. ‘What a waste that would be!’ His voice was soft as he fixed her again with his compelling gaze. His finger continued
its unhurried journey down her chin and the side of her neck. ‘Have you no desire for a husband? Or a lover?’

His dark eyes still bored into her and all at once she found herself completely unable to look away. She couldn’t think clearly,
as if she were a mouse spellbound by a snake. He caressed the hollow of her neck causing small thrills of pleasure to radiate
over her skin. She began to tremble.

‘It would be a terrible thing for a beautiful woman such as yourself never to experience the sensual delights of love, don’t
you think?’ He leaned over her, his whispering breath hot and moist against her ear. ‘Clandestine afternoons behind closed
shutters, the silken touch of skin on skin, bare limbs entwined together in shuddering ecstasy …’ Slowly, so slowly, the warmth
of his fingertip trailed lower and lower towards her décolletage.

A shaft of desire clutched her at her, deep inside. Her eyelids fluttered closed and her breathing quickened.

Swiftly, Harry slipped his hand inside the neckline of her bodice and bent to lick her creamy flesh.

Gasping, she reared up, the spell broken. ‘Don’t touch me!’

Harry threw back his head and laughed. ‘I wondered how long you’d let me continue. And don’t tell me that you didn’t like
it.’

Beth’s chair was hard back against the wall and Harry was standing so close that she was unable to rise without pressing herself
against him. ‘You are no gentleman,’ she said, her heart thudding in fear and humiliation.

‘How very true! Now listen to me: I have a proposition for you.’

‘I do not care to listen to any proposition you may make. Please, stand aside.’ A wave of heat flooded over her and she glanced
down to see the scarlet flush of shame mottling her breasts.

‘Hear me out.’ He rested his hands heavily on her bare shoulders, holding her down. ‘Your problem is that a husband would
expect you to place your energies into managing his household and bearing his children but you want to spend all day painting.
So, to avoid argument, you have decided to remain unmarried.’

‘Take your hands off me!’ She tugged at his wrists, desperate to
pull his hands away from her naked skin but he only gripped her all the harder.

‘Look at me!’ His persuasive voice was like honey, rich with secret pleasures. ‘You are a beautiful woman and I cannot believe
you will wish to spurn the delights of physical love all your life. An unmarried woman cannot afford to make, shall we say,
a little mistake. And these things do happen. Artist or not, you will not want a bastard child clinging to your skirts.’

‘How dare you!’

‘There is a perfectly simple answer to your dilemma.’ He leaned forward until his face was two inches from her own. ‘You can
marry me.’

‘Marry you!’ Beth opened her eyes wide in astonishment. Curiosity momentarily overcame her anger. ‘Why would you want to marry
me?’

‘For your beauty and charm.’ He smiled. ‘And your money, of course.’

‘My
money?
’

He glanced at the sapphire on her finger. ‘This ring alone, that you wear so casually every day, would keep us for years.
Joshua tells me your family is very rich. And then there is your family connection with Lady Arabella and Sir George, who
move in the highest of circles.’

Beth shook her head in disbelief. What had possessed Joshua to tell Harry that her family was wealthy? Pure mischief, she
suspected.

‘Listen to me, Beth!’ He voice throbbed with passion. ‘I will not deny that my family is currently financially embarrassed
but together we can both live the lives we want. You may paint all day if you wish. At the plantation in Virginia we shall
have slaves to take care of domestic matters. We needn’t trouble each other at all.’

‘You call that a marriage?’

‘A business proposition. My father’s estate shall be restored and you will lead a life of artistic freedom. If you wish to
take lovers, I
shall not be jealous. And should there be a little bastard I shall own it as mine. Who knows, perhaps you will even invite
me into your bed? I promise you, I can bring you to heights of pleasure you have only dreamed of.’ Harry bent to kiss her
mouth, pressing her back in the chair and forcing his tongue between her teeth. His beard rasped her lips and he tasted of
stale wine and corruption.