Page 70 of Feathers in the Wind
She stood up. ‘So soon? Thank you Captain Ashley. God go with you.’
‘I will tell the major that you are safely bestowed.’
Perdita wondered what a good wife would be expected to say and said with a smile, ‘And please assure him my prayers are with him.’
The young man inclined his head. ‘Of course.’ He bowed. ‘Good day, mistress.’
Through the window she watched as Richard Ashley stooped from the saddle to kiss his young wife before turning his horse and riding out through the gates.
Kate turned back towards the house, and as she entered the parlour, the brave smile belied the tears that glinted in the afternoon light
‘I apologise for neglecting you, Mistress Coulter.’
Perdita shook her head. ‘Please, I bid my,’ she paused, the lie once more coming to her lips, ‘husband farewell this morning, there is no need to pretend an indifference to his departure you do not feel.’
Kate Ashley sank on to a chair and leaned her head on her hands.
‘We seem to have had so little time together,’ she said. ‘We were wed but a year when the war came.’ She looked up at Perdita. ‘Have you been wed long?’
Perdita shook her head and changed the subject. ‘You have a child?’
Kate brightened. ‘Thomas. He was born not long before the war began.’ The shadows descended again. ‘He has barely seen his father in all that time.’
‘May I meet him?’
Kate's eyes brightened. ‘Of course! He is upstairs with his nurse. Come and I will show you to the guest chamber and then we will visit Tom.’
Thomas Ashley was a dark-haired, slender child, who resembled neither parent. When Perdita remarked on this, Kate laughed.
‘He is indeed a changeling. My father-in-law is of the opinion that he favours Richard's mother, but she is long dead and I have no likeness to compare. Do you have children, Mistress Coulter?’
Perdita hesitated. ‘No… no.’ The old pain caught at her voice.
Kate gave her a look of absolute understanding but before she could speak. Thomas, awkward in his skirts, toddled over to Perdita and held out a wooden horse.
‘Horsey.’
Perdita took the toy and slipped down to her knees, her skirts billowing around her.
‘See, Thomas,’ she said trip-trapping the horse across the floor, ‘the horse is going to visit his friends.’
The horse's friends were to be found in a wooden Noah's ark. Playing with the child made it possible for both women to forget for a couple of hours, the terrible danger that the men they loved would face in the morning.
Chapter 13
Marston Moor, 2 July 1644
‘He's not coming?’ Hewitson muttered dourly as Adam rode up beside him, fresh from a hasty conference behind the lines. ‘Ye're going to tell me that Rupert's decided not to give battle. Why else is't infantry moving?’
‘The generals are deploying most of the foot towards Tadcaster. They think Rupert means to break south,’ Adam replied.
‘Oh aye? Mayhap the generals have got it wrong.’ Hewitson pointed across the moor. ‘See yonder, that body of horse?’
Adam nodded.
‘Rupert's men. They’ve been watching us for some time.’
As Hewitson indicated, the distant horsemen wheeled and turned away.
