Page 92 of By the Sword
Jacob surrendered his bed for the night, but Jonathan lay awake for a long time, staring at the ceiling. A house full of soldiers, Prescott, Giles, Kate…the thoughts jostled together in his tired mind. It was a tangle that only he could resolve.
The time had come to face his nemesis.
Chapter 33
Kate scoured the house looking for her errant son. No one seemed to have seen him since luncheon and the dark, drear evening was already closing in on them.
As she contemplated sending one of the servants to enquire at the Knowles’ farm, Essie Barlow appeared at the door to the parlour.
‘Beg pardon, ma’am,’ the girl said, ‘but Major Prescott’s in the library and he’s asked to speak with you.’
‘Damn the man,’ she muttered to herself.
Since their encounter in the garden, his attitude toward her had changed. Any pretence at sympathy had vanished and the previous day he had insisted on yet another search, pulling the furniture away from the wall and urging his troops to tear at the wainscoting with increased ferocity.
He didn’t find Giles. She and Nell had insisted he remains in the priest hole while the soldiers were in the house. On days when they were away, they let him out, but never further thanthe study. With the strain of enforced confinement and the ever-present danger of discovery, tempers within the household were fraying and it was little wonder Tom sought to escape the house when he could.
Leaving instructions with Essie to send a boy to Knowles’ farm, she straightened her collar and attended on Major Prescott.
She found him in the library, standing in what had become a familiar pose, with his back to the fireplace.
‘You look distracted, Mistress Ashley,’ he remarked and for once his tone seemed genial and sympathetic.
‘I am,’ she said. ‘My son is playing truant and after your mens’ work yesterday, I am ill-disposed for pleasantries. What can I do for you, Major?’
He spread his hands in a conciliatory gesture. ‘I was acting on orders, Mistress Ashley. As it is I have come to tell you that we’ve found new quarters in Kidderminster and will not be requiring your gracious hospitality any longer. I have sent my men on, and I plan to join them in the morning.’
Kate felt the breath leave her body with relief at this news.
‘Well, that at least is good news,’ she said, hoping her face did not reveal too much. ‘I suppose it’s too much to expect some remuneration for the feeding of your soldiers?’
‘I am sure if the appropriate representations are made to Colonel Price you will be rewarded for your loyalty,’ Prescott said.
As he spoke he left his position by the fireplace and crossed the floor as if he intended to leave the room but as he passed her he took her by the arm and drew her towards him.
Too startled to react, Kate stared at him.
‘What are you doing? Let me go this instant or I will scream,’ Kate protested.
He answered by pulling her into his arms and clapping a hand over her mouth.
‘You will listen to what I have to say,’ he whispered in her ear. ‘You can make whatever representations you wish, but I’m sure that once Price learns the truth about where your loyalties lie, you may find the rewards are not what you expected.’
Releasing his hand from her mouth but still holding her arm, Prescott thrust a paper at her. With trembling fingers, she took it and read the few short words. It said simply.
Long Barn after nightfall. Come alone. This ends tonight.
‘You recognise the writing?’
Kate shook her head.
‘I do and I know you for a liar. You’ve been hiding him all this time.’
‘Who?’
‘Don’t play any more games with me, Mistress Ashley. Jonathan Thornton. This note comes from Thornton’s hand.’
She looked up at him in disbelief. ‘No,’ she said. ‘As God is my witness, I’ve not been hiding him.’
