Page 88 of By the Sword
After he had eaten Elizabeth set to work on tidying his hair in a more expert fashion than that displayed by Sal and her shears. When she had finished she had one last surprise for Jonathan. With something of a flourish, she produced his beloved hat, which had miraculously survived the worst of his adventures. It had been steamed and cleaned and looked almost respectable.
Morgan too looked fed, clean and rested. She chewed contentedly as Jonathan cast an expert eye over her, checking hooves and fetlocks. When he finished he patted her neck. She had done well for a little pony.
‘She’s a little small,’ observed Elizabeth. ‘I’m surprised your feet don’t drag on the ground.’
Jonathan shrugged. ‘Beggars, Mistress Elizabeth, cannot be choosers.’
‘There is one last thing,’ she said. ‘You need money.’
Jonathan opened his mouth but before he could speak she pressed a bag of coins into his hand
‘Take it. I was saving up for a new gown. It can wait.’
Jonathan hesitated only for a moment before stowing the purse in his jacket. Beggars could not be choosers.
‘Thank you,’ Jonathan said. ‘Your generosity has been overwhelming. Now I would be grateful for directions towards the coast.’
She shook her head. ‘South to the Severn estuary but from what I hear tell, every port is guarded, sir.’
Jonathan ran a hand down Morgan’s neck while he considered his position. Disguise yourself as a gentleman, she had said. If he was to hide in plain sight, perhaps the answer was to go where you were least expected.
He would turn back in the direction of Worcester and then strike out for London. It sounded, even to his tired mind, a desperate and reckless plan, but it was the only one he had for the moment. Surely no one would expect a desperate fleeing Royalist to return to the field of battle.
She looked up at him and Jonathan put a hand on the girl’s shoulder, drawing her closer. He took her in his arms and kissed her, a proper lingering, kiss of gratitude. She tasted sweet but she was not Kate. Kate, who waited for him at Seven Ways, not knowing if he was alive or dead.
‘It is strange, sir,’ she said as they drew apart, ‘but I never knew your name.’
He gave her the benefit of what he knew was his most disarming smile. ‘Perhaps, Mistress Elizabeth, we will leave it at that.’
Chapter 30
At the sight of Stephen Prescott coming down the garden path towards her, Kate straightened her back and sighed. She could not complain about his conduct towards her. He treated her with courtesy and deference, and had they met in other circumstances she may even have liked him.
Until she looked into the depths of his cold, blue eyes and remembered York.
‘Major Prescott,’ she said. ‘What can I do for you?’
He coughed. ‘Forgive my intrusion. I am conscious that the last few days have been difficult for you.’ He looked around at the snaggled garden beds and overgrown paths. ‘You have set yourself a challenge, Mistress Ashley. I believe this was once a very fine garden.’
She forced a smile. ‘And do you like gardens, Major?’
Something that might have been a smile twitched at the corners of his mouth. ‘I have lived all my life in a town, MistressAshley, and have little appreciation of gardens. Perhaps if you have a few moments you could show it to me?’
She could hardly refuse this pleasant overture. She took him up and down the paths, boring him with her plans for the reconstruction of the garden’s lost glories.
‘These are fine roses,’ he said pausing to smell the last of the blooms. ‘My wife was very partial to roses. Her father had a garden in Oxford that was much admired.’
Oxford…Mary…her heart skipped. Perhaps she could glean something of the story from this man, if not from Jonathan.
‘Are you from Oxford yourself, Major Prescott?’
‘Yes. I had a law practice there before the war,’ he replied.
‘And do you intend to return to the law?’
He shook his head. ‘No, after my wife’s death I have had little heart to return to Oxford. The Army is my life now. Although, God willing, the day will come soon when my usefulness will have been exhausted. Then I may consider marriage and a small estate in the country. I have a reasonable private income, certainly sufficient to support a family.’ He cast her a sideways glance. ‘Do you have a mind to marry again, Mistress Ashley?’
Kate shook her head. ‘I cherish my independence and the memory of my husband, Major Prescott.’
