Shadow on the Highway (15 page)

‘Given up the Diggers?’

‘There’s nobody left on the Common now. The Diggers have gone, gone to fight for Parliament.’

She sat down then heavily onto a chair, as if someone had pushed her over. Her skirts sank down after her like a sigh. ‘Then I will have no future after all.’

It was a moment before she gathered herself together. A long moment where I stared awkwardly at my feet. When I saw the tips of her shiny boots disappear under her skirts I looked up. She had drawn herself up ram-rod straight and wiped her face of all emotion. ‘You may go,’ she sa
id.

‘I’m sorry.’ My hand lifted towards her and fell back.

‘Just go.’

17
. Jacob Mallinson

‘Your brother’s been arrested,’ Mistress Binch said to me. ‘This morning. The man who brought the milk said he saw him being brought down off the common with hand-irons on his wrists. Put up a right fight too, from all accounts. Poor John Soper ended up with a missing tooth. I never would have thought that of your brother, he seemed such a nice friendly lad.’

I begged Mistress Binch to let me have an hour to go home, and took Pepper and galloped as fast as I could to our cottage. Something was in the air, I could tell by the fact that people had their shutters closed even though it was daytime, and that there were no farm implements lying in the fields – no rakes, no scythes, and the corn was uncut in the fields. I could almost smell the war coming closer.

Even before I got to our house I could see the flashing tips of pikes – men performing drill up and down the road with my father at the head of the row. He saw me pass but did not acknowledge me. He was intent on his training. I shuddered at the thought that these weapons were designed to pierce the soft stomachs of other Englishmen and their horses.

When I got inside the house it was to find Mother with all her recipe books out straining herbs through muslin to make bottled remedies for the winter. William was strapped to her back with a cloth whilst she worked, and he was sleeping. Martha was knitting again. ‘Look Abi, a hat,’ she said.

I admired it with a smile, it was more dropped stitches than anything else. But like all children she had to learn.

‘I thought you’d come,’ Mother said. ‘Poor Ralph. The first I heard of it was when a message came asking for bail. What went on? Did you see it? They said he was at the Manor.’

‘He hit a servant. Where’ve they taken him?’

‘The stupid dolt.’ Mother put her strainer down. ‘What was he thinking of?’

‘He came to see me.’ That at least was true. ‘What do you think will happen to him?’

‘They’ll keep him there in the holding cell at the Constable’s until the Quarter Assizes. Then he’ll be tried, I suppose.’ She sighed. ‘And then Lord knows; the Fanshawes have never been known for their clemency. Your father’s been down there this morning to try to get him out, but we’ve not enough ready money to bail him. Your father was counting on Ralph too, to go with him up to Wigan and then to Worcester for the last push against the King. It’s an unholy mess, that’s what it is. What on earth was Ralph thinking?’ Most of this seemed to be talking to herself, but I read it well enough.

I skirted her question. ‘I know the constable’s son, Jacob. He’s a friend of Ralph’s. I’ll go and talk to him, maybe he’ll put in a word for him, be able to do something.’

‘Do that. Heaven knows, I’ve no real wish for Ralph to join the army, but I’d rather that, than him lying useless in that cell. You know what he’s like, he’ll fall into a depression if he has to stay there any length of time.’

I picked up a stone jar from the table and weighed it in my hands.

‘What’s wrong?’ Mother paused and looked up at my troubled face.

‘Nothing.’

Mother sat down on the stool and untied William to lay him in the crib. ‘If it isn’t one thing, it’s another. Tell me,’ she said. ‘Is it that cook? If it is I’ll –’

‘No. Not Mistress Binch, she’s all right. We’ve got used to each other. There’s really nothing to tell. They are closing up the house that’s all.’ As I said it a lump came to my throat and I realised I really did care. That I could not imagine a life with no Markyate Manor, no Lady Katherine.

‘Oh Abi. I’m sorry.’

I stood to leave because I was scared I’d show my feelings, and crying blocked my eyes and took me back into a silent world cut off from everyone else.

Mother patted my arm, ‘I’l
l ask in the village,’ she said. ‘Tell folks you’ll be looking. There’ll be a place for a girl as clever as you, I know there will, now you’ve shown you’re a good worker, and they’ll give you a proper reference, won’t they?’

I nodded, and evaded her hug. I didn’t want to be mothered, I wanted to show her I didn’t need her, didn’t need help. Besides, I really didn’t want to work for anyone else. Markyate Manor and Lady Katherine had crept up on me.

‘I’ll be off to Jacob’s then,’ I said.

‘Go careful on that road,’ she said, but I shrugged off her embrace.

Outside, I passed Father and the others still training with their pikes
– lunge and thrust, retreat, lunge and thrust. Sweat dewed dark on the back of their jerkins but I did not stop. I mounted Pepper and headed for Jacob’s tithe cottage.

He wasn’t in when I knocked, but I went round the back and he was there hoeing a small vegetable patch. A trug basket on the wall was stuffed with vegetables – sprouts, cabbage, peas and beans, kale and a bowl of raspberries from the raspberry canes. Jacob stood up at my approach.

‘That’s a fine harvest,’ I said.

I was shy so it made me red-faced to watch his lips. ‘I’m getting it out of the garden,’ he said. ‘There’s rumours troops will pass along this road, and I don’t want to be giving it away.’ He smiled.

‘Can I help?’

‘You can help me bring it inside and wash it if you like.’ His manner was easy, but I was all fingers and thumbs as I lifted up the basket and followed him to the house. ‘You sit there,’ he said, ‘and I’ll fetch water.’

I sat on one of the stools by the fireplace feeling nervous to be sitting all alone in a young man’s house. For months I’d dreamt of being alone with Jacob Mallinson, but now the moment had come I was scared. I felt like my hands were too big, twining themselves in my lap. And I did not know what Jacob might think about Ralph hitting someone, or about me asking him a favour.

The room was barely furnished but tidy. A pierced cupboard for his larder was set into the wall. Looking up I saw daylight through the thatch where some of it was blown away and wondered if he would get it fixed before winter.

He’d come in as I looked up and saw what I was staring at. ‘I’ll get round to it eventually,’ he said, ‘now we’re not building on the common. The Fanshawes will never fix it, even though I’m their tenant.’

‘I’ve come to see you about that,’ I said. ‘Well, about Ralph, really.’

He waited, pulled out another stool from behind the table.

‘He hit one of the servants up at the Manor and now he’s locked up and I wondered if you could, I mean…’ After the gush of words I faltered.

Jacob leaned towards me, his eyes full of curiosity. ‘Was it really Lady Katherine Fanshawe – the Kate that came to our meetings?’

‘Yes. That’s what started it.’

He thumped the table with his fist, delighted. ‘Ha! I told Ralph it was her when we saw her on the road, but he denied it, said I was talking nonsense. But I could tell he was rattled by the way he hared off after you, and I knew as soon as he did there’d be trouble. He always was a bit quick-fisted, Ralph. You’ll be wanting me to speak to my father, I suppose.’

‘Would you?’

‘I could, but it would probably do more harm than good. Father’s dead set against the Diggers and I can’t see him wanting to let Ralph out, knowing he’s the leader. He didn’t like it when I came home all cut up from the Common. He’ll doubtless think it best Ralph stays where he is. And if I try to persuade him it will only make him dig in his heels deeper. He thinks Ralph’s a bad influence.’

‘But I can’t leave him there. It’s months until the Assizes. And we’ve no money to bail him.’

‘What about Lady Katherine? She seemed sweet enough on Ralph. Maybe she could help. God’s truth, I never guessed who she was. And Ralph thinking she was the girl for him all this time and never even having an inkling!’

‘She really believed in the Diggers.’

Jacob raised his eyebrows. ‘I can’t believe that’s true. We wanted to build a better life, one where working folk weren’t so hand-to-mouth. Why would she need that? She’s already wealthy enough.’

‘Her family might be rich, but they’re all monsters. I think she was lonely. She wanted a little companionship, to be with people like us, young people with ideals she believes in. And she loves Ralph. She hasn’t said so, but I know she does.’

He looked up at me, and his eyes caught mine. Suddenly I was aware of us alone here in the room, the closeness of him, where I could almost touch him. He held my gaze, leaned closer in. I could not tear my eyes from his. A spark flew between us.

All at once, looking at his lips seemed brazen, far too intimate.

‘And here was I thinking you’d come to see me,’ he said.

I burned hot, unsure how to reply. I stood up and made a fuss of tucking my neckerchief into my bodice and tidying my hair under its cap. ‘I’ll be going then, I’ll go and see if I can visit Ralph.’

‘Hey, you’re running away,’ he said, smiling, reaching out a hand to stay me.

‘I’m not,’ I said crossly, shooting backwards out of the door, ‘it’s just I’ve got things to do.’ But I felt all out of kilter, as if someone had knocked me over and I wasn’t quite steady on my feet. I hurried to mount my pony, but he held its bridle for me with a calm hand.

‘You’re a strange one,’ he said. ‘Though you’re very pretty, Abigail Chaplin, did you know that?’

But perhaps I misheard.

18.
Ladybird, Ladybird

Lady Katherine did not send for me again that night. I felt bad about having to tell her Ralph had given up the Diggers. She weighed on my mind. I wanted to give her some good news, so I tried again to get into Grice’s room to fetch out his letters. Rigg almost caught me and I had to whip out a kerchief and pretend I was dusting. He made a lunge for me, but I dodged under his arm, out of his way.

I felt at a loss, unsure what to do with no mistress to see to, so when I had finished my chores I went to my own garret. I could not sleep for worrying about Ralph, stuck in that cell. And Jacob hadn’t seemed optimistic about sweet-talking his father to get him out.

Jacob. I hoped he did not think me too forward, arriving like that on his threshold. He’d understand that it was only for Ralph, wouldn’t he? I remembered the feeling of sitting opposite him at his table, and felt myself blush all over again. He was so tall, and he made me feel so shivery inside. Was this love? I didn’t know.

Did Lady Katherine feel like this about my brother? I was pondering this when all of a sudden the thought struck me. Lady Katherine’s hoard of coin. It would be enough to get Ralph out.

Five minutes later I had wheedled my way past Pitman and I was in my mistress’s chamber. She was already dressed in her nightclothes, her hair tumbling about her shoulders.

‘Ralph’s in gaol. I wanted to tell you, but couldn’t get near you without Grice or his men hearing.’

Her eyebrows shot up, her face fell. ‘Grice?’

‘Yes. He had him arrested for blacking the servant’s eye. They want five pounds to buy his freedom.’

‘In God’s name! Why did you not tell me before? Can nothing be done?’

‘My wages won’t cover that, even if Grice saw fit to pa
y me, which so far he never has.’ She began to speak but I swept on. ‘You’ve got to get Ralph out.’

‘Me? I can’t –’

‘You’ve got money, coins, I know you have,’ I blurted.

‘No, I have nothing. I wish I had.’

‘What about under there?’ I pointed at the loose floorboard.

‘You…?’ She put her hand to her forehead. ‘Wait. Let me think.’

But I would not wait, I got down on my knees and pulled at the loose board. ‘There’s enough –’ The board came away. I was staring at a black empty hole.

I looked up at her. ‘Where is it?’

‘I tried to tell you. I don’t have it. It’s gone. When it went missing, I thought you’d taken it.’

‘Me? Why would I?’ I was outraged.

‘Keep your voice down, they’ll hear you. It’s not so foolish. After all you’re the one that knows about it, are you not?’

‘Yes, but I’d never steal from you.’ I could barely blurt out the words. ‘I don’t know how you can think that.’ I turned away in a sulk, but t
hen swung round to fire back, ‘You’re the one that’s a thief, not I.’

She crushed a h
andful of her skirt in her fist and screwed it tight. Her face showed she was thinking, weighing up what I had said. She sighed and let the bunched fabric drop. ‘You’re right,’ she said. ‘At first I just wanted to scare Lady Ann – get back what she had taken. But afterwards it was such a comfort knowing I had something put away, that I could do something. If I ever needed to run away, I mean. I didn’t know how much longer I could bear it; the beatings when Sir Simon and Thomas were home.’ Her green eyes looked candidly into mine. ‘It was after I’d dressed as a servant girl. I realised, if I could disguise myself as one thing, why not another?’

I gasped in protest. ‘That’s right, try to blame it on me.’

She managed a smile. ‘No, I’m not, I swear. And then my pouch was stolen, and I hadn’t the heart to do it again. Not after meeting the Diggers. I kept thinking of what Ralph and Jacob would think. They were so upright and honest, not like my husband and his stepfather.’

‘They’re swine. Not gentlemen, despite their titles,’ I said. ‘But even so, I couldn’t have done it, ridden out like that in the dark.’

She sat on the bed. ‘The first time I nearly turned back. But I was mad with anger too, at the way Lady Ann had just taken my belongings as if it was her right. The anger fired my courage. When I put my pistol through the coach window and saw the fear on Lady Ann’s face, I almost laughed. I’d been scared of the Fanshawes so often. Now the boot was on the other foot for a change. It made me bold. But I vowed to myself I’d never steal again, that I’d try to be Kate, the girl Ralph was so proud to know.’

I pulled at a thread that dangled from my apron. I was thinking. If it wasn’t me who took the pouch, it had to be someone else. I remembered the shifty expression on Rigg’s face, and how Pitman had bundled something away into his pocket.

‘I think it was Grice’s servants who stole it. I saw Rigg come out of your room, looking like he’d done something he shouldn’t.’

She sighed
. ‘It’s all right. I believe you. I know it wasn’t you.’

‘I’m telling you, it was Rigg and Pitman,’ I insisted.

‘It makes no difference. It’s gone now anyway, and we can’t exactly report it missing, can we?’ She knelt to put the floorboard back in its place. A few moments later she asked me, ‘Can nothing be done for Ralph?’

‘Not unless you can persuade Grice to drop the charges.’

‘I’ll try,’ she said. But we both knew that was hopeless.

*

At dawn I was woken by Mistress Binch shaking me. I was in the middle of a dream where I was stuck in a sinking ship and was slowly drowning. It took me a few moments to realise that she was telling me my sister Elizabeth was downstairs in the kitchen.

When I got down, Elizabeth was pacing the flagstones, pink-cheeked but tight-lipped with fury. She fired words at me like arrows.

‘You’ve to do something,’ she said. ‘Talk to Lady Katherine, tell them she can stay.’

I blinked, shook my head, not knowing what she meant, not sure I’d understood.

‘What have you done?’ Elizabeth said. ‘You’ve been dismissed, haven’t you?’

‘No! I don’t know what you’re talking about. Talk slowly, I can’t understand that gabble.’

From the corner of my eye I saw Mistress Binch, her eyes open wide, goggling at our conversation.

‘It’s Mother. Your precious Lady Katherine has thrown her out. No notice given, nothing. Just came yesterday afterno
on and said to be out by noon.’

‘Who came? What are you talking about?’

‘Grice! And one of his flunkies. She’s frantic. Where will she go?’

I backed away to try and find a little space. ‘I don’t know anything about it, it’s nothing to do with me. It’s Ralph. He hit one of Grice’s men.’

‘Soon as I heard it was at the Manor, I knew you had something to do with it. You just can’t keep out of trouble, can you?’

I didn’t want to listen
. ‘What about Father? Can’t he help?’

Elizabeth came closer until I was backed up against the kitchen wall. ‘He’s useless. He says he hasn’t got the time for it all now with the King’s troops bearing down on us. All he thinks about is the fighting. He says Mother’s to go to his sister’s, but you know she won’t. She hates Aunt Agnes. She
says she’d rather join Ralph and his crazy Diggers. Except Ralph’s in gaol, isn’t he, thanks to you.’ She poked a finger into my chest. ‘I don’t know what’s been going on here, but I know it’s your doing, all this trouble. Just like last time.’

The barb hit home as she knew it would. It was true, I’d brought them all nothing but trouble. My sister always had the power to make me feel small. Tears sprang to my eyes.

Elizabeth’s mouth turned down in disgust. ‘Crying’s no use. You’ve to talk to Grice, beg him to reconsider. Tell him she’s nowhere to go.’

‘Now just a minute, young lady
.’ Mistress Binch inserted her skinny frame between us. Elizabeth tried to step to one side, but Mistress Binch squared up to Elizabeth and looked her full in the face. ‘You can’t come in here upsetting everyone like that. Whatever’s gone on at home, it can’t be Abigail’s fault. She’s been right here working with me. Now if you can’t keep your tongue, you’d better get out of my kitchen.’

She looked so fierce that Elizabeth was momentarily speechless. I saw my sister’s mouth open and close in a stutter before she shouted at me, ‘You’d better do something. Unless you want Mother and the two little ones sleeping rough. She knows it’s you, doesn’t she? That Ralph going to gaol and all this is your fault, but she always says we’ve to make allowances. Allowances. Nobody ever made any allowances for me. I had to –’

‘Out.’ Mistress Binch pushed her through the open door and closed it firmly behind her.

When Mistress Binch turned to me my eyes were blurred so I couldn’t make out her words, but she took hold of me in a bony embrace and gave me a rag to blow my nose. I struggled out of her grip and managed to say, ‘Beg pardon, mistress.’

Her face had a soft look about it. ‘I can manage if you want to go and talk to Mr Grice. Tell you what, I’ll give you some of my hot lardy cakes. That will sweeten him up a bit.’

I wiped my face whilst she put two cakes on the griddle. When she handed them over she said, ‘He’s turned bitter, these last months, Mr Grice. He never used to be like that. He roused up a right rabble against those poor folks on the Common, them that were meeting in our old barn. I wished I’d never told him. They went for them like savages with picks and spades. Now this. Turning people out of their homes, it’s sinful. You get along now, see what you can do for your poor Ma.’

*

I took the platter to the library but Mr Grice was not there, and there was no sign of Lady Katherine. Perhaps he was in his room. I went up and knocked, pushing it open a fraction as I always did to see if he was in.

The room was empty. One of the letters that should have gone to Lady Katherine lay opened on the bed. I recognised Thomas’s handwriting. I glanced over my shoulder before putting down the plate and leaning over to read it. It was folded over so I could not read all of it, but I made out a few sentences,

‘
…
so
Lady
Ann’s
manservant
will
check
all
is
well
with
you
until
we
can
find
a
new
overseer
.
Grice
was
insolent
to
my
stepfather
last
time
they
met
and
he
has
been
told
to
look
for
employment
elsewhere
.
I
am
afraid
that
despite
his
long
service
with
the
family
,
we
simply
cannot
keep
him
on
…’

A sixth sense alerted me to something behind me and I snatched up the plate. Grice glared at me and I took an involuntary step away.

‘What are you doing?’

‘I’ve brought you some hot lardy cakes,’ I said, acting simple.

‘No. I didn’t ask for any. They must be for Lady Katherine.’ He waved me away. ‘Stupid girl,’ I saw him mutter.

His look told me he wasn’t going to listen, but I ploughed on regardless. ‘Excuse me Sir, but about my mother…’ I planted my feet firmly, hoped I didn’t look as scared as I felt. ‘You gave her notice. Won’t you think again, Sir?’

‘Do you dare to question what I do? I told you. Unruly tenants won’t be tolerated. Get back to your mistress.’

‘But I –’

He lunged towards the door with his arm raised as if he would strike me. I closed the door in his face with my free hand and the lardy cakes shot off the plate and onto the floor.

As I was picking them up Mr Grice came out of his room and almost tripped over me. I cringed away from him as I saw a stream of expletives come from his mouth.

It was only then that the words of Thomas’s letter sunk in. Grice had been dismissed. He shouldn’t be here giving me orders at all.

*

I told Mistress Binch what I had read, but I could see she didn’t want to believe me.

‘You must be mistaken,’ she kept saying. ‘He wouldn’t do that – come here and take charge. Not if he’s no right to. And Sir Simon wouldn’t give him notice – he’s worked for them forever.’ Her face was troubled, uncertain.

‘He’s never given me a single penny in wages,’ I said.

We stared at each other a moment.

‘Nor me, neither. Not for the last few months.’

‘And he won’t relent
– about my mother, I mean.’

Mistress Binch dried her hands. ‘Never mind the polishing today, you’d best get on home. See if you can help your Ma. I’ll manage. I need time to think.’