we’ve been following. Are they in the house?’
‘Yes, their captain is,’ she said, leaning out of her window to look down at him. ‘His men are in the barn—nearly twenty of them. If you are for the King, you must be careful.’
‘Can you help us? We need food and water—and a horse. Drew’s was shot from under him and he has a wound himself.’
‘Do you recall when we stayed here once as children?’
‘Yes...’ John sounded hesitant, then, ‘The hut we played in, in the woods—is it still there?’
‘Take your friend there,’ Babette said. ‘I will go down as soon as the others have retired and bring you food and ale.’
‘Can you not come down now?’
‘I shall try,’ she said. ‘Hide in the shrubbery and I will see if I can find anything left from supper.’
Blowing out her chamberstick, Babette left her chamber and crept back down the stairs to the kitchen. She listened for a moment then, deciding it was quiet, went in. Aunt Minnie must have sent the servants to bed or perhaps on an errand, and she herself was probably in the parlour.
Seeing the remains of a loaf, a heel of cheese and the remainder of a quince tart she’d made, she gathered them into a muslin bag, then picked up a quartern pot of ale and approached the back door. She found it locked and was in the act of turning the key when the door opened and Greta entered.
‘Where be you going, Mistress Babette?’
‘I need a little air, my head aches...’ Babette saw her looking at the food. ‘I’m hungry. I couldn’t eat at table. Please do not tell my aunt.’
Greta smiled, revealing her toothless grin. She went to the table and picked up a slice of pie. ‘I shan’t tell if you don’t...’ she cackled and, tucking the pie into her apron pocket, she went back into the hall.
Babette smiled to herself as she left the house and began to walk towards the shrubbery. That was not the first time Greta had returned to the kitchen to steal an extra slice of pie when her mistress was otherwise engaged. Aunt Minnie knew she did it and laughed to Babette, for as she said she did not grudge her servants their food and the old woman might have asked for it, but preferred to raid the kitchen when others were in bed.
Reaching the spot where she’d seen her brother hide, Babette was about to call out when she felt herself caught from behind and a hand went over her mouth.
‘Be careful, Babs, those devils are everywhere. Give me the food and go back to the house quickly before they wonder what you are doing.’
No one had called her Babs since her brother disappeared and she felt the tears spring to her eyes as she said, ‘Where have you been?’
‘In Holland. I came to England with Prince Rupert to fight for the King. What are you doing here in a house of rebels?’
‘My uncle is not a rebel. He has not taken sides, at least until now—but the rebel captain is a second cousin. They are looking for grain and cattle and will stay here for a few days.’
‘God rot them,’ John said angrily. ‘I had hoped we might find a place to rest here. Drew is wounded and needs to rest. We were six of us on a similar mission to your rebel captain when a larger party set upon us. Four of my friends were killed. Drew and I escaped and came here.’
‘Take your friend to the hut... Wait.’ Babette bent down and quickly pulled off her linen petticoat, giving it to him. ‘There is a stream nearby where you can find water to drink. Use this linen to bind his wound. Tomorrow I will make a salve and bring it with more food. I shall tell Aunt Minnie I am going foraging for herbs and roots—and I shall do so, but first I will bring the things you need.’
‘Thank you, Sister,’ John said and smiled at her. ‘I’d heard you were here. I am glad to find you well.’
‘Have you been home?’
‘I know Father is dead. I told the King I would rather be free to fight with the prince than be cooped up in the castle. Lord Carlton will continue to hold it for us—and you should return home, Babette. I shall visit you there and bring Alice to you.’
‘Alice...your wife?’
John’s face relaxed into a smile that softened his features. ‘My Alice is with child. She begged me to keep her with me, and I did at the start, but now she is six months gone and cannot travel fast. I have sent her to the castle for her own safety—but you must promise me to join her. You will, won’t you, Babs?’
Babette thought regretfully of her aunt’s warm kitchen and her kindness, but her duty was clear.
‘Yes, of course, I shall now that I know you are alive and that you have a wife who needs me. I shall tell Aunt Minnie tomorrow, but it may be a few days before I can leave. Uncle Matthew may not be able to spare anyone to bring me home because of the harvest. I should need to travel with just Jonas as my escort.’
‘Once your rebels have gone, I shall come to the house and fetch you,’ John said. ‘I must go now, for Drew needs my help. Be careful, Babs—and tell no one that you’ve seen me while the rebels are in the house.’
‘No, of course not. God be with you, Brother.’
Babette had given him all the food she’d brought. She stood watching as he melted away into the shadows. Then she turned and started to walk back to the house. As she approached the kitchen door, a shadow moved towards her, making her jump.
‘Did I startle you, mistress?’
Captain Colby’s voice was somehow reassuring, though her heart beat wildly. Somehow she would rather it was he than one of his men—but what had he seen? What did he know?
‘Good even’, sir. I thought you with my uncle in the parlour?’
‘He had some business with one of his tenants—and I came out for a little air.’
‘As I did,’ Babette said and tried to pass him, but his hand shot out, imprisoning her wrist. His fingers seemed to hold her lightly, but in a grip she could not break and her heart was beating like a drum. ‘I pray you, let me go, sir. I would go in...’
‘Who were you speaking with just now?’ She could hear the suspicion in his tone and feared that he had seen too much.
Babette’s heart was racing. John had warned her to tell no one that she’d seen him and she certainly would not tell this man the truth. John had a friend he called Drew and his friend had been injured in a fight with the rebels, four of his friends already dead. The Parliament men were her enemies and she had no wish to speak with this man. Yet if she denied speaking with someone he would know she was lying and think the worst.
Lifting her head, she looked him in the eyes. ‘I do not see it is your business, sir—but I was meeting a friend, a man I care for.’
‘Ah, your lover...’ Captain Colby’s eyes narrowed, and she thought he looked angry. ‘Does your aunt know that you sneak out late at night to seek your lover? No? I thought not. Your uncle would not care for it, I think. He is a strict man and might forbid you his house.’
