A Captive Heart (15 page)

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Back at Treganna at last, when Reuben got down slowly from his horse after the long ride back, Tamsin saw the blood running down his arm over his right hand.

‘Reuben! You were hit!’

Tamsin feeling unwell got down from her horse shakily as Martha came quickly out of the darkness with the stable lad, Tom, to join them. She saw that Tamsin carried the dispatch case and sighed with relief. ‘Tamsin! All is well?’

‘I
am but Reuben he’s been wounded. He needs help not me, Martha!’

Martha uttered a cry of alarm when she saw that her son was wounded.

‘Reuben!’

‘I think he was shot, Martha.’

‘You
must get Reuben back up into the secret room, at once, Tamsin. Tom and I will take the horses in to the stables immediately.’

Tamsin
helped Reuben slowly along the passageway and to safety once more.

It
wasn’t long before Martha came quietly into the secret room with Edward and, like Adam, Reuben had to suffer the musket shot taken from the fleshy part of his upper arm.

Within
the next hour they heard the coach rattle into the driveway and Adam’s raised voice loud in the front hall. Ridgeway was fetched. It seemed that soon after the coachman fired at Reuben, the horses took fright and reared, which had caused a front wheel to detach and had delayed their arrival back at Treganna considerably.

Tamsin
wondered if Adam had helped the delay deliberately to hold up the coach. She could hear raised voices in the library. Adam accused Colonel Ridgeway of negligence. According to Adam there should have been a troop of Ironsides waiting to escort the coach from Illogan to Treganna. Instead it had been the highwaymen that had met and robbed him, he declared fiercely to Ridgeway, ‘And Cromwell shall hear about it directly, sir! Why was this not attended to, Ridgeway? The highwaymen should have been routed and caught. A good pair of rogues if ever I’ve seen one. Instead they made off with the purse of gold I was carrying and the documents in my leather case. And much good it will do them.’

‘We
had an alarm raised here - a Royalist was seen on the run and I was forced to send out the troopers to attend to it.’

‘Was
anyone caught?’

‘No,
sir. We believe it was a false alarm.’

Tamsin heard this with great relief and now more than ever was determined to help her father escape. She had made her plans carefully. Martha had sent word to Captain Jacque. In two day’s time it would be her father’s birthday and she must act then or else it would be too late to save him.

*

The following morning Reuben was already feeling much better. When inquiries were made the following morning Martha told those that asked that he was suffering with the same stomach problem that Miss Tamsin had suffered with the previous evening.

Tamsin
was formally introduced to Captain Adam Carey in the library. He looked and behaved how she expected him to do; the Roundhead officer his regimental garb in order.

‘Miss
Tamsin Trevenian is Sir Richard Trevenian’s daughter, Captain Carey.’

She
spoke out bravely, ‘Captain Adam Carey? I believe I was acquainted with your sister at an earlier much happier existence. Your father and mine were good friends as boys.’

‘Miss
Tamsin.’

His
bow was formal and courteous; his cool manner towards her was that of a stranger. How would her Aunt Phoebe behave when she met Adam and realised how easily he had fooled her and their company. She saw the evil looks he was receiving from the servants in passing. They recognised him of course.

The
butterflies in her stomach on seeing this warned her that the quicker he left the better it would be for all concerned. He’d stayed there overnight but he was returning to pick another document from his master, Oliver Cromwell. Tamsin left the library as quickly as possible to return to her chamber.

‘How
is Reuben?’ she asked as soon as she was back in her bed chamber. ‘He has recovered?’

‘He
will do. He’s strong. He’d best get back to work below stairs before they get suspicious and ask questions. So how’s Master Carey? Has he done his worst? Betrayed you to the Colonel?’

‘Captain
Carey has behaved as if he scarce knows me,’ she said brushing the tears from her eyes quickly.

‘Good.
At least he still has some makings of a gentleman to save him from God’s wrath.’ At that moment there came a quiet knock on the door. Martha put a finger to her mouth. ‘Best let me answer it. Master Carey! Haven’t you given us enough trouble? Miss Tamsin does not wish to speak to you.’

Tamsin
called out, ‘Who is it, Martha?’

‘Adam
Carey the Ironside.’

‘Oh…’
She came to the door blushing prettily when she saw the immediate admiration in his green eyes that he could not hide from her.

‘How
does Reuben, fare? Is he well? I saw him get shot.’

‘He
is better - thank you.’

‘It
was lucky for you both that the wheel came off and delayed us considerably.’

She
nodded. ‘So I heard. I shall save my father, Adam. I will not let them sentence him to death.’

‘Tamsin
, be careful what you do.’

‘Captain
Carey!’ A command came from below in the hall.

‘I
must go. Ridgeway needs me.’

‘Go
then. I would not keep you longer.’

He
took hold of her hand and held it fast in his. ‘Tell me, Tamsin, that you will not do anything foolish to endanger yourself like trying to break your father out of prison. I cannot help you if you attempt to do this. Promise me you will not risk your life in vain.’

‘Adam!’

And
then he was gone, leaving her feeling bewildered and distraught. He had guessed what she intended to do. What would he do about it? Give her away?

‘Martha
what shall I do? Do you think he will tell them that I mean to obtain my father’s freedom?’

‘No,’
Martha shook her head. ‘He would have told them already, child. You must keep a guarded tongue at all times from now on. We could have enemies in this house that you do not know about.’

Chapter Forty

As soon as she could leave the house without causing any undue interest from the two officers in residence Tamsin rode over to the Thomsett’s house with a letter from her aunt as her excuse for calling on them. She wanted to remind the vicar of his promise to her and tell him what she intended to do next.

She
sat down in the small parlour while Mrs Thomsett brought in some of her home made elderberry wine and cakes.

‘The ship will be waiting for Father on the water. It is all arranged. We only have to get him safely on board. It could be dangerous for us all but I cannot do it without your help, Mr. Thomsett. You have God on your side. Surely He will understand that we’re doing the right thing for a good man.’

He
heard her and chuckled. ‘I will have the greatest pleasure in doing all you ask of me. It will delight me to fool those Roundheads. I hope, my dear, that you will not suffer for what you are about to do. Although I am sure that your father would be very proud of your actions to rescue him. He knows nothing of this?’

‘No,
nothing at all. I shall not tell him till it is too late for him to stop me.’

The
vicar nodded. ‘It is a dangerous game you intend to play, Tamsin. Someone will have to be taken to account for this. I think you know what could happen to you afterwards.’

She
sighed. ‘I do, I shall be found accountable and punished. I cannot believe that Oliver Cromwell would do more than sentence me to confinement here. I will not have done anything worse than to help my father escape. No one will die because of it. They might have some very sore heads though in the morning though, Mrs Thomsett,’ she added with a smile.

*

On her return to Treganna, Tamsin sought out the Colonel.

‘It
is my father’s birthday tomorrow, Colonel Ridgeway. And as you told me that he will not celebrate any more than this one, I would like to give him an hour at least of my company to say goodbye.’

‘His
birthday, Miss Trevenian?’

‘Yes
and I would like to take the Vicar Mr Thomsett with me. He said he will say prayers for him in his cell to help my father come to terms with his God. Father is a devout, religious man. I’m sure you can understand this.’

She
spoke out sincerely. For all she knew it could be the last time she would see him, the delay she had created for him had made only a short hiatus.

Time now was of the essence. If Martha had done all she had been asked then Captain Jacque’s ship would be waiting for Richard Trevenian in the Helford Passage after she got him safely out of his cell in time to reach it to sail.

Her plan for her father’s birthday treat stood a good chance of success if only everyone entered into the spirit of things and carried out her plans for that evening.

Chapter Forty-
One

Tamsin planned to make the most of her father’s birthday. She chose her rose pink printed gown and new pink satin shoes to wear. Only the best would do for this very special occasion. Who could refuse his pretty daughter her wish to see him and to drink a glass of wine she brought along with her as part of his birthday celebrations? They would not know of course that Reuben had added some secret herbal ingredients to the wine.

With
a permission order signed and granted from Colonel Ridgeway the Vicar and Tamsin arrived at Helford Fort in the coach from Treganna at seven, bringing with them some fine roasted chicken legs and freshly baked crusty bread with three bottles of wine in her basket. The Reverend also brought along two bottles of his wife’s excellent elderberry wine.

Tamsin
knew that much depended on how the guards accepted Mr Thomsett’s generous offer of the bottles of wine that evening while most of the others were dining out with Ridgeway and Traynor at Treganna. Aunt Phoebe would have done her best to make the evening pleasurable for them with good food and wine.

‘What
have you brought in with you, Miss Trevenian?’ Lieutenant Harker said smiling as she came in with a basket on her arm.

‘Some
food and wine to celebrate my father’s birthday, Lieutenant Harker, that my aunt Lady Phoebe has provided for this evening.’

‘It
is not usually allowed for a prisoner to have two visitors,’ he said looking curiously at the cloth covered basket.

‘We
have Colonel’s Ridgeway’s permission, sir. It is my father’s birthday and I have brought him some food and my aunt’s most excellent home made Damson wine. My father is particularly fond of it. You would not begrudge him it.’

‘May
I see all the contents please if you will? And Mr Thomsett what brings you here, sir?’

‘The
Reverend Thomsett wishes to pray for my father and he has also brought some bottles of his wife’s elderberry wine with him.’ She lifted the linen cover to show him the contents of the basket. ‘Perhaps we can offer you a glass or two, sir. It is pleasant to drink on so warm an evening. And your men? You may give them some also. It would be a shame to let it go to waste.’

‘The
elderberry wine is my wife’s speciality, Lieutenant,’ the Reverend said as he took a bottle from his own wicker basket. ‘Won’t you try some?’

Tamsin
smiled sweetly and it was hard to refuse such a welcome invitation on a quiet warm evening such as this. She didn’t wish to appear to be too eager to press it on them. But it seemed that the young officer needed very little persuasion to try it.

With
no other officer there to say nay to this invitation to good food and wine which sounded so delightful, the young Lieutenant Harker accepted a glass of the sparkling golden wine gladly, and also took another bottle of wine from the Reverend with much alacrity and gusto, allowing the guards crowding round to taste it.

‘One
hour,’ the guard said as he let them into the cell.

‘Daughter!’
Her father rose in surprise from the chair where he sat at his small table. ‘Mr Thomsett! What brings you both here?’

Tamsin
flew into his arms and kissed him.

‘A
happy birthday, Father! You are well, sir?’

‘Tamsin!
I am and all the better for seeing you now, my child.’

They
put out the chicken, butter and fresh bread on a dish and poured out the wine into the glasses she had brought with them, exchanging his clothing under the cover of much laughter, while Tamsin told him their plan.

He
protested vehemently at first and questioned their common sense. He also questioned her much about Adam, but he had long since forgiven her.

‘You
felt that you were doing right by him, my dear... And I do not blame you for being the daughter you are. Like your mother you cannot see wrong in anyone. But I say to you now, forget what you are attempting to do for me, Tamsin. It is far too dangerous. I cannot allow you to risk your own life for mine. Or Mr Thomsett’s.’

‘There
is little time, Father. You must do as we say now. You have to leave with me shortly. Mr Thomsett knows what he has to do and all will be well. Everything has been arranged. Martha has seen to it.’

Her
father shook his head. ‘I will take a drink with you but I cannot allow you to risk your life in exchange for mine, Mr Thomsett.’

T
he Vicar shook his head. ‘You must do as she says.’

‘I
cannot, they will punish you both.’

‘You do it with my blessing and God’s. I have already had my living taken from me here. I cannot fight for the country or for the young prince. But I would like to help you keep your life, sir. That is my reward.’

Tamsin
insisted, ‘You must take this chance, Father. Before it is too late. The boat and Captain Jacque will be waiting for you in the Helford Passage. We must do it now. There’s no time to waste.’

Minutes
later they were ready and Tamsin and Mr Thomsett made their goodbyes loudly, cheerfully and noisily to the prisoner. They called out long and loudly over the noise made by the men on night duty for the smiling Ironside guard who came at last to their calls. A trifle unsteadily on his feet he came to the cell to release them and lock the prisoner in.

They
left Richard Trevenian lying at peace with the world on his bed. Or so it appeared at a first glance to the guard.

Tamsin
said tearfully, ‘I’m afraid, sir, it was all too much for my father - he drank rather more wine than usual, sir. It is a sad occasion for us all. But it is after all his birthday. I beg you please do not disturb him. Allow him to sleep his last night out in peace. Mr Thomsett has given him good counsel and we have said prayers for him.’

The
guard looked quickly at the prisoner lying on the bed, the empty bottles and glasses well in evidence on the table.

Even
the Parson seemed a little unsteady on his feet as a giggling Tamsin guided him carefully out of the cell. She was forced to steady the Reverend Thomsett as they walked out slowly past the lieutenant now sound asleep and snoring in the chair and the other guards dozing around him against the walls who had also celebrated the prisoner’s birthday rather too well.

T
hey were escorted clumsily out of the Fort by the guard who closed the doors sharply behind them, riding away quickly to the mouth of the Helford Passage on the horses that Reuben had brought to where the French ship waited for the early tide and for its Royalist passenger to board it. When they were safely out of sight Richard Trevenian dropped the cloak from where it had been disguising his features.

‘You
must come away now,’ her father begged his daughter to come on board with him. ‘You cannot stay here. Come away with me now. You have put yourself into terrible danger by doing this for me. I cannot leave you behind.’

‘You
can. I would do anything for you, Father.’ She threw her arms around him and kissed him on both cheeks. ‘But now I must go. I must get back into the house unobserved,’ she said as she kissed him on the cheek and released him reluctantly. ‘Reuben will see to our horses. Mr Thomsett knows just how shocked and discomforted he will be by the sad plight we left him in to face the officers when they question him in the morning. He has played his part well.

‘Aunt
Phoebe has seen to it that all who were invited to dine were well entertained also and drank much of the good wine she put out and she left them to it.’ She chuckled. ‘Colonel Ridgeway and Captain Traynor, I hope will have much to suffer from their roistering in the morning.

‘
Their excellent bottles of wine and brandy were drugged so there will be many bad heads at home and at the fort too. They will have slept well and long after we leave in the early morning.’

Richard
Trevenian held her close for a moment and kissed her on the cheek. ‘Till we meet again. May God go with you, daughter.’

‘And
may God go with you, Father.’