A Captive Heart (16 page)

Chapter Forty-Two

It was not till late in the morning at the Helford Fort when the still sleeping guards were woken with a noisy banging and thumping on the cell door and checked on the prisoner that the truth was finally revealed. The prisoner was gone. The cell was empty save for a bewildered, unhappy clergyman dressed only in his under garb who held his aching head and complained bitterly that he had been tricked and left there to suffer in Colonel Trevenian’s place, and an equally, bewildered young Lieutenant Harker, attempting to make some sense of it all, until he realised that he had been cruelly deceived by a pretty face, good food and several bottles of highly potent elderberry wine.

The
guards also holding their aching heads groaned and protested in vain to any that would listen that it had been a very warm evening and they had no idea that the wine would be so potent as to lead them into temptation. They had to awaken the younger officers from their beds who were also feeling the bad consequences after dining out rather too well at Treganna House.

Colonel Ridgeway was alerted immediately, but it was far too late to be of any consequence for him. His most important prisoner had escaped and his escape had been arranged and carried out by his daughter Tamsin using the deposed Vicar as a pawn.

Tamsin
was woken up and ordered downstairs from her bedchamber at Treganna at once and questioned long and sharply in the library by Colonel Ridgeway. There was little doubt in anyone’s mind that she had clearly executed her father’s escape. But why was she still here? Why hadn’t she gone with him? There was much talk about this in the household.

The
colonel studied Tamsin’s face carefully. For one so young and pretty it was quiet and controlled. She showed no fear in her eyes or in her voice and behaviour. She had known what to expect if she stayed behind. But she wanted to make it quite clear that her fellow conspirators should not be punished.

‘Mr
Thomsett knew nothing of this, Colonel Ridgeway. The parson has done no wrong. If you wish to blame anyone it must be me, sir.’ She smiled. ‘You see I drugged his wine. It was I who persuaded him to come to say prayers for my father. The poor man, he fared badly in all of this, his head must ache so this morning,’ Tamsin declared innocently. ‘Alas…he was not used to such potent wine as my Aunt Phoebe’s Damson. It has knocked out the best and wisest heads before now,’ she said barely keeping a straight face. ‘My father exchanged clothes with him, leaving the Parson unable to say nay to what we had done. I’m sorry for Lieutenant Harker too. He also obviously is not used to such a potent wine. Please if you will, do apologise to him for me,’ she said sweetly.

Colonel
Ridgeway listened and despite himself marvelled that she could be making such a bold stand in front of him. This would have to be reported and punishment had to be seen to be taken. It was a serious matter. Very serious indeed. She could be imprisoned for a long time. But this young woman was making the most of her opportunity to speak.

‘Please
do not trouble my aunt, Colonel Ridgeway. Aunt Phoebe knows nothing at all of this matter as you will discover shortly when you question her.’

He
leant over the desk and said more sadly then in anger, ‘Why did you not leave with your father, Miss Trevenian? Why did you stay? Did he not try to persuade you to do so? Surely he must have attempted to make you go with him?’

All
this could have been avoided and forgotten after time elapsed but her presence here would serve only to chafe and annoy him that a mere chit of a girl could deceive them all so easily.

She
smiled and nodded. ‘He did, Colonel Ridgeway. He begged me to leave with him. But I could not do this. My aunt needs me here at Treganna. I cannot leave her - she has now not only lost a son but her husband. And she has no one to take care of her.’

He
frowned. ‘You may wish this, Miss Trevenian. But I am afraid this cannot be. You cannot stay here. You have committed a heinous crime. You helped a prisoner escape and must therefore be seen to be punished.’

She
heard, and paled visibly, but lifted her chin up bravely. She had shown her hand. Now she had to face up to whatever punishment they had in store for her.

‘May
I not stay on here in this house, Colonel?’ she said quietly.

She
wanted no fuss - scared to death she might be but she was not about to show it to this man, their enemy, who could no longer order her father’s execution but could ask for hers instead.

He
sighed, tapping the document lying on his desk with a long forefinger. He said, ‘Alas this is no longer possible, Miss Trevenian. You have shown that you cannot be trusted to obey our orders. You shall be taken to Helford Fort to stay there till your fate is decided. Your servants, the woman Martha and her son Reuben, will be taken there also. You could not have done this without their help.’

As
he said this he knew that her fate would be sealed. Oliver Cromwell had not been pleased about the earlier success her father had enjoyed in the Scillies. He had ordered Richard Trevenian’s execution to be carried out and now that he was denied this he would need to see that Richard’s young daughter was punished in his place.

She
could read his thoughts. Her father had hoped they would be lenient with her, but she had known her fate the moment she saw the colonel’s eyes shift from the sealed parchment on his desk to her. A Royalist woman had made fools of them all. A young one, scarcely more than a child. As long as Mr Thomsett did not suffer she no longer cared.

Her
tearful Aunt Phoebe refused to believe it at first. She was delighted though to hear that her brother in law had escaped from the Fort. She was only realising now her own involvement in entertaining the colonel and his fellow officers while Tamsin had executed her father’s dramatic escape.

Colonel
Ridgeway remained firm. He would brook no further interference. Tamsin Trevenian was to be taken to the Fort and imprisoned forthwith. If Tamsin had any thought of escaping by ship or boat through the Helford passage this was banished entirely now.

She
was allowed briefly to bring a change of clothing with her before she was taken away with Martha and Reuben to the cells at the fort.

Reuben
was feeling especially bad. He wished he could move heaven and earth to redeem Tamsin’s safety. How had this happened? How could she have been so foolish to turn down her chance to escape with her father to France when she was offered it? She had given it up because she pined after Adam Carey. That must be so. He itched to shake the man out of his sensibilities. How could Adam treat this brave girl so badly who had saved his life by risking her own for him?

Would
Adam hear their cry for help and act on it? Although it seemed like praying for a miracle Reuben hoped that he would come soon to their aid.

Chapter Forty-Three

Tamsin woke in her cell to a bright dawn and the realisation that her dream had come true - her beloved father had escaped to France. All had gone so well for him. He could be safe in Brittany by now. This she felt would lift her spirits and give her the courage she would need in the days to come. She was prepared to face any punishment for what she had done.

I
t soon appeared that Adam Carey was prepared to assist with her forthcoming attendance in court. His arrived at the fort with two troopers and a coach. Her next destination was left unknown to her. Colonel Ridgeway read the document through carefully that placed Tamsin in Adam’s hands and Adam was instructed to pick up Martha and Reuben to accompany her.

Tamsin
was indeed shocked when she saw Adam Carey standing by the Colonel’s desk in the Fort with a grave look in his eyes. She thought that he looked as handsome as ever. Was he enjoying this moment of betrayal? He no doubt believed he was doing right.

She
held a smile wreathed firmly on her lips for him now although it felt like wobbling the longer she held it in place. She knew that if asked she would do it all over again. She was vastly relieved to know that the Vicar had come out of it with no punishment except a dressing down from his wife and family publicly. Privately though everyone believed he had done the right thing.

The
Colonel was addressing her now. ‘On General Cromwell’s orders Captain Carey is to take charge of you from now on, Miss Trevenian.’

She
recalled that the Colonel had three daughters and one young son. How would he have felt if one of his own had been instrumental in saving him and then was put on trial? He was no doubt pleased to have her taken out of his hands, she thought, as she glanced over at Adam. So it had come to this then. Their positions reversed. Tamsin wondered how Adam felt about it.

‘Thank
you, Colonel. May I be allowed to say farewell to my Aunt? She has suffered so much of late.’

The
Colonel glanced at Adam who nodded. ‘We have no time to waste. We must leave now, Miss Trevenian.’

‘I
am sorry, Miss Trevenian, that this should be allowed to happen to such a young woman,’ Ridgeway said quietly. ‘Your father has just cause to be proud of his daughter. You are in God’s hands. I hope that you will be judged mercifully in court.’

She
swallowed and said quietly, ‘Thank you, Colonel Ridgeway.’

She
was helped into the coach by Adam. She would not show that she wished to slap his guiding arm away. She was thankful that some change of gown and clothing had been brought to her from Treganna, but she had decided she would stand trial in the court wearing the rose print dress.

She felt shaky but vowed that she would give none of her fears away to those watching. And most certainly not to Adam Carey.

She
sat next to Martha opposite him in the coach refusing to look at him. She kept the coldness she felt in her eyes when she was at last forced to meet his when the coach came to rolled to a stop outside Treganna.

H
er Aunt waited with everyone else eager to make her feelings known. Adam opened the coach door. ‘Your Aunt is waiting for you to make her farewell. And the others are in the hall.’

‘Thank
you, Captain Carey. Aunt Phoebe!’ Tamsin threw herself into her tearful Aunt’s waiting arms.

‘My
dear brave girl. Treganna will be waiting eagerly for your return,’ her Aunt said pressing some good ale and food on her in the parlour.

Tamsin
, as she ate and drank, tried desperately to hide her fears while Adam, her jailor, waited beside her. He opened up the coach door for her once again. She took her place next to Martha and Reuben.

‘I
have asked for them to accompany you as a special dispensation, Miss Trevenian. It is a long tiring journey to take on your own to attend the court.’

‘There
, there, my lamb! Hush now.’ Martha wrapped her up in her fond embrace. ‘Your father must be so proud of you.’

Adam
sat back and said little.

‘Where
are you taking me, sir?’

‘Bristol.
We shall stop off at suitable inns on the way. You’d best be prepared for the long journey.’

She
stared back at him. ‘Bristol, sir? Is it not in Royalist hands still? ‘

‘No.
It is not.’

His tones brooked no further conversation and she felt she could discuss little easily with Martha.

If
she could only have known that all this was to follow after helping him in the cave. Would she have left him to his fate? Reported him to her father? She would never have seen him again. He would have suffered an ignominious death as a spy.

No, she could not have done. She would have saved him regardless of what might follow in the future.

Bodmin
it seemed had been taken and was lost to the Royalists. Their coach rattled into the coach yard and Tamsin wearily followed Martha to their room. Despite the torment filling her mind she quickly fell asleep. Reuben and the troopers slept also. Her last thoughts before she fell asleep were only of Adam. Did he sleep easily in his bed in the room above Martha’s and hers or was he making sure that she didn’t make her escape?

*

Back on the coach she looked out at the fast changing countryside as they travelled farther north and wondered why, if she was going to be tried and executed for her act of treason, she couldn’t be left in Cornwall. What difference could it make to the Parliamentarians? Unless they wished to show that women could be punished equally to men.

Tamsin
felt that whatever was yet to come this was the worst part of all. To share so much of Adam’s company without being offered no comfort whatsoever. Was he enjoying punishing her like this? He obviously believed she had been judged so wicked by his Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell that she deserved to suffer like this for as long as possible.

He
spoke little, mainly to give orders to his young troopers - he was the officer in charge and she could scarcely bear it. If anything she realised now how much she missed those precious moments when he seemed to care for her. She remembered the kiss he gave her on her cheek - was it only such a short time ago?

Now it seemed he had come out in his true colours at last. Had not Martha warned her about this? If only she had listened to her.

The only redeeming thing he had done so far was to bring Martha and Reuben along too. Perhaps he believed that they should suffer equally as much for what she had done and be punished together. He obviously believed that they were guilty too.

She
stayed resolutely dry eyed in his company while he spent the time reading a book of prayers and she thought he could not see how much she suffered.

T
his was not so. Adam longed to take his dearest into his arms to clear away with kisses all the fears that had haunted her recently but for his part he knew it would be a fatal mistake. He wondered how much Martha had guessed so far. She was a wise woman. Whatever she had fathomed so far from his behaviour she had remained steadfast and loyal to Tamsin, as had her son Reuben. Before long Adam hoped she too might see him in an altogether different light.

It was n
ot long now until their journey was concluded, as the dark hours approached again and glowing lamps from the outskirts of Bristol could be seen. It was time for Adam to act and to reveal all - would she forgive him for keeping her unaware of his real intentions? He was sorry he had been forced to deceive her for so long.

He
ordered the coach and the troopers to come to a halt. He got out and spoke quietly to them. ‘This is as far as you may go, men. You no doubt have wondered at the orders you have been given so far. Bristol is still in the Royalist hands as you well know. I thank you for trusting me this far. Therefore I am not asking you to risk your lives in a skirmish you cannot hope to win.’

The
youngest trooper, John Holmes, scarcely more than a lad looked to the older youth, Tom Hobley. He shook his head. Adam held a pistol in his hand. He had known these Cornish men for some time and they now trusted him.

‘I advise you to think well, William Trent,’ he spoke to the coach driver. ‘I can take care of the coach and horses if you have a mind to leave us. You can go home, men, as soon as you like, or back to Cornwall and you can tell Colonel Ridgeway that I have taken a brave young woman and her servants to safety. Let me take the blame entirely. Tell him I threatened you with this pistol.’

The troopers hesitated and looked at one another and the two sleeping women dozing in the coach. Hobley said, ‘We shall return back to Cornwall, Captain. We have no liking for the punishment intended for this young woman.’

The coach driver shrugged, ‘I’ll take my chances along with you, Captain Carey, and the womenfolk and make my return back to Cornwall in the morning.’

‘As
you wish. Good luck, men.’

The
troopers rode away and Adam got back into the coach, unbuttoned the leather jacket he was wearing and took out a russet brown velvet jacket from the bag on the seat beside him.

Tamsin
woke up in time to see him changing his clothing. Looking out of the window, the influence of the Royalists was plain to see in the streets and taverns, possibly some there might even be conversant with the Carey family. So what guise would he be wearing now? She shook her head. It was only too obvious. That of a Royalist and a turncoat once again.

He
seemed relaxed as the coach rattled to a halt outside the Ludman Trow tavern near the docks. The horses were led away to the stables by the coachman and it was then that she saw that the troopers were no longer with them.

She
sighed; she could no longer make any sense of this. Here in Bristol if she wanted she felt she could now cry for help, denounce him as a Parliamentarian and a spy. It was plain to see he intended to get away with his alter ego of a Royalist once again.

Tamsin
was welcomed cheerily in the parlour along with Martha and Reuben by the landlord. She sat down by the blazing hearth, physically drained and her fears rushed over her again.

How
did he dare bring her here when Prince Rupert held sway here in the city? How could Adam hope to get away with this? Why bring her to her own people unless he planned to leave her there for safety? How could a leopard change his spots so quickly? There must be much more to this. What did he really intend on doing with them?

S
he looked up as he came into the room accompanied by another handsome young man, reminding her in looks somewhat of the young Prince Charles. The landlord and a maidservant followed them in with heavily laden trays of wine and dishes of good hot food, which brought smiles on Martha’s and Reuben’s faces as they drew up their chairs to dine.

‘That
will be all for now, landlord. Thank you.’

‘Thank
you, sir.’

‘Your
Royal Highness, this is Miss Tamsin Trevenian and her good friends, Martha and Reuben.’

‘Tamsin,
this is a dear friend of mine, his royal Highness Prince Rupert, who has asked to meet you all especially today,’ Adam said to their shocked faces.

Prince Rupert made a courtly bow. ‘Miss Trevenian, I am delighted to make your acquaintance. I have heard only good things about you from Adam.’

This
was almost too much for her to bear. Tears rose in quickly in Tamsin’s eyes. She fought to hide them. She really could scarcely believe that this was happening. She must be dreaming - this sudden change in fortune was too unreal to be true.

‘Prince
Rupert… your Highness.’

She made a low curtsey, felt faint and nearly fell, saved only by Adam’s strong hand on hers. Blushing with confusion, she said, ‘I thank you for coming, your Highness. You must forgive me. I thought that this day I would be put on trial.’

‘On
trial for saving your father, Tamsin! Never! I have come to wish you both a fond Adieu.’ He toasted her with his filled wine glass. ‘And may I wish you both a safe passage. May Adam keep you, Miss Trevenian, in safety for the rest of your life,’ he said drinking his wine.

Adam’s
face was changed. He was smiling as he threw himself down in a chair opposite her with a sigh of relief and poured out a glass of wine. ‘Thank you, sir. If she will only have me for better or for worse.’ Tamsin was bewildered and tearful by this sudden turn of events. ‘I think she has already sampled the latter.’ Adam laughed. ‘She has been sorely tried and tested by me.’

‘I
must go now, Adam.’ Prince Rupert clapped Adam heartedly on the back. ‘You did your work well for us.’

‘Thank
you your Highness.’

‘Adam,
does Miss Trevenian know the true nature of the work you have been doing for us and the Royalist cause you’ve been serving? You deserve your just reward. But the fighting still goes on. Till we meet again in better times. Tamsin, Adam, dear friends...’ Prince Rupert bowed and left their company.