Abigail's Cousin (7 page)

Mrs Lowther
eyed the approaching maelstrom of converging roads with
apprehension as they proceeded slowly along the Haymarket.
Fortunately, Tom's 'big circus' proved less of a hazard than she
had anticipated and as she watched her brother occasionally
flicking his enormous whip and uttering words of encouragement
which both horses acknowledged by twitching their ears, she was so
taken up by Tom's expert handling of all situations, there was no
time for fear, and soon the maelstrom was behind them.

According to
Tom they now found themselves in Pickadilly, so named after a
successful tailor's shop specialising in dillies, trimmings for
doublets much favoured by rakes and dandies which led the tailor to
boast of his 'pick of the dillies'.

As the
Pickadilly road ran its course the carriage approached another busy
intersection across which they must go in order to gain the
circular road around Hyde Park, yet here again, Mrs Lowther,
perched high up on the carriage, aware of seemingly horrendous
sights and sounds, inwardly thanked her favourite angels and her
brother's skill, that brought them through unscathed. She looked
sideways at her unflappable brother amidst the loud whinnying of
other horses, the raucous shouted commands of other coachmen, the
seemingly suicidal antics of pedestrians dodging the carriages and
up-flung mud in order to traverse from one side of the carriageway
to the other, seemingly unconcerned for their personal safety.

In Hyde Park
itself her eyes darted from one form of carriage to another.
Unknown to her by name, yet she was witnessing a cavalcade of
different vehicles which went by the name of barouche, landau,
phaeton, chaise, gig - and she gaped amazed at two brave footmen
carrying a sedan whose occupant sat unperturbed on his chair
reading a newspaper while his hired carriers were constantly
splashed by all manner of vehicles and their horses and ponies
which raced past them.

Inside the
carriage the uncurious Lady Churchill dozed, feeling, by the
varying vibrations coming through the suspension and the general
ambient noise, where they were. Abigail, on the other hand, it
being her first journey into central London, was more curious
though unlike Mrs Lowther, could see little beyond the vehicles
which raced past them in both directions, so the vibrations of the
carriage comforted her too into a form of lethargy, and in this
doze she fell to reflection upon her recent visit inside St James
Palace and that all-important and joyful reconciliation with her
brother.

For the first time in his life, she
perceived, he was feeling lonely, even lost, as his new
pos
ition as page to his
highness, Prince George, estranged him from most of the other
servants. Yet, Jack was not well liked by his fellow pages
especially Samuel Masham, son of an army officer. Masham regarded
her brother as his social inferior. Yet, in a curious way, Abigail
had been treated well and she got to musing that perhaps Masham's
regard for her might in time ameliorate his attitude towards her
brother.

It seemed
Masham was ambitious to follow his father into the army and he
spoke of the day when he would join the colours as an ensign, the
lowest ranking officer, yet, in conversation with her, on the
occasions when her brother had been called back for various duties,
he had spoken of many famous officers who had started their careers
in that lowly rank.

Abigail
half-opened an eye and caught her cousin's but no word was spoken.
Sarah speculated by the lessening hubbub of the traffic they were
approaching Bayswater and soon she would be able to say something
which until then would be a waste of time, unless she was forced
into an unladylike shout. She knew enough of the route to realise
that Tom soon would have to make a sharp turn to their left taking
the carriage into Watling Street, and having done so, she spotted a
familiar milestone which comfortingly gave the distance to
Edgeware.

Sarah took her
cousin by surprise, commenting:

"Lord! Doesn't
your brother tower over Masham?" Abigail noted she said this with
some satisfaction to which her bland response was: "They say he's
tall for his age."

"He'd look a fine figure in uniform,
cousin." returned Sarah, evidently thinking of Masham's ambition,
adding: "If only I could purchase him a commission." It was a
wistful, and it seemed to Abigail, a sincere observation and she
told Sarah: "I understand that is
Mister Masham's wish. He tells me his father has
applied to go on the list. It seems the army has only places for a
few." Then leaning forward in her seat, asked in all innocence:
"How much must his father pay for such a commission."

Sarah did not
know but hated to admit her ignorance: "My lord tells me the lowest
officer rank would cost a thousand pounds." She also leant forward
anxious Abigail should hear her words over the clatter of hooves
outside: "That is one reason why door-opener Masham looks down upon
your brother." Abigail winced at her cousin's description but
listened intently to Sarah who went on: "He has the influence of
his distinguished father. It is very wrong. Do you not believe,
cousin, your brother would make just as good an officer, if not
better, than Masham."

Abigail was
emollient: "Like you said, cousin, they might both be good
officers." As if she had not heard her reply, Sarah said: "When my
lord returns to the army, mayhap we shall do something for cousin
Jack. It shall be a matter of honour."

From the
driving seat of the carriage came the sound of a man's voice and a
familiar tune and Sarah rapped the back of the coach which provoked
Tom to open the hatch and Sarah called out loudly:

"I've heard
that tune afore, Tom." And at first there's no response until the
voice comes to the end of the refrain, then he shouts: "Ever heard
of the Lilibolero, ma'am. It be an Irish tune about King Billy's
campaigns in Ireland."

Sarah thanks
her coachman and the hatch closes and she turns to Abigail once
again: "After you've settled into the Palace I should like news of
you and your doings. Mrs Danvers will advise you how to send a
letter. I'll be right pleased to hear from you."

Abigail was
astonished but outwardly betrayed only mild surprise:

"Be the menial
doings of servants of any interest to your ladyship?"

Sarah had come
to expect sharp rejoinders from her cousin and only smiled, saying:
"Perhaps not the menial tasks, as you put it, but I should like to
know when Masham gets his commission."

Now the two
women were mentally at cross purposes for to Abigail, Masham's
leaving for the army would give her brother some peace from his
mockery, whereas Sarah thought only of the supposed dishonour of a
Hill not being able to keep up with a Masham. Thinking to impress
her cousin, Sarah said: “Perhaps I can approach my lord on your
brother's behalf. Mayhap we can buy him a lieutenant's commission.
What think you of that?"

Abigail
reasoned that this was a higher rank, yet Masham might already have
gone had there been a vacancy for an ensign. Might that also apply
to lieutenants though she did not speak of this. Instead she
said:

"What thought
you, cousin, of my letters from the Ferrers’ household. Is that the
sort of news you wish to receive?"

Again her
cousin's response caused her some inner amusement, though Sarah was
blithely unaware of it, saying: "If it were not for the Ferrers
having so many commoners visit them. No lords or ladies, marquis or
other noblemen?"

"Was not Mr
Harley a distinguished enough person?" asked the serious Abigail,
adding: "After all, he is an elected member of the House of
Commons."

But Sarah was
dismissive: "Methinks he would claim importance. Yet I think to be
more interested in such as sit in the House of Lords."

Abigail
decided to play a game on her cousin and it was not too difficult
to initiate it. She began: "Surely, cousin, you are interested in
the comings and goings of friends and family whether they be lords
and ladies or not."

Lady Churchill
could not believe the import of her cousin's words. She was
virtually accusing her of snobbery yet she must not get angry as
she needed her cousin's goodwill, but was rather acerbic, all the
same, saying:

"That will be
the very first thing you will learn, cousin. Lady Churchill has no
friends. There is envy of my advancement. About your letters, I
need to know things I cannot learn of myself. The laundry was ever
a place for tittle-tattle, so I am told. And the like for the
pantry, kitchen, cellar, dairy, and, of course, the
bedchamber."

Sarah leaned forward almost whispering:
"You can do a lot for me cos. As you know I get to town,
infrequently." Then she confided: "I have enemies in the Palace
cos; important news about the princess may not reach me.
In you I shall ever have a good
friend."

Abigail's
thoughts returned to the princess and her cousin in conversation.
She was certain the princess regarded Sarah as a good friend. But
was the reverse true? Was her cousin asking her to spy on the
princess?"

No time was
spent on this gloomy assessment as suddenly the hatch was opened
and Tom's voice called:

"Beg pardon,
ma'am to disturb you. We shall soon be at Brockley Hill. It be a
bit steep for the horses. Will you mind setting down?"

The carriage
proceeded for another mile and then Tom halted the horses and both
Sarah and Abigail alighted, the latter helping Mrs Lowther down.
They start walking on the nearside of the carriage, Tom allowing
them room by moving the team into the middle of the road. Ahead is
the open road with a wide grass verge rutted with having run over
by many vehicles but it is dry so they have no complaints about
getting their footwear too muddy.

Ahead is a
clump of trees about halfway up the hill and as they approach they
become aware they will not be alone for long for they hear the
snorting of horses and can see their front legs, the rest hidden by
the trees, but as they get approach, two horses emerge.

Abigail,
bringing up the rear, looks behind her at the slope curving away
and is not able to spot a soul or hear another carriage. All she
hears is Tom shouting to the horses coaxing them up the steep
incline and occasionally squinting his eyes against the evening sun
but, inwardly, is feeling alarmed but says nothing so as not to
alarm the women.

But as the
knot of trees is reached, two riders spur their mounts in front of
the carriage about three carriage lengths away and one of the men
shouts, roughly:

"Stand! Don't
move or by heaven, I'll drill you."

Tom shouts
'whoa' to the horses and applies the brake but he has some
difficulty holding it steady on the slope. Meanwhile one of the men
yells to his accomplice: "I'll cover you with the pistol, Dick.
Search 'im first. In case he 'as a weapon." Then turning to the
women, calls out: "Ladies! Throw your purses over. Quick abaht it!
Or I'll drill your eyes, so help me, I will."

Abigail
watches as Mrs Lowther opens her bag and throws her purse over,
followed by her cousin. She carries nothing so cannot follow suit.
For some reason she feels left out. By this time Tom shouts to the
men about his brakes and has put the carriage athwart the road
accompanied by threats, much waving of pistols by Dick’s accomplice
and coarse mouthing of oaths.

"Where's yours?" Dick shouts to Abigail
meaning her purse. She throws up her hands, saying she has none.
Dick in reply tells his mate: "Harry, get off that blasted nag and
strip them." What he meant was rings, necklaces, jewelery,
bra
celets.

Harry tackled
Mrs Lowther by holding her roughly, gripping her left hand and
forcibly removing a ring. Next he took the other hand. Then he
looked at her neck and she thinking he meant to strip her, told the
brute to tackle that hussy, referring to Abigail: "She gotta purse.
I seen it."

Harry to Dick:
"Get in that coach and search for her purse, Dick. Put one gun down
man. They aren't going to attack you." Harry pushed Lowther aside
roughly telling her to stay put while he pulled Sarah roughly to
him took her hands to forcibly remove her rings.

Meanwhile Dick
was inside the coach and had found the etui bringing it outside.
"Come here you!" Dick told Abigail and on his knees poked his hand
inside and strewed Sarah's promissory notes on the ground, then
demanded:

"What's this?" And Abigail
said
: "Them's my
indentures. To this lady here!" She pointed to Sarah, and Dick
said: "Shall I tear 'em up, then you're free." Abigail suddenly had
an idea, she said: "My purse has money in it. It's inside the
coach. Take it and leave us be. That's all the money I have in the
world. Just take it, but let us go!"

The thief's
eyes glinted with avarice. "Come on, show me! Or I'll cut your
liver out, so help me." and roughly dragging Abigail to the door of
the carriage. "Open it!" he snarled and she obeyed. Still holding
her with his right hand, he moves to enter the carriage and for a
moment his pistol hand is between door and jamb.

At that moment Abigail pushed the door
violently against his pistol arm. There was a report as the pistol
dropped, shoots a ball into the woodwork, followed by a yelp of
pain and oaths. Harry was distracted and Sarah kicked out at him.
At the same time, Abigail snatched up the pistol Dick had laid
d
own earlier, shouting
to Harry:

"Let her go!
Or I'll shoot you." She had raced towards the front to threaten
him. "Take his gun!" Abigail commanded Sarah who snatched at the
weapon stuffed into his belt.