Briar Patch (4 page)

‘I see we are to be rivals,' she said. ‘Tell me, are you proficient at archery, sir?'

‘I am good at anything I choose to do, Miss Thornton.' His dark eyes held a hint of mockery as he met her gaze. ‘Are you hoping to best me?'

‘I have won for the past two years.'

‘I wasn't here then.'

‘No, that is quite true.'

She faced him proudly for a moment before turning away. She saw that another man had joined the group waiting for the contest to begin. Her brow furrowed as she recalled the rude man in the lane. He became aware of her scrutiny and glanced at her, the hint of a challenge in his eyes. Roz turned away just as her brother came up to them.

‘We are almost ready to begin,' Philip said and then swore softly. ‘What the hell is he doing here? I should have thought he and his family would have had the decency to stay away this year.'

‘Who are you talking about?'

‘The man looking at the bows is Tom Blake – Dick Blake's younger brother.'

‘Oh . . .' Roz's throat caught as she realized Tom Blake was the man who had rescued her from the briar patch. No wonder his behaviour towards her had turned so cold that day – he must have guessed who she was. ‘He shouldn't have come here. Is his sister with him?'

‘Who knows? I haven't seen her.' Philip scowled. ‘I can't stop him entering. It would cause a scene.'

‘Just ignore him. It doesn't matter, Philip. You mustn't do anything that might upset Miss Richmond.'

‘No, you're right. I am going to ask her to marry me this evening after dinner.'

‘I hope it all goes well for you. People are waiting. You'd better start the contest.'

Philip walked off to call the competitors together and the contest began. Roz was one of the last to shoot so she stood watching the others. Most of them entered each year and one or two seemed to have improved, their arrows hitting the inner rings regularly, but only a couple managed to hit the centre circle.

She tensed as Paul Richmond took the bow he had selected and fitted his arrow. He drew the string back and then let the arrow fly, hitting the top of the centre circle. His second arrow hit just inside the bottom of the circle and his third was just outside. A little burst of applause followed what had been the best performance thus far.

Roz watched two others but neither did any better. Then she took her bow and stepped up. Her first arrow hit just inside the circle, her second slightly nearer the centre and her third just above the top of the bullseye. She retired to enthusiastic applause and then Tom Blake took her place. She watched with interest as he loaded his arrow and fired. The first arrow hit the middle of the centre circle, the second was just below it but the third was just wide.

Most of the other archers were eliminated at this stage. Paul Richmond, Tom Blake, another local farmer and Roz stepped up for the second round. Standing back a little further from the target, Roz went first and all three arrows hit the inner circle. Paul Richmond followed her example but his were just off centre, the farmer missed completely and then Tom Blake stepped up. He fired three arrows in quick succession and they all hit the centre circle, each nestling close to the other. The applause was muted because everyone was aware of the history between the two families.

Seeing the look of disgust on Paul Richmond's face when he was eliminated gave Roz a quite unworthy feeling of satisfaction.

‘Congratulations, Mr Blake,' she said as he offered his hand. ‘I have scarcely seen better shooting. Can you do it for a third time?'

She took the hand he offered because it was tradition that the last two shook hands before the final round. She observed that his fingernails were clean this time and his boots shone instead of being caked with mud.

‘I hope to prove a worthy opponent, Miss Thornton. Would you like to go first?'

‘I think you should,' Roz said and stood back. ‘Good luck, Mr Blake.'

His eyes narrowed for a moment and she thought he was angry. He shot very quickly again, the first two arrows dead centre but the third just clipping the outer line of the bullseye.

‘You can beat the cheeky bastard,' Philip said, coming up behind her and speaking in a low voice. ‘Teach him a lesson, Roz.'

Philip's neck was flushed red and he looked angry. He would hate it if he had to hand the prize over to Tom Blake.

She approached the line, loaded her first arrow and fired. It hit dead centre and her second followed it. She was about to fire again when she saw a girl go up to Tom Blake and reach for his arm. Carrie Blake looked as if she might have her child at any moment. Her hair was lank with grease and hanging about her face and her dress was stained, yet she had a pleased smile on her face.

It was wrong that any man should have used a girl like that and left her to take the consequences.

Roz took aim. Her third arrow hit the bottom circle and a little groan went through the watchers.

She stood back, lowering her bow.

‘Mr Blake has won,' she said in a voice that carried to her brother and everyone else standing nearby. ‘Give him the prize, Philip.'

Philip shot her a murderous look, as if he knew that she'd pulled her arrow deliberately. She saw Tom Blake approach and accept the small leather purse of gold coins. He turned and faced the watching crowd.

‘This is for Carrie, because it's owed,' he said in a ringing tone and walked deliberately to his sister. He took her hand and clasped it, leading her through the crowd, who parted to let him go.

‘What was all that about?'

Roz turned to look at the man standing just behind her. Paul Richmond seemed to have got over his sulk, perhaps because she hadn't won.

‘Oh, nothing,' she lied. ‘Just something local.'

‘Your mother sent me to tell you tea is ready. Shall we go in and leave the local bumpkins to their fun?'

‘Yes, why not?'

They strolled towards the house. Roz wasn't certain why she had pulled that arrow – except that Carrie Blake hadn't deserved what had happened to her.

Three

‘Where did you get all this money?' Ellen Blake looked at the gold coins her son had just poured on to the table in front of her. ‘You haven't stolen it, Tom?'

‘Tom won the archery up at the hall,' Carrie answered for him. ‘He said it was for me, didn't you, Tom?'

‘Aye, for you and the baby.' Tom didn't smile. ‘It's time we got some things ready. By the look of you it won't be long now.'

‘I've still got the cot your pa made me,' Ellen said. ‘And there's the shawl and christening gown, though she'll need new cloths to bind the babe.'

‘Well, this money is for her. I won it for Carrie – it was owed her, Ma.'

‘Yes, it was owed. If your pa sees it he'll go mad, Tom. He won't have Thornton money in his house.'

‘Put it away where he won't see it. Carrie will need a new dress or two when she's had the babe.'

Ellen got up and put the money into a teapot on the dresser. She was proud of her blue and white set and scarcely used it.

‘It will be safe there for the moment. Your pa took half the egg money and went off to the pub. I dare say he'll be the worse . . .' Her words trailed off as Carrie screamed and clutched at her belly. ‘What's wrong? Is it the baby, lass?'

Carrie's eyes were wide with fear. ‘It hurts, Ma. I never thought it would hurt like this.' She doubled over, arms wrapped around herself. ‘Ma, it hurts bad.'

‘Having a bairn always hurts, lass. It will get worse before it gets better. Go out in the yard and walk about a bit. Mebbe it will bring it on sooner.'

‘I don't think there's a need for that, Ma. Look at her. Her waters have broken.'

Carrie wailed with fear as the water wet her gown and ran down her legs to make a puddle on the floor.

‘Am I dying, Ma? Will you put me in a box in the ground like you did Dick?'

‘Don't be so soft,' her mother said. ‘If you're that far on we'd better get you upstairs. Can you help her, Tom? She's in such a state. I don't know what she expected.'

‘Carrie doesn't understand any of it, Ma.' Tom took Carrie's hand. ‘Come on, lass. I'll help you. I'll stay with you while the baby is born.'

‘I thought it would be like when the calves come. I've seen them and it all happens quick and easy.'

‘Not always,' her brother said. ‘You're not to blame. You never had a choice.'

‘I wanted a baby.' Carrie clung to his hand. ‘I thought it would be easy.' She doubled up again, crying out in pain. ‘It hurts, Tom. It hurts so bad.'

‘I'll get you to bed before you give birth on the floor,' Tom said and swept her into his arms. Carrie didn't know what she was saying. She'd been raped. She'd said so the day she came home with her dress torn. It was the squire that had taken her down against her will. And yet for all her supposed foolishness she seemed to know how babies came.

What went on in his sister's head that none of them knew of?

‘Roz, just a minute.' Philip stopped her as she came downstairs that evening. ‘Did you let Blake win this afternoon? You rarely miss that badly. It was as if you meant to do it.'

‘And if I did?' She looked at him defiantly. ‘What he said afterwards – don't you think it was just? Carrie was owed something.'

‘How can you say that – after what her brother did to Father?'

‘He paid for his crime and without a trial. If our father raped Carrie he deserved to be punished. I'm not saying Dick Blake should have killed him, but someone should have given her recompense for what Father did – now at least a part of the debt is paid.'

‘Money I couldn't afford.' Philip glared at her. ‘I just hope Julia says yes when I ask her – or you may soon wish you had that twenty guineas.'

‘You weren't going to give it to me, remember?' Roz turned away and went into the drawing room where the remaining guests had gathered before dinner.

Most of their visitors had drifted away after tea. Mr Harcourt, the Richmond brother and sister and one or two others would be leaving the next day.

Roz knew their future depended on Miss Richmond saying yes to Philip's offer. Julia was pleasant but quiet and thoughtful. Had she any idea what kind of a marriage it would be? For a moment Roz felt concern for her. Philip was not the easiest of men. She hoped Julia would not let him bully her too much.

‘I hope you have enjoyed staying with us, Miss Richmond?' she asked as she joined Julia by the window.

‘Yes, I have. Do you think you might call me Julia? I think you are very lucky to live in a house like this, Roz. Paul sold our estate after Papa died, because he much prefers living in London. I stay with an aunt as much as possible but it would be nice to have a country house again.'

‘I am sure you would always be welcome here. What did you think of the fete?'

‘I thought it was wonderful. The children loved their prizes. I understand a local farmer won the archery – and you were second?'

‘Yes.' Roz saw her brother coming towards them. ‘The fete is just one of the things we do each year. Mama always sends flowers for the festival in the church and we make things for the church bazaar, of course. But here is Philip. He will take you into dinner.'

‘May I take you in this evening, Miss Thornton?' Paul Richmond asked from behind her. He lowered his voice as she accepted his arm. ‘We haven't had that private talk yet.'

‘I am sure I do not know what you mean, sir.'

‘Meet me in the summer house before you go up this evening and I'll tell you.'

‘That would be most improper of me, sir.'

‘Call me Paul and come anyway. You might find life a little more exciting if you step over the line now and then, Roz.'

He pulled out a chair for her and went off to discover where he was placed. Roz was glad he was not sitting beside her; his hints had been too particular. Did he think she was easy like the lady who had entertained him in her room? Mrs Madison had departed early that morning, declaring that she must return to town. Perhaps that was why Paul had become more determined in his pursuit of Roz.

She would not give him the satisfaction of being one of his flirts. She smiled at Mr Harcourt, who was her dinner partner for the evening.

‘I hope you have enjoyed your stay, sir?'

‘Yes, very much. You did very well in the archery, Miss Thornton.'

‘I was beaten by a worthy winner.'

‘Were you?' His gentle eyes were on her face. ‘I know about the Blake family, Miss Thornton. One of your neighbours told me what happened. It was common knowledge locally at the time, of course, but the scandal was hushed up and I didn't know the sister was with child until this afternoon. I am sure she needs the money more than you do.'

Roz couldn't look him in the face.

‘Philip has done his best to put all that behind us. It wasn't his fault.'

‘You bear no shame for what your father did and nor does your mother or brother. Yet her brother was right – she did deserve that or more. What you did was just.'

‘Thank you.'

He meant to be kind but she felt uncomfortable. Mama and Philip had always blamed Dick Blake for the scandal he'd caused, Philip dismissing their father's behaviour as something men did and unimportant. For the first time the enormity of her father's crime came home to her.

Roz was old enough to think for herself but she was accustomed to accepting what her mother and Philip told her. Mr Harcourt had made her aware of an unpleasant truth.