Riverbreeze: Part 3 (13 page)

They all nodded, except for Osbourne Wells. He just looked mean.

Jamie couldn’t believe it. He was in complete shock that they would be jealous of him. He just ignored Wells. “No!” He said. “I was only obeying Francis’ will. She could have been ugly or fat or deformed with a crooked nose or crooked teeth…”

“But she isn’t.” Joseph Bolton pointed out, accepting a cup of ale from the cook. He also drank it down in one long draw.

“And she’s a brilliant horsewoman.” Nick added, envy in his voice. “Did she already know how to ride before coming to Virginia?”

It took a few seconds for Jamie to answer. He was still stunned! “Ah, no. I taught her.”

Nick nodded his head thoughtfully. “She’s a natural.” He said quietly. He took another cup of ale and drank quickly, hiding his face.

Jamie stared at Nick, his mouth hanging open a little. What a surprise! This handsome, strong, confident, successful blacksmith and gunsmith was jealous of him!

“Do not feel too sorry for this pitiful lad.” John Bolton spoke up then, poking fun at Nick. “He’ll be married in no time—“

“As soon as Rebecca is free.” Joseph finished his brother’s sentence just like Evelyn and Elizabeth sometimes did.

Nick frowned at the two men.

“Rebecca? The Paulette’s houseservant?” Jamie asked.

“Yes.” Nick answered quietly.

“That’s wonderful!” Jamie exclaimed, grinning. He clapped Nick on the shoulder. “And she’ll be able to cook you breakfast….unlike my wife.” He decided to reveal this bit of information. Perhaps the men wouldn’t envy him so much anymore.

“Evelyn can’t cook?” Nick asked, surprised.

“Not a bit.” Jamie said. “Although, she is learning from Abigail.”

“Can Elizabeth cook?”

“No.” Jamie shook his head sadly. “She’s just as unskilled in the kitchen as Evelyn is.”

Nick let out a loud laugh. “Well, no wonder you’re so puny!” And he clapped Jamie on the back so hard Jamie had to take a step forward to maintain his balance.

He gave Nick a dirty look and was about to give him a piece of his mind, but it wouldn’t do any good. Nick’s attention had suddenly turned elsewhere.

The back door opened and Rebecca stepped out. Ahh…seeing her again under the bright noon sun, Jamie could understand why Nick was attracted to her. She was a comely lass, fair, blue-eyed, blonde, and just a trifle plump, which was unusual for servants, but obviously the Paulettes fed her well. She was dressed in a plain dark green bodice and skirt, covered by a sturdy cotton apron. She smiled shyly when she saw Nick, but her gaze didn’t linger, remembering her place.

Nick looked ready to sweep her off her feet and carry her off somewhere; in fact he took a step forward, but stopped suddenly when she turned toward the cook.

“Have you finished your work, lass?” He asked.

“Yes, sir.” She said quietly.

“Then go ahead and take a few minutes with your man.” He said, having seen the attraction between her and Nick.

“Thank you, sir.” She said softly. “Mr. Bannister?” She said, looking at him with unmistakable love in her eyes.

Nick eagerly went to her, took her hand, and led her down the steps. “Thank you, Andrew.” He murmured to the cook before pulling Rebecca towards the side of the kitchen. They went around the back and disappeared.

“Ah, I love to see young people in love.” The cook commented, pouring another cup of ale for Osbourne Wells.

“That was very kind of you, to allow them time together.” Wells said, with some sarcasm. He accepted the cup, taking a goodly-sized mouthful and smacking his fleshy lips. He hadn’t said much during the ride and now, Jamie wished he hadn’t spoken at all. Jamie assumed Wells was experiencing a bit of jealousy and resentment. Wells had also taken a fancy to Alison Wyatt, but had lost her hand to Barber. He was a sore sport, is what he was.

“She’s not my servant,” The cook said, “However, Mr. Paulette apprised me of their situation, and warned me she might try to sneak off with Mr. Bannister. As long as her work is done—and I believe her when she said it is—and there is time before the rest of the guests arrive, there is no harm in allowing her a few minutes with her beau. I hear that Nick is a good boy; they’ll behave.”

“They’ll behave like lovers.” Wells said with a sneer.

“I beg your pardon, sir, but I disagree.” Jamie said crossly, needing to defend his friend. “Nick is not like that, and you shouldn’t say that about him.”

“Oh, my young lad, you are so naïve.” Wells sneered, looking down his nose at Jamie.

“And you are a bitter old man!” Jamie snapped before walking away. He wouldn’t listen to anything else that man had to say.

He didn’t care what the old man thought and felt good about sticking up for Nick. Nick was a gentleman, despite his humble beginnings as a blacksmith’s son in the Cleveland district of Yorkshire County, England.

He headed for the paddock, whistling an old tavern song, Three Ravens. He planned on spending the rest of the time waiting for the other guests to arrive with his horses rather than with humans. Horses didn’t judge people unless they were mistreated. Then they only feared them.

He met Evelyn on the way. She waved enthusiastically and skipped to his side. “Did you enjoy your drink?” She asked, taking his arm. “Where are you headed, like I do not already know?” She grinned, teasing him.

He smiled back. “The paddock.”

“I knew it.” She said, leaning into him.

He just tweaked her chin and they continued on their way. “Anyway, I did enjoy my drink at first. Then Nick stole off with Rebecca, and Wells ruined the mood by speaking ill of him.”

“What did he say?”

“He implied that Nick was not a gentleman and that he would take advantage of Rebecca.”

“Good heavens!” Evelyn gasped. “He should know better. Nick is not like that at all.”

“I told him that and then walked away. He’s in a bad humor, I think. After all, Alison married William, not him.”

Evelyn gasped again. “I didn’t realize Wells fancied Alison. Alison never mentioned it to me.”

Jamie shrugged his shoulder. “I believe that once Alison and Barber made up their minds, Wells backed off. He’s been rather withdrawn lately.”

“Poor man.” She sighed. Then she changed her tone. “But that doesn’t give him the right to malign Nick.”

“No, it doesn’t, but enough about Wells.” Jamie was tired of talking about Wells and didn’t think he deserved the little bit of attention they had given to him talking about him.

They arrived at the paddock and Jamie made kissing noises to call his horses over. They immediately trotted to the fence to see their master. Pisador snorted, shook his head and lipped Jamie’s hat, nearly pulling if off Jamie’s head.

“Hey!” He laughed, ducking his head out of the way and straightening his hat. Then he grabbed the horse’s head and holding his face in his hands, said, “Look at him.” He said to Evelyn, “Isn’t he wonderful?” Without waiting for an answer, he continued, “Look at you, you gorgeous creature.” He spoke to Pisador, holding the horse’s face.

“Both of them are wonderful.” Evelyn agreed, rubbing Penny’s nose as she crowded in next to Pisador to receive some attention.

“You’re going to win for me, aren’t you, boy?” Jamie said, petting the horse’s nose and cheeks. “You’re the fastest horse here, and we’re going to show them all.”

“Nick’s horse is quite fast.” Evelyn pointed out carefully, looking over at the large bay stallion nibbling at some straw.

“Yes, he is.” Jamie admitted, “He’ll be my biggest competition, but—“

“I’m glad you recognize that.” Nick said with a chuckle in his voice. He had come up from behind them, his face relaxed and glowing, if you could say that about a man. He greeted Evelyn with an incline of his head. “Mistress Evelyn.” He said.

Jamie turned toward him and grinned at Nick. “Oh yes,” He said, teasing Nick. “I recognize the fact that KingArthur is a fast horse, but as I was about to say when you so rudely interrupted me is that Pisador is still the fastest in all the land.”

Nick roared with laughter and pounded Jamie on the back again! “We’ll see, my friend, we shall see, but first let’s eat. Look, everyone is here.”

And it was true, the bride and groom and the remainder of the guests had finally arrived. Jamie could hear their cheering and laughing all the way across the yard.

As they began to walk to meet the crowd, Jamie took one more poke at Nick. “What? Still hungry? Didn’t Rebecca sneak you a nibble or two?”

Nick grinned unashamedly. “Oh, she gave me a nibble, all right, but nothing to fill my belly.” He nudged Jamie in the side with his elbow. “Pardon me, Mistress Evelyn.” He added quickly, tipping his hat at Evelyn.

“Oh, do not mind me.” She said, smiling indulgently. She knew what it was like being in love. “I’m happy for you, Mr. Bannister.”

“Thank you, dear lady.” He said, inclining his head.

As they neared the crowd of people, they were joined by Robert, Elizabeth, Robin, Abigail, Charles and Emily Crockett and their sons. The bride and the groom took their places at the head of the crowd along with William’s best man and Alison’s maid of honor. Andrew, the cook, had drinks waiting for the four of them and the best man, raising his delicate stemmed wine glass, toasted the bride and groom, wishing them good luck and a fruitful marriage. There were all kinds of suggestive whistles and cheers then which made everyone laugh and the bride blush a bright pink.

Finally, after several more toasts, supper was served in all its glory. The dining room table inside the house had also been set up along with a table in the kitchen and the one directly outside the kitchen door. Cold foods such as wheat and corn breads, goat and cow cheeses, fruit preserves, a pickled sallat of cucumbers, purslane and red cauliflower, fresh churned butter and a large dish of soused oysters graced the outside table while hot foods such as pumpkin casserole, turtle soup, oyster stew, hare and marrow bone pie, roasted venison, pork, herons and duck were served from the kitchen table. And last of all, the dining room table overflowed with desserts, a stack of small bride’s cakes for the bride and groom to kiss over, apple tarts, marchpane and sweetmeats.

“What a feast!” Nick commented, patting his full stomach after he had returned his pewter plate to the cold food table. He and Jamie were accepting one last cup of cider before calling it quits.

“Keep eating, Bannister.” Jamie said, hoping Nick would stuff himself so much he would be too uncomfortable to ride in the race. “Have you tried the marrow bone pie?” Jamie had and while it was delicious, it was also very heavy and rich. Again he marveled how the Paulettes obtained the ingredients like raisins, currants, rose water, cinnamon and sugar. The marrow was easily obtained, but the rest…Obviously Barber had been instrumental in bringing the rest of the ingredients from his travels to England and to the Caribbean.

“Ah, Jamie my lad,” Nick said, realizing Jamie’s tactics. He good-naturedly clicked Jamie’s cup. “Nothing will keep me from that race. A fat belly, inebriation, a pain in my arse, even a kiss from my sweetheart—“

“God’s bones! You are determined!” Jamie exclaimed, laughing a little, pretending to not be concerned, but underneath, he was worried. Still he wouldn’t do anything to sabotage the race. He wanted to win it fair and square.

“As are you.” He said seriously, drank down his cider and walked away in the direction of the necessary.

Another hour went by and the feast wound down. All the dishes and platters were picked over and mere crumbs remained from the breads, pie shells and cakes. Evelyn groaned beside Jamie as they lounged under an old oak tree. People were becoming lethargic and several families with young children found places off to the side of the yard to put down quilts and take naps. That didn’t last long though. It was time to dance and at Thomas Paulette’s signal, three of Barber’s men picked up their instruments, a violin, a recorder and a small mouth harp, and started to play a lively tune.

William and Alison were the first to dance, smiling and beaming with happiness while everyone looked on in delight and clapped along in rhythm. Then the best man and the maid of honor joined them and soon after that, everyone else joined in.

For two to three hours, they danced minuets, cotillions, Scotch reels, country dances and jigs. Evelyn had especially enjoyed the dancing and Jamie was glad he could accommodate her and make her happy, but the entire time, in the back of his mind he kept thinking about the upcoming race and was never as happy as when Thomas Paulette announced it was time to prepare for the event.

The race was held at four in the afternoon.It was decided that the men who had ridden their horses would participate in the race: Jamie, Nick, John and Joseph Bolton, and Adam Cook, but not Osbourne Wells, as he had over indulged in wine and brandy and was as soused as that dish of soused oysters. He could barely stand let alone ride. He ended up passing out under a sweet gum tree and could be heard snoring from twenty feet away.

At first Robert declared that he would not ride since he already knew that Penny could not win, but then Jamie, backed up by the men, convinced him to ride Wells’ horse, a black stallion around seven years old named Midnight. The horse may have looked devilish, but in reality he was quite obedient. Robert spent a good ten minutes with him before the race, getting familiar.