Wild Bells to the Wild Sky (42 page)

Tillie came staggering through the door with an armful of kindling and a couple of split logs, her steps somehow finding their way safely around the sleeping form of the dog stretched out in the middle of the room. Down on her hands and knees before the hearth, she grimaced when a spider came dangling down from the flue, his web undisturbed until now. But soon a crackling fire was spreading its warmth throughout the room and replacing the light that was fading fast beyond the windows.

"A fire?" Dulcie said, staring openmouthed at the dancing flames. "Are you sick, Lily?" she demanded, glancing over at her sister worriedly.

"No," Lily declared with a laugh. "Indeed, I shall wash my hair now that the room will be warmer," she suddenly decided, determined to make the most of this unexpected treat. Pulling the ribbons from her hair, she allowed the long red strands to reach into the soapy water. Closing her eyes, she sank beneath the surface, dampening the thick mass of hair so she could work the soap through it.

"Oh, mistress, ye be temptin' fate," Tillie sighed, for everyone knew migraines and madness came of getting your head wet, and no telling what might happen if a person got water in his ears, she thought, terrified. Saying a silent prayer to protect them both, Tillie helped Lily rinse her hair with the clear water
from
the earthenware jug on the bedside table, then held up the blanket she'd placed close to the warmth of the fire for Lily to wrap herself in when she climbed from the tub.

By the time Lily moved closer to the hearth, Raphael had changed his position and now lay toasting himself before the fire, his eyelids fluttering now and again as he no doubt dreamt of chasing rabbits across the fields.
But
he had to share his enviable position, for Dulcie had
climbed
down beside him and was now lying with her head propped up on his chest.

"Lily?" Dulcie questioned, wiggling her toes closer to the heat.

"Hmmmm?" Lily's voice was muffled as she shook out her hair and tried to wring the water out of its dripping length. Threading her fingers through the long strands, she spread them out to catch the warmth.

"May I brush your hair until it sparkles and crackles with fire?"

Lily smiled, remembering how she used to brush their mother's hair after they'd bathed in the pool behind their hut on the island. They'd sit on the edge of the pool, basking in the warm afternoon sun while they waited for their hair to dry. To pass the time, they would sing songs and talk nonsense until their laughter eventually drew Basil's curiosity. Those were the special times, Lily thought. "Yes, I would like that, Dulcie."

"Lily?"

"Yes."

"Do you think I could sleep in here tonight?"

Lily looked down at Dulcie's dark head resting so trustingly on Raphael's chest, her thin hands held out to the warmth of the fire, and Lily knew she couldn't deny her. Even though she had Raphael for company, Dulcie had never liked having a room of her own.

"May I go get my nightdress now?" Dulcie asked. It was growing dark, and soon she'd have to light a candle to undress by.

"Run along," Lily told her. "Where is Tristram?" she called after her.

Dulcie and Raphael paused in their flight to the door. "Right after dinner, since it was still light, Tristram went out with Farley and Fairfax."

Lily raised an eyebrow. She didn't like the sound of that, for wherever Farley and Fairfax were to be found, trouble soon followed.

"Do you know where they went, Tillie?" Lily asked, not feeling any easier when she saw the guilty expression crossing Tillie's face.

"Me? Oh, Mistress Lily, now I wouldn't be knowin' about such things," Tillie was too quick to deny. "Oughta empty this tub."

"Why don't you leave it until morning? 'Tis getting dark," Lily advised, beginning to worry about Tristram's wheareabouts, especially if he was in the company of Farley and Fairfax Odell.

"Oh, I really should, mistress," Tillie said. "Oughta help Mistress Dulcie into her nightdress," she suggested, edging toward the door.

"Tillie?" Lily said softly.

"Yes, mistress," she answered uneasily.

"Why don't you and I have a little talk while I finish drying my hair?" Lily murmured, eyeing Tillie's stiffening shoulders with interest.

"Yes, mistress,"

"Now, where have Farley and Fairfax and my brother gone?"

Tillie swallowed nervously. "They
truly
be gone, then?" she questioned doubtfully.

"Where?" Lily repeated.

"Thought fer sure I heard them come back just minutes ago," Tillie said, cocking her head as if listening to approaching
footsteps
. "Shall I run down to see?" she offered eagerly, not liking the glint that had come into her mistress's eye. "Reckon they could even be out in the stables."

"I did not hear anything. And where exactly would they be returning from, Tillie?" Lily asked, slipping into the dressing robe Tillie had been busying herself with finding for the last few minutes.

"Well?" Lily asked as the silence continued.

"Reckon they just might've ambled into the village," Tillie finally admitted.

"Into Highford? What on earth for? Except for the Oaks, all of the shops are closed," Lily asked, amazed by Tillie's answer.

"Reckon they might not be goin' in to do any shoppin', mistress."

"Why did they go into Highford?"

Tillie started to chew her bottom lip.

Lily sighed. She knew Farley and Fairfax too well. "What mischief have those two planned now?"

Tillie took a deep breath, meeting Lily's gaze bravely. "Well, Farley says he ain't never met a man who don't have something to feel guilty about, even if 'tis just in his mind, and 'tis about time the good reverend was reminded that he's human, too. Reckon Farley has gotten tired of the Reverend Buxby always pointin' his long finger at him and Fairfax in church each Sabbath. Ye'd think they was the only two who spent any time in t'Oaks. Reckon, too, Farley don't like the way the reverend's been casting suspicion on yer good name, Mistress Lily," Tillie admitted, still feeling uncomfortable about the way the reverend had talked of sin and damnation, and all the while staring down at Lily Christian.

"And just exactly how are they going to achieve their purpose?" Lily asked almost reluctantly.

Tillie's lips twitched just slightly, and Lily could not have sworn if it had been out of fear or amusement. "Reckon the good reverend might see the ghost of St.
George
a-wanderin' and a-moanin' and a-callin' his name in the graveyard this evenin'. Real eerie, with a full moon risin' over them headstones. Farley swears there really is a ghost a-hauntin' that place," Tillie said with a shiver of foreboding.

But it was nothing compared to the dread Lily was experiencing. "And Tristram went with them," she said.

"Well, the young master overheard them takin', mistress, and he said he had a right to be there too. Besides, Farley said 'twould be better if there were three of them, one to be the ghost and two to play the dragon. And ye know Master Tristram's been so awful upset of late, mistress, what with the reverend talkin' of
.
.
.
well
.
.
.
you know the way he carries on about
.
.
.
well
.
.
.
you know
.
.
."

"Yes, about the children of sin being more easily led into the evils of this world than those of God-fearing parents," Lily said, and suddenly she wished Farley and Fairfax had invited her along, too, for she'd love to see the good reverend's face when the ghost started moaning his name.

"You
said
Tristram is to be the ghost?"

"Oh, yes. Ye see, Fairfax found thi
s old boar's head, and they've f
i
x
ed it up to look like a dragon's head. Fairfax is goin' to wave a torch before him, like the dragon's breathin' fire. Then Farley, who'll be underneath the blanket behind Fairfax, will be carryin' Master Tristram on his shoulders. Ooooh, mistress, ye know what they did? They got the breastplate and helmet from the suit of armor in the hall, and they put it on Master Tristram. they even got the shield and sword. 'Twill look just like St. George fightin' the dragon, what with Master Tristram swingin' that sword and the fire roarin' from the dragon's mouth," Tillie said excitedly.

"I just hope Tristram doesn't behead Fairfax by mistake," Lily commented, thinking that if anything went wrong, which it was certain to since Farley and Fairfax were involved, then they were all going to be in very serious trouble.

"And Farley's goin' to cry out the reverend's name, and maybe even name some of them fine folks of the village. Half the village is likely to be at the church this eve, seein' how they be preparin' the dragon fer the procession. Day after tomorrow will be the festival, though I s'pose if Farley gets caught we won't be goin' to the feastin', or walkin' in the procession," Tillie worried, then suddenly cried out and rushed over to the window.

"Whatever is wrong?"

"Can't ye hear it? Oh, no!" Tillie wailed, wrapping her arms around her middle as she rocked back and forth on her heels.

Lily listened, expecting to hear the sound of angry villagers coming up the lane and shouting for the blood of Farley and Fairfax Odell. But all she could hear
was
the nightingale's singing. " 'Tis just a bird complaining about the darkness."

"Just a bird? 'Tis a cuckoo!" Tillie cried with a sniff of despair. "And I heard it call at least six times! Oh, what am I goin' to do? I'll never marry now! Not fer six years. 'Twill be too late by then!" Tillie cried.

"Tillie, hush!" Lily said, trying to calm her, but Tillie kept crying, and her wails were growing louder by the second.

"Tillie, please. Hush! Do you want to disturb the whole household? I tell you that was a nightingale. Not a cuckoo," Lily entreated her, wondering what difference it made whether it was a nightingale or a cuckoo. "Now, come over here and let me dry your tears," Lily cajoled, her arm around Tillie's shaking shoulders as she led her toward the tub. Dipping her handkerchief in the rose-scented water, she dabbed it against Tillie's cheeks.

Tillie sniffed back the tears still threatening. "Are you certain 'twasn't a cuckoo?"

"Of course I am," Lily reassured her. "But why are you so alarmed, Tillie? And what is this about never marrying? After all, you are still a very young woman. There will be plenty of time for you to wed."

" 'Tis the legend. Maire Lester used to tell it to me. She heard it, and she never wed. I've heard his cry now, and six times. I won't marry fer six years, if at all. It'll come true, I just know it! I'm never goin' to get married," Tillie bawled.

"Of course you will, but even if you didn't, well, would that really be all that bad? You will always have a home here at Highcross. Besides, you're worrying for nothing. I thought you and Farley were certain to wed before the year was out," Lily said, trying to be helpful, but when she saw the expression on Tillie's face, she realized she'd said the wrong thing.

"He won't wed me now that I've heard the cuckoo. Maybe he don't love me anymore now that we've-or," she cried shrilly, her fears worsening, "maybe something will happen to him tonight. He might get shot! Or maybe he fell into the river while crossing the bridge. And now no one will wed me! Not now that Farley's gotten me with child! The master will kick me out of the house. Reckon he'll be findin' out soon enough, what with that cook stickin' her porker's snout in my business all the time. Askin' me questions about why I'm gettin' sick in the mornin'. told her 'twas seein' her ugly face so early! I'll be run out t'village once they hears about it. Maybe they'll lock me up in the stocks. I'll be left on the village green fer all of them to jeer at and throw rotten eggs and cabbages at. Oh, what am I goin' to do, Mistress Lily? I got nowhere to go. I was born in the alms-house. I can't go back there. Oh, what am I to do, Mistress Lily?" she wailed, throwing her arms around a stunned Lily.

"What's wrong with Tillie? I could hear her crying all the way down the corridor," Dulcie said, waiting long enough for Raphael to enter the room before she closed the door behind her. "Do you want a bite of this tart, Tillie?" Dulcie offered, holding out the mincemeat tart she'd been hiding behind her back, willing to share if it would make Tillie stop crying.

"Praaack!
Ye knaves and tarts! Ho! Villains, me pretty! Villains! Damn them all and sink 'em!
Praaack!"

With a watery hiccup and an almost comical expression on her face, Tillie stared at the innocent-faced little girl and then at the sharp-tongued parrot and started to cry all over again.

"Did I do something wrong, Lily?" Dulcie asked, looking down at the soggy tart. "I snuck down to the kitchens and found some in the cupboard. I knew they weren't all gone like the cook said," Dulcie explained, going to sit before the fire, Raphael keeping close beside her lest she forget to share her prize with him.