Charms of a Witch Page 9

  'I do not see why not,' Lucy answered spiritedly. 'Many other girls have to, why should I be different?'

  'You were brought up gently.'

  'Aye, but I have learned much the last few months. I can do much that previously I did not think I would ever have to.'

  'Life has treated you harshly, little one. But I will not allow you to disappear and become a mere serving wench.'

  'What else can I do?'

  'First, you must see Sir Humphrey.'

  'He will not see me.'

  'He is a recluse, yes. He does not welcome chance visitors, but he owes it to you to tell you what he can of your mother. I will persuade him. I have some influence with him being his heir, and besides, if he is your father, we are kin.'

  Lucy smiled at him. 'Is Sir Humphrey your uncle, or cousin? Mistress Francis mentioned some kinship, but I knew not what.'

  'It is distant,' Gavin answered. 'My great-grandfather was Sir Henry Anstey. By his first marriage he had a daughter Elizabeth and a son Henry. Mistress Francis is granddaughter to that Elizabeth, and Sir Humphrey is the son of Henry. Then the first Sir Henry married again, and had a son by this marriage, who was my grandfather. I am the next male in line to the baronetcy.'

  'Yes, I think I see,' said Lucy, confused a little. 'Why is Sir Humphrey as he is?'

  'It is an old story. Humphrey was a courtier at James's Court, but he earned the King's displeasure with some disparaging remarks about George Villiers, the King's favourite, and was banished the Court. That was some years before the old King died, but then his son Charles himself became enamoured of George Villiers and so there was no recall for Sir Humphrey. He became embittered and decided Kings and Courts were not for him. At first he took part in local affairs, but over the years he has withdrawn more and more. He occupies himself with reading the works of great authors of the past. He translates from the Greek and Latin, and is, I believe, perfectly content with his way of life.'

  Lucy nodded.

  'I know nought about your mother. My father brought me to visit Sir Humphrey several times when I was a boy, but I am sure I never saw your mother at the Manor. If she was at all like you I would have been sure to have remembered her, young as I was. Now, we will go to the Manor and tell your story to Sir Humphrey. Do you agree?'

  *

  Lucy hesitated. 'I do not think he will be interested.'

  'I will make him interested.'

  'I thank you. I confess I would dearly like to know the full story.'

  'Then let us hope that Sir Humphrey will tell it to you tonight. Bring your bundle.'

  Lucy protested at this. 'I cannot stay there.'

  'It is likely we will be talking late. 'Twould not be wise to bring you back here at a very late hour. You will be safer with us at the Manor. And methinks he will want you to stay. He is a very lonely old man.'

  'Very well,' Lucy agreed.

  They took the cloaks, now dry, and Gavin lifted her onto his horse again.

  Watched by several curious villagers they passed through Brookley and to the Manor. They rode up the drive and Gavin dismounted by the front door and turned to lift Lucy down. A groom took the reins of the horse and led it round to the stables.

  Holding Lucy's arm gently, Gavin turned towards the front door which had been opened for them. The servant Lucy had seen before stood there, smiling a little uncertainly at Lucy.

  'Mistress Dean will wait in the parlour, William,' Gavin ordered. 'I will see Sir Humphrey alone. Is he in the study?'

  'Aye, Mr Gavin.'

  'This way, Lucy.'

  Gavin guided her into a pleasant room that overlooked the front garden, then, with an encouraging smile, left her. It was half an hour before he returned.

  'He wishes to see you now, Lucy. Come with me.'

  They passed through the hall, a large panelled room with stairs curving gracefully at the far end. Gavin led her to a door near the back, opened it and gently pushed Lucy in.

  She had a vague impression of golden oak panelling and row upon row of books, then her attention was caught by the man sitting in a tall armchair by the window, staring fixedly at her. She curtsied low, and Gavin, still with his hand on her arm, guided her across the room to where another chair faced Sir Humphrey's.

  'I have brought Mistress Lucy Dean to you, Humphrey,' he said simply, and the old man, white haired and stern faced, smiled slightly as he bent his head in acknowledgement.

  'You are excessively like your mother,' he said slowly. 'I pray you, be seated.'

  Heartily thankful for the invitation, Lucy sank onto the chair. Her legs were trembling, and she doubted that she would have been able to stand for much longer. Gavin, giving her a smile of encouragement, pulled up a stool and seated himself between them, though nearer to Lucy. She smiled at him tremulously, then looked back at Sir Humphrey.

  'Welcome, child,' the latter said. 'Gavin has told me what has been happening to you. I regret I did not know and could not take steps to help you. Mistress Francis betrayed her trust and did not inform me you had left her care.'

  'I would thank you for what you have already done for me,' Lucy said in a low voice. 'It was kind of you to ensure Mistress Francis brought me up with her own children.'

  'Aye,' he said abruptly. 'Gavin also tells me you know little about your mother?'

  'That is so, Sir Humphrey,' Lucy nodded. 'A little my grandmother told me, and odd scraps of information I have gathered from the villagers.'

  'And that, no doubt, is exceedingly prejudiced,' he said bitterly. He sighed deeply. 'I believe you came here once to ask me questions?'

  Lucy nodded. 'It seemed to me you would best be able to answer them, for no one else either could or would.'

  'Then I must tell you all I can.' Sir Humphrey smiled at her, a sad sweet smile, but Lucy was warmed by it, and suddenly no longer afraid.

  'I would be most grateful, Sir, for 'tis most disturbing to know so little about myself.'

  *

  'I was not such a recluse in the old days,' Sir Humphrey began. 'I took part in village affairs, and I knew the villagers. I knew your grandmother, and watched your mother grow from a lively child into a beautiful young girl. I was attracted to her then, perhaps not unduly. I had never married, and women did not mean much to me. Lucy was most popular in the village. All the lads were after her, but she was lively, and she liked none of them sufficiently to settle down. Then Tom Perkins began to cast sheep's eyes at her, and that riled Agnes beyond endurance. You have had dealings with Agnes, I understand?'

  'Yes indeed, Sir,' Lucy replied.

  'Then you will know what a determined woman she is, unwilling to brook any opposition.'

  'So I have realised.'

  'She was so as a girl. When she saw Tom made silly with desire for Lucy she determined to harm the girl, even though she had given him no encouragement. She accused Lucy of witchcraft.'

  'On what grounds?'

  'The accusers of witches do not have to have grounds,' he replied. 'It is enough to say one's cattle have died, someone is ill of a wasting sickness, an unexplained or sudden death, people have lost things. There are many evils laid at the doors of witches. Your mother was brought before the magistrates, and I was one of them. Agnes made her accusations, and such is her influence many others of the villagers gave evidence, if such nonsense as they talked can be called such!'

  'How could they prove such charges?' Lucy asked, puzzled.

  'It is impossible to prove such,' Gavin put in. 'Normal evidence is not possible, since witches are held to work in secret, and invisibly, therefore abnormal evidence is accepted, such as would be laughed at in any other trial.'

  'But I would not accept it. I have read much, and been influenced in my beliefs by such men as Agrippa, and Dr John Cotta, as well as Reginald Scot, who do not give credence to the usual ideas on witchcraft. I persuaded the other magistrate 'twas a malicious accusation, and he knew Agnes as well as I. In short, we refused to indict Lucy and send her to the
Sessions, but I feared harm to her from Agnes if she returned home and, I confess, I was very deeply attracted to her by now.

  'I offered her shelter here. She refused at first, but I persuaded old Mistress Dean she would not be safe at home, and suggested I gave Lucy a position here at the Manor. I had other women servants, and your grandmother accepted this arrangement, thinking 'twould be but a temporary measure, until Agnes's fury died down.

  'As I came to know Lucy better, I grew to love her very deeply, and she returned my love. I wanted to marry her. ' He looked earnestly at Lucy. 'Pray believe this. I begged her to marry me, but she would have none of it. She said our stations were so far apart 'twould not be right. But she offered herself to me, and I was so frantic for her I took her, hoping to persuade her later to marry me. But she was steadfast in her refusal even when she carried my child and I urged her to allow me to have a legitimate heir, which I never would otherwise.'

  'Then you are my father?' Lucy said wonderingly.

  Sir Humphrey nodded. 'That we can be sure of. Lucy was virgin when she came to me, and I swear she would not betray me with any other man. She was in truth my wife, and I regarded her as such. Merely we had not the blessing of the church. But when she died I could not bear to be reminded of her, and so I sent you away. Will you forgive me for that?'

  'There is nought to forgive,' Lucy said softly. 'I had no claim on your affections. So my mother died giving me birth? 'Tis not surprising you hated me if you loved her so much.'

  Sir Humphrey took a deep breath, and was obviously moved. 'It was not you that killed her, my child,' he said in a broken voice. 'It was those devils in the village!'

  'Why? What did they do?'

  *

  'As time went by, your mother ventured into the village again. They knew she was under my protection, and I considered her safe. The first few times I or the servants accompanied her, but gradually she laughed at my fears, and became more venturesome. She visited her mother one day, promising to be back for supper. The time came and she did not return. I became anxious and rode out to find her.' The old man paused, overcome with emotion, and Lucy slipped out of her chair and knelt beside him. He raised his hand and gently stroked her hair.

  'I found her,' he said. 'Those women, led by Agnes, had lain in wait for her as she returned home. They laid hands on her, and on the pretence of testing her witch powers, threw her into the village pond for the swimming test. I came upon them just after they had thrown her in!'

  'You rescued her?' Lucy asked.

  He shook his head. 'I rode straight into the pond and pulled her out. Aye, I saved her from that, but she was far gone with child. I carried her home. You were born that night, my dear. Your mother had just strength to bring you into the world, but an hour later she was dead.'

  Lucy bowed her head. 'Oh, how you must have suffered! I am so sorry.'

  They sat in silence for a long time, Sir Humphrey's hand resting on Lucy's head. After a long time the old man spoke again.

  'I sent you to Mistress Francis. They owed me money which they could not repay without difficulty, so I bargained with them that they would bring you up as their own, and the debt would be forgotten. I did not tell them you were my daughter, but they must have assumed it. Neither did I tell them what I intended for you. I mean to dower you so that you can make a good match. I should have done it earlier, but I shrank always from recalling the circumstances of your birth. I did not realise how time had passed. How old are you, my child?'

  'I am seventeen,' Lucy answered quietly.

  'Time you were wed. I told Mistress Francis to refer any suitors you had to me, and I have made provision for you in my will. Your future is secure, my dear, but I regret I did not do it earlier. It might have saved you some of the horrors you have undergone the last few months.'

  Lucy shook her head vehemently. 'You have nought to regret. I am most grateful for what you have done, and I do not wish to claim more of your generosity.'

  'Nonsense. You have been deprived of both mother and father. I should have kept closer watch over you, but somehow I became more and more reluctant to go out into the world. Can you forgive me?'

  'There is nought to forgive,' Lucy protested, 'But I am so happy to know you at last!'

  'And I, my daughter. Will you call me Father now?'

  Lucy looked at him with joy in her eyes, and then burst into tears.

  'Come, my child,' he said tremulously, and standing, lifted her up with him. He put his arms round her, and she rested her head against his chest. 'I have found another Lucy. Let us forget the past, and be joyful together.'

  Blinking back her tears, Lucy smiled up at him. 'Why, 'tis a strange word on my lips, but I am so glad, Father,' she whispered. 'I would not have you remember if 'tis painful for you, but I would dearly like to know more about my mother. Mayhap one day you will be able to tell me?'

  'I shall enjoy it now, which is something I never thought,' Sir Humphrey replied. 'I have tried to hide my memories, but that has not brought ease to my heart. Methinks sharing them with you will do that.'

  They stood, father and daughter, gazing into each other's eyes, and then a slight sound Gavin made drew their attention to him.

  'Why, thank you for introducing us,' Lucy said, smiling brilliantly at him.

  'Yes, my boy. I have been a stubborn, curmudgeonly old man. Thank you for telling me how wrong I was.'

  Gavin smiled at them both. 'Methinks we all need some wine.'

  Sir Humphrey nodded, and Gavin sprang up and searched in the cupboard for decanter and glasses. He poured out some wine, and carried the glasses over to Lucy and Sir Humphrey.

  'To your reunion,' he said, holding out his glass, and they smiled, laughed, and drank.

  *

  Chapter 10

  Shortly after this supper was announced, and they adjourned to the dining parlour. During the meal Sir Humphrey asked Lucy many questions about her life at Delmead with the Francis family and Gavin, who had visited them, was able to join in with descriptions of what the family was like.

  'Let me see,' Sir Humphrey said, 'Mistress Sarah, she is two years older than you, and has not yet wed? Is she promised to anyone?'

  'I do not think so,' Lucy said. 'With the country in such a turmoil during the war, there have been fewer opportunities for social life and for her to meet suitors. Mistress Francis often bemoaned the fact.'

  Recollecting Gavin's earlier visit to Delmead, she glanced at him, blushing.

  'Aye,' he grinned at her.' I was a heaven-sent opportunity, was I not?' he said mockingly.

  'You? Is the woman putting out her lures for you?'

  'Why not, Humphrey? Am I not eligible? Young, wealthy, heir to your title, and, since no one else here will say it, handsome enough to please most damsels?'

  Sir Humphrey laughed. 'Jackanapes. I'll warrant you flirted with the girl and gave her and her mother hopes.'

  'I'll not deny the flirtation,' Gavin smiled, 'but I do not think I gave grounds for hopes greater than any mother entertains for her daughter when an eligible young man happens by.'

  'Well, what of Peter? Is he a likely fellow?'

  'Promising. He has joined the army.'

  Sir Humphrey raised his eyebrows. 'How did he persuade his father to allow that? I thought Mr Francis always stuck to a safe middle course until he was certain which way would be profitable.'

  'Aye, and Peter was chafing under this restraint. I claim some credit for persuading Mr Francis to allow him to go. After all, that is why I am sent on these long leaves.'

  Lucy looked at him questioningly, and he smiled at her.

  'I do not come solely to rescue damsels in distress!' She laughed. 'The King sent me to drum up support from the local landowners. Since I have connections here I am an obvious choice.'

  'Is Peter shaping well as a soldier?'

  'I see little of him, but I hear good reports. He is with Rupert's cavalry and has performed well in the minor skirmishes he has been involve
d in so far. This summer's campaign, we hope, will be decisive.'

  'And what think you of Peter?' Sir Humphrey turned to Lucy.

  'He has always been very kind to me,' she said, smiling reminiscently. 'I was somewhat of a nuisance being so much younger, but he was very patient.'

  'Much more so the last two years, I understand,' said Gavin, looking teasingly at her.

  'Why, I – ' Lucy blushed, and Sir Humphrey laughed.

  'Oho! Peter Francis, Jem Perkins. You are breaking hearts as fast as your mother did.'

  Lucy shook her head in quick denial. 'I do not encourage them, Father, in truth I do not!'

  'You do not need to, my child. One look from those eyes, and any man would become your slave. Do not be ashamed of it,' he went on, 'but use your power carefully. 'Tis a power as potent as that of any witch! One that most women would envy you. But be not capricious. Your mother was firm and true. I hope you will be the same to whoever you choose as your husband. And now, enough of such solemn talk. Let us enjoy a family evening. Do you play or sing?'

  Lucy nodded. 'I am sadly out of practice. There were no instruments at my grandmother's.'

  'It is a long time since the music room was used. We will not notice any mistakes you make.'

  They spent the next couple of hours making music. Lucy played the harpsichord there with hesitancy at first, then gaining confidence attempted some of her old favourites. She sang to them in a sweet low voice, and Gavin joined her, adding his deep voice to hers. When it was time to retire, Lucy was feeling that this was home, and was very much at ease with Sir Humphrey. He informed her his housekeeper had prepared a bedroom for her, and he rang for this woman who escorted Lucy to it. She was very tired but for a long time she could not sleep, as the image of Gavin Anstey kept intruding on her thoughts.

  *

  After they breakfasted, Gavin left Lucy alone with her father saying he had to ride out and visit on the King's business. Sir Humphrey looked anxiously at Lucy.

  'My dear, I hope that now we are acquainted you will forgive my past neglect of you, and come and live here with me?'

  Lucy looked at him, joy in her face. 'I would like it above all things!'