A Victory for Love Read online

  “It was certainly a strange introduction, but I am very glad I have met you and, as you have helped me, please let me help you.”

  “I am listening.”

  “In our village on the very border of this estate there is an inn known as The Fox and Goose. It is very small and is kept by a dear old man whom I have known for years. He is so kind and everyone who has an animal or a bird that is injured takes it to him, because he has healing in his fingers and he makes them well again.”

  “And you think that is where I should stay?” John asked.

  “I am sure old Abe Barnes will have you, if I ask him to and I think too, if that scar on your forehead aches, he will take away the pain.”

  John smiled.

  “If that is true, then I assure you Abe Barnes is the kind of man I am looking for.”

  “I will take you there,” Farica said, “and the quickest way is through the wood.”

  “Does the Earl give you permission to trespass on his ground?” John enquired.

  “His uncle allowed me to ride anywhere on the estate I wished,” Farica replied, “and the gamekeepers and the foresters all know me, but I think perhaps you might get into trouble if you came here alone.”

  He did not ask the question but, as if he had, she said,

  “The new Earl is not very kind to the local people. Because things had become a little lax in his uncle’s time, he has threatened that anyone poaching a rabbit or caught in the woods will be taken before the Magistrates and perhaps transported.”

  There was a little note of horror in Farica’s voice that John did not miss.

  But he made no comment as she walked ahead of him down the twisting path through the trees to where she had left her horse.

  Pegasus was free to wander and crop the grass.

  Then as she whistled he came trotting to her side and John lifted her up onto the saddle and arranged her full skirt over the stirrup.

  He patted Pegasus’s neck and said,

  “This is the finest horse I have seen for some time.”

  “He is my very own,” Farica answered. “I love him and he loves me and, as you can see, he comes when I whistle to him.”

  “I am afraid my horse, which I bought when I arrived in Portsmouth, is not so accommodating,” John said. “I have tied him to a fallen tree just around the corner from here. Will you please wait for me?”

  He hurried away and watching him Farica thought that despite his ill-fitting clothes he moved with the grace of an athlete.

  Equally it struck her for the first time that he was very thin and his complexion was sallow, as if he had been ill.

  Then, remembering the deep scar on his forehead, she thought that, if it was at Waterloo that he had been wounded, he had perhaps gone back to Regimental life too soon and it had been too much for him.

  A large force, after the decisive battle that had ended the War, had been kept in France to act as an Army of Occupation, much to the fury of the French.

  She remembered reading that the Duke of Wellington had promised to reduce their numbers and now they were gradually coming back to England.

  ‘How can I find him something to do?’ she asked herself.

  She knew that there were no vacancies on her father’s estate.

  In fact Sir Robert had taken on far more men than he really needed, simply because he felt sorry for those who had returned home expecting to be treated like heroes, only to find that they were an encumbrance and were looked upon all too often as vagabonds and ne’er-do-wells.

  It was desperately unfair, but she suspected that many of them were in fact driven to rob, steal and even commit violent crimes because they were so desperate.

  ‘I must try to help him,’ Farica thought, as she saw him riding back towards her on a horse that was not, in any way as well-bred as hers.

  But he rode it with an assurance that told her that he was indeed a good horseman.

  They trotted along beside the wood, until Farica led the way into a ride that was wide enough for them to move side by side.

  It was very quiet and beautiful, except for the birds fluttering in the trees at their approach, the rabbits scampering away ahead of them and the red squirrels chattering from the high branches in case they should steal their nuts.

  “I had forgotten how beautiful England is,” John commented in a low voice.

  “This in my eyes is more beautiful than any other part of the country,” Farica said, “and that is why – ”

  She stopped as if she was being indiscreet, but John could read her thoughts and he finished,

  “ – that is why you are considering accepting the Earl’s proposal.”

  “Not really, but I would love to own not that Castle, which is very big and in which I might feel lost and frightened, but the woods, the lake, the cascade and the magic pool in the pine forest where I go when I am feeling worried and depressed.”

  “Perhaps if you have the time you will show them to me?” John suggested.

  “Would you really be interested?”

  “Very interested. And as you know, I am very worried and depressed.”

  “I can understand that, but I think you know in your heart that if you trust your Fate and perhaps yourself, everything will come right.”

  She spoke a little dreamily, as if she was looking into a crystal ball and John asked sharply,

  “Why do you say that?”

  “Because I am sure it is true.”

  “Just as I am sure that you must not and will not marry the Earl.” John said.

  She gave him a flashing smile. Then, as if she was suddenly shy, she touched her horse with her whip and hurried ahead of him and he had difficulty in keeping up with her.

  They emerged on the other side of the wood that ran at the back of the Park and Farica rode onto a narrow country lane with the hedgerows covered in ‘Old Man’s Beard’ and honeysuckle.

  It was then, as if he was aware of it for the first time, that John realised that she was not wearing the conventional riding habit but a gown and she had no hat on her head.

  As if she knew what he was thinking, she explained,

  “I ran out of the house after Papa had been talking to me about the Earl and went straight to the stables to take Pegasus from his stall. As soon as he was saddled I came away to the woods so that I could think.”

  She gave him a shy little look as she asked,

  “Are you shocked that I should be so – unconventional?”

  “Not in the slightest,” John replied. “I am only admiring you for being different from other women, who spend half their lives titivating themselves in front of a mirror.”

  Farica laughed and it was a very young and joyous sound.

  “I never do anything that ridiculous, but Papa says I must go to London and be presented to the Queen and perhaps the Prince Regent and go to balls and Assemblies, which will need a great deal of dressing up!”

  “But you would enjoy that?”

  Farica considered the question for a moment before she answered,

  “I suppose it would be an interesting experience, but I would so much rather stay in the country. I love being here with Papa.”

  John waited and after a moment, because she knew that he was expecting it, she added,

  “It was only after the new Earl had come upsetting everything that I was frightened and worried – and you know the rest of the story.”

  “I have already told you what to do,” John said firmly. “But it will be very – very difficult.”

  “Not half as difficult as your future will be if you make the wrong decision.”

  Just in front of them was the village green with the usual small duck pond, ancient wooden stocks and a pretty black and white inn with a thatched roof.

  “Will you promise me something,” Farica asked him, “and not be shocked at me for suggesting it? I know I am being very unconventional in doing so.”

  “What is it?” John enquired.

 
“Will you please – not go away without – seeing me again – or letting me know you are leaving?”

  “Why do you ask that?”

  “Because – ”

  She stopped and then after a moment a little hesitatingly she finished,

  “ – you have – helped me with my problem – and I may need your help again.”

  “If that is true, then I am very honoured,” John said, “and I promise you, Farica, that for as long as you want me, I will be here.”

  Her face lit up like a child’s.

  “Thank you, thank you! Now I feel much happier than I did when I left home today.”

  When they reached the inn, John dismounted and lifted Farica down from the saddle.

  She thanked him with a little smile and led the way in through the open door to find, as she expected, old Abe, not in the bar with its ships’ timbers across the ceiling, but outside through another door that led into a yard.

  There he was surrounded by his patients, some in cages, others in kennels and two in makeshift stalls.

  He was sitting on a stool holding in his hand a thrush with a broken wing.

  Farica stood beside him, but she did not speak, knowing that it might frighten the bird.

  Only when his old fingers had in some magical way welded the wing together did he put the thrush into a cage at his feet and look up.

  “I thought it were you, Miss Farica.”

  “I knew I would find you here, Abe,” she replied. “I have brought you a very special patient who needs your help – in more ways than one.”

  Old Abe looked enquiringly at John standing behind her and Farica said,

  “John Hamilton is a soldier who has just come back from the War, Abe, and as you see, he is wounded on his forehead. He is also bewildered at how everything has changed while he has been away fighting the French.”

  Abe smiled.

  “Well, we’ll see what we can do for you,” he said. “Are you suggestin’ ’e’ll stay with me ’ere?”

  “If you will have him.”

  “Any friend of yourn, Miss Farica, won’t be turned away by me.”

  “Thank you, Abe, I knew I could rely on you,” she said.

  Abe looked at John, who held out his hand.

  “I should be very grateful if you could accommodate me.”

  Abe studied him for a moment.

  Then he said,

  “’Aven’t I seen you somewheres afore?”

  John shook his head.

  “I don’t think so. I have been abroad for seven years.”

  “At war,” Abe remarked. “And there’s a great many as’ll ne’er come ’ome.”

  As if she did not want him to make John feel gloomy, Farica showed him Abe’s patients, finding a dog with a broken paw that she had not seen before.

  “What happened to his paw and how did he get hurt so badly?” she asked.

  “A trap, Miss Farica,” Abe replied. “That’s somethin’ that were ne’er to be found in the woods in the old Earl’s time.”

  “Do you mean,” Farica asked indignantly, “that they have been putting traps in the woods at Lyde?”

  “All over ’em, Miss Farica, and you be careful where you walks. They sez it be to catch vermin, but if you asks me, they’re a-hopin’ it’s ’umans that’ll suffer!”

  “It is wrong! It’s wicked!” Farica cried. “Why should the Earl wish to do anything so cruel when he has never cared for Lyde until now and never wanted to shoot in the woods?”

  “I ’ears it’s to be different,” Abe said. “Smart gentlemen be a-comin’ down from London in the autumn, just as there’s bin wild parties with pretty ladies every week since ’is Lordship inherited.”

  The old man spoke in a condemning tone and Farica walked away from the dog with the broken paw and into the inn.

  “I must now go home,” she said to John who had followed her. “Abe will look after you and – ”

  She looked shy and he asked,

  “Where can we meet tomorrow and at what time?”

  “I don’t know exactly what I will be doing,” she replied, “but – unless I send a groom with a note for you here, I will meet you at the same place we met today, but you must be careful to keep to the paths.”

  Then she changed her mind.

  “No! I think that would be a mistake! If you are found there without me – they might treat you as if you were a poacher and it would be difficult to explain why you were trespassing.”

  “Then where can we meet?”

  “In one of Papa’s woods. It is just up the road from here and if you go into the centre of it, you will see a clearing where the woodcutters have removed quite a number of trees, but it is still beautiful.”

  “I will find it,” John said, “and I will be there at three o’clock, which will give you time to finish your luncheon and get away without comment.”

  “I hope so,” Farica said. “I am sure you will be safe and happy with Abe.”

  “I am sure I will and thank you again for being so kind to me, Farica.”

  There was a deep note in his voice that made it hard to look at him and she moved quickly towards the door.

  He lifted her onto Pegasus’s back and seemed to take quite unnecessary trouble over the arrangement of her skirt.

  Then, as she looked down at him, she realised that his eyes were as blue as the sea and she thought that even though his skin was pale from his illness he was nevertheless a very handsome man.

  “Thank you once again, Farica.”

  He held out his hand as he spoke and she put hers into it.

  He kissed it and she was very conscious of his vibrations, not only from his fingers but also his lips.

  Then she rode away and, although she wanted to, she did not look back.

  Chapter Two

  When Farica arrived home at The Priory, she saw that there was a caller at the house.

  There was no mistaking the high-perched phaeton with the Earl of Lydbrooke’s Crest on it and the same Crest embellishing the silver bridles of the horses.

  Her heart sank since she would not now have a chance to be with her father alone and talk to him before she saw the Earl again.

  She knew that the coachman with his cockaded high hat had recognised her and she thought that if she went to the stables and did not stop at the house it might cause comment.

  She therefore dismounted at the bottom of the steps and immediately a groom came running to take Pegasus away.

  She patted her horse’s neck and said,

  “He behaved very well today, Jim, and deserves a good meal as a reward.”

  “It be waitin’ for ’im, miss,” Jim grinned.

  Farica went slowly up the steps, and when she reached the hall the butler informed her,

  “The Earl of Lydbrooke’s with the Master, Miss Farica.”

  Farica paused for a moment to tidy her hair in front of a gilt-framed mirror that she knew had been designed by Chippendale. Then she walked towards the drawing room where a footman opened the door for her.

  She entered and was aware before they saw her that her father and the Earl were talking earnestly in a manner which made her sure that they were discussing her.

  Then, as she moved towards them, the Earl jumped to his feet and her father said sharply,

  “Where have you been, Farica? You did not tell me you were going riding.”

  “I am sorry, Papa, I did not mean to be so long, but it was such a lovely day.”

  When she reached the hearthrug and curtseyed to the Earl, he said,

  “Better late than never. I was afraid I was going to miss seeing you.”

  “1 am here,” Farica answered, but her voice was cold and she added accusingly,

  “I am very distressed to learn that your Lordship has allowed traps to be set in your woods. It is something that has never been done before.”

  “I decided it was high time I stopped every Tom, Dick and Harry from thinking that he could poach my birds
and snare my rabbits!” the Earl replied.

  Farica looked at him and, although he was dressed extremely smartly and was in fact quite passably good-looking, she decided that she disliked him.

  She had not been certain of her feelings before, but now she knew that she definitely distrusted the Earl of Lydbrooke and nothing anyone could say would make her marry him.

  “What sort of traps are you using?” Sir Robert asked of his visitor.

  “Oh, the usual sort,” the Earl replied airily. “They are meant for vermin, but if some thieving poacher gets caught in one it will ensure that he is properly punished, in fact probably transported!”

  Farica gave a little cry.

  “How can you think of anything so cruel and so horrible?” she asked. “The people of the village have always been allowed to go into your woods as they go into ours, so they will not be aware of your new restrictions until they are either injured or taken before the Magistrates.”

  The Earl smiled and it was not a pleasant look.

  “What I have I hold,” he said, “and I will not have people trespassing on my property.”

  “Your uncle did not feel like that!” Farica flashed.

  “My uncle must have become senile in his old age,” the Earl replied. “He not only tolerated vagabonds and poachers but allowed the farmers to fall behind with their rents and the cottagers to let their roofs fall into disrepair. It is about time someone pulled the place together and attempted to make it pay.”

  Farica stared at him incredulously.

  “But you must be aware that things have never been so difficult as they are now,” she retorted. “Now that the War is over, farmers are having difficulty in selling their produce, prices have dropped dramatically and even some of the country Banks are closing their doors.”

  She looked at her father as she finished speaking and said,

  “You know that is true, Papa!”

  “I am afraid it is,” Sir Robert agreed. “Personally I am making every effort I can to help my farmers and I have reduced their rents for the second year running.”

  “You, of course, can afford to be philanthropic,” the Earl remarked. “That is something that in my present circumstances I am unable to be.”

  He glanced involuntarily at Farica as he spoke and she knew he was thinking that if they were married he would have her large fortune to spend and there would then be no need for him to worry about money as he had to do at the moment.