Campaign for a Bride Read online

  CAMPAIGN FOR A BRIDE

  BY

  MARINA OLIVER

  Barbara's arranged marriage took place when she was still a child.

  Her husband Ludovick was a supporter of King Charles I, fighting in his armies, and comes to claim her only to find Barbara has fallen in love with a neighbour and wants to have her marriage annulled.

  Ludovick refuses to free her, and sets about wooing his bride.

  Campaign For A Bride

  By Marina Oliver

  Copyright © 2012 Marina Oliver

  Smashwords Edition

  The moral right of the author has been asserted

  Cover Design by Debbie Oliver

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed in any form, including digital and electronic or mechanical, without the prior written consent of the Publisher, except for brief quotes for use in reviews.

  Smashwords Edition, License Notes

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  First print edition published 1977 by Robert Hale

  See details of other books by Marina Oliver at

  http:/www.marina-oliver.net

  AUTHOR NOTE

  Arranged marriages to benefit families, usually by combining estates, were common in the seventeenth century, and the brides were often very young. I began to wonder how such a marriage would turn out if the bride fell in love with someone else before her marriage became a real one.

  I knew the country round Worcester slightly, since my husband's ancestors had lived near there, and we had explored the area when doing research into his family. I spent several days there while writing this novel, visiting Powick and the scene of the battle, climbing to the top of the Cathedral tower, and, by great good fortune, able to see inside the house where Charles II stayed, as it was then a restaurant.

  The course of this battle and the days leading up to it are well documented, and I devoted more space to describing the course of it than I do in other books featuring battles. The background also gave me more scope to bring in the King. If he or other real people appear in my other novels, it is usually very briefly.

  CAMPAIGN FOR A BRIDE

  BY MARINA OLIVER

  Chapter 1

  Dinner was almost over, and Barbara was sleepy with the rich food she had eaten. She noticed her mother glance across at her, and made an effort to sit up straighter. She looked across the table at the man who was speaking, the man she was going to marry, and wondered what marriage would be like. She considered Ludovick Byrne, her head slightly to one side, and continued to stare solemnly when he turned towards her and smiled broadly on seeing her look.

  'I am no ogre, I trust?' he queried in a deep, musical voice, and Barbara slowly shook her head.

  'No, I do not think you are,' she replied.

  'That is comforting, for I would not have you afraid of me.'

  'I am not afraid!' she answered indignantly, but he merely laughed, his dark eyes alight with amusement.

  'There is no need, I do assure you, my bride-to-be.'

  Barbara did not deign to reply, and Ludovick's attention was distracted by Barbara's father asking him some question about his lands. Her mother was not noticing her, and Barbara relaxed her stiff pose, and hid a yawn. She had spoken truly when she had told Ludovick she was unafraid, for she did not consider there was any reason for fear. Her parents had selected a man they thought suitable as a match for their only daughter, and arrangements had been made, leading to this betrothal feast. She studied Ludovick curiously. He was very tall, over two yards she had been told by her brother, but to Barbara he had seemed much taller when she had met him that morning. He had long, curling hair, blacker than her own dark locks, and a jaunty moustache. His eyes were wide set and his brows firm and straight. His nose was thin and finely moulded, and his lips full and sensuous. Barbara nodded slightly to herself. Yes, she liked his looks, though he seemed dreadfully old to be her husband. He was at least twenty.

  Barbara was taking no notice of the conversation which seemed to be of money matters, and lands and towns she had never heard of, but her attention was suddenly caught by the name of a Prince, and she pricked up her ears. Did this unknown man she was going to marry know a Prince? That would be exciting. She began to listen.

  'Sir John Byron had asked for help,' Ludovick was saying.

  'He was taking the plate from Oxford to the Mint at Aberystwyth, I understand?' Barbara's mother asked.

  'Aye, and had reached Worcester. The Prince was sent to aid him, for Essex was on his heels. There had been a brush already outside the city, but the Parliament troops had been repulsed.'

  'Was that where you received your wound?' Barbara's brother put in eagerly, and Ludovick laughed.

  'No, for I was with Prince Rupert. The Parliament troops crossed the river to the south of the town, hoping to hold Sir John as he left and crossed the river towards Wales. But the Prince had approached from the north, along the west bank of the river, and 'twas there we met.'

  'We heard first that Parliament had been successful,' Barbara's father said. 'How was it such a rumour spread?'

  Ludovick shrugged. 'Too many of them escaped and managed to put it about.'

  'Why did you allow them to escape? Why did you not put them all in chains and imprison them in the dungeons?'

  'Gilbert!' his mother exclaimed, and Barbara looked across at her brother a trifle impatiently. She was not interested in prisoners, but wanted to hear more of this Prince.

  'We should have tried to capture more of them,' Ludovick said reflectively, 'but methinks Prince Rupert was wise not to attempt it. We had come on them unexpectedly.' He broke off and laughed. 'No, they had come on us. Neither side was expecting it.'

  'What happened?' Mr Harvey asked, intrigued. 'We have heard many versions, and would like to know the true one.'

  'The truth is we had no idea the enemy were about. We had just passed along a narrow lane, and as 'twas a hot day, were resting in some meadows called Wickfield. They are just to the north of the River Teme, which joins the Severn a little below Worcester, and there is a bridge, Powick Bridge. Colonel Fiennes, who was leading the Parliament troops, led them over the bridge and right into the middle of us as we lay there in the shade resting.'

  'Did you have no sentry posted to give warning?' Mr Harvey asked in surprise, and Ludovick laughed ruefully.

  'No. Heaven knows why that elementary precaution was not taken, but as it happened, it mattered little. The Prince will not make such a mistake again, I'll warrant, for he might not be so fortunate another time.'

  'How did you beat them, then, if you were unprepared?' Gilbert asked, wide eyed.

  'The Prince leapt for his horse, and charged Fiennes without waiting to see whether any of us were following. I truly believe he would have been prepared to take on the whole troop by himself! But we were following, though none of us moved nearly as quickly as he did! 'Twas all over in a matter of minutes, though the fighting was fierce and disorganised. But we routed them, and as they had the narrow bridge at their backs they could not easily retreat. Several were drowned trying to cross over the Teme, but those that did cross fled as fast as their horses or their own legs would carry them. We had to let them go, for most of our officers were wounded, and the retreat allowed Sir John to get his plate to Shrewsbury, which he very quickly did.'
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  'But the Parliament held a thanksgiving service, we heard, for their victory!' Mistress Harvey exclaimed indignantly.

  'Aye.' Ludovick was serious. 'That is how they are like to behave, and I fear this conflict will be as much a war of words as of battles. Their preachers are expert at twisting facts to fit their own purposes, and though this first brush was hardly conclusive for either side, we came out of it best, gaining passage for Sir John while they gained nought. But I am sure half the country thinks they routed us.'

  'They seem to have inflicted many wounds,' Mistress Harvey commented.

  'Indeed yes, but we were most of us without armour. I believe the Prince himself was the only officer not to be hurt. He never has been yet, though he has been a soldier for many years and in some desperate battles.'

  'We were indeed sorry to hear of your wound, and relieved it has healed so well.'

  Ludovick smiled at her. 'I thank you, Mistress Harvey. It has been fortunate in some ways. When this war started in August I thought it might be a long time before I could visit you and complete the marriage contracts, but I had to leave the Prince for a while until my wound healed, and thought it an admirable chance to come to Bedfordshire.' He looked across at Barbara as he finished, and his eyes were full of amusement, but she did not notice.

  'Tell me more about the Prince,' she demanded.

  'Barbara!' Mistress Harvey protested. 'Ludovick will think you a hoyden with no manners whatsoever.'

  'I am sorry. If you please, Mr Byrne, will you tell me about the Prince?'

  Ludovick smiled at her. 'But of course, provided you learn to call me Ludovick, for I do not like too great formality, and we are to be wed.'

  'I will try to remember, Mr – Ludovick!' Barbara answered a little impatiently. 'But the Prince?'

  'You will learn that once Barbara has set her mind on something, she holds to it tenaciously,' Mr Harvey said smilingly.

  'I am learning that already! But I take it a trifle amiss, Barbara, that you show more interest in an unknown Prince than in me!'

  'I have never met a Prince,' she replied, as if that entirely settled the matter.

  'What would you know? About the life he led at The Hague with his mother and a dozen brothers and sisters, or his life as a soldier, since he was about fourteen?'

  'Why did he live at The Hague? Where is it?'

  'He was a soldier at fourteen?' queried Gilbert, his eyes lighting up with interest.

  'Indeed yes, and saw many campaigns in his teens. He is not much older than I am. He lived at The Hague because his parents lost their throne. His mother, Barbara, is our own King's sister, and after she married Frederick, Elector of the Palantinate, she became Queen of Bohemia, for Frederick was invited to take the throne. But they spent only a year there, and Rupert was born during that year, the only one of their children to be born while they were on a throne.'

  'Why did they leave Bohemia?' Barbara asked, her lips parted in excitement, for this was better than she had expected.

  'They were deposed, which means they were forced to flee, when the Emperor fought them. They lived afterwards in exile, at The Hague, and lost even their little country of the Palantinate.'

  'And he has many brothers and sisters?'

  'Oh yes, and by all accounts a most delightful crowd. Rupert came to England some years ago and became a favourite with his aunt and uncle, so naturally when the King was forced to take up arms against his rebellious subjects Rupert came over to give what help he could, and especially to help with the cavalry.'

  'You are in his regiment?' Gilbert asked in some awe, and Ludovick laughed.

  'Yes. All the young men are clamouring to join him, especially since Powick. I expect you would yourself like to join?'

  'Oh yes! But Father says I am too young,' he went on despondently.

  'I should think so, indeed,' Mistress Harvey interrupted.

  'Prince Rupert was only fourteen, and I am nearly that,' Gilbert protested.

  'You are but twelve, and there is a great difference between what a Prince might do, and what you may. I imagine he was sent to obtain experience, and was well looked to so that he came into no danger,' his father said repressively.

  'Not exactly,' Ludovick grinned. 'On one occasion, he and his brother Maurice, who is but a year younger, went out at night and crept close to the walls of a city they were besieging. They overheard plans for an attack so they were able to tell the commander and be prepared to foil the attack when it came. Then, of course, he has been captured and held prisoner by the Emperor for three years.'

  'I hope this war goes on for long enough until I am old enough to join,' Gilbert said defiantly, and his elders exclaimed in dismay.

  *

  The talk turned back to the events of the summer, when the King had been forced to declare war on his rebellious Parliament, and Barbara lost interest, retreating into dreams of this romantic Prince who seemed as exciting as the ones she had read about and heard of in stories. Seeing her abstraction, Mistress Harvey told her she might be excused, Gilbert also.

  'But do not wander far away,' she was warned. 'We expect our other visitors in an hour or so, and then you will be required for the betrothal ceremony.'

  Barbara smiled, bobbed a curtsey to her parents and Ludovick, and followed Gilbert out of the room.

  'Where shall we go?' she demanded of him as soon as they were outside.

  He looked at her doubtfully.

  'I am going down to the river. The raft is almost ready for launching, and Nigel promised to come over this afternoon if he could escape from his tutor, and help me finish it.'

  'I will come and watch.'

  'Mother said you were not to go too far away.'

  'Pooh, the river is but a few minutes away.'

  'You will get dirty, and then we shall both be in trouble.'

  'I will not! I know I must keep this new gown clean and tidy. Mother only allowed me to wear it because Ludovick was coming to dine, though why it matters, I know not. I will but sit on the bank and watch you.'

  Gilbert eyed her a little apprehensively, but as he was anxious to busy himself on the raft, he argued no more, and they set off through the parkland surrounding the house until they came to the banks of a small, shallow river that meandered along the edge of the park.

  Already there was another boy of Gilbert's age there. He turned as they approached, and waved, then stared at Barbara as he noticed the fine new gown she was wearing.

  'What on earth are you all dressed up for?' he asked.

  'I am to be betrothed,' she told him importantly, and he grinned at her.

  'Oh? So you will consider yourself too grand to mix with us now?'

  'Not at all, for I am not to be married for years and years.'

  'Pity. I had looked forward to being able to do things with Nigel without you tagging along,' her brother said. 'Nigel, did you bring the rope?' he asked quickly, giving Barbara no chance to reply.

  Soon the two boys, dark haired Gilbert and the fair Nigel, were absorbed in their task of making the logs of the raft secure, and Barbara sat aloof on the bank, resting her back against the trunk of an ancient oak.

  She was not able to remain aloof for long. That was tedious, and she was too interested in what they were doing. She had earlier helped them to drag the logs to this place and sort them into suitable lengths, though they had not allowed her to do the important work of making the logs secure. Now she was offering advice that was normally ignored, or scornfully rejected, but she was accustomed to this sort of treatment, and accepted it as the price she had to pay for being included in their activities.

  At last all was ready, and the boys stood up and surveyed their handiwork with pride. Then, taking a deep breath, Gilbert turned to Nigel.

  'Shall we launch it today?'

  'Yes. I will not be able to come again for a day or so. I cannot wait.'

  Without a further word they bent down and began to heave at the raft. It was very heavy, and th
ey could scarcely lift it, but they eventually succeeded in dragging it to the river, and pushing it into the water. Gilbert threw himself onto the raft as it slipped away, and Nigel leapt after him, falling to his knees as he landed.

  'Wait for me!' Barbara cried to them, and stopped short, as she realised the raft was too far away from the bank for her to jump.

  Gilbert, sitting up on the raft, triumphant, looked across at her. 'No, Barbara,' he said sharply. 'Not today, for you promised you would not dirty your gown.'

  'You are mean beasts, not to take me!' she screamed at them. 'I warrant you did it on purpose to avoid taking me! Just wait, both of you, and I will have my revenge!'

  'Barbara, be sensible,' Gilbert began, but then had to pay attention to the raft, which had swung round and become jammed in the roots of a tree that overhung the river bank. The boys had no means of steering their vessel, and both Gilbert and Nigel struggled to push it free of the roots. Barbara stood and watched disdainfully.

  'It's not a very good raft, is it?' she asked conversationally after a few minutes, but red and puffing from exertion, they did not reply. Barbara watched. The raft remained wedged, and at last Gilbert sat back on his heels. Nigel looked round for inspiration.

  'Gilbert, there are some fallen branches over there, if we used them we could push the raft off,' he suggested.

  'Aye.' Gilbert said after considering the idea. 'Barbara, fetch one of those branches for me please.'

  'Why should I? You would not wait for me, and it serves you right.'

  'Oh, very well, but I will not allow you to ride on the raft some other time,' Gilbert said, rising to his feet. He scrambled off the raft and set off towards the branches, but Barbara considered his threat quickly and decided it was real, so picking up her skirts she ran after him.

  'I did not mean it, I will help you,' she said swiftly, and her brother grinned. They collected three of the straightest branches, and went back to the river. Gilbert passed one to Nigel, and then looked about him on the bank.