Cavalier Courtship Read online

  CAVALIER COURTSHIP

  BY

  MARINA OLIVER

  As a child, Caroline helped a fugitive Cavalier escaping from the Battle of Worcester in 1651.

  When her aunt dies years later and her Puritan uncle remarries and sires a son Caroline is disinherited, and threatened with a hateful marriage.

  Escaping to London where she hopes to find help, she once more meets her Cavalier.

  Cavalier Courtship

  By Marina Oliver

  Copyright © 2011 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 1974 by Robert Hale.

  See details of other books by Marina Oliver at

  http:/www.marina-oliver.net

  AUTHOR NOTE

  This was the first novel I wrote, soon after we had been on holiday to Dymchurch and I had been reading about Romney Marsh and the smugglers who operated from there. It was longer than published here, as it started with a description of the Battle of Naseby and the deaths of Caroline's parents. Mr John Hale asked me to shorten it to fit with his length requirements, and it was then published. I removed the battle scenes, but I was able to use the research that had gone into this in a later book, A Civil Conflict, which shows that nothing is wasted!

  CAVALIER COURTSHIP

  BY MARINA OLIVER

  Chapter 1

  Caroline Tame, or Prudence, as she was now called on her uncle's orders, was sitting in the fork of her favourite apple tree near the stream.

  She always went there when she wanted to think, or merely to get away from the rest of the household. And life was so strange in this household that she often needed to get away. Everything was so solemn, and Caroline, green eyed and fair haired, just nine years old, was a merry, adventurous young creature, often boisterous, frequently irked by the restrictions and prohibitions which abounded in this, her uncle's house.

  There were so many prayers! Family prayers both morning and night, as well as many occasions during the evenings and on holidays when Uncle John read aloud to them all, servants as well as family, from his big family Bible. Then on Sunday it seemed as though they were praying all day long, either at church or at home. Sunday, to a child of Caroline's temperament, was near torture. No games or recreations were allowed, she was expected to read solemn, good books whenever they were not at prayer, and on the few occasions when she had rebelled, and been caught in an unsuitable Sabbath pastime, she had been severely whipped and sent to bed without food for the rest of the day. She managed to restrain her rebelliousness for most of the time, so terrible were the consequences if she were discovered, but still on occasions her love of gaiety or her mischievousness had overborne her caution.

  She escaped as often as she could to the fields and woods outside the garden, to the barns in the farmyard, or here, to her apple tree. Then she would imagine that life was different, happier and more colourful. She would wonder about the time she could not remember, when her parents were alive, and she had lived with them. Little had been told her about that time. When she pressed Uncle John for details, he usually said her father had been unwise, and her mother even worse. Why, she did not know, except that it was something to do with the King who had been executed for treason twenty months earlier. She understood little of the matter. It was a long way from the quiet life in the house at Lichfield, but the reverberations of the trial and execution of King Charles Stuart had been loud enough for even a child of seven to hear something of them.

  She knew that her parents had died in the summer of '45, six years ago. It was in a battle, she knew, but how her mother had been involved in a battle, no one would or could tell her. She had confused recollections of places other than her uncle's house, and vague memories of the time when she first came to live with his family. She knew her real name was Caroline, and always thought of herself so, but her uncle had immediately ordered she should henceforth be known as Prudence. When she had later wondered at this, and asked for a reason, she had been told it was unwelcome to her uncle to have a reminder of the King always before him, and in any event, with her background, the quality of prudence would be of inestimable value to her.

  This left her no wiser than before, until she happened to mention it to Geoffrey, one of her companions who was the son of a neighbour and two years older than herself. With the superiority of his age and sex, he crushingly informed her that Caro was a Latin form of Charles. She had hotly defended her ignorance, declaring it was unfair he should be taught Latin, whilst she had to put up with dull things like needlework.

  She was nevertheless intrigued and vaguely proud of this connection with the King. She had not imbibed her uncle's republicanism, and her nursemaids had told her many fairy stories in which kings and queens figured prominently. They did not seem bad people as her uncle suggested, rather the opposite. And rather romantic, too. She wondered whether real kings and queens were romantic, and her daydreams often found her serving some beautiful queen or handsome king.

  But royalty did not figure in her dreams today. Something much more immediate concerned her. Her own marriage.

  She had been idling the morning away in the stableyard, having run away from Mistress Williams, who was her governess.

  But she had heard the woman's shrill voice enquiring after her from the grooms, and ran back into the house, having suddenly thought of a new hiding place, one which would be rather fun.

  She made her way to the dining hall, and looked cautiously round the half-open door. The room was empty, and with a sigh of relief she stepped inside, and ran quickly over to the corner of the room between the chimney and the window. There was a big cupboard there, and she was sure the lower half of it was big enough for her to squeeze into. She opened the door, and was rather relieved to see very few things on the lowest shelf. She pushed them right to the back of the cupboard and crawled into the space left. There was ample room for her. Pulling the door of the cupboard almost closed, she stretched out and found just enough space for her to lie flat on her back. She giggled.

  That horrid Williams would never think to look for her here! She would often be able to escape from the tedious lessons Uncle John considered necessary for her.

  Caroline was only just settled in the cupboard when she heard the dining hall door closing. She held her breath, and heard footsteps in the room. Now the security of her hiding place would be tested!

  'We shall be undisturbed here.' It was Uncle John. 'Sit down, my dear. I have important business to discuss with you.'

  'Is it this invasion by Charles Stuart?' asked a woman's voice. It was Aunt Anne, Uncle John's gentle, kindly wife.

  At the sound of her voice, Caroline smiled. She had made the little lost girl welcome when she had first come to the house, and had mothered her and done her best to shield the child from the severity of Uncle John, when she could do so without appearing to resist or defy his authority.

  Uncle John replied, rather hastily. 'No,
no. Nothing of that sort, which in any case you should not allow to disturb you, my dear. Cromwell will soon put a stop to that puppy's pretensions. It is a matter nearer home. A weighty one, but nevertheless pleasant.' He paused, then went on in a slightly gruff voice. 'We have been unfortunate in not having children of our own. A son would have been my greatest joy, even a daughter would have made me happy, but for some reason the Lord has seen fit to deprive me of that blessing. I often wonder what sin of ours has been responsible for this sorrow.'

  Caroline frowned. Her uncle was frequently discoursing on this theme, which Caroline knew was a most painful one for her aunt, who loved children and would have delighted in a large family. And by the way her uncle said 'sin of ours' it was perfectly clear he did not believe it was a sin of his which was responsible for their childlessness.

  'The Lord has His reasons,' calmly replied Aunt Anne.

  'Yes indeed. But as this is the situation, my nearest relative is our niece Prudence, and she will naturally inherit from me. I could wish she were a little more decorous and pious, but I hope time will overcome these faults. As for her disobedience and unwillingness to attend to her lessons, greater severity on our part will cure her. I have hopes that despite her unfortunate beginnings she will grow into a God-fearing woman. But enough of that. As you know, my estate is large, and Prudence will be a wealthy woman. I am afraid it may cause undesirable attention from fortune-seekers, and I therefore plan to protect her and my wealth from these.'

  'You are wise to take precautions,' murmured Aunt Anne.

  'Since my land runs for much of its northern boundary with that of our good friend Robert Wells, and he has a son of much the same age as Prudence, methought it would be sensible to join the two estates through marriage. Robert agrees, and we propose to betroth the children in a few weeks' time, when the lawyers have drawn up the necessary contracts and settlements.'

  'Prudence is over-young to be betrothed,' said Aunt Anne, with a worried note in her voice.

  'It is not unusual where large estates are concerned,' answered her husband, 'and we will ensure the marriage does not take place for many years yet.'

  'I do not think Prudence will take kindly to the idea. She does, it is true, enjoy Geoffrey's companionship – but marriage is a different thing.'

  'What Prudence thinks has nothing to do with the matter. She will do as she is told. I suppose you are thinking of your old notion that marriages should be love-matches? Psh! Nonsense! We were married in order to join two estates, and we barely knew one another, yet we have done well, methinks.'

  Aunt Anne did not reply, and after a pause, Uncle John went on.

  'Prudence will not be told as yet, but it will be your task to prepare her, to impress upon her she must study the art of running a large household, so that when the times comes, she will not disgrace us.'

  'I am confident she will not do so.'

  'Good. That is all I have to say.'

  Caroline heard the scrape of chairs pushed back from the table, and the footsteps of her aunt and uncle as they left the room. She had been extremely surprised at the subject of their conversation, since no one had ever before mentioned her marriage. Now she was to be betrothed!

  To Geoffrey! It was tremendously exciting!

  She began to wonder when it would take place, and what sort of celebrations there would be. She could remember one of the maids who lived in the village having a betrothal feast, and she had crept to the cottage and peeped through the window at the colourful scene, and listened to the merry singing. There had even been dancing – something Caroline had never seen before, though she had heard of it from the maids. And she was to be the centre of that excitement! What fun it would be! She wanted to fling out her arms and practise skipping and jumping.

  The closeness of the cupboard suddenly irked her. She must get out, into the fresh air, or she would burst. Mistress Williams would surely have retired to her own room by now, having failed to find her.

  She cautiously pushed open the cupboard door, and peered round it. There was no one there. As she crawled out of the cupboard, it occurred to her it might not be wise to go out of the door, in case she met her uncle or aunt, so she crept over to one of the open casement windows, and after a quick look to see there was no one on that side of the house, she climbed out and ran over to the hedge which bordered the rose garden. Beyond it was the orchard, and Caroline made her way as quickly as she could to her apple tree. Then, absently nibbling an unripe apple, she began to consider again the extraordinary news she had overheard.

  She had known for some time she was her uncle's heiress, and this did not excite her. The thought of marriage had scarcely entered her head, and then only when she imagined herself as a fairy princess, rescued from some appalling danger by a handsome prince, who would immediately fall in love with her and carry her off to his castle. She had never once considered she might marry Geoffrey, who was two years older, but sometimes condescended to play with her, either when he had no other boys to play with, or when his father and he rode over on a formal visit, and the adults told them to go off and play together. It would be fun to be betrothed! She would be of greater importance within the household, but best of all would be the celebrations attached to the betrothal. Then, when they were grown up, she and Geoffrey would marry and live together. She wondered where, whether it would be with her aunt and uncle, or Geoffrey's father. She hoped it would be the latter. Geoffrey's household did not seem to have quite so many prayers and Bible readings, and did not seem quite so solemn.

  *

  Suddenly she wanted to find Geoffrey, to tell him the exciting news she had overheard, so that they could talk about it together. She thought he would be out riding his new pony at this hour, and if so, she would be most likely to find him in the big field beyond the wood, schooling the pony over some jumps which had been constructed out of fallen tree trunks and brushwood.

  With Caroline, no sooner had she decided on a course of action than she was doing it. She scrambled hastily out of the tree, snatching at the petticoat which had caught over a crooked branch, tearing the material in her heedless haste. Then she tucked up her skirts and ran to the stream. If she waded across it here, it would save her ten minutes' walking, as well as keep her out of sight of the house, and her governess.

  Taking off her shoes, she crossed the stream, then, drying her feet on the thick grass, set off towards the field where she expected to find Geoffrey.

  Her guess had been correct. He was there with one of his grooms, taking the pony over the jumps. For a moment she forgot the reason why she had come, as she watched the graceful little chestnut mare, with her well-groomed coat gleaming in the sunlight, flowing with superb ease over the jumps. Then she climbed on to the stile and hailed Geoffrey. He was a fair boy, of medium height, with a freckled face. His main love in life was horses, and he rode and schooled them expertly. At her call, he turned and waved, but took the pony over several more jumps before cantering up to her.

  'Have you escaped from Mistress Williams again?' he asked, with mock severity.

  Caroline pulled a face at him.

  'You will never grow up into an educated young lady,' he continued.

  'Oh, what nonsense,' she retorted. 'I don't call what mistress Williams tries to teach me proper education! I wish I could learn the things boys do, they are much more interesting. Why do we have to do stupid things like needlework, and learning how to use herbs, and making preserves? Why can't the servants do that sort of thing?'

  Geoffrey wagged a finger at her.

  'But when you are mistress of a household, you will have to know how to do all these things, so that you can teach the servants, and see they are doing them correctly.'

  Caroline was reminded of the purpose of her visit, and she giggled.

  'Then I trust I shall do it to your satisfaction, sir,' she said, and jumped off the stile in order to make him a mock curtsey.

  'My satisfaction? What has that to do with it?
' he asked.

  'Only that it will be your household I shall be mistress of.'

  'What are you talking about?'

  'Geoffrey, it is so exciting. I was hiding from Mistress Williams in a clever, new hiding place, the cupboard in the dining hall, when Uncle John and Aunt Anne came in, and I overheard what they said.'

  'You should not have listened to someone else's conversation.'

  'Don't be silly. How could I help it? And it was about me. About us.'

  'That still does not excuse eavesdropping,' the boy said sternly.

  Caroline sighed with exasperation. These men and their notions of fair play and chivalry!

  'I tell you, I had no choice. And you will be glad I did when I tell you what they were saying.'

  'You ought not to tell me of a private conversation – ' he was beginning, but Caroline did not allow him to finish.

  'They are going to betroth us,' she announced breathlessly.

  'They are what?' His slightly mocking air vanished, and he was all attention. 'Tell me what they said!'

  'But you said I ought not to repeat a private conversation,' she teased.

  Geoffrey dismounted, called his groom, and told the man to take the pony back to the stable. Then he faced Caroline again.

  'Never mind that. Tell me all they said,' he commanded, with all the authority of his extra two years.

  Caroline repeated all she could remember of the conversation, then asked, 'Isn't it exciting? We shall be betrothed soon, and there will be celebrations, and later, when we are old enough, we shall be married, and our estates will be joined to make a very big one. Do you think there will be dancing at our betrothal feast? We must practise together so that we can join the dancing.'

  'They can't do it, they can't!' the boy whispered. He turned to Caroline, took her by the shoulders and shook her. 'You are making this up. It isn't true! It can't be true!'

  'But it is. I swear I have told you exactly as I remember. Aren't you excited? Don't you wish to be betrothed?'