He was often at Christobel's gatherings. He had the time. He was only mildly interested in the estate and left everything to James, which suited James. How different from Luke, who was deeply concerned about every little item concerning the place.
Kirkwell would often come in to see his sister.
One morning they were all there—Kirk, Luke, James and Sebastian—and the talk was, as very often, of that topic which seemed on everyone's mind since the discovery of the Rye House Plot. Oh no, it had been there before that. In fact, it was a perennial concern and I supposed it would be until some solution was found.
They were discussing it now.
"The King is well at the moment," pointed out James. "But he is no longer young and he lives rather strenuously," he added with a smile.
"While he lives," put in Luke, "all is well. But what would happen if he were to die suddenly?"
"Then we should have James," said Sebastian.
"James!" cried Luke. "You know what that means. Back to the domination of Rome!"
"They might work something out," suggested Sebastian. "Surely that would not be difficult?"
"There are some people in the court," said Kirk, "who would fight to bring back the Pope, and that is no good. What we need is peace. We want a country untroubled by conflict."
"But the Duke of York is a Catholic," declared Luke.
"So be it," said Sebastian. "That does not make me one."
"It might be necessary to be one. Remember what they did with the Inquisition."
"We would not have that here."
"Remember Bloody Mary."
"Nor would we allow a repetition of that."
"It's all very well for you, Sebastian. You'd go this way or that, whatever comfort dictated."
"It is not a bad approach, dear boy."
"I know it is your way," remarked Luke, who was looking at Sebastian and smiling.
Kirk said: "Suppose that plot had succeeded. Then we should have had a Protestant King."
"Monmouth!" said James. "That ' was impossible, because ..." He did not finish.
"What difference does that make?" cried Luke angrily. "If the King and Duke of York had died and Monmouth had been set on the throne, the people would be rejoicing—"
There was a movement from behind.
Thomas Crabber, one of the men who worked on the estate, had come into the room.
He touched his forehead and fixed his eyes on James.
"Begging your pardons, ladies and gentlemen ... I had to see Mr. Morton. Tis trouble, sir, over at Brewer's place. Old Brewer's in a fair way. Says he wants to see you and won't take no for an answer."
"It's that flooding, is it, Thomas?"
"Likely, sir."
"I'll be over right away."
He turned and grinned at the company.
"Take care of yourself, my dear," he said to Christobel. "And as for the rest, you go on fighting the battle for the succession."
Occasionally I saw Margaret Galloway in the gardens. She contrived not to see me but if there was no escape she would answer my greeting rather unwillingly. I had never had a conversation with her. Once or twice I had seen her with Francine, who would give me a mischievous look as she passed with her grandmother.
I had never seen Mistress Galloway exchange a word with the housekeeper or any of the servants, so I was surprised one day to come upon her in what appeared to be close conversation with Thomas Crabber.
I had often seen Thomas Crabber about the estate. There was something in his manner which I did not like. There was a perpetual smile on his face, but it was by no means a pleasant one. His small eyes were closely set under bushy brows and his was a face which made me feel rather uneasy. That was why I had been a little disturbed that he had come into the room when Luke had been talking rather rashly about his preference for the Duke of Monmouth as the future King. It was a reckless remark at the best of times, but in view of the present situation very dangerous.
Francine sought me out frequently and then there would be periods when she seemed to forget all about me, though I never knew why, for when she returned she talked to me as though there had been no change in our relationship. It was just a part of her generally erratic behavior.
It really did seem that the atmosphere had changed with the Rye House Plot.
I was in the garden one day when Francine came up to me.
She said: "Hallo, Mistress Kate."
I returned her greeting.
She said: "Mistress Morton is going to have a baby soon."
"Oh, it is not for some time yet."
"They were talking about it. Someone might put the evil eye on her. Then her baby might be a little frog or a goblin."
"Whoever said such a thing? That is absolute nonsense. Mistress Morton will have a lovely little boy or girl."
"How do you know?"
"I feel sure of it. So please do not let me hear you say such things again."
"My grandmother says that Mistress Morton will not be a good mother. She is too flighty. That is why she will only get a frog."
"I do not believe your grandmother said any such thing."
"She said she was flighty and hand-in-glove with you ... and that other."
"Who is that other?"
"Your brother ... who shouldn't be here. Nor should you."
"Why not?"
"It's something about a blanket. You got on the wrong side of it, did you not?"
"Your grandmother said this? To whom did she say it?"
"To her."
I began to understand. Lady Rosslyn resented us. I knew that already. I could imagine what Margaret Galloway said of us to Lady Rosslyn. Did she still do so? And what of Lady Rosslyn ... lying in her bed, unable to move some parts of her body, her speech affected?
It was a sad image. Poor woman lying thus, and still resentful that her husband was bringing other people's children into their house, reproaching her because she had not brought him his longed-for heir.
And they must talk in the presence of Francine, though I could imagine the child listening at doors, hearing the conversations, most likely misconstruing what was said. It was not a pleasant picture.
"She hates you ... and him," Francine said. "She's going to ..." She hesitated and then said: "Going to destroy him."
"Who?"
"Your brother. You too."
"Who said this?"
"They did."
"Your grandmother and Lady Rosslyn?"
"My grandmother. Her ... she just grunts ... but that means yes. They hate him because he's here. They're afraid ... well, it's going to be the other ... not him. Though he thinks it might be him."
"It's all so muddled," I said, "I don't know what you are talking about."
She shook her head. "It's not. She's going to tell someone ... about your brother. What he said. Then they'll come here. Some of them had their heads cut off. She said he should too."
I was beginning to understand. Thomas Crabber had noted what Luke had said. He had talked. It had come to Mistress Galloway's ears and she was Luke's enemy ... and mine.
I felt sick with anxiety and concern. I could never forget the days when Titus Oates's men were here and how we had feared for Kirkwell. I remembered those trips to the Devil's Tower. We had lived in dangerous times then, and still did.
And now Luke and I had our own enemies ... here in Rosslyn Manor. I had always known they resented us, but I had never thought that they could be very dangerous enemies. And in times such as these, Luke could be most unsafe.
I had to tell him. I had to make him see that he must always act with the utmost care.