Part 17 (1/2)

”Alas, brother!” she cried, ”and if by some folly I should betray my King to his foes!”

”Nay, think not of such a thing,” said Lord Wilmot, speaking for the first time, ”yet think of yourself, fair maiden. Should the thing become known, it may go something hard with you at the hands of the Governor of this unhappy realm.”

The colour had come back to Jane's fair face. She looked fearlessly into the eyes of the speaker. ”That is nought,” she said quietly. ”Could any ask a better fate than to lay down life in such a cause? If I may save the King, what matters all the rest?”

”That is the answer I looked to have from Jane,” spoke the brother; and so the matter was settled.

It was agreed by all that the secret should be kept from the household.

The sick father and old mother should not be burdened with the responsibility of the knowledge. Colonel Lane and Lord Wilmot were to ride to Mosley that same night when the late moon had risen, and upon the following evening they would return to Bentley, bringing in their train the new groom, William Jackson, who would be told off the following day to accompany his sister on her ride to Abbotsleigh.

It may be guessed with what feelings Jane watched for the return of the party upon the next evening, and how keenly she scrutinised the face and figure of the new servant riding behind her brother. He had a swarthy skin and very dark eyes, and a rough head of short hair that gave him something the look of either a Roundhead or a country b.u.mpkin, and in his actions he seemed to be ungainly and loutish. Jane's eyes glistened as she realised that here was a Prince--a King as in her heart she called him--masquerading under the guise of a clown, and her heart beat high as she realised that she was to have the honour of a.s.sisting in the next stages of his difficult and perilous escape to the coast.

She had no speech with him that night; she heard her brother hand him over to the head servants with an injunction that he should be well cared for, as he was to ride with Mistress Jane upon the morrow. It was only on that morrow, when she descended to the courtyard dressed for the saddle, that she was brought face to face with her strange attendant.

Her colour came and went with excitement as their eyes met, and for one instant she saw an answering gleam in his before they dropped, and he stood in decorous immobility at the horse's head.

It was a strong animal, as was needed to carry double, though Jane's light weight was no great burden. The mother herself descended to see her daughter depart, and to give her many last charges concerning her sick sister.

She gave a glance at the new serving man, in his sober suit of grey, and when Colonel Lane made him a sign to a.s.sist his mistress to mount, there was something so odd in his manner, an awkwardness partly a.s.sumed, partly the result of the strangeness of the office, that caused the old lady to laugh merrily, and say to her son in no very modulated tones:

”Faith, but my daughter has a goodly horseman to ride before her! Where didst pick up the rogue, my son?”

Jane was covered with confusion at hearing such words spoken; but in the bustle of the departure of the cavalcade, this was not observed, and when they were safely out at the gate, Charles spoke in a low and mirthful tone:

”Be not displeased, fair Mistress; such words as those are sweet to the ears of a fugitive. It is when men bow before me, and seek in secret to kiss my hand, that my heart sinks within me. For, however loyal and true they be, I would sooner they held me for the rogue I personate, than for their hunted King.”

The party proceeded gaily on its way for a while. Lord Wilmot rode beside them and in advance, his hawk on his wrist, his dogs by his side, looking like a sportsman enjoying his favourite recreation. Mr.

Lascelles generally rode with him, and Mr. Petre and his wife kept close together with their own servants. Jane and the King, being well mounted, sometimes drew ahead, though they were careful not to be far from their party, till at last the horse they were riding began to drag a little.

He got behind the rest of the company, and at last seemed inclined to limp.

”Methinks he has lost a shoe,” quoth Jane; and Charles, springing to the ground, found that this was indeed the case. By this time the rest of the party was considerably in advance; and Jane lighted off the horse and looked anxiously about her.

”We are not far from the village of Bromsgrove,” she said, ”and there is a farrier there who will shoe the nag. But I would one of the servants were here to take him.”

”Here is the servant!” answered Charles, smiling, as he laid his hand on the bridle, ”if you will show the way, sweet Mistress, we will soon have the horse at the forge door.”

[Ill.u.s.tration: ”Well, now, I did hear as young Charles Stuart himself was taken,” answered the smith.

_Page 193._]

There was nothing else for it, though Jane shook with apprehension as they entered the village, and their presence before the forge attracted the usual small crowd of idlers.

But if the lady were anxious, Charles seemed sufficiently at his ease, as he held up the horse's foot for the smith to examine.

”What's the news?” asked the King of the man, as the task of shoeing was nearly accomplished.

”Why, I don't know as there has been any since the beating of those rascally Scots at Worcester,” answered the other.

”Have they taken any of the English rogues that joined with the Scots?”

asked Charles, with his habitual _sang froid_.