Edward Marston - The Devil's Apprentice

Nicholas could just see enough to spring into action. He felled Orr with a relay of punches then squared up to his companion. Upchard swung the musket viciously at him and Nicholas had to duck under it. He dived for his adversary’s legs and brought him crashing to the floor. Upchard groped for the dagger at his belt but Nicholas gave him no time to reach it. Seizing the fallen musket, he used its butt to pound him hard. Upchard’s groans were drowned out by the sounds of warfare on the stage. Orr was not finished yet. Dragging himself up, he grabbed Nicholas by the throat and squeezed hard, yelling at the top of his voice. Nicholas gave him more reason to yell, jabbing the musket into his groin then hurling himself on to the man as he fell back. The fight was over. Before he could land another punch, Nicholas and his opponents were dragged out by strong hands. The victorious Lawrence Firethorn stepped over them to take up a commanding position in the centre of the gallery.

‘Out of my way!’ he boomed. ‘I’ve just taken Harfleur!’

By the time that the noise had subsided and the smoke cleared, Henry the Fifth was seen in an attitude of triumph atop the city walls, ready to deliver his victory speech. Spontaneous applause broke out. Down in the tiring-house, two dazed Puritans were being bound and gagged by Nicholas so that they could take no further part in the drama.

Dart was apologetic. ‘I set off all the gunpowder by mistake,’ he said.

‘You saved the day, George,’ said Nicholas happily. ‘Congratulations!’

The play surged on to be met by an ovation at its close. Even their patron, who had seen it many times before, rose to his feet to acclaim them. What stuck in the minds of the audience was the brilliant recreation of the siege of Harfleur when ordnance filled the field and three soldiers were dimly seen fighting for their lives on the gallery. Instead of ruining the performance, Orr and Upchard had merely enhanced it. Far from expelling the actors, they had unintentionally joined their ranks. When both men had been arrested and taken off, Nicholas was able to relax at last. A major threat to the company had been decisively removed. Upchard’s possession of a musket singled him out as a possible assassin in the forest. Danger seemed to be over.

Celebrations were in order. The actors were in a state of high excitement and Nicholas was as ready as any of them to make his way to the kitchen. He felt that he had earned his supper and was keen to toast the success of the company. Arm around George Dart, he followed the others down the corridor. Clement Enderby intercepted him.

‘One moment, my friend’ he said. ‘Might I have a word with you?’

‘Of course,’ replied Nicholas. ‘Go on ahead, George.’

Dart went off to the kitchen and left Nicholas alone with Enderby.

‘There’s no need for me to tell you how much I enjoyed the play. It was truly astonishing. Westfield’s Men gave us the most exhilarating event we’ve had in Essex for many a year. It was a priceless gift,’ said Enderby, eyes sparkling. ‘I think that you deserve one in return.’

‘A gift?’

‘His name is Davy Stratton.’

‘You know where he is?’

‘We brought him with us but nobody else knows that he’s here. I felt it wrong to spring him on you when you were just about to mount your performance.’

‘How is Davy?’ asked Nicholas anxiously. ‘Is he hurt in any way?’

‘No, Master Bracewell. I left him at your cottage. Come and see.’

Nicholas found it hard to contain his curiosity but Enderby would give no further explanation. He took his companion out through a side door of the house and across to the cottages. Candles burnt in the lodging used by Nicholas and the others. When the two men went into the parlour, Davy was sitting on a chair in the corner. He looked sad and uncomfortable.

‘Good even, Davy,’ said Nicholas.

‘Good even,’ murmured the boy.

‘Where have you been?’

‘At Oakwood House.’

‘Why?’

A woman stepped out of the shadows. ‘He came to see me, sir.’

‘This is Kate,’ introduced Enderby. ‘Katherine Gowan, as she was known when in service here. She was very unhappy about coming back to Silvermere.’

‘I was, sir. But I want what’s best for Davy.’

She glanced across at him and Davy responded with a wan smile. Nicholas looked first at the attractive young woman in front of him, then across at the boy, then back at Katherine Gowan. In the space of a few seconds, he began to understand a great deal. Enderby came forward to reclaim Davy.

‘Talk to Kate alone,’ he advised. ‘Some of it’s not for Davy’s ears.’

He took the boy into the kitchen and shut the door after them. Nicholas could see how uneasy and embarrassed the woman was. He invited her to sit down then took the stool beside her. Katherine searched his eyes for reassurance.

‘Davy said that I could trust you,’ she said.

‘I’m his friend, Kate.’

‘That’s what he told me.’

‘He didn’t tell me about you,’ said Nicholas softly. ‘I had no idea that his mother was still alive.’

The woman blushed and lowered her head. It was minutes before she could speak. Nicholas was patient, sensing the effort that it was taking her, wondering how he could make it less of a trial. He attempted to coax the words out of her.

‘He went to you, didn’t he?’ he asked. ‘When he ran away from us in the forest that first time, he wanted to be with you.’

‘I told him it was wrong, sir. I made him go back.’

‘And this time?’

She gave a shrug of defeat. ‘I tried to hide him in my room but it was no use. Davy couldn’t stay at Oakwood House forever. Master Enderby is a kind man. He’s been good to me. I couldn’t keep the secret from him.’

‘When did Davy find out himself?’

‘When I came back to Essex, sir. I was sent to Lincoln to work, far away, so that nobody would know. Davy was to be brought up in a fine house. I could never give him that. It seemed right for him. I was in disgrace, sir,’ she said quietly. ‘I had to agree.’

‘But you came back eventually.’

‘He was never out of my mind.’

‘Did you keep in touch with his father?’

‘No,’ she said firmly.

‘Did he want you to come back?’

‘Oh, no!’

‘I can see now why Master Stratton stopped the boy coming to Oakwood House.’

‘But he’s not the father, sir.’

‘Isn’t he?’

‘I’d not let him near me, sir,’ she said with spirit. ‘He’s a harsh man.’ She bit her lip. ‘It’s a long story and I don’t know it all myself. What little I do know makes me ashamed of my part in it.’

‘Why?’

‘It was a cruel thing to do to any woman, sir. It was wicked.’ She became wistful. ‘And it was a terrible thing to do to Davy as well, God forgive me.’

‘What happened?’ asked Nicholas, taking her hand. ‘I’ll not sit in judgement on you. Davy obviously loves his mother so much that he’ll do anything to be with her. You came back in order to be near him, didn’t you?’

‘Yes.’

‘And that’s why Master Stratton stopped him coming to Oakwood House to play with his friends. He packed the boy off to London to keep him out of the way.’

‘It hurt Davy so much, sir. To be separated from me.’

‘It must have been agony for you as well.’

‘Oh, it was. I’d had years of it, wondering where my son was and how he was faring. I could stand it no longer. I knew that he could never be mine but I wanted to be close to him somehow.’

‘How did he come to be at Holly Lodge in the first place?’

She took a deep breath. ‘You have to remember that this took place a long time ago. I may not have all the details right but this is what I recall.’ Nicholas could feel her hand trembling. ‘Master Stratton’s wife was desperate to have children and she was heartbroken when she had two stillbirths. Her husband didn’t want her to go through the ordeal again. I can understand that. When she conceived again, he feared the worst.’