Филиппа Карр - Saraband for Two Sisters

When my parents returned and Sir Gervaise with his manservant and two grooms moved into Trystan Priory, life changed. We were now living in greater style, for to have a man such as Sir Gervaise in the house made that a necessity. His business, he told my father, would take up a whole week, he believed, and if he could intrude on Landor hospitality all that time he would be gratified.

Of course we welcomed him. My father was delighted, for Sir Gervaise was as deeply involved with the Company as he was himself.

They rode out together and were closeted together and talking a great deal. They went down to the sea and inspected my father’s ship; they discussed the cargoes he had brought back and were constantly in each other’s company. Meals had become ceremonial occasions. Not only was Sir Gervaise our guest, but also Senara and Carlotta, and there was no doubt that our society had become much more grand and sophisticated by these arrivals.

There was a great deal of talk about the Court and in this Sir Gervaise, Senara, and Carlotta had a good deal in common since they had all moved in Court circles, and though Sir Gervaise was connected with Whitehall and Senara and her daughter with Spain there had been a connection between the two Courts when the Bong-Prince as he was then-had visited Spain in order to arrange a marriage between himself and the King of Spain’s sister. Sir Gervaise told us that as a boy of eighteen he had had a small role in the King’s entourage, and it seemed very likely that he and Senara had actually been at the same functions. Senara had met King Charles on one occasion. She said this was before his father’s death, when he was but a Prince though heir to the throne, and she had thought him a handsome man, though smaller than was becoming in a king. He had great charm of manner however, and being young and handsome created quite a good impression. “Of course,” she said, “he was more interested in getting help for his sister Elizabeth and her husband Frederick, who had lost his country, than he was in marriage with the Infanta.”

“The King saw the present Queen at the French Court when he passed through Paris,” Sir Gervaise told us, “but of course she was but a child then, and he did not give her a second glance.”

“It’s strange,” said my mother, “that fate doesn’t give us a little nudge when we are face to face with a situation or a person who is going to change our lives. »

“You ask too much, my love,” said my father.

“There are some people who say they have premonitions,” suggested Senara and admitted, “I do now and then.”

“Is it because your mother was a witch?” I asked.

There was a silence at the table. My mother was frowning. “Oh, that’s all nonsense, Bersaba,” she said. “I can’t think where you hear these things.”

“But it’s true, isn’t it?”

“It was said that she was,” Senara told us. “That was when she was here. It was never mentioned when I joined her later.”

“People build up these fantasies,” said my mother. “I am glad they are not talking of such things nowadays. They’re ... unhealthy.”

I noticed that the servants who hovered about the table were listening. They would repeat in the kitchen what they had heard in the dining hall. They would remember the witch who had come to Castle Paling and disappeared. That she now lived in Spain would not make her any less of a witch in their eyes.

I watched Carlotta. How beautiful she was! Angelet looked insignificant beside her-and that meant I did too. I had noticed that Sir Gervaise was aware of her-so was she of him, and it was as though she was sending out her tentacles to draw him into her net just as she had Bastian. I noticed how often he addressed his remarks to her.

After supper my father and Sir Gervaise went off together. They had so much business and my mother told me that it had something to do with the Hooghly factory that was going to be built “They are worried of course,” she said, “because there is so much conflict between the King and the people. The fact that he rules without a government is amazing to me. Sir Gervaise says it can’t go on like this. There’ll be some sort of climax and heaven knows what will happen when that comes.” I said, “Do you think we shall feel it here, Mother?”

“My dear child, we could not escape. This Ship Money is really worrying the people at Plymouth and this certainty that he rules by divine right and is therefore justified in everything he does, is making the King enormously unpopular. »

“What does Father think will happen?” I asked.

“That there will have to be an understanding sooner or later. The King will have to change his ways. He is being harsh to the Puritans and it is said that he is influenced by his Catholic wife. I don’t like the way things are going, but let us hope they will be put right in time. By the way, I want to talk to you, Bersaba. There was something that was said at supper... about witches.”

“Oh, yes, Mother.”

“I don’t want the subject encouraged. I believe it was you who brought it up.”

“Was it?” I asked, my voice mildly interested.

“I’m sure of it, dear. I’ve never liked to talk of it. I can’t ever forget the day they came for my stepmother.”

‘What happened, Mother? Was it very terrible?”

“Yes, it was. I hate to recall it. I dreamed about it for a long time afterward ... until I was married to your father in fact. I would see that procession in my dreams-lighted torches, chanting voices, and the callous, cruel, gloating, lewd faces of the people marching on that Castle. I never want to see the like again. »

“Do you think interest in witches has come back?”

“Never say such things. Has Senara been talking to you?”

“No, Mother.”

“I remember when she was young she was constantly talking of witches and reminding people that her mother was suspected of being one. She didn’t realize how dangerous it was then. It could still be.”

“We haven’t heard much talk of it, Mother.”

“It’s there though ... sleeping ... ready to be awakened. People still believe in it, but we have never encouraged it. I don’t want people talking about witches just because Senara has come back. So Bersaba, please ... if anyone speaks of it, brush it aside. I don’t want a return of what happened before. »

“Of course, Mother,” I said.

“You see, my dear, hysteria can so easily be whipped up. Then ignorant people get together and fan the flames... you see what I mean.”

“Yes, I do, they could march to Trystan Priory just as they marched that night to Castle Paling. They still hang and burn witches; they still tie their arms and legs together and throw them into the sea or the river or any pools deep enough to drown them.”

“We’ll not think of it. We’ll not mention it. If you hear any of the servants talking, stop them. They may well talk, because they remember Carlotta’s grandmother. I don’t want them to, Bersaba.”

“I will remember that, Mother,” I said ambiguously, and I wondered whether she would notice my excitement.

As I went up to my room I saw one of the maids on the stairway. She was holding a kerchief in her hand.

“This was dropped by the lady Carlotta,” she told me.

“Oh-why do you not take it to her then?” I asked.

The maid looked furtive. “I be feared to, Mistress Bersaba.”

“Why?”

The girl cast down her eyes.

“Why? Why?” I demanded.

She couldn’t say. I took the kerchief from her. “Are you afraid she’s a witch and might ill-wish you?” I asked.

“Oh I dursen’t say that, Mistress Bersaba.”

The suspicions were spreading fast, I thought exultantly and said, “Give it to me. I’ll take it to her room. I’ll say a prayer as I cross the threshold. That’s what you have to do, isn’t it?”