The Master of Winterbourne

Sim the kitchen boy was listlessly working the pump handle to fill a row of buckets for Cook, who was supervising the scrubbing of the kitchen floor. Letty emerged from the laundry room with an armful of clean linen and aimed an automatic cuff at the boy as she passed. He speeded up his pumping until her back was turned then resumed his previous rhythm.

Satisfied everyone was fully occupied, including Master Cobham, Henrietta left the yard, crossed the bridge over the dry moat and walked down the sunken green lane leading to the Home Farm, a quarter of a mile away across the park.

Now the carpenters had repaired the damaged roof trusses on the long barn the thatchers had started work and Henrietta stood in the farmyard, shading her eyes against the glare of the sun, watching for a few minutes while the bundles of straw were secured with bent pins of split willow and hammered home hard.

Robert emerged from the central double doors brushing straw from his jerkin. ‘Mistress. I had not expected you today.’

‘I have come to see how Jack's leg is mending.’ Henrietta gestured towards the basket at her feet and Robert picked it up, leading the way towards the low, sprawling farmhouse.

Inside, away from curious eyes, he put the basket on the table and looked at her keenly. ‘It is good of you to come. The lad's in the back room, but Widow Perrott's been looking after him. He's young, he'll mend well.’

Henrietta glanced towards the far door and the steward pulled it to, guiding her to stand beside the fireplace. ‘We won't be overheard here. What is it, Mistress? The matter of the papers?’ He sounded uneasy.

‘Yes. Sir Matthew has gone but left his clerk here as spy and the man is all eyes and ears. I managed to shake him off just now by pretending I didn't want him to look at the rent books. No doubt you'll be in for an inquisition about those, but we may not get another chance to speak privately.’

‘I sent Dick to Oxford yesterday after we spoke.’

‘On what pretext?’ Despite the closed doors she kept her voice low.

‘To purchase a new book of husbandry Sir Matthew recommended to me. It was the only excuse I could think of readily. I tell you plainly, Mistress, I'd hoped we were quit of this plotting.’

‘How fortunate you had a ready-made excuse. Try not to worry, Robert; once we are clear of this we can get on with our lives safely again.’ Despite her firm words Henrietta felt apprehensive. ‘How will he find the right man? Does Dick know of the casket?’

‘Like myself, Dick is loyal to the King. He knows where to find our old comrades in Oxford. But for his own safety I have sent a message in cypher and told him it is about funds to help those old soldiers who are suffering now.’

‘Good.’ Henrietta heaved a sigh of relief. Dick was a sober lad who would come straight home, not be seduced by the taverns of Oxford. ‘Who has he gone to see?’

‘Better you don't know, Mistress. I'll tell Alice the moment he returns.’

Henrietta removed the stoneware medicine jars from the basket. ‘I'd best leave these as they were my excuse for coming. Widow Perrott will no doubt use them as she sees fit. I'll just look in on Jack before I go.’

Robert was already outside when she emerged from the sickroom. 'There's another matter I wanted to ask you about, Mistress.’

‘Alice?’ Henrietta arched a quizzical brow at him as she picked her way among the chickens to the garden gate.

Robert's weather-beaten face reddened. ‘You know, then?’

‘I'd have to be blind not to. I told Alice the other day, you have my blessing to wed – and the sooner the better. I know Alice has stayed out of loyalty to me, but there's no need now. And, in any case, living with you here, she'll still be close by.’

‘Sir Matthew has given his permission.’ Robert pulled his broad-brimmed hat over his eyes and turned to look in the direction of the church. ‘He expressed a wish to be here for the ceremony, but he's away for a month…’

‘You'd better get the banns called this Sunday,’ Henrietta finished for him. ‘Then you'll be married the week before us. I'll talk to Alice at once about what she needs.’

‘Goodbye, Mistress, and thank you.’ Robert doffed his hat. ‘And don't worry about that other matter.’

‘I’ll try not to, and thank you, Robert.’ She hesitated then added, low-voiced, ‘And watch that clerk. He's a clever man, and already suspicious of us.’

Henrietta's mind was buzzing with all she had to do over the next few weeks: two weddings to arrange, a new lady's maid to train, and Cobham's suspicions to appease. She paused on the bridge to watch a gaggle of maids spreading out sheets on the camomile of the drying lawn, wondering which would be the best substitute for Alice who had been her maid – and companion – for so long.

Letty seemed the obvious choice, not that Alice would approve. But then she would be jealous of anyone attempting to take her place after all these years. Sighing at the thought of losing Alice, Henrietta turned and found herself facing Nathaniel Cobham who had just emerged from the lane to the Home Farm.

‘Cobham. Were you looking for me?’

‘No, Mistress Wynter. I decided to heed your advice and take the air, look at the Home Farm.’ The little man looked even dustier in the bright sunshine.

‘I didn't see you,’ Henrietta said coldly, picking up her skirts and leading the way into the yard.

‘You were inside the farmhouse, in conversation with Master Weldon.’