The Master of Winterbourne

She had not even been able to confide in her friend. Mistress Perrott, believing Alice's child to be in danger of being born before its time, had confined her to bed and forbade all visitors. It seemed now that the danger was less and grudgingly she had agreed that Henrietta could pay a short visit.

The cobbles of the farmyard were under her wooden soles and the buildings looming out of the murk when the air was rent by a shrill squeal of terror. Henrietta's blood ran cold. She stopped in her tracks, her heart in her mouth, unable to tell in the deadening fog where the sound had come from. Then the barn door swung open and in the torch-lit interior she saw a group of men gathering round the great pink carcass of a pig swinging from a beam.

‘Mistress?’ Robert was walking across the yard towards her. ‘You look quite pale.’

‘The noise of the pig startled me. I had forgotten the killing would have started.’

‘We are doing well. We began a week ago and this one is nearly the last. Well-fatted beasts too, it was a good summer's forage for them in the woods.’ He took her arm as they crossed the slippery cobbles to the farmhouse. ‘Did the wedding go well? I have had no chance to ask you.’

‘Very well. I am just going to tell Alice about it. My aunt was sorry you and Alice could not be there. How is she? I have been so worried.’

Robert looked anxious. ‘Mistress Perrott tells me all is well now, although the infant is large.’

‘If Mistress Perrott says all is well, you must believe her, Robert. And Alice is healthy and strong.’ Henrietta was trying to convince herself as well as him.

‘Yes,’ Robert said dubiously. ‘But she is chafing at being confined to bed for so long.’

'I will go and divert her mind with news of the wedding,' Henrietta soothed him. 'Go and see to the pig.’

‘It's me Alice!' she called as she sat on a settle inside the front door to untie the wooden pattens from her shoes. ‘May I come up?’

There were footsteps on the stairs and Mistress Perrott appeared. ‘Good morning, Lady Sheridan. Now you are here I will go home, but tell her maid to send for me directly when the pains start.’ She stooped under the low beam at the foot of the stairs and looked keenly at Henrietta. ‘And you – are you well, Mistress?’

‘Tired, that is all. Are you certain all is right with Alice?’

‘God willing she will be delivered of a fine healthy infant within a few days.’

Alice was sitting up in bed, her hair gleaming gold in the subdued light. ‘Dear Henrietta!’ She held out her arms and hugged her friend as best she could. ‘I am so glad to see you at last. Mistress Perrott has been so severe, and Robert has obeyed her every word. Did the wedding go well? Come and sit beside me and tell me all. I am going mad with inactivity.’

Henrietta settled herself at the foot of the bed. ‘It was gladdening to see my aunt so happy. She looked like a young bride, all aglow. She has put all those lonely years of widowhood behind her, all those years of being a mother to me. Lawrence Stone has a fine house overlooking Bull Plain and he has told her to refurbish it from the attics to the cellars as she pleases.’

‘Lawyer Stone spending money?’ Alice's pale brows shot up. ‘Are we talking of the same man? Why, you will tell me he has bought a new carriage next!’

‘Well, he has not gone that far yet, but give Aunt Susan a few months and I believe we will see even that. Oh, and Alice – he had had his hair trimmed and bought a new suit of clothes. Why, he looked almost handsome.’

‘It is good they will be so happy.’ Alice sighed sentimentally. ‘But we will all miss your aunt sorely.’

They talked some more of the wedding over the glass of wine Alice's new maidservant brought, then Henrietta realised her friend had been scrutinising her face for some time.

‘Is there something you want to tell me?

Henrietta blushed. ‘How did

you know?’

‘I can see it in your face. And that dress – the last time I saw you wear it, it was loose about the bosom and I was going to take it in for you. Now look at it.’

‘I feel so uncomfortable.’ Henrietta tugged at the fabric over her swollen breasts. ‘Will it be like this all the way through? I feel sick all the time.’

‘Never mind, it will pass soon,’ Alice comforted her. ‘Mistress Perrott will give you infusions to take. Sir Matthew must be very happy.’

Henrietta pleated the edge of the coverlet between her fingers. ‘He doesn't know. I have not yet told him.’

‘He must be blind,’ Alice exclaimed, with a laugh, then read Henrietta's expression. ‘You are not sleeping together? Why? What is the matter?’

It all came pouring out in a torrent of misery. When she had finished the sorry tale Alice took her hand in both of hers. ‘You must tell him the truth. He is a fair man, I cannot believe he would have us punished for this. All of it occurred so long ago and so much has changed.’

‘Changed for the worse,’ Henrietta said bitterly. ‘This new fighting has made Matthew so angry and worried.’