The Master of Winterbourne

‘You are all damned!’ Cobham shouted at the frightened servants below. ‘I'll have the witch-finder on you. This whole village – ’

Tom slapped his free hand over the clerk's mouth, cutting the flow off abruptly. ‘What shall we do with him, Mistress?’ Above the gagging hand Nathaniel's eyes bulged.

‘Put him in his room and turn the key in the lock until he has calmed down.’ Henrietta pushed past them and down the stairs to the wisewoman. ‘Mistress, forgive us. The man is deranged with worry for his master. We have much need of you. I fear for my husband's life.’

As Nathaniel was dragged struggling down the corridor Henrietta ushered the older woman into the bedroom. Matthew seemed unchanged, the commotion outside had not roused him.

Mistress Perrott laid a hand on his forehead, then lifted an eyelid, gazing into the unresponsive pupil for a long while. Then she pulled back the sheets and opened his nightshirt, running knowledgeable fingers over his chest and under his arms. Finally she put her ear to his chest and listened.

‘It's not the plague. It may be marsh fever, or a chill settled on the lungs. Has he been very cold and wet for a long time?’

‘I don't know. He has not been gone very long, but he has been in London. Can we be certain it is not the plague?’

‘He has not the signs.’

Henrietta felt some relief that her worst fears were unrealised. ‘But he is so pale and drawn, not like the man who left Winterbourne so recently.’

Mistress Perrott pulled back the covers. ‘No. He may have been over-tired, starved of good nourishment. He has not been taking proper care of himself. Then any fever would take hold fast. He is in great danger, Henrietta, I will no

t hide it from you. His lungs are much congested and the fever strong.’

‘What can we do?’ Henrietta held on to Matthew's hand tightly as though her touch could bring him back.

‘We must break the fever, or there is no hope. Keep him warm as you are doing, cool his forehead with damp cloths and moisten his lips. I have an infusion of borage here: pour boiling water on it and hold it close for him to breathe. And pray to God to spare him,’ she added grimly.

She unpacked the bottles and packets from her basket and turned back to the door. ‘I will come again in the morning.’

‘You cannot go.’ Henrietta took her arm. ‘I need you here.’

‘There is nothing more I can do for him that you cannot and Mistress Weldon is in need of me now. Sim caught me as I was leaving to attend her. Her time has come, and it will not be easy.’ The older woman hesitated, then touched Henrietta's cheek comfortingly. ‘He is fit and strong despite what has happened recently. He has much to live for. When he is conscious and can understand you, tell him of the child. And save your strength, look after yourself for his sake as well as for your own.’

‘Had you told her about the child?’ Letty asked as the door closed behind the wisewoman.

‘No, she must have guessed as you did. Letty, are you afraid to help me? You heard Mistress Perrott say it was not the plague.’

‘Not I, Mistress. I will be here, and so will all the others. They are loyal to you, Mistress, no matter what nonsense that clerk spouts at them.

*

‘I fear he is not better, Henrietta.’ Mistress Perrott straightened up from the bed, smoothing the covers back across Matthew's chest. ‘And a day has passed since he collapsed. Has he shown no signs of wakening?’

‘None. He is restless from time to time, but that is all.’ Henrietta looked up from the low stool beside the bed, still holding Matthew's hot, dry hand in hers. ‘But he is not worse – surely there is some hope in that?’

‘I fear not, child. Insensible as he is, he cannot help himself or fight the fever with his will.’ The wisewoman touched Henrietta's shoulder, her face compassionate. ‘You must prepare yourself for the worst. He could slip away from us at any time.’

‘No. I will not let him. He has everything to live for. I will not let him die.’ The unshed tears stood in her eyes, but she would not let herself give way and believe what the older woman was telling her.

‘Send for Lawyer Stone. You need a man here to advise you.’

Henrietta knew what Mistress Perrott really meant: Matthew was going to die and his lawyer should be here when it happened. She shook her head in denial of the thought, then realised how comforting it would be to have the older man by her side. And if Mr Stone came Aunt Susan would surely be with him. News of Matthew's illness had not been sent to Hertford, there had been no time to think of that. But the relief at the thought of Aunt Susan coming to her was overwhelming.

‘I will send Letty to you.’ Mistress Perrott patted her shoulder. ‘Then I must go to the Home Farm.’

‘Alice!’ Henrietta realised with a guilty start that she had not spared a thought for her friend. ‘Is she safe delivered?’

‘A fine healthy daughter, the same night your husband returned. But it was a difficult birth. She is very tired and I am concerned for her.’

‘Of course you must go.’ Henrietta scrubbed the back of her hand across her face and got to her feet. ‘Give them both my love and tell Alice to rest. Does she know why I cannot come to see her?’