The Bleeding Land by Giles Kristian

Author:Giles Kristian
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, azw3
ISBN: 9781409011972
Publisher: Random House UK
Published: 2012-04-26T06:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

‘WE HA GRAIN, my lady, and livestock. eleven heifers and thirteen beeves, all in fahne fettle,’ the man said, glancing up at one of the two stone lions on their plinths either side of the gate in the boundary wall that stretched around Shear House and its grounds. ‘Some pigs and sheep too,’ he added, ‘and a few daft hens and a cock who thinks he’s lord o’ the manor.’ He flushed at that, forcing a nervous grin. ‘If my ninny li’le lass has ney let ’em scarper,’ he said, thumbing over his shoulder. ‘Margery’s a li’le wibbet.’ Clearly hoping the animals would secure his family’s entrance to Shear House, the man, who had introduced himself as Mister Cawley, now launched the second stage of his offensive and stood aside to give Lady Mary and Bess a better view of his family. They were all, it seemed to Bess, trying their hardest to keep the livestock from wandering off, though not entirely succeeding. ‘We’ve come fro’ Heskin,’ Cawley said, ‘and it’s ta’en us all day to get here what with the cattle, but I thank God we came across no rebels abeawt for we should ha lost our animals if we had.’ He scratched his neck, making it red. ‘The traitors are devils. Them’ll tek what they want,’ he said, eyeing the six men armed with an assortment of matchlock muskets, swords and clubs who stood behind Bess and her mother just inside the gate.

‘Well you and your family are safe now,’ Lady Mary replied, trying to put the man at ease for he was clearly nervous, judging by the tremble of his hand and the sweat sheening his weathered brow.

The monotonous thump of hammers on wood and chisels on stone underpinned barked commands and the occasional crackle of musket fire, composing a melody that was to Bess’s ears at odds with the still autumn afternoon as she considered the new arrivals, the third family to come in that day. She could see Cawley’s wife, two boys aged around ten, a girl a little younger and another girl no older than five, who saw Bess and curtsied, flashing a smile that was more gaps than teeth.

‘You are welcome here, Mister Cawley,’ Lady Mary went on, ‘though I will tell you the same as I have told the others. In return for our protection you will be required to share the work and what victuals you have.’ She cocked her head, examining the stout, unkempt-looking fellow before her and making no pretence otherwise. ‘You can shoot, I presume?’

‘I have tried it once or twy, my lady, but I doesn’d own a piece,’ Cawley said.

Lady Mary nodded. ‘Up at the house Isaac will show you to your quarters and then you, Cawley, will report to the Major of the House. Your wife will be given her instructions in due course.’

With that Cawley dipped his head respectfully and Bess and her mother stepped aside to allow him, his family and their livestock train through the gate.

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