The Frost Fair

me. When he'd done that, when he'd lured her with false promises, when he'd sneaked his way into her bed and taken his evil pleasures, he cast her aside like a broken doll.' His face went blank. 'I loved her, Christopher,' he said in a hollow voice. 'I loved her as I've never loved anyone else. Yes,' he went on before his brother could interrupt, 'I know you've heard me say that before but this time it was different. It was not mere lust disguised as love. It was true passion of a kind I'd not felt before.' He bit his lip and shook his head. 'I loved her, I swear it.'

    'What was her name?'

    'Forget her. Please. It's all in my past.'

    'But she may be able to have some influence on your future as well,' reasoned Christopher. 'She'll have intelligence about your rival that nobody else has. It may help you. And, I daresay, the lady will be overcome with regret at the way she treated you. Let me speak to her, Henry.'

    'It would serve no purpose.'

    'Are you afraid of what she might tell me?'

    Henry sagged. 'I still care, Christopher. I want to spare her any more pain.'

    'That's a laudable objective but not a very practical one. It was Captain Harvest who revealed the existence of the lady. He would not divulge her name but he'll have no choice if he's put under oath in the witness box.' Christopher put a hand on his arm. 'Who is she, Henry, and where do I find her?'

    'I dare not tell you.'

    'Why not?' 'Because you've always taken such a critical view of my amours.'

    'Only when they have deserved my reproach. More often than not, you pay for your pleasures then profess to love the lady, even though her favours are for hire. I'm bound to look askance at that, Henry.'

    'This time it was different.'

    'Then I'm pleased for you,' said Christopher with a kind smile. 'I'm delighted that you found someone who rescued you from that dark and licentious world that you inhabit and taught you the value of true love. Who was she?'

    'I'll not betray her name.'

    'Captain Harvest will have no compunction in doing so.'

    'Damn the fellow!'

    'Let me speak to her.' His brother turned away. 'I'll be discretion itself.' Henry shook his head. 'What is holding you back?'

    'Fear of your censure.'

    'But I've already told you how thrilled I am that you found someone who could inspire such feelings in you. The lady must be special indeed if she could make you think of romance instead of mere conquest. Why should I be censorious?'

    'Because she is married.'

    'Oh,' said Christopher.

    'Unhappily married to a brute of a husband,' continued Henry, anxious to justify his behaviour. 'It would have been cruel to have let her suffer his ill-treatment of her without offering some relief. I felt honour bound to go to her aid.'

    'You intended to rescue her from her marriage?'

    'No, from her unhappiness.'

    'It sounds to me as if you might well have increased it, Henry. Think of the danger you would have put her in if her husband had discovered the truth.'

    'The old fool suspected nothing.'

    'How can you be so sure?'

    'He was always too caught up in his own affairs.'

    'I need to speak to her,' said Christopher. 'I need to speak to everyone who may be in a position to help you in some way. The lady must have cared for you.'

    'She did - until that snake of an Italian took her from me.'

    'Tell me her name.' 'Only if you promise not to rebuke me.'

    'You have my word, Henry.'

    'Then know the worst.' He hesitated for a moment as he wrestled with some inner demon. Then he braced himself. 'Her name is Patience Holcroft.'

    Christopher was astounded. 'Lady Patience Holcroft?'

    'I knew that you would chide me,' protested Henry.

    'It's surprise more than reproof,' said his brother. 'Her husband is a man of consequence. Sir Ralph Holcroft is a power in the land.'

    'That does not entitle him to abuse his spouse. Patience only married him out of sympathy when his first wife died. He offered her all manner of inducements and swore that what he sought was companionship. Sir Ralph is thirty years her senior.'

    'That gave you no right to intrude on their marriage.'

    'Patience appealed for my help.'

    'You were playing with fire, Henry.'

    'That was part of the excitement,' said his brother wistfully. 'Surely, you understand that. Have you never cared for someone who was put beyond your reach?'

    'Yes,' said Christopher, thinking of Susan Cheever, 'I confess that I have.'

    'Then you'll know the wonderful thrill that danger brings, the joy of meeting in secret. Forbidden love is the highest form of pleasure.'

    'I'll speak to the lady.'

    'Be careful with her, Christopher. Ask her not to think badly of me.'

    'From what you say, her regrets concern Signor Maldini. But do not worry. I'll impress upon her that you are completely innocent. It will be the way to win her confidence.'

    Henry was agitated. 'Nobody else must know about this.'

    'I'll be as close as the grave.'

    'Find some way to muzzle Captain Harvest. We must not let him blurt out her name. And most of all,' he pleaded, 'do not let Father get wind of this. He has enough reasons already to disown his elder son.'

    'Father would never disown you, Henry.'

    'Does he know of my arrest?'

    'I felt obliged to write to him.' His brother's face was contorted with pain. 'It could not be kept from him, Henry, and I wanted him to hear it from me rather than from someone else. I, at least, was able to assure him of your innocence.'

    'He'll be on his way to London even now.'

    'I expect that he will.'

    'Help me!' implored Henry, grabbing him. 'Please keep Father away from me.'

    Christopher shook his head. 'Only God could do that.'

        It was some years since the Reverend Algernon Redmayne had been in the saddle. Since his elevation to the Deanery, he felt that riding a horse was beneath his dignity and only travelled by coach or, at the very least, by pony cart. None were available at short notice and the situation called for an immediate response. As soon as he read Christopher's letter, the old man confided in his bishop, was given permission to leave and, in the interests of safety, joined a party of merchants who were on their way to London. It was the fastest way to reach the capital but, as he soon discovered, it was also the most uncomfortable. Muscles that had grown slack with age now ached and burned. Buttocks that invariably had a cushion beneath them when he sat in the cathedral were bounced and bruised until he was in agony. The Dean rode on without complaint.

    During their second day on the road, they paused near a stream to water the horses and stretch their legs. One of the merchants watched the old man dismount in obvious pain. He took pity on him.

    'We are riding too hard for you,' he said solicitously.

    'No, no,' replied the Dean. 'I can keep up.'

    'Perhaps you should move at a more sedate pace. When we reach the next town, wait for travellers who are in less of a hurry to reach London.'

    'I prefer your company, sir.'