It was my turn to take food to Kirkwell. This always came from Christobel's kitchen. To have taken it from Rosslyn Manor might have attracted attention and aroused suspicion. We knew we had to be very careful indeed.
Christobel had taken some time to recover from the birth of her child. The shock of Luke's death, and the anxieties we had suffered over Kirkwell had had some effect on her. James had been very worried, but now Christobel was much better and her delight in her son had done a great deal to help her recovery.
The child—they had called him Luke after my brother—was a delight to us all. We marveled at him on every occasion and Christobel could not resist the temptation to show him off and boast of his beauty and the marvelous signs of intelligence he was already displaying.
I always chose the mid-afternoon to go to Kirkwell. It was the time when the household was quiet and in any case no one ventured near the Devil's Tower at that time; but there was the possibility that someone might notice that one of us was in a certain spot at the same time every afternoon.
James had said that it was necessary to take the utmost care always.
I had seen Kirk and spent about half an hour with him. I told him the news I had gleaned. The assizes were still going on and were now in Taunton. There was grumbling everywhere about the inhuman actions of the cruel judge, but none had the courage—or the foolhardiness—to speak openly against him.
As I made my way back to Rosslyn Manor I met my father.
"You have been taking a walk?"
"Yes. It is a pleasant afternoon."
He looked over his shoulder.
"I see," he said thoughtfully.
We walked towards the house in silence for a few moments, then he said: "Have you thought any more about Sebastian?"
"No," I said.
"Was it because of Kirkwell Carew that you hesitated?"
He was looking at me steadily. I thought of Kirkwell in the Devil's Tower, his life in such danger. In the last days I had learned something. It was that I thought I should never be happy again if I lost him. I felt deeply the loss of my brother. I would say to myself, Luke would say that ... and then I would realize that he would never be there again. To lose one who has been close to you haunts you forever. It was not so long ago that I had learned I had a brother, but our very relationship had brought us close. I knew I should go on mourning Luke for a long time. But Kirkwell ... that would be for the rest of my life.
I realized that I had not answered and that my father was looking at me intently.
We went into the house and still I had not answered.
I reached my room, sat down and stared ahead of me. Then it struck me suddenly.
I thought: he saw me coming from the Devil's Tower. He knows, I thought. He remembers that last time. If Kirk had escaped, where would he come? To me ... to his sister. It had happened before.
He thinks that, if it were not for Kirkwell, I would marry Sebastian. His plan would succeed.
It suddenly occurred to me that Kirkwell was not only in danger from the King's men, but from my father.
My great fear was realized. The King's men were here. They had been to Featherston Manor but were searching the area.
They were in the great hall. I was frantic with anxiety. I went downstairs. I leaned over the banister and saw them with my father.
I heard them say: "We have reason to believe that he escaped alive after the battle. If he did, it is likely that he would come to this part which he knew so well."
My father saw me. He called: "Kate. These gentlemen are here searching for one of the rebels."
I went into the hall. My father was looking at me. He must have seen the abject fear in my face and he knew that I was aware where Kirkwell was hiding and there could only be the one place where that was.
"They are looking round the neighborhood and, of course, will look at the estate. I shall conduct them round myself."
The men greeted me with respect as Lord Rosslyn's daughter.
"Go to your room, Kate," he said. "I will see you when this is over."
I gave him an appealing glance, but he did not seem to notice it.
I went up to my room. I shut the door and sat, staring blankly at the window.
It was over. Any moment now, my father would betray him. They would take him away to face such horror that I could scarcely bear to contemplate it. I would lose Kirkwell as I had lost Luke ... I just could not bear to think of it.
I was convinced that my father knew Kirkwell was in the Devil's Tower. At any moment now my father would take them to the Devil's Tower and they would find him. And my father would say that he was a fool, as Luke had been foolish. Men have to learn that, if they do foolish things, they must pay for them.
Sebastian would not act foolishly. He was the husband my father wanted for me and he believed that, if Kirkwell was removed from the scene, there would be no more hindrance to prevent my marrying Sebastian.
I think I had never in all my life endured such anguish as I did during that hour. I knew then how much Kirkwell's loss would mean to me, and I thought of the cruel and humiliating death which would be inflicted on him. I knew I should never be happy again and I would blame myself for my carelessness in being the one who had betrayed him.
For my father knew. Something in my manner had told him that Kirkwell was here, and where should he be but in the Devil's Tower?
I loved Kirkwell. I should have married him when he asked me. If I had been his wife, I should never have allowed him to leave me and go into battle. He would have listened to me. I should have made him do so.
I did not know how long it was before I heard the sound of voices below. I ran to the window and saw my father coming towards the house with the King's men.
Kirkwell was not with them.
I saw the men leave, and I dashed down to meet my father.
He looked at me with a rather sardonic smile.
"Well?" he said.
I stared at him.
"They did not find him."
Relief flooded over me. It was obvious, of course.
"He is still safe ... temporarily ... in the Devil's Tower."
"You knew?"
He nodded. "And you knew I knew. You thought I would betray him, did you not?"
I was silent.
"It would have been a solution."
"What are you going to do now?"
"He can't stay there. That's clear. It is not safe. Not completely so."
"But ..."
"Titus Gates and his minions were not so dangerous. These men are going to get Kirkwell Carew if they can."
"You did not tell them?"
"Well, perhaps it was foolish of me. It would have settled matters, would it not?"
"Then why ... ?"
He thought for a moment. "Weak, wasn't it? I thought, if I told them he was there, you would never forgive me."
Again he was smiling that sardonic smile.
"That was one reason. The main one. The other ... well, he's not a bad young fellow, and Jeffreys is a devil."
I was crying weakly. I think it was happiness, if one could possibly be happy with so much danger all around. But he had done this for me although it did not help his plans. I suddenly felt that he was my father indeed.
I moved towards him and he put his arms round me.
I clung to him.
I said: "You love me ... and I will always love you."
I think I babbled something else. He himself was a little incoherent.
Then he put me from him and said in a cool voice: "Now listen. We must be practical. He can't stay there. Those men are determined to find him. They are tired of country yokels. They want some of more standing. Those are the ones Jeffreys enjoys tormenting most. They may be coming back here. I kept them off the Devil's Tower. Knowing the land as well as I do, I could keep them away from it. I might not be so fortunate again. They might question people and hear something of the Tower. Their suspicions would be aroused and they would wonder why I did not show it to them. So, you see, I have myself to think of. We must act quickly."