Tangled Love by
Rosemary Morris
Prologue
England -1693
Nine
year-old Richelda Shaw sat on the floor in her nursery. She pulled a quilt over
her head to block out the thunder pealing outside the ancient manor house while
an even fiercer storm raged deep within. Eyes closed, she remained as
motionless as a marble statue.
Elsie, her mother’s personal maid,
yanked the quilt from her head. ‘Stand up child, there’s nothing to be
frightened of. Come, your father’s waiting for you.’
Richelda trembled. Until now Father’s
short visits from France meant gifts and laughter. This one made Mother cry
while servants spoke in hushed tones.
Followed by Elsie, Richelda
hurried down broad oak stairs. For a moment, she paused to admire lilies of the
valley in a Delft bowl. Only yesterday,
she picked the flowers to welcome Father home before arranging them with tender
care. Now, the bowl stood on a chest, beneath a pair of crossed broadswords
hanging on the wall.
Elsie opened the great massive door of
the great hall where Father stood to one side of an enormous hearth. Richelda
hesitated. Her eyes searched for her mother before she walked across the floor,
spread her skirts wide and knelt before him.
Father placed his right hand on her bent
head. ‘Bless you, daughter, may God keep you safe.’ He smiled. ‘Stand up,
child. Upon my word, sweetheart, your hair reminds me of a golden rose. How
glad I am to see roses bloom in these troubled times.’
Richelda stood but dared not speak for
she did not know him well.
Putting an arm round her waist, he drew
her to him. ‘Come, do not be nervous of your father. Tell me if you know King
James II holds court in France while his daughter, Mary, and William, his
son-in-law, rule after seizing his throne?’
‘Yes, Mother told me we are well rid of
King James and his Papist wife,’ she piped up, proud of her knowledge.
With a sigh, Father lifted her onto his
knee. ‘Richelda, I must follow His Majesty for I swore an oath of allegiance to
him. Tell me, child, while King James lives how can I with honour swear
allegiance to his disloyal daughter and her husband?’
Unable to think of a reply, she lowered
her head breathing in his spicy perfume.
Father held her closer. ‘Your mother
pleads with me to declare myself for William and Mary. She begs me not to return
to France, but I am obliged to serve King James. Do you understand?’
As she nodded her cheek brushed against
his velvet coat. ‘Yes, I understand, my tutor explained why many gentlemen will
not serve the new king and queen.’
‘If you remain in England, you will be
safe. Bellemont is part of your mother’s dowry so I doubt it will be
confiscated.’
If she remained in England! Startled,
she stared at him.
Smiling, he popped her onto her feet.
‘We shall ride. I have something to show you.’
*****
Before long, they drew rein on the brow
of a hill. Father pointed at a manor house in the valley. ‘Look at our ancestral home, Field House. The
Roundheads confiscated it soon after the first King Charles’ execution. Richelda, I promised my father to do all in
my power to regain the property.’ Grey-faced, he pressed his hand to his
chest. ‘Alas, I have failed to keep my
oath,’ he wheezed.
Richelda not only yearned to help him
keep his promise to her grandfather, she also yearned to find the gold and
jewels legend said her buccaneer ancestor, Sir Nicholas, hid.
She waited for her father to breathe
easy before she spoke. ‘If we found the treasure trove you could buy Field
House.’
‘Ah, you believe Sir Nicholas did not give all
his plunder to Good Queen Bess,’ he teased.
‘Elsie told me legend says he hid some of his
booty in Field House,’ she said excited by the thought of a treasure trove. ‘In
his old age, when Sir Nicholas retired from seafaring, is it true that he put
his ship’s figurehead, Lady Luck, in the great hall?’ she asked by now less shy
of him.
‘Yes, for all I know she is still above
a mighty fireplace carved with pomegranates, our family’s device.’
‘I would like to see it.’
‘One day, perhaps you will. Now, tell me if
you know our family motto.’
‘Fortune favours the brave.’
‘Are you brave, my little lady? Will you
swear on the Bible to do all in your power to regain Field House?’
To please him, she nodded.
* * * *
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