Carola Dunn (24 page)

 “She’s going to marry me,” John announced proudly.

 “But what about the golden mare?” Reynata tried to stay calm, though her blood ran cold. “Without Amiga, Sir Rex will not give us the firebird.”

 “Father won’t mind, when he meets Helen. He’ll be pleased she’s the daughter of a duke, though I don’t care a bit.”

 Sweet nothings followed, which Reynata ruthlessly interrupted. “That’s all very well, John, but Sir Rex will publish your attempted theft to the world. And Lord Afron will hunt you down and have you prosecuted for a capital offence—hang him,” she explained bluntly when Lady Helen looked blank.

 “Oh, John!” Tears filled her lovely eyes and overflowed down rose-petal cheeks. “I don’t want to marry him!” she wailed.

 “What shall we do, Reynata?” John asked helplessly.

 “Keep riding towards Lord Afron’s house, and let me think.”

 They went on by hill and dale. After a few miles, Reynata said, “John, you did not mention Sir Rex and the firebird to Lord Afron, did you?”

 John screwed up his face in an effort to recall. “No, for all he knows I just tried to take Amiga because she’s Aldwin’s.”

 “Good. I have a plan, but all depends on your both doing exactly as I say. Lady Helen, you and I must exchange cloaks again.”

 Confused, Lady Helen blinked at the fox. “But you have not got my cloak, ma’am.”

 “I shall have. Pray don’t ask me how. I shall go as your abigail. Now listen closely. You too, Tibb.”

 They listened. Reynata rehearsed all three until they were word perfect. Whether they would remember her instructions in the stress of the moment....But she refused to conceive of failure.

 By hill and dale they approached Lord Afron’s estate as dusk fell. Reynata transformed to human shape, wearing Lady Helen’s rose velvet cloak, and exchanged it for her own grey stuff. With Lady Helen perched precariously sideways in the saddle and John and Reynata on foot, they went up to the gates. This time, the gatekeeper admitted them to the park at once.

 So did the butler, into the mansion’s splendid hall. Lord Afron came hurrying to greet them there.

 Lady Helen threw back her hood as he bowed over her hand with polished suavity. She stammered a bit but that was excusable in a young lady who had taken the drastic step of elopement. “Mr. Drake has told me about the golden horse with the silver mane and tail,” she said. “I should like excessively to see such a wonder before he takes it away.”

 “Of course, my dear,” Lord Afron acquiesced. “Let us go to the stables at once. You, girl,” he addressed Reynata, who curtsied, “a footman will show you to Lady Helen’s chamber.”

 “My maid came to see me safe here, but she will not stay. Mr. Drake has excessively kindly promised to take her home.”

 “You shall choose a new abigail, my love,” the baron promised, and led the way to the stables.

 Amiga was brought out into the yard, lit with lanterns by now, for it was dark between the buildings though the gibbous moon was rising. “I’ll show you how she answers to her name,” said John.

 “Yes, do,” Lord Afron, “then I shall believe she belongs to Lord Drake.”

 As John stepped forward, with everyone’s eyes on him and the mare, Lady Helen and Reynata stepped back into the shadows. Swiftly they exchanged cloaks again, pulling the hoods close about their faces.

 Amiga nodded twice. Reynata, now clad in rose velvet, clapped her hands and exclaimed in Lady Helen’s girlish tones, “How clever, and how beautiful!”

 “Now I credit your claim, Drake,” said Lord Afron, and ordered the Spanish saddle to be brought.

 John mounted, and a groom lifted Lady Helen, swathed in grey, up before him. As they rode out of the stable-yard, Lord Afron turned towards Reynata. At that moment, a cry came from above. “Lady Helen, grawk! Lady Helen, who’s a clever bird?”

 “Oh, you naughty bird,” laughed Reynata. “I wondered where you had got to. It is my pet raven,” she told Lord Afron. “He flew off on the way here. I am excessively glad he has found me. Come down, Tibb!”

 Tibb hopped down from the weathervane to the roof, and started strutting down the slope. Suddenly he took wing. “Lady Helen!” he screeched. “Miaow, miaow.” He flew off over the wall, in the opposite direction from the park gates.

 “Oh no, he must have seen a cat.” Reynata ran out of the stable-yard, and after her came grooms and stableboys and Lord Afron.

 Tibb flapped ahead, letting out an occasional “Grawk!” to prove he was still there. After him sped Reynata, calling him, careful to stay in sight of the rest in the moonlight until she was sure wind-swift Amiga must have borne John and Lady Helen well away. Then she slipped into the black shadows beneath the trees.

 No one saw the vixen who raced to the low spot in the wall and scrambled over. Behind her, fading, she heard shouts: “Lady Helen? Where are you? Lady Helen!”

Chapter X

 Reynata caught up with John and Lady Helen well on the way towards Sir Rex’s manor. Both mounted on Amiga, leading John’s horse, they had galloped until the mare tired under the double load, then John switched mounts. They were very pleased with themselves, and relieved that Reynata had got away safely.

 “Lord Afron is probably still searching the dark woods,” she told them. “When he discovers Lady Helen is missing, he will look for you on the direct road to the Earl of Androwick’s lands.”

 With Reynata once again playing abigail, they stopped at an inn for the night. John’s funds were running low, but Lady Helen, warned by Tibb of her impending elopement, had brought every penny of her substantial pin-money.

 Man and beast well-rested and well-fed, they set off in the morning, having hired a sidesaddle for Lady Helen. By hill and dale they came to the Vale of Taunton Deane.

* * * *

 In vain Aldwin had listened to what little servants’ gossip he could catch: no one mentioned the fate of his youngest brother. Was poor, silly John languishing in a prison cell? What had happened at home to lead to his attempted burglary? The Earl was right, Aldwin ought never to have left.

 Another endless day dragged by. The sun was setting, a red ball veiled by mists, when Sir Rex’s largest footman came into the conservatory and lifted down the cage.

 “Y’re off to a new home, my fine fellow,” he said.

 He carried Aldwin out to the carriage sweep in front of the manor. Sir Rex stood on the steps, but Aldwin had no eyes for the baronet. There on the gravel stood Amiga, with John on her back!

 “Bring the cage here,” he ordered. “I want to be sure this is the right bird.” At a nod from Sir Rex, the servant obeyed. “Speak, firebird!” cried John.

 Though Aldwin had no idea what was going on, he stretched out his neck and called, “Reynata!”

 Stooping in the saddle, John opened the door of the cage and said softly, “Go. Quickly. Follow the raven.”

 With two hands needed to hold the cage, the aghast footman hesitated too long. Aldwin ducked through the opening, spread his wings, gleaming ruddily in the dim evening light, and rose into the sky.

 “What the devil?” yelled Sir Rex below.

 “The firebird is a man under enchantment,” John told him, even as he wheeled his mount. “He belongs to no one—and the horse belongs to my brother.” Amiga raced away down the avenue.

 Glorying in his freedom, Aldwin swooped after his brother. He soon lost sight of John in the darkening lanes, but a raven rose to meet him.

 “This way, your lordship. Keep low, or they’ll spot you, with those flashy feathers of yours. Don’t want ‘em catching you again, after all the trouble Miss Reynata’s had freeing you.”

 “Reynata?” Aldwin put a questioning note in his voice.

 The raven told him a tale that froze the marrow of his bones. That she should have taken such risks for him! But what was this about her turning into a fox?

 “She didn’t see how to keep it from you any longer,” said the raven, “since Master John knows. He doesn’t know you’re you, though, if you see what I mean. Miss Reynata didn’t want him to be distressed by your other brothers’ villainy.”

 Aldwin disagreed. He thought John should be put on his guard, but he could not say so. He followed the raven down into a leafless orchard. A horse and two cloaked females waited there. One of the women ran towards him as he landed on a low branch nearby. The rising moon showed a glint of tears on her cheeks.

 Stopping a pace away, she started to curtsy, then glanced back at the other girl—Lady Helen, the raven had said. Reynata moved closer to Aldwin and said softly, “She does not know who you are. Oh, how happy I am that you are free!”

 He longed to take her in his arms and hold her close...but he had no arms. Leaning forward, he gently brushed her wet cheek with his head. “Reynata,” he murmured.

 She stepped back. “No, you must not....You don’t know....”

 “Miaow, he does,” said the raven.

 “You told him, Tibb?”

 “Everything. Couldn’t tell him how you saved him without explaining your other form, grawk.”

 Trying to put all his tenderest feelings into his voice, Aldwin said again, “Reynata!” and caressed her with a wingtip.

 “Shape he’s in,” the raven observed acidly, “he can’t very well take exception to yours!”

 “Oh, if only Grandmama can change you back!” said Reynata passionately.

 Swarms of questions floated through Aldwin’s mind. Unable to utter them, he was glad to hear galloping hooves and John’s triumphant voice: “I did it!”

* * * *

 The next evening the travellers reached the outskirts of Crediton. When Reynata tried to change to become Lady Helen’s abigail, she found to her dismay she was stuck in vulpine form. Grandmama had given clear warnings about the last part of the homeward journey. Reynata wanted to stay with John, to point out the perils, for he was still cock-a-hoop over his success in freeing the firebird and she feared he would not follow her advice.

 However, there was nothing to be done. Lady Helen could not be expected to sleep outdoors.

 “Stay at the Pheasant again,” she told John, “and whatever you do, pay no debts but your own. We shall meet you again tomorrow. In the meantime, don’t sit down to rest on the edge of any well.” If only Grandmama’s visions were more precise!

 John laughed. “I cannot imagine why I should pay anyone’s shot but mine and Helen’s, and there are more comfortable places to rest than the wall around a well. See you tomorrow!”

 Reynata, Tibb, and the firebird left the road to avoid the town, and John and Helen went on to the inn.

 The friendly landlady welcomed Mr. Drake and his “sister.” She was full of gossip about a couple of rogues who had stayed at the inn opposite, the Pair o’ Dice. These two had gamed away their last pennies and then made to depart without paying the landlord for several weeks’ room and board.

 “Fine scoundrels,” she said, “and impudent? Well! Would you believe, they told him to send to the Earl of Androwick for his money? In the town gaol they are now, and in the morning they’ll be off to the debtors’ prison in Exeter. May they rot there for trying to cheat a landlord of his due! Credit’s long in Crediton, but we’re not fools.”

 Guessing at once that the rascals were Damon and Basil, John confided Helen to the landlady’s care and crossed the street to pay his brothers’ debts. The landlord of the Pair o’ Dice promised to go with him to the gaol on the morrow, to see the prisoners released. Well satisfied, John returned to the Pheasant.

 In the morning, Tibb brought the news to Aldwin and Reynata, hiding in a thicket by the road: “They’re coming, and guess who’s with them? Master Damon and Master Basil, large as life and twice as nasty!”

 Aldwin exchanged a horrified glance with Reynata. “We’ll have to keep out of their way,” she said, “and try to watch over John and Helen from a distance.”

 Unable to utter his disagreement, Aldwin shook his head. If he was close, he might see danger coming in time to find a way to warn his heedless little brother. He flew out of the bushes and alighted on John’s shoulder.

 “Ah, there you are,” said John. “Look, Damon, I told you I found the firebird. Isn’t it magnificent with the sun shining on its feathers? Father’s going to be happy as a grig.”

 Damon and Basil looked at each other, a look Aldwin did not like at all. After a while, they fell behind, speaking in hushed voices. Aldwin kept an eye on them, but they soon caught up and rode on as before.

 Though Aldwin caught occasional glimpses of Tibb, he saw not a sign of Reynata. He assumed she was not far off. They passed through Long Yeoford and turned off towards Middlecombe.

 Damon stretched and said, “Let us stop to rest and eat the nuncheon we brought. We can shelter in that ruined cottage. There are plenty of fallen stones to sit on.”

 Dismounting, they all found seats. Perched on a roof beam, Aldwin scanned the scene. The mossy stone John sat on was part of a low wall built in a circle. A well!

 Aldwin swooped down, intent on seizing John’s sleeve in his beak and pulling him away from his perilous seat. Damon and Basil jumped up. Damon gave John a mighty shove, sending him backwards into the well, while Basil threw his greatcoat over Aldwin.

 Helplessly muffled in the heavy cloth, Aldwin heard Lady Helen scream.

* * * *

 Reynata crept out of the undergrowth. She cast a longing glance after Damon and Basil as they rode off with their plunder. Lady Helen, cowed into submission by their threats, was to be Basil’s bride, while Amiga was Damon’s share of the booty. They intended to give the firebird to the Earl, who would reward them with joint ownership of Winworthy Manor. When Aldwin failed to return from war, Damon would be heir to the Androwick estates and could deed his half of the manor to his brother.

 They were going to tell Lord Androwick that the firebird had knocked John into the well, advising their father to keep it safely caged. Overhearing their plans, Reynata knew Aldwin was in no immediate danger, though, bundled in a greatcoat and tied on behind Damon’s saddle, he was undoubtedly uncomfortable.

 Reynata hurried to the well and looked down. She had heard no splash and smelled no water, so she was not surprised to find it dry. But nor had she heard a sound from John since he fell. At the bottom far below, on the accumulated leaves and twigs of decades, he lay on his back.