The Lady's Slipper by Deborah Swift Read Free Book Online Page A

supporters and flung down. Then they carried the curate out saying they had no need of him, and threw him into the ditch.’
    ‘When did this happen?’ said Geoffrey.
    ‘On Sunday last, but I have arrested the woman.’
    ‘Was she one of those women from Lingfell Hall? One of Fox’s followers?’ asked Emilia.
    ‘Yes. Felicia Darby. She claims she was not intending to create a disturbance, merely to point people to God.’ He snorted. ‘Since then I have had any number of them knock on my door and demand her release. I told them all the same thing–that she was inciting a riot and would be detained until further notice.’
    Jane leaned forward in her seat. ‘It seems to me she was not only courting trouble, but wedding it.’ She made a clacking sound through her teeth. ‘To dare to imply that the curate be a devil–and in a church. It is hardly going to convince the congregation of one’s moral rectitude.’ She leaned towards Emilia and let out a laugh like a horse. Emilia sat back in her chair and raised her napkin to her mouth.
    ‘One of those that came to my door was that man who recently took the house by Helk’s Wood,’ said Robert. ‘I believe you know him, Geoffrey. Didn’t he used to be one of your acquaintances? And the gossip in my stableyard is that he threw rotting mangels at you in the marketplace today.’ Robert gave Geoffrey a grin and helped himself to more bread.
    Geoffrey was annoyed to think that news of the incident in the marketplace had travelled so fast. The ladies were agog. Jane put down her knife and gave her husband her full attention.
    ‘Mangels?’ Jane looked incredulous.
    ‘No, not mangels, I mean to say, he didn’t throw anything,’ said Geoffrey, ‘that’s to say…somebody did, but it wasn’t Richard Wheeler.’
    Robert’s mouth twitched in amusement and Geoffrey wished he could push his fork into the simpering face.
    ‘What is this?’ Emilia’s high voice brought all attention to her. ‘Why did you not mention it before?’
    ‘I did mention it,’ Geoffrey said. He glared at her. ‘Before dinner. It appears, as usual, you were not listening.’
    ‘Let us retire, Jane. I am sure we do not want to listen to such dull men’s business.’
    They scraped their chairs back and stood. Emilia dropped her napkin deliberately onto her half-empty plate, where it sank into the gravy. Then she picked up her skirts and flounced out. Jane raised her eyebrows and flashed Robert a look that clearly said such disagreements would never happen in their household, then she followed Emilia and shut the double doors behind her with a click.
    Geoffrey had hoped the embarrassing afternoon would soon be forgotten and not become the subject of servants’ gossip. But no, it seemed he was already a laughing stock at his own table. It was humiliating. Added to that, Emilia had then ruined a perfectly convivial evening. His earlier anger hardened into stony resolve.
    ‘Wheeler’s behaviour is tantamount to treason,’ he said. ‘He refused to do me hat honour, and as I am the king’s representative in these parts, it could be regarded as an insult to the king. Besides which, he was telling people to withhold their taxes.’
    ‘We must be careful,’ said Robert, ‘circumspect.’ He talked as he chewed. ‘If we accuse him openly of treason then it will stir up more dissent. We would end up with another rebellion on our hands. We should re-call the county committee to discuss strategies for how best to deal with them.’
    ‘But the county committee has not met in years. Cromwell’s damn fool parliament disbanded all our local committees.’
    ‘Then we will need to reform. The more muscle we have behind us, the easier it will be to stamp out the dissenters.’
    He paused to shovel a pile of mashed turnip into his mouth, and leaned over to scoop more from Jane’s half-finished plate. ‘There is a whole nest of them up at the Hall. I have no idea what possessed Dorothy Swainson