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Wuffie was carried up the stairs like
the conquering hero that he had become. But while he tried to look proud of
success, he was wondering with the tumult of any young male what his reception was
likely to be. He didn’t have long to wait, for Bessie bore him before his
beloved; whisked the puppies out of the room as soon as he had kissed them and
discreetly left the couple to themselves. Although she seemed to be relaxing
with her darlings, Louisa rose to stand amongst her cushions as Bessie came
into the room and remained standing even after the door had closed softly
behind them. A little stunned by this formality, Wuffie jumped up beside her
and shyly bent his head to kiss her.
The kiss was formal too.
Now Wuffie was patient, loving and proud of his girl, but he had also been through many adventures and, more importantly, he very much wanted to sit down.
‘Dear, Louisa, I am so glad to be home, but you receive me as a visitor. Have you heard something to displease you?’
‘Displease?’ asked Louisa softly. ‘What could I have heard that has not made my bow tremble with pride?’
Wuffie breathed a sigh of relief. ‘Then what is the matter?’
‘It’s just one thing.’
The pause was so long that Wuffie sat down and regarded her, his round eyes gleaming with amusement.
‘What is this one thing, dearest? If I have offended you, I shall try to make amends.’
‘Offend? Oh, no! How could anything you do offend me’ She looked into the distance and presented her thoughts. ‘It’s just that . . . well, Wuffie, I had no idea that you could be so fierce. I was told that had that nice spirit queen who visits the children not interfered, all of you would have been in the most tremendous trouble.’
‘We would probably be dead.’
Louisa nodded gravely.
‘How do you know so much about the fight, Louisa?’
‘That poor young girl who keeps losing things came in hours ago and told me what had happened. She described the battle to me a little more closely than I would like to have heard.’ As she spoke, she settled down next to him and he put his head against her blue bow. ‘The queen popped in and kissed the children and told me you had been a true hero. It’s odd, you know,’ said Louisa reclining against him, ‘the queen is a very clever woman, but when she told me of your heroic behaviour, she seemed a little surprised that I wasn’t bowled over.’ Wuffie’s smile widened considerably as he pictured the scene. ‘However,’ Louisa continued, ‘one cannot explain the concept of the clan of the Proud Pugs in a few minutes even to a monarch. I did try, Wuffie, but she kept being distracted by the puppies.’
‘Never mind, my Louisa, as long as I have your approbation.’
‘You always had it. And you were a tower of strength to my dear brothers. Such men in my family. Such champions.’
She reluctantly rose and, kissing him once more with far less formality, pushed him over to the fire where a little meal was prepared. Then they settled by the fire and soon were snoring in perfect harmony.
When Rattle finally woke again, only
Little Walter was there. He had taken it into his head to cuddle Rattle. Little
Walter didn’t really know a hangover from cloud cover, but he had pitied Uncle
Toby and, since Rattle had been in a comparable state at the end of the
evening, Little Walter judged that he could do with some company. They were
sitting together in companionable silence wondering how they had lived through
the night and silently congratulating each other when Mattie came into the room
ready with young William’s schedule for the rest of the day. Rattle had rarely
been taken in hand so gently but firmly, in fact he had rarely been taken in
hand at all, and he rather enjoyed the prospect of being bossed about by a
petite, courteous lady.
‘You know,’ he said suddenly a propos of nothing, ‘I
found out last night that I speak a little pug myself.’
‘I reckon that you found out many fine things about
yourself last night.’
‘Some . . . a few,’ he said honestly.
Mattie smiled and continued with her discourse which
included the news that, having sent a servant early that morning to report that
Rattle was alive and well, Michael and Andrew had ridden over to the home where
Rattle was staying to gather a few of his things so that he could remain with
them.
‘Very kind,’ said Rattle brightening considerably at
the thought that he would have a few romps with Wuffie and the pups and could
bow to Bessie about fifty times a day.
Mattie, quite aware that his attention was wandering,
went on about good food and rest and baths and walks by the sea as she bustled
him into the passage and up to a waiting servant who had a firm hand and even
firmer instructions.
Andrew and Michael Make a Visit
Even as Mattie was speaking to Rattle, Andrew and
Michael were taking reluctant leave of their pugs, leaving so many unnecessary
instructions that, as they rode away, Mac looked at Iggy and they heaved a sigh
of relief in concert.
‘One would think,’ said Mac, ‘that we were going to
run away with the court forever.’
‘Well,’ said Iggy thoughtfully, ‘if you consider it
from the human point of view, they’ve had very little fun.’
‘Would you call last night fun?’
‘Think, brother, if you were Michael.’
‘If I were Michael,’ said Mac with great satisfaction,
‘I would be tearingly jealous of me.’
‘Then you take my point?’
‘I do, Ignatius Oliver.’
‘And you will be kind and not roll your eyes about
when they are speaking to us?’
‘I shall be politeness itself.’
‘Then,’ said Iggy, ‘let us find Little Walter and take
a turn on the beach to clear our heads.’
‘Perhaps,’ said Mac, ‘we should get him and go first
to Louisa and kiss her.’
‘Excellent,’ said Iggy and off they went to find the
puppy.
‘What do you think Hortensia will say to all of this?’
‘Don’t think about it,’ said Mac as they trotted up
the stairs, ‘we’ll be having nightmares.’
As the brother pugs were going about their business,
the brother humans were riding toward their interesting interview. Andrew did
not urge his horse on and Michael, who wanted at least a taste of
entertainment, had to keep turning back.
‘Why are you dawdling?’ he finally asked.
‘I’m thinking about contriving a brief meeting with
our dark cousin, just to see how she is taking her defeat.’
‘Look,’ said Michael, ‘the house is in sight. Don’t
worry,’ he said encouraging his sassy horse to gallop, ‘we’ll manage it. We’ll
manage it all.’
Andrew smiled and encouraged his much more gentle
mount to rush after him.
Rattle Gets a Reputation
As they rode up to the door, the servant whom they had
sent ahead came out with the groom and informed the brothers that they were
eagerly awaited. The door was opened readily and they were ushered into a
sitting room that looked specially prepared for gentlemen. Mr. Landrich, they
were told, would be with them shortly. And indeed he was. Landrich came into
the room so promptly that the brothers had the distinct impression that he had
been lurking behind some hall decoration only waiting, for form’s sake, to come
in on cue.
He was a cheerful, portly gentleman, turned out with
the costly, too immaculate effect that a town tailor produces in the country.
‘Gentlemen,’ he said shaking hands and waving to a
servant all at once. ‘It is very good of you to come. Your servant assures me
that that young scamp Rattle is alive and well and doubtless eating you out of
house and home. Afraid to come back is he? Don’t blame him. Wouldn’t want to
face Maud, my sister, you know, runs the house, runs me to be truthful. No, no,
I wouldn’t want to be in Rattle’s shoes when Maudie gets a hold of him. Not the
proper thing to do at all. Can’t leave a lady to make her way home in the dark.
Even if you have very possibly . . . though I make no accusations, made
advances. Not the thing. Have to bring the girl to safety. Maudie’s keen on
propriety and, for once, I must agree with her. We’re both very grateful for
your promptness. Would have been worried about the boy. Son of old friends. And
from the look of the girl,’ here he lowered his voice so that the brothers had
to lean forward, ‘I’d say she can take care of herself. Type that can swim
through a monsoon.’
Landrich came to a breathless halt and surveyed the
two men, realized that they were all standing and, with a shake of the head,
waved them into very comfortable chairs.
‘Since Maudie likes to have people come here, this
room is my lair,’ he confided. ‘Don’t mind visitors myself but need my own
place and a bit of privacy. Can’t have her nosing into every room. So she did
this up for me.’ He looked around with approval then wrinkled his forehead,
‘She will dust and clean it though. Insists on it.’
Andrew and Michael looked sympathetic. And Michael’s
interest was not feigned. As a bachelor living with Mac in their house in
Mosehole and being waited on by a housekeeper who thought him faultless, he
found a sinking sensation in his stomach at the very thought of Maudie and her
domestic tyranny.
‘Of course, she does want to meet you. We hope that
you will dine with us.’ And here he smiled with pride, ‘But I told her that we
must talk together first. Just the gentlemen. So if you could be persuaded to
dine?’ he looked at them as a shipwrecked mariner scans the horizon.
The two men nodded silently and smiled benignly.
‘Wonderful,’ there was no doubting his sincerity. ‘She
does,’ he added possibly as compensation for the dragon they would soon
encounter, ‘set a fine table.’ Then he settled back and smiled, ‘Do tell me
what happened? Are we in the midst of a scandal? Must I take action? Oh, Rattle’s
poor mother does dote on him.’
At this point, Andrew interrupted. He hated to cut
into the performance and almost hated to disabuse Landrich of his notion that
Rattle had misbehaved, but there was a great deal of work to do.
‘No scandal,’ he said gently.
‘Extraordiarily fine behaviour,’ added Michael.
Landrich looked confused, ‘Gentlemen, are we talking
about the same young man? Young William Rattle? Generally called Willie?’
‘Absolutely,’ said Andrew.
‘Our family owes him a great debt,’ chimed in Michael.
Landrich looked stunned. The idea of Rattle doing
anything positive had never occurred to him. There was a silence while Landrich
took in this news.
Suddenly he began to giggle, then gurgle, then shake
with suppressed laughter. ‘Maudie,’ he wheezed, ‘will be furious. She’s been
practicing speeches since we found he had gone missing. She’s always up and
abroad first. Knows things before the servants do.’ He paused to gasp and roll
about in his beautiful chair. ‘Now, I know something she doesn’t. Do let me
tell her he’s been good.’
‘How could we refuse?’ said Andrew.
‘I shall fetch
Maudie,’ said Landrich jumping up. ‘I shall bring her in here, into the
gentlemen’s room. I shall tell her before you.’ He looked at them pleadingly.
‘You will support me? You will back me up?’
‘Have no doubt, sir,’ said Michael whose voice was
trembling with glee, ‘that we will be with you in this moment of glory for both
our families.’
‘Thank you. Thank you,’ said the round gentleman and
rushed to the door to suit the action to the word.
His coattails were still in view when Andrew whispered
‘Quickly!’
The brothers dashed for a little door that opened into
the garden. They whipped out, found a wall, leaned against it and, silently
beating on each other, laughed like fools.
Dining with Maudie
When they heard the door, they leapt back into the
room just as Landrich entered, escorting a small, round woman who looked like
him but entirely lacked his jolly nature. She would have been comely, for her features
were good and her voice mellow, but she had the eyes of a hungry ferret.
‘Maudie, my dear, our guests have given me the most
extraordinary news about young Willie.’
‘Alas,’ said Maudie stroking the table to see if it
had been dusted properly, ‘we have been deceived in him. He was such a
promising youth.’
‘Indeed,’ said her brother, ‘he has fulfilled that
promise. Do you know that these gentlemen are much indebted to him?’
Maudie looked from Andrew to Michael expecting
vehement denials and was met with bland good humour.
‘Indeed, madam,’ said Michael with a frozen smile, ‘we
were hoping to drink a toast to him with you.’
‘Sir,’ said Maudie, ‘do you not consort with
smugglers?’
Startled but not flustered, Michael nodded, ‘I have
friends who like the occasional trip to
‘Is that why he looks at the world with only one eye?’
Andrew closed his eyes and prayed. The family alone
knew of Mac’s fight with the excise men, which had resulted in his single eye.
Woe to anyone outside the inner circle balmy enough to make enquiries.
Michael looked down at Maudie and repressed the
thoughts of what he would like to do to her. He simply said, ‘Not exactly’ in a
tone that firmly and loudly shut the door of that conversation.
Fortunately, a servant opened another door to announce
the meal.
Andrew drew a deep breath and offered his arm to
Maudie. Mollified, she accepted and Landrich patted Michael’s shoulder and
whispered, ‘I hear you bring back spirits fit for royalty.’
Michael grinned, ‘I shall contrive that you come to
visit us and taste my rum.’
When they entered the dining room, the brothers looked
at the table with real appreciation. Landrich said the blessing and they sat
down. The first course banished Michael’s annoyance. Clearly, Maudie had been
preparing with speed and dexterity since their servant had arrived. Andrew, who
was very kind to nasty women because they seemed sad creatures to him, and he
had known few in his family, praised the meat, the sauce, the linen, the silver,
the flowers and the wine. Maudie talked knowingly about providing for a house
and Andrew almost made her blush when he said,
‘Madam, my daughter helps to run my house and she does
very well for one so young. But,’ he added, ‘I doubt that she will ever meet
your standard.’
Landrich gave hearty silent thanks. Few people ever
complimented his sister with such accuracy and Andrew had picked the perfect
topic. When Michael nodded and murmured agreement, the little man almost wept
with joy.
‘Perhaps,’ said Maudie feeling she had been hasty in
mentioning the smuggling, ‘I could send a few choice bits to your pugs.’
‘Most kind,’ said Michael knowing that Mac would have
him ignore the insult and bring the tidbits. ‘There is,’ he continued seizing
the moment, ‘a further kindness we must ask of your brother.’ In the pause, he
washed down a succulent sauce with a nice wine. ‘We would be most grateful if
he could come to us tomorrow to see young Willie and talk to him. That way he
can report to his family from first hand experience.’
‘My brother is a busy man,’ said Maudie who knew that
she was beaten.
‘That is why,’ said Michael, ‘it would be a kindness.’
‘Then,’ said Maudie taking defeat with unusual grace,
‘he can bring the tidbits.’
Landrich’s joy knew no bounds.
The Last Appearance of the Dark Lady
As they took their leave, Landrich mangled their hands
and promised to visit the next afternoon. Andrew, at the very last, formally
requested Maudie’s company when Uncle Thomas and the rest of the family had settled
in for Christmas. This wrung a silent groan from Michael and a genuine smile
from her brother. Maudie accepted with the gravity of a martyr being led to
execution but secretly she was delighted.
As they rode home in the early evening, Andrew turned
to his brother.
‘I believe, sir, that we have given young Rattle the
beginning of a new reputation. Now if only we could find a nice companion for
Landrich.’
Michael was chucking when suddenly his laughter died.
Coming down the road was the dark young woman. He dismounted and said to
Andrew, ‘Ride on.’
Andrew frowned.
‘Brother,’ said Michael firmly, ‘I said ride on. I
will finish this business.’
Andrew did as he was bidden, tipping his hat to the
girl who hardly noticed him as she tripped past fixing her attention solidly on
the approaching Michael.
‘Your horse, sir, is very beautiful. Would you give me
a ride home?’
‘Alas, madam,’ he said, ‘he is mettlesome and I would
not have you in danger again.’
‘Last night was no danger,’ she said boldly, ‘I quite
enjoyed it.’
‘Then your joy will know no bounds when I report to
you that Rattle is quite safe.’
‘Rattle is a fool,’ said the girl, then looking at him
in a manner that Michael’s considerable experience recognized, murmured, ‘Tell
me more about yourself.’
Michael stopped dead and she had walked on a bit
before she realized that he was not following. She stood uncertain for a moment
then started back.
‘You are not kind, sir.’
Michael did not look kind; surprisingly, he looked
inquisitive.
‘Will you
answer a question about last night?’
‘Yes, I have little to hide.’
‘What did you see when you looked in the window of the
tower room?’
‘A ghost,’ she said with satisfaction.
‘Who?’
‘My cousin, who lived in the reign of the great
‘I have not seen her. Did you see anyone else?’
‘Not distinctly. Your pugs were leaping about, but I
assumed they were only playing. I know nothing about pugs. Would you like to
teach me?’
Michael ignored the offer. ‘Did you speak with your
cousin?’
‘No words, but we understood each other.’
‘And what did you understand?’
‘That we had lost the bracelet.’
‘You do understand that it is lost to you forever?’
‘Forever is such a great word. I try never to use it
and keep my options open.’
‘Close them now.’
‘Do you intend
to be rude to me?’ she asked with a practiced lowering of the eyes.
‘Look at me,’ said Michael sharply and started her
into a wide-eyed gaze. He faced her squarely and the anger he had felt growing
was in his face.
‘You call Rattle a fool because he accompanied you on
a ride in the dark to see that you came to no harm. But Rattle saw wonders and
you saw only defeat. You came into the family home of my niece, and treated
Bessie as though she was a servant because you mistake her qualities of
generosity and sweetness of nature for weakness. You thought the pugs were
playing when they were fighting for their lives and the honour of my family.
You came to steal and feel no shame.’
She had grown very pale and Michael was aware of the
blessing of the evening all around this scene of anger and arrogance. He
finished quickly.
‘Madam, do not insult me by flirting, I have known
many women and I see through you like a pane of glass. You are young and have
failed. Perhaps that will teach you something but I do not want to follow your
progress. You are still a guest of Landrich but, for however long you remain in
this county, do not come, never come into my family’s house
again. A great wrong was done long years ago. It was righted last night. I will
not have the greed and malice you inherited under my roof again.’
The young woman stood there silent. Andrew would have
pitied her, which was the reason Michael had taken on the task himself. He
mounted his horse and drew away.
The girl looked up. ‘Is that all?’
‘I was just thinking,’ said Michael letting the
evening settle down on him. ‘Rattle rode with you last night, but sent you back
alone. I talk seriously to you and now leave you to make your way back. I think
that your life may be like that: people will always want to send you away.’
‘Betray me, you mean,’ she said bitterly.
And her anger and twisting of the truth confirmed his
fears for her future. He patted his horse quiet and bent down a little, ‘And
when you talk like that I know that you will never understand.’
He turned and went home, but he rode so hard that the
horse was both excited and frightened and whinnied with relief when his barn
came into view.
Michael dined sparingly and spoke less, but he fed his
dinner to Mac under the table to avoid hurting Mrs. Scrumptious. Then he
prowled about the garden with Iggy and Mac walking a little ways behind.
‘He’s always like this,’ said Mac stopping to sniff
the herbaceous border, ‘when he’s disappointed in himself.’
Iggy nodded, ‘Let’s take him up to the puppies then
send him to bed.’
Michael agreed to their suggestion and rolled about
with the little ones.
‘What’s the trouble?’ asked Louisa who wasn’t fooled.
‘Not our business, m’dear,’ said Wuffie.
‘And what is out business, pray?’
‘Why, to be the diversion,’ said the count leaping
over Michael and nipping his son by the tail.
Michael laughed and Louisa sighed proudly, ‘Wuffie is
such a genius with humans.’
‘Yes,’ said Mac, ‘but remember he spent the early part
of his life with Rattle. That would have trained an army.’
He trotted over and nudged Michael to pick himself up
so they could go to bed. When Michael protested, Mac began to droop and
complain of pains from his wounds. So Michael picked himself up then hoisted
Mac and climbed the stairs to his room with the big window and beautiful view.
‘Are you really in pain?’ asked Michael gently placing
Mac on the bed.
‘Not overwhelmingly,’ Mac hedged, ‘but it’s getting late
and it wears me out when you brood. So let’s go to bed and tell me about the
dark girl.’
While they settled down, he related the encounter. Mac
listened without interruption then murmured, ‘It wasn’t pleasant. It wasn’t
kind. But it was absolutely necessary. Now go to sleep.’
And Michael did.
Bessie’s Visitor
Bessie had made a place for the bracelet on her
dressing table. She put down a silk handkerchief and nested the bracelet on it.
Somehow she felt it should be in plain sight so the girl wouldn’t think it was
lost again. She had been sleeping for some time when a light pressure on her
shoulder gently wakened her. The girl was standing with the bracelet in her
hand.
‘How kind of you,’ she said, ‘to leave it where I can
see it.’
‘It is yours,’ said Bessie softly. She had never seen
a ghost and didn’t want to frighten her away.
‘Well,’ said the girl, ‘I shall wear it one more time.
You will see it on me at the ball.’
‘Ball?’
‘The queen has not only forgiven our family, she is
enamoured of it. Particularly the pugs. There will be a ball for the family. My
family,’ she said proudly. ‘We shall all be together! Isn’t that lovely?’
‘Yes. Indeed, yes,’ said Bessie. Then more
practically, ‘What shall I wear?’
‘Well,’ said the girl, ‘do you have a formal dress in
white? You look quite lovely in white.’
Bessie lighted a candle and got up. ‘Let’s look
together,’ she said. ‘That will be the best.’
CHAPTER 15
THE SETTLING OF THE SPIRITS
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