Lament for a lost lover

“A sad story and too often repeated,” said Charles Condey. Harriet said: “I can remember so well my escape from England. We had warning that the enemy were approaching. My father had already been killed at Naseby and we knew the cause was lost. My mother and I and a few faithful servants hid in the woods while they ravaged our home. I shall never forget the sight of our home inflames.”

“My dear!” said Lady Eversleigh.

Everyone was looking at Harriet now but she would not meet my eye. How beautifully she modulated her voice! She was acting a part and she was a superb actress.

“All those treasures which one has preserved through one’s childhood ... the dolls ... I had puppet dolls which I made perform for me. They were real to me. I fancied I could hear their screams as the flames consumed them. I was very young, of course ...”

Silence at the table. How beautiful she was. And never more so than when she was acting a part.

“I remember waking cold, with the dawn just showing in the sky and the smell of acrid smoke in the air. It was quiet. The Roundheads had destroyed our home, changed our lives and gone on.”

“By God,” said Edwin, “when we get back they shall pay for what they did.” , Charlotte put in quietly: “There was violence and cruelty on both sides. When peace comes it will be best to forget this dreadful time.”

Charles Condey agreed with her. “If only we can go back to the old gracious life, we’ll forget this.”

“There has been nearly ten years of it,” said Edwin.

“There will be a new start,” Charlotte said. Charles Condey looked her and smiled and I realized they were lovers. at met was determined to maintain the centre of attention. “We went back to the house ... our beautiful gracious home , h I had known all my life. But there was little left of it. I can remember searching frantically for my puppets. They were gone. I found was a piece of charrred ribbon ... cherry coloured, which I had put on the dress of one of them.

I treasure it to this day.” Oh Harriet, I thought angrily, how can you! And before me too, who knows that you are lying.

I did meet her gaze then. It challenged me. All right then, betray me. Tell them that I am the bastard of a strolling player and a village girl, that my mother was the mistress of the Squire, and the Roundheads never came near the place where we lived on his bounty. Tell them.

She knew I would not. But I would speak to her when we were alone.

Edwin leaned towards her. “What happened then?”

“Obviously we could not stay in the woods. We walked to the nearest village. We had a few jewels which we had taken with us to the fields. We sold these and lived on the proceeds for a while. In one village we fell in with some strolling players. They were having a bad time and performed in secret, for the Puritans were getting a big hold on the country at that time and, as you know, they were against playacting. The theatres were soon closed but there were still a few players on the road. So we joined them, my mother and I, and do you know for a short time I discovered that I had a talent for acting?”

That does not surprise me, “ I said, and she smiled at me again, to expose her. “Some puppets I did my little performance with them liey ^Gt me act with them- I took small parts at first and bigger ones. But thing were getting worse. Although the villains were pleased to see us, we never knew when one of them would be an informer. It became too dangerous so we came to France. My mother was drowned on the way, for we were wrecked. I was saved and went to the home of some friends of mine. I stayed with them for a while.”

“How very interesting’ said Lady Eversleigh. “Who were they?” Harriet hesitated only for a fraction of a second. She dared not say the d’Ambervilles-if indeed her story concerning them was true. How could one be sure with such an actress? “The de la Boudons,” she said. “You may know them.”

Lady Eversleigh shook her head. How could she know a family which existed only in Harriet’s imagination.

“Later,” continued Harriet, “I went to Arabella and I have been with her some time.”

“We must all band together in these times,” said Lady Eversleigh. “And how glad I am that you came!”

“It was so kind of you to let me. Arabella and I are such fast friends and I know that she did not like the idea of leaving me behind ... and nor did I.”

“You are very welcome,” said Lady Eversleigh. “I am sure you will help to enliven the company.”

“Harriet always does. Ever since the strolling players came.” This was Lucas. I had forgotten that he would be wondering about her story. So it seemed had she.