Will You Love Me in September

He hesitated, and for a moment I thought he was going to seize me and make me his prisoner. He was a fanatic if ever I saw one.

My uncle called out, "Who's there?”

"It's your niece," said the man.

"Tell her I'll see her in about an hour.”

The man looked at me. I nodded and escaped. I ran to my room. I was still trembling.

It was not pleasant to be caught eavesdropping, but to hear something which could be dangerous was quite terrifying.

I had no doubt now that I had walked into intrigue. I had chosen this time to come when something important was about to happen. I knew now what it was and that they were planning to bring James back to England and crown him King. But George of Hanover would not stand by and let that happen. There would be war, and at Eversleigh they would be staunchly for George, while here, in my father's family, they were the leaders of the plot to bring James back.

Aimee came to my room. I was lying on the bed, for I felt very shaken after that encounter.

"Are you not well?" she asked in astonishment.

"A headache," I replied. I did not wish to talk to her about what I had heard and what I knew was happening. Not yet, at any rate-not until I had sorted out my thoughts.

"I was just going out for a ride and hoping you would come with me.”

"I won't today, thanks, Aimee.”

"Ca va. Au revoir. I will see you later on.”

I was relieved that she did not want to stay and talk.

It must have been about an hour later when I heard the sounds of departure below.

I went to my window and saw a party of men riding away.

Then my uncle sent for me.

When I went to his room he was sitting in his chair in the usual place.

"Clarissa," he said as I entered, and he held out his hand to me. I went to him and took it and knelt down beside his chair. "My dear child," he went on, "this is so difficult for me. I have so enjoyed your being here ... but the times are dangerous.”

"I know," I replied. "I have gathered that there is a plot to bring James back to the throne.”

"It has always been our desire to do that. All these years we have promised ourselves that we would. Your father, as you know, was devoted to the cause. You could say he gave his life for it. Had he not been in Paris on the King's business he would not have died as he did. Yes, we have never forgotten, and this time we are going to do it. It is unfortunate that you should be here now. It would have been far better if you had come when I asked you. Then this was not imminent. Now ... it is.”

"Uncle Paul," I said, "when I was in your room and you were in the anteroom I could not help overhearing those men ... Frenshaw, was it ... talking about me. He thought I was here to spy. You don't think that, Uncle?”

"Of course I don't.”

"I knew nothing of all this before I came. It is true that I did come as far as York with my great-uncle Carl and Sir Lance Clayering, but that was only because they were coming this way and my aunt Damaris wanted me to have their protection on the roads. You do believe that.”

Yes, I do. I believe you so entirely that I am going to trust you. A Jacobite rising is imminent. There are many Scotsmen who are With us-that is why it will start in Scotland. Lord Kenmure has already proclaimed James King at Moffat. Lord Mar is rallying an army. The Lords Nithisdale, Wintoun and Carnwarth are coming to his aid. They are already preparing to cross the border and James is on his way to England.”

"Uncle," I cried, "there will be war, civil war.”

"Now, listen to me. You must go back to Eversleigh. My friends suspect you of spying.

If we found ourselves in difficulties they would be ruthless. I want you to prepare to leave at dawn tomorrow. I will send for your grooms and prepare them. Get your things together, but don't let anyone know. In the morning I will tell them that you have been called away.”

"Shall I not say goodbye to Aimee?”

He hesitated. Then he said, "I think we can trust her, but wait until last thing tonight.”

I took his hand and kissed it. "I shall be so sorry to leave you," I said. "We have not had enough time together. There is so much I want to talk about.”

"There will be other times. When all this is over, the country will settle to peace, and once the true King is here the German can go back to Hanover. I hear he prefers it to England in any case.”

"Do you think it will work out like that?”

"I know it will. And think, Clarissa, when it does, it will be success for all we have been working for. Your father lived and died for this cause. You should be one of us for his sake, you know.”

I thought of Eversleigh then and that warm, protecting love I had had from my maternal relations, and I felt a sudden anger that there should be all this trouble and people should die just for the sake of putting one man on the throne against another. I was in complete sympathy now with my grandmother Priscilla, who was always more fierce than any of the others in her condemnation of war.