Will You Love Me in September

he said, "but men will never see it. They will continue to wage war, and that is a fact we must face. Besides, Clarissa, James is no good. The people would not unite under him. He's a bigot. He would bring Catholicism to the country, and since Bloody Mary's Smithfield fires and some of our sailors have had experience of the Inquisition in Spain, that is something Englishmen will not endure. George may not be all we desire, but he is peaceable and he doesn't interfere with the people too much. Trade will prosper under him, you'll see. That's what we want-a nice 'German boor,' not a fiercely romantic, bigoted Chevalier.”

"The immediate question is, what are we to do about Clarissa?" interrupted Uncle Carl.

"I believe there is a coach which leaves Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. It goes from York to London.”

"You are well informed," replied my uncle, "but I should not allow you to travel alone on such a coach.”

"Why not? People do.”

"Not ladies of our family. Lance... .”

Lance smiled at him almost as though he knew beforehand What my uncle was going to suggest.

"You will be going to London in a few days' time.”

"That's so," said Lance.

"If you could take Clarissa with you ... Perhaps we could arrange for someone to come to London and take her back from there to Enderby. I am sure Jeremy or Leigh would be able to.”

Lance said, "It shall be my great pleasure to conduct the lady Clarissa not only to London but to Enderby itself.”

I smiled faintly. My thoughts were with Dickon.

All through the days which followed I thought of Dickon, but the best possible companion I could have had was Lance Clavering. His lively conversation and his observations on life and the passing scene diverted my thoughts from the recent parting as I was sure nothing else could have done.

Moreover, I think he understood what had happened. He was gentle with me, a little wistful, I thought; but all the time he was ebullient, and his merry wit did bring a certain comfort to me.

We were fortunate in the weather, which grew more clement as we journeyed south.

The skies were even blue and there was little wind. When we left in the early morning there was rime on the tree branches and on the road, but by midmorning, when the sun had come up, it disappeared, and although there was a sharp bite in the air, it was good for getting along.

Lance sang, laughed and talked a good deal, determined to comfort me, and after a few hours in his company I really did begin to feel better. There was a bright optimism about his attitude to life, and it was easy to catch this and believe that one day this stupid trouble would be settled and Dickon could come to visit us. I was sure Damaris and Jeremy would like him; and they would make him welcome when they realized I loved him.

This was the effect Lance had on me. Life was to be enjoyed, and there was always something to laugh about.

I even found myself joining in his singing as we rode along because he urged me to do so-and I was grateful to him.

We traveled with two grooms, so we were a party of four. A highwayman would think twice about attacking three strong men.

At dusk on the first day we reached an inn which was known to Lance and where, he said, we should be assured of good service.

He was right. The landlord greeted us effusively and provided two of the best rooms for us; the grooms were accommodated in another room. It all seemed very satisfactory.

When we had washed the stains of the journey from our faces and hands we went down to the inn parlor for our meal. It was delicious, as Lance said it would be. Thick slices of succulent beef were served with dumplings, and there was also pigeon pie, with sweetmeats to follow. Wine was especially brought from the cellar to satisfy Lance's refined palate, and if I had not been wondering what had happened to Dickon I could have been very content in Lance's company.

We talked all the time about his adventures in the army, deliberately not mentioning the present troubles, because he sensed that would only increase my anxieties. I did really appreciate his kindness during that journey.

The innkeeper's wife came in while we were finishing the meal to ask if Lance would like some port wine. He said he would, and she told us that she was expecting the coach to arrive at any minute, because this was the day for it.

"They'll be a hungry lot, they will," she went on, "but we're ready for them. These coaches have been good for business. They're regular, like ... more or less. I've got enough beef for the coachload of them ... and all hot and ready to serve the minute they arrive.”

The port was brought, and as Lance was sipping it the coach lumbered into the inn and the weary passengers spilled out of it-cold, hungry, their faces pinched and pale.

"Come along in," said the host. "There's a fire to warm you and you'll be fed in next to no time.”