Beauvallet Read online

  Downstairs the inn was quiet, for it was late into the evening now. Joshua might have got away with none to see his flight, but chose instead to stumble into the sleepy tapster. He executed a well-feigned start, and let fly a French oath. ‘Sang-dieu! ’ A ducat was pressed into the tapster's hand. ‘You do not see me,’ said Joshua. ‘Eh?’

  ‘I see you very plainly,’ said the tapster, agape.

  ‘That is not how it runs. Look you!’ He took the tapster's ear between finger and thumb, and whispered. ‘Word's brought my master's clapped up. Do you take me now? Well, he will be free soon enough, I suppose, but I’ll not be here to see it.’ He looked slyly. ‘There's a little farm in Picardy, and a rare wench to be won – if a man had the means.’ He patted the money-bags slung about his waist; indeed he fairly staggered under the weight of them. ‘I don’t let opportunity slip, mother of God!’

  The tapster was bemused. He twisted his ear free. ‘What's this? Your master clapped up?’

  ‘Some idle talk of his being El Beauvallet. Ho-ho, a very likely tale! Think I, it's some enemy has put this on him, for he's known the length and breadth of France for a Guise. But these are not matters for me. I’m for the Frontier, and a good riddance to a bad master!’

  The tapster was left to blink after him. He shook his head, making nothing of all this mysterious talk, and yawned, and wondered what o’clock it might be. Joshua got clear away while he was still wondering.

  There was one other who was concerned in this capture, one who had also a part to play, and was warily mindful of it. The party at Noveli's house broke up swiftly, but not before many guests had crowded round Dona Dominica to hear what she might have to say.

  In her heart was despair, for the hawk was snared, but she could still do what she might to aid him. Courage mounted; she set to fanning herself, and forced her pale lips into a smile of incredulity. ‘Señors, I have no more to say than what I have said. If this man is El Beauvallet he is changed indeed since last I saw him. I grant you a like colouring, but for the rest – Madre de Dios, if you but knew the pirate, and had heard his abominable Spanish!’ She tinkled a laugh, became aware of her aunt close beside her, and turned. ‘Well, señora, your poor Chevalier is fallen upon an evil hour indeed!’ She sank her voice. ‘Perinat –’ She looked significantly, and touched her forehead. ‘Ever since he lost his ship he has been – strange in the head on this one subject.’ She nodded wisely.

  Don Diego made as if to speak, but his mother interposed. ‘I have not been so entertained for many a long day,’ she said. ‘I am for my bed now. I suppose we shall hear more of this in the morning. Come, my dear. Do you follow us, Don Diego?’

  He waved them away; he had still much to say, and was burning to say it. ‘Presently, señora. Do not wait upon my coming.’

  Dona Beatrice led her niece to make her curtsey to their hostess.

  There was a battle to be fought now, harder than the skirmish that had just passed, Dominica knew well. As they jolted homewards in the bumping coach Don Rodriguez was left to talk as he pleased. Dona Beatrice lay back against the cushions, and allowed him to run on. He exclaimed, wondered, surmised to his fidgetty heart's content, and his niece put in a word where she might.

  They reached the Casa Carvalho. Dona Beatrice went with her niece up the stairs, and followed her to her chamber. Dominica had herself well in hand. Now for the battle! now for the setting up of wits against wits!

  Dona Beatrice sank down into a chair by the window. ‘So that is it!’ she said, amused. ‘What a daring lover you have, my dear! Yes, I was hoodwinked. I must be getting old.’ She shook her head over it.

  ‘Heaven, señora, are you too besotted then?’ asked Dominica scornfully.

  ‘Make no mistake, my dear,’ said Dona Beatrice placidly, ‘I wish him all success. Diego was in a rare taking, was he not. Yes, many of them there had a fine scare tonight. Cry Brava, El Beauvallet! But I think I will have you away into the country.’ She smiled. ‘A very charming romance, my dear. A pity it can come to naught.’

  Dominica pressed her hands to her temples. ‘You make my head to reel!’ she complained. ‘I love a pirate? God save you, señora, what next will you put on me?’

  Dona Beatrice nodded. ‘Very well played, my dear. You have more head than I gave you credit for. But you need not be so careful now. I have no wish to see your hero perish. No, none whatsoever, I assure you. I have nothing but respect for a man of such daring. I wonder how he contrived to come by those papers of his? It would make a rare tale, I do not doubt. Alack, I am not like to hear it.’ She sighed. ‘But for you, my child – you must be got away with all speed.’

  ‘Why must I?’ Dominica blinked at her. ‘Am I in peril, señora, because your infamous son accuses me of having a pirate for my lover?’

  ‘Yes, was it not foolish of him? Madness!’ agreed her aunt. ‘He has no head. Enough, one would say, to bring the familiars of the Inquisition to our house tomorrow. That, my dear, is one reason why you should be got away, and swiftly wed. We shall give the lie to suspicion of heresy against you. No doubt, if his papers are in order, as I dare say they may be, El Beauvallet will be set at large. Faith, a man who would take his life in his hand right to the heart of Spain might even contrive to snatch you from under my nose! Well, child, all honour to him if he can compass it, but you shall not expect me to lend him my aid.’

  ‘If his papers are in order,’ Dominica pointed out, ‘he will stand proved to be the man he says he is, so what fear?’

  ‘Ah, but I too have brain. I see much now that – I confess – was hidden from me before.’ She smoothed the heavy silk of her dress. She was still smiling, still imperturbable. ‘Such a personable man – to be a pirate. I do not blame you at all, my dear. You made rare work of it aboard that ship, did you not? It is all most enlivening. For you I admit a pang or two. It will pass, and you will remember that you have had more romance than comes to most women in this weary world. But we shall leave Madrid. Certainly we shall leave Madrid.’

  ‘As you please, señora, but you give me no good reasons.’

  Dona Beatrice picked up her fan. ‘I will give you one you may perceive to be good, child. If you stay here you may haply be examined. Now I do not want that.’

  ‘I am very willing, aunt. I can but say what I have said.’

  ‘King Philip and the Holy Inquisition,’ said her aunt gently, ‘are not nice in their methods of obtaining information. Enough harm has been done already without you becoming suspected to be a heretic.’ She rose, and went with her languid step to the door. ‘We will have you safe married, my dear, and think out some tale against our need. As I see it, my child, you cannot better serve this bold lover of yours than to give the lie in such a way to those who suspect you and him.’

  The attack was renewed again next day, by Don Diego now, curbing his anger. He pressed marriage on his cousin, hinted his father might intercede for El Beauvallet, besought her to wed him at once, and trust to his good offices to help Beauvallet.

  These were blundering tactics; Dominica curled her lip at them and him. Well she knew that once his identity was proved no power under the sun could save Beauvallet. The Holy Inquisition would step in and claim him; it was not necessary for Don Diego to tell her that she would see her lover burned at the stake. She knew it, had faced the horror squarely, and would not now change colour. Desperate need lent her courage, and agility of mind. She never hesitated, never blanched, could still laugh her scorn. ‘This is very kind, cousin!’ she said tauntingly. ‘And if the unfortunate gentleman were indeed Beauvallet and beloved of me no doubt I should avail myself of your offer.’ Oh, but her tongue had a sting in it still! She watched him flush, and bite his lip. She curtseyed. ‘But I have no interest in the Chevalier de Guise, my good cousin, and I doubt he does not stand in need of my help.’

  He took her wrist and shook it. ‘You think you hoodwink me? You think I do not know that fellow for what he is? Well, you shall see him burn!’