Silence And Shadows Collection

Chapter 1-4

Sam moved to the fire, adding more coals, and poking it vigorously. ‘Will he see it when you do his portrait, or will he choose not to?’

When he was seated beside me again, I whispered, ‘He’ll see it but say I haven’t worked my skills upon his person, knowing I won’t be able to contradict him for he is the King.’ I quickly moved away from his ear when the door burst open, frowning to see not Penny but James Villiers.

His frown quickly mirrored mine. ‘Carter. I heard you’d returned.’ He moved to the fire, holding his hands to it. ‘I note it didn’t take long for you to present yourself here.’

His speech seemed more affected than usual. For Sam’s benefit, no doubt. I felt my lip curl at it.

Sam shrugged. ‘I greatly missed my dear friends and hurried to see them.’

Now seated opposite, James watched us, sullenly. ‘Did you find your miniatures more in favour at the French court?’ He paused for a moment before answering the question himself. ‘But you wouldn’t be back in Henrietta Street had that been so. Perhaps you’ve come for lessons from Susannah?’

Sam laughed without any discernible edge of rancour. How he does so is a wonder to me when the man is such an odious dolt. ‘No one is as good as Susannah, nor quite as expensive.’

I wrote and held up: ‘True.’ Neither Papa nor Sam have need to work for money, so have chosen not to. I, however, take payment from all bar the King. Does he ever pay anyone for anything?

Once again, the door flew open and this time Penny rushed in clutching her doll, the smile instantly leaving her face at the sight of James. Not, indeed, an unusual response to encountering him in this house.

She came to Sam to sit on his lap, holding out her doll to him. ‘I’ve dressed her in her best gown for you to see.’

‘Well, isn’t she a truly wonderous creature?’

James grinned at the unease his presence caused her. ‘Perhaps Carter can make a living painting faces on little girls’ dollies? Then he might spend less time at our table.’

What an insufferable wretch he is. I wrote quickly and held up, ‘At Papa’s table. Where he was welcome long before you. And he has no more need to earn a living than you do.’ Sam’s father is an admiral in the Royal Navy, his disappointment at his son’s failure to follow him into the service was only exceeded by his dismay that a bequest from his mother meant no other profession necessary, either. Yet he has a secret one, intelligencing for the King.

James made a show of looking away in order not to see my words.

Sam ignored him. ‘Susannah, perhaps you’ll join me for dinner tonight? Pascal is pleased to have someone to cook for again at last. It’ll give us a chance to catch up.’

I smiled, nodding.

James laughed. ‘Well, won’t this be a lively evening. I hope you enjoy the sound of your own voice, Carter, and the delightful scratch of a graphite stick on paper.’

Sam smiled at me, with no acknowledgement that James had even spoken. ‘I’ve missed you very much. It will be wonderful to have your company again. To have you all to myself.’

‘I feel the same.’ I wrote.

At a light knock upon the door, James called out, ‘Come.’

Bess entered carrying a heavy tray. Sam set Penny onto the floor and rose to help her, placing it down on the end table. She curtseyed to me but not to James, which visibly irked him.

‘You make a good footman, Carter. Ever thought of taking it up?’

Sam laughed affably, which further irked him. ‘Why have you brought our refreshments, Bess? Isn’t it Robert’s job?’

I was glad Sam laughed at James’s taunt and also that he asked the question I was poised to write.

‘Master James said to, Sir.’ She began to pour the wine with a shaking hand.

James rose and moved to her, placing his hand on her shoulder, making her flinch and spill wine over the table. He scowled. ‘Clumsy cun–’ He glanced at Penny. ‘Chit. I’ve a good mind to thrash you again.’

‘No,’ Penny shrieked.

Once more, the word I was about to write. Instead, I wrote, ‘Again?’

‘Run along now, Bess. I’ll pour for us. You, too, Penny. Bess will find a cordial for you in the kitchens,’ Sam said.

I walked to the door, closing it behind them before moving to Sam’s side.

He turned to James. ‘You’ve beaten her? What right have you to lay hands on her?’

‘What right have you to question my actions? You, Sir, are not a member of this household.’

I pointed at my mouth and then at Sam to tell James he spoke for me. Jesu, I wanted to scream oaths at him. Yet I was powerless, trapped in my damnable silence.

‘Bess is Susannah’s maid. She doesn’t serve the family. And in this house servants are not beaten.’

I nodded, vigorously. I am mute. Truly, I must find a way to end this.

‘All servants are thrashed. It keeps ‘em willing. This is Mama’s household, and such decisions are hers. She’ll decide if the chit needs a further dose.’

‘My father’s house.’ I scribbled and thrust it in his face. He smirked at me and walked away.

Looking out from the window, he smiled. ‘Ah, I see her coach approaching. I shall welcome her home. I’m sure she’ll happily give you her decision on the matter.’

Then he strode across the room, and we soon heard his footfalls on the stairs going down.

‘He won’t hurt Bess again, will he?’

Sam moved to the door. ‘I’ll make sure he doesn’t.’

I climbed the stairs back up to the studio as Sam made his way down.

When the doors to Sam’s drawing room closed behind me this evening, I felt I had entered a different world where I was at once my true self again. I could speak with complete freedom, and it was joyous.

.If our drawing room was a woman’s – and a silly one’s at that – here was a man’s. A naval man’s. Dark furniture upholstered in hard-wearing brocade. Brass ship’s instruments and wood carvings – mementos of command – upon the mantle and side tables beside heavy brass candelabras. It felt an age since I had last been in there.

We sat close together on a couch before the fire, while I listened to his description of the French court at the Palais du Louvre and all the interesting people he had encountered there. The gossip. The rumours. The mistresses. The affairs.

‘And you tell all this to the King?’ And the rest he could not speak of to me, of course.

‘I do. He believes it gives him a true flavour of the place. He was particularly interested to hear of Louis’s building works out at the Palace of Versailles. I was lucky enough to be shown the plans. It will be truly magnificent.’

‘Jesu. Pray God it doesn’t give him any such notions.’ I frowned. ‘Though I believe he and Prince Rupert have plans for Windsor, even though Papa says the exchequer is in a rather parlous state again.’

‘Too many wretched duchesses.’

We both laughed. ‘Too much swiving before lavishing riches on them, getting children off them and then lavishing more. Riches he doesn’t truly have.’

‘Why, Susannah Gresham. I’m shocked to hear such vulgar speech from his own goddaughter.’ He nudged his shoulder against mine and we laughed again ‘And with monies taken from the public purse at that. There are rumblings in Parliament again, I believe.’

‘So, he’ll prorogue it once more.’

He studied his fingers for a moment. ‘I wonder if his wild extravagance – and Monmouth’s too, thinking of it – comes from those years living with such limited resources in exile? There must have been times when their lives were greatly restricted by the constant need to rely on others’ generosity.’

‘James saw real hardship. His father never truly did.’

He sighed. ‘And, in all honesty, it’s little excuse for the venality now, never mind that William Chiffinch procures actresses or a pretty flower seller or two for him. There’s something base about it all that undermines everything I admire about him.’

We were silent for a while, both lost in thought.

He turned sideways to study me. ‘Stand up. I want to look at you.’

‘No. You’ve already seen me. What’s the matter with you?’

‘Not dressed like this. He touched the damson velvet of my skirts. ‘Not for rather a long time.’

‘Very well.’ I stood, feeling horribly embarrassed, a blush hot on my skin.

‘May I say something to you, Sukie?’

I thought I knew what it would be. ‘Of course.’

‘You look very beautiful, as you always do.’ He stood and held me close. ‘But a little too slender, I’m afraid.’

And there it was. ‘Would you care to add insipid to your assessment. Catherine barely allows a day to pass without reminding me of it.’ I shook my head. “So thin and insipid, Susannah.”’

‘Catherine is a cunt.’

I patted his cheek. ‘I cannot tell you how much I’ve missed hearing you say those words. I often try to imagine them emblazoned across her far too ample bosom when I’m forced to communicate with her.’

He laughed. ‘In truth, I do believe I’d rather not imagine it.’ He pulled me down beside him again, his arm around my shoulders. ‘James was insufferable this afternoon.’

‘He told Bess she’d be dismissed if she reported the beating to me. She knows now not to believe such threats and that she must always come to me if he tries to harm her in any way.’

‘Good. And I don’t like to see the effect he has on Penny, either. It has become noticeably worse since last I saw them together.’

‘He seems to truly enjoy how much he frightens her.’

He squeezed my hand. ‘There is something wrong about him. The stories of him at court.’ He pursed his lips. ‘Well, some of them are hair-raising to say the least.’

‘And Penny has to share her home with him. Though, thank God, he spends more and more time at Whitehall now Buckingham has taken an interest in him. You can imagine just how thrilled it has made his dear mama, bless her.’ I slapped my forehead. ‘No. I mean damn her.’

‘f**k her.’

We laughed like the children we once were together. I was a girl whose best friend was a boy. Jesu, but I know how to curse, too.

A tap on the door from Sam’s valet, Connor, told us dinner was served and we followed him to the dining-room where the mahogany table was set for two, close beside the fire, the silverware sparkling in bright candlelight. Behind Sam was a portrait of his mother. How alike they are. I know he misses her still. Just one more thing we share. I was silent until the red-haired Irishman had served us and left, closing the door behind him. ‘Pascal has cooked as though every chair is filled.’ There were twelve.

‘I rather feared he might, poor man. He doesn’t enjoy enforced idleness.’ He shook out his napkin. ‘The servants shall eat well tomorrow and then Connor will know where to take the rest. There’ll be many hungry mouths happy to receive it all, I’m sure.’