Philippa Carr - The Drop of the Dice

With the coming of the New Year there was a great deal of talk about the Pretender. He was to be crowned at Scone and the Jacobites were persuading their women to give up their jewels to make a crown for him.

There were rumours—that was all. On the pamphlets which had been circulated James had been represented as godlike—tall, handsome, noble and full of vigour, determined to win what was rightfully his. It seemed that the reality was quite different. James had no charm of manner; he did not know how to attract the ordinary man; he had no conversation; moreover he was melancholy and seemed more ready to accept failure than inspire victory.

The truth was that he lacked the gift necessary for leading men. The Earl of Mar, who was the real spirit behind the rising, sought in vain to imbue him with the qualities essential for the success of the enterprise. It was hopeless, and even Mar had to realize that he was involved in a lost cause. The only people who were ready to support James were the Highlanders and it was soon apparent that the wise course of action was to retire while it was possible to do so and await the opportunity to rise again.

The loyal troops of King George were on the march and there was only one thing for James to do, which was to go back to France. At Montrose he and the Earl of Mar embarked on a vessel and sailed towards Norway, hugging the coast until they came to Gravelines, where they landed. That was the tenth of February. The enterprise was over.

‘Thank God,’ said Priscilla. ‘Let us hope they will never consider such a foolhardy expedition again.’

‘Well, it is all over now,’ echoed Damaris.

Alas, it was not over. There had been many captives and it was not to be expected that they would be dealt with lightly. Lessons had to be taught and learned.

Prisoners had been taken and many of them were being brought to London to be sentenced. I was overcome with anxiety.

Uncle Carl came home. He would stay a while, he said, now that the little trouble in the North was over.

‘Your friend Frenshaw is one of the prisoners,’ he told me. ‘He won’t escape execution. Hessenfield is in trouble too. By Gad, Clarissa, you were in the very heart of it up there.’

‘Thank God she got away,’ said Damaris.

I longed to know what had happened to Dickon. I must find out. I was anxious about my Uncle Hessenfield. I had grown fond of him.

Lance arrived. He said he had come to see me. He spent a long time talking to Uncle Carl, but it was Lance himself who broke the news to me.

He asked me to walk in the gardens with him. It was warmish for February and he remarked that there was a sniff of spring in the air.

I soon discovered why he had come. ‘Clarissa,’ he said, ‘this is going to be sad for you but I think you should know.’

I whispered: ‘It’s Dickon… isn’t it?’

‘He’s here… in London.’

I caught my breath. ‘Can I…’

He shook his head. ‘He’s one of the prisoners. He was taken with his uncle. There’s no hope for them. They’ll all be condemned as traitors.’

‘But he is only young and…’

‘He was old enough to fight against the King’s troops.’

I caught his arm and looked up at him pleadingly. ‘Something can be done… something must be done. Remember he saved my life.’

‘I do remember that. If I could do anything, I would. But they are doomed, all of them. People cannot commit treason against the King and be allowed to escape punishment.’

‘Dickon is different.’

‘I know Dickon is different for you, Clarissa. But not to His Majesty’s judges. I wondered whether to tell you that this is about to happen… or to say nothing.’

‘No, no. I want to know what happens to him. Lance, could you take me to him?’

‘That is quite impossible.’

‘Could you not do something?’

Lance bit his lip as though considering, and my hopes rose.

‘Lance,’ I cried, ‘you could do something. I know you could. You can do it… if anyone can.’

‘You have too high an opinion of my powers. There is nothing I can do. Your Uncle Carl is in a high position in the army…’

‘I will ask him,’ I cried. ‘And he is here now.’

‘Don’t let him think…’

‘What do you mean?’

‘It would be a good idea if you gave the impression that you wanted to save this young man’s life because he probably saved yours. If there was anything that your Uncle Carl would call “romantic nonsense” he would be less inclined to save Dickon. The last thing Carl or any of your family would want is an alliance with a disgraced Jacobite family. Perhaps it would be better if I spoke to him.’

‘No, no. I want to be there.’

‘Very well,’ said Lance, ‘but be careful.’

Uncle Carl listened thoughtfully.

‘You see, Uncle,’ I said, keeping a curb on my emotions, ‘he saved my life. I feel for that reason we ought to do something for him.’

‘It’s true, of course,’ Lance added his voice to mine. ‘Is there anything you could do?’

‘I should not think so for one moment,’ replied my uncle.

‘But,’ persisted Lance, ‘it is worth a try.’

‘I should have to go to London.’

‘I’ll come with you,’ said Lance.

I loved Lance in that moment. He had made my cause his. He understood how I felt and he was on my side. I felt optimistic because of his support.

‘We could leave tomorrow. They’re getting a fair trial.’

‘A word from you might go a long way. After all, there is his youth.’

‘I doubt that will be considered,’ said Uncle Carl. ‘Anyone who is old enough to fight is old enough to pay the penalty for treason against the King.’

‘Well, we can try,’ said Lance.

I could see that Uncle Carl thought it was a lost cause and although Dickon had saved me he was not eager to make the journey to London for his sake. But Lance persuaded him. There was something good and kind about Lance. I had seen it when he spoke up for the coach people who were about to be denied their dinner. He could put himself in other people’s place and see from their point of view. It was a rare gift, I imagined, and most people who had it were too selfish to do anything about it.

The next morning Lance and Uncle Carl left for London. I wished that I could have gone with them but Lance said they would be quicker without me and they must get there before the trial started.

I want to forget the days which followed. They were some of the most wretched I had known up to that time.

I was desperately afraid, for I had gathered from Lance’s attitude that there was very little hope. I waited every day for news. I could not eat; I could not sleep; and Damaris was worried about me.

‘My dear Clarissa,’ she said, ‘you must not fret so. It’s true he saved you but he must have gone back to fight with them…’

‘He believed it was right,’ I cried. ‘Don’t you know what it means to believe in something!’

There was no comfort anywhere and for a whole week I fretted.

‘You’ll be ill if you go on like this,’ said Damaris.

At last Lance came alone, for Uncle Carl was kept hard at work in London. I knew as soon as I saw Lance’s face that all was not well.

‘Lance… Lance…’ I cried flinging myself into his arms. He held me tightly for some seconds. Then I wrenched myself free and looked full at him.

‘Tell me,’ I begged. ‘Tell me the truth.’

‘He is not to be executed. We managed to avert that.’

‘Oh Lance… Lance… thank you… thank you.’

‘But…’ he hesitated, and I felt I was going mad with the suspense.

‘He is being transported to Virginia.’

‘Transported!’

Lance nodded. ‘He’ll be on his way now… to the colony there. Quite a number of them have gone. It was his youth… and the fact that Carl did what he could… that saved his life.’

‘But he has gone away… to Virginia. That’s miles and miles… over the sea.’

‘It’s a long way,’ agreed Lance.

‘And when…?’

‘For fourteen years.’

‘Fourteen years. I shall be an old woman then…’

‘Oh no… no…’ soothed Lance.

‘I fear I shall never see him again,’ I said quietly.

Lance looked at me sadly.

‘But we saved his life,’ he said.

IT WAS A HOT June day. The following morning I was to be married. I was trying to look into the future and kept telling myself: It will be all right. It’s the best thing that could happen. Everyone is pleased. Everyone is sure I am going to be happy. They must be right.

It was more than three years since Dickon had been sent to Virginia but sometimes it seemed as though he were still with me. I had been dreaming of him in those weeks before my marriage. I could see him clearly, remember every detail of his face as he had stood there when he said goodbye; I fancied his eyes were full of reproach.

We were only children, I told myself, and we met in such strange circumstances. It was only natural that we should feel as we did. We did not really know each other—not as I knew Lance.

Over the last three years Lance had been a constant visitor to Eversleigh and when I became aware that he came to see me I will not pretend that I was not flattered. I looked forward to his visits. I began to realize that they were the highlights of the weeks. He brought little gifts from London or any part of the country he happened to have visited. We laughed a great deal together; we rode; we walked; and the family looked on with growing approval. And at last it came—the proposal of marriage.

I refused him. How could I marry anyone while I was waiting for Dickon? He will come home for me, I used to tell myself, and when he does I must be ready for him.

The family was disappointed. They had made up their minds that Lance would be the ideal match for me. He was older than I, but as Damaris said, I needed an older man. He was comfortably off financially, of an extremely pleasant humour; he was excellent company and approved of by Uncle Carl and therefore a very welcome visitor to Eversleigh.

Damaris tried to persuade me to reconsider his proposal. Arabella said it would be a good thing if we married; Uncle Carl said it would be an ideal match; and even Great-Grandfather Carleton said he could see nothing wrong with the young man.

Lance seemed to take my refusal more calmly than anyone. He continued to call and made it clear that he enjoyed my company still. That suited me, for I knew now how much I should hate it if he removed his friendship and his visits ceased.

He understood about Dickon, he said. That almost uncanny understanding of other people’s minds was one of the most attractive aspects of his character. He was patient, gentle and tender and gave me the impression that while he would not worry me with his importunings he was sure it would all come right in the end.

There came a day when I paid a visit to London with Damaris and Jeremy. It had been planned suddenly as Jeremy had to go to town and Damaris had thought it would be a good idea if we accompanied him. We arrived in the late afternoon and went immediately to the family’s town house where we were to stay for the few days we should be there.

The next morning I was up early and suddenly decided that it would be amusing to pay an early call on Lance. I was sure he would be delighted to see me and learn that we were to stay for a little while…

I took a sedan to the house in Albemarle Street. It was only about ten o’clock. I had always enjoyed the streets of London and was thrilled to be carried through them in my chair. Everything was so colourful. I delighted in the sedans, like the one in which I was travelling, carrying, even at this early hour, elegantly clad ladies and gentlemen. One could see the latest fashions which these bewigged and painted ladies and gentlemen liked to display. I was quizzed by one or two gentlemen passing in their chairs and I shrank back farther into my seat, feeling very much the country girl. In contrast to these brilliant people were the beggars and street tradesmen. These fascinated me and I was conscious of the tremendous noise everywhere. The newsmen were blowing their tin trumpets to announce they had the Gazette or whatever journal they were selling; the bellows-menders and the knife-grinders squatted on the cobbles working at their tasks and calling out all the time, while the Colly Molly Puff man who sold his pies stood side by side with a milkmaid.

I was smiling, thinking of Lance’s pleasure when he saw me, and when I reached his door I told the chairman to wait, just in case Lance should not be at home and I needed him to take me back at once.