I was pleased really to see how relieved she was, for I was fond of the girl and I wanted to see her married and settled.

By the time Jake Pennlyon returned she would no doubt be big with child, for I imagined she was the kind of girl who would have a large brood of children. He would no longer be interested in her, so she would be saved from that ignominy; and by that time I should be at the Abbey.

I spoke to Honey about Jennet.

“It wouldn’t surprise me,” I said, “if she were pregnant already. Richard Rackell must marry her.”

Honey agreed and she sent immediately for Richard.

When he came into the punch room and stood at the table, that air of breeding struck me afresh. I could not believe that Jennet would be a very suitable wife for him. Still, if he had seduced her he must marry her.

Honey said: “Richard, I think you might be eager to marry.”

He bowed; his face was expressionless.

“You and Jennet, I believe, have been overfriendly.” She stressed the word “over” and as he did not reply she went on: “In the circumstances the master would expect you to marry her. When will you do so?”

He still hesitated. Then he said: “I will, in time.”

“In time,” I said. “What do you mean by that?”

“In … three weeks’ time. I would need that.”

I wondered why, but there was such an air of dignity about him that it was not seemly to press.

“Very well,” said Honey. “There shall be a wedding in three weeks’ time.”

“We will have a celebration,” I said. I was very anxious to make up to Jennet for having been harsh to her.

So it was arranged. A priest should come to the house—neither Thomas Elders nor John Gregory should perform this ceremony; it would be too public for that.

I summoned Jennet and told her the news.

“I shall give you your wedding dress and we will get Luce working on it immediately.”

Jennet began to weep. “Mistress,” she said, “I don’t deserve such. I don’t indeed.”

“Well, Jennet,” I said, “you have been a little too ready, but that is over. You must be a good wife to Richard and bear many children and then the fact that you did not wait for the ceremony will be forgotten.”

I patted her shoulder, but that only had the effect of making her weep the more.

Because the days were inclined to be tedious we talked a great deal about Jennet’s wedding. Edward had said the Morris dancers should come and we would play games and even have a cake with a silver penny in it that the one who found it might be King for the day.

Since the departure of the Rampant Lion, Sir Penn had been laid low with some periodic sickness the nature of which no one was sure, and we felt safe from all the troubles which might come from that quarter.

In the kitchen they had started to prepare for the feast we should have. Jennet had never had so much made of her before.

The days slipped away. I said to Honey: “As soon as Jennet is safely wed I will begin to make preparation for my journey home.”

“The scene is set,” said Honey. “Jake Pennlyon is on the high seas; his father is laid low; there is great excitement about the wedding. It would not be noticed for some days if you decided to leave. Heaven knows I shall hate your going. It will be so dull here without you, Catharine. But if he cut short his voyage and returned then it would be too late and we could not hope to fool him again.”

“If he ever knew how he had been fooled he would never forgive us.”

“His vengeance is something I would not wish to encounter.”

I shivered. “Yes, as soon as the wedding is over I will leave. Do you think Richard will be a good husband to Jennet?”

“He is a quiet, good-mannered boy.”

“He is strange. It is difficult to imagine his seducing Jennet.”

“I’d wager most of the seducing came from her.”

“Well, he is good and truly caught. I think she will be a good wife, though. She was overpersuaded by Jake Pennlyon to betray me, but I have forgiven her that, for I am sure she deeply regrets it.”

“For a girl like Jennet, Jake Pennlyon would be irresistible,” Honey said.

I changed the subject. I did not wish to think of Jake Pennlyon persuading Jennet. I had given too much thought to that matter already.

There came the night when for the third time I saw the Spanish galleon.

Such an ordinary day it had been—warm and sunny for the time of year, “unseasonable” they called it—a quiet, peaceful day. How was it that we could have lived through such a day unaware of the tremendous events which were awaiting us?

I was pleasantly tired when I went to bed and was asleep almost immediately.

I was awakened as I had been on other nights by unusual sounds below. I lay still listening. Shuffling footsteps, a scuffle. Some serving wench creeping out to meet a lover? I rose from my bed and went to the window.

There she was in all her glory. Closer than I had ever seen her—the mighty and magnificent Spanish galleon.

I must go down. I was not going to allow anyone to say that I had imagined my galleon this time. I would awaken Honey and Edward and insist that they look. I picked up a robe and wrapped it around me, but as I crossed to the door it was opened suddenly. John Gregory stood there.

I said: “What is wrong?”

He did not answer. He was wearing a long cloak with a hood; his face was pale, his eyes brilliant. He spoke then in a tongue I did not know and then I saw that there was a stranger with him.

“Who is this?” I demanded. “What do you here?”

They did not answer me.

The stranger had stepped into my room. John Gregory nodded toward me and spoke again.

The stranger seized me. I tried to throw him off, but he held me firmly. I struggled. Then I screamed and immediately John Gregory’s hand was over my lips. In a few seconds he had taken a kerchief and bound it around my mouth. I was powerless to make a sound. I was put onto my bed. The thought flashed into my mind: Have I saved myself from Jake Pennlyon for this?

But there was no lust about these men, only a determination to complete a task. My arms were pinioned. They had ropes for the purpose. Likewise were my ankles strapped together so that I was trussed and helpless.

Then they carried me from my room.

Down the spiral stairs we went … out into the courtyard.

I saw a figure lying there. There was blood everywhere. I wanted to cry out, but I could not make a sound. I was limp with horror and fear.

As they carried me past that wounded figure I saw that it was Edward.

Honey! I wanted to call out. Honey, where are you?

Edward’s carriage was waiting there. Richard Rackell was holding the horses—three of Edward’s best and most fleet.

Richard Rackell! Traitor! I wanted to shout, but there was nothing I could do.

I was placed in the carriage. Lying there were two other figures. My heart leaped with an emotion of relief, yet horror, for they were Honey and Jennet.

They stared at me as I did at them. We could only communicate by looks. They were as bewildered as I. I wondered if Honey knew that Edward was lying in his own blood in the courtyard.

There were voices—foreign voices. Instinctively I knew that they were speaking the Spanish tongue.

The carriage had begun to move. We were going toward the sea.

We had been abducted as women sometimes were by marauding pirates. There had been traitors in our midst and the result was that Edward was lying in his own blood in the courtyard and Honey, Jennet and I were being taken out to the Spanish galleon.

THEY CARRIED US INTO the boat which was lying ready. I saw Richard Rackell’s face clearly in the light of the lantern which he held. Traitor! I wanted to cry and felt a physical pain in my throat which was frustrated fury.