Forest Days: A Romance of Old Times
circling her he loved, her hand clasped in his, and her head leaning on
his shoulder, he told her that her father had been with him for an hour
that day, previous to his noon visit to the King, and had given his
decided consent to their union. He had expressed some doubts, the lover
said, as to her brother Alured's view of the matter, but had promised
to take upon himself the task of bringing his son's fiery and
intractable spirit to reason; and certain it is that when the young
nobleman left Nottingham Castle to proceed with his small train to
Lindwell, the Earl of Ashby had fully and entirely made up his mind to
bestow his daughter's hand upon Hugh de Monthermer with as little delay
as possible.
Nor was it merely caprice which had produced so favourable a change of
feeling in the present instance, although he was by nature, it must be
confessed, somewhat capricious and undecided. He had always liked the
young knight, even when the two houses of Ashby and Monthermer were
opposed to each other in former days. He had once or twice bestowed a
caress upon the boy, when he had met him accidentally at the court of
the King, and Hugh had shown a degree of affection for him in return,
which had produced one of those impressions in his favour that time
strengthens rather than effaces.
Various circumstances had since caused him to vacillate, as we have
seen; but when after the battle of Evesham he found that Hugh was in
high favour with the gallant Prince, who had just saved his father's
throne, when he saw the way open before him to the brightest career at
the court of his Sovereign, and remembered at the same time that he
must inevitably unite in his own person all the power and fortune of
the two great branches of his noble house, he felt, that in a mere
worldly point of view, a better alliance could not be found throughout
the land.
He was, therefore, but little inclined to throw any obstacle in the
way; and during the progress down to Nottingham,--a progress which in
those times occupied sixteen or seventeen days--he perceived two facts
which fixed his resolution: first, that his daughter whom he loved
better than aught else on earth, had staked her happiness on a union
with Hugh de Monthermer; and next, that it was the earnest desire of
Edward--though the Prince did not make it a positive request, that no
obstacle should be thrown in the way of his friend's marriage with her
he loved.
Thus, he himself had, during that morning, led the way to a
conversation which ended in his promising Lucy's hand to Hugh de
Monthermer; and it had been arranged that, as the King, at the end of
two days, was to visit Lindwell and be there entertained for a week,
the announcement of the approaching marriage should be publicly made on
the morning of the Monarch's arrival.
Such were the happy tidings which Hugh himself bore over to Lucy, and
they now stood at that window gazing over the fair scene before their
eyes, with feelings in their hearts which can never be known but once
in life--feelings, the same in their nature and their character in the
bosom of each, though modified of course, by sex, by habits, and by
disposition. It was all joy and expectation and the looking forward to
the long bright days of mutual love; but with Lucy that joy was timid,
agitating, overpowering. All her gay and sparkling cheerfulness sunk
beneath the weight of happy hopes, as one sometimes sees a bee so
overloaded with honey that he can scarce carry his sweet burden home;
and she had neither a jest to throw away upon herself or any one else,
but, as we have said, stood quiet and subdued by Hugh de Monthermer's
side, his arm half supporting her, and her head leaning on his
shoulder. He, too, though always tender and kind towards her, seemed
softened still more, by the circumstances in which he was placed. Even
the eager love within his bosom controlled itself, lest its ardour
should alarm and agitate the gentle being, whom he now looked upon as
all his own. He soothed her, he calmed her, his caresses were light and
tender; and he even strove to win her thoughts away from the more
agitating parts of the subject on which they rested, to those which
would give her back firmness and tranquillity.
He called her mind back to the day they had spent together in the
forest, to the promises they had made, and to the restrictions she had
placed upon hers. He acknowledged that it was better she had done so,
but he added--"I may now ask you unhesitatingly, dear Lucy, to pledge
me here the vow that you will soon make at the altar, and to tell me
that you are mine, and will be for ever mine."
"Oh, willingly, willingly, now!" answered Lucy, withdrawing her hand
for a moment, and then giving it back again. "Yours I am, Hugh,
whatever betide--yours and none but yours,--yours through weal and woe,
through life, till death--oh, yes, and after death!" and she hid her
eyes for a moment on his bosom, with the sweet tears of happy emotion
rising is them till they well-nigh over-ran the dark fringed lid. Then,
turning again to the view before their eyes, they both gazed forth in
silence, with their hearts full and their minds busy.
Alas, poor lovers! they little knew that their fate was like the
changeful autumn day, whose clouds and sunshine were sweeping rapidly
over the wide forest scene on which they looked, now sparkling in the
full glory of light, and the next moment, ere one could see the storm
in its approach, dark and heavy with the raindrops rushing down, and
tearing the brown leaves from the fading trees.
One of those heavy showers had just cleared away, and the rays of the
sun were sparkling again over the jewelled ground, when, about an hour
after Hugh's arrival, a large and splendid train was seen coming across
the green slopes from Nottingham, betokening the return of the Earl. He
rode on quickly, and Lucy and her lover advanced into the richly carved
stone balcony, to wave the hand and welcome him back with looks that
spoke their gratitude and joy; but the Earl did not raise his eyes, and
both Hugh and his fair companion perceived, as he approached, that in
the train of the Earl were several gentlemen not belonging to his own
household.
A moment or two after, steps were heard ascending, and as they were
many, Lucy darted away through a small door which led, by another
staircase, to her own apartments, believing that her father was
bringing some strangers to the castle, and wishing to remove the traces
of recent agitation from her countenance before she met them.
Hugh de Monthermer was not long left alone. Lucy was scarcely gone when
the voice of the Earl of Ashby was heard speaking to some of those who
had accompanied him.
"Stay you here, gentlemen," he said, "he will return with you to the
King--be not afraid; I will be his surety.--Let me speak with him
first;" and the next instant the Earl entered the hall, with his eyes
bent upon the ground and a cloud upon his brow.
Though conscious of perfect innocence, and knowing of no danger that
was likely to befal him, the heart of Hugh de Monthermer sunk at the
words which he heard the Lord de Ashby utter. They came upon his ear
like the announcement of new misfortunes, of new obstacles between Lucy
and himself. It is true they might have meant a thousand other things,
they might have referred even to some other person, but how often do we
see a boy in the midst of a sunshiny holiday take alarm at the shadow
of a light cloud, and fancy that a storm is coming on. Hugh de
Monthermer was too brightly happy not to tremble lest his happiness
should pass away like a dream.
Advancing, then, rapidly towards the Earl, he said, with his usual
frank and generous bearing, "What is the matter, my noble lord? You
seem sad and downcast, though you were so gay and cheerful this
morning."
"Everything has changed since this morning, sir," answered the Earl,
"and my mood with the rest. The King forbids your marriage with my
daughter; and, as my consent was but conditional----"
Hugh's indignation would not bear restraint. "This is most unjust and
tyrannical"--he replied aloud; "but I do believe some one has poisoned
the King's mind against me, for until yesterday morning he was all
favour and kindness. Prince Edward is now absent, and some villain has
taken advantage thereof to abuse the Monarch's ear."
"Of that I know nothing," answered the Earl, coldly, "but at all events
he has forbidden the marriage--and consequently I require you to give
me back my plighted word that it should take place."
"Never!" exclaimed Hugh de Monthermer, vehemently, "Never!--I will
never be accessory to my own bitter and unjust disappointment.--You
may, my lord, if you will--but I do not think you will--you may break
your promise, you may withdraw your consent, but it shall be your own
act and none of mine. I stand before you here, as honest and innocent
of all offence as ever man was; and, if there was no cause this morning
why you should refuse me your dear daughter's hand, there is none now."
"There is--there is," cried the Earl, sharply,--"the King's express
command."
"Given upon some false showing," said Hugh de Monthermer. "I will go to
him this moment. I will dare my accusers to bring forward their charge
to my face. I will prove their falsehood upon them--first by show of
witnesses, and next by arms--and bitterly shall they repent the day
that they dared sully my name by a word. I know them,--I know who they
are, and their contrivances, right well. I had a warning of their being
near, last night.--I do beseech you, my lord, tell me, of what do they
accuse me? and fear not that I will soon exculpate myself."
"Nay, I know not, accurately, Hugh," replied the Earl, in a kindlier
tone than he had hitherto used. "I have heard, however, that there is a
charge against you, a general charge of conspiring with those enemies
of the state who have been striving to raise once more the standard of
rebellion in the North and in the marches of Wales."
"It is false--it is as false as hell!" cried Hugh; but then, after a
moment, growing calmer, he took the old Earl's hand, saying, "Forgive
me, my dear lord, if, in the heat of so bitter a disappointment, I have
said anything that could pain or offend you. Forgive me, I entreat
you--and promise me two things."
"What are they, my good lord?" demanded the Earl. "I will, if they are
meet and reasonable."
Hugh de Monthermer lowered his voice from the tone in which he had
before been speaking, and replied, "They are meet and reasonable, my
lord, or I would not ask them. First, promise me that the moment I am
gone you will write a letter to Prince Edward, telling him that his
humble friend, Hugh de Monthermer, is accused of crimes which he
declares he never dreamt of. Beseech him to return with all speed to
see justice done, and send the packet by a trusty messenger to Derby,
where the Prince now lies."
"I will--I will," answered the Earl; "it shall be done within an hour.
But what more, Hugh--what more?"
"This, my dear lord," replied the young nobleman,--"your messenger will
reach Derby to-night; and, if I know Prince Edward rightly, ere
to-morrow's sun be an hour declined from high noon, he will be in
Nottingham. I will beseech the King to wait till that moment, to hear
my full defence. What I ask then is, that you will meet me in the
presence, and, if you cannot lay your hand upon your heart and say that
you believe me guilty, you will renew your promise of dear Lucy's hand,
and urge the King with me to give his consent likewise."
The old Lord hesitated, but at length answered, "Well!"
"Then now farewell, my lord," said Hugh de Monthermer. "I must not stay
till your dear daughter comes. After the happy hour we passed but now