The Castle of Love Read Free

hair glinted in the sun and her green eyes blazed with indignation.
    The gentleman's expression immediately changed.
    "Indeed it is not," he said gravely, "and I humbly apologise for my frivolous demeanour. In recompense, will you allow me to retrieve your bonnet for you?"
    Jacina looked at him doubtfully. "How will you retrieve it without a pole?" she asked. She looked back at the water and her lower lip began to tremble.
     "It's my v-very best bonnet, you know."
    "Your very best!" exclaimed the gentleman. " Then there is no time to lose."
    The gentleman removed his velvet jacket and pulled off his leather boots. Then, in his shirt and trousers, he jumped straight into the moat and waded out. Jacina was astonished.
    The moat had silted up over the years and the water rose no higher than the gentleman's shoulders. He reached the bonnet without having to swim at all. When he returned to the bank, he vaulted up onto the grass. Then he bowed to Jacina.
    "One very best bonnet," he said, holding it out.
    The bonnet was soaked but Jacina clutched it to her as if it were a long lost treasure.
    "I do n-not know how to thank you, sir," she said.
    "You can thank me by telling me your name."
    "It is Jacina Carlton, sir."
    "Ah! Your father is even now attending my grandfather, I believe?"
    "Yes, sir."
    The gentleman picked up his jacket and boots. "I must return to the castle and change my clothes before supper." He gave another low bow. "Hugo Ruven, forever at your service."
    With that he turned and disappeared among the trees.
    Jacina saw no more of Hugo Ruven. Only two days later, he had sailed away to join his regiment in India.
    That was ten years ago.
    So much had changed for the worse for the Ruvenfamily since then.
     Jacina gave one last, sad glance at the portrait. Then she made her way to the castle kitchen. She liked to say hello to the cook, whom her father had often treated for what the cook called her 'bone troubles.'
    The kitchen was in turmoil. Servants ran to and fro with platters on which sat the various dishes to be cooked for the new Earl's supper. There was a great side of ham and a huge salmon caught early that morning. There were pastries and pies and syllabubs.
    The cook was pounding a slab of dough with her knuckles.
    "Well, here's Miss Jacina," she said. Her face was red and shiny. She stopped to wipe her sleeve across her brow.
    "You are working even harder than usual this morning," observed Jacina.
    "That I am," said cook. "I'm making a rabbit pie for lunch. No decent pie without pain, that's the truth!"
    "You are making a lot of things," said Jacina, looking round with wide eyes.
    "I'm making things as'll have a nice, strong smell," said cook. "Because when a person can't see – " She didn't finish but shook her head sadly.
    Jacina chatted for a little while and then said goodbye. She left the kitchen and found the back stairs that led to the nursery. She was going to see old Sarah. Sarah had been Nanny to Hugo and Crispian when they were boys. Jacina got to know her when her father came one winter to treat Sarah's chilblains.
    The old Nanny was sitting alone in the nursery. All about her were playthings from the childhood of her charges. There was a large white rocking horse. There was a wooden Noah's Ark complete with painted animals. There were books and balls and toy soldiers. Old Sarah kept the nursery just as it had been when Crispian and Hugo were boys.
     She was always pleased to see Jacina.
    She straightaway swung the kettle over the fire for tea. She could have rung down to the kitchen, but she knew they were busy. Besides, she was convinced she made better tea than anyone at Castle Ruven. She kept a caddy of her own in the nursery.
    The caddy was from India, with scenes of an exotic garden painted on it. Jacina often wondered if Hugo lived in a house with a garden like this around it.
    Sarah fetched a biscuit jar from a cupboard and offered Jacina some shortbread while the tea brewed.
    Jacina