Elephants and Castles Page 4

Time was getting on. Mister Jarvis's departure was already later than he'd planned and if he didn’t go soon he'd have to be delay another day. Finally they loaded the last few pieces on the carriage.

  'Let’s go, let’s go!' demanded Jarvis. 'Where is that cook? Samuel, go and tell her to come here right now! We leave at once.'

  Samuel ran off to search. He found her having a final snack of scones and bread in the pantry.

  'Don’t want to waste this on you lot!' she spat crumbs at Samuel as she spoke. 'Too good for the likes o' you!'

  Samuel swept the food crumbs away from his face. 'Mister Jarvis sent me, says it’s time to go.'

  'Right then,' replied Miss Pewtersmith, wrapping the rest of the scones in a cloth for the trip. 'I’ll be leaving you 'ere then.' She looked at Samuel and smirked. 'You know, I ‘ear that Black Death is ‘orrible way to die. Real painful, real messy.'

  'Is it? Well... well Mister Jarvis says you ain’t got enough supplies yet. Says you gotta get more stuff before you leave.'

  'What? Rubbish! I bought enough provisions to take ‘alf the parish with us. Why do we need more? Where we gonna fit it?'

  Samuel shrugged. ''E said it.'

  'What's 'e want?'

  'Oh, er flour, salted meat an'... stuff.'

  'But we got all that! I’ll go speak to him.'

  ‘Oh, I wouldn't. 'E’s very angry. 'E was saying 'e'll get a new cook if this one won’t do what she's told. I ain't never seen him so mad.'

  'Oh, I see.' She paused for a moment. 'Right then, tell him... tell him... tell him I’ll be as fast as I can and get all the provisions I can 'old. You come an' 'elp me carry ‘em.'

  'If you like, but Mister Jarvis says I’m supposed to be 'elping him...but I’ll just tell him you said I can’t.'

  'Oh no, no! You go back to him then. I’ll be quick as lightening. You tell him. '

  Samuel dashed back to the carriage outside.

  'Where is she Samuel? What is she doing for heaven’s sake?'

  'She won't come Sir. Said she’d changed ‘er mind. Said she couldn’t leave 'er family behind Sir.'

  'No, can’t be. She was pleased as punch when I told her to come. Surely not!'

  'Yes Sir. Look Sir.' Samuel pointed across the street. Through a gap in the horses and traffic was Miss Pewtersmith, walking as briskly as her stout legs would carry her away from the house.

  'Well I’ll be! Well, that’s it then. We have no more time to waste. All aboard! Let’s go!'

  James opened the gate for the carriage and the driver rattled the reins. The carriage rumbled forward, its frame groaning under the weight of luggage.

  'Goodbye and good luck James.' Jarvis reached out of the carriage and shook James' hand. 'May God protect you.' They pushed their way out into the heavy flow of traffic. 'I thought Miss Pewtersmith had no family.' mused Jarvis.

  At the side of the house was a small window, not much bigger than a man’s head, a lattice of lead divided it into diamond-shaped panes. Behind it was the face of Elizabeth, pale and red-eyed. Her right hand clutched tightly onto the crucifix around her neck. She mumbled the words 'God have mercy on us' as she watched them go.

  Chapter 5