Free Shadow on the Highway by Deborah Swift

Katherine began to shake her head, but I felt sorry for it and said, ‘Yes. How much?’
    ‘Four shilling.’
    ‘No. That’s robbery.’ Lady Katherine would not be silent. ‘He’s an ill-fed animal and we’ll pay no more than two.’
    The son’s mouth dropped open, but the father frowned and drew himself tall. ‘Who are you to accuse my son of ill-treating his horse?’
    ‘Come away,’ I said to my mistress, pulling at her sleeve. I could feel trouble in the air as surely as I could feel the coming rain.
    But she was angry now, and retorted, ‘A maid who will not be cheated. Two shillings, he’s worth.’
    ‘The devil he is! Who is your master? I’ll have words to say to him.’
    ‘Lady Katherine Fanshawe, and she’ll have words to say to you in return.’
    I was aghast. I looked from one to the other.
    ‘That nest of fawning scoundrels? I wouldn’t even spit on them.’
    ‘It is you who is the scoundrel,’ Lady Katherine said.
    ‘You’d cheek me? A slip of a servant girl? A few hours in the stocks should calm you down.’ He lunged and caught hold of Lady Katherine by the arm.
    ‘No,’ I cried, as the son took hold of my arm in a grip like iron tongs, ‘she was jesting. She didn’t mean anything. Let us go, we’ll go peaceful now.’
    But they began to drag us away towards the stocks. I kept on calling apologies, but they were too strong and would not listen or leave go. Ahead of me Lady Katherine dug in her heels and I hoped no-one but me had noticed the quality of her boots as they scraped furrows in the dirt.
    Soper stuck out a foot and tripped my mistress so she staggered and fell. He manhandled her into the stocks first. Her eyes were wide with shock. Ned pushed down on my shoulders, but I kicked out. There was a satisfying jolt as my heel hit his shin. His palm flashed out and stung my cheek.
    A large figure loomed between us and grabbed Ned by the collar, almost lifted him off his feet. His mouth opened in a yelp and he let go. Ralph tightened his grip on Ned, twisting until he choked. I almost wept with relief. But then I realised. Ralph would want to know who I was with. It was a disaster.
    ‘What’s going on here?’ Ralph said. ‘Abi?’
    Soper squared up to him, ‘This maid was rude to me, she’s got a mouth on her that needs stopping. We’re letting her cool off in the stocks.’
    ‘Now wait a minute, that seems a bit rough,’ Ralph said. ‘I don’t know this maid, but this is my sister, Abigail.’
    ‘Your sister? Well. I don’t think much of the company she keeps.’
    ‘And I don’t think much of a man who’ll pick on two serving maids for nothing at all.’
    Ralph’s face was growing hotter and I knew where this would lead.
    ‘Ralph,’ I tugged at his sleeve.
    Ralph looked down at my imploring face. He took a deep breath, unclenched his hands. With a great effort he said, ‘Leave the maid be, Soper. I dare say she meant no harm.’
    ‘She cheeked me.’
    ‘Does your son never cheek you?’
    Soper looked sheepish, glanced at Ned who had let go of me and was staring at us all.
    ‘Aye. Well, maybe.’ Soper loosened his grip and Lady Katherine managed to free herself and stand up. She had the sense to keep quiet this time, though her face was white and shocked.
    I squeezed Ralph’s arm and he looked down at me. ‘It’s alright, Abi,’ he said. ‘I’ve seen sense. I’m not going to leather him.’
    Ralph looked pointedly to Lady Katherine.
    ‘I didn’t mean to cause offence,’ she said quietly, head bowed down.
    ‘There, th en,’ Ralph said. ‘There’s your apology.’ He clapped Soper on the back. ‘Let’s fight for something worth our time, shall we? Like a future we can believe in.’ I saw the anger seep from Soper’s face but it was replaced with a look of suspicion.
    ‘The Diggers, you mean? I heard someone say you’d gone over to them. Didn’t they mutiny against Cromwell?’
    ‘No,’ Ralph said, annoyed. ‘Those were the