Free Daughter of Satan by Jean Plaidy Page B

Humphrey’s to see it as clearly as she could see this. There were big dogs at Cavill House that snarled and snapped and pulled at their chains; and the servants would have no hesitation in turning them loose on anyone like herself who went too close.
    She laid the eggs outside the door and put the crimson flower on top of them. Then she lifted the great knocker and let it fall. She heard the sound echoing through the hall and stood there waiting, in spite of her natural boldness, with a quaking heart.
    The door opened, but it was not he who opened it; it was a young girl with short hair – cut like a boy’s; and she was wearing what seemed to Tamar a very fine gown.
    The girl stared at her in dismay. She looked at the eggs on the doorstep and whitened as though Tamar were an emissary from the Devil, which she probably thought the child was.
    â€˜What do you want?’ asked the girl nervously.
    â€˜Your master,’ answered Tamar boldly.
    â€˜You . . . you want to see . . . the master?’
    Tamar drew herself up with dignity. ‘Tell him to come here,’ she said.
    But now Mistress Alton had come to the door. ‘What’s this? What’s this?’
    The cane and the keys at her waist swung out, and Tamar was aware of them while she kept her eyes on the woman’s face.
    â€˜I want your master,’ said Tamar.
    â€˜You want . . . what?’
    â€˜The master. I got something for him.’
    Mistress Alton’s lips tightened. ‘I never heard the like! The impertinence. It’s that black-eyed daughter of a black-eyed witch! You get out of here and take your filth with you.’ Her hands reached for her cane.
    â€˜I’ve come to see your master. You’ll be sorry if you hurt me.’
    â€˜You can strike me dead,’ said Mistress Alton, ‘but I’ll not have you set your evil feet in this house. What’s all this mess on my doorstep?’
    â€˜â€™Tis no mess,’ said Tamar firmly. ’Tis what I’ve brought for your master.’
    â€˜You’ve brought . . .
what
for the master?’
    â€˜Seagulls’ eggs and a flower for luck. I got them myself. Look! I climbed high for them.’
    â€˜Take those things away.’
    â€˜I won’t. They’re for him.’
    Mistress Alton’s face grew red with rage and before Tamar realized what she was about to do, she had stepped forward and stamped on the eggs.
    Tamar stared down at the havoc and let out a little cry of anguish; then she rushed at the woman and, catching her skirts in both hands, kicked her.
    â€˜Help! Help!’ cried Mistress Alton. ‘I’m set upon. You Moll . . . don’t stand there gaping. Get someone quick. My dear life, don’t you see the witch is trying to do me some harm?’
    At this point Richard Merriman came into the hall, his eyebrows lifted, his eyes puzzled. Tamar released the woman and looked at him through her tangled locks.
    â€˜What does this mean?’ he asked coldly.
    â€˜This . . . witch . . . came here to harm you . . . to harm us all!’ cried the housekeeper.
    â€˜What a small witch!’ he said.
    â€˜She was putting eggs on the doorstep. It was a spell, that’s what it was. I know their wicked ways.’
    He had approached to look at the eggs.
    Tamar cried out shrilly: ‘They were seagulls’ eggs. I got them for you. It was because you saved me. I went high for them. And the flower was for good luck. It will keep evil away from your house.’
    â€˜Ah,’ he said. ‘You’re Luce’s girl. What is your name?’
    â€˜Tamar.’
    â€˜A good name,’ he said; he was smiling. ‘It was good of you to bring the eggs. I thank you.’
    â€˜But they are broken. She stamped on them.’
    â€˜I thank you all the same.’
    She picked up the flower.
    â€˜This is for you too. It will keep evil away.’
    He took it. ‘So you pay your debts,