What About Cecelia? (3 page)

“See, she likes you.”

“I've always wanted a dog, but not a mongrel
like this one.”

“She's not a mongrel. Her dam, Caro, is a
renowned herding dog. Heulwen already shows signs of inheriting her
mother's intelligence.”

“Is that so?” Tired of stooping down, he picked
her up and held her. “She does seem well built. What does Heulwen
mean?”

“Sunshine. Mrs. Landor thought she could bring
some sunshine into your and Miss Arnold's lives.”

“Maybe. That's a fine looking horse. Whose is
it?”

“Mrs. Landor's. Her husband bought it for her,
but they're both a bit scared of it.”

“That's understandable. She has an excellent
conformation, but she's a sour-looking brute if ever I saw one. The
look in her eye that she gives you. I gather you're not scared of
her.”

“No I'm not scared of her.” Cecelia mentally
added, “It's not like she's a man asking me to dance or anything
really scary like being asked to play pianoforte for company.” Then
she continued, “I Haven't met one yet I can't handle. She was a
handful on the ride from Llanthony, so I'm training her on the lead
today.”

Heulwen squirmed at the inactivity so Captain
Wood set her down and she resumed running after the horse and
yapping at her. “Is that helpful? Having that dog bark at your
horse?”

“Doesn't hurt. This horse needs to get used to
dogs. I don't want her to try bolting again the next time she sees
a farm dog.”

“Suppose so.” He paused, unsure of what else to
say or do. It certainly didn't look like Cecelia needed any help.
“If you don't need me for anything, I'll head back inside.”

“No, I'll be another hour or so at this, then
I'll see if Ionie is ready for a ride.”

Captain Wood turned and started to walk back to
the house. The yapping little dog followed him and shot inside when
he opened the door.

Jane screamed “What's that!” She was accompanied
by a now-familiar yap and the crash of a side-table.

George entered the parlor to find Jane standing
amid the ruins of an overturned side-table with tea, tea cup and
teapot shards on the floor. Heulwen was barking at her. It was
almost as if she were saying “Do it again funny lady.”

“Heulwen, stop.” The dog quieted. “That
apparently is our new puppy.”

“I don't like dogs. Look at it, it's muddy and,
ew, look at the muck it tracked all over our clean parlor.”

“She's a gift from the Landors. From last night,
do you remember?”

“No.”

“Good, I was worried that I was too drunk to
remember anything from last night.”

“You were too drunk last night, but you didn't
agree to a puppy. At least not while I was present. There was a
caller this morning.”

“Was there?”

“While you were asleep. For that matter, while I
was asleep. He left a note.”

George read it.

Captain George Wood

Penyclawdd House

Dear George,

I hope this note finds you in good health
and recovered from last night's libations. Julia and I thought that
one of our Caro's puppies would be just the thing as a housewarming
gift. Julia suggested Heulwen, Welsh for sunshine, as a name. Let
her bring sunshine into your lives.

On another note, next sunny spell. Would
you care to shoot grouse with me and the local gentry? We haven't
shot Hatterrall hill for a good few months so there should be some
excellent sport to be had.

Sincerely

Walter Savage Landor.

Llanthony.

George looked at Jane, “I wish we'd caught him
before he left.” Pointing at the dog, he continued, “This
complication could have been avoided. Now Miss Wood, if no one
else, is attached to it.”

“We could always take it back.”

“No, that would be very rude. I'd like to be on
good terms with our neighbors.”

“Well in any case, it doesn't have to live
inside. Does it?”

George was about to agree when Cecelia came into
the room. “There you are Heulwen. I've been looking all over for
you.” The puppy ran over to her and she showered it with attention
while it showered her with wet and mud. “Isn't she cute? I'll give
her a basket in my room and she won't be any trouble to you.”

“As long as you clean up her messes, I suppose
you can keep her there.”

“Thank you. She'll grow up to be a fine smart
dog, just like her mother Caro. You won't regret this.”

“I'm not sure that I don't already.”

Jane studied Miss Wood playing with the dog. The
thought occurred to her that Cecelia was in many ways still just a
little girl. She didn't have the mature veneer of sophistication
that life in the city could have given her. This prompted her to
say, “Miss Wood, Cecelia, I cannot but feel we may have started off
on the wrong foot yesterday. I hope that you'll consider Penyclawdd
still your home as long as you need it.”

Cecelia looked up from Heulwen and replied,
“Jane, thank you. That is very kind of you. I know my aunt was
worried about me living with her in Swansea. Besides, I knew you
were still fractious from a long and tedious trip.”

Jane continued, “Captain Wood, are we not
planning to go Bath sometime in the next few weeks?”

“Were we?”

“I'm going to need to have a new gown for our
wedding, and while I'm sure Abergav, Aber-whatever, has
seamstresses, I'm also sure they aren't of the first stare.”

George chuckled, “I see. Yes we should. It's not
fair that you miss all your favorite diversions. I suppose this is
a hint that we should invite Miss Wood to accompany us?”

“That, and maybe we can do a little
husband-hunting for her.”

“I suppose it could be nicer to be married, than
to live with my aunt.”

Jane was shocked at the idea, “You do not want
to remain an old maid, do you?”

“Why not? Unless I meet a man I could love, and
who would love me.”

“You read too many novels Miss Wood.”

“I don't just read novels, poetry too.”

“Too much of that as well.”

The rainy morning cleared and gave way to a fine
hot afternoon. Cecelia used the time to take Ionie for a short ride
and pronounced her manners much improved. In the late afternoon
tall lines of clouds built up over the black mountains in the
distance. The hot afternoon gave way to a suddenly cool evening.
The Captain, Miss Arnold and Miss Wood were enjoying a quiet cup of
tea after dinner, when the crash of thunder rent the air. The
Captain jumped up and yelled, “The French! They're here.” He
grabbed a poker from the fireplace and ran out into the storm.

Jane gave Cecelia a stricken look, “What are we
to do? He gets like this when his memories of Badajoz are
triggered.”

“Is that why you let him drink so much?”

“Yes. It keeps his nightmares away.”

Cecelia thought for a moment, then volunteered,
“Jane, you don't know the land around here. I do. See that
something warm is made ready for the captain so he doesn't catch a
chill. I'll saddle Ionie and look for him.”

Jane wrung her hands with anxiety, but agreed
with Cecelia. There wasn't much else either of them could do.

Cecelia found the groom, upstairs in the stable
and explained what she needed him to do. “Not Ionie. See how she's
bucking down there.” The stable shook as she crashed her hind feet
into the stall. “I'll saddle your old pony for you then come out
and look for him myself.”

“No I'll take Ionie. I have to ride fast and go
cross country. She's a born hunter. We don't have any other horse
that could do it.”

“Miss, no.”

“Do it. Please. I can handle her.”

Ionie calmed when Cecelia spoke to her, and they
were able to saddle her without difficulty. A few moments later,
Cecelia shot out of the yard. She called for Captain Wood at the
top of her voice.

It didn't take her long to find him. He stood at
the base of Bal Mawr shouting to the winds about the French. He
waved his poker like it was a saber and waited for his men to
follow him. If any of the ghosts of his regiment followed him, it
was only in his mind. His men remained in their quiet anonymous
graves on the outskirts of Badajoz.

Seeing Cecelia on horseback, he shouted, “The
Cuirassiers! Men form a square and prepare to fire.”

“Captain Wood, George! It's me! Your cousin
Cecelia. You're safe, in Wales, home.”

“They've got Cecelia! Charge.”

With Cecelia steadying her, Ionie could stand
thunder and lightning mixed with the occasional burst of rain or
hail. She couldn't abide the addition of a crazy man shouting at
her and charging at her with a poker. She bucked and threw Cecelia
to the muddy ground. Then she bolted for shelter.

George watched the horse retreat, shouted
“Hurrah, see how they run!” Then he noticed Cecelia lying there on
the ground. “You're wounded.”

Cecelia moaned, then started to rise, and
collapsed. He continued, “We can't leave a wounded man behind.
Either the guerillos or the French will finish him off.” Picking
her up, he continued, “You're light for a soldier Private Weeks.
I'll get you to the hospital.” With that he carried Cecelia back to
Penyclawdd.

Cecelia awoke the next morning in her room. Her
head hurt and she was achy all over. Miss Arnold was sitting in a
chair and watching her from a corner. When Cecelia stirred, she put
down her book and walked over to the bed.

“We've had the apothecary visit. He said that
you would probably recover. If you woke up, he said to make you
drink this.” She handed Cecelia a vile potion and helped her to
drink some of it. When Cecelia finally stopped gagging, she
continued, “Miss Wood, I don't know how to thank you enough for
last night. Captain Wood is home, and safe because of you.”

Cecelia asked Jane, “You really do love him,
don't you?”

“I care for him.”

“That's why you're so strict, isn't it?”

“He needs order to recover. I try to give him
that order.”

“Miss Arnold?”

“Yes?”

“Can I help you? You know I'm good at training
animals and.”

Jane smiled and almost laughed, “Are you
implying that my beloved is an animal?”

Cecelia blushed with embarrassment, “No, not
that.”

“It's alright, men are animals and they all need
taming.” There was a scratching at the door and she continued,
“Speaking of animals. George, you can come in.”

The door opened and Heulwen sprung forth and
landed on Cecelia's bed. Captain Wood followed, “She's been whining
about being away from you all evening and morning. I just took her
for a walk and came to see how you are doing.”

“Achy, and my head hurts.”

“I'm glad you're awake. I'm sorry about last
night. With the thunder I was beside myself.”

“It wasn't your fault.”

“I don't know about that. It was just so real,
so sudden.”

Meadows quietly appeared beside Captain Wood.
“Sir, Mr. Landor has arrived. He would appreciate a word. I have
left him in the front parlor awaiting your pleasure.”

There was a scuffling noise outside the door and
Mr. Landor could be heard.

“No you haven't! What's ceremony among friends?
That blasted horse, Ionie, showed up at my stables this morning. Is
Miss Wood well?” He peaked around the door jamb and waved at her.
“I see she's alive, at least. What happened last night?”

“Miss Wood went to find me, when I had run out
into the rain. I thought I was in Spain again, at the siege of
Badajoz.”

“She did? Intrepid lass. Good for her.”

“I could have killed her with that poker.”

Jane's authoritarian streak came into its own.
She hustled the two men out of the door. “Miss Wood needs some time
to recover and get presentable. Please go downstairs. If she's well
enough, she'll join you after she is dressed properly.”

Heulwin barked in support until Jane glared at
her. “Would you take that dog with you? While Miss Wood clearly
enjoys her company, she will be a nuisance.”

It took Cecelia longer that she thought to get
out of the bed and dressed, at least passably, in her muslins. She
insisted on going downstairs to join in the conversation. By the
time she and Jane painfully made their way down to the parlor, the
Captain was finishing his story. “My regiment, we made the last
charge at Badajoz. Somehow I survived. Most of the rest of my men
are buried there. All that blood and we didn't take the city. What
a waste.”

Mr. Landor sat close to the captain. He was
almost touching him and listened to his story with a sad and severe
look on his face. “Have you ever told anyone about this
before?”

“I couldn't, I couldn't tell anyone about
it.”

“Well it's good that you do. It will help you
heal. Sometime I'll tell you my stories, but they can wait until
you're better.” Heulwen's barking alerted him to something. He
looked up and saw that the two women had joined them. Suddenly
cheerful again, he announced, “We're selling that blasted horse. If
Ionie would throw you, Miss Wood, what chance would poor Julia ever
have of a comfortable ride?”

“She was sorely provoked, between the thunder
and Captain Wood.”

“No, my mind, actually Julia's and my minds are
made up and we are of one mind on this decision. Ionie may be a
thoroughbred mare, but she's neither reliable nor comfortable.”

“You'd best have me along when you go to the
market. Too many horse coper's there and I know most of the
tricks.”

“We'll wait until you're well enough. I was just
suggesting to George that we all go and make a day of it.”

Cecelia gave Jane a glance. She was clearly
feeling awkward about horses. “Miss Arnold, I owe you for your kind
care. I know we haven't always seen eye to eye on things. That's my
fault as much as yours. If you'd like, I'll help you select an
excellent mount, and instruct you on riding.”

Mr. Landor added, “Miss Arnold, that's an offer
you shouldn't refuse. Miss Wood is one of the best horsewomen I've
ever met. You won't regret it.”