The Witch of Blackbird Pond - Elizabeth George Speare [51]
"There—there's nothing definite to tell."
"That order looks definite enough."
While she searched for something to say she knew that his eyes had not missed the hot surge she could feel sweeping up from the collar of her cloak to the hood at her forehead.
"May I congratulate you?" he said. "To think I worried about that little bird. I might have known it would gobble up a nice fat partridge in no time." Then, with a quick bow to Judith, he was gone.
"What bird? What was he talking about," panted Judith, breathlessly keeping up with Kit's sudden haste. Her head turned away to hide her angry tears, Kit did not answer.
"Honestly, Kit, you do know the oddest people. How did you ever meet a common riverman like that?"
"I told you he was the captain's son."
"Well I certainly don't think much of his manners," observed Judith.
To Kit's relief a distraction awaited them at home. Rachel stood in the doorway peering anxiously up the road.
"I declare," she fretted. "There is no peace for the poor man. Someone came to fetch him just now. Said a rider came out from Hartford with news this morning, and there's a great crowd at the blacksmith's shop. Can you see anything up the road, Judith?"
"No," said Judith. "The square seems quiet."
"I think it is something to do with that Governor Andros of Massachusetts, the one who is determined to take the charter away. Oh dear, your father will be so upset."
"Then let's get him a good dinner," suggested Judith practically. "Don't worry. Mother. The men can take care of the government."
Following them into the house. Kit felt grateful to the unpopular Andros. Whatever he had done, he had saved her, for the moment at least, from any more of Judith's questions.
Matthew Wood did not come home for the good meal they had made ready. Late in the afternoon he came slowly into the kitchen. His shoulders sagged and he looked ill.
"What is it, Matthew?" Rachel hovered over his chair. "Has something terrible happened?"
"Only what we have expected," he answered wearily. "Governor Treat and the council have warded it off for nearly a year. Now Sir Edmond Andros has sent word, three days since, that he is setting out from Boston. He will arrive in Hartford on Monday to take over as royal governor in Connecticut."
"Lay a fire in the company room," he added. "There are some who will want to talk tonight."
One other chance bit of news reached them before nightfall. For all his haste, Captain Eaton had missed the wind after all, and the Dolphin lay becalmed just off Wright's Island. Kit took a revengeful pleasure in the thought. She hoped they had a good long wait ahead of them. It would serve Nat right if they sat there till the ice set in. He might perfectly well have delivered his own package. And she would make very sure of one thing. She would take care not to deliver it herself till the Dolphin was well on its way toward Saybrook.
CHAPTER 15
"IT MEANS the death of our free commonwealth!"
"'Twill be the end of all we've worked for!"
The angry voices came clearly through the closed door of the company room. It was impossible not to overhear. Mercy's spinning wheel faltered, and Rachel's hand, lighting a pine knot, trembled so that a spark fell on the table unheeded and left a small black scar. Frequently in the past month the same grim-faced men had called upon Matthew Wood, but tonight the voices had a frightening quality.
"They must think it a desperate matter to meet like this on the eve of the Sabbath," said Mercy.
"Your father never touched his supper," fretted Rachel. "Do you suppose it would do to offer them all a bite when they come out?"
Kit dropped a stitch for the third time. She had little concern for the colony of Connecticut, but she was seething with curiosity over one aspect of tonight's business. Some time ago William had arrived, offered his usual courteous greetings to the women, and then, instead of taking his place by the fireside, had astounded her by knocking boldly on the company room door. More surprising still, he had been admitted, and there he had