Despite the Angels - By Madeline A Stringer Page 0,54
She paused, till a new thought struck her, “also, we need to check that he says the mass.”
“He will say it. What else has he to do? No crowd of pilgrims here today. I suppose it depends on the weather, whether they can get a boat across the estuary. Maybe no one was coming this way today.” Daniel swung himself up onto his saddle.
“Come on Madame, back up into your place.”
They continued on down the slight hill and made their way across the rough tussocky ground towards the low dunes that blocked their first view of the sea. The air was fresh here, blowing in from the ocean and the cries of gulls filled their ears. Eloise got down from the cart, which could not go further and followed the track where some of the servants had gone ahead with the rugs and the children had run, keen to reach the freedom of the beach. The coarse grasses tugged at her skirts and sand poured into her shoes. She bent down and emptied them out, causing a scandalised rush of opinions from her mother-in-law, who was following behind, grumbling. Daniel finished tethering his horse to the cart and ran forward to walk with Eloise as they returned for the first time since their marriage to the place where they had truly fallen in love. He took the baby from her, so that she could manoeuvre her long skirts more easily through the long reeds. Marie-Claire was quiet and still, her eyes wide open, her little nose twitching, smelling the sea. Mohmi, beside her, was saying “you do not need to worry, nothing will happen to you this time. You are safe.” The baby closed her eyes and yawned.
Eloise was ahead of Daniel as they went over the last dune and onto the beach. She looked at the sea, rolling and grey, and held her breath.
“It is so big,” she said and stopped walking.
“Go on,” said Daniel, pushing her a little, “let us all see.” Then he too came past the dune and stopped. He clutched the baby tightly as he looked down the beach towards the waves. His mother was coming just behind him and reached forward.
“Give me that child,” she said, “before you squeeze her to death.”
Daniel looked at his mother, without seeing her. He looked down at the baby, now sleeping quietly.
“No!” he said and pushed the baby into Eloise’s arms. “She should be with her mother here. Then she will be safe.” Eloise took the baby and hugged her tight. She walked a few more steps onto the beach and turned, tears beginning to form as her heart started to pound.
“I cannot bring the baby onto the beach. It is not safe. The sea….” She looked at Daniel, whose face was white and sweating. “I’m afraid, Monsieur. I do not know why. Can we leave, please?”
“If you like, my love. You do not have to stay anywhere that does not please you.”
“Cheat!” said Jotin, as he stroked Daniel’s energies to calm him. “Go on, admit you are afraid too.”
“He won’t” said Trynor, “He thinks he has to stay strong, or he is not a man. Come on, let’s get them out of here. If you had joined with me in warning them, they could be dancing by now.”
Daniel and Eloise were walking quickly back to the carts, leaving one of the musicians to go onto the beach to explain to the servants that the rugs had to be folded up again and the children rounded up. Daniel’s mother grumbled even louder to his sisters when they reappeared, about people who could not make up their minds, caused disruption, and wasted time before lunch; and that it would be their fault if the food was spoiled. She apologised fulsomely to their friends, putting the blame on Eloise and forgetting the need for discretion – ‘not used to the beach, you know, she’s from the village. I warned Daniel, I begged and I threatened, but he would not listen. Insisted on ruining himself, bringing shame on the family. After his grandfather and father were so careful…’ She broke off in confusion before she let out any more about the family’s humble origins, now thankfully almost a hundred years and more than fifty miles away.
They got back up onto the carts and into the carriages and made slow progress up the hill towards the church. The little shrine seemed deserted, but from his better vantage point on horseback Daniel could