and he had called her Hester. What a start to their time together! ‘There’s not a minute to be lost, John,’ she urged enthusiastically. ‘Let’s make our way to the river. All London will be afloat on the Thames today.’
They went there hand in hand, talking all the time, each wanting to know more and more about the other. Now and again they broke spontaneously into a run, as if their pleasure in each other’s company could not be contained without an outlet of energy, and once making an archway of their arms and linked fingers for an old woman hobbling along with a basket, her eyes on the ground. Their pace slowed to a leisurely stroll when they came within sight of the Thames, the city’s highway and lifeline along which sailed a continuous host of tall-masted ships, coming and going to all corners of the globe. They turned their steps to follow the river eastward to London Bridge which, with its collection of ill-shaped buildings, stood high on the skyline not far from the Tower, and spanned the gleaming water across to Southwark. Since it was the city’s only bridge, thousands of little ferry-boats plied their trade to and fro, making an ever-moving pattern in each direction as far as the eye could see.
Hester perched on a wall to watch for a while, John leaning his arms on it beside her. What she most liked to see were the gilded and marvellously decorated barges of the rich livery companies which dated their origins back to the Craft Guilds of mediaeval times. They gave an almost Venetian touch to the scene, oars rhythmic and flashing colour, the oarsmen themselves in handsome crimson, yellow, purple or blue liveries according to which individual coat of arms was located high for all to see. One of the most spectacular was that of the Goldsmiths Company, although that was not to be seen today. Instead a barge of the Apothecaries Company, painted ruby and gold, was making its way leisurely upstream.
‘Have you ever wished to go far afield to foreign places?’ she asked John dreamily.
‘As a boy I thought once of going to sea.’ He shifted his position on to one elbow, looking up at her. ‘I’d read so much about the strange mammals of the deep and the mysteries of ancient lands that I wanted to see everything for myself.’
‘What made you change your mind?’
‘My grandfather gave me a book on the treasures of the Incas and that sparked off an aim in me to work with precious metals.’
She wanted no more talk of books and reading. It was a dangerous subject as far as she was concerned. ‘Have you made plans towards the day when you’ll be admitted into the Goldsmiths Company?’
If he’d been asked that question before today, he would have answered at once that he expected to remain with Master Harwood where the opportunities for fine work were manifold and he could do no better elsewhere. Moreover it would please Caroline that he should continue to work for her father. But now everything that was orderly and well arranged in his life was under the threat of disruption by the magnetism of this lovely girl looking questioningly down at him, the breeze from the river playing tricks with her hair and flapping the frill of her neckline against her white throat. Desire for her surged up within him with such force that he answered her abruptly, turning his gaze back to the river, angry with his own madness.
‘Time enough for decisions when I’ve been granted the Freedom. Master craftsmen are always in demand whatever their trade.’
She sensed her question had unsettled him and she wanted nothing to infringe upon the happiness of the day. Slipping down from the wall, she scooped her arm through his, her face bright with optimism. ‘One thing I do know and that is one day you’ll be the most famous goldsmith in the whole of London.’
‘Only London?’ he teased mildly, his fleeting smile returning to illumine his features with all his gentle qualities.
‘Of course not. They’ll speak
They went there hand in hand, talking all the time, each wanting to know more and more about the other. Now and again they broke spontaneously into a run, as if their pleasure in each other’s company could not be contained without an outlet of energy, and once making an archway of their arms and linked fingers for an old woman hobbling along with a basket, her eyes on the ground. Their pace slowed to a leisurely stroll when they came within sight of the Thames, the city’s highway and lifeline along which sailed a continuous host of tall-masted ships, coming and going to all corners of the globe. They turned their steps to follow the river eastward to London Bridge which, with its collection of ill-shaped buildings, stood high on the skyline not far from the Tower, and spanned the gleaming water across to Southwark. Since it was the city’s only bridge, thousands of little ferry-boats plied their trade to and fro, making an ever-moving pattern in each direction as far as the eye could see.
Hester perched on a wall to watch for a while, John leaning his arms on it beside her. What she most liked to see were the gilded and marvellously decorated barges of the rich livery companies which dated their origins back to the Craft Guilds of mediaeval times. They gave an almost Venetian touch to the scene, oars rhythmic and flashing colour, the oarsmen themselves in handsome crimson, yellow, purple or blue liveries according to which individual coat of arms was located high for all to see. One of the most spectacular was that of the Goldsmiths Company, although that was not to be seen today. Instead a barge of the Apothecaries Company, painted ruby and gold, was making its way leisurely upstream.
‘Have you ever wished to go far afield to foreign places?’ she asked John dreamily.
‘As a boy I thought once of going to sea.’ He shifted his position on to one elbow, looking up at her. ‘I’d read so much about the strange mammals of the deep and the mysteries of ancient lands that I wanted to see everything for myself.’
‘What made you change your mind?’
‘My grandfather gave me a book on the treasures of the Incas and that sparked off an aim in me to work with precious metals.’
She wanted no more talk of books and reading. It was a dangerous subject as far as she was concerned. ‘Have you made plans towards the day when you’ll be admitted into the Goldsmiths Company?’
If he’d been asked that question before today, he would have answered at once that he expected to remain with Master Harwood where the opportunities for fine work were manifold and he could do no better elsewhere. Moreover it would please Caroline that he should continue to work for her father. But now everything that was orderly and well arranged in his life was under the threat of disruption by the magnetism of this lovely girl looking questioningly down at him, the breeze from the river playing tricks with her hair and flapping the frill of her neckline against her white throat. Desire for her surged up within him with such force that he answered her abruptly, turning his gaze back to the river, angry with his own madness.
‘Time enough for decisions when I’ve been granted the Freedom. Master craftsmen are always in demand whatever their trade.’
She sensed her question had unsettled him and she wanted nothing to infringe upon the happiness of the day. Slipping down from the wall, she scooped her arm through his, her face bright with optimism. ‘One thing I do know and that is one day you’ll be the most famous goldsmith in the whole of London.’
‘Only London?’ he teased mildly, his fleeting smile returning to illumine his features with all his gentle qualities.
‘Of course not. They’ll speak
Similar Books
