Loyal in Love by Jean Plaidy

Author:Jean Plaidy [Plaidy, Jean]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Historical, C429, Extratorrents, Kat, Great Britain, Historical Fiction, Queens - Great Britain, Queens, Henrietta Maria
ISBN: 9780307405616
Publisher: Broadway
Published: 1983-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

THE SPY

When I went to see my mother she was in a state of panic. She had faced the fury of the people of her own country so was no stranger to unpopularity which was reaching the danger point.

“I must get away,” she said. “I must leave this country. I tell you this, Henriette. I picture those people storming the palace. They would have no respect for Queens. I did not think this could happen here. I had thought you were well settled. These people are barbarians. They hate the King. They hate you. And it seems that most of all they hate me. Savages! Like uncivilized people they turn on those who are foreigners to them.”

“They turned on Strafford,” I reminded her. “He was no foreigner. And yes, dear mother, I think you should go…if that is possible.”

“You should come with me, my dear.”

“And leave Charles!”

“Come with me. Perhaps we could go to France.”

“My brother would not welcome us.”

“Shame on him! His own mother and sister!”

“He is first of all King of France.”

“He has no mind of his own. Between Richelieu and that wife of his…. She gives herself airs now that she has produced the heir to the throne. Mon Dieu, she took long enough to do it.”

“Charles thinks that no hindrance would be put in the way of your going.”

“Then I shall leave as soon as possible.”

“I have thought of something. We have a new ally now in the Prince of Orange. This marriage might not have been so degrading after all. I know that Orange has little standing in Europe, but he is very rich. It may be that he will help to raise an army for us and I could bring it back to stand with the King’s. And then we could make war on these Puritan Parliamentarians and let them see who is the master here…they or their anointed King.”

“It is a good idea. I want to leave as soon as possible. I shall never sleep peacefully in my bed until I am out of this country.”

I said that I would consult Charles. “He would not want me to go,” I added. “He would hate my being out of the country.”

“Oh come,” said my mother impatiently, “you talk as though he is a passionate bridegroom and you plan your honeymoon.”

“Our being together is a long honeymoon. There is no restriction that I know of as to how long they shall last.”

My mother lifted her shoulders in exasperation. She was not the sort of woman to understand love like ours.

I left her then and when I saw Charles I told him what was in my mind. He always listened to what I had to say with as much attention—no more—than he listened to his ministers.

“Mary is too young for the consummation but the Prince of Orange is urging us to send her to Holland. Why should she not go? She will be safer there than here. I can take her…perhaps travel with my mother…and then I could say that I am going to the spa in Lower Lorraine because I am in poor health.

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