Tudor Spy (Tudor Warrior Book 2) by Griff Hosker

Author:Griff Hosker [Hosker, Griff]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Sword Books Ltd
Published: 2022-09-23T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

Ecclestone 1510

The king was on a royal progress with his new bride and visited Lathom. I did not expect an invitation but I received one. One of the earl’s liveried servants rode to invite me to meet the king the next day.

“Do I bring my wife?”

The servant shrugged, “I was told to invite you, Master James, and no one else.” He wheeled his horse around and headed back to Lathom. I had not recognised the man. The new earl had surrounded himself with new men. It was the way of the world. The old were often discarded. I just hoped that Thomas Crouchley was still employed.

Jane took it well and laughed off the implied insult, “Walter and Mary demand much of my time, husband, and bowing and scraping before the king and queen does not suit me. Now my mother would be in her element. If my father and she had been invited then his treasury would have been emptied to buy her the clothes that she needed.” I laughed for my wife was right. “Will you be staying overnight?”

“He did not say so. I will pack a spare set in case but I hope it will be a courtesy. Perhaps he wishes to thank me for the action at Meols and Burscough.”

Part of me was intrigued for I had only met the young king once or twice and that had been when he was still barely a youth. How had he changed? We had no choice over our king but his decisions would affect every man, woman and child in the land. I rode Alexander to Lathom. It was not to impress the king but Calliope had grown old and it would be a hard ride in one day. William had groomed him so that his coat shone and his mane looked magnificent. The gift from the King of Scotland had been a grand one.

No time had been given and so I left not long after dawn. Better to arrive early and be kept waiting rather than making a new king wait. As with every royal progress, there were far more people travelling with the king than one might expect. The stables were full but I was known well enough for the horse master to take care of Alexander for me and to keep him shaded. Thomas Crouchley was still the steward and although he was busy he was a loyal friend and found the time to greet me.

“Captain James, you have made good time. The king and queen are at their breakfast. If you would come with me to the antechamber.”

I leaned in, “What is this about?”

“The king said he needed to speak to the man who helped defeat the raiders from the north.”

I was relieved. It was as I had thought and hoped. He would pat me on the back, like a faithful hound, and then I would be dismissed. With luck, I would be back home in but a few hours. There were others waiting in the antechamber but I did not know them.

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