Dishonour and Obey: A thrilling seventeenth century investigation (Master Mercurius Mysteries Book 3) by Graham Brack

Author:Graham Brack [Brack, Graham]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sapere Books
Published: 2020-10-19T16:00:00+00:00

The King’s penchant for keeping irregular hours meant that the kitchens in the Palace never slept and you could get something to eat at almost any hour, so although dinner had ended when I arrived in my chamber, the servants were just about to start serving supper. So far as I could tell, supper was almost indistinguishable from dinner. You just had to drink faster to keep up with the food.

I sat at the table. Vlisser was eating at the far end, but he was already surrounded by company, as the rich often are, and I did not feel the need for companionship while I was thinking. I was slowly chewing a hunk of bread when I became aware that someone had slipped into a place beside me.

Since the somebody in question was wearing a dress of dusky pink silk, it was either a woman or the Duke of Orleans, and as I was fairly certain no state visit was in progress that ruled him out.

We had not been introduced, but a quick glance told me that this was a member of the royal family. It was not so much a physical similarity, though that could be seen, but something about the way she looked at me that reminded me forcefully of Charles.

I made to rise to my feet, but she put her hand on my arm to press me back down.

‘Nay, sir,’ she said, ‘I did not mean to disturb your meal. Pray continue.’

I offered to pour her some wine.

‘Thank you, but I have had my fill. You looked lonely sitting there, and I thought it inhospitable to allow a visitor to our shores to dine alone.’

‘You are very thoughtful, madame,’ I said. ‘I do not believe we have been introduced. I am Master Mercurius of the University of Leiden.’

‘I know,’ she said. ‘I’m Charlotte.’

‘Charlotte…?’

‘Oh, you want a surname. That’s a bit complicated. It keeps changing, you see. I started as Killigrew, or sometimes Boyle, then I became FitzRoy, then Howard, and now I’m Paston. My father-in-law is the Earl of Yarmouth. It’s all terribly complicated. And just a little bit dull.’ She giggled rather fetchingly. ‘Oh, don’t worry!’ she said. ‘I’m not going to seduce you. My husband wouldn’t like it.’

I looked around the room. ‘Which gentleman is he?’

‘He isn’t here. He’s gone to look after his estates in Norfolk. I prefer to stay here. At least London isn’t flat.’

‘My country is very flat, madame. I am quite used to it.’

‘Well, lucky you. I’m glad to say I’m not flat, don’t you think?’

If this was the standard mode of conversation with clergymen in England, there was more need for reform than I had believed. I suddenly felt rather warm.

‘Dear me, you’re blushing. My father said you were very strait-laced.’

‘Do I know your father?’

Her eyes opened in mock horror. ‘Which part of “FitzRoy” didn’t you understand?’

I am a dullard sometimes, and the cogs of my mind turned very slowly for a moment or two. ‘Oh!’ I said.

‘Oh indeed. I’m one of the King’s Acknowledged Bastards.

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