Intrigue in Covent Garden: The Thirteenth Thomas Chaloner Adventure (Adventures of Thomas Chaloner Book 13) by Susanna Gregory

Author:Susanna Gregory [Gregory, Susanna]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780751562712
Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group
Published: 2018-08-01T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

The next day was Friday, which meant there were four days left before London erupted into a frenzy of blood and rebellion. Chaloner wondered if anger over Vågen would be a factor in the trouble, and hoped Heemskerch – and Thurloe – would be safely out of the city if it did. So when he rose from his temporary bed in Wiseman’s parlour, the first thing he did was hurry to the Floating Coffee House, hoping Lester would be there, so he could ensure there were no last minute hiccups in the plan to spirit the Dutchman away.

‘The Folly is still closed, sir,’ said Judd apologetically. ‘But Captain Lester left a message for you: you are to meet him at the Rainbow at ten o’clock.’ He glanced up at the sky to gauge the time. ‘Which is about three hours hence.’

Chaloner was irked with himself for not remembering that the barge had been damaged by the hyrricano. He trotted back to the Strand, where he decided to use the intervening time by visiting White Hall, in the hope that some of the acquaintances he had cultivated among the servants might know who had attacked him in the Banqueting House the night before.

He arrived to find the palace just winding down from the previous evening’s revels, although one clique of die-hards was still going strong. The Great Court was littered with discarded clothing, broken glass and spilled food, suggesting the occasion had turned very wild after he had left. He entered the Banqueting House warily, noting that some of the scenery for Two Sisters had been damaged during the ruckus, which meant it would have to be repaired – no doubt at public expense. He tried talking to the remaining merrymakers he met there, but they barely knew their own names, let alone information pertinent to his enquiries.

He went to the kitchens next, where he learned that most of the servants had gone home by the time he had been attacked, so were unable to help him. He begged a simple but agreeable breakfast of fresh bread and butter, and was on his way out again when he met the Earl, who was often among the first to arrive in the mornings. Clarendon looked tired, and Chaloner saw that the strain of organising his Fast – and hoping that the King would not wound him with a public snub – was taking a heavy toll on his peace of mind.

‘Well, Chaloner?’ he asked eagerly. ‘Do you have the trumpet? My cousin Brodrick tells me that you were still hunting for it when he left the Banqueting House late last night.’

‘Most people think it has been melted down, sir, and I cannot bring it to you if it no longer exists. Perhaps you should consider a contingency plan, just in case—’

‘You cannot fail!’ cried the Earl, distraught at the notion. ‘It is important. Well? Do not stand there looking exasperated. Go and find it for me!’

He turned and stamped away, flicking imperious fingers for his retinue to follow.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.