On His Honor by Jackie M. Smith

Author:Jackie M. Smith
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781944270070
Publisher: Beachwalk Press, Inc.
Published: 2016-01-16T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 7

Thomas’s eyes went dark. “You will expose us. Have you gone mad?”

Jamie threw back his cup of ale and poured another drink. He knew his friend was right, but Emilia meant too much to him, and he couldn’t let yet another innocent man rot in prison. This plan was his unique chance to protect her against King Henry’s charms and save her father’s life as well. In silence, he thanked King Francis for his help in relaying an agent’s report of a secret passageway leading from the prison cells level. He had given him the information needed to rescue Emilia’s father while thinking he was providing him with a way to escape should he be arrested.

“I’ve thought of this plan for several days, and it will work. Unlike Henry, King Francis will understand my reasons for leaving.” Jamie stared out the window beside the table. “As for Emilia’s father, he is no traitor, Thomas. He did nothing except refusing to forsake beliefs that Henry once shared.” Jamie looked at his friend. “Trust me. It’s the only way to be free of this royal pain in the arse they call a king and get back our freedom.”

“What of your debt to him?”

“I begin to feel saving my honor has little value compared to what I have given up.”

“Has the king given you any indication of when he will release you?”

“I spoke with him the other morning. He did say he’d draw the papers within the week.”

“That’s wonderful news.” Thomas clapped Jamie’s shoulder.

“If needs be, I will go without. I can no longer stomach what we do here.”

“You receive no argument from me. Now tell me how you propose we execute this plan of yours without getting caught.”

“Simple. I’ll help Crawford escape while they transfer him from the prison to the scaffold in the tower’s courtyard.”

“Are you certain he is due for execution?”

He gave a quick nod. “In a matter of days. We both know he will have not a fair trial.” Jamie knew most prisoners they arrested in the name of the Act of Parliament never survived more than a month. Soon, Emilia’s father would suffer the same fate as all the other members of the Pilgrimage of Grace he and others had arrested.

“What about Emilia? Have you talked to her of your plan?”

Jamie shook his head. “Not yet.”

“What if she doesn’t agree to come with us to France?”

Taking a deep gulp of his ale, Jamie hoped the lump forming in his throat would go away. His heart sank. Fear of Emilia refusing his offer twisted his gut. He avoided thinking of her refusing, not after all the glorious moments spent with her in the last week. They had become lovers and enjoyed each other’s company. No words of love were spoken between them, but he didn’t need her to say them. The sparkle in her eyes told him what he needed to know. She made him smile and feel alive every time they touched and kissed.

“They have nowhere else to go,” he said.

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