Page 100 of The Pirate and the Pagan
“The courtyard at Whitehall has grass growin’ up between the cobbles,” he said.
“Aren’t there any businesses left open?” she asked, worried about where she would get food.
“The wheel of fortune turns,” he told her philosophically. “Londoners have lived high for so long, thumbing their noses at the rest of humanity, but now that luck has deserted them they are overwhelmed with grief. Once the King and Queen deserted her, the rest followed suit like a pack of cards. The court fled, then every other citizen with the means to do so fled. The theaters closed, its actresses thrown out of work turned to whoring, but for once even that trade didn’t thrive, for who would couple with a diseased body? The gravediggers are thriving, thieves are doing a bang-up business looting deserted houses. Anybody willing to nurse the sick can make a fortune. Any cookshops left open are charging ten times normal for food and folk are fightin’ to pay it. Even poor old sods like me are collectin’ gold pieces.” He winked at her as they turned into Cockspur Street.
“I suppose there are many like me,” she said absently, listening with only half an ear.
“Nay, lass—I earn gold every night cartin’ off the corpses.”
“Oh, my God.” She shrank back from him in horror as she realized her trunks were being carried on a death cart. She paid him his money, glad to be rid of him. She unlocked the front door and dragged her trunks into the beautifully appointed entrance hall. It was a cool haven for her and she leaned her back against the door, thankful that she could withdraw safely and shut out the whole of the plague-riddled city.
A note had been shoved through the letter box in the front door and she bent to retrieve it. Her heart gave a jolt as she saw the handwriting was Spider’s. She took it through to the small salon, where she drew back the curtains to let in the daylight. She slipped her shoes off her aching feet and anxiously scanned the lines from her brother. A great knot of anxiety formed inside her chest as she read his note.
Dear Cat:
I’m sorry I went off half-cocked last week and dropped by to tell you that Edwin Bruckner and I have taken rooms together in the city. (He is Lord Bruckner’s younger brother whom you met at Court.) I found the house locked up and assume you have gone with the court to Salisbury. When you return, you will find us at number 13 Warwick Lane, close by St. Paul’s. We were going to Bruckner Hall in Oxford for a fortnight until the plague settles down, but Edwin was under the weather this morning, so we’ll go tomorrow. Please don’t be angry with me.
Spider
His friend had been under the weather … what if he’d been sickening with the plague? The premonition of danger to her brother was so strong that she knew she must go to him. The only thing she found in the cupboards was some dry biscuit, and as she choked it down she wondered where she would find the courage to go out into the streets of London and look boldly into the face of the Grim Reaper.
Lord Helford was early for his appointment with King Charles, but the King was seldom tardy and had been up since the crack of dawn. Actually Salisbury was beginning to wear on his nerves. The town had opened its heart to him and his court, but the confines hemmed him in considerably and the respectability and even the sheer cleanliness of the place set him longing for brawling, sprawling London.
The King’s brother, the Duke of York, arrived with his father-in-law, Chancellor Hyde, and Charles gave Ruark a speaking glance to be careful of what he said. “I take it you’ve been in contact with your brother Rory?” said Charles, cutting to the heart of the matter.
“I have, Sire. The Phantom slipped in and out of Southampton last night. He delivered the secret messages to The Hague suggesting negotiations to a peaceful settlement of this war and I regret that they were rejected.”
Charles flushed angrily at the affront to his pride. “We should never have lowered ourselves to make the offer!”
Chancellor Hyde held up his hand to soothe Charles. “There is no shame in offering a means to an honorable peace.”
“God damn Parliament for tying my hands. I’d like to blow the Dutch out of the water, and would do so if they didn’t control every damned penny in the Exchequer.” His big fist cracked down onto the table to emphasize his frustration.
Hyde placated as best he could. “I will go back to Parliament and demand money for this war. If they know I am committed to it, perhaps they will loosen the purse strings.”
Ruark Helford chose his words carefully. “My brother arranged a secret meeting with de Ruyter himself.” The three men riveted their attention upon him. “De Ruyter concludes, as my brother and I conclude, that our sea power is too evenly matched for a clear and decisive victory in this war.”
Charles gave a short bark of laughter. “Well, Helford, at least you tell me the unvarnished truth and not just what I want to hear. Well, Chancellor, you must feel most gratified that you were right and hotheads like Buckingham, Lauderdale, and myself were wrong.”
The old man’s hand went up again. “No, no, if they are not yet ready to negotiate a peace, then I must get money from Parliament and we must pursue and harry them with a vengeance until they are damned glad to open negotiations.”
Charles gave his brother a signal to leave and take his father-in-law with him. When he was at last private with his friend Helford, he asked, “And the other delicate matter I entrusted to that damned pirate?”
Ruark Helford grinned. He reached inside a leather case and withdrew a sealed document from the King of France. “He jumped at the chance to buy back the city of Dunkirk.”
Charles ripped open the letter. “He offers double what I asked … two hundred thousand pounds!” he said with pleased disbelief.
“Er … that was Rory’s idea. He’s a most devious fellow, I’m afraid; he told him you asked two hundred thousand.”
Charles was elated. “I’m glad you had sense enough not to mention it in front of the others. They’ll know only when it’s a fait accompli. After all, bloody Dunkirk belongs to France … just because Cromwell’s army captured it doesn’t make it part and parcel of England. You’ve no idea how sick and tired I am of being penniless and going hat in hand to Parliament like a sodding beggar with a tin cup. I’m so poor, I haven’t a pot to piss in or a window to throw it through. When do you think I’ll get the money?”
Lord Helford grinned again. “The gold was transferred from the Phantom to the Pagan Goddess last night.”
“God’s flesh, the Helford brothers are mighty good to know,” he said, winking.
“If you’ll excuse me, Sire, I shall seek out Lady Helford and remind her of her wifely duties.”
“Summer isn’t here in Salisbury,” corrected Charles.
