Page 36 of By the Sword
‘He wants to know if you really knew Prince Rupert,’ Tom interpreted again.
‘I knew him well,’ Jonathan replied.
Suzanne made a disapproving click of her tongue but, catching Jonathan’s quick glance, she kept her peace.
‘We have something to show you,’ Tom said with a conspiratorial glance at his cousin, and both boys raced inside the house.
‘They’re quite different,’ Jonathan said.
‘Aye, as were you and your cousin, no doubt,’ Suzanne responded.
‘True, but Richard and I were not the boon companions those two are.’
‘Robert is older by two months,’ Kate said.
‘Really?’ Jonathan raised an eyebrow. ‘I’d have never guessed.’
‘Robert has always been…’– Suzanne cleared her throat–‘…a little less robust than Thomas.’
Jonathan glanced at Kate. Her downcast mouth and lowered eyes gave him the answer he sought. Robert Rowe would not make old bones.
The boys returned with a squirming bundle held tightly in Tom’s arms.
‘What have you got there?’ Kate asked.
Tom looked up at his aunt, who had the grace to look shamefaced.
‘William’s best bitch whelped recently and he promised Tom one of the pups,’ Suzanne said. ‘I should have mentioned it earlier, but,’ she cast a significant glance at Jonathan, ’you have been a little preoccupied.’
Tom set the puppy down on the grass. It wagged its tail, the entire rear end going into spasm as it let out small, delighted baby yaps. Kate crouched down and held out her hand. The little animal bounded over to her, covering her fingers with doggy kisses. She looked up at the company and laughed.
‘Well he knows the way to a woman’s heart,’ she said. ‘What are you going to call him, Tom?’
‘Rupert,’ Tom said.
Jonathan gave a snort of laughter that he immediately regretted. The slightest movement jolted the barely knit bones in his shoulder.
‘The Prince had a dog,’ he said to distract himself. ‘He called him Boy and he followed him into battle.’ He refrained from adding that Boy had several other tricks taught to him by the Prince, such as peeing on the mention of the name of the King’s bitter enemy ‘Pym’.
Suzanne gave him a disdainful glance. ‘You are not a good influence on this household, Jonathan Thornton.’
Jonathan returned her look with equanimity. ‘Alas, Mistress Rowe, I fear I am never a good influence.’
Suzanne nodded at the broadsheets. ‘I read there’s a handsome reward for the capture of a notorious delinquent, recently escaped from York,’ she said.
Jonathan raised an eyebrow. ‘Indeed? Tempted?’
Suzanne sniffed. ‘I have too much of an investment in seeing a certain notorious delinquent stays in good health,’ she said. ‘Robert, it’s time to go.’
‘Mama,’ Robert protested.
‘He can stay, Suzanne,’ Kate said.
‘Be home by supper,’ Suzanne chided her son. ‘Sir Jonathan.’ She dropped Jonathan a curtsy with a mocking twinkle in her eye.
‘Mistress Rowe.’ He inclined his head.
***
