Page 15 of The King's Man
Kit’s shoulders shook with laughter and he raised his jack to her. A taller, fair-haired man appeared behind Kit and whispered something in his ear. Kit nodded and the door closed behind them.
***
‘Who’s the singer?’ Fitzjames asked.
Kit shook his head. ‘Some new girl of Marsh’s.’
‘She’s got a good voice,’ Fitz commented. ‘Good to hear music again.’
‘Little bitch is a better singer than she is a skivvy. Spilt half a jack of ale over me,’ Dutton growled. ‘Sure I’ve seen her before somewhere. Damn me if I can think where.’
Kit viewed the drunken sot with distaste. Dutton’s face was flushed with drink, dark circles under his eyes. ‘Forget her, Dutton. Are you going to tell us your plan?’
Dutton unrolled a map on the table. The men leaned over it, their faces taut with expectation.
‘I believe that we can raise six hundred men,’ Dutton said. ‘With six hundred men we can seize Whitehall, St. James’, the Tower and the Guards.’ His stubby finger stabbed at the map.
Kit choked on his ale. ‘We can do what?’ he spluttered.
Six faces turned to look at him. ‘Lovell, you have something to say?’ Colonel Whitely asked, a cold edge to his voice.
Kit stared at them. ‘You make that sound so simple! Just walk in and seize Whitehall? And what happens when we have accomplished this amazing act of daring?’
‘The King will be waiting in a ship offshore. We send a signal to the ship and he lands in triumph,’ Dutton concluded.
‘And we are certain of the support of six hundred men?’ Kit failed to hide the incredulity in his voice.
‘I have promises of that many.’ Dutton’s tone was a little less sure, but he hid his uncertainty with bluster.
‘And the King knows of this?’ Kit said.
‘Not at the moment. That is our next task. We must send someone to meet with the King and advise him of our plan.’ Dutton looked around the circle of faces. ‘Whitely, I for one think that you should go.’
‘Of course, I would be honoured, Dutton, but there is the small matter of financing my trip to Paris. I haven’t two farthings to rub together, let alone a boat fare to France, hire of horses, accommodation … ’
Dutton started to roll up the map. ‘Well I’ve no money,’ he said. ‘Cotes? Willys? Fitzjames?’
He was met with downcast eyes and a concerted shaking of heads. ‘Lovell?’
Kit raised his hands. ‘Don’t look to me, Dutton, I’m only just out of debtors’ prison.’
Dutton sank onto a chair, his face heavy with gloom. ‘We can’t act without the King’s connivance. The money must be raised for Whitley’s passage. Gentlemen, I suggest we adjourn and meet back here the day after tomorrow. In the meantime, see what can be done about raising funds.’
Kit shook his head. ‘Dutton, if we’ve not the funds to send Whitely to France, how do you plan to finance six hundred men? What happened to the loyal subjects you visited over the last week?’
Dutton’s mouth took on a stubborn cast that Kit recognised all too well. His requests had, no doubt, met with the refusal they deserved.
‘Once we have seized Whitehall and the Tower we will have access to as much money as we like.’ Dutton’s eyes narrowed. ‘I sense doubt, Lovell. Those not with us … ’
Kit held up his hands. ‘I know, Dutton. Of course, I’m with you.’
He held his tongue and surveyed his companions.What a miserable band of conspirators we are, he thought.Let them dream. It was not his task to play Devil’s advocate.
The party dispersed, leaving Kit alone in the parlour with Fitzjames and Willys. Fitzjames lit a pipe and propped his feet on an abandoned stool and watched the smoke curl up into the beams of the parlour.
Richard Willys toyed with his empty pot before slamming it on the table. ‘This is a bad business, Lovell.’
‘What is?’
