Page 55 of The King's Man
Something in that thought recalled his conversation with Thamsine: “I am running from a marriage that is far from my choice or desire, and which would be contracted for no other reason than the benefit of the man involved.”
He looked up at Morton and felt his blood run cold.
They finished the game in silence. Morton cleared the table of the coins and stood up.
‘If you will excuse me, gentleman, I have an assignation.’
‘Pretty?’ Fitz enquired.
‘Charming as a picture,’ Morton said. ‘She is waiting for me. Good day to you.’ He inclined his head and left, pushing past Gerard who had just entered.
Gerard removed his hat and took Morton’s seat. ‘Who was that?’
‘Ambrose Morton,’ Kit said with disgust. ‘A disgrace to the King’s colours if ever there was one.’
‘I’ve heard of Morton,’ Gerard said. ‘One of Goring’s crew, and from the way my uncle tells it, not one of the better ones.’
Fitz straightened. He seemed to have sobered up a little. Maybe the loss of his purse to Morton had helped slow the intake of wine. ‘Forget him. What’s the news?’ he asked.
‘Not good,’ said Gerard. ‘Charles has refused to see Henshaw.’
‘I told you he would,’ Kit said. ‘His reputation preceded him.’ He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. ‘Who would be Charles? Who can he trust?’
‘Well, you and I to begin with,’ Fitz replied, throwing an arm around his friend’s shoulders in drunken bonhomie.
‘But the news is not all bad,’ Gerard said. ‘The King has summoned us. He wants to talk directly with us.’
‘Who’s “us”?’ Kit enquired.
‘Fitzjames and I and you, of course. We’ll sail on Friday.’
‘Sail?’ Kit’s nose pinched at the thought of tossing around on the English Channel for twenty-four hours. ‘Why me? What can I accomplish?’
‘You speak French a damned sight better than we do and the King knows you. He trusts you. Between us, we can persuade him.’
Kit leaned forward. ‘What about Willys and his committee?’
Fitz narrowed his eyes. ‘What about Willys?’
‘I only know that whatever committee he is involved with already holds the King’s Commission. Are we not better advised to pool our resources? Lend our support to their venture?’
Fitz gave a deprecatory snort. ‘From what I know of them, Willys’ committee is a pack of old fools. There is not one person of worth willing to lend his name to it. All they do is talk. With the King’s blessing, I believe we can achieve something.’
‘My uncle has the King’s ear,’ Gerard put in. ‘All it needs is for us to convince him that our plan is feasible.’
‘And is it?’ Kit bit down on his irritation.More foolish plots.
‘If we can take Cromwell the rest will fall into place,’ Gerard continued.
‘But there is the fundamental error,’ Kit said. ‘It’s not just Cromwell. There is Ireton, Thurloe – do you want me to go on listing names?’
He was wasting his breath. The two obdurate faces looking at him told him that their minds were settled.
‘Anyway, we have help,’ Fitz said. ‘Mazarin will supply us with whatever we need to accomplish the task.’
Cardinal Mazarin, was the real power behind the French throne. Kit’s heart skipped a beat. Was this the connection with the French court that Thurloe was looking for?
‘What do you mean?’ he asked.
