Page 67 of The King's Man
‘Not the conclusion we should have wished,’ Lord Gerard said glumly.
‘Charles has lost his courage,’ Rupert remarked.
‘He has lost heart,’ Kit said.
Rupert looked at him. The sharp eyes, Kit remembered so well, burning into his soul.
‘That too.’ Rupert took a sip of wine. ‘It happens that the Queen does not agree with her son. She believes firmly that the King’s fortunes will prosper in more … ’ He frowned, looking for the words, ‘ … active hands.’
‘I have heard the Duke of York,’ Lord Gerard said, referring to Charles’ younger brother James, ‘would not hesitate.’
‘I agree,’ Rupert said quietly. ‘I would lead an army into England to return the throne to the rightful King.’
‘You, Your Highness?’ Lord Gerard said.
Rupert’s eyes flashed. ‘I am hardly in my dotage yet, Gerard.’
‘I did not mean it that way, Your Highness. I meant merely to imply that you at the head of an army would have a greater chance of success than any other I could name.’
‘But there is one stumbling block.’ Rupert leaned forward. ‘Cromwell. He is not just the Lord Protector, he is the head of the army and a man to be feared. God knows we all know his power of leadership.’
Kit drained his cup, remembering Cromwell’s unprecedented tactics that had won the battle at Worcester.
‘Are you saying you agree with us, Your Highness?’ Fitz asked carefully.
‘Remove Cromwell and the army will be like a chicken without its head.’ Rupert swirled the contents of his glass, staring at it thoughtfully.
‘What of the Sealed Knot?’ Kit asked.
Rupert waved a long, slender hand. ‘Politicians. Old men with no wish except to die in their beds.’
‘Do you know who they are?’ Kit asked.
Rupert shook his head. ‘No. That is one of the few closely guarded secrets in this court.’
Kit bit back his frustration. Did no one know who these men were?
‘We cannot discount them. They hold the King’s Commission,’ Lord Gerard said.
‘That is just a piece of paper.’ Rupert drained his glass and rose to his feet. ‘We will talk again tomorrow, Gerard, you and I.’
They bowed as the formidable soldier left the room. Kit watched the door close behind the man he once would have followed to his death. The rumours were true. The court was divided, with the Queen and Rupert firmly in one camp, advocating action, while the King counselled caution. Who, if anyone, was right?
Chapter 18
Lucy stood by the window, glancing up and down the street.
‘Are you waiting for someone?’ Thamsine enquired, her patience wearing thin. Lucy had been up and down all through the lesson.
‘Just a friend. He said he would call this morning to hear me play.’
A male friend, Thamsine thought. She didn’t think Lucy had made quite such good progress as to warrant public performance.
‘Is there a particular piece you would like to play for him?’ she asked.
Lucy sat down again and made a pretence of studying the music. ‘This one, I think.’ She picked up the sheet of paper and handed it to Thamsine. ‘I told him I had been having lessons and he said he was most anxious to hear me.’
‘A good friend?’ Thamsine said.
