A Queen's Spy, - [best books under 200 pages .txt] 📗

executed his brother's orders well after he had taken the men to Carney Bridge. Even Richard had been unable to find fault with him on that score.

Did he want to take his brother's place?

A smile twitched at the corner of Jack's mouth. He'd certainly enjoy seeing the look on Richard's face if he lost his role of command. To see uncertainty in his brother's eyes would be satisfying indeed. Although it was a look Jack knew he was unlikely to witness, there was little chance he could take his brother's place, not for any significant time anyway. People like Lord Byrne would not deal with the likes of Jack. Richard had the connections, the manner, the skill to lead, and Jack recognised that once this current endeavour was over he would have little idea where to take the men next or how to obtain more paid work for the group.

 

†

 

Judith received Anne’s note where she sat sewing in the garden. Edward, seeing the messenger’s return, had hurried to enquire if their guests were coming.

“Anne says she cannot come.” Judith was trying to pull the needle through several layers of unyielding material, and gestured with her head to where the letter lay discarded on the table beside her. “See for yourself.”

Edward scanned the brief words. “I was looking forward to a bit of good company and a reason to break out some decent wine,” he spoke absently, before turning and walking back to the house.

He found Richard in the stables talking to one of his men

“I know,” was all Richard said as Edward approached.

“I cannot see them harmed, Richard,” Edward said, a sorrowful expression on his face.

“There are a dozen people at Assingham. Old men, women and boys. I feel they will not closet themselves in the main house and make us lay siege on the place.” Richard turned now to give Edward his full attention. “They will fall to their knees and beg for mercy, the lady and her daughter included.”

“Using Assingham to exchange messages was one thing, but now that Whickham wants to use it as a centre for us to gather, well, that’s quite another.” Edward’s anguish had increased. “Why choose it?”

“As yet no-one knows what strength Mary has. It makes sense to amass your support behind defensible walls, once your forces are all together and the location of Mary’s troops are known then a decision can be safely made as to where to move,” Richard explained patiently.

“Assingham is hardly defensible, you’ve seen it,” Edward countered.

“Use Hazeldene then,” Richard shot back.

Edward conceded defeat. Assingham had, through no fault of its own, been committed.

“I know all the glory and none of the guilt; that’s why you pay me.” Richard’s tone was harsh, but then he added the words Edward wanted to hear: “I will see to them.”

Edward’s mind was eased. “Everything is as we arranged. I have heard from my son Geoffrey; he is moving as planned. He has thirty of his own men, added to what I have here we will be able to provide Northumberland with some credible support. All will go well I am sure.” Still muttering to himself he rose and left.

 

†

 

Jack watched Byrne retreat, a look of open loathing on his face, crossing the yard back to his brother he said, “If weak-willed men like that aim to take the reins of England, then I’m worried.”

“He is a small man with a loud mouth and big ambitions,” Richard explained. “But you’ll not have to put up with him for much longer; it’s a soldier’s life for you again, Jack. That, at least, should mean I have one happy person around me.”

“Would you lay a wager on us getting out of this in one piece?” Jack asked mischievously. And then, after a thoughtful pause, “And paid?”

“The outcome of a race to claim a throne is never a safe wager. And whether you like it or not, we are part of it. Poor fools that must act within the rules laid by others,” Richard lamented. “So we shall have to wait and see. We meet as arranged tomorrow,” Richard said, eyes bright, “from there it’s in the lap of the Gods.”

Jack stood. “You want me to go and pass the word?” he asked.

“Indeed, let us relieve your companions from their daily toil, and make sure we play our part well. I don’t want them running into Edward’s son, Geoffrey. You know where I want them and you to be?”

“I do,” Jack replied quickly.

“Make sure you are where you are supposed to be, collect the men and secure Assingham before everyone else arrives,” Richard instructed.

“That won’t be hard,” Jack said.

“Well, let us just hope that Byrne’s companions are as well organised as we intend to be.” Richard replied.

“Richard?” Jack hesitated. “I’ve spoken to Dan. There’s much both he and you won’t tell me. Would now not be a good time to tell me?”

“What, before we die in the foray? That would be incredibly noble of me would it not?” Richard scoffed, and then added, “But today I don’t feel particularly noble.”

Jack tried another track. “Dan has told me much already.”

Richard’s eyes narrowed but he said nothing.

“Tell me. I think I have a right to know.” Jack was closer to the truth than he knew.

Richard was no longer smiling. “It sounds as if you know everything already.”

Jack avoided the trap. “I just want to know why.”

“Why?” The word came out in an angry gasp. “What exactly did Dan tell you?”

“He told me why you couldn’t accept me.” Jack hoped he hadn’t betrayed his ignorance.

“For God’s sake Jack, there is a much at stake, can you not leave this? We have been paid to perform a service for Byrne. I do not have time to argue with you,” Richard snapped at his brother before turning to leave.

Jack stood, scowling at Richard’s retreating back.

“He’s an argumentative bastard,” mused Robby, moving from the back of the stables. Jack spun around at the sound of his voice. “What did he catch you at, then?”

Jack was relieved that Robby had not heard the exchange. “Questioning his actions, as usual.”

“Aye, well, he’s a bad-tempered cur, that one. If you ask me he’s waiting for a knife in the back, and it’ll happen, mark me.” Robby moved to lean against the cart where the master had so recently stood.

“Do you think so?” Jack’s thoughts were elsewhere.

“I do. Alan says he’ll not last. What do we need him for anyway? He does nothing, he’s just an idle bastard. If we were on our own we could make twice as much and not have him on our bleeding backs.” Robby spat in Fitzwarren’s direction.

Jack’s attention was now most fully Robby’s. “You might be right there, but I can’t see what we can do about it.”

“Aye, well, maybe there is something. Alan has a plan. We’ll just have to wait and see, but I can tell you I’m with him,” Robby confided.

“What exactly is Alan doing?” Jack moved closer to Robby, the ache in his neck forgotten.

Jack recognised the uncertainty in Robby’s eyes and his voice was hesitant when he replied. “I can’t say, but my money is on Alan. What about you?”

Jack was shocked. He was being asked if he would stand as a challenger against Richard. He was careful. “I hear what you say, but I can tell you I don’t think Alan has a chance of getting rid of Fitzwarren. Do you?”

“He doesn’t need to, there’s someone else that will do that for him.” Robby replied, though his voice had become uncertain, and Jack read the apprehension on Robby’s face.

Jack moved to allay it. “Well, that would change things, wouldn’t it? But who?”

Reassured, Robby continued, “Well, that I don’t rightly know, but Alan said it had something to do with what happened before he left London. What, I can’t say. But does it matter? If someone is happy enough to get rid of him for us, all the better. You couldn’t do a much worse job than he does? Alan would back you and quite a few of the other lads as well.”

Jack wondered if Robby knew he had recently levelled Alan to the ground. He doubted it. Otherwise, the man would not be so eager to share Alan’s plan. Alan would not be planning to replace Richard with Jack, Alan would have designs on the role of leader for himself. “Well, there is much in what you say, Robby. Who else is with you? Dan? Mat?”

“Nah, not them. Mat’s a right shifty bastard, and Dan—nah—he’s Fitzwarren’s man all right. But Gavin’s with us and so is Froggy Tate, and Alan thinks the rest’ll follow when he’s gone.”

Jack grinned. “What do you think, eh?”

It was enough for Robby, who clapped him on the arm, being careful to use his good hand.

 

†

 

The following day, while Jack was busy organising the men, Catherine was less well occupied. The needlework had lain in front of her, untouched, for hours, and she had retired to her room early, for she could not stand to sit in the hall and watch the slow evening routine of the household. She knew she had another hour to wait before the house was fully asleep, and even so, she had prepared already. Wearing an old dark-grey dress, she had folded two cloaks, both dark in colour; one to warm her and one to spread over the gaps in the planking to ensure she would not be seen, and both lay ready on her desk. She was confident that in the gloom of the stable, even if someone did look up, they would be unable to see her up in the stable roof.

Finally, she dared to venture down the stairs and move quietly through the sleeping hall and into the stable. During the afternoon Catherine had looked carefully at the route she would take to climb to the roof. But, in the dark, the foot and handholds could not be seen at all clearly. Hoisting the cloak above her head she threw it upwards to her hiding place. She misjudged it and it came straight back down, providing an unwelcome slap in the face. The second attempt was successful, leaving her hands free to make her ascent.

 

†

 

 

Jack was supposed to be on his way to deliver final directions, but it had taken longer than he had thought to find Dan who, at the Master’s direction, had been to the village.

“Thank you for your words of wisdom.” Jack sat down heavily next to Dan. Leaning across he helped himself to a greasy slice of mutton.

“Aye, I heard. Did I say to you to go and share it? No, I bloody didn’t. If it helps you any, what you got is nothing compared to the roasting he gave me. I regret it as much as you do,” Dan muttered through a mouthful of chewed meat.

“I’ll not be putting up with it any longer anyway,” Jack declared.

Dan’s eyebrows raised. “How’s that then?”

“I’ll leave, it’s as simple as that. He doesn’t want me here and I bloody well don’t want to be here having my arse kicked every time there’s something to answer for. No, my mind’s made up.” Jack had no intention of leaving, but he hoped the