Read Online A Murder on London Bridge by Susanna Gregory - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Susanna Gregory
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brave Penderels helped the King to escape after the Royalist defeat at the Battle of Worcester, but their names were Richard, John—’
‘They are our cousins,’ interrupted Rupert briskly. ‘But we are just as devoted to his cause. Cromwell stole our estates during his reign of terror, so we came to London to throw ourselves on the King’s mercy. He has been very generous.’
Yet more scavengers, using the wars as an excuse to gain something for nothing, thought Chaloner in disgust. It was easy to descend on White Hall, declaring penury due to Royalist-held convictions, and people flocked to do it in droves. And most of the claims were bogus: if Cromwell really had acquired all he was accused of stealing, he would have been the richest man in the world by an enormous margin – and he had been nothing of the kind.
‘Are you Catholic?’ demanded the Earl, somewhat out of the blue. ‘Like your cousins?’
Rupert regarded him with dislike. ‘Yes, we are. What of it?’
‘Catholics are not permitted to hold positions at Court,’ the Earl declared triumphantly. Chaloner winced; this was hardly a statement to calm troubled waters. ‘So your appointments are unlawful.’
‘They are not!’ declared Rupert hotly. ‘His Majesty made an exception for us.’
‘It is a stupid rule, anyway,’ said Oliver sullenly. He was smaller than his brother, but the scars on his knuckles indicated a penchant for brawling. ‘We four are the most loyal men in the country. Why should we not serve His Majesty at Court?’
‘Oliver speaks the truth,’ said Rupert. ‘And you would not have a king, were it not for Catholics – it was not Anglicans who risked life and limb to spirit him to safety after Cromwell won the wars. And with no king, there would be no lord chancellor, either.’
‘Open the door,’ ordered the Earl, tiring of the debate. ‘I shall speak to His Majesty as and when I choose. No Catholic has the right to interfere with that.’
‘Well, these Catholics do,’ countered Rupert. ‘The King is playing blind-man’s buff with Lady Castlemaine, and I will send for you only when he is finished. Wait over there.’
Chaloner could see there was no point in arguing, and all four brothers were fingering their swords meaningfully. He flailed around for an excuse that would allow his master to leave without acknowledging that the Penderels had won the confrontation.
‘You cannot wait, sir – you have an urgent appointment with the Bishop of Winchester,’ he said, referring to one of the Earl’s closest friends. ‘We should go, and return later to see the King.’
The Earl was not a fool, and knew when it was wise to beat a retreat. ‘Very well,’ he said, turning on his heel and beginning to waddle away. ‘I am a busy man, and cannot afford to waste valuable time. Council business must wait.’
There were a number of smirks as he retraced his steps, although no one spoke, and he and Chaloner walked the entire length of the Privy Gallery in a ringing silence. Once outside, the Earl heaved a sigh of relief.
‘Thank you,’ he said unsteadily. ‘Those ruffians might have assaulted me if you had not invented that excuse for us to leave. Perhaps I should not have mentioned the illegality of their offices.’
‘Perhaps not,’ agreed Chaloner.
The Earl sighed again. ‘They provoked me with their insolence, but I should not have risen to the bait. I have seen many Penderels pass through Court – greedy parasites, whose true colours will soon be exposed, at which point they will be dismissed. Summon my carriage, if you please.’
‘Where are you going?’
The Earl grimaced. ‘I have no idea, but we had better go somewhere, or my enemies will say I lied about seeing the bishop. How about St James’s Park? It is pleasant there of a morning, and we can discuss your investigation into the murder of Blue Dick.’
St James’s Park was indeed pleasant of a morning, because it was too early to be
‘They are our cousins,’ interrupted Rupert briskly. ‘But we are just as devoted to his cause. Cromwell stole our estates during his reign of terror, so we came to London to throw ourselves on the King’s mercy. He has been very generous.’
Yet more scavengers, using the wars as an excuse to gain something for nothing, thought Chaloner in disgust. It was easy to descend on White Hall, declaring penury due to Royalist-held convictions, and people flocked to do it in droves. And most of the claims were bogus: if Cromwell really had acquired all he was accused of stealing, he would have been the richest man in the world by an enormous margin – and he had been nothing of the kind.
‘Are you Catholic?’ demanded the Earl, somewhat out of the blue. ‘Like your cousins?’
Rupert regarded him with dislike. ‘Yes, we are. What of it?’
‘Catholics are not permitted to hold positions at Court,’ the Earl declared triumphantly. Chaloner winced; this was hardly a statement to calm troubled waters. ‘So your appointments are unlawful.’
‘They are not!’ declared Rupert hotly. ‘His Majesty made an exception for us.’
‘It is a stupid rule, anyway,’ said Oliver sullenly. He was smaller than his brother, but the scars on his knuckles indicated a penchant for brawling. ‘We four are the most loyal men in the country. Why should we not serve His Majesty at Court?’
‘Oliver speaks the truth,’ said Rupert. ‘And you would not have a king, were it not for Catholics – it was not Anglicans who risked life and limb to spirit him to safety after Cromwell won the wars. And with no king, there would be no lord chancellor, either.’
‘Open the door,’ ordered the Earl, tiring of the debate. ‘I shall speak to His Majesty as and when I choose. No Catholic has the right to interfere with that.’
‘Well, these Catholics do,’ countered Rupert. ‘The King is playing blind-man’s buff with Lady Castlemaine, and I will send for you only when he is finished. Wait over there.’
Chaloner could see there was no point in arguing, and all four brothers were fingering their swords meaningfully. He flailed around for an excuse that would allow his master to leave without acknowledging that the Penderels had won the confrontation.
‘You cannot wait, sir – you have an urgent appointment with the Bishop of Winchester,’ he said, referring to one of the Earl’s closest friends. ‘We should go, and return later to see the King.’
The Earl was not a fool, and knew when it was wise to beat a retreat. ‘Very well,’ he said, turning on his heel and beginning to waddle away. ‘I am a busy man, and cannot afford to waste valuable time. Council business must wait.’
There were a number of smirks as he retraced his steps, although no one spoke, and he and Chaloner walked the entire length of the Privy Gallery in a ringing silence. Once outside, the Earl heaved a sigh of relief.
‘Thank you,’ he said unsteadily. ‘Those ruffians might have assaulted me if you had not invented that excuse for us to leave. Perhaps I should not have mentioned the illegality of their offices.’
‘Perhaps not,’ agreed Chaloner.
The Earl sighed again. ‘They provoked me with their insolence, but I should not have risen to the bait. I have seen many Penderels pass through Court – greedy parasites, whose true colours will soon be exposed, at which point they will be dismissed. Summon my carriage, if you please.’
‘Where are you going?’
The Earl grimaced. ‘I have no idea, but we had better go somewhere, or my enemies will say I lied about seeing the bishop. How about St James’s Park? It is pleasant there of a morning, and we can discuss your investigation into the murder of Blue Dick.’
St James’s Park was indeed pleasant of a morning, because it was too early to be
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