[Roger the Chapman 02] - The Plymouth Cloak Read Free Page A

which was nothing more now than a fringe of grey ash, trembling along the edge of what remained of the logs. 'I, too, dislike the feeling of being caged. I go to Westminster as little as possible, and when I'm there I dream all the time of the Yorkshire moors.' He turned to smile ruefully at me. 'You and I are two of a kind, it seems, yet another reason why I know I can trust you. But I knew that the moment I first clapped eyes on you. With some people, I can tell instinctively. With others-' his tone grew bitter - 'I shall never understand them.' I guessed that he was thinking of his brother George, but I said nothing. I was not my place to do so. After a further pause he continued in his normal voice: 'So! Down to business. You're naturally wondering why I've brought you here, and I must be ready to set off towards Nottingham as soon as possible.' He shifted in his chair to face me more directly, and I gave him my undivided attention.  

CHAPTER 2  

    There was silence for perhaps ten seconds before the Duke spoke again. When he did so his voice was a little sharper, a little more urgent.  
    'You understand that what I am about to tell you is of the greatest secrecy; that I trust you implicitly.' He gave a faint, wintry smile. 'Until Timothy Plummer mentioned to my secretary that he had seen you in Exeter earlier this morning, I was at my wits' end to know what to do. Whom to employ.' He shrugged and added bitterly: 'It's not easy nowadays to put faith in anyone.' And I knew that he was thinking yet again of his brother George, and possibly also of that other George, his cousin, the Archbishop of York, now immured in Hammes Castle.  
    I said quickly: 'Your Grace need have no fear. You can trust me implicitly.'  
    'If I were not convinced of that fact I should not be talking to you. Your presence here is fortuitous, but it seems like an answer to prayer. And who knows? It may well be.'  
    I guessed that he was probably right. God was calling in the second part of the debt I owed him for renouncing the chance to become one of his priests. I determined to have a brisk word with the Almighty; to ask Him just how long this was likely to go on, but now was neither the time nor the place. Instead I smiled, albeit with clenched teeth, and murmured: 'God moves in mysterious ways, Your Highness.'  
    The Duke glanced at me, a trifle suspiciously I thought, and then went on: 'You cannot be unaware of the rumours of invasion which have been plaguing the country all spring and summer; of the fact that Duke Francis is said to be backing Henry Tudor's claim to the English throne and is ready to send a contingent of Breton ships and men to reinforce that claim. Even as we speak, the Earl of Oxford is cruising in mid-Channel, waiting for the opportunity to attack yet again somewhere along our shores.' He lowered his eyes and began fiddling with his rings, slipping one of them repeatedly on and off his thumb. 'Nor can you be ignorant of the fact that ... that certain people very close to the King and myself have been implicated in this treason. In short, my brother and my cousin. ' There was a protracted pause, then he raised his eyes and continued more cheerfully: 'However, the King and I are by no means convinced of Duke Francis' s complicity in this matter. Not one of our agents, either in Brest or St Malo, has reported seeing anything which could be construed as an invasion fleet. Nevertheless, we have decided to dispatch a messenger to Brittany with a letter for the Duke.' Again he shrugged. 'Its contents are of no consequence either to you or to the man selected for the task. Suffice it to say that certain assurances have been asked for and promises made. But it is vital that the letter reaches its destination safely.' He rested his elbows on the arms of his chair and regarded me straitly above his clasped hands. 'You are wondering what your part is in all this. Let me explain. '  
    I was indeed wondering and, for a few brief,