The Gunpowder Plot Read Free Page A

a hunter’s wrist in Warwickshire.
    Then he changed. He hunched his shoulders, took off his hat and held it in front of him as he bowed and muttered, “ Your pardon, mistress.”
    He had the look of a servant as he shuffled aside to let them pass.
    But I saw his real face
, thought Eliza.
John Johnson is no servant. He is playing a part, I’m sure of it. He is dangerous. And he knows we are following him.
    She seized Lucy’s hand, and the two of them ran off down the street as fast as they could. They didn’t look back, but Eliza could feel John Johnson watching them till they turned the corner.
    * * *
    â€œ Where
have
the gentlemen taken you?” cried Cecily, as she surveyed the two dishevelled girls. “Mud, cobwebs – and what are these nasty green stains?”
    She unlaced their gowns and made them change into clean clothes, then set about untangling their hair.
    â€œOw!” wailed Eliza.
    â€œIt’s for your own good, Mistress Eliza. Your mother mustn’t see you like this. She’s already cross, waiting for you. Where have you been?”
    â€œNowhere much,” said Eliza. “Ouch!”
    Later, on their way downstairs, Lucy whispered, “We must meet and talk privately.”
    But Eliza’s mother kept them both under her eye for the rest of the day, reading from the Bible and working on their embroidery. Eliza thought they would have to wait until bedtime, but in the evening, when they were all finishing supper, there came a loud knock at the main door.
    Eliza heard her father’s manservant talking to someone. Then he came in and spoke quietly to her father and uncle, who both got up at once and went out into the hall.
    In the dining room, all the clatter of plates and spoons stopped, and Eliza knew her mother was listening intently. So were Eliza and Lucy.
    There were several men’s voices on the other side of the door. They sounded urgent and serious. Eliza caught the words “warning…”, “a letter…”, “the King’s person…”
    Then the visitors’ voices rose as they moved towards the door: “If you see or hear anything unusual…”
    â€œWe will, most certainly,” her father said.
    Eliza and Lucy looked at each other. Eliza knew they were both thinking the same thing.
    â€œMother,” she said, “Lucy and I have noticed something unusual.”
    â€œOh!” Her mother seemed to see the girls for the first time. “Eliza, how many times have I told you not to listen to private conversations? Go upstairs to your bedchamber now, both of you.”
    â€œBut, Mother… There is a man – there is something strange about him…”
    But her mother took no notice. Eliza knew she thought this was just one of their games. And she also knew that her mother was alarmed by what the gentlemen had been saying.
    Upstairs in their bedchamber, Eliza and Lucy talked in whispers about what they had just heard.
    â€œI’m sure it means danger to the King,” said Lucy. “We ought to inform our fathers of our suspicions.”
    Lucy had a way of making things sound important. Eliza knew she must go down again and speak to her father, even if he was angry.
    They found their fathers deep in discussion. It was not a good time, and the gentlemen were not pleased to see them – but Lucy’s father gave her permission to speak. “Father,” she said, “we have been watching someone we believe is an enemy.”
    Eliza remembered something Mistress Perks had said, and added, “We think this concerns the safety of the realm.”
    The men exchanged a glance, and Lucy’s father sighed. “Lucy,” he said, “we have no time for your games now. I am displeased at this interruption. Please leave us.”
    â€œYou too, Eliza,” said her father sternly.

    â€œ It’s not a game – ” Eliza began. But her father’s look