Courtesan of the Saints

  Chapter 8

  Miles, in consultation with Armorer and the leaders of the Sealed Knot, had determined to visit the King and give a report on all that was happening. He set off a few days after his night with Cherry, and was away for over a month. When he returned to England he had to set out immediately for Lancashire to visit several people with messages from the King.

  There was a considerable amount of activity amongst the Royalists in England now. They were beginning to recover hope after the defeat of Worcester, and also the fear that Cromwell might usurp the throne as well as the power of ruler spurred many to efforts on the King's behalf.

  Nicholas Armorer was travelling in the northen counties, and Miles was also kept busy there and in the west for some months. It was towards the end of April that he returned to London. As before, he sent word to Cherry, and she sent back to say she was engaged that night, and could not avoid it, but would be happy to see him at a small party the following night.

  Disappointed, having hoped for an immediate invitation, he fretted about his lodgings, then decided to visit Sir Henry Villiers. Sir Henry had moved his own lodgings again, and was near the Inner Temple now. Miles found his way there, and was warmly welcomed by Sir Henry, who called for wine and was very ready to discuss the progress of events.

  'The Protector and the Council have issued many ordinances,' he told Miles.

  'There seems to be an acceptance that will be difficult to change,' Miles said gloomily.

  'I am not so certain. When Cromwell dined with the Lord Mayor in February there was not much enthusiasm in the City for him. People were thankful to be rid of Barebones and his motley crew, but are not hastening to welcome Cromwell.'

  'So our plots may stand more chance of success.'

  'I think so, even though the attempt in February met with so little success.'

  'I heard rumours of this, but no clear details. It was concerted by men who would not consult the Knot.'

  'Aye, and foolish men they were! They were free with their talk in the taverns, and it was an open secret they were meeting regularly at the Ship, in Old Bailey. The men Thurloe employs did not need to use much cunning to learn the details!'

  'This is like to happen all the time, with enthusiastic hotheads refusing to use patience or caution,' Miles commented ruefully.

  'But they had such wild notions! First they would instigate a riot amongst the apprentices, and use it to seize London! As if any could control the London apprentices once they are rioting! These men had little idea of what such a riot could be like.'

  'What happened to them?'

  'Most were arrested, including Whitley and Ditton, the leaders, but I know there were some that escaped. I hope they do not concoct other such wild plans.'

  'There are similar plots brewing all over the country,' Miles told him. 'Much of it due to the feeling nought is being done by the leaders the King has appointed.'

  'You mean the Knot?'

  'Aye. Many feel it is too cautious, and bolder measures are needed.'

  'The Knot will never consent to taking risks. I know them too well, and I cannot blame them. I was involved in the Norfolk rising in fifty, and barely escaped with my life. Most of my friends were not so fortunate. If small affairs like that are too frequent, our most likely men are killed or captured, as Wogan was killed in a skirmish in Scotland, or lose the nerve for further risings.'

  'Agreed, we need to concert the efforts, but unless the Knot shows itself more active, men will not be content to wait.'

  'We must try to persuade them,' Sir Henry said.

  'It is not so easy. I have just had four months of talking with them. But enough of that. How is life with you? How is your wife, and the children? Content to remain in Norfolk without you?'

  'I pay frequent visits home when I am not needed here,' Sir Henry said, smiling. 'My wife is breeding again, which is a great joy to me. She is a most satisfactory wife in all respects.'

  He talked for some time about his family, and Miles was silent, wondering if he would ever himself be able to do the same. He admitted to himself he would never marry anyone but Cherry, though the prospect of doing that seemed exceedingly remote if she were working for Thurloe and the Parliamentarians.

  Miles hungered for the sight of her, and arrived early at her house the following evening, to find a select group of her friends, mostly the neighboring merchants, and only John Taunton of the Parliamentary set.

  That evening the talk was largely nonpolitical, mostly to do with trade, and the improved prospects now peace had been made with the Dutch. Anne Aston and several of the younger wives were full of plans to take advantage of the less strict regime to go a'maying in Hyde Park.

  'I have never been, for it has been banned since I was a child,' Anne was saying eagerly. 'Cherry, you will come with us, will you not?'

  'To be sure I will. I can remember dancing round the maypole when I was a girl, and I would love to do such again.'

  'You will have to get up early,' one of the other women warned. 'I know you lie late in bed, Cherry.'

  'I need to stay refreshed for these evenings,' Cherry retorted. 'But I will be certain to rise early, before dawn, and will be there before you all!'

  'I know not why you want to do such things,' Mr. Aston said, looking indulgently at his wife.

  She smiled at him. 'To make ourselves as beautiful as possible for our husbands.'

  'It would be impossible, that you could be more beautiful,' John Taunton said gallantly, and they all laughed, while Anne blushed.

  'Are we men to be allowed to join in the revelry?' one of the younger men asked, and the women assured him all would be welcome to make the party merrier.

  'I understood such revelries were banned still?' one timid girl suggested.

  'Why, so they are, but no one pays heed to that now. I have heard of hundreds who are planning to go,' Anne reassured her, and they began to make plans.

  Some time later Cherry spoke alone with Miles. After asking whether he had had a good journey, and whether he had settled on a property yet, she was silent for a while,

  'Will you - ' she broke off, and bit her lip. She had determined not to ask him to stay the night, and here was her rebellious tongue about to do so at the first opportunity.

  'Will you join us on May morn?' she said hurriedly, and Miles, who knew perfectly well she had changed her mind in what she had been about to say, nodded unsmilingly. He had been fighting the desire to take her in his arms all evening, scarcely restrained by the other guests, and this rebuff hit him like a pail of cold water. He knew it was silly to visit her while he suspected her, but he longed for her so deeply he refused to be cautious. However, there was little he could do, and he made his departure early, jealously wondering if John Taunton was to be more fortunate than himself.

  On May day, Miles was up long before dawn, and rode out to Hyde Park on the west of London. There were many others going in the same direction, and all dressed in their finest clothes. As well as the richer merchants, there were hundreds of the lesser tradesfolk, and many maids and apprentices. Even the gentry seemed to be joining in the general merriment, and several coaches were being driven to the park.

  Anne Aston had explained they intended to meet at the side nearest St James's Palace, and Miles found a large party already assembled when he arrived. Cherry was there, dressed in a white taffeta gown embroidered in pink. She smiled up at Miles as he drew rein beside them.

  'Leave your mount over there,' she suggested. 'One of my menservants will take care of them.'

  Nodding his thanks, Miles delivered his horse into this man's charge, and rejoined the group. They were chatting merrily, and chaffing the latecomers. Soon after Miles had arrived, the party was complete, and they moved further into the park towards a scattered clump of trees.

  Anne Aston, much livelier than Miles had seen her previously, was leading the way, accompanied by two of the younger men. When they reached the edge of the trees, she turned and
addressed the party.

  'First, we must all bathe our faces in the dew,' she said, laughing, and bent down to wet her hands in the long grass.

  The women followed suit, and emitted cries of pleasure or dismay as the cool dew was transferred to their faces.

  'What is it supposed to do for us?' one young girl asked.

  'It removes all blemishes, and softens the skin,' Anne replied.

  'Then I shall try it on my arms too,' the girl said, and pushing up her sleeves, began to bathe her arms in the moisture.

  'I have a mole on my ankle,' another said, and amidst cries of encouragement from the men, slipped off her shoe, and pretending coyness, turned away to roll down her stocking. She then extended her foot, carefully raising her skirts the smallest way possible for the ankle to be visible.

  'Where is the mole? I cannot see it, I vow!' The speaker was kneeling beside her, and at this others tried to find the elusive mark.

  'I have one by my knee,' Anne claimed, and pretended to be horrified when she was asked to show it.

  Soon the claims of blemishes and the suggestions for bathing them grew wilder and more hilarious. Some genteel struggles were taking place, and a few couples had drifted away from the main group. Cherry had watched it all with a slightly abstracted air, not competing for attention, and Miles had stayed beside her. He bent towards her after a short time.

  'I can remember the most delectable mole,' he whispered. 'I have kissed it often, and think of doing so every day and night.'

  She turned quickly towards him, and he glimpsed a look of pure amusement in her eyes, the sort of look she had so often given him, and which attracted him so. But soon it vanished, and he was startled to see a look of pain in her face.

  'Cherry, what is it?' he asked in quick concern.

  'Nought, I assure you.' She struggled to recover her composure, which was threatened by his company. The effort to deny him, to restrain the longing for him, was worse than anything she had previously experienced.

  'Come, we must dance,' Anne Aston called at that moment, and Cherry turned with relief to this diversion. They set about gathering branches, and not having a Maypole, tried to reconstruct the old dance without the ribbons. Using the branches, and encircling a small tree, they danced in the traditional rings. Many of the younger people had never seen the dance, or could not remember it from ten years or more ago, but there were sufficient older people there to provide instruction, and the mistakes caused great hilarity.

  Soon they were breathless from the unwonted exertion, and collapsed onto the ground.

  'We must choose a Queen for the day,' Anne said, and looked around hopefully. 'Who shall it be?'

  Several of the men glanced at Cherry, for they all visited her house, and she seemed a natural leader, as well as being the most beautiful woman there. But before anyone could speak she made her own suggestion.

  'Why, you must be it, of course, Anne.'

  ''I thought it had to be a maid,' one of the younger unmarried girls said a trifle wistfully.

  'I know not what rules there are, but surely we can make our own? Let the Queen have some attendants,' Cherry suggested.

  This was applauded, and Anne, well satisfied, was decked with garlands of flowers , as were the girls selected to be her attendants. When this was done, they formed a procession, and made their way back to where the horses and a few coaches waited.

  'We have brought food, and will eat there,' Anne declared regally.

  For some time the merriment continued, as they ate and drank. All over the park other groups were making merry in much the same way. Milkmaids were selling tankards of milk straight from the cows, and Cherry expressed a wish to try some.

  'It is years since I was able to do so, when I lived in the country,' she explained to Miles as he escorted her across the park to buy the milk. 'And I am not usually up early enough to enjoy an outing like this, in the cool of the morning.'

  'Do you never walk in the parks?' Miles asked in some surprise, for it was a fashionable pastime. 'The cows are here all day.'

  'I come sometimes, but not as often as I should,' Cherry replied.

  'Will you come with me some day?' Miles said before he had considered whether it was a wise invitation.

  'That would be pleasant,' Cherry answered, but at that moment they reached the place where the milk was being served, and neither of them referred to the suggestion again. Miles was debating whether, since so many people knew he frequented Cherry's house, it would be dangerous to be seen in public with her. Cherry was deciding she must avoid such expeditions, for the more she saw of Miles the more difficult she found it to be on her guard against him, and to remember he might be a spy waiting to betray an incautious word.

  Gradually the revellers were dispersing, and Cherry bade Miles farewell as she prepared to depart with the Astons. who had brought her in their coach. Miles rode behind. with some of the other men, and they went towards Charing Cross. Glancing around, Miles was startled to see Faithful Denham standing at the side of the road, glaring venomously after the Astons' coach. He was muttering to himself as they rode past, and did not appear to see the riders, though one of them hailed him.

  'Poor Faithful! He has been more than usually morose these last few months, preaching against all forms of pleasure, and declaring we are all sinners. He appears to have come to view the sinning!'

  'To be able to fulminate more knowledgeably about it, no doubt,' another laughed. 'I confess I have been relieved he has not haunted Mistress Weston's house so assiduously as in the past. He made things uncomfortable many times.'

  'Aye. I cannot think why he frequents the company, he detests it so.'

  'It is the moth and the candle. He objects to Mistress Weston's hospitality, and the good company to be found there, but he cannot keep away from her. Have you not seen him gazing at her?'

  'But everyone is in love with Mistress Weston! You would not expect Faithful to be immune from a universal disease?' another man put in.

  'I do not expect him to have any normal appetites.'

  'Oh, it makes me gloomy even to think of him,' someone protested, and they began to talk of other things.

  But the next time Miles was at Cherry's, a few days later, Faithful Denham was there, sitting for the most part of the evening in a corner, and talking to no one. The few remarks which were addressed to him he answered so surlily that those guests disposed to be friendly or polite soon left him alone.

  That evening there was music, with some of the guests performing, and so there was little time for conversation. Miles managed to speak but a few words with Cherry, and could not avoid the impression she deliberately kept out of his way. He saw jealously that John Taunton was much in favour, and helpless with longing, left the house as soon as he decently could, but in company with others so he had no private speech with Cherry. She seemed relieved to see him go, and he wondered, as he walked along to his lodgings, whether he was any better than Faithful, any better able to protect himself from burning at the candle flame. He wondered whether he ought to give up seeing her, but decided that, difficult as it made life for him, his work made it essential to maintain the contacts he had in the Parliamentarian party. If he stopped going to Cherry's it would occasion comment, and this he must avoid.

  A couple of days later he visited Sir Henry, and heard some disturbing news.

  'Those madmen I told you of, who were plotting the riot of the apprentices in February have a further plot,' Sir Henry said after greetings had been exchanged.

  'What is it this time?'

  'Nothing less than the assassination of the Protector.'

  'What? Are they indeed crazy? Have they asked your blessing or advice on this?'

  'Oh no. Despite the fact that John Gerard, the leader, knows full well the Knot needs to direct and sanction plots, he has said no word of it to us.'

  'How did you hear of it?'

  'Because we heard that the Council are planning to arrest them.'

&nb
sp; 'How do you come by such information?' Miles asked a little sceptically. 'Have you an informer?'

  'Not precisely. It came to us through an agent, a woman who has close connections with Parliament and the Army.'

  'A woman? I have not heard of such a one.'

  'No, she is not an accredited agent. The arrangement has been a private one between us. I have known her for many years, and circumstances put her in the way of discovering such secrets. She passes them on to me, and I have several times been able to warn people and save them from arrest.'

  'Her information is reliable?

  'I have always found it so.'

  'Who is she?' Miles asked curiously.

  'She has made me promise not to reveal her name to anyone else,' Sir Henry said slowly. 'She fears it might cause danger to her and to the cause if her double life were known. I am her only contact, and she prefers it that way.'

  'It seems risky for her. Forgive me, but if aught happened to you?'

  'That is a hazard we must accept. But can you make contact with Gerard and pass on the warning? I understand they plan to kill the Protector on the eleventh of this month, as he goes from Whitehall to Hampton Court. They must not do it.'

  'Indeed no. It would alienate too many people. Do they not consider this?'

  'They consider only that with Cromwell out of the way, England will fall like a ripe plum into their hands.'

  'Then they know too little about the Army and the other leaders, if they think that would be allowed to happen.'

  'I will give you their directions.'

  'Thank you. I will see them at once.'