‘I know. And I promise that I will never betray Madame’s confidence.’
He nods. ‘The fact that she trusted you is enough for me. But tell me . . .’ He hesitates. ‘Was it. . . honourable?’
‘Sir?’
‘Many of my subjects would say - if, heaven forbid, they knew about it - that when I signed that piece of paper, and took Louis’s pension, I signed away my honour. I have been thinking about that a lot, these past months. I want to know what you think.’
He is asking what I think. I try to imagine Louis XIV having this conversation, and I cannot. It is extraordinary - to talk almost as equals like this.
I have to be careful.
‘If a man had signed that document, then perhaps it could be considered dishonourable. But you are not a man. You are the king - you are England. You cannot be bound by the same considerations as ordinary men, just as you cannot be bound by the wishes of Parliament.’
‘Yes.’ He begins to pace, and I walk with him, trying to match his long stride. ‘So I thought myself, at the time. But since her death ... I see my people - they are weary of wars. Religious divisions too. Perhaps in my greed - my yearning to be an independent ruler - and my desire to please my sister, I have put my interests before theirs.’
‘But Madame had no interest in this. She only wanted what was best for you.’j
‘True. But perhaps she was influenced by her own religious convictions. Not to mention her . . . admiration for Louis.’ He glances at me^ and I see that he knows, or at least suspects, about his sister and the king. ‘She was like all of us Stuarts,’ he says apologetically. ‘Her appetite for hfe was large, and she sometimes allowed it to sway her judgement.’ He falls silent for a moment. ‘It is good to talk about this. Since her death, there has been no one I could discuss it with.’
I sense an opening. ‘You can talk to me as often as you wish, sir. Indeed, I hope that you will.’
He gives me a rueful glance. ‘I would not impose that burden on you.’
‘It would be no burden. And it is only what they all expect.’
‘Oh? Why is that?’
I hesitate, and find myself blushing a little. ‘Some of your ministers think that I will catch your eye.’
‘Ah,’ he says softiy. ‘Of course.’ He gives me a sideways look. ‘I can see why they might think so. I confess that in the past I have often had a deplorable weakness for female beauty.’
My blush deepens. ‘But I can help you without that. I can be your confidante, just as your sister was. I can get messages to Louis, I can make him aware of the pressures you are under. I have already seen how impossible it would be for you to announce your conversion now. I will report it to him.’
He raises his eyebrows. ‘You would intercede with your own king on my behalf?’
‘I would be a go-between, trusted by both. As your sister was.’
‘Then let those be the terms of the Treaty of the Rose Garden,’ he says laconically. ‘But - just so I am quite clear - that is as far as it goes? To talk to me, and nothing more?’
I blush again.
‘Forgive me,’ he adds. ‘More plain speaking. But I would
rather shock you now with my bluntness, than offend you with an unwelcome suggestion on some future occasion.’
‘Then I will speak plainly too.’ Plainly, I think, but carefully. ‘I will never by my conduct bring disgrace to my family.’
He nods. Is he disappointed, or pleased? It is impossible to be sure. But it is important that he knows that I am not going to do what Lady Arlington is insinuating I should.
We have reached the sundial in the centre of the garden, an elaborate affair of glass orbs inlaid with stained glass. The base is carved with an inscription;
Each day all previous days forget:
Waste not these hours with regret.
‘'Carpe diem^’’ he says, seeing me read it. ‘A good instruction for us both. You realise that if we are seen together, talking, people may draw their own conclusions? Your reputation, I am sure, would not invite such a response, but I am afraid that I have not always been so well behaved.’
‘It will be better if they do,’ I say frankly. ‘It will worry them far less than the idea that we are discussing matters of policy’
‘A shrewd answer. And I see over your shoulder that Lady Arlington is spying on us from the windows of your apartment even now. She will be wondering what we are talking about.’
‘Perhaps we had better make it look—’ I stop.
‘My thoughts exactly,’ he agrees. He reaches for my hand, puts it to his lips, and kisses it at the wrist. Then, still holding my wrist, he pulls me easily into his arms. For a moment I find myself staring into his eyes. Is there a hint of amusement - of calculation, even - deep in their blackness?
‘I meant what I said earlier,’ he says softly. ‘I will make no suggestions to you, I swear. But I do not deny that had you been a different sort of woman, I would have done so without hesitation.’
*
I7I
‘Well?’ Lady Arlington demands. ‘What did he say?’
‘He said . .s .’ I cannot tell her what he said. ‘It was nothing. Flatteries and endearments and so on.’
Lady Arlington smiles. ‘And I suppose you told him to keep his flatteries to himself?’
I do not reply.
‘It’s all right. I was watching from up here. I saw the way you were together. I knew you would be charmed by him. There’s something about a crown that overcomes the most stubborn scruples, isn’t there?’
Carlo
Take care that you serve your ices in small quantities, for a surfeit of any pleasure soon wearies the palate.
The Book of Ices
‘The game is on,’ Lord Arlington said with some satisfaction. ‘The king is pleased.’
‘The girl has done her duty.>’ Walsingham asked.
Arlington shook his head. ‘Not yet. But she will; it is simply a question of when.’
‘Will she need further encouragement?’ That was Cassell.
Arlington smiled. ‘That is exactly the point - she knows she must do it, but at the same time she is reluctant. It gives the king the illusion that he must make the running, and it is precisely this that stokes his interest. There’s little sport in hunting a rabbit in a barn: it’s the running doe that makes for a satisfying chase.’ He glanced at me. ‘Signor, your ices will soon be required. Make sure that you are ready.’
‘You have the pineapple.^’
He nodded. ‘It will be with you soon. Use it wisely. It cost me a great deal of money.’
‘I know my orders,’ I said shortly. ‘I will play my part.’
And then I will be gone, I thought; and good riddance to the lot of you.
4
Louise
Two days later I move into my apartments. Sumptuous and vast, the rooms echo when I walk across the inlaid floors. But I am touched to find that Charles has tried to make me feel at home: the bookcase I saw the workmen fitting is filled with French books. And - a thoughtful touch - they are not just novels, but works of philosophy, drama, mathematics. A brand-new harpsichord stands to one side, the music case stocked with pieces by Blancrocher and Chambonnieres. Next to it, the writing bureau already bears a neat stack of invitations.
As I look through them, the door to the apartment opens and two well-dressed young women come in. Seeing me, they curtsey.
‘Hello.’ I gesture at the empty rooms. ‘If you have come to visit me, I’m afraid you are a little premature. I have only just arrived myself’
The older of the two girls, a brunette, looks puzzled. ‘We have not come to visit. We are your ladies-in-waiting.’ She indicates her companion. ‘This is the Honourable Lucy Williamson, and I am Lady Anne Berowne.’
‘Ladies-in-waiting!’ I catch myselL‘Forgive me, you are very welcome. It is just that I was not expecting to have anyone wait on me. Rather the other way round, in fact. Please, take a seat.’ They are both very pretty: presumably that is all part of the Arlingtons’ design. The king \vill be even more likely to visit me if I am surrounded by attractive faces.