The Forest - Edward Rutherfurd [176]
‘I have had another letter from Spain,’ his mother said quite calmly, one evening, when he returned from a visit to Southampton.
‘Today? How?’ Who could possibly have brought such a thing to his house in that quiet corner of the Forest?
She waved the question aside as if it were irrelevant. ‘You must be ready, now, Clement. The time is close.’
‘When? When are they coming?’
‘I have told you. Very soon. No doubt the beacons will be lit. You will know. Then you must do your duty.’
‘What other news did you receive? What is their intention? Do they make for the Isle of Wight? For Portsmouth?’
‘I cannot say, Clement.’
‘Let me see the letter, Mother.’
‘No, Clement. I have told you all you need to know.’
He stared at her. Did she not trust him? Of course she didn’t. She suspects, he thought, that if I learn anything more about the Spanish movements, I might tell Gorges or the lord-lieutenant. And she is right. I probably would. He wondered where the letter was. Should he search her chamber? Was there any way – during her sleep, maybe – that he could search her clothing? No hope, he considered.
And then another thought came to him. Could this be a ruse, a cunning contrivance? Was it possible that there was no letter, that she had invented it to test him, to see what he would do? Was she as devious as that? Perhaps.
‘I am sorry you keep secrets from me, Mother,’ he said stiffly; but this had no effect upon her at all.
It was the sequel the next day, however, that was truly frightening. He had chanced to meet Thomas Gorges in Lymington and Gorges, after they had talked a few moments, had given him a keen look and remarked: ‘We are still trying to discover the Spanish intentions, Clement. We suspect that letters may be coming to recusants in England which might contain information of value.’
‘That is possible, I suppose.’ Albion tried to keep calm.
‘People like your mother.’
He could not help it. He felt himself go white. ‘My mother?’
‘Has she received any letters, any messengers, any strange visitors? You surely must know.’
‘I …’ He thought furiously. Did Gorges know she had received a letter? If so, hadn’t he better tell him? Let the authorities search his mother, since he didn’t dare, and uncover her secret. But in that case what would they find? God knew what such a letter might contain to incriminate him. He dare not risk it. ‘I do not know of any such letter,’ he said hesitantly. ‘But I will question her.’ And then, in a flash of inspiration: ‘Do you suspect her, Thomas? God knows what her madness may lead her to.’
‘No, Clement. I ask in a general way only.’
Albion studied his face. He could be lying. Gorges was far too discreet to give himself away. And then a horrible thought occurred to him. What if Gorges, or those above him not only knew of the letter but had already read its contents? In that case Gorges knew more about it than he did. God knew what sort of trap this might be. ‘If my mother received a letter from the King of Spain himself, Thomas,’ he said, ‘mad as she is, she very likely would not tell me because she knows very well that I am loyal to my queen. That’s the truth of it.’
‘I know you can be trusted, Clement,’ Gorges said and moved off. But when a man says he knows he can trust you, Albion thought sadly, it usually means that he does not.
Nick Pride had certainly proved