Soldier of Fortune: The King's Courtesan (Rakes and Rogues of the Retoration Book 2) by Judith James Page B
Authors: Judith James
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live.”
“Charles has disappointed you.”
“Yes,” he sighed. “I imagined I was fighting for the birth of a brave new age.”
“That was a great deal to expect from Charles, don’t you think?” she asked gently.
“Yes, my love it was.” He sighed. “Perhaps I am over harsh with him at times. But there’s something glorious in our idealism before life strips it away.”
“I suspect he feels the same.” She looked at him thoughtfully and then opened Robert’s letter and began to read.
My dearest Elizabeth,
How kind of you to write and share your happy news. I can scarcely credit that any woman managed to bring de Veres to heel. It is an act of superb generalship worthy of your father and congratulations are due. I am delighted for you, my dear, so long as he treats you well. It is kind of you to offer to visit. I, too, value our friendship, but I regret it is not possible at this time. It seems the king has found a higher purpose for Cressly, and thus, I must find one for myself. I will be gone from it by the end of next month.
Her gasp of outrage made William looked up from his writing . “Elizabeth? What does he say?” She raised a hand for him to wait, as she finished reading.
I am been better suited to soldiering than farming, I suspect, so it should prove no great hardship. Those of us who fought with Cromwell are highly regarded in the private armies of Europe. This has served me well in the past and I’ve no doubt I can make my fortune there. I expect to keep a small town house in London to occupy my servants and act as a pied-à-terre. Once all is arranged, I will of course, look forward to your visit.
Your servant, Captain Robert Nichols
The captain had served as a mercenary? She had never thought to ask him what he’d done during the peaceful years of Cromwell’s Protectorate, though she knew he’d been recalled to active duty in Ireland near the end. She had always assumed he’d spent them quietly, seeing to his estate. I pictured him there, going over his books while he was tramping across the battlefields of Europe? It struck her that despite their friendship, she really hadn’t known the man at all. She did know that he had rescued and protected her, though, and helped her back on her feet when her own world had come tumbling down. And I know Cressly means more to him than what he lets on.
“ Is something troubling you, Lizzy? It’s not like you to be quite for so long.”
“Oh, William how could he?” she said, ignoring his teasing. “The king is taking Robert’s lands!”
William shrugged. “These things happen. He is a lesser gentleman who was on the wrong side of the war. It costs Charles nothing to displace him. There must be someone he needs to please and your friend’s lands are the most convenient way to do so.”
“Well, I have changed my mind. We must go to London now. Captain Nichols rescued me from Cromwell’s soldiers, Will. It was he who intervened the day after you left. He spoke for me when I was judged and facing transportation or worse, and he helped me get settled in London. Perhaps if I speak with Charles I can change his mind. I must at least try. I owe him so much.”
CHAPTER FIVE
Their arrival at court a week later was greeted with a great deal of excitement. As they made their way through the great hall to the privy chamber the crowded room became a sea of craning necks. The court had been a duller place since the scandalous earl had left it. People still whispered and chuckled about his farewell gift to the king. They were shocked at the rumors he had married his mistress, except the Duke of Monmouth who’d made a fortune wagering on it and still maintained that Elizabeth Walters had been the earl’s childhood friend.
They look at me as if I was a tame bear,” William grumbled to Elizabeth.
Her heart skipped a beat. She wondered, for just a moment, if he’d feel the need to prove them wrong.
“Charles has disappointed you.”
“Yes,” he sighed. “I imagined I was fighting for the birth of a brave new age.”
“That was a great deal to expect from Charles, don’t you think?” she asked gently.
“Yes, my love it was.” He sighed. “Perhaps I am over harsh with him at times. But there’s something glorious in our idealism before life strips it away.”
“I suspect he feels the same.” She looked at him thoughtfully and then opened Robert’s letter and began to read.
My dearest Elizabeth,
How kind of you to write and share your happy news. I can scarcely credit that any woman managed to bring de Veres to heel. It is an act of superb generalship worthy of your father and congratulations are due. I am delighted for you, my dear, so long as he treats you well. It is kind of you to offer to visit. I, too, value our friendship, but I regret it is not possible at this time. It seems the king has found a higher purpose for Cressly, and thus, I must find one for myself. I will be gone from it by the end of next month.
Her gasp of outrage made William looked up from his writing . “Elizabeth? What does he say?” She raised a hand for him to wait, as she finished reading.
I am been better suited to soldiering than farming, I suspect, so it should prove no great hardship. Those of us who fought with Cromwell are highly regarded in the private armies of Europe. This has served me well in the past and I’ve no doubt I can make my fortune there. I expect to keep a small town house in London to occupy my servants and act as a pied-à-terre. Once all is arranged, I will of course, look forward to your visit.
Your servant, Captain Robert Nichols
The captain had served as a mercenary? She had never thought to ask him what he’d done during the peaceful years of Cromwell’s Protectorate, though she knew he’d been recalled to active duty in Ireland near the end. She had always assumed he’d spent them quietly, seeing to his estate. I pictured him there, going over his books while he was tramping across the battlefields of Europe? It struck her that despite their friendship, she really hadn’t known the man at all. She did know that he had rescued and protected her, though, and helped her back on her feet when her own world had come tumbling down. And I know Cressly means more to him than what he lets on.
“ Is something troubling you, Lizzy? It’s not like you to be quite for so long.”
“Oh, William how could he?” she said, ignoring his teasing. “The king is taking Robert’s lands!”
William shrugged. “These things happen. He is a lesser gentleman who was on the wrong side of the war. It costs Charles nothing to displace him. There must be someone he needs to please and your friend’s lands are the most convenient way to do so.”
“Well, I have changed my mind. We must go to London now. Captain Nichols rescued me from Cromwell’s soldiers, Will. It was he who intervened the day after you left. He spoke for me when I was judged and facing transportation or worse, and he helped me get settled in London. Perhaps if I speak with Charles I can change his mind. I must at least try. I owe him so much.”
CHAPTER FIVE
Their arrival at court a week later was greeted with a great deal of excitement. As they made their way through the great hall to the privy chamber the crowded room became a sea of craning necks. The court had been a duller place since the scandalous earl had left it. People still whispered and chuckled about his farewell gift to the king. They were shocked at the rumors he had married his mistress, except the Duke of Monmouth who’d made a fortune wagering on it and still maintained that Elizabeth Walters had been the earl’s childhood friend.
They look at me as if I was a tame bear,” William grumbled to Elizabeth.
Her heart skipped a beat. She wondered, for just a moment, if he’d feel the need to prove them wrong.
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