Hearts of Darkness by Paul Lawrence Read Free Book Online Page A

chest. ‘A friendship you could never understand. They are two fine men.’
    ‘Aye,’ I replied, angered by the contempt with which she smothered me. ‘So fine he fled. I have never met your fine son, nor the Earl of Berkshire, yet I must risk my life to find him, else Arlington will have me killed.’ I felt my face flush.
    Mrs Josselin recoiled as if I’d slapped her, anger draining from her leathery face, replaced with abject fear. ‘You say my son sabotaged a peace accord. My son was determined England should make peace with the Dutch. Two great Protestant nations,’ she said. ‘I don’t understand.’
    ‘No.’ I bowed my head. ‘Well, neither do I. Yet I would agree with your summation of Arlington’s character. I don’t know who else will help your son if not us.’
    Her lips pursed again. ‘Us?’
    ‘There are two of us.’ I decided to tell her all. ‘Myself and David Dowling. He is a butcher. We both work for Lord Arlington, neitherof us willingly. We’ve seen what he is capable of.’
    Eliza started weeping again, a whining noise with a life of its own, thin and ethereal.
    ‘I don’t know what I can tell you,’ Mrs Josselin replied.
    ‘Where he was four nights ago. What business he conducted on behalf of Arlington. Anything that proves he is not a traitor.’
    ‘I don’t know where he was four nights ago, for he stays often at the palace,’ she answered. ‘And I don’t know what business he conducts for Lord Arlington, for he doesn’t share royal secrets with his mother. What I will tell you is that this family has a proud history of loyalty to the King. Were the King to sit back and allow my son to be persecuted, then it would be a disgrace upon his crown.’ Her body trembled with indignation. ‘I was at the siege of Colchester in 1648, nearly twenty years ago. So was Edward, so was James. I will not tell you what indignities we suffered, but I will tell you one thing if you don’t know it already.’ She held up a trembling hand. ‘My son was but nine years old in 1648, and yet he volunteered to carry a message out to the King’s men, without my knowledge nor Edward’s.’ She pointed at my forehead. ‘They captured him and tortured him, yet he told them nothing. A nine-year-old boy.’
    A fine tale, I conceded, yet it held little relevance to current events. My face must have betrayed my disappointment, for she shot me a venomous glance of ripe disgust and turned away.
    ‘Mr Lytle.’ Eliza shot forward and dropped to her knees at my feet. ‘You must bring him back to us. You must
promise
to do that.’ She seized my right hand with both of hers and dug her nails into my skin.
    ‘I promise to try,’ I replied. ‘Though I would gladly hear what else you might tell me of him, for I have never met him.’
    ‘Stand up, Eliza,’ Mrs Josselin scolded her.
    ‘He is a brave man,’ Eliza declared, gazing earnestly into my eyes. ‘He is quite tall and very noble. He has long, dark hair and talks all the time about fighting for his King. He yearns only to kill Dutchmen, Frenchmen or Spaniards.’ She pursed her lips, holding back the tears.
    ‘Aye, then,’ I answered, slipping my hand free and helping her to her feet. ‘At least I will recognise him now.’ A tall lunatic killing anyone who looks foreign.
    ‘But your promise.’ She snatched back my hand again. ‘You must promise to bring him back, not merely to try.’
    ‘Come, Eliza.’ Mrs Josselin tugged gently at her sleeve. ‘If he is a worthy man no promise is necessary. If he is not, his promise holds no value.’
    The young betrothed allowed herself to be led from the room, still staring, seeking assurance desperately.
    I was left alone, black-hearted and dejected. I could barely summon the energy to breathe, I felt so rotten. The young woman, so fearful she might not see her betrothed again. Likely she would not, and I knew it. Josselin’s wife, so suspicious and angry. I glimpsed the desperation hidden behind