Shakespeare's Rebel by C.C. Humphreys Read Free Book Online

he saw a tiny hope and his voice, when it came, was gentle. ‘Then since it is settled, what can I do but wish you joy?’ He could see she had not expected this. They’d had arguments that had lasted days before, not moments. He continued, as gently, ‘What will you do with the Spoon?’
    She looked away to the building, her voice still vibrating. ‘Samuel says we will let it, and use the rent for a part of our income. The brewery and various other properties I have nearby we will sell. He mortgaged his all to accompany his lord to war and these sales will redeem it. We will restore his estate and live there.’
    John thought it unwise to mention that her knight had mortgaged his all to fund his ineptitude in cards. He had taken some of it himself, off Cadiz, three years before. Instead he asked, ‘And where is his estate?’
    ‘Finchley.’
    Finchley! A village half a day’s ride to the north of the city. He had mustered with the army there once, knew it for a dreary rural stew, with inhabitants dull and more inbred than most peasants. Again he did not say it, but looked around. ‘And this garden? You have worked such magic here. Any tenant will return it to the yard and stables it once was.’
    She glanced around. ‘Well,’ she said softly, ‘there will be a garden in Finchley too.’
    He saw more sadness. It further fuelled his little hope. She had regrets; doubts could follow. He needed time – and an answer to his next question. ‘When are the nuptials?’
    ‘The wedding will take place in springtime, at the D’Esparr family chapel.’ She pronounced his name the French way. It sounded better than in English.
    His hopes rose. Spring was the other side of Lent. He had a month to break this. He stepped close, took her right hand, lifted it. She did not pull away, as he studied the glitter upon it, a splay of emeralds around a single ruby. ‘A fine token, Tess.’
    ‘It is. Sir Samuel has exquisite taste.’
    ‘Did he buy it for you?’
    ‘He chose it, I . . .’
    She broke off, tried to withdraw her hand, but he would not relinquish the prize. ‘You paid for your own ring?’
    She shrugged. ‘Aye.’
    ‘At least I bought you one. A finer ring than this.’
    ‘And then you pawned it.’
    ‘Because you refused it.’
    ‘Because you were thirsty.’
    ‘Aye.’ He laughed. ‘They still sing ballads of that week on the Isle of Dogs.’
    She couldn’t help her smile. ‘Oh John,’ she murmured. ‘What do you want here?’
    What do I want, he almost shouted, tipping his head back. I want you. I want our life as it could once have been. I want . . .
    And then he saw it. Movement at the attic window, a face pressed out. One he recognised despite the bottle thickness of the glass. He dropped the hand he held.
    ‘What’s Ned doing here?’
    He saw her hesitation, which she swiftly covered up. ‘He lives here.’
    ‘Aye. But e’en now he should be in Whitehall Palace, preparing for his debut before the Queen.’ He flushed cold. ‘Has he the fever?’
    ‘Nay. He . . .’ She hesitated again, then went on swiftly. ‘With the announcement of our engagement, Samuel did not feel . . . we did not feel it . . . appropriate that Ned should continue . . .’ She reached for his hand again, her voice softening. ‘You must know that it is for Ned, as much as for myself, that I do this. I can give him the life a son of mine should have had. A gentleman’s. Not . . . not . . .’
    ‘A player’s?’ He snatched his hand away, fighting the fear and instant fury that sought to overwhelm him again. ‘But that is his greatest desire.’
    ‘I know that it is yours for him.’
    His voice rose. ‘No, Tess! No! His for himself! Since he was breeched, ’tis all he’s ever talked about.’
    She kept her voice even. ‘It matters not what he desires, John. He is not of age. It only matters what is best for him.’ She turned from his glare, gestured to the inn’s rear door as if to someone within. ‘He will go