Shakespeare's Spy by Gary Blackwood Read Free Book Online Page A

kind enough to accompany me all the way from Warwickshire, providing me with both companionship and protection.”
    Mr. Shakespeare shook the man’s hand. “My thanks, sir.” He turned back to Judith. “But why—”
    “Have we met before, sir?” Ned interrupted. “I don’t recognize the name, but your face seems familiar to me.”
    “It’s possible,” said Mr. Garrett. “I travel about a good deal.”
    “Do you? For what purpose?”
    “Uncle!” Judith said. “You’re being rude!”
    “Why?” Ned asked innocently. “Does he have something to hide?”
    “Ned!” Mr. Shakespeare put in. “A gentleman’s business is his own.”
    Ned glanced irritably at his brother, then made a slight, ironic bow in Mr. Garrett’s direction. “My apologies, sir. And now I must take my leave. I have business to attend to.”
    “Do you?” said Mr. Garrett. “What sort?”
    Ned gave a quick, sharp laugh. “Touché. Your point.”
    “Will you not stop and talk awhile, Uncle?” Judith said. “I’ve only just arrived.”
    “You’ll be here a few days, won’t you?”
    Judith turned to her father with a look that seemed to carry a subtle challenge. “Longer than that, I hope.”
    “Then we’ll talk later.” He placed a swift kiss on her pale cheek and departed.
    “Now,” said Mr. Shakespeare. “We will all sit down and have a drink, and you will tell me why you came to London.”
    “I—I’d best see to me costume,” I said. “I’m afeared it will ha’ to be let out.”
    “You’re keeping it prisoner?” said Mr. Garrett.
    “Nay. It will need altering, I mean. It’s grown too small.”
    “I suspect it’s you who have done the growing,” said Mr. Shakespeare.
    “Oh, don’t you rush off as well, Widge.” Judith patted the seat next to her. “Come. Sit with me.” She gave Mr. Shakespeare that challenging look again. “My father is about to chide me, I suspect, for being so impulsive, and he may go easier on me if I’ve a friend at my side.”
    “You’ve Mr. Garrett,” I pointed out.
    “Oh, he’s an
adult
. He’ll side with Father.”
    “You may as well sit, Widge,” said Mr. Shakespeare. “If we don’t let her have her way, she’s liable not to speak to me at all.”
    Judith clucked her tongue. “You make me sound as though I were a spoiled child!”
    “I’m sorry. It’s—it’s difficult sometimes for me to realize that you’ve become a young woman.”
    “Perhaps,” she said, “that’s because you see me so seldom.” There was an awkward silence, then Judith went on, more brightly, “Anyway, that’s one reason I’ve come to London—so that we may spend some time together.”
    “Oh. Of course. I’d like that. Unfortunately, I don’t have a great deal of time, what with the demands of putting on existing plays, and the constant need to turn out new ones, and …”
    Judith nodded, as though this was precisely what she’d expected to hear. “That’s just what Mother said. But I don’t ask for much—an hour or so in the evenings, that’s all, and I could come to the plays and see you perform. That would be all right, wouldn’t it?”
    “I suppose so …”
    “And Widge could show me around the city, couldn’t you, Widge?” When she turned to me, I caught the scent of cloves, which ladies sometimes chew to sweeten their breath. It worked.
    I looked to Mr. Shakespeare for my cue; he shrugged rather helplessly. “I—I don’t ken,” I said. “We prentices don’t have many hours free, either …”
    “Well, it’s time you did, then.”
    “Have you given any thought to where you’ll stay?” said Mr. Shakespeare.
    “Wherever you lodge, I suppose.”
    “Oh. Well. The Mountjoys do have a daughter near your age. Perhaps she would be willing to share her room … for a
short
while.”
    Judith clapped her hands. “Good! It’s all settled, then! Now. I believe that Mr… . Garrett”—she stumbled over the name like an actor who is uncertain of his