The Hands of Time (18 page)

The streets were unpaved and narrow, slippery with rotting refuse and mud caused by the last rainfall.  Numerous carts, carriages and men on horseback fought for space
,
and we were barely moving due to all the congestion.  Pedestrians walked close to the Tudor buildings
,
which were so
near
each other that people on the top floor
s
extending over the ground floor could probably hold hands
across the road
if they had a mind to do so.  The people on foot frequently looked up
,
for fear that someone would open a window and empty a chamber pot on their heads
;
and
I had to admit that the smell was rather overpowering
,
as
I pulled out a
handkerchief
and held it to my nose for most of the ride. 

The streets became a little wider
,
and some of them were paved with cobblestones as we got closer to the center of the city and Whitehall
P
alace
.  The
people riding and
walking past us were cleaner and more expensively dressed
, some of them clearly courtiers and residents of the
p
alace
. 
Finlay mentioned that several thousand people resided at the
p
alace
,
from nobility to servants to soldiers
,
and it was more like a small city rather than a royal seat.  Armor
-
clad soldiers guarded the gates
,
and they looked ferocious and well armed. 

To my left
,
I co
u
ld see the gr
a
y bulk of the Tower of London, with its four symmetrical towers rising above the thick wall that surrounded the compound.  Black ravens circled overheard, screaming bloody murder
,
and I shivered
,
thinking of all the people who met their end at that forbidding fortress. 
Louisa and I had taken a tour of the Tower when we were in London
,
and I could still remember the portly Beefeater relating the details of Anne
Boleyn’s
execution
;
and showing us the torture chambers located in the bowels of the prison, complete with “The Rack” and the “Iron Maiden
.
”  It was hard to imagine that human beings were capable of
perpetrating
such atrocities against each other
,
and I couldn’t leave the rooms fast enough, wanting to be outside in the fresh air
,
surrounded by excited tourists snapping shots of the various attractions. 

I couldn’t see Traitor’s
G
ate from this side, but I
’
d seen it when I came with Louisa, remembering the huge portcullis that rose to admit prisoners, but was rarely lifted to let them back out.  I looked at the muddy waters of the Thames flowing past the Tower
,
several large barges with colorful flags sailing sedately past
,
flanked by many smaller packet boats
crisscrossing
the river. 

“Finn, what are those?”  I asked, trying to get a better look.

“Those are royal barges,
s
weetheart.  I suppose his Royal Majesty is in town enjoying a river cruise on this warm day.”  Finlay sounded sarcastic
, so
I dropped the subject not wanting to
encourage
him.  He tended to say what he thought, which could be very dangerous in this day and age
,
since you never knew who was on hand to overhear.
  I craned my head as we passed a broadsheet plastered to a wall of a tavern reading:

Tomorrow night only

At the Curtain Theater

A most excellent tragedie

Of King Lear

Written By William Shakespeare and

Performed by the King’s Men

“Oh, Finn, can we go?  Please????”  I was practically bouncing in my seat
,
and Finn just laughed at my enthusiasm. 

“If you wish it.  I had no idea you were such a patron of the arts. I hear that play has been performe
d at Whitehall for King James
,
to his overwhelming approval.  He loves the theater, our Jamie.  Never misses a new play.”  We had pulled up to our inn
,
and my husband handed me out of the carriage, escorting me inside the establishment.  It looked cleaner than most
,
and I could smell something savory cooking in the kitchen reminding me that I hadn’t eaten anything since breakfast.  I usually woke up
ravenously hungry, but could eat very little until the nausea passed around noon.  I was more than ready to eat something
,
rest
,
and wash off the grime of travel
. 

Chapter
30

Finlay was amused by Valerie’s excitement as they strolled the streets of London the following day.  She was like a child, interested in everything, her eyes round with wonder.  She was thrilled when she saw a bookshop
,
and asked him to buy her several volumes of poetry and plays.  He was only too happy to oblige.  It took so little to make her happy.  After dinner
,
they took the carriage to Southwark, south of the river
,
to see the play at the Curtain Theater. 

Common folk were already pouring into the theater by the time they arrived
,
and Finlay paid the
six
pennies for
the two of them
to gain admission, seat and a cushion.  He’d be damned if he had to stand through the whole performance in a
courtyard
open to the elements.  His wife needed to be comfortable and off her feet in her condition.  Valerie
did not
care.  She just stood in the center
, looking
around as if she had just arrived on Mount Olympus
,
and he had to finally take her by the arm and lead her up to the balcony to take their seats. 

The curtain opened and the play began, drawing them into the tragic plot.  He stole an
occasional
pe
e
k at Valerie, but she was so enraptured by the
performance
that she seemed to be
scarcely
breathing, taking in every word and gesture as if they were Gospel.  He loved her
enthusiasm
.  Most women were so uninspired.  All they cared
about were gowns and trinkets.  He allowed his mind to w
a
nder for a moment
,
thinking of tonight’s meeting.  It was to take place in a tavern near the buildings of Parliament at midnight.  He would take his wife back to the inn
,
and make sure she was safely tucked into bed before heading out.  He had his doubts about attending, but being in London and feeling James’ presence all around
him
,
he was more fired up th
a
n ever.  He would hear what these men had to say.  Someone had to stand up to tyranny
,
and he was no coward. 

The audience erupted in thunderous applause
,
and Finn joined in
,
glad that the play was over.  He preferred a good
comedy
himself, especially ones with sword fighting and mistaken identities. 
King Lear
was so gloomy.  There was enough gloom in everyday life to pay to watch it on stage.  Valerie obviously
did not
agree
,
because she was beside herself with joy
,
and he chuckled with amusement as he listened to her
p
rattle on about the characters and the
playwright
.  He had no idea who Shakespeare was
,
and didn’t care
,
as long as he could make him laugh. 

Two hours later
,
Finlay found
himself
entering the designated tavern, keeping an eye out for Fawkes.  He would vouch for him
,
and take him inside the meeting to be introduced to the other men.  The meeting was held in a private room where they wouldn’t be overheard, the door locked to admit no one.  Finlay took a seat in the corner and accepted a cup of ale from one of the men, taking in the scene.  There were only two candles and the room was lost in shadow.  He could barely make out the faces of the men, but he supposed they wanted to keep their identity as secret as possible
;
after all, they were plotting treason. 
Many grievances were raised
,
and the group became increasingly riled up, calling for
the
death
of
James and members of the Parliament.  Finn kept quiet, taking it all in, but he felt uneasy.  Causing mischief was one thing, murdering the King and members of Parliament quite another. 

On the other hand, freedom deserved sacrifice
,
and nothing would ever change as long as
people were afraid to soil their hands.  Soon his child would be born
,
and once again they would have to seek out Father Stephen to baptize the infant in secret.  He had been glad to be married by the priest, but that
was not
how he envisioned his wedding.  He hated being locked in a cellar with his bride and his brother to exchange vows in secret
,
as if they were doing something vile.  Who were they hurting if they got married in church in front of friends and family like other people did every day?  He wasn’t looking to overthrow the government or change the world.  He just wanted to worship according to his
conscience
,
openly
,
and not be forced to hide in the shadows like a rat, like he was doing right now. 

Finn pondered what he had heard all the way back to the inn
,
his mind still full of the rhetoric as he slid between the sheets next to Valerie.  He looked at her peaceful, sleeping face and felt more doubt.  His first responsibility was to keep her and their child safe.  If he became embroiled in this plot, Valerie would be in danger, as would their child and Alec.  He had to tread very carefully
,
and not do anything foolish that might hurt the people he loved.  Finlay pulled Valerie closer and fell into an uneasy sleep. 

Chapter
3
1

I stared out of the carriage window at the driving rain.  The sky was almost dark
despite
the early hour
,
and the wind rocked the carriage from side to side making me drowsy.  All hope of getting home tonight vanished
,
when the wheels of the carriage got stuck in the sea of mud on the road
,
and Robbie and Finn had to try to get it clear once again.  They were out there, soaked to the bone
,
making me feel
a trifle guilty for just sitting inside warm and snug. 
There were some advantages to being a woman in these times.  No one really expected you to do anything
other than
look pretty and produce healthy sons.

The trip to London had been wonderful
,
and I truly enjoyed being alone with Finn.  We were hardly ever alone at home
,
so
it was nice to have his attention all to myself and not feel as if I was somehow betraying Alec by loving his brother.  I knew how he felt about me and I
’
m sure Finn did too.  Alec never said a word or made an inappropriate gesture, but it was all there in his
amber
eyes.  I knew he was hurting
,
and I felt powerless to do anything about it
,
short of suggesting a
ménage
a
trois and that just wouldn’t do. 
I had to admit that I had feelings for him too.  It was impossible not to love him, but to show affection toward him would be opening a very nasty can of worms.  Us all living together would take some getting used to.

Finlay had been the perfect husband, affectionate and attentive to my every need.  The only thing that troubled
me
,
were his
nocturnal
disappearances.    He snuck out twice, thinking me asleep
,
and didn
’
t
return
until the early hours of the morning.  My first thought was that he was sneaking off to see some woman, but I knew in my gut that wasn’t true.  He came back tense and troubled
,
and lay awake staring at the canopy of the bed for some time
,
before finally falling asleep.  I let him sleep in
, taking
the opportunity to rest myself.  I wasn’t showing yet, but I felt awfully tired
,
and the bouts of nausea in the mornings left me feeling as if I
’
d been turned inside out.