William bit his lip. “Yes,” he admitted, averting his eyes with a show of fearful respect.
“What were you doing?”
“Looking for a servant to sneak me something from the kitchen. I was in need of a little comfort, knowing my master had gone off with you again. Then I stumbled, and heard you both in that room, so I panicked and ran. Please forgive me.”
Bennett looked him over carefully as if still deciding whether or not to trust him. “You’re a willful boy, aren’t you,” he mused.
“Not normally, sir. I’m concerned for my master, that’s all.”
“As am I. I’m worried you’ll do him more harm than good with your disrespect and ill humor.”
Appearing suitably cowed, William squeezed his eyes tight shut and said, “I apologize.”
“Thank you. You may go wait outside in the carriage. I’ll have some of the servants bring the trunk.”
William bowed respectfully and left. Richard almost believed it was more than an act, but despite their short time together, he knew the lad better than that. He wondered what Bennett thought.
“At least he’s loyal,” Bennett said, turning back to Richard.
“Yes.”
“And really very lovely to look upon. But you get to do more than just look.”
When Richard made no comment, Bennett asked, “Will you tell me his name?”
Bennett would already know it, but Richard indulged him. “William Moodie. Not that it will do you any good, as there’s nothing to know about him. I will give you now, for free, all the intelligence you may gather. He’s the most uninteresting young man you’ll ever meet. He comes from a village so small it is not even on the map, and a family of yeoman farmers that are of no consequence to anyone.”
“Perfect! Would he be available to work?”
The offer was no less than Richard expected. “When would he find time to work for you? He has a job.”
“So did Nick, but he never turned down the chance to make a shilling on the side.”
“A shilling for his arse? At those rates, I’m not surprised.”
Bennett seemed surprised—insulted even—by the suggestion. “I have never paid for Nick’s company. He was always for you alone. Someone to give you comfort when I could not.”
“Someone who would never fall in love with me.”
“And someone you would never fall in love with. I’ve seen what happens when you are shown a little affection. You snatch for it.”
Richard had heard enough, and if Bennett carried on, he would walk away from the job. “I’m leaving. Meet me at the Spurre tomorrow morning. Have the money and the details ready for me.”
He let himself out and went to the carriage, where William waited. He climbed up next to William and put his arm around him for comfort.
“Not a word until we get home,” Richard whispered to him.
William nodded silently.
A few minutes later, two servants arrived with the trunk. It was loaded onto the carriage, and then a third stepped up carrying a basket with two stoneware flasks, an assortment of foods, and a small box.
Bennett followed. “For your journey,” he said as the servants handed them the basket. “Some warm spiced wine, two slices of game pie, bread, boiled eggs, roast venison, and the last of the marchpane.”
Richard was hungry, so he took the provisions. “Thank you. William?”
“Thank you, sir,” William said, head down.
“Enjoy them,” Bennett replied. “I will see you both on the morrow.”
They journeyed in silence back to the inn, mindful that the carriage driver would be listening in.
ARRIVING BACK in their room, they found the fire had not yet burned low, and the space was warm and well lit. William slung back the lid of the trunk and pulled out the plays. Then he started to look through the clothes.
“These must have been expensive.”
Richard had taken a seat on a stool by the fire and was watching him, noting William’s curiosity about everything. Dresses and doublets, shoes and hose, William looked over each one, but he didn’t care for the finer details.
“Bennett has a particular talent for spending money,” Richard replied. “Surely you noticed?”
William put the clothes back and shut the chest. “The only thing I noticed was what an arrogant prick he is.”
“He’s a rich and powerful man, and you are the youngest son of a yeoman farmer, apprenticed to me, an actor, which is only marginally more respectable than being a prostitute. Bennett can say what he likes to you and get away with it. You have to accept that.”
“But you are so rude to him,” William argued. “Am I not to follow your lead?”
“You must show absolute respect, just as you would to any person of a higher rank than yourself. He and I have known each other a long time, and my tongue runs freer than it should because of that. He barely tolerates it from me. He won’t take it from anyone else.”
William took a stool and sat next to Richard. “I think it’s time you told me your history with him,” he said seriously. “I told you I’ll only stay if I know everything.”
“That’s a longer story than we have time for tonight, but I promise you I will tell it when I return.”
William huffed, so Richard repeated, “I promise.”
“Why don’t you tell me what you’re doing while you’re away? That can’t take too long.”
“You couldn’t hear us through the door?” William smiled slyly, and despite himself, Richard grinned back. The young man’s pluck continued to impress him. “Tell me what you heard,” he pressed.
“Not much. You’re to go to Cambridge to copy some list or other. After that, I heard nothing.”
“Because we heard you.”
Even in the firelight, Richard could see William was embarrassed.
“I should have been more careful. I was crouching down, trying to see through the crack at the bottom, and I tumbled over. I won’t do that again.”
“You won’t be spying again. This time next week, I will have done with it for good.”
“Tell me you haven’t said that before.”
“I can’t. But this time I have you to think of. I won’t help him again.”
William rose from the stool and fetched the basket of provisions Bennett had given them. They’d eaten the savory food during the journey, but the sweets remained. He pulled out the box of marchpane and brought it to Richard.
“May I have a piece?” he asked, though it was clear he intended to whether or not Richard allowed it.
“You may eat the whole box if you wish. Like it or not, this job will fill my purse, and then I can fill your belly with as many treats as you like.”
William took one and nibbled a little of the edge before taking a larger bite. “It’s delicious,” he said around the mouthful.
The scent of almonds filled the air, and Richard found himself reaching for one too. They ate in silence for a time, slowly savoring the sweets.
William put the box away before Richard could take a second.
“Save some for tomorrow,” he said. “We’ll want it after the long walk.”
Better to get this over with now than in the morning.
“You’re not coming,” Richard told him gently, mindful he should break the news with care.
William must have anticipated this, because he took the refusal in good humor. “It’s too late,” he said simply. “I’m already involved.”
“You’re not.”
“I’m your apprentice, remember?”
“On the stage alone. I won’t let you be a part of this.”
William left the table and went to undress for bed. He appeared perfectly relaxed as he stripped naked and disappeared beneath the sheets.
“William? You are listening to me, aren’t you? You’re not coming.”
“I heard you.”
Richard was sure he’d heard, but it was clear he hadn’t listened. “So why aren’
t you sulking? I thought you wanted to come along.”
“I do, and you won’t be able to stop me.”
Richard went to the bed and quickly undressed too. William lay watching him, with a smug smile on his face.
“This is exactly why you’re not coming,” Richard said as he slipped under the sheets with him. “You’re giving all your secrets away. You’ve given me time to prepare and all the proof I need to explain why your presence would endanger me.”
That had him. William rolled over, turning his back to Richard. “I told you, I must know everything,” he said sullenly. “I presumed you’d want the same honesty from me. If you want to pretend I would give information away, so be it.”
“Trust me, the only thing I want is to close the door on this part of my life. When that is done, you may hear every detail of my past and say whatever you wish. I look forward to it.”
William rolled over and stared at him. He pouted slightly, and Richard longed to kiss him again, but he held back. Let the lad come to him.
William didn’t, just watched Richard and waited. When nothing was forthcoming, William abandoned the subtle seduction and went for the kill instead.
“You want me to trust you, but you lie to me,” he muttered. “You’re no better than Bennett.”
That wasn’t fair. “You can trust me to always have your best interests at heart. I’m not like him.”
“You lived in his secret world. You’re no different at all.”
The bed was in a darker corner of the room, but there was enough light from the fire to see William’s eyes; Richard dragged his own gaze from the tempting lips and tried to see the truth in them. William had the same determination he’d seen earlier that evening.
“This won’t work,” Richard said. “You can’t guilt me into bringing you along.”
William let out a small grunt of annoyance and then tried what Richard hoped was his final tactic. “Has today meant nothing to you at all?”
William shouldn’t have described himself as “cunt-drunk” if he wanted Richard to believe he was in love with him now. It seemed William had worked out exactly what Richard meant to him at the same time Richard had begun to realize the strength of his own feelings. “It did,” he admitted, “and that is the main reason why you’re not to be involved.”
William turned away again, and the conversation was over.
Chapter Thirteen
IT WAS dawn, and William sat in Geoffrey’s room. Richard had woken him in the dark, and with the warning that Bennett would arrive before sunrise, he’d ushered William out to knock on Geoffrey’s door. The sun was now up, so William guessed an hour had passed. Still, Bennett had not come, and William had long since overstayed his welcome in his cousin’s bedroom. Luckily, Geoffrey’s apprentice had stayed out all night, and William was able to creep underneath the empty blankets on the pallet. Neither of them slept again, but it gave William time to think about what he was going to do.
Eventually Geoffrey dragged himself out of bed and over to the fire. “Come on,” he said through a yawn. “Get up and tell me what’s going on.”
William followed. Sitting down by the low fire, he said, “Bennett is coming. He will bring instructions for Richard, who will then be on his way to—”
“Don’t tell me!” Geoffrey said. “I don’t need that sort of detail. Am I right in thinking Richard has agreed to do some spy work for Bennett Goldfox?”
“That’s correct. He has received part payment by way of a trunk full of costumes and four new plays.”
Geoffrey’s eyes widened. “That is only part payment? Must be a big job.”
William made no comment. He had no idea how big a job it might be. It sounded easy enough, but he’d come to realize nothing in Richard’s life was simple.
The noise of a carriage outside drew their attention.
“There he is,” Geoffrey muttered, “the devil himself.”
They stood at the window and watched Bennett leave the coach and enter the inn. William went to the door and listened, waiting to hear Bennett walk by in the corridor.
“Come away from there,” Geoffrey hissed, pulling him back. “You’ll do yourself no favors by learning too much.”
“I don’t care,” William whispered back, returning to the wood and pressing his ear to it.
“Richard won’t thank you.”
“This isn’t about him.”
“Then why put yourself in danger?”
“Because I like it. It’s exciting.”
Geoffrey was stunned into silence. Then he waved his hand as if he was done with him and walked away.
William shut his eyes so he could hear better. After a moment, there was a shuffle of feet and a knock on the next door. Bennett had arrived.
RICHARD SAT by the fire awaiting Bennett.
They hadn’t arranged a time, but he considered Bennett to be late. He didn’t want to waste half the morning waiting for him when he could be on the road to Cambridge, and his former master knew that. As time passed, he began to worry. Perhaps this had come too late to save Bennett from whatever threatened him.
Eventually, the carriage appeared, allaying his fears. Bennett knocked on his door a few minutes later and was let in to find him packed and ready to go.
Bennett looked around the room and checked under the bed. “No William this morning?” he asked casually, sitting himself down on top of it.
“He’s with Geoffrey in the next room.”
“I suspect that is for the best, but I hoped to see him before I leave.”
“His manners won’t be much improved. Please do not trouble yourself with him.”
Bennett seemed amused by the comment. He was his usual easy self, despite what had passed between them the previous evening.
“To business. You’ll find all the details you need within this letter.” He removed a packet from his cloak.
“Very good, but I am still waiting for the accompanying payment.”
“Here. Twenty sovereigns.” Bennett handed him the letter before removing a heavy-looking purse from his belt. “You’ll have a hundred more when the work is done.”
Richard took the bag and weighed it in his hand. He looked inside and found it was mostly smaller coins, which would be easier to divide up. Between that and the five pounds he’d had the other night, he was a wealthy man again.
Most of it would have to stay with Geoffrey while he worked, but that would be no problem. Richard knew he could trust him.
“Thank you,” he said, not bothering to count it. “Anything else I should know?”
“There’s a good horse for you outside. It’s a hunter from my stable, and I’ll want it back when you’re done.”
Richard looked out the window and saw a tall brown beast stood next to Bennett’s litter. It must have been extremely well trained if he wanted it back. Bennett wasn’t a man to worry about the money it cost or care for the animal. Richard was about to refuse, when he saw it was fitted with a threadbare old blanket for a saddle and reins that looked tired. The horse wouldn’t draw too much attention, and it would shorten the journey. He nodded his acceptance.
“That’s it, then,” Richard said. “Ask your man to stable the horse before you leave. I must say good-bye to William and arrange for his keep before I go.”
Bennett stood and walked to the door, where he paused. “I suspect you will be gone before I will. You’ve a long journey ahead, and I’m going downstairs to have some breakfast in the bar now. You may join me before you leave.”
“You’re not seeing William again if that’s what you’re thinking,” Richard muttered, ignoring the offer. “You can’t buy him with a good breakfast and a small purse.”
“I don’t intend to buy him. I just want to make peace, and I will do it even without your permission. You will be away for weeks or more. Wouldn’t you rather I met him now with you than alone later?”
Richard’s heartbeat quickened in fear at the idea of William being alone with
Bennett. He narrowed his eyes and threatened, “If I return and find you have been anywhere near him while I’m gone, I will walk all the way back to Cambridge and tell whoever you are spying on what you’ve done. Do you understand?”
Bennett inclined his head in acceptance. “Very well. My offer of breakfast still stands. Say good-bye to your boy first.” He left, and Richard took a seat at the table, where he began to divide up the money. He was interrupted moments later by Geoffrey, who walked straight in without knocking.
“Is he gone?” Geoffrey asked, his tone short.
These were the first words Geoffrey had spoken to him in two days. Richard had worked through silent glares the previous day, and he was unsure whether this was an improvement. He was glad of it, nevertheless, as he would need Geoffrey’s help.
“Only downstairs for his breakfast. Where’s William?”
“He’s supposed to be in my room right now, but I suspect he snuck out the moment I left. He didn’t put up a fight when I told him to remain. He says you’re off again.”
Richard wondered how much information William had passed on to his cousin. “Just a short while,” he said casually. “A week or two at most.”
He indicated the money on the table, and Geoffrey eyed it distrustfully and said, “He also said you were paid in plays and costumes.”
“That chest over there. Take a look.”
Richard continued to bag up the money while Geoffrey looked through the costumes.
When he turned back to Richard, his tone was conciliatory. “You didn’t have to do this. I know times are tough right now, but we would have got by.”
“There are a hundred pounds at least in that box, two hundred, probably. We’ve pawned a lot of our good stuff. How could I turn this down?”
“Things are looking up.” Geoffrey shrugged, giving the worst performance of his life. “We’re back in London.”
“Until the plague levels get too high again. That might be next year or next week. This gives us a bit of security.”
Geoffrey took a seat at the table and looked at the money. “What about all that?”
“It’s my personal payment. My loyalty to Bennett is gone, but he’s bought himself a favor. Look after it for me. If I don’t return before the year is up, use it to buy William a share in the business.”
The First Act Page 14