Salvation (29 page)

33

London
 

October, 1588

The crisp autumn afternoon drew to an end and the first performance of Tom’s new play was almost over. After a great deal of discussion, he had entitled it
The Island
. It had been a success, Lamotte thought, even though it was very different from the kind of drama audiences were used to. Tom had every right to be proud.

He glanced over to where he sat with Meg, her arm in his and their heads so close they almost touched. She whispered something in his ear and he smiled. It warmed Lamotte’s heart to see them so happy together.

Beyond them sat Jack and Bel with a wide-eyed Hal squirming in Bel’s lap. Even Janey had made the journey from Angel Lane; Lamotte had hired a carriage to bring her. ‘I feel like a queen,’ she laughed when he handed her down from it.

On stage, the chief player was coming to the end of his final speech. Lamotte let his attention wander. The speech was a good one, but he knew how it went. Would Tom stay in
London and write more plays, he mused. Sometimes he talked of going to the New World but there was a great deal to be considered first. Lamotte suspected Meg would have strong views. Her friends were happy at Lacey Hall and her maid, Bess, had found a sweetheart at the farm there. Even with Tom at her side, it would be a radical step to leave all of them and her homeland. For his own sake, Lamotte hoped the idea was no more than a passing fancy.

He fell to contemplating his own future. Was it time to make some changes? He was still Walsingham’s man but perhaps not for much longer. The end of the Spanish threat seemed to have quenched the fire in the old spymaster’s belly. Perhaps he felt his work was accomplished. It was all too apparent his health was declining.
England will be the poorer for Walsingham’s death, Lamotte thought, but it will set me free.

The prospect sent a frisson of anticipation through him. Freedom – what would he do with it? His life had been circumscribed for so long. What changes should he make? Was it time to let a younger man take charge at the Unicorn? Tom, if he wanted to? And then?

In his mind’s eye, he saw Beatrice’s dark eyes and warm smile. Suddenly he knew for sure that when the time came, if she would let him, he wanted to be with her and make her happy.

As the theatre emptied, a young man dressed in black with receding hair and a high forehead approached Tom and Meg. Tom recognised the playwright Lamotte had once pointed out and praised. It seemed like a lifetime ago.

The young man bowed. ‘May I congratulate you on your play?’ he asked. ‘It is an excellent piece. Your idea of the castaway is a very interesting one and I was beguiled by your magical island.’ He smiled. ‘If you have no objection, one day I’d like to explore the theme in a play of my own.’

‘I… I’d be honoured.’

‘No, the honour is mine. Perhaps we may talk again?’

‘Of course.’

The young man bowed to Meg and kissed her hand. ‘Forgive the interruption, madam. I shall take my leave.’

‘Who was that?’ Meg frowned as he walked away.

‘His name is Choxper - William Choxper of Stratford.’

‘I think he’s most impudent to try and steal your ideas,’ she sniffed.

He squeezed her arm. ‘It’s the way of the world, my love, ideas are free. In any case, he may steal what he likes, as long as I have you.’

**

Thank you
for reading this book. I hope you enjoyed it. Feedback is a writer’s lifeblood. If you have a few moments to leave a review on Amazon, even if it’s only a couple of lines, that would be wonderful. Please do also visit my blog – http://harrietsteel.blogspot.co.uk/. You’ll find all kinds of things there from the story of Elizabeth Taylor and a famous pearl (Frocks and Rocks) to an interview with the celebrated author, Joanne Harris.

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