The King's Evil

Henry Redmayne was in his element. He had always wanted to ride in a coach with the King of England. Wearing his periwig and accoutred in his finery, Henry went over the arrangements once again.

'I chose Damarosa for you, Your Majesty,' he said. 'Not simply because she is my favourite. A voluptuous creature in every particular, I do assure you. Breathtakingly so. No, the main reason that I specified Damarosa in my letter was that she has a room on the ground floor. When we enter by the side door, you can slip into her bedchamber without being seen by anyone else.' He emitted a high laugh. 'Not that anyone would recognise you because your disguise is too cunning. I am not sharing a coach with King Charles at all but with Old Rowley.'

'Quite so,' said the other.

His companion used a thumb and forefinger to smooth down his black moustache. A black periwig hung to his shoulders and obscured much of his swarthy face. Flamboyant attire had been sacrificed for more homely garments yet there was still a touch of distinction about him.

'Tell me about this room again, Henry.'

'As you wish, Your Majesty.'

'Old Rowley,' corrected the other.

'How could I forget?'

Henry babbled on happily until the coach drew up outside the house in Lincoln's Inn Fields. When the coachman opened the door for him, Henry alighted and went across to the house with a swagger. He did not see Jonathan Bale lurking uncomfortably in the shadows. Knocking at the side door, he waited until Molly Mandrake herself opened it.

'Is everything in readiness, Moll?'

'Everything,' she said, beaming. 'Exactly as you asked.'

'Where is Damarosa?'

'Waiting in her room.'

'I will fetch ...' He checked himself. 'Old Rowley is in the coach.'

Molly's grin broadened as she watched Henry helping the other passenger out of the coach. When they went past her, she mumbled a welcome and dropped a curtsey. The King rewarded her with a gentle squeeze on her arm before he was led down a corridor by his guide. Henry paused outside a door, knocked sharply and received a summons to enter from a female voice. He opened the door to usher his companion in then closed it gently behind him, strolling back to Molly Mandrake who was watching excitedly from the end of the corridor.

'Let us leave them to it, Moll.'

'Did he really ask for Damarosa?'

'At my suggestion.'

'Why did you not let me entertain him?'

Henry ogled her. 'Because I save the best for myself.'