Part 33 (1/2)
That night, at the Rainbow Tavern, well out of reach of the town, of court spies and gossips, Louis would have a trusted one in waiting. His commission was to receive news from various points and transmit it secretly to France. It was a ride of but a few hours to him.
She had purposed to send the packet by her messenger in waiting; but he had rendered her suspicious by his speech and action in the late afternoon, and she questioned whether she would be wise in trusting him.
Nor was she willing to risk her triumph in the hands of Buckingham's courier. It was too dear to her.
Indeed, she was clever enough to know that state-secrets are often safer in the custody of a disinterested stranger than in the hands of a friend, especially if the stranger be truly a stranger to the court.
She glanced quickly in the direction of Nell, who looked the ideal of daring youth, innocent, honest and true to the death.
”Why not?” she thought quickly, as she reflected again upon Rochet's words, ”to be trusted.” ”Of Irish descent, no love for the King, young, brave, no court ties; none will suspect or stay him.”
Her woman's intuition said ”yes.” She turned upon Nell and asked, not without agitation in her voice:
”Can I trust you?”
Nell's sword was out in an instant, glistening in the light, and so promptly that the d.u.c.h.ess started. Nell saluted, fell upon one knee and said, with all the exuberance of audacious, loving youth:
”My sword and life are yours.”
Portsmouth looked deeply into Nell's honest eyes. She was convinced.
”This little packet,” said she, in subdued tones, summoning Nell to her side, ”a family matter merely, must reach the Rainbow Tavern, on the Canterbury Road, by sunrise, where one is waiting. You'll find his description on the packet.”
Nell sheathed her sword.
”I know the place and road,” she said, earnestly, as she took the papers from the d.u.c.h.ess's hand and placed them carefully in her doublet.
A rustle of the curtains indicated that some one had returned and was listening by the arras.
”Hus.h.!.+” cautioned Portsmouth. ”Be true, and you will win my love.”
Nell did not reply, save to the glance that accompanied the words.
s.n.a.t.c.hing her hat from a chair on which she had tossed it, she started eagerly in the direction of the great stairs that led to the hallway below, where, an hour since, she had been at first refused admission to the palace. Could she but pa.s.s again the guards, all would be well; and surely there was now no cause for her detention. Yet her heart beat tumultuously--faster even than when she presented herself with Rochet's letter written by herself.
As she was hastening by the arras, her quick eye, however, recognized the King's long plume behind it; and she halted in her course. She was alert with a thousand maddening thoughts crowding her brain, all in an instant.
”The King returned--an eavesdropper!” she reflected. ”Jealous of Portsmouth; his eyes follow her. Where are his vows to Nell? I'll defame Nell's name, drag her fair honour in the mire; so, Charles, we'll test your manliness and love.”
She recrossed the room quickly to Portsmouth.
”Madame,” she exclaimed, in crisp, nervous tones, loud enough for the King's ear, ”I have been deceiving, lying to you. I stood here, praising, honouring Eleanor Gwyn--an apple rotten to the core!”
”How now?” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Charles, in an undertone.
His carelessness vanished upon the instant. Where he had waited for the single ear of Portsmouth, he became at once an earnest listener.
Nell paused not.
”I had a friend who told me he loved Nell. I loved that friend. G.o.d knows I loved him.”
”Yes, yes!” urged Portsmouth, with eagerness.