Part 38 (2/2)

Polly looked him up and down. 'You thought the Roundheads would have tortured and killed me.'

'At the very least!'

Polly's face remained impa.s.sive. 'Yes, well, fortunately they're a lot saner than some people seem to think.'

Whyte put out his hand as if to touch her face but then let it fall to his side. 'I confess that I thought you dead. After what happened at the castle...'

Polly nodded. 'You left me for dead, Christopher.'

Whyte shook his head. 'I prevented your death!' he cried.

'I must tell you that Sir John's behaviour left me much vexed.'

'It left me with a b.u.mp on the head,' said Polly sourly.

'But never mind that. You also lied to me.'

Whyte looked down and bit his lip. 'You lied to me about Frances Kemp. You lied to me about the Doctor being in that castle. And you lied about your desire to help me.'

'No,' insisted Whyte. 'I did... I do want to help you, Polly.'

Polly nodded. 'Then will you join my friends?'

Whyte looked over. He could just make out the Doctor and Scrope deep in conversation. 'Is this the Doctor of whom you spoke?'

Polly nodded. 'Yes. He wants to talk to you.'

Whyte drained his gla.s.s and followed Polly to the table.

Both ignored the constant, ribald mutterings that accompanied them. After introductions, Whyte took a seat next to Polly.

The Doctor looked at him with interest. 'I gather you seek to put the King back on his throne, Mr Whyte,' he said.

Whyte snorted and rubbed his eyes. 'Aye. I did. And have risked much in that cause.'

'Did?' queried the Doctor.

Whyte stared into s.p.a.ce, his face betraying his troubled mind. 'I cannot speak of it,' he mumbled at last.

Polly looked him directly in his bright blue eyes. 'Please.

If you do want to help me.'

Whyte looked from one to the other of the three seated next to him, then sighed. 'I... I no longer believe this King to be a man of honour. Nor worthy of his great office.'

'Then will you tell us where to find him?' urged Scrope quickly. Whyte shook his head. 'No. I cannot. I have fought for Charles these past seven years. I cannot betray him now.'

The Doctor said nothing and it was left to Polly to continue. She grasped Whyte's hand tenderly.

'Listen, Christopher. We know about Prince Rupert and the Dutchman. We know that some plot is being hatched.'

Whyte was surprised and shook his head. 'You are indeed a most formidable lady, Polly.'

'But we don't know what they intend,' she continued.

'And we shall never escape from here if we don't find out.'

Whyte looked at her tenderly for a moment, as though they were alone in the room and talking of matters a million miles from the King and Parliament.

'And where,' he murmured, 'where do you wish to escape to?'

Polly felt a rush of affection surge through her. Fl.u.s.tered, she shook her head and looked down at the table.

The Doctor intervened. 'Polly's telling the truth, Mr Whyte. Our friends are still with Cromwell and Thurloe.

They'll be asking all kinds of awkward questions if we come back empty-handed.'

Whyte's head drooped defeatedly. Then he looked up and smiled grimly. 'They intend to bring in an invasion force,' he said quietly. 'A Catholic invasion force.'

Scrope scowled. 'And that is their plan?'

'Aye,' nodded Whyte. 'But only after the first stage is complete.'

The Doctor crossed his hands on the table. 'And what is that?'

Whyte looked at him and then at Polly. 'Tomorrow morning at ten, General Cromwell will arrive to address the House on the matter of the King's trial.'

Scrope was astonished. 'How do you know this? The general's movements are known to only a very few.'

Whyte smiled grimly. 'The King has contacts.' He cleared his throat before continuing. 'As Cromwell rises to address the Commons, the Dutchman, van Leeuwenhoek, will cut him down where he stands. He is an expert a.s.sa.s.sin from Holland.'

'Great G.o.d,' said Scrope, gulping. 'b.l.o.o.d.y Dutch. A plot to murder the general.'

'And what do you... do they hope to gain by this?' asked the Doctor.

Whyte looked own at the table. 'Anarchy. A chance to allow their foreign army to sweep in and take control.'

The Doctor sat back and folded his arms. 'Where is the King?'

Whyte shook his head defiantly. 'I cannot tell you.'

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