“But what set it off, and how did they time it?” Ralegh silenced me with a wink, then set about filling his pipe as he continued.
“The paper was held in folds of silk, which, when chafed against animal hair, makes this spark. Cat fur works even better, but horsehair is well enough, and the spark ignited the paper, causing the horse to bolt. They shot the poor beast to conceal that his fodder had been poisoned, the poison acting to make him touchy and hard to control. He would have been dead by morning most likely, and that would have pointed directly at Sir Christopher Blount, Essex’s young stepfather and the old Earl of Leicester’s Master of Horse.” Ralegh leaned forward, deftly removing a coal from the fire with the small tongs provided for the purpose and studiously lighting his pipe. As the smoke began to wreath his features he settled back and grinned at me. I found myself smiling back for an instant before standing to pace the room once more.
“It always comes back to Essex, doesn’t it. I vow, the man’s as vain and empty-headed as a peacock, swaggering and boasting about. He’ll be having his portrait painted with the rest of his band for posterity next,” I added sourly, referring to the fatuous Babington, who had done just that. “Almsbury’s coming here tomorrow night, and I will try to talk some sense into him, though I doubt any likelihood of success in that venture! They seem most eager to seduce me into their ranks; perhaps I should let them, for a time.”
Ralegh shook his head and leaned over to knock his pipe against the hearth. “Take care, Kit. They, and you, do play a most dangerous game,” he said.
Roger arrived promptly at dusk, sober and in no good humor, his sky-blue doublet showing the ravages of last night’s debauch. His mood, sour enough to begin with, worsened perceptibly upon my arrival, and was only slightly assuaged by the feast set before him. He was surly and taciturn, falling to his food and ignoring me. I had let my guest finish his repast before approaching the matter at hand, but had allowed him only three small cups before having the wine removed with the remains of the meal. I smiled indulgently at Roger’s glare.
“You shall have more another time, Roger, I do promise, but I need to speak with you, and that I cannot do if you are passed out drunk.”
“Do not patronize me!”
“Oh, but Roger, what are you all angling for, if not patronage? That was why Essex set you on me as soon as he had occasion, was it not? Do not trouble yourself to lie, Roger, you haven’t the knack.” Roger’s jaw gaped open and he propped it shut by resting his chin on his hand.
“Please ask my lords Southampton and Essex to be so kind as to attend me here tomorrow night and we will discuss it. Or if that is not convenient, we shall make other arrangements; you will see to it, and leave word tomorrow. At any rate now, I’m sure that you have more important matters to see to than waiting on me.” Roger recognized a dismissal when he heard one and stumbled to his feet. He headed for the door, pausing for a moment to mutter his resentful thanks in the matter of his rent. I motioned him out without looking up from the fire. He had barely left before Walsingham was shown in.
Soon Tom was lolled in his chair, thawing his feet at the fire and his fingers around the cup of mulled wine, discussing the past summer’s offerings at the playhouses. “Shakespeare has a patron in the Earl of Southampton, but I doubt not that there are others in need,” Tom said, gazing sleepily at the fire. “I wonder at your taking an interest, after that clumsy stab at Ralegh. And the history plays, as well.”
“Well, one writes what one is paid to write, and the histories were more or less common ground, several of us having worked on them, so Will may have felt free to rework them himself.” I fell silent, thinking of Nicolas’ reaction to the history plays, the ones dealing with Richard III. Nicolas, in his youth, had been presented at Richard’s court, had honored the man, and was incensed that one who was so fair and upright in all his dealings, as well as a just and able ruler,