A Diplomatic Affair
Or
The Trials and Tribulations of One who Serves The Crown
A tale by Ivor Sukwell
Chapter the Second
Sir Henry found himself to be placed at a Disadvantage, and that on more Counts than One. The Note he had been in receipt of indicated that the place of meeting with the Ambassador should be at Bentick”s, and at the Hour of Eleven. The Coffee Shop was one of Fashion and the Hour sufficiently late in the Morning to be acceptable as Civilised, and to neither could Sir Henry find mannered Reason to object, and that was the First count of his Disadvantage.
Places that are Fashionable are so because they are frequented by Persons of Fashion, and the Hour being what it was, there was no hope but that Bentick”s be full of that chattering Species of Humanity referred to most commonly as `Women”. Sir Henry found he had no affinity for Women, and daily gave his Grateful Thanks that, though he possessed a Wife, he did not find himself Obliged to share a bed with her nor encounter her but of most Rare and Infrequent occasions, but now he must find himself surrounded by a great Number of her fan-waving, never-silent compatriots.
The second of his Disadvantages was that he was Tasked with the Investigation of the Character and Purposes of the Spanish Ambassador, and how may that be accomplished in an Establishment such as Bentick”s? True it was that the Coffee was of a most excellent Quality, but it must be consumed in a House loudly filled with Women, and those also Persons of Quality who all would have Knowledge that he was both the Eyes and Ears of the King and also possessed of a Wife who, doubtless at this Hour, was unrisen from that Monarch”s bed. Discovering secrets in such an Ambience would be close to the Impossible.
The third Disadvantage brought with it also the fourth. Sir Henry timed his arrival to be at one quarter past the Hour, sufficiently early, he believed, to permit him to select a Table and sit in wait for the Ambassador, but upon his Arrival he discovered the Ambassador to be already Present, a Table chosen, and one in such a Location that the loud and Idle chatter of Women could not be ignored. That, Sir Henry may have countenanced, had not the Ambassador brought with him his Son, that most Alluring Boy, Carlos la Palma, and how was Sir Henry to concentrate his Mind on the Observation of the Father when he wished only to Observe the Son?
That, which Sir Henry listed as the fourth Disadvantage, brought with it a fifth and the greatest yet. The vacant Chair at the Table where the Ambassador and his Alluring Son were seated had but one empty place, and that opposite the Father, so Sir Henry was obliged to sit facing the Ambassador and with the Son at the end of the Table to his right. To obtain even the slightest Glimpse of the Boy, Sir Henry must turn his head, thus making all Observation plain, and the secret Nature of such Observation, surely Evident.
One matter there was to the Comfort of Sir Henry, in that the crowded Nature of the Place made prohibition of the Making of an extravagant Leg, greeting possible only by a polite inclination of the Head, and that performed upon the feet, and thus could Sir Henry make closer Observation, than before had been possible, of the Features of the Boy who, if he had not Captivated the Heart of Sir Henry, had made most definite appeal ataköy escort to an Organ lower placed on his Body.
In Dress, Sir Henry noted with a simple Glance, the Boy was attired much as before; still was there a froth of delicate Lace about his slender Neck, though the palest of Yellows now and not of Cream, and his Undercoat of Lemon where before it had been Red. His outer Coat was of the Green of Spring leaves, though it had the same cut as previous, two Points aimed Direct at his very Centre, and his Secret was concealed only by the second Skin of his Velvet Breeches that now were of a deep Green where before they had been Black.
A Flower of Spring waiting to be picked, Sir Henry thought, and wished most fervently that he had such a Flower in his Garden and he at Liberty to Pick it.
His skin was of a darker Hue than are the Skins of England”s Boys, yet were the unblemished Cheeks brushed with a touch of ripe Peach, and not a trace of hair could Sir Henry see above the upper Lip, a Lip that like its companion below, was red and ripe, and the Mouth those Lips encircled of a width that made its eminent suitability for a Particular Task most evident. The Nose was neither too narrow nor too wide, too large nor too small and could be Named as nothing but a Nose, and the Eyes were indeed Black and not Almond or Cob, but most like the Eggs of an undergrown Quail and seemed to have in them the Light of some undisclosed Amusement.
All this Sir Henry Noted in but the time required to make Formal and Mannered greeting and his Mind make instant Record of, also did he make some Judgement of the Character of the Alluring Boy from what was demonstrated by the manner of his Dress and the Glint of Secret Amusement in the Eyes.
No Boy, Sir Henry determined, could clothe himself in such a Way, and have no Understanding of his Allure; the cut of his Coat, the Colours he chose and the tightness of his Breeches made that a matter beyond Dispute, though in such a short space of Time, Sir Henry could not make Determination if that Allure were aimed at Maid or Man.
Nor could the Boy lack Awareness any that the Manner of his Dress would direct the Eyes of any who Observed him to the Central Point of his Allure, though this, Sir Henry made Conclusion, being as the Boy was of some great Birth and Breeding, could be no Other than that combination of Awareness and Innocence that frequently is Manifested in the Characters of Boys, a Conclusion enhanced by the hidden Amusement that Twinkled so in the Boy”s black Eyes.
Now must Sir Henry bend his Mind to the Father and not the Son, though he found he had no Wish to do so, but Desired only to make greater Acquaintance with the Boy.
“Sir Henry,” the Ambassador began in slightly accented French, “His Most Catholic Majesty”s spies have informed me that your King”s spies have informed him of the Secret Purpose of my arrival, and as you are your King”s Secret Eyes and Ears, he has set you to spy upon me to determine if my Secret Purpose be indeed my Purpose, or if there be a still more Secret Purpose yet to be Discovered.”
“Ambassador,” Sir Henry said with some small alarm, “Should this be talked of now?”
“Have no Concern of Carlos,” the Ambassador waved a Hand in the air to dismiss any such Concern, “He is here to further his Education and learn a little of Matters of Diplomacy, and with him a Secret shared is not a Secret Revealed.”
That Sir Henry had much wish to reveal a Secret of the Boy, and that one that had but very merter escort little to do with any Matter of Diplomacy, was a Secret Sir Henry was at some Pains to not Reveal, and were it ever to be Revealed it could be only to the Son and never to the Father.
“My Purpose,” the Ambassador continued and in so doing prevented Sir Henry from having an Excuse to turn and Directly Observe the Features of the Alluring Boy, “Is to Convince, if that be possible, the Brother of your King that, though he may have Inclination towards the Church of Rome, that is a Matter for his Conscience alone and not a thing to be well-known by all.”
“But is it not a long-expressed Desire of Spain that England should have a Catholic Monarch?” Sir Henry enquired.
“It is,” the Ambassador confirmed, “And the Wish also of James, I believe. But some Things wished for, even if they come to pass are not Things it is well for Others to know of. In that, at least, I am sure you will agree with me.”
Sir Henry did indeed most fervently agree, having as he did, a Secret he had no Wish to be revealed, but was Content in that the Ambassador spoke not of Matters of the Loins, but of Affairs of State and of Religion, and they were of but little Consequence when laid against the Urgings of the Loins.
“Then if you give me Permission to do so, Sir Henry,” the Ambassador said Earnestly, “I will speak most Plain and seek Agreement and Consent for what I have in my Mind.”
“I would have you do so, Sir,” Sir Henry courteously agreed, and had some large Wish that he could also speak Plain of what he had in Mind and for it seek also Agreement and Consent, but that he could not do as it concerned not a Matter of Diplomacy and State.
“Then I must tell you that my Mission is to bring it about that England should have a Catholic King, but my Secret Mission, a Thing that is mine alone, and would bring nothing but Harm upon me should it be known of, is to have my Mission appear to Fail. Should England have a Monarch declaring for the One True Faith, many would, I believe, find it again in their Minds and Hearts to Rise against it , and another Civil War be unleashed in this Land of yours, and that not to the Interests of Spain.”
Whilst Sir Henry contemplated in his Mind this great Matter of State, his Thinking was confused some by the soft and sibilant voice of the Alluring Boy whose Tongue lingered caressingly on long French vowels and soft consonants, and Sir Henry could not but Wish that Tongue would linger so long and so softly on something Other than Words.
“We have no Liking for the Puritan,” the Alluring Boy announced, “And we have some Hope that you would not be one who would Rise on their behalf, but have a Wish instead that you would grow most Hard against them.”
The Alluring Boy having Spoken, Sir Henry was at Liberty to turn his Face toward him and Observe him Direct, and this he did with no Hesitation and found his Mind confused and placed in Turmoil by what he then Observed.
The Boy”s Face was Composed in a Manner that accorded with the Words he Spoke, Words that expressed a Hope that in the Matters of Politic and Faith, Sir Henry was in some Agreement with his Father, yet that Composed Expression, Sir Henry could not help but Think, was belied some by the faintest of Stretching of the full Lips of the wide Mouth of the delightful Boy and the twinkling in his Dark Eyes, that appeared to convey some Amusement.
Those Words he spoke, though seeming both Proper and Appropriate, may, Sir Henry bahçeşehir escort thought, mean something else Entire, spoken as Men of Diplomacy often Speak, seeming to say one Thing but talking instead of another and very Different Matter.
Sir Henry would indeed not rise for any Puritan cause and would be Hard against them, but even now he found himself Rising some and growing Hard for a very different Cause, and, in truth, that were a Cause no Puritan would have Approval of.
It were most Unlike, Sir Henry thought, that the Alluring Boy, being as he was but Fifteen Years of Age, would have Understanding that his Innocent Words could be taken in a Manner far from Innocent, though the quick fluttering of the eyelashes when he saw he was Observed, would surely, had Sir Henry any Knowledge of the Courting of Boys, or even Women, have informed the Knight that the Boy knew well enough his Words did have two Meanings.
“Indeed I have no Liking for the Puritan,” Sir Henry chose his words with Care, “Nor do I have for Rome.”
Sir Henry may have Said, had he told all his Beliefs, that he held no Affection for any Faith that had not as an Article of that Faith the worshipping of Boys, but instead he remained the Diplomat, and said only that Rome may be preferred to Puritan in that Rome, at least, did not Deny a Man all forms of Pleasure and Delight.
“In this we are alike in Thought,” the Ambassador confirmed, “But more do I speak of Polity, than of a man”s Beliefs. A Puritan England would be Like to make Ally with the Troublesome Hollanders, and that would be of some great Concern to Spain, but His Most Catholic Majesty sees but little beyond the End of His Nose, so am I Obliged to do His Thinking for Him, though for my safety and that of Carlos also, this must He never have Knowledge of.”
“And I will make it that this is never Known,” Sir Henry Avowed, “The King”s spies will report most fully that you make all Effort to convert the Prince to Rome but that your Labours are in Vain as Prince James places the Welfare of the People above even his own Salvation. Indeed, sir, this I will do most willingly as I too have Fears of a Puritan England. Such would, I feel, deprive me even of the poor Delights afforded me by my colourful Gardens.”
`Ah,” the Ambassador said, “Your Gardens and Woods are greatly Talked of for their Beauty and I would beg your Indulgence in another Matter. My Son has some Passing Interest in Gardens and would dearly Like to observe yours and Learn how they be Created.”
“The Moors, who inhabited our Land had much skill in the making of Gardens,” the Boy explained, “And in Granada, a City in my Father”s domain, they made what they called a Paradise, but is now in great Disrepair. It may be that you can give me some Instruction in how that Paradise may be returned, in some at least, to Beauty once more.”
“A thing that much Occupies his Mind,” the Ambassador smiled indulgently, “And has no harm in it.”
“It would Pleasure me much if I could view your Gardens, sir, may it be a possible thing to be?”
This the Alluring Boy said with a Smile that was in no way Secret, and did indeed reveal how Wide his Mouth may stretch, and that, Sir Henry was Obliged to believe, were Ample enough and more for the Purpose he desired to put it to.
“Then you must do so,” the Knight said on the Instant, “And visit me in my Estate in Wiltshire.”
Arrangement then was made, and though the Boy must perforce be accompanied by his Father, still did Sir Henry believe he may have Opportunity to talk openly with the Boy and Gaze upon him freely with no fear of Disapproval any, and he was Obliged to continue Conversation some so he did not yet have to rise from his Seat, and make revelation that he had Risen much in some other Wise.