Hidden Fire (The FIRE series Book 1) Read online

  “But she didn't succeed.”

  “Well, yes and no. I took it off in the carriage. I'll have to put it back on again on the way home.”

  “How ridiculous. I didn't think your mother was religious?”

  “Only about fashion.”

  “I see.”

  “Your interview in the Daily sparked a run on shirt dresses, you know.”

  “Did it? Caro didn't say anything.”

  “Of course she didn't, she mainly caters to the merchant classes. They have no idea about fashion.”

  “Tessa your snob is showing.”

  “Drat, sorry.”

  “And how do you know what's popular anyway?”

  “Marie tells me. She's an excellent dressmaker.”

  “I know; she works with Caro. I'm going to set Caro up in business as soon as I come of age.”

  “How generous!”

  “Maybe Marie can work for her?”

  “She never would. Marie's a terrible snob.”

  “I know, but Caro will be able to pay more than the Guild.”

  “That is a generous gift, why?”

  “Well, you know, we've been friends ever such a long time, and she was my Companion my first year in the city.”

  “Of course, you two were very close.”

  “And you were very jealous.”

  “That's not fair Lizzy.”

  “I'm sorry.” They continued their tour of the Hall, trying to find a free table. Eventually, a group of three women and a man waved them over.

  “Cooee! Liz. Tess. Here!” Charley called, “We got a table!” Charley was a large, intelligent woman, with eyes like chocolate and darkly tanned skin. She was half-Belenosian, the daughter of an Imperial Ambassador and an Alboni Countess.

  The pair threaded their way through to their friends.

  “Where's the twins tonight Liz? I'm surrounded by hens.” Henry Fitzhaven laughed as the women punched and poked him in the ribs, “Ouch, you've got sharp fingers you know Charley.” Henry was short and red-haired; he burnt easily in the sun. Despite years of teasing at the Royal School he had survived with his humour and confidence intact. Mainly because he was extremely popular with the girls. He was continuously surrounded by 'hens' but not a single one had persuaded him into their beds. Rumour had it that he was deeply in love with Lizzy, a rumour they both took care to spread.

  “They've gone back to Mortlake to help with the investigation.”

  Henry's face fell.

  “I thought it was all done with?” Beth asked. She was a quiet, mouse-like woman, with blond-brown hair and a terrible dress sense. Her mother had also insisted she wear a coif. Unlike Tessa, whose own mother never came to court, Beth's was watching them closely, so she couldn't take it off.

  “Mostly, all bar the shouting, I mean.”

  “Can't wait to see who gets the chop, can't you give us a clue Lizzy?”

  “You have such a morbid sense of humour at times.” Beth admonished Charley quietly.

  “But I'm not the one with a cow pat on my head.” Charley reached over to snatch the coif off her friend's head.

  “Give that back, mother's looking.”

  “Oh really Beth, you're twenty-five, I'm pretty certain your mother shouldn't be dictating your clothing choices still.”

  “Well, she can be very sharp at times. And she's worried.”

  “What about?”

  “She doesn't like us being friends, not after Lady Mortlake's execution.”

  “Oh, yes, your mother and the late lady were cousins, weren't they?”

  “Something like that, not close enough to drag us into their plotting but close enough that mother resents you now that they got caught.”

  Lizzy looked over at Beth's mother, hovering a few tables away; she smiled. Beth's mother pretended not to see and spoke to her own friends instead. The lady was in mourning, obviously for her cousin Lady Mortlake, since she'd long since stopped mourning her husband.

  “Doesn't she know showing sympathy for traitors is likely to get her investigated?”

  “I've told her that, but she insists on wearing black, for the next month.”

  “I'll tell uncle she's just being stubborn, rather than traitorous, then shall I?”

  “Please do, as much as she's a nuisance, I'm sure Beth doesn't want her mother sent to Gaol as a traitor.”

  “No, I really don't. The Duke won't really investigate her, will he?”

  “Probably not, but he's paranoid at the moment. I'm to stay here tonight, it's too late for me to ride home in the dark and all that nonsense.”

  “Oh, but the duke means well Lizzy.”

  “I know, but it can be stifling. I had to take an escort into town earlier! Me!”

  “Well you did get abducted last time you went to town without one.”

  “Thanks Henry, I needed reminding about that. Oh, that reminds me, has anyone seen Walter Northwood recently?”

  “Hasn't he been to call?”

  “No.”

  “His mother found out you were meeting. You know what the dowager's like; she banned her precious Wally from stepping foot in the capital for a year.”

  “He's twenty-eight.”

  “And a mummy's boy. Give up on that one love, and find yourself a man.”

  “Darling Henry, if only it were so simple. There are so few suitable men in Albon.”

  “So very true. I've looked so hard.”

  “Perhaps we should take a tour of the Empire instead?”

  “Could be fun, when did you have in mind?”

  “I don't know, next summer? I'd have to talk to uncle first though.”

  “Why?”

  “Well, he wants me to be responsible.”

  “Oh dear. Doesn't he know responsibility is bad for you?” Harry passed a bottle of wine to Lizzy.

  “I know; it's shocking that he thinks I might suddenly become sensible just because I've reached twenty-one.”

  “Ridiculous.”

  “Utterly.” Lizzy drank from the bottle, before passing it back to Harry.

  “We shall have to inform him that it is impossible for you to be responsible for at least ten years.”

  “We will, we will.”

  The conversation continued in a similar vein for some time before they became distracted and the conversation went elsewhere. Eventually, slightly inebriated, the group broke up.

  Lizzy continued her pretence of drunken silliness all the way to her room. Once inside she collapsed on the sofa long enough to kick her court slippers off. She washed and changed into a different outfit, replacing her silver silk with brown cotton before pulling on dark leather boots, tightly laced. The silk was discarded on the floor by the bed. Lizzy arranged her excessive cushions and pillows into a vaguely human lump and pulled the curtains round the bed. It would only fool her attackers for a few moments, but a few moments were all she would need. With any luck.

  Retreating to the other side of the bed, Lizzy slipped through the door into her closet. It was dark, but she knew it well enough that she could navigate to her desk in the dark. She settled into her writing chair to wait for the next move in the game.

  Lizzy sat up, startled by the knock on the hidden door. The knock came again, then three quick raps. Lizzy sighed, the twins had arrived. She got up to let them in, opening the wall panel that lead into the narrowest of tunnels. Lawrence then Alexander slid into the room on their bellies.

  “I don't know why you don't have that entrance widened Lizzy, it's getting harder to get through every day.” Alex brushed dirt of his brown shirt and trousers.

  “I can still manage it. And keep your voices down.”

  “Who's outside?”

  “No one in my room at the minute, but there's five Queen's Guard out in the corridor, to 'protect' me.”

  “Another five have been arrested trying to kill Colvile, and some of the Curate's Enforcers were seen entering the lodgings of the formerly-reverend Snapson.”

 
“Father got the message to you in time then?”

  “Straight after you went to play you part for the court. How're the gang anyway?”

  “Henry was most put out by your absence and Beth is worried uncle will investigate her mother for wearing mourning. And it's been suggested we should all take a tour of the Empire next spring, for our education.”

  “A grand tour?”

  “That sort of thing, yes.”

  “It could be fun. We'll have to ask father though. He might need us here.”

  “We'll see, but life can't be all work, we need some adventures.”

  “You just got back from a big adventure.”

  “Oh yes, and it was so exhilarating. Not. Now, are you two going to hide or not?”

  “If we must.”

  “We've been shot at tonight, you know.”

  “I'm sure you have. And as soon as we've dealt with the Queen's Guard and father has delivered his ultimatum we can all have a holiday.”

  “You're certain they'll attack tonight?”

  “It's their last chance. The Queen will have guessed we're going to start arresting people soon.”

  “If she's going down she's taking you with her?”

  “Something like that. For all that she's a malicious, jealous sow, she isn't stupid. Taking the boys to uncle's tipped her hand. She can't run and take them with her, so she may as well stay and see me dead.”

  “Twisted.”

  “Extremely.”

  “Shush, they're going to start moving soon.”

  They stood in silence, contemplating the irrational nature of human jealousy for a few seconds before the sound of the outer door opening, and chain mail rattling as intruders tripped over Lizzy's discarded slippers by the door, seeped into the closet via the air brick over the door. The floor creaked a little, then a muttered curse signalled that someone had stepped on the silk clothes and slid across the polished wooden floor. There was furious whispering, orders to remain silent, as the intruders crept closer.

  Lizzy waved the twins to the door, which opened with a slight click, muffled by a wall hanging. They slid out and crouched behind the bed, waiting for the Guards to attack the pillows. Lizzy waited behind the door, holding it slightly open so she could slip out while her attackers were engaged in fighting the twins.

  The Guards had righted themselves, to reach the bed without further accidents. The curtain rings scraped over the wooden rod; Alex pulled back the far curtains in time to see the blades of four swords slice downwards, glinting of the lamp light. The Queen's Guardsmen stepped back, away from the feathers billowing from the now ruined pillows. The twins jumped on to the bed and across the mattress ready to attack. Their drawn knives reflecting the lamp light back at the Guards.

  “Really shouldn't have drawn swords in here.” Alex grinned, as he slid off the bed and under the reach of the first sword.

  “There's really not enough room for that.” Lawrence dived at another guards, pushing him backwards. The Guard tripped as he scrambled backwards. Lawrence followed him down and plunged his first blade into the guard’s eye socket. Wrenching it out with a twist, Lawrence stood, smiled at the remaining two guards and asked,

  “You next?” He pointed his dripping stiletto at the Guard nearest himself. The man shook his head.

  “Doesn't he want to play brother?”

  “Not at all.”

  “Well this one does, so come give me a hand.”

  Lawrence sighed and drew a throwing knife from his belt. “Duck.” Alex dropped to the ground as the knife whirled over his head to bury itself in the Guard's sword arm. The sword dropped from his numb fingers as Alex returned to his feet and sliced forward with his own blade, putting his opponent down, although not permanently out of the fight.

  “Try to keep one or two of them alive Lawry, we need evidence.”

  “I will, don't worry.”

  The bedroom door opened, the Guards left outside on watch had fetched more of the Queen's Guard. Five men joined the remaining two.

  “I think we're outnumbered.”

  “Possibly.”

  They returned to the fight, their knives an advantage in the tight confines of Lizzy's bedroom but were beaten back, cornered behind the bed.

  “Whatever Lizzy is planning she better get on with it.”

  A pale green smoke started to seep through the air brick above the door to the closet. Alex pointed upwards, smiled at the guards and opened the closet door, covering his face with a sleeve. The twins stepped through the door, grabbing the smoke bomb on the desk and hurling it into the bedroom. They shut the door behind them, before wriggling into the tunnel.

  The space was cold, granite lined and dark. The twins pulled with their hands and pushed with their lower legs braced against the walls. There were grooves carved into the walls every foot or so giving them some grip. Alex felt something catch his hip; he couldn't move forward. Unable to reach his arm back he wriggled slightly on to his side before continuing through the tunnel. After five yards it opened up, enough that they could stand full height. Lawrence was waiting for his brother, tapping his foot on the undressed stone floor.

  The tunnel tilted upwards. The twins ran, coughing slightly from inhaling the smoke, one behind the other, towards the exit, the tunnel dipped again before turning back on itself and starting to rise. They passed three doors before opening the forth. This lead into a linen cupboard. Pushing the shelves back into place behind them, the twins opened the outer door, peering out, looking for other Queen's Guards. Further down the hallway they could see Lizzy hanging on to her door handle.

  “Stop lurking, would you? I need help.” The door was rattling.

  The twins ran down the corridor to hang on to the door with her.

  “How long is that bomb supposed to take?” Alex grabbed the handle, standing next to Lizzy.

  “Two minutes.”

  “It's got to be more than that now.” Lawrence pushed her out of his way and took her place on the door. They braced themselves against the wall and held on.

  “There were more than I expected, the bomb wasn't enough to knock them all out.”

  “Damn. Plan?”

  “We wait. It'll work eventually, just more slowly.”

  “Do we have time?”

  “The Queen isn't going anywhere, not until she knows Lizzy is dead.”

  “Father won't let her leave her quarters, he's got most of his guard with him. The rest are on the way here.”

  “Good, father was going to send some of his men too, but he needs them to arrest the Curates Enforcers and the High Curate.”

  Chapter 10

  A fortnight later the Queen sailed off to 'visit her family', alone, and the Curates found themselves in need of a new leader.

  The trial, before the Moot and King's Council was short and sweet. When the Duke arrived to arrest the High Curate he found the man burning documents from Lord Mortlake and his son. Unfortunately, they couldn't find evidence that the Queen had been involved directly. Her Guard were executed for attempting to murder Lizzy, but she claimed to know nothing about the conspiracy. In the absence of direct evidence, the King's Council were forced to accept her explanation that the Guards had been bought by the Curate to get rid of Lizzy. Colvile and Snapson received the lighter sentence of life in Gaol, to contemplate their crimes.

  Lizzy waved the Queen off from the Royal Hythe, seething with anger,

  “Precisely why are we letting her go?”

  “I've told you already we don't have enough evidence to execute her.”

  “But she'll come back!”

  “Not for a few years yet.”

  The young princes were waving to their mother's ship still, though it was out of the harbour.

  “Uncle, how long will Mama be away visiting Tarjan?”

  “Oh, I should think it'll be a while. Don't you worry, Auntie Catherine and Lizzy will look after you.”

  “Are we staying at your house tonight, uncle?”
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br />   “Afraid not Michael, Dad wants you back at the palace.”

  “Oh, is it safe now?”

  “Probably.”

  “Are you staying at the palace too, Lizzy?”

  “I might.”

  “Please.” The boys bounced up and down, hands together, begging. Lizzy laughed at them.

  “Alright then, I suppose I must, if only to stop your noise. Boys come away from the edge.”

  She grabbed for the capering children who'd got a little too close to the fence that ran long the top of the Hythe.

  “Uncle we really must get a proper wall built along here. Someone could fall in.”

  “People regularly do. Now boys, settle down, what would your sister tell the king if you fell into the bay and drowned?”

  “Back to the coach with you both. And stay in the centre of the Hythe.”

  The boys ran along the Hythe towards the carriage. It was an open topped carriage; they'd never ridden in one before. They'd travelled to the Hythe in the ducal carriage and met Lizzy who'd travelled in her own conveyance. Dawson waited to lift them into the carriage, but the boys insisted on getting themselves in, clambering around the door.

  Lizzy watched the pantomime, as the boys struggled to reach the first step, not realising that Dawson carried a stool to help them up.

  “Do we have any agents at sea?” She smiled and spoke out of the side of her mouth.

  “Yes, but we can't use them.”

  “No?”

  “It'd be war.”

  “If the queen's ship was attacked by pirates?”

  “Indeed. Tarjan is not a stupid man.”

  “I suppose you are right, but I don't like it. Something tells me when she returns that woman will be trouble.”

  “How so?”

  “I don't know, just a gut reaction.”

  “Well, we'll keep an eye on her and if she looks like causing trouble then we might act.”

  Still uneasy, Lizzy went to rescue Dawson from her brothers.

  Chapter 11

  Compared to the preceding months, the following weeks were rather dull. Had it not been for the excitement of her upcoming Coming of Age Lizzy would have been inconsolably bored. Since the arrangements for the Ball were being made by her aunt Catherine, Lizzy was left to get on with dealing with a more important problem; persuading Caro to accept the gift of her own business.