Page:The Great Roxhythe - Georgette Heyer.pdf/15

 many of the men who surrounded him came to the conclusion that he had had no mind of his own in the matter, but had blindly followed his ministers' instructions. Others who had more insight into the King's nimble, competent brain confessed themselves at a loss to explain his concurrence with a bond which must surely be disadvantageous to himself. These were his intimates; men who had some conception of the King's friendship with his cousin Louis, and a knowledge of the condition of his private purse. They wondered, and surmised, and exchanged glances, but they were few in number, and the majority of men thought the King an indolent prince with no head for business and certainly no taste for intricate intrigue.

It seemed that the only man at Whitehall that afternoon who neither wondered nor surmised but who was content to receive the news placidly and without argument, was, as usual, Lord Roxhythe. He spent his time turning aside solemn questions as to his opinion of the bond by a series of flippant rejoiners. He grew weary at last of trying to turn men's thoughts into lighter and more congenial channels, and withdrew to the side of Mrs. Chester, one of the Queen's ladies. There he remained, and was exchanging languid badinage with her when a page broke in on the gathering about the lady's couch and bowed low.

His Majesty desired my lord to go to him at once.

It was no unusual thing for Charles to summon his favourite to him privately, and no one thought it a matter for suspicion; not even Sir Thomas Killigrew who was unreasonably jealous of his rival.

My Lord Roxhythe cast an appealing glance at Mrs. Chester, and rose.

"Oh well, sir!" shrugged the lady with a little moue of pretended anger. "I know you will never stay by my side when His Majesty calls!"

"Sweetheart," retorted Roxhythe, audaciously, "I would stay by your side an I could, but seeing that I may not, how can I?"

Mrs. Chester laughed immoderately at this, flirting her fan.