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He fell to contemplating his own future. Was it time to make some changes? He was still Walsingham’s man but perhaps not for much longer. The end of the Spanish threat seemed to have quenched the fire in the old spymaster’s belly. Perhaps he felt his work was accomplished. It was all too apparent his health was declining. England will be the poorer for Walsingham’s death, Lamotte thought, but it will set me free.
The prospect sent a frisson of anticipation through him. Freedom – what would he do with it? His life had been circumscribed for so long. What changes should he make? Was it time to let a younger man take charge at the Unicorn? Tom, if he wanted to? And then?
In his mind’s eye, he saw Beatrice’s dark eyes and warm smile. Suddenly he knew for sure that when the time came, if she would let him, he wanted to be with her and make her happy.
As the theatre emptied, a young man dressed in black with receding hair and a high forehead approached Tom and Meg. Tom recognised the playwright Lamotte had once pointed out and praised. It seemed like a lifetime ago.
The young man bowed. ‘May I congratulate you on your play?’ he asked. ‘It is an excellent piece. Your idea of the castaway is a very interesting one and I was beguiled by your magical island.’ He smiled. ‘If you have no objection, one day I’d like to explore the theme in a play of my own.’
‘I… I’d be honoured.’
‘No, the honour is mine. Perhaps we may talk again?’
‘Of course.’
The young man bowed to Meg and kissed her hand. ‘Forgive the interruption, madam. I shall take my leave.’
‘Who was that?’ Meg frowned as he walked away.
‘His name is Choxper - William Choxper of Stratford.’
‘I think he’s most impudent to try and steal your ideas,’ she sniffed.
He squeezed her arm. ‘It’s the way of the world, my love, ideas are free. In any case, he may steal what he likes, as long as I have you.’
**
Thank you for reading this book. I hope you enjoyed it. Feedback is a writer’s lifeblood. If you have a few moments to leave a review on Amazon, even if it’s only a couple of lines, that would be wonderful. Please do also visit my blog – http://harrietsteel.blogspot.co.uk/. You’ll find all kinds of things there from the story of Elizabeth Taylor and a famous pearl (Frocks and Rocks) to an interview with the celebrated author, Joanne Harris.
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Other Books by Harriet Steel
City of Dreams
After a whirlwind courtship and marriage to dashing Frenchman Emile Daubigny, Anna, the teenage daughter of a Russian furrier, moves to Paris with her new husband, looking forward to a life of gaiety, love and comfortable affluence.
Married life and the social scene in the most fashionable city on earth is everything Anna hoped it would be, but when Emile vanishes without trace and she is evicted, Anna is forced to discover the city’s poverty-stricken dark side of harsh streets and squalid tenements, where the temptation for a penniless young lady to become a kept woman is overwhelming.
To make matters worse, war with Prussia looms and Anna and the city she loves will both struggle to survive.
Becoming Lola
The true story of how Eliza Gilbert, the daughter of an obscure Ensign in the British Army and his cold Irish wife, became the nineteenth century’s most notorious adventuress, Lola Montez.
“Throughout Becoming Lola I kept having to remind myself that the story was based on historical fact. It is a fascinating journey following a woman’s single-minded determination to get the very best for herself at all costs.” Historical Novel Society
“A fascinating read. Lola was such a gutsy character, and Harriet Steel has captured her times and adventures very vividly. It's a must read if you like wild women and strange adventures.” Beth Webb, Author of the Star Dancer trilogy
Dancing and Other Stories
Profits from this collection of short stories will be donated to WaterAid, a charity working to bring clean water and sanitation to villages in the Third World. The collection takes a light-hearted look at some of the big issues in life: love, hate, friendship, jealousy, revenge and biscuits. It includes the prize-winning story, Dryad, co-authored with Joanne Harris, bestselling author of Chocolat, for the BBC’s National Competition, End of Story.