Praise for Andrew Taylor
The Main Characters
The Royal Family
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Chapter Forty
Chapter Forty-One
Chapter Forty-Two
Chapter Forty-Three
Chapter Forty-Four
Chapter Forty-Five
Chapter Forty-Six
Chapter Forty-Seven
Chapter Forty-Eight
Chapter Forty-Nine
Chapter Fifty
Chapter Fifty-One
Chapter Fifty-Two
Chapter Fifty-Three
Chapter Fifty-Four
Chapter Fifty-Five
Chapter Fifty-Six
Chapter Fifty-Seven
Keep Reading …
About the Author
By the same Author
About the Publisher
Infirmary Close, The Savoy
James Marwood, clerk to Joseph Williamson, and to the Board of Red Cloth
Margaret and Sam Witherdine, his servants
The Drawing Office, Henrietta Street
Simon Hakesby, surveyor and architect
‘Jane Hakesby’, his maid, formerly known as Catherine Lovett
Brennan, his draughtsman
Whitehall
King Charles II
James, Duke of York, his brother
Joseph Williamson, Undersecretary of State to Lord Arlington
William Chiffinch, Keeper of the King’s Private Closet
George Villiers, second Duke of Buckingham
John Knight, the King’s Surgeon General
Clarendon House
Edward Hyde, Earl of Clarendon, the former Lord Chancellor of England
George Milcote, a gentleman of his household
Matthew Gorse, a servant
Others
Olivia, Lady Quincy, formerly Mistress Alderley
Stephen, her footboy
Mr Turner, a lawyer, of Barnard’s Inn
Mr Veal, of London
Roger, his servant
Rev Dr Burbrough, of Cambridge
Rev Richard Warley, of Cambridge
Mistress Warley, his grandmother
Frances, a child
Mr Mangot, of Woor Green
Israel Halmore, a refugee
HE COULD NOT help himself. In one fluid movement, he stepped back, twisting to present his side to the enemy. His right leg was slightly bent at the knee, the foot pointing towards danger. In that instant, he was perfectly poised, as his fencing master had taught him, ready to thrust in tierce, ready to spit the devil before him like a fowl for the roasting.
As he moved, he heard a sharp intake of breath, not his own. His right foot was on solid ground. But the left (‘at right angles to the body, monsieur, for stability and strength’) was floating in the air.
‘God’s—’
In that same instant, he stared at the figure in front of him. Dusk was pouring through the grimy windows of the basement like a noxious vapour. He wanted to beg for help. No words came.
He flung out his arms in front of him in a violent