The King's Return
- Автор: Swanston Andrew
- Серия: Thomas Hill #3
- Год: 2014
- Язык: английский
- Год: Transworld
- ISBN: 9781446487297
- Жанр: Исторические детективы
Электронная книга - «The King's Return». Краткое содержание книги:
Spring, 1661. After years of civil war followed by Oliver Cromwell’s joyless rule as Lord Protector, England awaits the coronation of King Charles II. The mood in London is one of relief and hope for a better future.
But when two respectable gentlemen are found in a foul lane with their throats cut, it becomes apparent that England’s enemies are using the newly re-established Post Office for their own ends. There are traitors at work and plans to overthrow the king. Another war is possible.
Thomas Hill, in London visiting friends, is approached by the king’s security advisor and asked to take charge of deciphering coded letters intercepted by the Post Office. As the body count rises and the killer starts preying on women, the action draws closer to Thomas – and his loved ones. He finds himself dragged into the hunt for the traitors and the murderer, but will he find them before it’s too late?
He stood and Madeleine took his hands in hers. ‘Of course I will, Thomas. But was the kneeling necessary?’
‘Charles Carrington advised it.’
‘Did he now? And what else did he advise?’
‘That I swear undying love and take you to bed.’
‘Excellent advice.’
‘I thought so too, but first there is something I must tell you.’
Madeleine’s face fell. ‘Thomas, if there’s another –’
He put his finger to her lips. ‘Ssh. I have come directly from Whitehall. Would you care to know why?’
‘Tell me.’
‘I have been knighted.’
‘I do not believe you.’
‘It is true.’
Madeleine threw her arms around him. ‘So you are Sir Thomas Hill.’
‘I am. And you will be Lady Hill. So if Agnes would bring a bottle, we will drink a toast to long life and happiness as Sir Thomas and Lady Hill.’
Madeleine fetched Agnes and, with her, a bottle of excellent claret and Josiah, who had been tucking into his dinner in the kitchen. When told the news, Agnes curtsied and a beaming Josiah shook his hand. ‘Just as well I took good care of you, Sir Thomas,’ said the little man.
‘Just as well, Josiah, and I trust the future Lady Hill will do the same.’ The elbow in his ribs did not hurt all that much.
Some time later, Madeleine propped herself up on a pillow and ran her finger along the graze on Thomas’s cheek. She had not asked how he had come by it. ‘Such a pity the king did not see fit to make you an earl.’
‘Madeleine! Is the wife of a knight not good enough for you?’
‘I’m not thinking of myself. Our son would have inherited an earldom.’
‘Our son?’
‘I suspected it after the first time. Now I’m sure.’
Thomas sat up and took her face in his hands. ‘But I thought …’
‘It seems they were wrong.’
‘And your sickness …’
‘He must be strong.’
‘Is it not too soon to be sure?’
‘No, Thomas. I am sure.’
Thomas kissed her. ‘What shall we call him?’
‘My father’s name was Edward.’
‘Then he will be Edward Hill.’
Acknowledgements
As always, I thank my wife Susan for her patient support. Michael and Tom Swanston offered valuable advice and suggestions for which I am grateful.
Thanks also to my wonderful editor, Emma Buckley, and her colleagues at Transworld. It is a great pleasure to work with them.
And a final thank-you to Penny McMahon at the British Postal Museum and Archive in London.
Select Bibliography
Iris Brooke, English Costume of the Seventeenth Century, A. & C. Black, 1934
Tim Harris, Restoration, Penguin, 2005
Christopher Hill, The World Turned Upside Down, Penguin, 1972
Alan Marshall, Intelligence and Espionage in the Reign of Charles II, 1660–1685, Cambridge University Press, 1994
Stephen Pincock, Codebreaker: The History of Codes and Ciphers, Walker & Co., 2006
Simon Singh, The Code Book, Fourth Estate, 1999
Jenny Uglow, A Gambling Man, Faber and Faber, 2009
and, of course, Samuel Pepys, The Shorter Pepys, Penguin, 1985
About the Author
After reading Law at Cambridge, Andrew Swanston held various positions in the book trade, including being a director of Waterstones and chairman of Methvens PLC, before turning to full-time writing. Inspired by a lifelong interest in seventeenth-century history, his Thomas Hill novels are set during the English Civil War and the early period of the Restoration. He lives with his wife in Surrey.