"Lee Edgar - Plot 03 - Plot For A King" - читать интересную книгу автора (Edgar Lee)

of the United Provinces. The Pope has even offered his support through the Irish.тАЩ
тАШI didnтАЩt know that Prince Charles had become a Catholic,тАЩ she said, suddenly concerned.
тАШHe hasnтАЩt,тАЩ Andrew said quickly. тАШIn fact, he is determined to re-establish the Anglican faith in
England. The problem is that the Irish will only support him if he has England declared Catholic,
the Scots will only support him if he makes the country Presbyterian and the Dutch will support
him if he remains Protestant. So, he is in a cleft stick.тАЩ He sighed. тАШIf only they would all work
together, there would not be a problem.тАЩ
тАШWhat would you see him do, Andrew?тАЩ
тАШI really donтАЩt know, Aunt Alice. I do believe in God, of course. But like Dad, I canтАЩt somehow
relate Him to the pomp of the Catholic Church and, to me, Anglicans seem just like Catholics in
disguise.тАЩ
тАШAnd Puritanism?тАЩ
тАШPuritanism? I donтАЩt know. ItтАЩs certainly more down-to-earth but somehow, too unreasonable. IтАЩm
sure God didnтАЩt mean us to be so strictly dealt with all the time.тАЩ
Alice laughed. тАШI think I know what you mean. When Puritanism started here, it was very
welcome, being a refreshing change to High Church practices. But, just lately, it seems to have
bred so many fanatics. IтАЩm not sure of anything myself these days.тАЩ She suddenly smiled. тАШCome,
let me give you something to eat.тАЩ
Andrew ate with gusto and, when he was full, they spent another hour discussing old times.
Then Alice showed her nephew into the spare room where he soon fell asleep. If heтАЩd had any
idea about what was about to happen, it is doubtful he would have slept so peacefully.

Thursday 8th February 1649

The wind was icy cold as Carrie stepped down from the coach. It had not been a good journey
from the Channel coast and she rubbed her sore bottom. тАШWell, Mary Beth. This is to be our home
for a few days. What do you think?тАЩ
The unruffled teenager stepped down and looked around with her nose in the air. тАШNot much
different to England really. I thought it was supposed to be warm in France.тАЩ
Carrie laughed at her solemn face. тАШIn summer, IтАЩm told it is beautiful and, after the wedding, we
will be going farther south and there it will be much warmer.
Mary Beth shivered. тАШI certainly hope so. IтАЩm frozen.тАЩ
тАШNever mind, weтАЩll soon be inside.тАЩ
Carrie took her by the arm and they walked towards the big front door which opened by a
footman as they approached. They were shown into a large reception room where they were
greeted by a middle-aged woman dressed in black.
Princess Henriette Marie de Bourbon held out her hands to the friend who had hidden her often
whilst on the run from Parliament. тАШMy dear Lady Caroline, welcome to Paris.тАЩ
Carrie curtsied low.
тАШCome beside the fire and get warm. Tell me, how was the journey?тАЩ
тАШDonтАЩt ask. IтАЩm never going to set foot on a boat again. IтАЩve never felt so ill in all my life. And that
coach... my bottom will be numb for a week.тАЩ
The Queen laughed. тАШI have arranged for dinner to be served immediately. You must be hungry
and, Mary Beth, you look frozen. Come nearer to the fire.тАЩ
Mary Beth sat on the edge of her chair and shuffled a little closer.
Henriette smiled. тАШCome on, dear, I shanтАЩt eat you.тАЩ
Just then, a girl of about five came into the room and the Queen greeted her. тАШCome in, Minette.
Carrie, you wonтАЩt have met my youngest yet. Her name is Henriette Anne.тАЩ
 Carrie frowned. тАШBut you called her Minette.тАЩ
тАШHenriette Anne is her real name but young Charles started calling her Minette some years ago