Courtesan of the Saints

by Marina Oliver

  Chapter 2

  Miles and Robert left Mistress Weston's large house in Canning Street, and turned westwards to walk towards the crumbling building that used to be the Cathedral of St Paul's, and was now used for a multitude of unhallowed purposes.

  When they reached their lodgings in nearby Cheapside, Robert poured wine, and they sat down. They had spoken but a few words since leaving the house.

  'You succeeded in establishing your interest with the lady then, Miles. Good work. I could at times wish for your skill!'

  Miles laughed. 'What, and the faithful Jane waiting for you at home?'

  'Merely in the way of duty, I hasten to add! But you are free to enjoy yourself. Do not be too carried away by her charms and forget what you are here to do.'

  'I promise you that will not happen, Robert. No woman has sufficient charms to deflect me. But in all seriousness, do you think she will be worth cultivating?'

  'You saw the gathering tonight! And met at least two members of the Barebones Parliament. There will be others. Knowing Cherry Weston is one of the best ways to get to know them.'

  'Tell me about her. I am curious.'

  'I thought you would be.' Robert chuckled.

  'That sort of curiosity I can satisfy by myself! Her history, where does she come from? How is't that she behaves as she does, defying the conventions of men like Faithful, and still holding them her slaves?'

  'Did you not feel her charm, her power over men?'

  'Too well! But what lies behind it?'

  'Her father was a wealthy wool merchant in Norwich. He married a girl from the lesser nobility, who was penniless and determined neither she nor her family would ever be in need again.'

  'Are they still alive?'

  'The father died some years back and her mother remarried, another wealthy merchant in Bristol.'

  'Was she as attractive as Cherry?'

  'Oh, yes. She is over forty now, but still at the height of her beauty, and looking no more than thirty.'

  'Cherry was the only child?'

  'The only girl to survive. She has a brother a year older, who continues his father's business in Norwich.'

  'So she did not inherit her father's wealth?'

  'Only a small part of it. But that was enough to make her a suitable match for James Weston, who was more than twice her age, but a very wealthy man, one of the Mercers' Company, and on the lookout for a young wife to bear him sons to follow in his business. He had just lost his second wife, and had yet no children when he went courting Cherry.'

  'Was she more successful in giving them to him?'

  'No. They were married in forty-four, when Cherry was just fourteen, but her elderly husband, who was then over forty, was more eager for military glories than for his child wife's embraces. Soon after the marriage he was with the army at Marston Moor, having left his shop to his younger brother's care.'

  'When did he die? Was he killed in battle?'

  'Yes, but not until six years later at Dunbar. In between his campaigns he spent a good deal of time with his wife, whose beauty eclipsed that of her mother.'

  'So she has been widowed for three years. A long time.'

  'You think it strange that she does not remarry?'

  'There must have been plenty of opportunity for her, rich as well as beautiful. I assume she is rich?'

  'Exceedingly. Mayhap you have found the reason. She was not, I believe, happy in her marriage, and the only time I saw Weston I loathed him on sight. I could not blame her for relishing her freedom and keeping control of her fortune. She is well capable of seeing to it herself.'

  'What was he like?'

  'A brute of a man, used to giving orders and having them obeyed instantly, even by his so delightful wife. But she would not obey him always. There were rumours he beat her nigh to death when she was but fifteen, and wed just a year.'

  'How did you meet them?'

  'About four years ago, when I was betrothed to Jane. She lived in Bristol and her family know Cherry's mother. Cherry and Weston were visiting them, and we met. Two years ago Jane and I came to London and called to see Cherry, who had been widowed the previous year. I now see her whenever I am in London, and she visited us in Somerset last year.'

  'But despite her husband, she still remains friends with his acquaintances?'

  'She has a much wider circle than ever he had, but yes, many of the City merchants and their wives visit her, and many of the army officers. Cromwell himself has dined with her, and she is on friendly terms with his daughter Elizabeth.'

  'Are many of her friends like Faithful?'

  'Quite a few. 'Tis amazing how she endures their ranting, for it is undoubtedly not to her taste. Also I find it amazing that she can persuade them to condone in her what they would instantly condemn in other women. Her dress, the constant entertaining, her gaiety. It must drive those like Faithful to distraction, but she charms her way through all disapproval!'

  Miles laughed. 'All men are alike in bed, whatever they wear out of it!'

  'I doubt whether she has entertained Faithful in bed!'

  'I suspect that is the reason for his glumness. Could you not see the desire in his eyes?'

  'But he is one of the Saints!' Robert was aghast at the very thought. 'He preaches nearly every week. I went once out of curiosity, and what I could understand of his ravings, which I confess was very little, was all to do with the dire punishments for those who fornicated!'

  'He will not admit his lust, would be horrified to recognize it, but it is there, eating into him. He must satisfy his cravings by railing against those who dare what he does not,' Miles suggested.

  Robert considered this. 'There is something in that,' he agreed.

  'I shall commiserate with him. But there are others who frequent the house?'

  'Many,' Robert reassured him. 'If you gain Cherry's friendship, which seems to have been achieved already, you will be welcome there at any time and will have ample opportunity to meet them and cultivate them, and through them get to know others of their persuasions.'

  Miles was silent for a while and drank his wine, then poured out another glass.

  'I am most grateful to you for introducing me to them. It was otherwise going to be difficult to infiltrate their ranks, but now I will be accepted, and the time saved may be all important.'

  'Are you hoping simply to gain information?'

  'More than that. We will find it very useful to discover how much they know of our activities. But apart from that, we wish to know which men in positions of authority might be sympathetic to the idea of restoration. The King, unlike some of his advisers, is willing to explore any way of recovering the throne. If it can be done by armed rebellion, then he will agree, but after the experiences of two years since he is somewhat dubious of the amount of support that is like to achieve.'

  'That was when he came at the head of a foreign army!' Robert protested. 'Many Englishmen resented that.'

  'What matters the means? He would try a foreign army if there were a chance of success. But he would, I know, prefer that he were restored by the many rather than the few, if only to avoid possible disputes afterwards. That is why I am here, in the hopes of discovering those of different parties who could be drawn together in his support.'

  'I do not think many of our present rulers are like to welcome a restored monarchy. A concerted rising in many parts of the country is the best opportunity.'

  'That may come. You concentrate on that part of it, and I will do this. After all, with Mistress Cherry around, I shall have some enjoyment at it!'

  'I wish you joy.'