| Thus begins a run to the coast. Rochefort would happily kill Dariole...but also finds himself strangely (and sexually) drawn to the young man.
Flash forward: here we are on a strand of the French coast, Rochefort ready to murder Dariole, when the younger duellist finds a Japanese guy on the strand, almost but not quite drowned after a shipwreck.
The three of them make their way to London, where Rochefort is briefly kidnapped by an astrologer who claims to be one of the best of a group of mathematicians who have been condemned by the Pope.
Fludd, the astrologer, knowing of Rochefort's involvement with the assassination of Henri, wants him to perform the same service in Britain:
To effect the murder of James I and allow James's son, the would-be patricide, to ascend the throne.
Rochefort appeals to Cecil (who was Elizabeth I's right-hand man and now works for James)...and Cecil says, go along with the conspiracy so that we might catch the prince trying to murder his father.
Meanwhile, Rochefort is falling in love with the "boy," Dariele, who is, of course, a girl with all the skills of a brilliant duellist.
Charged by Cecil with pretending to go along with the plot, Rochefort, aided by Dariele, comes up with an idea for a masque to unmask the true traitor: James's son.
Well, of course it doesn't work. And James is more than chagrined to learn that his dear first-born son actually tried to stab him (the armor under his clothes all that saved him from a dagger to the gut).
James, Rochefort, Dariole, and the Japanese set off across the English countryside. They are arrested at one point...but claim to be members of a roaming group of actors: and after performing in a small town, are allowed to leave.
In fact, the guy who arrested them basically gives a wink & nod to Rochefort, and suggests the closest place they might find a ship.
Back in London, everyone -- including Cecil -- believes that James has been assassinated. And because of the plague, most of James's loyalists are in the countryside: they cannot identify him.
Everyone thinks the real James is just an actor portraying himself.
Finally, in disguise, James accompanies Rochefort, etc., into Cecil's chambers...and when he removes his disguise, Cecil finally recognizes him.
Well, that's as far as I've re-read today. It's not a short novel: in trade paperback, it runs to 672 pages, and NOT in large type.
But there's not ONE SINGLE awkward sentence among them...and the romance between Dariole & Rochefort is very well done, imho.
Don't know how to say this, so I'll just blurt it out:
Mary Gentle is a brilliant writer. Go read her. If you like long historical novels, with just a soupcon of fantasy, then this is the book for you.
If you prefer your historical novels without a soupcon of fantasy, well, then just disbelieve in the ability of the astrologers.
Either way, it's a brilliant novel. |
