Page 216 of The Armor of Light
‘But what about Spade?’
‘That’s what I’m not sure of. He’s a kind and generous man, but will he be happy to share his house with another man’s children – five of them?’
‘It’s a lot to ask, I know. But will you speak to him about it?’
‘Of course,’ said Arabella. ‘But I don’t know what he’ll say.’
*
Spade was in the hall, getting ready to go to a council meeting, and Arabella was watching him. Breeches were going out of fashion, and he was wearing trousers made of a striped grey cloth. He put on a blue double-breasted tail coat and a tall-crowned hat with a curly brim, then peered into a mirror that hung by the door.
‘I love the way you wear your clothes,’ she said. ‘So many men are slovenly and drab. You always look like one of those tailor’s advertisements.’
‘Thank you,’ he said. ‘I am an advertisement, though for cloth rather than tailoring.’
She said: ‘I heard some gossip today that I should tell you.’
‘I hope it’s spicy.’
‘Sort of, but it will trouble you.’
‘Go on.’
‘Elsie dropped by this afternoon as usual.’
Spade recalled that Arabella’s son-in-law had joined the 107th Foot as a chaplain. ‘When does Kenelm leave for Spain?’
‘He’s still making the arrangements.’
‘I interrupted you, sorry. What was the gossip?’
‘People are saying that Amos is the father of little Viscount Northwood.’
This was bad news, Spade thought. A whiff of immorality couldbe damaging in an election. Something similar had blighted his first attempt to become an alderman. The second time around he had been married, and the scandal had lost its sting.
He said: ‘What does Elsie mean by “people”?’
‘She got it from Belinda Goodnight, who’s a real chatterer.’
‘Hmm. There were rumours about young Hal, but that was years ago.’ Spade remembered, because Hal’s position was similar to that of Abe. Both boys were thought to have been conceived in adultery. Arabella’s first husband, Bishop Latimer, had reacted with fury, but when Jane had presented Henry with a son and heir he had seemed not to question the boy’s paternity, and the gossip had faded away.
Arabella said: ‘The rumours seem to have resurfaced.’
Spade gave a disgusted grunt. ‘And I know why. It’s the election.’
‘Do you think Hornbeam started it?’
‘I have absolutely no doubt.’
Arabella’s face took on an expression of distaste, as if she had eaten something sour. ‘That man is all knives.’
‘True. But I think I can get him to shut his mouth. I’ll talk to him tonight.’
‘Good luck.’
Spade kissed her lips and went out.
The borough council, consisting of all twelve aldermen, met in the chamber of the Guild Hall. As always, there was a decanter of sherry and a tray of glasses on the table for the aldermen to help themselves. The mayor, Frank Fishwick, chaired the meeting with his usual mixture of amiability and firmness.
