“If you need my assistance, you may come to me, any time, day or night. I will not be here today; there are matters I must attend to at the docks, regarding the war with the Dutch. But I shall return this evening. If you have found something, visit me then.

“Otherwise: go to the Banqueting House, apprentice. And do your job.”

CHAPTER 16

“WELL?” LORD ASHCOMBE SAID.

I’d spied him coming out of his office. Trailing behind him, Tom was frowning. He looked troubled.

“Lord Walsingham told me to inform you I was acceptable,” I said.

Lord Ashcombe snorted. “Consider that high praise. What did you think?”

“You were right. He’s brilliant.”

He’d been right about the other thing, too: The spymaster was strange. The meeting had left my head spinning. But I think I liked him. I might not be allowed to say the title in public, but I was starting to feel like he’d make a good master.

I showed them our solution to the cipher, and explained what Walsingham had said about my going to the Banqueting House. Lord Ashcombe agreed that made sense. “Keep me apprised of anything you learn. And belt your weapons on again; there’s a murderer about. Unless you’re meeting the king, you stay armed.”

“Will we need a key?”

“To the Banqueting House? It won’t be locked. Nothing is, in the palace.”

“Is that a good idea, my lord?” Tom said.

Lord Ashcombe shook his head, frustrated. “Servants are in and out of rooms all day long,” he pointed out. “Locked doors would grind the palace to a halt. You’d need to leave keys everywhere.”

Which would obviously defeat the purpose. “What should we do if we need to leave Whitehall?” I said.

“Just go. The guards will have instructions to let you pass.” He handed us a coin purse. “For any expenses. And if you need to go far, head to the stables. I’ve ordered a pair of horses to be set aside for you.”

Tom and I exchanged a glance. Our own mounts? How our world had changed!

“You’re in service to the king now,” Lord Ashcombe reminded us. “You have resources. If they help protect His Majesty, I expect you to use them. Just don’t forget: What you do in his name reflects on the Crown. You’ve been given an enormous amount of trust. Don’t betray it.”

“We won’t, my lord,” we promised, and Lord Ashcombe walked away.

Tom and I headed toward our quarters for our weapons—in at least what we thought was the right direction. I wasn’t paying much attention, trying instead to quiet the fluttering in my gut. That enormous weight I’d felt on our way to Paris had returned.

It seemed to weigh on Tom, too. Or maybe it was something else. He’d looked troubled when I’d spotted him with Lord Ashcombe. Now that frown had crept onto his brow again.

“Is everything all right?” I said.

“Hmm?”

“I asked if you’re all right.”