“Brother,” saluted Charles, as he embraced the Duke of York good-naturedly.
Buckingham withdrew a few steps. He was the most disturbed at the presence of the King at Nelly’s bower. “As I feared,” he thought. “Devil take his Majesty’s meandering heart.”
“Odsfish,” laughed Charles, “we must guard our Nelly, or James and his saintly followers will rob her bower by moonlight.”
The Duke of York assumed a devout and dignified mien. “Sire,” he attempted to explain, but was interrupted quickly by his Majesty.
“No apologies, pious brother. God never damned a man for a little irregular pleasure.”
There was a tittering among the courtiers as the King’s words fell upon their ears.
James continued to apologize. “In faith, we were simply passing–” he said.
Again he was interrupted by his Majesty, who was in the best of humour and much pleased at the discomfiture of his over-religious brother.
“Lorenzo too was simply passing,” he observed, “but the fair Jessica and some odd ducats stuck to his girdle; and the Jew will still be tearing his hair long after we are dust. Ah, Buckingham, they tell me you too have a taste for roguish Nelly. Have a care!”
The King strode across to Buckingham as he spoke; and while there was humour in his tone, there was injunction also.