As the Sparks Fly Upward (33 page)

He sat looking at the letter he had written and noted that his hands were unsteady. He felt a heaviness in his chest that he couldn't ignore. As he sealed the letter and rose to give it to an aide, he prayed fervently, “God, let the emperor see that I'm no man to lead this enterprise!”

A single candle burned, but it gave enough feeble light that Colin was aware of the tiny mouse that crept out of a hole in the wall. Two weeks had passed, and Colin was all alone, one of the few times he had experienced solitude. Every day he had stayed constantly beside the duke, and it had been a busy time indeed. Now, as he watched the mouse, he smiled, got to his feet, and rummaged through a cloth bag until he came up with a bit of cheese. He broke off a morsel and held it out, and the mouse came to his hand. “You've become quite tame,” Colin whispered and put down the morsel. The tiny creature came closer at once and picked up the cheese, then reared up, holding it in her front paws. “Ah, you're a nursing mother, I see. Where are your little ones?”

Colin continued to feed the mouse as he thought over what he could report to Walsingham when they met again.
I know now all the ships that are being prepared for the Armada. I know the number of soldiers that will be on board, and I also know the weaknesses of the Armada. Food is spoiling in the casks, and by the time the Armada sets to sea, most of it will be inedible—just as the water will be rank. I've heard the duke raging because ammunition for the guns is lacking, and when it does come, is often put on the wrong ship. It has become obvious to all—except to Philip—that the duke is the wrong man for this task.

The mouse paused to wash her tiny paws and stared up at Colin with bright eyes. “All right, here. Take that to your little ones.” Colin gave her the last fragment of cheese and thought over his efforts toward healing the duke.
Well, the duke does indeed have the same problem his cousin had when I treated him in England. It became obvious that the patient's problems weren't physical, but I never told them that. He had a case of depression, very serious, but nothing physical. Fortunately for him, I had a solution. There is a Peruvian bush that produces leaves called
Erythroxylon coca.
I'd learned some time ago that these leaves possess great virtues in cases of melancholia or morbid depression of spirits. Whether it be
rational or irrational, almost always a restless uneasiness of mind accompanies these conditions, and the drug brings about a euphoria, a sense of well-being, and makes the patient more lucid. The euphoria is far superior in every way to that produced by opium. The leaves produce this without causing the addiction we're all so well acquainted with. These coca leaves, which do nothing physically for the duke, do seem to calm his nerves. Everyone has commented on how well he is doing since I started the treatment.

The mouse finished her cheese, then scampered back into the hole in the wall.

The king himself had come down to the dock, along with the duke, to bid Colin good-bye. “I must give you some tangible evidence of my gratitude,” he said and handed Colin a heavy bag. When Colin tried to protest, Philip shook his head. “No, you've done a marvelous piece of work.”

“Indeed, you have, Dr. Winslow,” the duke said. “I sleep like a child, and the burdens of my duties seem light as a feather.”

“I'm so happy that you're doing well. But I must urge you to continue taking all your medicines. I've given all your prescriptions to Dr. Chavez, and he has promised to faithfully give you the same treatment. It's a combination of all the medicines together that has cured you.”

Philip stepped forward and embraced Colin with an unexpected fervor. “You've done Spain a service that I can only say is from the hand of God.”

“Our prayers do go with you, Doctor,” the duke said warmly while holding Colin's hands in his.

Colin took their thanks, accepted the heavy bag of coins, then boarded the ship. Soon the ship began to move away from the dock, and as it pulled out, Colin noticed that a military officer had brought a band of scarlet-cloaked soldiers. They were all cheering his name at the command of their officer. Colin smiled and waved to them but thought,
I'm a hero to Spain. I wonder if
that makes me a traitor to England.
He turned and went to stand at the bow. As the ship cleared the harbor, Colin felt a great longing for England—and for those there he loved. He watched the gulls for a time, but then found something sad in their raucous cries. Finally he turned and began to pace the deck, thinking of how he had deceived the duke, but found that he could bear such thoughts.
I did it for England!
was the thought that came most strongly to him, and he took comfort in that.

23

January 1588

W
alsingham leaned across his desk, his dark eyes burning. “You were able to observe all of this, Doctor, and they never suspected you?”

Colin smiled broadly. He'd come directly to Walsingham after arriving in England, and for the past hour had given him all the information he'd gleaned. A secretary had taken down everything he said. “It was the easiest thing in the world, sir. They were so worried about the duke they would've believed anything I said.”

Walsingham laughed aloud—a rare thing indeed for the director of the secret service! He picked up one of the sheets of paper and ran his eyes down it. “They didn't notice you paying attention to their ships?”

“No, not after the first day. They became so accustomed to me they didn't pay any attention to me at all. The duke went down to the harbor almost every day to confer with the different captains. I believe I could name the captains of seventy-five percent of the ships—and I can give you the kind of cannon on each ship.”

“You're certain about the supplies being in such terrible shape?”

“Oh, yes. The duke was frantic. No matter what he did, it seemed things went wrong.”

Walsingham got up and walked around the desk. Colin rose also, and Walsingham, in an unusual gesture of affection, put his hand on Colin's shoulder. “I'm very proud of you, Doctor! With this information, we'll be able to meet this so-called ‘Invincible Armada.' You've done your country a great service.”

“I'm glad to be of some help, sir. I'm equally glad to be back. I'm hoping for better news of my brother.”

Walsingham's face clouded. “I receive word each day from Dr. Teague. I grieve to say that he's not doing at all well.”

“I must go to him at once.”

“Go, Doctor! Go and take the gratitude of your queen with you. As soon as I tell her you are back, she will want to see you.”

As Twyla helped the elderly patient off the table, he grinned at her toothlessly, and she asked, “Do you feel better now?”

“Much better! Much better!”

“You just do what the doctor says, and you will be well in no time.” She helped him to his feet and walked with him to the door.

When she came back, she found that Teague had entered the room. “Well,” he said wearily, “I'm worn out from seeing patients. I'll be bound you are too, Twyla.”

“I don't mind, Dr. Teague.”

“You're a pearl of great price.” Teague had grown very fond of Twyla. Even more so recently, since the two had been forced to carry the load that Colin usually managed. He glanced at her, then said, “You need to get some rest.”

“I'll go, but really I need to spend time with Adam. His mother spends as much time with him as she can, and the servants have been a great help. But I don't want to leave him alone yet.”

Teague asked sharply, “What about that wife of his? Is she a help?”

Twyla said faintly, “She's not too interested in sick people.”

“But this is her husband! Surely that should make a difference!”

“I know that, but she doesn't seem to.”

“Why, Twyla, I've never heard you speak unkindly about anyone.” Teague knew that Heather was not a good wife but was surprised to hear Twyla speak so plainly of her.

Twyla had managed to bottle up her feelings about Heather, not saying anything to anyone since Colin had left for Spain. “I don't understand that woman. This is her husband, and he's dying, while she's going about—” Twyla didn't finish her sentence, but Teague had an idea of what she was going to say. Twyla was determined to change the conversation. “Dr. Teague, what are Adam's chances for recovery?”

“Not good, I'm afraid.” Teague sighed. “I wish Colin were here.”

Twyla bid him good night. She made her way back to the house and hurried to see Adam. His mother sat beside him. Twyla saw at once that his color was bad and his breathing was erratic. “How is he, Lady Eden?”

“No better, I'm afraid.” Eden's face was worn and tired, for she sat long hours with Adam. She sighed deeply, adding, “I'm so afraid for him, Twyla.”

“We'll just have to trust the Lord, ma'am.”

“I do, of course, but it's hard to have faith when every day he seems to grow worse. I'm sure when Colin gets back, he'll be able to help.”

“I know he will.”

Eden looked at Twyla, then said, “You've worn yourself out working for Dr. Teague, then all the hours you spend here with Adam. You aren't sleeping or eating enough.”

“I'm fine, ma'am.” She walked over and laid her hand on Adam's forehead. “He still has that fever. It seems like he has had it for weeks now.”

“Dr. Teague won't say much to me, but I know he's discouraged.”

“We all are, ma'am, but we can keep praying for answers.”

Eden lifted her head and looked at Twyla for a moment, then said gently, “I've been meaning to ask you something, Twyla.”

“What is it, Lady?”

“How do you feel about my son?”

Twyla looked confused. “About Adam?”

“No, about Colin.”

Twyla had kept her feelings for Colin concealed as well as she could, but now she flushed and couldn't control the nervousness that came to her. “I—I admire him greatly.”

“It's more than that, isn't it?”

“What do you mean?”

“You love him, don't you, Twyla?”

Twyla looked down at the floor, unable to speak. Her throat seemed to close up, and she felt tears gathering in her eyes. Finally she looked up and whispered, “Yes, Lady Eden, I love him. I have for a long time.”

“What does he feel for you?”

“For a long time he saw me as a child, and now he sees me as a servant.” Her voice had pain in it as she spoke. Tears came into her eyes and she whispered, “He kissed me before he left. It was the first time he saw me as a woman.”

“I'm sure that isn't true. He's told me so many times how he admires and respects you. You've come so far, my dear! I remember when you first came to live with the doctors—but just look at you now! Colin is very proud of you, and so are my husband and I.”

Eden came over and put her arm around the girl. “You mustn't give up. If it's meant to be, it will all work out.” The two women stood in a fond embrace. When Eden noticed the tears in Twyla's eyes, she gave her a kiss on the cheek. “I couldn't think of a finer wife for my son than you.”

“He's always cared for someone else.”

“You mean Heather? Why, there is nothing to that.”

“But there
is
, my lady! He's never gotten over her.”

“Twyla, she's married to Adam!”

“I know that, but Colin can't see what she is.”

The two women stood there for a moment, then Twyla said, “Why don't you go get some rest? I'll sit here with Adam.”

“Get one of the servants to stay, and you go rest yourself.”

“No, I'll stay. You go on to bed.” Finally, Eden agreed and went to her room. Twyla sat down beside Adam, weary to the bone. She had not been fond of Adam, but in his pitiful condition she had come to feel a great deal of compassion for him. The time passed slowly. Then the door opened, and Twyla stood as Heather entered the room.