Cue for Treason

Peter and Kit ride hard, as they know they will soon be pursued. They realize they have no money and can’t sell the horses, as people will assume they’re horse thieves. Kit bemoans that she doesn’t yet have access to her fortune. They find some food and money in the saddlebags, which they hope will be enough to get to London. They worry that they will be caught as the wealthy Sir Philip and other plotters will be able to change to fresh horses whenever they like. Peter suggests that they cut across the Yorkshire fells to the other main road leading south, as their pursuers might not expect that and it’s a quicker road.

Peter and Kit take a rough track across the rugged landscape of the fells. They stop overnight in a tiny inn, telling the innkeepers that they are stable boys transporting new horses for their master. As they eat, many men come in for beer, dirty and stooped. They work in the peat mines on the moors.

The next morning Peter and Kit set off early, following the innkeeper’s directions. They pass the Virgin Mine, named after Queen Elizabeth, where the men toil. Further down the road, they are ambushed for their horses and money by men they recognize from the inn. The men march them toward a mine hole, planning to kill them by pushing them in. They’re almost there when the men flee on the horses: Sir Philip and his band ride into view.

Sir Philip is so intent on pursuing the distinctive horses that he doesn’t notice Peter and Kit on foot nearby. They run along the road they’d planned to take, knowing it won’t be long until Sir Philip realizes he’s chasing the wrong people. Kit is exhausted, but Peter encourages her on until they reach a forest they can hide in. There, they stumble across a travelling theater troupe, which turns out to be the Desmonds’.

They set a trap for Sir Philip. The actors dress up in their finest military costumes, with Desmond dressed as an official. He waits on the road with Peter, Kit, and a couple of costumed actors. Sir Philip is thrilled when he sees them and asks Desmond to hand them over. Desmond says he is the advance guard of an army sent to quash the conspiracy in the north. When Sir Philip tries to escape, the other actors, dressed as soldiers, block his path. Out of sight, a few more actors make the sounds of an approaching army using props and packhorses. They manage to disarm and tie up Sir Philip and his party.

All seems well: Peter and Kit can take two of their horses and easily get to London before the show on Saturday. But Desmond is worried, because the show has been moved forward, and he doesn’t know if they can make it in time.

Adult Peter now narrates what he later learned was happening in London, even though he wasn’t there at the time. He describes how the theater is being prepared for the performance. Stage carpenters are working hard, musicians are tuning, and palace servants are preparing seating for the Queen. The sound of the stage cannon alarms everyone, but it was only a practice fire. Burbage and Shakespeare are getting into costume; they wonder why Peter and Kit took off, and how they are. Peter remembers his horse’s hooves drumming the road at that moment. In the theater, Somers mumbles to himself behind the curtain. Burbage checks he knows his lines. Somers resentfully promises he is sure of his cue. The Queen appears, magnificent in her finery. Peter explains how, despite the troubles in her kingdom, she maintains stability with the force of her personality. The play begins with Burbage as Henry V. Somers lurks with his gun in preparation. Just as the cue approaches, two guards grab him and haul him backstage, where Peter and Kit are recovering from their journey.

Queen Elizabeth summons Burbage and Shakespeare to congratulate them on the play. Peter and Kit know they’ll be sent for too. Kit is whisked off to be put into girls’ clothes.

Sir Joseph also brings Peter to the Queen. At first Peter doesn’t recognize Kit, who looks beautiful in her fine woman’s clothes. They share their story with Elizabeth, who is thankful. Elizabeth warms to Kit who quotes a famous battle speech of Elizabeth’s when challenged about her unladylike behavior. Elizabeth offers to be her guardian until she inherits, noting her previous ones didn’t do a good job. Elizabeth impishly hints that she thinks Peter and Kit will marry one day. She asks Peter what he wants in return for his actions. He asks for the common land taken by Sir Philip to be returned to the local people and for their rights to it to be protected. Elizabeth agrees. Sir Philip will be executed for treason.

Adult Peter notes that Elizabeth was right about something: She lived to send him and Kit a wedding present. He looks out of the window of Kit’s fine house, hearing laughter as Kit teaches their children to climb trees.