New Years Reflections (Afternoon January 1, 1676)

[Charles Whitehurst]

His thumbs twiddled on his desktop, disturbing the papers resting thereon. His mind was on other things. Though he had gone to his office to read and issue reports, Charles found himself daydreaming. He was worried about the King, the Shroud of Turin, Thomas, and Darlene. He was worried whether he should go and apologize to Catherine Sedley for losing his composure, or whether he cared.

His mind wandered to a certain Scottish beauty that was dominating his thoughts of late. Just envisioning her face and remembering the warmth of her embrace had his heartbeat quickening as he stared at the same spot on the wall. He silently chided himself for being so moonstruck, but every time he shifted his thoughts to something more serious; inevitably, his thoughts would return to her, and his worries about Lauderdale.

He was getting a headache. Whether it was from the volume of liquor consumed the night before, or the fears that vexed hm, who was to say?

[Charles Whitehurst]

Having shifted through his dispatches sufficiently, Charles penned his instructions. They were still to recover the Shroud of Turin by any means possible. he was still anxious to see if the firebrand preacher had been arrested in London.

What he really needed was to walk around the castle and go outside to clear his head. Standing, Charles attempted to march out of his office as if he were going on some inspection. Tomorrow morning I shall accompany the King he told himself.