James was brooding for two days about the problem without finding a solution.
It was clear that he couldnt send a messenger to Amalia saying: "Hi, how are you? Can we meet somewhere?"
In the end he decided to reverse the problem. Women, he decided, were much more inventive in arranging such things than men.
He would pay a visit to the capital of his ally, and see what Amalia/Betsy would come up with to have a chat with him.
Perhaps he could ease it for her by organizing a party at The Hague. Yes, that was an idea. He even went so far as to instruct some of his attendees to organize a party.
That sunday he went to church, as was expected of the king in a reformed country. The preacher read the story about David and Bathsebah. In his sermon he stressed Davids lack of commitment towards the war. How David prefered pleasure and idleness to Gods service. How David always had been in the field with his soldiers. How Davids stay in Jerusalem led to Davids sin with Bathseba.
James wondered. What was that preacher aiming at? This couldnt be a coincidence?
After the service he decided to call the preacher.
"What were you trying to tell me? And this time in plain language please." James opened the conversation.
The preacher looked thoughtfully at James:
"You heard my sermon" the man replied thoughtfully.
"I did. If I hadnt, I wouldnt have invited you. Dont avoid my question."
The man waited a while before answering.
James recognised the the preachers tactic to provoke more information from James. He had been well trained during the lessons in communication at school, and he knew men could use silence to his advantage. He decided to tackle the man with his own weapons and remained silent, looking at the preachers face.
After a minute the preacher decided it was better to answer.
"There are rumours."
"Tell me, which rumours?"
"That you are about to fall to the same sin as David did."
"According to your sermon, David sinned in several ways. Which of them do the rumours mention?"
"All of them."
"Do the people feel that I aught to go to France, with our troops?"
"Yes, but that is not their main gossip."
James felt tired at drawing everything out of this man. Clearly, this man was not a Nathan.
"So they talk about the sin David committed with Bathseba. Any specific woman named?
Don't be afraid to speak, David didnt kill the prohet Nathan and I will not harm you."
The preacher nodded.
"Yes, the people whisper that you are going to The Hague to see Amalia van Solms, wife of Prince Frederick Hendrik."
James thought. How far could he trust this man?
Obviously he couldnt talk about what went on at his own planet, and this man wouldnt buy any fairy tales.
"I see. Indeed I would like to speak to her,
I consider her a dear friend, but I am certainly not in love with her and I can give you my word of honor
that during our expedition in London nothing amorous passed between her.
Our expedition concerned the former Queen of England, who alas escaped us.
And the topic I would like to discuss with her is also a state affair, not a personal matter."
"To avoid damage to her reputation as well as yours, could you handle it by mail?"
"Wouldnt people gossip as much if it leaks out that we have a secret correspondence?
I value her repuation as a great and virtues lady, and I will do a lot to protect her reputation."
"If it is absolutely necessary to speak to her, try to meet only in public. And stay in The Hague as short as possible.
Do I understand that your visit to The Hague is primarely meant to see her? I can advise you to at least create a good pretext."
"Do you have a suggestion?"
"Not for the pretext to go to The Hague.
But I do know Amalia attends the services of my renowned brother in faith, Hugo Beyerus.
If you attend the same service, you might meet in public after the service."
Not a bad idea, James thought.
