They turned away, their faces filled with shame.
Never one to be intimidated, Emily lifted her head high. “Laugh if you must. But the tip of Lord Draven’s finger be worth more than the lot of you combined, and were he here I daresay there would be none of you brave enough to even look upon him, let alone mock him with your words.”
They exchanged looks with each other that told her she had guessed rightly.
Her father nodded his approval to her as he joined her. He kissed her brow and tucked her hand into the crook of his arm. “Never let it be said my daughter is not the bravest woman in Christendom,” he whispered to her.
Patting her hand in comfort, he led her into the great hall where the king awaited her.
Emily saw Henry at once. A tall man with red hair, he was hard to miss. She had expected him to be seated, but instead he paced the room with his hands behind his back.
She dropped into a deep curtsey as he finally took note of her.
“See what he has done!” Her father gestured to her rounded belly.
Henry’s gaze narrowed on her stomach which had only recently begun to show her condition.
“Leave us,” Henry commanded. “We wish to address the lady in private.”
Her father nodded, then left her alone with the king.
Emily clasped her hands together and kept her gaze on the floor.
Henry drew near her, stopping just in front of her. “You are a fetching maid. Perhaps we were thoughtless in handing you over to Lord Draven’s protection?”
“Majesty, I?—”
“Did we command you to speak?”
Emily swallowed in fear and quickly clamped her lips together.
“So,” Henry said, “you can follow orders.”
She nodded.
“Good.” He fell silent for several minutes as her heart thundered in her breast.
When he spoke again his voice was harsh and angry, and his eyes branded her with malice. “Now tell us, aye or nay, is Lord Draven the father of your babe?”
She bit her lips, refusing to answer. If she couldn’t explain, then she would say nothing to damn the man she loved.
“Are you testing our patience?” Henry asked, his voice even more menacing than before.
“Nay, majesty.”
“Then answer our question.”
Emily thought she might faint from her nerves as the quiet stretched out interminably.
“Why do you refuse to answer your king?”
Tears fell from her cheeks as she lifted her head. “I cannot.”
Henry frowned. “Here now, none of that. We despise tears.” He handed her a cloth. “For Peter’s Sake, dry your eyes.”
She did as he ordered.
“Now tell us what happened while you were in Lord Draven’s custody.”
