Page 185 of The Pirate Queen

“Careful, Grace.” Butler shifts uncomfortably in his chair, as though they are not speaking alone, in Irish, behind closed doors. “Or one might think you reject her authority as Queen of Ireland.”

“Ireland has no queen beyond the Pale. And Connaught none but myself.”

She thinks he might laugh, that the idea of her a queen is so ludicrous it deserves no other response. Instead, there is a growl to his voice.

“Whatever power you think you hold does not extend to these shores. Tell me why I should not send you away or have you arrested for treason?”

Formerly a Dominican monastery, Blackfriars—the estate now belonging to the tenth Earl of Ormond—is a sprawling residence located on the north bank of the Thames. The original third-floor library has been converted to Butler’s private office and boasts a clear view across the river. Or it would, on a day without drizzling rain and smothering fog. As it stands, Grace can see only as far as the water gate and the small punt docked there. All the wharves along the Southwark bank across the river are obscured. As are Thomas Butler’s thoughts regarding her predicament.

“Because I have already written to Her Majesty.” She studies his expression. “That surprises you? Literate women are not so rare as you might think on our fair isle. At least not in my household.”

“What was the nature of these communications?”

“The danger of increased hostilities among the northern clans, should Bingham’s behavior go unchecked. His title is Governor of Connaught, though he is little more than a warlord. His ambitions threaten another rebellion, Tom. So, yes, I come to negotiate on behalf of my kin, but also to warn that the fire which has been smoldering these last forty years is about to catch. And when it does, stamping it out will make your queen both weaker and poorer.”

This more than anything else appears to unsettle him. “And has she responded to your letter?”

“I had no time to await a reply. Bingham has taken Tibbot and Donal. Should he execute them, the tinderbox in the north will ignite. Ulster is eager for war. The O’Neills rally troops as we speak. They ally themselves, once again, with Spain. Elizabeth will have more trouble in Ireland than she wants. I must address this situation with her in person. And soon.”

Finally, he laughs. “You are a pirate, Grace! You have terrorized Her Majesty’s ships and Her Majesty’s men for over forty years.”

“And you are one of her favorites, Tom. You can get me before the Queen.”

“You think highly of my powers if you believe that Elizabeth Tudor does my bidding.”

“You are cousins.”

“Barely, and that means little to her in any case.”

Grace tilts her head to the side. “I might not have a court such as this. But I do understand politics and loyalty. I understand that a leader is safe only when surrounded by those who can be trusted—a queen even more so. She trusts you, Tom. And I know that the man she trusts most is William Cecil. Get me in front of him, that I might make my case for an audience.”

“Lord Burghley is no fan of yours either, Grace.”

“Is he aligned with Bingham?”

“He is aligned only with the Queen. And as you are a threat to her tenuous control of Ireland, he has long made a study of your activities in Connaught. What makes you believe that he will meet with you, much less champion your cause?”

“I do not need a champion, Tom. Only an introduction. I am well prepared to make my case.”

“And if he refuses?”

“He won’t.”

Butler’s empty cup clatters back to its saucer, the first sign of his frustration. Behind him, the rain turns sideways and pelts the leaded window. Grace waits, listening to the tap-tap-tap-tapping of the summer storm. Ultan is out there somewhere across the river, walking the alleys of Southwark, keeping an eye on her crew, listening for news, bribing potential allies.

“Lord Burghley has grown old. And infirm,” Butler finally says. “His patience has gone the way of his health.”

“But his sense of duty has not.”

“It was only five years ago that he convinced Elizabeth to execute her own cousin. Mary Stuart was beheaded simply for being implicated in a plot to kill the Queen. That is how his sense of duty works. But you, Grace? Burghley has more than accusations against you. He has documented your acts of treason for decades.”

“If I didn’t know better, I’d think you cared, Tom.”

His answering scowl makes her laugh.

“I do not fear Lord Burghley.”

“You should. He is the most powerful man in England.”