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She shrugged. “Ask Miggins.”
“Miggins as well as every other cursed female in Wareham would lie instantly for you.”
That was probably true even though she had no idea why. After all, she made them work until they could scarce stand straight at the end of the day.
“I wonder if everyone realizes it was you who came to me, that I wasn’t the rutting stoat to take your valuable virginity?”
“To ensure your
continued excellent reputation, I will tell them it was I who took you.”
“Damn you, don’t make me sound like a puling little lad.”
She looked at him thoughtfully for a moment. “Do you know, I have wondered what would have happened had you not believed I was this cow, Blanche. Would you have continued to snore through the night rather than grab me?”
“It is quite possible, since you had no idea what to do. Why do you call her a cow? You did last night as well.”
“You said she was bountiful, more than enough for six men’s hands.”
“I did not say that.”
She nodded. “Well, mayhap not precisely that, but all that bounty makes her a cow. I know what to do now. I know everything.” And she preened, she actually preened.
He snorted. “You are still as ignorant as Eric the goat.”
She said over him, “When I see Blanche the cow, I will thank her for training you.”
Garron nearly exploded.
She patted his arm and leaned in close. “Everyone is listening. Garron, I don’t want you to worry. I have no need to write out my list, I have already memorized all my excellent points.”
“If you do not shut your mouth, I will pull up your gown and smack your white bottom, with everyone looking on, do you hear me, Merry?”
It was on the tip of her tongue to ask him if he liked her white bottom since he’d kept his hands on her bottom a great deal of the previous night, but she saw he looked ready to carry out his threat. “Aye, I hear you. I must fetch us food. How long will our journey be?”
“Three days, no more, unless it rains, then it will still require three days but we will be miserable.”
She laughed and skipped away. She did not need three days to perfect her strategy because she already knew she had the most powerful ally in the realm on her side—the Queen of England.
“Miggins!”
The old woman sidled up to him. “Aye, my beautiful boy?”
Garron looked down at that ancient face. “Did Merry’s infusion work? How is your cough?”
The old woman cackled. “As dead and gone as the precious maidenhead of my sweet mistress.”
32
LONDON
THE WHITE TOWER
The king, Garron was told by Baron Cotswolt, was in Cornwall, visiting his uncle, the Duke of Cornwall. Robert Burnell was with him. No, the queen had not accompanied him.
Merry raised her eyes to the vaulted ceiling and thanked God for granting her fervent prayer. Before Garron could haul her off to Cornwall, Merry asked Baron Cotswolt if Queen Eleanor would see them.
Baron Cotswolt could not think of any reason to deny her, and thus he led the way to the queen’s apartments.
