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Everything about ye, lass, pulls the rational and logical thoughts from my mind and replaces them with fiery, carnal want.
But he didn’t see that as a good thing. She was a distraction, one of which he probably wished to be rid. Lucy let out an exaggerated sigh. “Greer isn’t waiting in the hall to whisk me into a dark corner.”
“Or a dark room?”
“He thinks I could be an assassin, Cordy.”
“Which is utterly ridiculous.”
“Agreed.”
Cordelia set her wine goblet down. “You wouldn’t harm anyone unless they were trying to hurt an animal or child.”
Lucy smiled at her. “Exactly.”
Cordy arched her brow and lowered her voice. “And the queen owns all those animals you’ve been trying to rescue.”
Lucy frowned at her. “You sound like Greer now.” She shook her head. “I would never try to kill someone. Steal their dogs? Yes. Maim them, perhaps, if they harmed a child? Absolutely.”
Cordelia chuckled, shaking her head. “You’ll end up in the Tower. And Maggie isn’t here to break you out,andWalsingham has retrained the guards to not be so easily fooled.”
“I don’t know how you sleep at night, Cordy. Worrying about me so. Will I end up in the Tower or broken hearted and the ridicule of the court?”
“Maybe all of that,” Cordelia warned. They stared out as another group leaving the room together. Johnathan Whitt stared rakishly into Anne Bixby’s eyes as he escorted her into the corridor. “I could stop by the Darbys’ door and have William come escort you back to your room.”
Lucy huffed. “And lead the poor boy on?”
“You do every time you smile at him.”
“I smile at everyone.”
“You need to tell him that you will have nothing to do with him.”
“I suppose if he were a leper, I would,” Lucy said lightly.
Cordelia turned a frown on her. “Don’t say to him that you’d choose living with lepers over living with him.”
“Of course not,” Lucy said, frowning back. “I wish he could just be my friend.”
“’Tis hard when one cares more or in a different way.”
Lucy looked at her private sister. She knew Cordelia had given away her maidenhead, and to a man who ended up being a traitor. She certainly had regrets but would never talk about them. Lucy squeezed her hand.
“Fare thee well, Lady of Misrule and Lady Cranfield,” Elizabeth called as Leister helped her rise and took her arm. Cordelia and Lucy curtsied low as the queen swept by them.
“To bed now,” Cordelia said, tugging Lucy along. They walked arm in arm down the Stone Gallery toward the suite of rooms kept for them.
“I’m yearning for sleep,” Lucy said and let another yawn open her mouth like the swelling of a wave. Would Greer have returned from Cranfield House? Was he somewhere in the shadows or already tucked into his own bed? Would she distract him from sleep like she had from his mission?
“Peace-filled dreams,” Cordelia said and watched Lucy unlock her door and go into her room.
A maid had kindled the fire in the hearth, shedding enough light to show that no Highland warrior with chiseled muscles lay on her bed or stood in the corners. She took a step and looked down at the gentle crunch under foot.
Lucy scooped up a small square of parchment, dropped her scepter on the smooth bed, and hurried to the fire for better light.
The children are safely home.
I did not harass Simmons.
