AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Elizabeth huffed. “I’d forgotten your notion about animals. I suppose you will not do your duty as Lady of Misrule at the cock fights this midday.”
Lucy sunk low into a curtsey, her head bent. “I will but wail and swoon, Your Majesty.”
The queen shook her head and rolled her eyes. “The weakness of my sex shames me at times,” she said, glancing toward the cellar door. Behind it lay a mass of darkness, which her ladies and closest advisors knew frightened her more than a Spanish fleet.
“To refuse a queen,” Greer said, “seems more courageous than most men I know.”
Elizabeth turned her back on the dark room, sniffing with disdain. “Now if she would feel the same protectiveness over her queen,” Elizabeth said, “she’d be as dogged in her pursuit of assassins as is my spy master.” She flapped her hand at Walsingham. Before anyone could agree, Elizabeth continued. “My Robin can call the cock fights. We will be there anyway, and he is naturally good natured.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Lucy said, rising with her head still tipped down.
“Master Darby,” Walsingham said, his voice full of authority, “I will send down fifty bottles for you and your father to inspect before dinner.”
William nodded, his face still tight.
Walsingham held up the gold clasp. “And I will try to discover why there was a gold clasp left in the wine cellar.” He looked at Cordelia. “I seem to remember you wearing a pearl necklace last eve, Lady Cordelia, and then it was missing from your neck at the end of the evening.”
Everyone turned to look at Cordelia. Lucy had mentioned her sister’s enquiry about her broken necklace.
Cordelia stared back, her face as if she’d bitten a lemon. “I was having a tryst in the wine cellar.” She spit out the words as if they were a bad piece of fish. “’Twas the outcome of too much wine and a flattering lord.” She looked at William. “I doubt you will find anything wrong with the bottles.”
“He will check them anyway,” Walsingham said.
“A disappointment, Lady Cordelia,” Elizabeth said. “I’ll have to think of a suitable husband for you. Without parents, I must take on the responsibility of finding you properly wed.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Cordelia murmured, curtseying.
Elizabeth stalked away. “Give her back her necklace clasp, Lord Walsingham.”
Cordelia rose, and Walsingham set the clasp in her palm. He and the guards followed the queen into the Great Hall where Greer heard breakfast being served.
William Darby shook his head. “The Cranfield sisters. Courageous enough to lie to the queen and her watchdog. Perhaps your mother would have been proud of you.” His words held poisonous censure. He turned on his heel and stalked away, leaving the sisters and Greer in the corridor where small groups of courtiers walked to the Great Hall, glancing their way.
Cordelia put the clasp in Lucy’s hand.
“Thank you, Cordy,” Lucy whispered. “You didn’t have to—”
“I did.” She glanced at Greer and then back to Lucy. “To earn your forgiveness.”
“Forgiveness?” Greer asked, looking between the sisters.
Cordelia whipped out her fan and began to brush it in the air even though it wasn’t hot. “’Tis between sisters,” she said. Several people past to enter the Great Hall.
Cordelia crossed her arms, leaning toward Lucy. “And Walsingham wouldn’t have quit looking until he traced the clasp back to you. Your silence would mark you as guilty of much worse, possibly treason.”
She looked at Greer. “You might be able to ride off to Scotland, but we have a life here at court, a tenuous one.” She narrowed her eyes at Greer. “Do not tear my sister apart. I would never poison the queen, but I certainly know how.” She turned and strode toward the Great Hall.
“I have the distinct feeling that your sister does not approve of me,” Greer said.
Lucy huffed. “She means well. At least for me. As for you…” She looked at him. “I wouldn’t eat or drink anything she gives you.”
*
“Simmons?” Lucy calledout as she and Greer entered Cranfield House from the back by the kitchen. The roosters seemed cozy in the coop out back, and the house sounded quiet. She looked at Greer. “I’ll check on the children and pups.”
“I’ll see if Simmons is about,” Greer said.
Lucy gathered her petticoats and hurried up the steps. “Don’t scare him,” she called. Which was rather pointless. Greer’s build and frown frightened everyone.Except me. The whole time they walked together, she couldn’t help but remember the power in him as he’d loved her.
