The Tudor Secret - C. W. Gortner [51]
“Relatives don’t always love each other,” I said, but I was no longer suspicious. “In fact, most often the opposite seems to be the case.” My voice quavered. To my mortification, all of a sudden I couldn’t control myself. “God help me, I don’t know who or what to believe anymore.”
She was silent. Then she said, “Trust Her Grace. That is why you are here, is it not? She told me you had offered to help her and she refused. Do you know why?”
I nodded. “Yes. She would not see me harmed for her sake.” I hesitated another moment before I handed her the missive. She tucked it into her bodice.
Footsteps came toward us. She went still. There was no time, or place, to hide. Without warning, she flung herself at me, taking my astonished face in her hands to press her lips to mine. As she did, I managed to catch a fleeting glimpse of the figure who stalked past us, followed by the three men, none of whom paused to make comment at what we were doing.
For a paralyzing moment I thought I must have imagined it.
Kate Stafford melded her body to me; she breathed into my mouth, “Don’t move.”
I didn’t. Only after the echoes of booted feet faded away did she draw back. “He’s left her. I must go.” She paused. Her expression was somber. “You mustn’t say a word to anyone. Not even Cecil. If you do, you could place her in more danger than she already is.”
I hadn’t imagined it. “That was the duke. He was with her. Why? What does he want?”
“I don’t know. He arrived before you did, demanding admittance. She was abed, resting. She let him into her audience room and sent us all away.”
I didn’t like the sound of this. “Then I must speak with her.”
“No. It’s not safe. He could return; someone could see you. We can’t risk it. We cannot be exposed. If anyone should know—”
“Know?” I exploded under my breath. “Know, what? What in hell is going on?”
“You will discover all in time. Now I must go.”
She turned away. I followed her to the gallery entranceway. As she made to enter, I touched her shoulder. “Tell her this, from me. Tell her there’s a plot afoot to arrest her sister. She must not meet my master. She must leave now, before it is too late.”
From the gallery came a ringing: “Kate? Kate, are you there?”
The voice immobilized us. Kate pushed me from the entrance, but not before I saw Elizabeth silhouetted against those magnificent far doors, her hand clasping the collar of her crimson robe, her hair unbound. “Kate!” she called out again, and I heard the fear in her voice.
“I’m here, Your Grace! I’m coming,” Kate cried back. “I’ll be right there.”
“Hurry up,” said the princess tremulously. “I’ve need of you.”
She moved forward. Though I had the perfect opportunity at that moment to go to Elizabeth, something held me back. I said, “You will tell her?”
“She won’t listen.” Kate met my stare. “She loves him, you see. She has always loved him. Nothing we say or do will stop her.” She smiled. “Gallant squire, if you truly wish to help her, be at the pavilion tonight with your master.”
She left me standing there, incredulous.
I didn’t want to believe it, though it made perfect sense. This was why she had stayed at court despite every apparent threat to her safety.
She loved him. Elizabeth loved Robert Dudley.
Chapter Fifteen
I needed time to sort out my turmoil before I could return to Lord Robert. The palace was eerily still. I saw only menials going about their business, none returning my wan greeting as I wandered Greenwich’s unfamiliar labyrinth of corridors. All the courtiers had retired to their respective quarters or gone to stroll in the formal gardens, it seemed.
I was adrift in a shadowy world.
Brooding engulfed me. I tried to tell myself that despite being the daughter of a king, Elizabeth was still flesh and