Now Face to Face by Karleen Koen

Author:Karleen Koen
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Three Rivers Press
Published: 2008-01-07T22:00:00+00:00

FROM TIM’S arms, the Duchess stared down frowningly at the actor, Laurence Slane, whom she’d seen in London. Was this the man with dark brows who visited Sir John? It would have to be. Now, why would Laurence Slane visit Sir John Ashford? The Duchess pursed her lips.

Slane was muttering, and his movements were restless, dangerous, his arms flailing out, so that Annie, who was trying to tend the deep gash on his brow, said to Tim, “Come and help me. Hold his arms.”

“It’s not French he’s speaking,” said the Duchess, listening intently. “I know French.”

“What then? Spanish? I’m going to have to sew this.” Annie shook her head. “We’ll need someone else to help hold him. It is going to hurt.”

Come out, come out, wherever you are! Lucius laughed to himself and hid behind the altar. The King, his friend James, was visiting, and though James was six years older, making him fourteen to Lucius’s eight, they played hide-and-seek. It was an honor to his family for the young King to visit.

You make him smile, Lucius, his mother said. He has great need of that.

The king moved slowly down the aisle, one hand on the hilt of the sword tied to his belt. Lucius put his head out, then pulled it back in quickly, laughing to himself. The King was close now. He was walking up the altar steps. Lucius backed into a corner of the marble altar, holding his breath. He could see the King’s legs. Suddenly, he lunged, grabbing an ankle, and Jamie shouted, and Lucius began to laugh, and Jamie, dark eyes shining, suddenly did, too, high laughter, clear laughter, the laughter of a boy. His courtiers forget, his mother said, that he is still a boy. Jamie’s father had died in the last year. All hope now rested on Jamie.

You frightened me, Duncannon, the King said, but he was smiling. He pulled off a ring, giving it to Lucius. You’ll be the best of my servants, someday, the one I trust most.

“Italian, I think,” said the Duchess.

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