Assassin by Lady Grace Cavendish

Author:Lady Grace Cavendish [Cavendish, Grace]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-307-53638-9
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2004-10-04T04:00:00+00:00

Lady Sarah always keeps some ink new-made in her dressing table so I took that. She’ll never notice.

In the morning I was shaken awake by Mrs. Champernowne, who seemed just as furious. I didn’t get any breakfast and was told that Her Majesty would see me in the Presence Chamber, so I had to trot along behind Mrs. Champernowne in my grubby old hunting kirtle, all muddy from climbing walls. I kept thinking about Ellie and Masou. I really hoped they got away.

In the Presence Chamber the other Maids of Honour were sitting in a row on cushions, sewing—Lady Sarah I’m-so-pretty Bartelmy was mending a tear in one of her petticoats.

The Queen wasn’t on her throne, but the chair she was sitting in by the window had a cloth of estate over it, so it was sort of official. I went towards her when she beckoned me, and then stopped three paces away and went down on both knees.

Her Majesty has pale skin but very dark brown eyes which sometimes seem to be able to reach out and dig right into your head. They were doing that now. I looked down, trying not to feel grubby and insignificant. She let me kneel there in silence for a long time and then …

“What in the name of God happened last night?” she shouted. “Have you run wood-wild? God’s blood, I never heard the like!” And so on, swearing shockingly—which I have left out to save her reputation. Finally she ran out of ways of repeating that I’d been found in that cursed chapel by Lord Worthy. “Well, Lady Grace?” Her fingers rapped the arm of her chair. “What is your explanation?”

I sighed, feeling very tired. I also had a crick in my neck. But at least there was no sign that Masou or Ellie had been caught. If they had been, they would have been there in the Presence Chamber, too. That made me feel a lot better.

“We are waiting for an answer,” said Her Majesty coldly.

“Um … I wanted to … um … well, look at Sir Gerald one last time,” I offered.

“Why?” Her Majesty demanded rightly.

“I’m so sorry, Your Majesty, I just did.” I looked up.

“And did you at least pray?” the Queen enquired.

“No, Your Majesty, I didn’t have time. Lord Worthy came.”

“Hmph.” There seemed to be frustration in every inch of the Queen’s body. “Lord Worthy tells me that there was nobody else in the chapel and that he feels sure you were not there for any immoral reason … But for the sake of your reputation, Lady Grace, you must not behave like this. It is not seemly in any young heiress and most certainly not in anyone in my service.”

“No, Your Majesty,” I replied quietly.

Finally the Queen said, “You will return to your chamber, Lady Grace, and remain there until I send for you. Perhaps you are overwrought with the strain of the St. Valentine’s Ball and what took place afterwards. I shall ask Dr. Cavendish to attend you there and be sure that you are not sickening for anything.

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