Court of Conspiracy by April Taylor

Author:April Taylor [Taylor, April]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2014-04-21T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nineteen

“You made us jump, Mistress,” Cecily said with a frown. Then she looked at the door from which Pippa had entered the cloisters. “Do you come from the Princess? Are you one of her ladies?”

Pippa perceived in an instant that Cecily had not recognized her, and felt the beginnings of a smile. Purposely making her voice much higher than her normal throaty tones, she replied. “I am, Mistress. And you?”

“I am one of the ladies attending the...the Lady Mary,” Cecily replied. Her eyes narrowed in a frown. “Have we met before?”

Pippa made her tone haughty, as befitted a maid to the favored Princess Elizabeth. “I am certain I would remember if we had.”

The man smiled and bowed. Pippa caught a swirl of scented breath mixed with something altogether less pleasant. “I will leave you, ladies,” he said, then turned on his heel and strode toward the King’s apartments.

Cecily looked after him. Pippa knew that sulky, thwarted expression only too well.

“I am newly arrived here, Mistress,” Cecily said turning to face her, making an effort to be civil. “Perhaps you could guide me back to my lady’s apartments?”

Pippa thought quickly. She had no idea where the Lady Mary’s rooms were.

“I am sorry, I am only lately arrived here myself. Mayhap they are past the Privy kitchen and through the Fountain Court. Shall we see?” As they walked across the courtyard, Pippa fought to control the laughter bubbling up inside her. Not only had Cecily no idea of her identity, but that foul-breathed lout for whom her cousin had so obviously been playing the coquette was not a patch on her Geoffrey.

She felt her stomach turn to water when she remembered last night, reliving the memory of his insistent hands stroking her neck, his urgent mouth seeking hers. Bertila had done exactly as Pippa had hoped and told him of her new situation. At the first opportunity, he had slipped into Dufay’s garden to see her. The Elemagus had almost caught them, but Geoffrey stayed motionless and Pippa had pretended to be putting out slops for the pig. Cecily’s voice brought her back to the present with a start.

“Have you been at Hampton Court long?”

Pippa thought quickly. “The Princess Elizabeth only arrived lately.”

“Have you seen the King?”

With every question, Pippa was getting deeper into unknown territory. She could sense that the girl walking next to her was trying to pin down a sharp prick of familiarity. Another three or four questions and her identity would be laid bare. She opened her mouth to excuse herself and escape through Fish Court when a series of cries, followed by a loud crash and screaming made both girls cry in fright, their hands to their throats. They rushed through to the Base Court from whence the noise originated.

A knot of people gathered round the large chunk of masonry evidently just fallen from the roof. Courtiers surrounded the King, some gazing around, their hands on the hilts of their swords. Henry stared at the roof, his brows drawn over black eyes in a thunderous scowl.

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