Dance with a Dragon by Hopkins Linda K

Author:Hopkins, Linda K. [Hopkins, Linda K.]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2015-10-28T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 31

The next few days rushed by in a blur of activity. In between accompanying the queen in her duties, the ladies were expected to help with the planning of the ball. They applied to Rupert for the names of his officers so they could be included on the guest list, and the queen insisted that all plans be presented to her for approval.

There was also the added concern about the royal children. Influenza had swept through the nursery, forcing two nurses and all the children to take to their beds. Matilda refused to enter the sickroom, but the concerns for her health did not extend to her ladies, and they were expected to check on the children a few times each day and deliver a report on their progress to the queen. The physician attended the patients daily, offering tonics made of lungwort and laurel, and within a few days the patients were starting to improve. Anna came back one afternoon with a message from Prince John that he wanted to see his mother, but Matilda shuddered slightly and shook her head. “Take a message to the king,” she told Anna, “that his children wish to see him.”

“Yes, my lady,” Anna replied.

A few enquiries gave Anna the intelligence that the king was meeting with his war council in the council rooms, and Anna made her way down the stairs. The door to the chamber was made of solid wood, but as she drew near, she heard the sound of raised voices shouting in anger. She paused, but as she slowly stepped away from the door, it swung open violently. She pulled back against a pillar as Rupert stormed from the room with Lord Hindley on his heels. “Even John could make better decisions than that,” he threw over his shoulder, sending an angry glance at the man scurrying behind him. The action brought Anna into his line of sight. “What are you doing here?” he demanded. “Are you eavesdropping?”

“What?” she said. “No! I was sent to give the king a message.”

“What message? Are you here to tell him that someone tried to give you a kiss?”

Anna flushed angrily. “His son would like him to visit the sickroom,” she said.

Rupert laughed dryly. “I would like to watch you deliver that message, but I haven’t time for such foolishness.” She watched as he marched away, Hindley a step behind, before turning and heading back to the apartments, her message undelivered.

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