(DeWarenn, #3) Notorious by Virginia Henley

Author:Virginia Henley [Henley, Virginia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

"Isabelle, on the ride back from Chertsey, a daring idea came to me." Brianna was in such a hurry to speak with the queen that she hadn't yet changed from her riding dress.

"Accompany me to the wardrobe chamber and help me select material for the new gowns I've ordered. If Despencer is back and orders economies, it will be too late to affect the way I dress."

Brianna gave her a look of approval. "You are learning expedience. My idea is also expedient. We know the Mortimers will be brought to the impregnable Tower of London, where their loyal friends cannot free them. I remember you told me the Queen's royal palace apartments there are in sad disrepair with leaking ceilings. Why don't you have them plastered and painted and refurbished? That way you will have need to visit the Tower as often as you wish without arousing suspicion. You could even take up residence there from time to time."

"Brianna, that's a brilliant idea! I shall set the wheels in motion today."

Brianna pushed away her feelings of guilt. She knew that she was manipulating Isabelle, but it was the only way she knew of perhaps being able to see and speak with Roger Mortimer.

"The Tower has a new constable. I shall order my barge to take us downriver so I can make the acquaintance of Sir Stephen Segrave and inform him of the repairs I am ordering."

The following day, the royal barge arrived at the Tower and Queen Isabelle and her ladies alighted. She was swathed in her ermine cape and Brianna wore her sable cloak, lined with blue velvet.

The constable's sublieutenant, Gerard Alspaye, had alerted him that the royal barge was approaching, and the two men rushed down to the Coldwater Gate at the Tower Wharf to greet the queen.

Brianna and Isabelle had concocted a plan to dazzle, flatter, and seduce Segrave with their considerable feminine wiles so that each would hold him in the palm of her hand.

Queen Isabelle raised the constable from his deep bow. "Sir Stephen, I'm delighted to make your acquaintance. Tis obvious you are a gentlemen, unlike the coarse fellow you replaced, who was sent packing for dereliction of duty and displeasing his queen."

"Your Grace, I am honored to be of service. Permit me to introduce my sublieutenant, Gerard Alspaye. He has strict orders to accommodate you and your ladies and fulfill your wishes."

The queen then introduced her ladies, further dazzling the two men with their noble names. "Sir Stephen, lend me your arm and escort me to my royal palace apartments." The constable was stunned at the intimacy.

Brianna gave young Gerard Alspaye a radiant smile and tucked her arm beneath his. She could almost hear his heartbeat quicken.

The queen's royal apartments occupied the upper floors of the Hall Tower, so named because it gave access to the Great Hall. The lower floors held the guardrooms. Isabelle removed her arm from Segrave's and pointed to the damp marks and chipped plaster on the ceilings. "My lovely royal chambers are going to wrack and ruin.

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