Maid of Secrets by Jennifer McGowan

Author:Jennifer McGowan
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2013-05-11T18:30:00+00:00

Queen Elizabeth Regnant surveyed us with cool eyes as we lined up to curtsy low. When she commanded us to rise, we did so as one, a perfect line of maids, ready to do her bidding.

I looked beyond the Queen to Cecil and Walsingham, who flanked her on either side. Behind her, in the hallway, stood the royal guard. The Queen was dressed in high court finery, clearly on her way to her Presence Chamber. Interestingly, however, no ladies-in-waiting attended her. She scowled.

“They are not presentable,” she said dourly. “Except Beatrice.”

“You had only decreed their involvement this morning,” Cecil said. “I do not think—”

“All you do is think,” the Queen snapped. “We’ve discussed this. The time has passed for thinking.”

I felt out of my depth. What had happened here? She viewed me next with a critical eye, then surveyed Anna. Disgusted, she glanced at Sophia, who seemed to shrink into herself but couldn’t hide her loveliness. “She’ll do. And you,” she said, eyeing me. “Tell me you have something more appropriate than that sack you’re wearing.”

“Your Grace?” I managed, looking down at my dull grey frock, stung by the Queen’s words. “I . . . I’m sure I have something finer,” I said, though in truth my wardrobe was as limited as Jane’s. We alone out of the five maids had not come from upperclass families, and so our clothing allotment was meager.

“She can borrow a dress of mine, Your Grace,” Beatrice spoke up quickly. I didn’t dare glance at her, but something unfurled inside me. Beatrice’s clothes were her most prized possession! “We are of a height and nearly of a build.”

“Good.” The Queen nodded at Beatrice with approval. “Go now. I will be hearing petitions this morning and want you with me. You,” she said to Anna, “need to start dressing at your station. I would like you at my side. For now, though, I have translation work for you.” She gestured imperiously, and Cecil opened up the bag he was carrying and brought out a sheaf of pages. Beside me Anna nearly leaped with excitement. “You will await me in my Privy Chamber. And you,” she said, pointing to Jane. “Go with Walsingham. He will give you instruction.”

I glanced again hurriedly to Cecil, and the man looked positively morose. What had happened?

The Queen clapped her hands in imperious command. “Sophia, attend me now. Beatrice and Meg, present yourselves at my Privy Chamber in a quarter hour, then you will stand behind me in attendance in the Presence Chamber for the day. Yes,” she said, nodding thoughtfully as she glanced between us. “This will do well.”

And then she swept out of the room, a royal storm, with Sophia bobbing in her wake. The march of guardsmen’s feet attended the Queen down the hall.

“Miss Burgher, please await me outside,” Cecil said curtly, and Anna scurried out the door.

Walsingham gazed at Cecil a moment with hooded eyes, then gave Jane a courtly bow. “Miss Morgan?” he said, the perfect gentleman. He gestured ahead of him, and without a word, Jane moved forward.

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