My shoulders slumped with disappointment. The brevity of our reconciliation made the separation all the more unbearable. “You don’t have to leave so soon,” I said, while silently vowing to behave. “The servants already know you’re here. Another hour or two won’t hurt.” Unless Lucy Goodwin found out, and then there would be hell to pay in the morning, regardless of what did or did not happen between us.
Henry tucked his shirt into his breeches and started re-buttoning the waistcoat. “No one knows I am here. When I arrived at the front door, Sophie said that you were out with Cate and sent me away for the night.” He ran his fingers through his hair to smooth some of the tangles. “I returned to the carriage to await your return when a young girl slipped past the wall into the gardens. I followed to the back of Cate’s property where she disappeared into an old well. It didn’t take long to figure out that the well led to a series of tunnels and hidden passages that run through the grounds and walls of the house. By good luck, I found my way to your room rather than stumble out on some unsuspecting soul.”
I started in surprise. “Fanny told me the house was built new for Cate and Lord Dinley. Why do you think they would need so much secrecy?”
“I’ve no idea, unless it has something to do with being leath’dhia.” Henry tied his cravat before retrieving his greatcoat and hat from the dressing table chair.
“Come here,” he said, taking my elbow. “I need to show you something.” He steered me the few steps to the far side of the fireplace where I watched in bemused silence as he ran his hands along the heavy stones that trimmed each side of the hearth.
“What are you doing?”
“There is a lever here to open the passage.” An entire wall panel disappeared from view.
“Holy Mother!” I exclaimed, staring into the gaping black hole. “Where did that come from?”
“It’s how I got to your room.” Henry lit a candle from the mantel. Then taking one of my hands, he pulled me close. “I have to return to the palace now.”
I shook my head. “You said you were done with Amelia after what she did tonight.” Just the mention of her name turned my stomach sour.
He pressed my hand to his chest, right over his heart. “I need to see the king if he is still awake, or find out through other means what retaliations he plans to take for my actions. As I tried to tell you earlier, my banishment from court may be the least of our worries.”
My stomach lurched from sour to a curdled mess. “Do you think he will have me sent to the Tower?”
Henry frowned. “The king’s temper is matched only by his pride. After what I said to Amelia and his courtiers, it’s likely he’ll do something rash if I don’t try to smooth things over.”
“Damn that man!” I cursed. “How much longer are we to be held under his thumb?”
Henry’s hand tightened around mine. “Listen to me, Selah. Once I’m done at the palace, I’ve got to return home to speak with my father. If there is any sign of trouble while I’m gone, I want you to follow this corridor down into the tunnels. I will meet you there.”
Speaking was becoming increasingly difficult. “What will we do then?”
“Sail to France until things calm down.”
“What if the king finds us first?”
Henry tilted his head down and kissed me. “I’ve already told you,” he murmured against my lips. “There is nothing in this world that can keep us apart.”
Releasing my hand, he stepped into the passage. “Try to get some rest. I will send a messenger the moment I know anything.”
A hundred words flooded my mouth, but the door closed and he was gone.
Chapter Twelve
A Day Well Spent
The first message arrived with the sunrise. Having spent much of the night pacing the floors, and peeking outside at every sound, I had finally managed about an hour of sleep, curled up in the armchair. A soft knock on the door brought me upright.
“Come in,” I said, my voice abrupt as I jumped to my feet.
Sophie came into the room. “A letter just arrived for you, miss.” She held out the folded paper. “Delivered by one of Lord Fitzalan’s footmen.”
I snatched it from her hand and dashed over to the window, which offered the only light in the room other than a sputtering candle stub. Breaking the wax seal, my eyes flew over the scant words.
All is well—please relay my sincerest appreciation to Cate.
Henry
My breath came out in a rush. “Merciful saints!” I cried in a hoarse whisper. Relief flowed through me as I read the single line two more times just to be sure. With each pass, the nightmare of dark tunnels and perilous sea crossings began to fade, like most bad dreams did once the sun came up.
All is well could not have been more clear—the king had been placated and we needn’t run away to France. But what in heaven’s name did he mean by mentioning Cate? I had followed her up the stairs last night after returning from the bakehouse. At the time she mumbled about being too tired for even a hot bath after such a long day. Certainly she couldn’t have had a hand in soothing the king. Could she? I tugged at my lip, trying to find the connection through a growing haze of exhaustion.
“Everything alright, miss?” Sophie asked curiously.