Perfect Shadows

chapter 17

Tom had sought his own bed in the early hours of the morning, and was wakened near noon by a servant bringing his breakfast ale. He had only just finished dressing when he became aware of a commotion downstairs, and swore as he looked out the window, before hurtling down the stairs two at a time. He arrived in the Hall with a breathless rush and bowed low. “Your Majesty,” he said. It was true; the queen had come looking for her errant Shadow. Ralegh skidded into the room only seconds after Walsingham, and duplicated his bow.

“How now, Sir Walter? Consorting with foreign royalty behind my back? Even if Sybria agreed to finance your expeditions, you’d yet need my leave to go!”

Ralegh winced, not at her wit, but the reaction it provoked among the courtiers and hangers-on that filled the hall behind her. Elizabeth had tapped her fingers against her fan irritably, as he answered.” Prince Kryštof is still too weak from his long ordeal of illness to leave his bed or receive visitors, your Majesty. Prince Geofri, worn out with watching, has not yet left his own bed, or I am certain he would be most happy to welcome you to his house.” She did not seem to be listening. Her shrewd glance had picked out Sylvie hovering near the kitchen door and with a brusque motion ordered the girl peremptorily to her side.

“You, girl, can you perform a small service for me?”

“Anything, your Majesty,” Sylvie answered huskily. Elizabeth snapped her fingers and the lady-in-waiting behind her slipped a small embroidered purse into her hand. The Queen shook from it an earring, a blood-red ruby drop the size of a quail’s egg, which she held up for a few seconds before returning it to the purse and passing it to Sylvie.

“Take these tokens to Prince Kryštof with my loving regard, child,” Elizabeth had said, and taking Sylvie by each shoulder she leaned forward, pulling the girl down to kiss her full on the mouth, heedless of the shocked reactions of her court. The girl stumbled back into a curtsey when released. As she left the hall, her eyes still glowed with a light that Elizabeth seldom had seen from another woman: adoration. The queen turned abruptly to Sir Walter.

“Now I fear, we must take again to the road, my Ocean-water. Eltham is still some distance from here.”

“Scadbury is not far, your Majesty, if you could find it in your heart to so honor me again,” Tom interrupted smoothly. “You could not possibly reach Eltham before dark. Stay, and start afresh in the morning.” He tarried only long enough to pen a hasty explanation of his absence, leaving it with Jehan, and hoping that Kit could find someone about to read it to him that evening.