Page 3 of Love, Remember Me

"There is nothing like a good English wife," the king said meaningfully, and his companions grew visibly uncomfortable. "How I miss my sweet Jane."

"Come and sit down, Hal," Blaze invited him, leading him to the place of honor at the high board. She could see that he was favoring one leg over the other, and realized he would be more comfortable seated. "I shall have the children brought into the hall since you wish to meet them, but I did not want them to intrude upon your visit."

"Nonsense!" the king boomed. He lowered his bulk into the chair. "I would see them all, even the littlest."

A servant immediately put a large goblet of wine into the king's hand, and he quaffed it thirstily. Blaze signaled for her tiring woman, Heartha, and instructed her to fetch the children at once. From the minstrel's gallery high above the hall, light music began to be heard. The king leaned back in his chair, visibly relaxed now.

The Wyndham offspring came into the hall with Lord Philip Wyndham, the heir, leading the way, and Lady Nyssa Wyndham, the eldest, bringing up the rear, her baby brother in her arms.

"May I present my children to your majesty," Blaze said formally. "This is Philip, our eldest son. He is twelve. And Giles, who is nine; Richard, eight; Edward, four; and Henry, just two."

Each of Blaze and Anthony's sons bowed elegantly, including the littlest boy, when he was set down upon his feet by his sister.

"And this is my daughter, Nyssa. Although Tony has raised her like his own, she is the child of my first husband, Edmund Wyndham," Blaze said.

Nyssa Wyndham curtsied to the king, her deep pink silk skirts billowing prettily about her, her eyes lowered modestly as she rose to stand before her sovereign.

"As fair an English rose as I have ever seen," the king said in complimentary tones. "How old is the lass, madame?"

"Nyssa is sixteen years of age, sire," Blaze answered him.

"Is she betrothed?"

"No, my lord," Blaze replied.

"Why not? She's pretty enough, and an earl's daughter. She has a goodly dowry, I have not a doubt, madame," the king said.

"There is no one with whom we would match her hereabouts, Hal," Blaze told him. "Her dowry is indeed a very good one. It includes Riverside, a fine house, and the lands that go with it. Nyssa is a well-propertied and -dowered girl. Actually, I should like it if she could go to court for a time." Blaze smiled sweetly, but looked pointedly at the king.

He began to chuckle, wagging an admonishing finger at her in mock reproach. "Madame," he growled, "you are shameless, but then I always knew that. You seek a place for your little wench, don't you? Do you know that every family with an unmatched daughter, indeedanydaughter, is importuning me right now for a place in my bride's household? Great names and small ones too plead for my ear." His glance swung to Nyssa. "And you, my pretty lass, would you come to court to serve the new queen?"

"Aye, and if it please your majesty," Nyssa said pertly, looking straight at him for the first time.

The king noted that she had her mother's beautiful violet-blue eyes.

"Has she ever lived anywhere but her home?" he asked.

Blaze shook her head. "Like me, Hal, she is a country girl."

"She would be gobbled up whole by the rakes at court," he said. "It would be poor repayment for your friendship, Blaze Wyndham."

Bliss FitzHugh, Countess of Marwood, who had been listening, now spoke up uninvited. "I have been told that the Princess of Cleves is a most chaste and good lady, sire. I believe my niece would be safe within her household. Then too, my husband and I are returning to court this season. I should be there to watch over Nyssa for my sister."

Blaze threw her sister a grateful look even as the king said to her, "Very well then, madame, I will appoint your daughter one of the new queen's maidens as long as my lady FitzHugh is there to act in your stead. Is there anything else I may do for you?" he concluded dryly.

"Appoint Philip and Giles as pages to the Princess of Cleves's household," Blaze said daringly.

Henry Tudor burst out laughing at her audacity. "I do not think I shall ever play cards with you again, madame," he chortled. "As I recall, you always beat me. Very well, I will accede to your request. They're pretty lads, and mannerly too, I can see." Then he grew serious. "When you were with me, Blaze Wyndham," he said quietly, "you never asked anything of me. I remember there were many who called you a fool for it."

"When I was with you, Hal," she replied in equally soft tones, "I wanted for nothing, for I had your affection and respect."

"And you still do, my little country girl," he said. "I look at your fine brood, and I wonder if they would have been mine had I taken you for my wife instead of the others."

"Your majesty has a fine son, I am told, in Prince Edward," she answered him. "You want the best for him even as I want the best for my children. I ask now for them. You know I would not presume upon your generosity otherwise."

Reaching out, the king patted her slender hand with his fat one. "I never knew any woman, nay not even my sweet Jane, whose heart was as pure and good as yours, my little country girl," he told her. "My new queen will be pleased to have your children in her service." He looked to Blaze's sons. "What think you, Master Philip and Master Giles? Will you be happy to serve us, and our queen?"

"Aye, Your Grace!" the two boys chorused brightly.

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