Page 43 of Love, Remember Me

"You'd better have help," Tillie told him, not in the least discomfited by his backhanded compliment, "or it will take all morning."

With aid from several of the duke's footmen, the tub was quickly filled. Tillie shooed Toby from the room and locked the door behind him. Then she helped Nyssa bathe. The girl blushed silently at the sight of the dried blood on her thighs. Tillie said nothing until, toweling her mistress dry, she asked, "Where is yer husband, m'lady?"

"He has already dressed and gone," Nyssa said, although to be honest, she did not know where. He had not volunteered the information, and she had not asked him. Her main duty was to the queen. She grew silent again as Tillie dressed her. The rose-pink silk gown with its silver-embroidered underskirt was one of her favorites. Tillie brushed her hair, but instead of leaving it loose, befitting a maiden, she fashioned Nyssa's hair into a chignon set low on her neck. Over it she affixed a silver caul. Then she held up a looking glass, that Nyssa might see how the new fashion looked.

"I look so old suddenly," Nyssa told her servant.

" 'Tis a flattering style, m'lady," Tillie reassured her.

"I must go to the queen now," Nyssa said.

"Are we to live here for now, m'lady?" Tillie asked her. "What am I to do with your possessions now that you are no longer a maid of honor?"

"I will not stay here under the duke's rule while we are at court," Nyssa said. "Take my clothing and my other effects to the house my FitzHugh relations have rented. Toby can help you."

"What of yer husband, m'lady?" Tillie wondered.

"He may come, or he may stay," Nyssa replied. Then, unlocking the door, she hurried off to the queen's apartments.

Anne of Cleves was already awake. When Nyssa entered her apartments, the chatter was instantly silenced, and the queen's ladies stared hard at her. Her friends looked frightened. Lady Rochford had a distinctly smug air about her. So, Nyssa thought, they already know, or think they know, what has happened. She refused to lower her eyes.

Lady Browne hurried forward. "You can no longer serve the queen as a maid of honor, Lady Wyndham, er, Lady de Winter. The king has sent word." She looked distinctly uncomfortable.

"The king has promised me that I might remain in the queen's service, as she will need her friends in the days to come," Nyssa answered her quietly. "A married woman can hardly be a maid, madame, can she?"

Lady Browne flushed. "No, of course not," she murmured.

"I wish to see the queen now," Nyssa said firmly.

"Brazen hussy!" she heard someone say.

"I will tell her you are here," Cat Howard said loudly. None of the other women dared to stop her as she bustled off.

Nyssa swallowed back her laughter. So, not only did they know of her disgrace, they also knew in which direction the wind was blowing. It was amusing for the moment, but she did not really think she would like to live her life like this. It would be good to finally leave court.

Cat was back, her cerulean-blue eyes twinkling with amusement. "Her grace will see you immediately, my lady de Winter," she said sweetly, and curtsied politely to her friend, giving her a mischievous wink.

"Thank you, Mistress Howard," Nyssa replied loudly, moving past her into the lady Anne's privy chamber. She curtsied low before the queen. They were alone, much to Nyssa's relief.

"Ach, my friend, I am so sorry for your troubles," the queen said to her. "I vas no sooner awake than Lady Rochford told me." There were tears in her soft blue eyes.

Nyssa moved next to the queen's bed and said low, " 'Twas a plot by the Duke of Norfolk, madame, in order to discredit me in the king's eyes. I am certain you know the reason why. And I think you should know that Lady Rochford is in the duke's service. She spies for him."

Anne nodded. "I suspected it." Then she said, "But for the duke to haf his grandson rape you, my friend. 'Tis criminal!"

"I was not raped, madame. Lady Rochford drugged my bedtime drink." Nyssa quickly explained the facts behind her hasty marriage.

"Such plotting, and planning, and all for the privilege of vedding and bedding Hendrick," the queen said incredulously. "I do not know if I am sorry for Mistress Howard or not. Surely she must know vhat is in store for her, yet she seems a happy young maid."

"Her heart is good, madame, but she does have the Howard ambition. It seems to run hot and fierce in the veins of that family."

"And your bridegroom, Nyssa. Does he haf the Howard ambition too?" the queen asked her. "Vill you be happy vith him?"

"My husband is a de Winter, Your Grace. From now on I intend that he remember it. As for my happiness, Varian seems a good man, but I do not really know him. I hope we will like each other."

"You sound to me as if you might already like this man, Nyssa," the queen observed. "Had you ever met him before last night?"

"Once," Nyssa told her mistress. "We danced at your wedding, madame."

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