Page 117 of Tempted
Tina’s eyes flashed their outrage, but Ram threw his arm about her to anchor her to his side and growled, “Call the guard.”
If Tina had been afraid on the way in, she was terrified on the way out, but the warden never looked beyond the red hair.
They stood facing each other as the oarsman took them back to Greenwich. They did not dare touch except with their eyes. It wrung his heart to see how fragile she looked, especially with the violet smudges beneath her eyes.
Tina bit her lips to prevent a cry of anguish from escaping when the wind blew aside his collar to expose the raw scar the ship’s rope had left upon his neck. There were a thousand things she wanted to tell him, but they all went unsaid. Her throat was closed tight with emotion, and she knew if she tried to utter just one word, she would be undone.
She tried to read what was in his heart, but his face wore a dark, impenetrable mask. One thing was certain—she might be vulnerable, but Ram Douglas was not. He was stronger than steel, harder than granite. Tina fiercely fought back her tears, vowing not to weep before him. Would he think her courageous or heartless? Did it matter what he thought? She realized it mattered more than life or death. If only they could flee together, but they could not. She was held as fast as Heath in his stone cell.
As Ramsay watched the small figure of his woman climb the Greenwich waterstairs, his eyes softened and his gut knotted with apprehension for her. He had left her safe with all the might of Douglas to protect her, yet she had placed herself in jeopardy to save him Now her favorite brother was in the Tower of London. Ram’s face was bleak; he knew she’d pay any price to save the Gypsy.
Instinctively, Tina knew the only thing that would save her was anger. By the time she swept down the corridors of Greenwich Palace, her temper was blazing. She walked a direct path to Henry Tudor’s apartments and stopped only when she reached the royal antechamber. A grenadier guard was posted outside the king’s privy chamber, and the chancellor stood between her and the guard.
“Lady Kennedy, I am afraid His Majesty is occupied this morning.”
She raised her eyebrows and swept him with an icy glance. “He is with Lord Howard, I presume.”
“Yes, my lady. The Earl of Surrey.”
“My business concerns him too.” She brushed past the chancellor and stepped up to the guard.
“Stop her!” cried the chancellor.
The guard slanted his halberd across the entrance to the privy chamber and the chancellor raised his voice in horror “You cannot see the king!”
Tina’s golden eyes blazed their challenge. “Can I not?” she asked, then threw back her head and let out a bloodcurdling scream. Within two seconds the door was flung open, and Henry Tudor filled its frame.
She brandished the paper Howard had signed for her. “The man in the tower is not Ram Douglas! What have you done with my husband?” She ran up to the king and pummeled her fists on his broad chest.
The guard dropped his halberd, grabbed her arms, and twisted them behind her back. Valentina immediately fainted, albeit gracefully.
“Unhand the lady!” ordered the king as he bent to pick her up from the floor. He carried her limp body into his privy chamber and held her on his knee. Henry tapped her cheek gently until she opened her eyes. He watched helplessly as her golden eyes turned a smoky amber and filled with tears. “You’ve killed him—I know you’ve killed him!” she wept.
“Dearest lady, we have killed no one. What is this about, Surrey?” the king demanded.
“I—I gave Lady Kennedy a pass to visit Douglas in the tower,” he explained. “I saw no harm in it.”
“No harm in it?” cried Tina. Her sable cloak fell away from her to reveal the pleated bodice of the peach-colored gown, showing off her delectable breasts to perfection. “Gracious Majesty, help me!” she implored.
“Calm and compose yourself, sweeting.” He spoke as if to a very small and wayward child. “Henry promises to look into the matter thoroughly. I want you to run along now and have a little rest. I shall be most annoyed if anything spoils today’s celebrations.” He looked pointedly at Surrey, but his words were also meant as a warning to Tina.
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty,” she murmured contritely. “I promise to be good. I know you will look after me.”
He patted her and dropped a kiss on the top of her head before she climbed down from his lap. The moment she had gone, Henry turned accusing eyes upon Surrey. “You were at the Scottish court long enough. Can you identify this Ram Douglas?”
“I most assuredly can, Your Majesty.”
“Then send for the damned plaguey fellow, and let’s put an end to this farce,” directed the livid king.
Two hours later Lord Howard was back waiting to be admitted to the king’s privy chamber He paced about outside the room while inside Bluff King Hal put Bessie Blount through her paces He was peevish with her. Why the devil was her hair so drab? Lud, she was big as a cow! She couldn’t even keep him hard, and he’d only spent twice! Bessie left sniffing back tears, which weren’t unusual these days.
Henry came to the door. He wanted to be outside at the archery butts and blamed Surrey for this wretched business, which kept him from his pleasures. “Well?” he thundered.
“Your Majesty, Lady Kennedy was telling the truth. The man below is most definitely not Ramsay Douglas.”
“Then who the devil is he?” demanded an impatient Henry.
“Er—he wouldn’t say, sire. He said his identity was for your ears alone, Your Majesty.”
