Page 118 of Tempted
“Can nothing in this whole damned realm be handled without my personal attention? Oh, go on—fetch him up. Just be sure he’s well shackled before you bring him into my presence.”
Henry fidgeted nervously with his beard as he awaited Surrey’s return. What damned plots were being hatched north of the border? Why the hell was Margaret so eager to save the man’s skin? Or had she been forced to write the letter? Henry glared fiercely at the man the guards brought in. His wrists were manacled behind him and chains stretched down to irons around his ankles “Who the devil are you?” Henry demanded.
The tall, dark young man stepped closer to the king and murmured low. Henry snickered and looked at the handsome young devil with new eyes. Then he threw back his head, and the laughter rumbled up from his barrel-chest. Spine of God, no wonder Margaret was so eager to get the fellow back! “How the devil did you manage to get yourself arrested?” Henry demanded.
Heath replied, “A man in my delicate position has many jealous enemies.”
“Just so,” chuckled Henry. “Surrey, get these damned irons off the man. We are celebrating All Hallows today. You shall be a guest and join the festivities. Tonight we have the Gypsies to entertain us.”
Heath rubbed his wrists. “My humble thanks, Your Majesty, but I dare not dally longer. A lady of our mutual acquaintance, who must remain nameless, is in need of my services. Perhaps at some future date I may be of invaluable service to Your Majesty. My pledge on it,” he vowed, his head bent in servitude.
When Heath left, Henry gave a couple of orders. “Follow him, and while you’re at it I want Lady Kennedy’s servants watched closely—and that brother of hers I’ve never seen.”
Later, as Henry and his courtiers made their way to the archery butts, he thought, sly puss Margaret—but what the devil am I to tell the little redhead?
At the moment the little redhead was packing her clothes frantically. “I’ll wear the white gown tonight and my emeralds, but pack up everything else.”
“You’ll need a cloak. Autumn has finally arrived in England,” Ada said.
“Yes, I’ll wear the green velvet.”
“Good choice. Henry will think you are wearing his Tudor colors.”
“He can think what the devil he likes, but I’ll be damned if he finds me in this chamber tonight when he steps out of the secret panel. Get the luggage to the stables, and have the men rent rooms at an inn. Give them gold to pay.”
Their voices hushed immediately as they heard a rapping on the door. Ada opened it a crack to find a page with a message. “His Majesty the King commands Lady Kennedy attend him at the archery butts,” piped the boy.
“Thank you kindly,” Tina said, giving him a silver sixpence. “You may take me to him.”
The page was happy to oblige. Usually all he got when he delivered a message was a sweetmeat, sometimes only a cuff on the ear. As she followed him through the palace garden, past the bowling green and into the great park to where the archery butts had been set up, Tina was acknowledged by everyone at court. She received bows and nods from the men and curtsies from the women. She blushed furiously. They thought she was the king’s latest whore, and she experienced real shame
When they arrived at their destination, a contest was in full spate, complete with fast and furious wagering. Tina stood by like the rest of the onlookers, just another puppet on a string who applauded when the king hit a bull’s-eye and laughed when he attempted a witticism. She stood patiently for an hour while Henry shot his arrows, drinking a mug of ale between every shot. He remained undefeated, and after he’d received enough applause, praise, and outrageous compliments, he decided to notice her presence.
“Ah sweeting, come walk with me while I try to put your mind at ease.”
Tina curtsied low and saw his hot gaze linger on her breasts. After a full minute he raised her and retained her hand in his. “It was a case of mistaken identity all along How fortunate it was you came to me! No doubt you have seen the gentleman in question about my sister’s court?”
“Er—yes, Your Majesty. I believe he is a particular friend of Queen Margaret’s,” she improvised, picking up on his clue.
“Thanks to you, my lady, the gentleman is already on his way home to Scotland, which brings me to your Lord Douglas.”
Tina was faint with relief. “Yes, sire?” she murmured breathlessly.
“I haven’t the vaguest notion where the fellow could be, but I’ll bet he never left Scotland. I’ll wager he isn’t within four hundred miles of Greenwich.”
I’ll wager he’s within four hundred yards, thought Tina, giddy with relief. She went up on tiptoe and kissed Henry joyfully.
He bent toward her intimately. “I shall find out for you where Douglas is, even if it takes all winter. Meanwhile, I shall keep you at my side, where I know you will be safe. Let’s stroll through the maze, sweeting. There is a bench at the center where we may be private from prying eyes.”
Tina stopped dead in her tracks. “Your Majesty,” she stammered, “I have an unholy fear of l-labyrinths and c-closed up spaces due to being l-locked in a wardrobe as a child.” She snatched her hand from his. “Just the thought of going in there with you has given me a flux of the bowels! Excuse me, sire.” Tina literally ran from the gardens and didn’t stop until she found Ada in the banqueting hall.
Tina realized she was hungry for the first time in weeks. As she helped herself to a trencher of beef and a pot of ale, she regaled Ada with the tale. “I didn’t lie,” she said between mouthfuls, “The king really does frighten the shit out of me!”
Suddenly Tina looked up into the eyes of a man who had been watching her. He averted his eyes so quickly, she knew he was following someone’s orders. “Don’t look now, Ada, but we have a watchdog. He’s between us and the door. Dear God, if the servants haven’t taken my things to the stables yet, they’ll never be able to sneak them out.”
Ada finished her ale and stood up. “We could leave separately. He can’t follow both of us at once.”
“No, Ada. Don’t leave me alone. We’ll go to my chamber. The king will be in the park for hours.” She hoped the man hadn’t followed her to the tower this morning to see her arrive with one man and leave with another. Nay, she would be under arrest by now if anyone knew she had committed such an act.
