Falling For Henry by Beverley Brenna Page B

street. She could certainly do without King’s Cross tonight.

6
William
    IN THE SOFT light of evening, William again strode toward the garden shed. Above him, the clouds hung soft as wool, a shade darker than the rest of the sky. Black sheep, he thought, and smiled. Some people thought that black sheep were a mark of the devil, which was nonsense. Under all that wool, they were just the same jaunty creatures as the rest of the herd. As William reached the gate, he heard footsteps and stopped short. Who would be following him here? He turned quickly so as not to give away the cub’s hiding place. Then he manufactured a smile.
    â€œGood evening, Princess Mary,” he said, nodding to Mary’s nurse, a woman of questionable authority who stood rubbing her hands. “Are you having an enjoyable stroll?”
    â€œI want to find him!” Mary cried. “I want to find him right now!”
    For a moment, William thought she was talking about the wolf cub, and his heart thudded wildly in his chest. Discovery by Mary and her nurse would surely mean death to the creature.
    â€œBut Princess Mary, it’s past your bedtime,” chided the nurse. “Save playing for the morrow.”
    â€œI don’t want to wait until the morning. I want to play, now! My brother promised to play mumchance with me today and he should keep his word! I wish that cunning woman would give me a ring and I’d make him come to me.”
    â€œWe should be starting back …” faltered the nurse as relief swept over William. They had no idea of the hidden animal close at hand.
    â€œDoesn’t anyone know where that bad boy is?” Mary asked. William’s mouth twitched to hear her refer to her older brother in these terms. To Mary, the Duke of York was merely an irritating sibling, not the royal prince next in line as king. When William did not answer, Mary asked, “Cat got your tongue?” and looked at him slyly.
    â€œHush,” said the nurse. “No need to talk of sorcery, Mary.”
    â€œI’m sure Prince Henry didn’t mean to break his promise, wherever he is,” said William.
    â€œEveryone talks about sorcery!” said Mary. “That cunning woman they caught in the village is going to say who stole the communion cloth. And then they might catch the thief. Or they might hang him. Do you suppose I’ll be allowed to see, if they hang that thief until he is dead as a doornail?
    William smiled at this phrase and then felt his stomach lurch. How cruel it was to watch people die. He had become so used to the traditions of nobility in these few short months that for a moment he had forgotten his true feelings.
    â€œAnd I wonder if the communion cloth will ever be found,” Mary prattled on. “It was a pretty one, with lots of ’broidery on it.”
    â€œEmbroidery,” corrected the nurse.
    â€œLook,” said William, trying make his voice sound inviting, “I’ll walk you back to the hall. Maybe there’ll be some sugared almonds left from dinner.”
    â€œWell … do you think so?” responded Mary, reluctant but hopeful. “Do you really think there’ll be some?”
    â€œI don’t know, but we can go and see. I’ll race you!” William called, catching the grateful eye of the nurse and then running ahead, but slowly, to give the child a chance to catch up.
    â€œAnd the prize will be a story!” she cried, passing him. “Last one has to—” here she stopped to breathe heavily “—to tell me a story!”
    There were sugared almonds, and Mary took quite a large handful, thought William, looking at the nurse whose attention was taken by one of the menservants asking about her day off. Everyone’s affairs were so public here in court, and William blushed to hear the flirtation of a woman old enough to be his mother. Not that she didn’t have a right to tend to her relationships.