The King's Courtesan by Judith James

estate, desperate to keep his lands.
    Is he handsome?”
    “Wel …yes. Quite,” Elizabeth answered, rather flustered.
    “But, Charles, that has nothing to do with why I’m asking.”
    “No, no. Of course not. If you were the type to be turned by a pretty face you would have surely chosen me.” They both laughed and Elizabeth’s eyes sparkled with affection. “You are in truth a very attractive man, Charles Stuart, and you know it wel .”
    He grinned and raised his glass to her in salute. “But not quite as attractive as that damned impertinent poet. You’ve ruined him, you know. He’l be spouting love verses soon.” She blushed and hid her face against the spaniel’s silky coat.
    “Tel me more about him. Your captain friend. Is he married? If he’s not too proud, I might have a use for him.”
    “Wel , no, he isn’t married, but he is rather proud—”
    “Excel ent! This is good news indeed, Elizabeth. I thank you for bringing it to my attention. Now if you’l forgive me I must speak with Clarendon at once. There’s little time, you see. I look forward to seeing you and Wil iam at the bal tonight.” Charles hurried his stunned and sputtering guest from the room and cal ed for his chief minister. He was delighted.
    With Elizabeth’s help he had hit on the perfect solution. He would grant her request. The honorable captain of whom she spoke so highly would keep his lands, see his holdings doubled and be made an earl besides, provided he marry Hope Mathews. He had only to remove her to the country, treat her with al courtesy and comfort befitting a special friend of the king and return her to court when the time was right.
    The message went out shortly after the chancel or entered his chambers. Captain Robert Nichols was ordered to present himself at court at once.

CHAPTER FOUR
Cressly

    HE APPROACHED the manor house across a pristine field veiled by a thin dusting of snow. The air was cold and sharp to breathe, but Kate Bishop, the dairy maid, had kissed him, and he didn’t feel the cold.
    The moment his parents left to visit his uncle, he’d hurried to the village to stand vigil by her door. His patience had been rewarded. He caught her first and claimed her as his Valentine, blushing as he offered her a pretty blue paper with her name writ on it in gold. He’d labored over it for hours in secret, knowing his parents would not approve. It was well worth the effort. She stood on the tips of her toes and kissed him, and it warmed him all the way home.
    He stopped in the middle of the field, as happy as he’d ever been in all his twelve years. The woods were still. The silence so deep he could hear the excited beating of his own heart. And then a distant shriek. A night owl, he thought, desperately hungry to be searching for food so late. He heard it again. A panicked scream, coming from the manor house. Caroline!
    He raced through the field and skidded across the stone-flagged courtyard, only to be brought short by the sight of five blooded horses wandering loose in front of a smashed and broken door. Heart pounding, his terror for Caroline a sick lump in his throat, he eased into the entrance hall and inched his way along the corridor. The servants must have fled or hidden and there was no sign of his father’s men at arms. As he neared the drawing room he heard Caroline sobbing, and the sound of hoarse shouts and the laughter of drunken men.
    He leaned against the doorjamb and peered around the corner. The drawing room was littered with broken furniture, shredded hangings and paintings that had been torn from the walls. A lone man at arms with a sword in his back laid sprawled across a table. Caroline huddled in a corner in a tight little ball. Her dress was ripped, her favorite blue ribbons were torn from her hair and her face was bloody, bruised and beaten. For a moment he thought he was going to be sick. This wouldn’t be happening if not for him. He should have been there to protect