to the apartments which had been prepared for the Earl and his Countess.
The rooms were luxuriously furnished, and from the windows was a view of the lovely Staffordshire countryside.
Frances looked at the big bed and her eyes narrowed.
She turned to the serving girls.
“You had better tell me your names.”
The elder, a girl of about twenty, said: “I am Elizabeth Raye, my lady.” She turned to her companion who appeared to be about sixteen. “And this is Catharine Dardenell. We have been selected to wait on you.”
Frances surveyed them intently, trying to assess how loyal they would be to the Earl. It might well be that she would need them to perform special services for her. She decided to try to win their confidence.
“I am sure you will do all you can to help me,” she said; and her face was transformed by the smile she gave them.
They curtsied in a rather embarrassed fashion.
“We shall do our best, my lady,” murmured Elizabeth Raye.
“Go now and bring me food. I am hungry. Bring enough for my maid here, too.”
“Yes, my lady. But a supper is being served in the great hall and the cooks have been planning for days what they would give my lord and lady on this day.”
“I shall not eat in the great hall. Do you understand?”
“Yes, my lady.”
“When you bring the food, knock on the door. It will be opened to you, if the two of you come alone.”
“Yes, my lady.”
“Go now, because I am hungry.”
When they had gone, Frances turned to Jennet.
“Take the key from the outside and lock the door from the inside.”
“My lady …”
“Do as I say.” Jennet obeyed.
“Of one thing I am certain. He shall not come into this room.”
“Do you think that you can hold out against him, here in his own castle?”
“I must hold out against him.”
Jennet shook her head.
“You think he will force me? I have a dagger in this sheath. See, I wear it about my waist as some wear as pomander. I will kill him if there is any attempt at force.”
“Have a care, my lady.”
“Jennet, I am going to be very careful indeed.”
Frances went to it and called: “Who is there?”
“It is I, your husband.”
“What do you want?”
“To see you. To ask if you are pleased with the apartment.”
“I am as pleased as a prisoner can be with a prison as long as you do not share it with me.”
“Do you understand, Frances, that there will be a great deal of scandal if you behave like this?”
“Do you think I care for scandal?”
“I care.”
“Care all you wish.”
“Frances, be reasonable. My father lived here before me. It is my family home.”
“What of it?”
“I am asking you not to cause a scandal.”
“I’d be hard put to it to provide a greater scandal than your father did.”
“Frances, let me come in, only to talk to you.”
“I have nothing to say to you.”
“You are my wife.”
“Alas!”
