stroked her neck and shoulders, waving the women from the room. The door was closed. He mocked her, but was kind.
“His spirit,” she said. “There are demons there.”
“Demons, eh?”
“I told you. Such wretches. I felt sorry for them, but I could not bear to consider them. They are my father’s victims. Living in dungeons. Living like vermin.”
“Then forbid Montfallcon to enter.”
“I tried, but I could give him no reason. I know, too, that it is my own weakness which says to forget the walls and what’s within them. Therefore I cannot indulge myself…. Oh, Quire!”
“I have told you-it is not indulgence to admit weakness. And, once admitted, weaknesses must sometimes be indulged. That is rational, my dearest heart. You must protect yourself or you cannot protect the Realm.”
“You have said so many times, aye. Yet I gave him permission. He dared me to refuse. To show that I had faith in you, I had to let him mount the expedition.”
“How many?”
“Montfallcon, Kansas and a few men-at-arms-members of the City Guard. And I think they have a guide. I am not sure. Montfallcon was somewhat mysterious.”
“A denizen of the walls?”
“We met one, Una and I. Perhaps it is the same.”
She could not see Quire’s face, so he permitted himself a little wistful smile. “Well,” he said, “do you think they’ll come back with a hundred people who saw me try to poison the Rhoones?”
“You saved the Rhoones. It is well known.” She stroked his leg. “Do not fear, my love. They shall not be allowed to accuse you further. Even now Montfallcon makes statements my father would have called unquestionable treachery. But he will calm, as he forgets his grief. And so will the others who spoke against you.”
“I have other enemies?” He was ostentatiously merry. “I’m flattered.”
“And many friends. Doctor Dee respects you and speaks for you at the Council. Sir Thomasin Ffynne, who serves there now, thinks you a rogue but a good-hearted one'-she smiled-'as do I. And Sir Amadis will hear no harm of you. Or Lord Gorius-and it’s well known how much those two dislike one another these days. And Master Wallis. And several more are, at very least, rational concerning you. Of the Council, only Hawes is firmly with Montfallcon, while Sir Vivien tends to that position. They share certain qualities of temperament.”
“I am surprised by the attention,” mused Quire.
“Why so? They are jealous. They see a commoner usurping power that they feel only the nobility should own.”
“Power? What power have I?”
“They think you rule me-and therefore could come to rule the Realm. It has happened with the mistresses of kings, they argue.”
“Who argues?”
“Well, Sir Orlando, mainly But he’ll be persuaded of your reasonable nature in time.”
“Perhaps they are right,” said Quire, as if he struggled with a conscience. “Do I help you in your decisions? Subtly, I mean? When I argue for your good health, your sanity, your privacy, am I not arguing against the security of the Realm?”
She refused to hear him. “Quire! I shall not let you be troubled. If it continues, Montfallcon shall be dismissed. I’ll make you a baron, stage by stage, and put you in his place.”
“Arioch forbid!” He was deliberately old-fashioned, using phrases subtly reminiscent of her father in his kindlier moods, for he knew that this reinforced her wish to please him. “Such responsibility isn’t for Quire!”
“It’s not in your nature to want high office, that I do know. I have told Montfallcon again and again.”
“He disbelieves you.”
“He becomes surly. He cannot say it is not so.”
Quire continued to stroke her, but he had let himself grow quiet. She looked up at him. She was anxious. “You are hurt by these accusations. I should not have mentioned them.”
He sighed. He let his hand fall onto the arm of his chair. She got to her feet. “Oh, I am cruel! In that Montfallcon is right-he often warned me of it when I was a child. I have much of my father in me. I should control it more!”
“No, no,” said Quire and shook his head. “But I admit I am disturbed by this. In innocence I sought to please you at the Tilt. I suppose that it was a silly scheme. While I guested with Master Tolcharde and he showed me the device, the chariot he’d made for you, I conceived the escapade in a spirit of Romance. Then this began to happen: Love. Now I find there is also a great deal of hate. I am,” he said, turning his head away, “not used to being so hated.”
“My love will vanquish all that hate,” she promised. “My love is strong. Never has anyone loved as I love you, my darling Quire!” She drew him in. “This will all pass soon,” she promised.
He stood away from her, kissing her hands. “I’ll walk a little,” he said. “In the grounds.”
Diffidently, she asked: “Shall I walk with you? I’d enjoy the cool air.”
He shook his head. “Let me gather myself. I’ll return to you soon and, you shall see, I’ll be amusing. Happy once more. And that happiness I’ll share with you.”
She was reluctant to set him free, but she knew she must resist all jealousy or it would threaten her marvellous temper. She became grave. “Very well. But do come back to me soon.”
A smile of acquiescence, a kiss of encouragement, and Quire opened the doors, moving between her cheerful ladies, down the stairs, past silent, darkened rooms, out of the windows, into the garden. He remained on the terrace, looking this way and that, then swiftly stepped through moonlight, crossing the lawns and entering the maze, where he had earlier arranged his usual appointment with his most important pawns, his two personally trained and by now proficient traitors.
THE TWENTY-NINTH CHAPTER
We have still to hear from Lord Montfallcon.” The Queen spoke with casual amusement as she sat with sampler and needle on the couch beside Quire, who had borrowed some Greek book from Doctor Dee and was reading it. The mood of the Withdrawing Room this morning was relaxed. A few ladies attended the Queen, Tom Ffynne had been and gone, to say that Lord Montfallcon and Lord Kansas had entered the walls the previous night, taking torches and swordsmen, finding an opening in a gallery above the old Throne Chamber.
“You would think a search would not take so many hours,” agreed Quire from the other side of his book.
“You do not know those tunnels. There are many. They are intricate.”
“Aha,” said Quire vaguely, as if he did not properly listen to her. Then he said: “Should I, perhaps, go with some of your Pensioners to look for him?”
“Oh, no! Why seek the one who would accuse you? He spends longer than he needs because he won’t admit there’s no evidence there against you.”
“Nonetheless,” said Quire, closing his book, “it might be practical to take a few guards to the Throne Room, at least, and to wait for them.”
“You are too charitable.” Gloriana concentrated upon a difficult stitch. “Why should you be concerned for them?”
“Perhaps I wish my own ordeal ended?” he suggested.
“Forgive me.” She set aside her sewing. “Now I understand. Very well, you can take some Pensioners, if you desire, but do not enter the walls, I beg you.”
“You humour me.” He rose and kissed her. “Thanks.” Entering her Audience Chamber, that great, brilliant, empty room, Quire glanced around at it for a moment before calling over one of the guards. “Bring six men and
