triumphant, too. “He used a leaf from Sir Ernest’s book, and the poet’s pen and inkhorn. He had stabbed himself with a dagger. Through the heart. Neatly, with proper calculation.”
Gloriana began to weep. “Oh, Quire!” She accused him.
The note was addressed to him.
–
–
“You are lost, Quire,” said Sir Orlando. “This poor fellow has accused you and died to prove his case.”
THE THIRTY-SECOND CHAPTER
It proves nothing,” said Quire. “He was mad with guilt and despair. I know young Phil. He’s one of Priest’s dancers and has been under Wallis’s protection. He was playing flirt to all. Wallis asked me to help him and I did what I could. Thus he considered me to be in his debt. It’s the import of the entire letter. That and his belief he shunned duty to pursue lust.”
They sat side by side upon the bed while she read the letter over. She ignored him. “Sir Orlando was right. This proves infamy of some description.”
“Only in Wallis’s eyes.”
“He recorded all the business of the Realm. He could have been the spy for Tatary and you his agent. Or the reverse. I recall everything Montfallcon hinted at….”
“There’s scarcely a lackey in the Court could not gain that information,” he said. “I’ve spoken to no Tatars, that I swear. How can you believe this?” He was aggrieved-accused, inadvertently, by a man he had not killed, of something he had not done.
“Oh, Quire, I have been betrayed by so many in my life and have always kept my faith.” She looked hopelessly at him. “I believed in Chivalry and in Albion, in my service and duty to the Realm. You teach me self-love and say that is for the sake of the Realm. I think, however, that you are trying to betray me again, in a new way. You force me to betray myself. Is there anything crueller?”
“This will not do. You are tired. And you are still drunk.”
“I am not.”
He became sullen. “You debate non-existent problems. I love you. Not four hours since, you agreed that our love was enough to sustain all else.”
“I have turned my back on Albion. I have become cynical. And so many have died.”
“They died before,” he said. “Only you did not know-save for a few. How many were murdered far more horribly than Lady Mary?”
“What do you say?” She turned, frowning. “What do you know?”
He grew cautious. “What I have heard. Ask Montfallcon.” He risked his own security. If Montfallcon guessed that he had revealed those secrets, his safety was all gone.
“In my father’s time, you mean?”
He retreated. “Aye.”
It was as if she strapped armour about her, moment by moment. He sought a chink with: “I love you.”
She shook her head and let the letter fall. “You think you do. And I you, little Quire. But this…” She rose to pace the dark chamber. “The Court crumbles. The dead increase. I believed that I acted to save us from further death. Yet here’s poor Wallis gone. And in our own secret quarters that represented our retreat from death, from the past. It is too much, Quire.”
“You seem to blame me.”
“Wallis did.”
“Aye. His brain was disordered. Many would make a scapegoat of me.”
“The Phoenician scapegoat bore the whole tribe’s sins and was killed to free them. I do not want you killed, my love. I do not want a Realm which requires a scapegoat.”
“I assure you, I agree.”
“I must look to the safety of Albion’s spirit. I must stop these wars. I must reunite the nobles.”
“It is too late.” He saw his power weakening. Again he shifted his ground. “So, I’m to go away? You have no more use for Quire’s comforting.”
“I need it more than ever,” she said. “Yet it diverts me too greatly.”
“You trust me so little that one vague letter can turn you against me?”
“I do not know. There is much I have refused to consider. I know you, Quire, because I love you. Yet I have no words for that knowledge. I am confused.”
“Come to bed. Let me banish confusion.”
“No. I would debate this with myself.”
He realised that the morning would bring news of Lord Gorius’s death and Sir Amadis’s flight. He had perhaps overreached himself, for he had also been accused of injuring Sir Vivien. He lay on their bed, brooding. He must consider urgent plans. He must win her back to him for the few days needed until his great plan was brought to full bloom. He must appeal to her in some way. He must pretend to agree. So he waited in silence for a while in the hope that she would feel the need to fill it. He knew her nature.
And at last she said, sadly:
“I am unworthy of my people. I have no intelligence. I have made a monstrous mad thing of my wisest Councillor.”
He continued in his silence.
“I have betrayed my duty. I have allowed my friends to perish, to suffer, while those who are not my friends prosper. I am infamous and my subjects turn against me, for I betray their faith by losing my own. In my pain and my fear I sought help from Eros-but Eros rewards only those who bring him virtue and goodwill. I have been foolish.”
He climbed from the bed with a great display of impatience. “This is mere self-pity.”
“What?”
“You continue to blame yourself for the crimes and weaknesses of others. You’ll never test your own strength if you follow this course. You were Montfallcon’s foil-now you claim me as your influence. You must consider your own decisions and make ’em. So I’ll leave, as you desire.”
She halted. “Forgive me. I am distressed.”
“You fear to take any form of retribution on your enemies in case it should reveal your father’s cruelty in you. You are not cruel-but there must be firmer justice. You have been only the reflection of your nation’s needs. Now you must impose your will and show that you are strong. It is the way to end all this madness.”
She drew massive, beautiful brows together. “You stand to suffer most from any retribution,” she reminded him.
“Do I? Put me to trial, then. By whatever jury you select. Or try me yourself.”
He drove her back to tears; he exploited her general guilt; he offered her escape through hysteria. She did not take it. Instead she found dignity. She rose, huge and sympathetic, and took him, to his astonishment, to her breast. “Oh, Quire, Quire.”
“You must rest. For a day or so.” His voice was muffled. “Then make your decisions.”
“Do not advise me, my dear. Do not try any further to reduce my aspirations. You taught me not to mind my
