She nodded at him, her eyes huge and deepest blue. He smiled?reassuringly at her, and the icy fear she had felt deep inside her?dissolved in a quick, warm glow. He loved her! He had said so?plainly!
Her soaring thoughts were interrupted as de Grenville arrived.?”The Queen would speak with you, Mistress Skye. Allow me to?escort you,” he offered.
“We shall both escort you, my love,” said the Earl firmly.
As they reached Elizabeth, the Queen ordered her page to bring?a stool for Skye. Then she waved the two gallants away without a?word, her beautiful hands gesturing imperiously. “You’re popular?with the gentlemen, mistress,” Elizabeth commented as the two men?moved away.
Skye laughed. “My lord de Grenville is an old friend of my?business partner, Sir Robert Small. Like Robbie, he feels he must?protect me.”
“And that rogue, Southwood?”
“The Earl does not feel… protective toward me,” Skye twinkled?and Elizabeth laughed, the deep gray eyes bright.
“An understatement, mistress!” she chuckled. “A woman of wit,?I see. I like that! Tell me of yourself now. How did you come to?be Sir Robert Small’s partner?”
“Of myself there is little to tell, Majesty. I am Irish, or so I have?been told. I was left in a convent in Algiers at a very young age and?I know nothing about my background. Several years ago I was wed to a wealthy Spanish merchant of that city. Robbie was his partner.?When my lord died two years ago I was forced to flee Algiers? because a Turkish governor had plans to force me into his harem.?Robbie rescued me and my husband’s French secretary, Jean Marlaix, and his wife Marie. She and I were both with child when we?fled. My daughter was born here in England, for which I thank?God.”
“So you arrived here a poor widow, and Sir Robert Small took?you in?”
“Poor? Oh, no, madam! I had, by Moslem law, one month to?mourn my husband. During that time I secretly arranged for the sale?of all my husband’s goods and properties and I had the monies?transferred to England. Oh, no, madam! My daughter and I are?hardly penniless.”
“ Ton my soul, mistress, you are a cool one. I like that. Indeed?I do. So you have gone into business with Sir Robert Small, have?you? Good! I like an intelligent woman, one who uses her brain as?well as her body. Are you at all educated? You must be.”
“Yes, Majesty. I speak and read English, French, Italian, Spanish,?and Latin. I can write and am competent with figures.”
“Very well, mistress. I am impressed with what I see and hear.?Cecil will arrange an appointment with you and Sir Robert. We will?all talk. I think perhaps a royal charter will be forthcoming.”
Skye rose and curtseyed deeply. “Majesty, I am most grateful.”
Elizabeth stood. Instantly the Earl of Lynmouth appeared by her?side.
“Southwood, I am weary. It has been a busy holiday season.?Escort me to my barge.”
The Queen and her escort moved between the bowing and curt-?seying guests, a path to the door opening before them. Robert and?de Grenville took possession of Skye once more.
“Will you stay, Skye lass?”
“No, Robbie, I am tired. I have already bid Geoffrey good night.?Please escort me to my coach. But you remain if you like.”
“I’ll go. I’m longing for a good pint and a warm wench. The?atmosphere here is too rarefied to suit me. De Grenville, will you?join me?”
“Aye,” came the smiling reply.
‘Take my coach,” offered Skye.
“Ah, lass, bless your generosity.”
They left her safe inside her house, and drove off. Skye handed?her cloak to Walters, her majordomo. “Lock up,” she said, “Captain?Small will not be back tonight.”
“Very well, madam.”
Skye hurried up the stairs to her apartment, where Daisy awaited?her.
“Oh, mum, did you see her? Did you see Young Bess? We?watched her barge from the top of the house!”
“Yes, Daisy, I met the Queen. We spoke twice this evening, and?I shall see her again.”
Daisy’s eyes were round with excitement. “Is she pretty, close?up?”
“Yes, Daisy, she is very pretty, with lovely fair skin and red-gold?hair and bright gray eyes.”
“Oh, mum, when I tell me mother back in Devon that I saw the?Queen’s barge, and that my mistress even spoke to her! She’ll be?so proud!”
Skye smiled. ‘Tomorrow I shall tell you what the Queen wore?tonight, but for now help me get ready for bed.”
Obediently Daisy went to work, unlacing her mistress’s gown,?helping her disrobe. The beautiful velvet gown was brushed carefully?and hung back in the wardrobe. Silken undergarments were gathered?up to be given to the laundress. Skye slipped into a pale-pink silk?gown with a deep V neckline secured by tiny pearl buttons. The?long full sleeves floated, the skirt clung.
Daisy brought a silver basin of warmed rose water, and Skye?washed her face and hands and cleaned her teeth. “Shall I brush your?hair, mum?”
“Nay, Daisy, I’ll do it. It’s late. Go to bed.”
Daisy curtseyed. “Good night then, mum.”
“Good night, Daisy.”
The door closed behind the little maid, and Skye sat down at her?dressing table. Slowly she removed the diamond and pearl ornaments?and drew the gold and tortoiseshell pins from her hair. It tumbled?down, a night- dark cloud. Picking up her brush, she vigorously?brushed the tangles out, all the while wondering if Geoffrey would?come… and if she really wanted him to. What would happen if he?did come?
She laughed. What would happen, indeed! She would become?his mistress, of course. She frowned. Was that what she wanted??To become some nobleman’s mistress? Oh, damn! She was burning?for a man’s caress, the hardness of a man’s body on hers. Might she?not have a discreet affair and let it go at that? Surely he would? understand her desire for privacy. If he did not, then she would stop?the affair.
The sound of something scraping against her window startled her.?She ran to the window and looked out, then quickly jumped back.?Pebbles were being thrown at the window! She laughed and flung the casements wide. Below stood the Earl of Lynmouth, still in his?white and gold costume, grinning impudently up at her. “I’m coming?up,” he whispered, loudly enough for her to hear. “Leave the win-?dows open, Skye.”
“But how,” she began, and gasped as he reached out and grasped?at a thick vine growing up the bricked side of the house. He swung?himself up and began climbing. She watched, holding her breath,?until he was safely on the sill.
“Good evening, sweetheart,” he drawled lazily, vaulting lightly?into the room. In one fluid motion he drew the casements shut behind?him and pulled her into his arms. “Skye!” His voice was husky with?emotion. His hands reached up to tangle themselves in her hair. Her?deep blue eyes grew wide and her breath caught in her throat. She?could not speak. “Sweet, sweet Skye,” he whispered, and then his?mouth took full and complete possession of hers. Geoffrey kissed?her passionately, deeply, the kiss vibrating through her. Thrill after?thrill rippled through her as his lips gently persuaded hers to open,?allowing his silken tongue to rove unchecked, to meet and subdue?hers. “Skye, sweet, sweet Skye,” he murmured against the softness?of her neck, her final defenses weakening. She shivered deliciously.
His Fingers undid the little pearl buttons at the deep V of her?gown. One arm held tightly about her slender waist. His other hand?sought one firm and perfect breast,, cupping it, fondling it, his eager?mouth seeking the tightly closed flower of her nipple. The warm?mouth closed over its quivering prisoner, his tongue expertly encir-? cling it again and again until she thought she could stand no more?and whimpered a small protest. In response he lifted his swooning?treasure up and carried her to the bed. There he resumed delightful?loveplay concentrating mis time on her other breast.
Her body was now helpless to the passion he was igniting in her,?yet her mind rebelled at the thought of seduction. Desperate, she?tried to stop him, finally finding her voice.
“Geoffrey, no! Oh, please no!” For a moment he didn’t hear her?and she cried out softly again, this time twining her slender fingers?in his hair and pulling. “Geoffrey! Oh, Geoffrey, please no!”
