to convince herself.
“Lord Bedford,” Mistress Hyde said. “Be careful, for the queen does not like when her ladies act immorally.”
“I would never,” Max said, trying to quell the flutter in her belly at someone having noticed their flirtations.
Mistress Hyde pursed her lips as though she wasn’t so certain. Max bit her cheek against a tart retort. The mother of maids roused Mary and Elizabeth and then, thankfully, left them to prepare for attending the queen.
Despite Mistress Hyde’s warning and Max’s own reservations, when the ladies’ maids arrived to dress them for the day, she couldn’t help taking extra care with her gown and hair. Truth be told, she liked the approving glances and veiled desire she’d seen in Sebastien’s gaze.
Max wasn’t sure what was more scary—the fact that she cared what he thought, or the fact that her heart was already pounding.
The Lord Chamberlain’s Men had arrived and all of court was abuzz with the excitement of the play they’d debut for the queen. William Shakespeare himself walked across the stage that had been built for this occasion and pointed out where changes were to be made.
Sebastien had felt comfortable leaving his house only after making certain his mother’s attendants did not leave her side and the doctor had given her another sleeping draught. When he’d returned late the previous night, Mother had been in a deep sleep, and the servants reported that she had not made any other attempts on her life and had, in fact, spoken with excitement that Sebastien would be soon returning her ring.
Now, Sebastien waited, rather impatiently, for the queen and her ladies to make their appearance. He’d spent half the night trying to think of ways he could woo Max. She was an intelligent and cunning woman. She’d likely see through any frivolous flirtations. Sebastien would have to dig deeper than that. He’d have to strike at her heart, lay claim to her mind.
He’d known at once what gift he’d bring her today. The book of Latin practically burned a hole through his coat.
Finally, the queen and her ladies were announced, sweeping into the hall with all the elegance and beauty they embodied, but Sebastien only had eyes for one of them. Maxwell .
Her skin was all peaches and cream, her gown a very light blue that complemented the color of her eyes. When her gaze fell on him, she swept her lashes toward the floor, but he’d caught the look of pleasure on her face. She was pleased to see him, just as he was pleased to see her.
Sebastien lowered himself into a bow, as the rest of the courtiers did. Once the queen had taken hold of the arm of Cecil, who led her in the procession to the garden where the company had set up for their production, Sebastien went to Maxwell’s side, but Devon beat him there.
“My lady,” Sebastien said, giving Lord Devon a reproving glance.
She lowered into a pretty curtsy, her smile radiant and tugging at something deep in his chest. When she held out her hand, he took it, kissing her knuckles and breathing in the slightly floral scent that always seemed to surround her.
“Good day, Lord Devon,” she said, dismissing the earl and giving all of her attention to Sebastien.
Devon’s face grew red with anger, but he quickly turned his attention from her to Mary and Elizabeth Talbot. Seemed there wouldn’t be as much of a fight as Devon had let on. Maxwell had easily squashed his intent. Warm satisfaction spread through Sebastien’s limbs. The lady had no idea how much she pleased him.
“Lord Bedford, I confess I wasn’t convinced you’d be here today,” she said.
“And why is that?”
She cast him a teasing grin. “Because I was certain you’d be at Thornton House searching for the treasury in an attempt to reclaim your precious relics.”
The idea had merit, but then he wouldn’t have been able to complete his duty to the queen—and, more disturbingly, to himself.
“I brought you a gift, my
“Lord Bedford,” Mistress Hyde said. “Be careful, for the queen does not like when her ladies act immorally.”
“I would never,” Max said, trying to quell the flutter in her belly at someone having noticed their flirtations.
Mistress Hyde pursed her lips as though she wasn’t so certain. Max bit her cheek against a tart retort. The mother of maids roused Mary and Elizabeth and then, thankfully, left them to prepare for attending the queen.
Despite Mistress Hyde’s warning and Max’s own reservations, when the ladies’ maids arrived to dress them for the day, she couldn’t help taking extra care with her gown and hair. Truth be told, she liked the approving glances and veiled desire she’d seen in Sebastien’s gaze.
Max wasn’t sure what was more scary—the fact that she cared what he thought, or the fact that her heart was already pounding.
The Lord Chamberlain’s Men had arrived and all of court was abuzz with the excitement of the play they’d debut for the queen. William Shakespeare himself walked across the stage that had been built for this occasion and pointed out where changes were to be made.
Sebastien had felt comfortable leaving his house only after making certain his mother’s attendants did not leave her side and the doctor had given her another sleeping draught. When he’d returned late the previous night, Mother had been in a deep sleep, and the servants reported that she had not made any other attempts on her life and had, in fact, spoken with excitement that Sebastien would be soon returning her ring.
Now, Sebastien waited, rather impatiently, for the queen and her ladies to make their appearance. He’d spent half the night trying to think of ways he could woo Max. She was an intelligent and cunning woman. She’d likely see through any frivolous flirtations. Sebastien would have to dig deeper than that. He’d have to strike at her heart, lay claim to her mind.
He’d known at once what gift he’d bring her today. The book of Latin practically burned a hole through his coat.
Finally, the queen and her ladies were announced, sweeping into the hall with all the elegance and beauty they embodied, but Sebastien only had eyes for one of them. Maxwell .
Her skin was all peaches and cream, her gown a very light blue that complemented the color of her eyes. When her gaze fell on him, she swept her lashes toward the floor, but he’d caught the look of pleasure on her face. She was pleased to see him, just as he was pleased to see her.
Sebastien lowered himself into a bow, as the rest of the courtiers did. Once the queen had taken hold of the arm of Cecil, who led her in the procession to the garden where the company had set up for their production, Sebastien went to Maxwell’s side, but Devon beat him there.
“My lady,” Sebastien said, giving Lord Devon a reproving glance.
She lowered into a pretty curtsy, her smile radiant and tugging at something deep in his chest. When she held out her hand, he took it, kissing her knuckles and breathing in the slightly floral scent that always seemed to surround her.
“Good day, Lord Devon,” she said, dismissing the earl and giving all of her attention to Sebastien.
Devon’s face grew red with anger, but he quickly turned his attention from her to Mary and Elizabeth Talbot. Seemed there wouldn’t be as much of a fight as Devon had let on. Maxwell had easily squashed his intent. Warm satisfaction spread through Sebastien’s limbs. The lady had no idea how much she pleased him.
“Lord Bedford, I confess I wasn’t convinced you’d be here today,” she said.
“And why is that?”
She cast him a teasing grin. “Because I was certain you’d be at Thornton House searching for the treasury in an attempt to reclaim your precious relics.”
The idea had merit, but then he wouldn’t have been able to complete his duty to the queen—and, more disturbingly, to himself.
“I brought you a gift, my
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