Queen Elizabeth's Daughter by Anne Clinard Barnhill

first might suffice, but for my heart’s contentment the second pleased me.’ And then she gave him a goodly portion of Northumberland’s holdings. Sussex also grew in wealth for his part,” said Mistress Eleanor.
    A manservant entered the queen’s chambers and walked toward the ladies.
    “Which is Mistress Mary Shelton?” he said.
    “Here, sir,” said Mary.
    “The queen sends for you—she is in the Presence Chamber with several of her gentlemen,” said the man.
    He bowed and left. Mary glanced in the looking glass on the queen’s silver table and patted her hair, smoothing it beneath her French hood. She straightened her sleeves and pinched her cheeks. She ran her fingers in the olive oil kept for such purposes and moistened her mouth.
    “I will be happy when the queen no longer requires me while she is meeting with her advisors—talk, talk, talk!” said Mary, laughing.
    “I cannot imagine why she calls you to these meetings—you are not going to be queen of anything, except the jakes,” said Mistress Eleanor.
    “Well, perhaps I am—you may kiss my hand now, mistress, and do a very low curtsy!” said Mary.
    “I shall bow, O great mistress, but you shall have the backside!” said Mistress Eleanor, bending over so her bottom was in the air.
    “Then I shall backhand it!” said Mary, swatting at her.
    “I shall get you for that!” said Mistress Eleanor, giving chase. Around and around the chamber they ran, pulling the other two ladies into their game. Soon all four were batting at each other, running and laughing.
    “Stop! I must be off or Her Majesty will have my head!” said Mary. She hurried out the door before the others could catch her. Walking more slowly, she fixed her hair again and straightened her skirts. When she arrived at the Presence Chamber, she told the guard who she was. He opened the door and stepped inside.
    “Mistress Mary Shelton,” he said in a loud voice.
    Mary saw many gentlemen talking in clusters as she made her way toward where the queen was sitting. The queen saw her and motioned her to sit at the pillow near her feet.
    “Oh, my Fawn, you look as if you have been on a merry chase this morning. Come. I want you to observe how I manage these,” said the queen as she opened her arms to indicate the buzzing crowd of courtiers.
    Mary sat on the large pillow and looked around. She recognized Sir John Pakington and Oxford. Lord Robert knelt on the other side of the queen while Master Cecil stood slightly behind the throne. Most of the men were strangers. Mary noticed Sir James Croft’s son-in-law immediately as he talked with Sir James. Her heart leaped and she quickly looked down. When she raised her head, she could not help but gaze at him again. She caught his eye and he returned her stare. He did not turn away. She lowered her eyes.
    “We have much for which to thank our God this Christmas, have we not, Fawn? He has delivered us from civil war,” said the queen, smiling.
    “Your Majesty, though we have won this skirmish, I fear the war will not be won until the Queen of Scots is given the traitor’s death she deserves. She is the fount of all discontent and I fear she will remain so as long as she lives,” said Master Cecil.
    “Dear Spirit, let us leave off speaking of our doom this day as we remember Christ’s birth. Allow us to celebrate a little, will you not?” said the queen.
    “As you wish, Your Majesty—but in the New Year, we shall have much to discuss,” said Master Cecil.
    “Tut-tut, tut-tut,” said the queen.
    Mary watched as Sir James and the handsome young man—Adonis, she silently named him, remembering the queen’s comment about his beauty—made their way to the queen. Sir James bowed deeply, as did the young man. Mary watched him as he leaned over. He was not as young as she had first thought, for she saw tiny lines at the corners of his eyes. His hair shone in the morning sun streaming through the windows. She still thought him quite