black from head to foot, Shane Hawkhurst drew his black cloak about him and stepped through the window of his apartment on the fourth floor of Greenwich Palace. He remained motionless until his eyes became accustomed to the darkness, then smoothly, with fluid motions, climbed across two balconies and, with great stealth, dropped to a stone balcony on the third floor. His eyes searched the darkness for any movement in the grounds below; then a blurred motion inside the room caught his attention. He saw a young woman squeeze the water from a pair of stockings and reach her arms up high to hang them over the wall mirror to dry. She was as naked as the day she was born! He caught his breath as she knelt before a trunk and searched inside for something she apparently could not locate.
Sabre knew she had packed two lawn smocks for sleeping, but realized they must be in the other trunk.
“Peste!”
she swore in French, then looked up toward the windows. With the drapes undrawn she suddenly felt very exposed. Reason told her she was up too high to be observed, yet she needed to draw the curtains for her own modesty, since it would take her a while to locate her night rail. She stood up and advanced to the window.
Hawkhurst’s physical response to the naked young woman was immediate and pronounced. As he stood motionless, hot blood surged into his loins, wiping out all thoughts except one. He stared unblinking lest he miss one moment of the lovely vision displayed before him. Her breasts thrust upward, deliciously round and temptingabove a waist that was only a man’s hand span, but the most exquisite thing about her was her hair. It fell to her hips in a coppery cloud. He licked his lips, which had suddenly gone dry, for now she was so close he could have reached out a hand to touch her. As she reached up to pull the drapes across the window he was startled to see that her face was also beautiful.
Robbed of his vision, he felt cheated, angry as a dog separated from its meat. He was just about to push open the casement and step inside to take what he desired when he suddenly remembered that the baron was waiting for him, and worse, he had left him too long where he would be exposed to danger. How could he have forgotten what he was about? The pulsing insistence between his legs did nothing to improve his temper, and he cursed the wench who had aroused his lust so easily.
The next day the cleaning of the palace began in earnest. Every casement and window was thrown wide to allow the stale air to escape and fresh air to rush in. Men and women cleaners were sweeping out old rushes, removing cobwebs and dust from gilt picture frames, wall sconces, and ceiling cornices, scrubbing floors, and rubbing each piece of furniture with beeswax and turpentine.
Sabre worked on the queen’s gowns once more with Kate at her elbow, absorbing every word of advice and gossip that dropped from her aunt’s lips. At lunch she was introduced to a group of ladies who had not, for one reason or another, accompanied Her Majesty. Katherine and Philadelphia Carey, two sisters who had not the means to travel in the style expected on progress, sat at a table with Lady Leighton, Lady Holby, and Lady Barow. All were very friendly and relaxed, for usually mealswere served with a maximum of formality. Usually a lady-in-waiting rubbed each plate with bread and salt, then bowed three times. Each dish was tasted for poison and then the meat was presented to the queen for her to carve off the portions she desired. All such formalities were abandoned today.
Sabre, observing the gowns of the other women, decided hers were old-fashioned, almost prim. She must procure scissors and thread and tonight restyle the necklines of her three gowns. Today she wore the pale green, and although she knew the color did wonderful things for her, she glanced down at the modest bodice, making note of just how she could cut it to expose her breasts, lest she be laughed at as a
Sabre knew she had packed two lawn smocks for sleeping, but realized they must be in the other trunk.
“Peste!”
she swore in French, then looked up toward the windows. With the drapes undrawn she suddenly felt very exposed. Reason told her she was up too high to be observed, yet she needed to draw the curtains for her own modesty, since it would take her a while to locate her night rail. She stood up and advanced to the window.
Hawkhurst’s physical response to the naked young woman was immediate and pronounced. As he stood motionless, hot blood surged into his loins, wiping out all thoughts except one. He stared unblinking lest he miss one moment of the lovely vision displayed before him. Her breasts thrust upward, deliciously round and temptingabove a waist that was only a man’s hand span, but the most exquisite thing about her was her hair. It fell to her hips in a coppery cloud. He licked his lips, which had suddenly gone dry, for now she was so close he could have reached out a hand to touch her. As she reached up to pull the drapes across the window he was startled to see that her face was also beautiful.
Robbed of his vision, he felt cheated, angry as a dog separated from its meat. He was just about to push open the casement and step inside to take what he desired when he suddenly remembered that the baron was waiting for him, and worse, he had left him too long where he would be exposed to danger. How could he have forgotten what he was about? The pulsing insistence between his legs did nothing to improve his temper, and he cursed the wench who had aroused his lust so easily.
The next day the cleaning of the palace began in earnest. Every casement and window was thrown wide to allow the stale air to escape and fresh air to rush in. Men and women cleaners were sweeping out old rushes, removing cobwebs and dust from gilt picture frames, wall sconces, and ceiling cornices, scrubbing floors, and rubbing each piece of furniture with beeswax and turpentine.
Sabre worked on the queen’s gowns once more with Kate at her elbow, absorbing every word of advice and gossip that dropped from her aunt’s lips. At lunch she was introduced to a group of ladies who had not, for one reason or another, accompanied Her Majesty. Katherine and Philadelphia Carey, two sisters who had not the means to travel in the style expected on progress, sat at a table with Lady Leighton, Lady Holby, and Lady Barow. All were very friendly and relaxed, for usually mealswere served with a maximum of formality. Usually a lady-in-waiting rubbed each plate with bread and salt, then bowed three times. Each dish was tasted for poison and then the meat was presented to the queen for her to carve off the portions she desired. All such formalities were abandoned today.
Sabre, observing the gowns of the other women, decided hers were old-fashioned, almost prim. She must procure scissors and thread and tonight restyle the necklines of her three gowns. Today she wore the pale green, and although she knew the color did wonderful things for her, she glanced down at the modest bodice, making note of just how she could cut it to expose her breasts, lest she be laughed at as a
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