country bumpkin.
The Carey sisters wore only simple pearls and one ring apiece, but the jewels of the other ladies caught Sabre’s admiration. She had seen portraits of Elizabeth that showed her wearing rings on every finger, and her ladies obviously copied the style. Sabre did not possess one piece of jewelry, but her mind now set to work on how she could acquire some.
“We are so dull here now that the queen has left, we are positively moped to death,” complained Lady Holby.
“There’s absolutely no excuse for it! I’ve decided to throw a small party tomorrow evening,” said Lady Leighton, “and I’ve talked Lady Barow into helping me. Would you care to join us, Lady Ashford?” They used each other’s titles with deference.
“I’m glad of the time to myself to just rest, thank you, ladies, but perhaps my niece Sabre would enjoy your generous hospitality. She is new to court from the country and needs to cultivate as many friendships as she can while the vultures are away.”
“Aye, she is pretty,” conceded Philadelphia Carey, “she’ll have no trouble making enemies with that face.”
Sabre smiled. “Your name is unusual.”
“Yours, too, is an odd name and will serve to draw attention,” said Philadelphia.
Lady Anne Leighton lowered her voice. “Spread the word to as many men as you can. You’d be surprised at the number of gentlemen who haven’t accompanied the queen, and every last one of them will be looking for diversion.”
Katherine Carey’s eyes shone as she warmed to the subject. “Last night I saw the Fox and the Gypsy, and ’tis rumored the Sea God hasn’t left yet.”
Sabre was momentarily puzzled, until Kate laughed and said, “Most of the men at court have code names personally selected by Her Majesty.”
Anne Leighton winked saucily. “All the ones worth bedding, at any rate!”
Sabre was shocked, for she was almost certain that Lady Leighton was married.
“God’s blood, I’m perished with all these windows open,” her aunt said. “I hate to admit it, but my bones feel every draft these days. Sabre, be a good girl and fetch me a shawl from my chamber.”
Sabre left the long dining hall and hesitated a moment over the direction she should take. She decided the wardrobe rooms were to the right, but then she turned left to the staircase that led to the corridor, which in turn opened to the central staircase leading to the third-floor apartments. One more turn found her in a part of the palace she had not seen before. She was at a crossover point for two wide hallways; one contained many doors, while the other was a long, mirrored gallery.
She spun about and tried to retrace her steps, but nothing looked remotely familiar and she realized that she was lost. She sighed with relief when she saw a gentleman advancing toward her from the mirrored gallery. As the distance closed between them she realized he must be a noble of some rank, for his clothes were richly flamboyant. He wore scarlet, slashed with black. His thigh-high boots were of supple black leather with startling scarlet linings where they were folded down from their tops. He wore a short, rakish cape in the latest fashion, which emphasized the unbelievable breadth of his shoulders.
Sabre’s knees turned to water as she saw the white teeth flash against the deep tan of his face. He was such a handsome rogue that her blood seemed to thicken and slow in her veins. They were so close, she imagined she felt the heat of his tall, muscular body. “Sir,” she breathed, startled at the sudden huskiness of her voice, “I’m hopelessly lost.”
He gazed down at her in mock solemnity. “So am I, mistress.” His hand covered his heart.
Her lashes swept to her cheeks, then her green eyes flashed up at him. “Pray, m’lord, do not mock me.”
He took her small hand in his strong brown one. “This way, sweeting.”
“But—but I haven’t told you where I wish to go,” she protested weakly.
They were in
The Carey sisters wore only simple pearls and one ring apiece, but the jewels of the other ladies caught Sabre’s admiration. She had seen portraits of Elizabeth that showed her wearing rings on every finger, and her ladies obviously copied the style. Sabre did not possess one piece of jewelry, but her mind now set to work on how she could acquire some.
“We are so dull here now that the queen has left, we are positively moped to death,” complained Lady Holby.
“There’s absolutely no excuse for it! I’ve decided to throw a small party tomorrow evening,” said Lady Leighton, “and I’ve talked Lady Barow into helping me. Would you care to join us, Lady Ashford?” They used each other’s titles with deference.
“I’m glad of the time to myself to just rest, thank you, ladies, but perhaps my niece Sabre would enjoy your generous hospitality. She is new to court from the country and needs to cultivate as many friendships as she can while the vultures are away.”
“Aye, she is pretty,” conceded Philadelphia Carey, “she’ll have no trouble making enemies with that face.”
Sabre smiled. “Your name is unusual.”
“Yours, too, is an odd name and will serve to draw attention,” said Philadelphia.
Lady Anne Leighton lowered her voice. “Spread the word to as many men as you can. You’d be surprised at the number of gentlemen who haven’t accompanied the queen, and every last one of them will be looking for diversion.”
Katherine Carey’s eyes shone as she warmed to the subject. “Last night I saw the Fox and the Gypsy, and ’tis rumored the Sea God hasn’t left yet.”
Sabre was momentarily puzzled, until Kate laughed and said, “Most of the men at court have code names personally selected by Her Majesty.”
Anne Leighton winked saucily. “All the ones worth bedding, at any rate!”
Sabre was shocked, for she was almost certain that Lady Leighton was married.
“God’s blood, I’m perished with all these windows open,” her aunt said. “I hate to admit it, but my bones feel every draft these days. Sabre, be a good girl and fetch me a shawl from my chamber.”
Sabre left the long dining hall and hesitated a moment over the direction she should take. She decided the wardrobe rooms were to the right, but then she turned left to the staircase that led to the corridor, which in turn opened to the central staircase leading to the third-floor apartments. One more turn found her in a part of the palace she had not seen before. She was at a crossover point for two wide hallways; one contained many doors, while the other was a long, mirrored gallery.
She spun about and tried to retrace her steps, but nothing looked remotely familiar and she realized that she was lost. She sighed with relief when she saw a gentleman advancing toward her from the mirrored gallery. As the distance closed between them she realized he must be a noble of some rank, for his clothes were richly flamboyant. He wore scarlet, slashed with black. His thigh-high boots were of supple black leather with startling scarlet linings where they were folded down from their tops. He wore a short, rakish cape in the latest fashion, which emphasized the unbelievable breadth of his shoulders.
Sabre’s knees turned to water as she saw the white teeth flash against the deep tan of his face. He was such a handsome rogue that her blood seemed to thicken and slow in her veins. They were so close, she imagined she felt the heat of his tall, muscular body. “Sir,” she breathed, startled at the sudden huskiness of her voice, “I’m hopelessly lost.”
He gazed down at her in mock solemnity. “So am I, mistress.” His hand covered his heart.
Her lashes swept to her cheeks, then her green eyes flashed up at him. “Pray, m’lord, do not mock me.”
He took her small hand in his strong brown one. “This way, sweeting.”
“But—but I haven’t told you where I wish to go,” she protested weakly.
They were in
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