Kissed by Shadows Read Free Page A

much he and his cronies could drink over the card table.
    “I would not care for it to happen again,” she said, her own voice low.
    He bent his head to kiss her again, and she didn't see the shadow that passed across his eyes.
    He said brightly, “Come, madam wife, we are bidden to the queen's presence chamber. I understand the Spaniards are to arrange a tourney of canes later this morning and we are all to take part. Poor sport, I think it, but we must be courteous to our guests.”
    There was a brittle edge to his voice that Pippa found a little puzzling, but then she dismissed it. The Spaniards' preference for the tame jousting with canes rather than lances was a matter of ridicule and scorn among the Englishmen at the court and an athlete of Stuart's standard would be particularly contemptuous. But, of course, Philip of Spain was the queen's husband and the vagaries of his retinue must be smiled upon.
    They left the chamber arm in arm. The wide corridor outside was thronged with servants and courtiers. The antechamber to the queen's presence chamber was even more closely crowded, but way was made for Lord and Lady Nielson. They passed into the queen's presence and the double doors closed behind them.
    Simon Renard, the Spanish ambassador, stood beside the queen's chair under the cloth of estate. Philip of Spain, however, was absent from the chamber, although the chattering of his retinue resembled to Pippa's ears the sound of starlings giving forth in foreign tongue.
    The queen did not immediately deign to recognize the newcomers. Pippa knew that this galled Stuart, however he had no choice but to bite his tongue since his wife was no longer in Mary's favor. Pippa's family had stood by Mary during her troubles and the queen remained certain of their loyalty, but when Pippa had chosen to enter Elizabeth's service it had been seen, however unreasonably, as a defection. She was no longer trusted by the queen or the Privy Council, tolerated only because of her husband and her family.
    Pippa was not a whit put out by this withdrawal of favor, although she was sorry that it pained her husband. She looked around the small group in the chamber.
    “Oh, there's Robin.” She dropped her husband's arm and made a move towards her stepbrother, who stood to one side of the chamber, slightly apart from the main group.
    Stuart seized her forearm and spoke in an urgent undertone. “Pippa, you have not yet been acknowledged by Her Highness. You cannot greet anyone else first.”
    It was true and Pippa yielded with a sigh. They stood ignored for what seemed a very long time before a chamberlain approached and indicated that the queen's grace would receive them.
    Mary smiled upon Lord Nielson and frowned upon his wife. “You are in good health, Lady Nielson?” Her tone was distant.
    “Yes, indeed, I thank you, Your Grace.” Pippa remained in a deep curtsy, head bowed in submission.
    “You may rise.”
    Pippa rose, her skirts settling in graceful folds around her. She thought that Mary was regarding her with a closer scrutiny than ordinarily.
    “Do you have any correspondence with the Lady Elizabeth?”
    “It has not been sanctioned by Your Grace,” Pippa responded in a tone that carefully expressed puzzlement at the question.
    Mary glanced sideways at Renard, one eyebrow slightly lifted. “No,” she said with a dismissive gesture. “And neither will it be.”
    Pippa curtsied again and moved backwards out of the royal presence. Her husband, however, did not accompany her. Mary had retained his presence with a lifted finger.
    “You will take part in the cane play this afternoon, Lord Nielson. The king is most anxious to try his skills against such a lauded opponent.”
    “It will be my honor to match canes with His Majesty, madam.”
    Mary nodded, and hesitated for a moment before saying, “You will ensure, I trust, that His Majesty's opponents understand the intricacies and skill required in the Spanish joust.”
    A game of