Love, Remember Me Read Free Page A

growled, "you are shameless, but then I always knew that. You seek a place for your little wench, don't you? Do you know that every family with an unmatched daughter, indeed any daughter, is importuning me right now for a place in my bride's household? Great names and small ones too plead for my ear." His glance swung to Nyssa. "And you, my pretty lass, would you come to court to serve the new queen?"
    "Aye, and if it please your majesty," Nyssa said pertly, looking straight at him for the first time.
    The king noted that she had her mother's beautiful violet-blue eyes.
    "Has she ever lived anywhere but her home?" he asked.
    Blaze shook her head. "Like me, Hal, she is a country girl."
    "She would be gobbled up whole by the rakes at court," he said. "It would be poor repayment for your friendship, Blaze Wyndham."
    Bliss FitzHugh, Countess of Marwood, who had been listening, now spoke up uninvited. "I have been told that the Princess of Cleves is a most chaste and good lady, sire. I believe my niece would be safe within her household. Then too, my husband and I are returning to court this season. I should be there to watch over Nyssa for my sister."
    Blaze threw her sister a grateful look even as the king said to her, "Very well then, madame, I will appoint your daughter one of the new queen's maidens as long as my lady FitzHugh is there to act in your stead. Is there anything else I may do for you?" he concluded dryly.
    "Appoint Philip and Giles as pages to the Princess of Cleves's household," Blaze said daringly.
    Henry Tudor burst out laughing at her audacity. "I do not think I shall ever play cards with you again, madame," he chortled. "As I recall, you always beat me. Very well, I will accede to your request. They're pretty lads, and mannerly too, I can see." Then he grew serious. "When you were with me, Blaze Wyndham," he said quietly, "you never asked anything of me. I remember there were many who called you a fool for it."
    "When I was with you, Hal," she replied in equally soft tones, "I wanted for nothing, for I had your affection and respect."
    "And you still do, my little country girl," he said. "I look at your fine brood, and I wonder if they would have been mine had I taken you for my wife instead of the others."
    "Your majesty has a fine son, I am told, in Prince Edward," she answered him. "You want the best for him even as I want the best for my children. I ask now for them. You know I would not presume upon your generosity otherwise."
    Reaching out, the king patted her slender hand with his fat one. "I never knew any woman, nay not even my sweet Jane, whose heart was as pure and good as yours, my little country girl," he told her. "My new queen will be pleased to have your children in her service." He looked to Blaze's sons. "What think you, Master Philip and Master Giles? Will you be happy to serve us, and our queen?"
    "Aye, Your Grace!" the two boys chorused brightly.
    "And you, Mistress Nyssa? Will you be as content as your brothers?" He chuckled and went on without even waiting for an answer. "She will have all the young men eager, I'll vow. You will have your work cut out for you, my lady FitzHugh, watching over this English rose."
    "I am quite capable of looking after myself, Your Grace," Nyssa said. "After all, I am the eldest of my mother's children."
    " Nyssa! " Blaze was scandalized by her daughter's impudence, but the king laughed good-naturedly.
    "Do not scold her, madame. She reminds me of my own daughter, Elizabeth. Nyssa is of the same ilk. An English rose, but a wild rose, I am thinking. It is a relief to know she is a strong girl. She will need that strength at court, as well you know, Blaze Wyndham. Now, am I to be fed? I have agreed to your requests." He chuckled. "There is no need to starve your king into submission."
    Blaze signaled her servants, and immediately they began to hurry forth in a line bearing the kitchen's best efforts to please their sovereign. As the Countess of Langford had