Prisoner of the Queen (Tales From the Tudor Court) (35 page)

Flutes whistled
, their song melodic and enchanting, and somehow keeping in tune with the beating of the drums. The ladies of the bedchamber were all dressed in the same styled satin gowns of sage green. Her Majesty’s maids of honor also wore the same styled gown but in a rose hue. Just as her father had done before her, Elizabeth wore cloth of gold, so all would know just who the queen was, even though no one was to mention it.

We entered the great hall and
, standing in a line with Elizabeth between us, we all curtsied to the crowd of male and female courtiers.

Almost immediately
, a tall, lithe courtier stepped from the crowd, shamelessly wearing cloth of gold, and claimed a dance from Her Majesty. I could tell from both their throaty laughs just who Elizabeth’s dancing partner was—Dudley. His behavior, donning a matching cloth of gold with the queen, would forever scandalize this court. I could sense it in my bones, beyond any closet kissing I might have engaged in.

He was a married man
, for God’s sake! His wife, whom I’d never even met because she was not allowed at court, must have been beside herself. I could never imagine Ned doing such a thing to me. And just as I thought of him, a man dressed in black velvet with a great turn of legs encased in ivory hose came to stand before me, bowing low over my extended hand.

He glanced up, and behind his black velvet mask, I recognized
enchanting green eyes. “My lady, if you would do me the honor of dancing the Volta with me?”

My heart skipped a beat. Ned had found me in this crowd, and now we would dance as we had in years previous. The Volt
a was a sensual dance. He would hold me close, twirl me about. His hands would touch me as he lifted me and spun me in the air. Gooseflesh rose on my arms, and I tried hard to find my voice.

“With pleasure, my lord.”

With my small hand in his, he led me to the floor and twirled me. He smelled of bergamot and cloves, and when he whispered in my ear of my beauty, I smelled mint. How I wished to press my lips to his!

We twirled and danced
to the warlike sounds of the beating drums and enchanting flutes. One dance after another. We feasted from each other’s hands on roasted meat and sweet pies. Comfits poured from trays passed by servants and found their way to our lips.

A better time I
’d never known. ’Twas as if the whole world was meant only for the two of us—a reprieve from propriety.

As we continued to dance
well into the night, I watched with growing unease as Her Majesty rebuffed our host, Lord Arundel, preferring the company of Dudley. She could do so since she was queen, but as he was our host and had put on such a lavish affair, she should have danced with him at least once.

“
Lord Arundel wished to ask for her hand,” Ned whispered when he saw where my gaze was directed.

“Are you certain?”

He nodded. “He brought it to the attention of the council prior to the progress, hoping that as Keeper of the Palace, the progress would make a stop at Nonsuch and he could show the queen how much he adored her by throwing her a number of celebratory events.”

“And yet she has brushed him aside.”

Ned nodded. “There are several other events planned. Seeing how he has been received this eve, he will no doubt have
sweet Robin
engaged otherwise tomorrow.” He chuckled and popped a sugared treat into his mouth. “’Tis nearing midnight, princess.”

“Is it? I would never have guessed. I feel so alive!”

Ned stroked the underside of my chin. “You are a wonder to me, Kat. ’Tis why I love you,” he whispered into my ear. “Come, let us find a quiet place to be alone.”

“I would be more than happy to oblige you, my lord, but I will do no more than kiss you.”

Ned’s eyes were dark with desire, and he nodded. “I know, my lady, and I would not want to compromise you further without permission from the queen to wed. But days have passed since last my lips touched yours, and I am hungry for your kiss.”

I glanced around the room and saw that most everyone was occupied, and those who were not, paid me little heed.

I stood without another word and walked around to the edges of the room, moving in and out of the silken fabrics that made the room look every bit like a fantastical dream.

When I reached the darkened corridor, I broke out into a run, laughing as Ned trailed behind me, his own cheerful laughs speeding me on. We found a door to the outside and took it, running out into the grass. The sultry night air, the mixture of wine and sweets in my belly, the comfort of being with the man I love
d—all of it filled me with such jubilation, my heart swelled and I laughed all the more. We ran through the darkened groves that shaded most of the moon’s light, silvery swords of light streaking down through the branches.

Ned twirled me aro
und and lifted me into the air, a fine mist from a marble fountain sprinkling over our skin.

“Alone at last,”
he breathed and ripped off his mask and then mine, tossing them to the ground. “Now, kiss me, my lady.”

“I regret to inform you, my lord, that as I am above your station, I simply cannot bend to your demands,” I sniffed, the corners of my lips turned up teasingly.

“I shall bend to my knees then and beg!” He dropped to his knees, wrapping his arms around my legs and pulling me close. He buried his face against the junction of my thighs, sending thrills of pleasure racing through me. “May I kiss you, my lady?”

He nuzzled closer, his hot breath seeping through my gown
, and my knees wobbled, threatening to give way as I choked on my breath. “Yes,” I somehow managed to murmur.

Ned lifted the hem of my skirts and burrowed beneath, his lips pressing hotly against
the curls between my thighs. I gasped aloud, my hands flying to find anchor against his head covered in my skirts.

“Ned!” I said in surprise as his tongue flicked out and sparks of fire burned through me.

“Oh, Kat… Tastes like sweet honey from my little bee.”

My eyes rolled back
, and I felt faint as his lips and tongue devoured me. My breaths came quicker. My heart beat so fast I thought it would burst. And then the world exploded around me, and my knees did give way as waves of pleasure descended upon me.

Ned caught me about the hips and laid me on the soft grass. I stared up at the stars, my body still quaking from what had just taken place.

He rolled beside me, pulling my hand to his lips and kissing my fingertips. “That, my lady, was finding completion.”

“Indeed it was.”

He chuckled beside me, obviously knowing I had not in fact found completion the last time we were together. I had not known a man and woman could be together this way to find pleasure—and not become with child.

“Is it the same for a man as it is for a woman?” I asked.

“What do you mean?” He propped himself up on an elbow and stroked a finger over my face.

“Can I give you the same pleasure?”

Ned smiled. “A woman can give a man the same pleasure, but I would never ask it of you, my little bee.”

I pursed my lips and tilted my head in question. “Why ever not?”

“’Tis messy and insulting, love.”

“Insulting?” I frowned. “How could it be insulting?”

“Most men reserve such an act for their mistresses or for a wench at a brothel, not from the woman they want to marry and who will bear their children.”

“But how then can you do it to me and it be acceptable?”

He shrugged. “‘Tis the way of things.”

“We shall see, my lord.”

“There will be no
seeing
, my lady. But if you would like me to seek my pleasure without spending inside you, let me show you?”

I nodded.

He rolled atop me and kissed my lips, the scent of my nether region still fresh on his mouth. But it was not entirely deplorable. In fact, it made me desperate for him. He stroked a lazy path up my legs and pushed my skirts to my hips. Then he entered me swiftly, and the pleasure he’d brought me moments ago returned.

“My lord, you said—
”

“Shh…love, I will not spend inside you.”

He pumped slowly in and out, and soon I cared no longer what he did, but wanted him only to continue to thrust inside me. I was delirious with pleasure, until my body could hold out no longer, and once again climax consumed me. Above me, Ned’s thrusts grew faster and deeper, and then suddenly he yanked himself from my body, and I watched with wide-eyed wonder as he stroked his member with a swift hand. His eyes connected with mine, until he groaned aloud.

“
’Tis how it is done, my lady.”

I stared in fascination. “I should like to see i
t done again.”

“You are a wanton princess…” He wiped his hands on the grass and redressed himself. “I will be glad to do so over and over with you.”

“Let us hope the queen’s temperament improves soon.”

Chapter
Seventeen

What grief of mind and torment strong,

she suffered all the while:

Is known to those that bondage feels,

whose friends are in exile.

Could mischief fall on both the sides,

more harder than it did…

~Thomas Churchyard

Elizabethan soldier and poet

The next morning…

Arundel
’s plans to distract Robert Dudley so he might act upon his suit for the queen ran amok, for he had planned a day of riding in the parks. Now, if he had planned something not having to do with horses, or game playing, the day might have turned out quite differently. But, alas, he chose for our group to spend several hours coursing over the fields and through the woods on trails laid out for such occasions.

Male and female courtiers mounted
, and the queen—who always insisted on mounting herself—sat astride. But as soon as Elizabeth saw that her dear Robin was missing, she demanded to know of his whereabouts.

As it turned out, a letter telling Dudley he must ret
urn to his wife on account of her health had been delivered that morning and Dudley was now in his room preparing to leave. A touch of conscience perhaps? Or did he hope it was serious enough she might die and he needed to see for himself?

In any case, Her Majesty balked loudly at
Robert being left behind. She refused to ride without him. He was her Master of the Horse. How could she possibly ride if he wasn’t by her side?

Her temper flared
, and she demanded that Lord Arundel go to tell Dudley that he was needed upon this ride. When Arundel argued that the man was going to see to his sick wife, Elizabeth snarled, “As far as we are concerned, he hath no wife and be married to this realm as much as your royal sovereign queen!”

Bows were made and apologies murmured
, and Dudley came from the house swifter than a man should whose wife perchance lay at death’s door. There was no mention of his ailing wife, no condolences from Her Majesty on the matter. She only smiled and laughed as if he’d never been from her side.

I was stunned
, to say the least. Did this mean that Elizabeth did not recognize Dudley’s marriage to Amy Robsart? My heart wrenched for the girl if she were to hear the words the queen had uttered… I could not imagine her reaction. If it had been me, I would have sunk to the floor in a pile of tears and wept like a babe.

Ned glanced my way, worry in his expression. We rode with the crowd
, and at one moment he came to my side, his knee brushing mine. His fingers danced over my arm, and he said, “She has the temperament of an injured lion. We’d best heed caution else she forbid us from being in the same county.”

I nodded for fear of that being the case, but she showed no further temper the rest of the day. In fact
, upon our return from riding, the children of St. Paul’s presented us with a sweet play, followed by an evening of banqueting. Ned and I danced—and were encouraged to dance by Elizabeth herself, as she laughed and swung round and round in the arms of her Master of the Horse. Was it because she was growing tender to mine and Ned’s plight or because she was allowing herself a fleeting fantasy and so encouraged mine?