His Secret Slave to Scandalous Queen

"Enough," she said again. She lifted her hands slowly. The borrowed cap had slipped, and a strand of hair had fallen loose against her cheek. The disguise had served its purpose and failed. "I am here...I am not going anywhere."

"My lady," he whispered.

Disappointment moved through him so visibly that Livia almost reached for him. Not disappointment in her, she realised. Disappointment in himself.

He’d failed his king.

They were dragged back to Whitehall like criminals brought in from a tavern brawl. The courtyard was already waiting.

Lanterns burned along the walls. Servants clustered in doorways until sharper voices drove them back. Guards lined the open space.

Theodora stood near the centre of it all. Lionel was forced to his knees first. He did not stumble. Even with two guards gripping his arms, he lowered himself with control and dignity. One of the guards tried to shove his shoulder down, and Lionel gave him a look so flatly murderous that the man removed his hand at once.

Livia was made to kneel beside him. The stone bit her knees. She could feel mud on her cheek, sweat beneath the stiff doublet, and anger burning violently in her chest.

Theodora looked down at them. "I did not think it would be so easy for you both to play into my hands."

Livia lifted her head. "Lord Ashcroft had nothing to do with this. I forced him to help me escape."

Lionel turned his face slightly towards her. "My lady."

"Be quiet," she snapped.

"Is that so?" Her Grace asked. "You forced him?"

"Yes."

"How remarkable. A woman without title or command has somehow compelled the king’s sworn guard to disguise her, remove her from the palace, and flee through London streets." Theodora’s smile widened. "That is the trouble with lies, little girl. The small ones are easy enough, but the large ones require expertise."

Lionel spoke then. "This was my doing, Your Grace."

"No," Livia said at once.

Theodora’s eyes gleamed. "How devoted." She turned towards the gathered guards, making certain her voice carried. "What we all saw was quite different. In the king’s absence, Miss Valenti chose Lord Ashcroft not as protector, but as lover."

Livia stared at her. "What?"

"Oh, the treason of it," Theodora said softly.

Livia rose halfway before the guard behind her forced her back down. "That is a lie."

"Is it? A woman kept under the king’s protection attempts to flee Whitehall in the company of his own sworn man. Shall I tell the council it was a chaste little stroll?"

Lionel’s jaw tightened. "You know that is false."

Livia’s stomach turned cold. Theodora did not need truth. She needed a scandal people could repeat quickly, one filthy enough to stain Livia and grave enough to condemn Lionel. A runaway mistress and the king’s personal guard. Betrayal in the king’s absence. It was a lie, but Whitehall would carry it eagerly.

Theodora looked almost radiant. "It feels very good...to rid myself of two birds with one stone." She turned to the guards. "Take Lord Ashcroft to the cells."

"No!" Livia shouted.

Two men seized Lionel by the arms.

"No," Livia said again, struggling against the hands that held her. "He has done nothing wrong."

Theodora looked at her with cold amusement. "You truly are loyal to him. That will help the story."

"You vile woman."

Lionel was dragged to his feet. His eyes fixed on Livia with regret. He had failed, and he knew it. Failed Henry. Failed Bella. Failed Livia. Failed whatever ruined part of himself had begun to believe penance could be completed before punishment arrived.

Lord Ashcroft was taken across the courtyard towards the guardhouse cells, his shoulders squared, his head high, while half of Whitehall watched.

Theodora turned back to Livia. "And you. No one will want to touch you when they hear of this...Not even the desperate men summoned for tomorrow. My goodness, you have managed to ruin yourself even further. I would have thought that impossible. We shall see how matters go tomorrow...Perhaps someone will pity you. Perhaps some charitable soul will take you despite this disgrace."

"Or perhaps you may be returned to Beaumont’s service," Theodora said. "It is your home, after all, is it not?"

Livia lifted her eyes to Theodora. "You are the devil."

"Take her away."

"You are the devil!" Livia screamed.

The guards yanked her to her feet. She fought then with every piece of fury left in her body. The borrowed uniform twisted around her. Hands locked around her arms.

Theodora watched with deep satisfaction.

"You will not win," Livia shouted back at her. "Do you hear me? You will not win."

The guards dragged Livia across the palace grounds, past the whispering servants. Whitehall swallowed her again, corridor by corridor, until the courtyard noise faded.

She kept fighting until exhaustion made her stumble. The guards pulled Livia all the way to her apartments, throwing her in and locking the door from behind.

Tabitha caught Livia before she struck the floor. "My lady."

Livia gripped her arms, breath tearing through her chest. Her face was pale with fury and shock, but her eyes were painfully alive. "It was a trap."

Tabitha’s arms tightened around her. "What happened?"

"Theodora knew. She knew Lionel would try to help me escape." Livia pulled back.

Tabitha’s face changed. "Lord Ashcroft?"

"They took him." Livia pressed both hands to her mouth, then dropped them at once. "Now she will tell everyone he was having an affair with me. That was her plan. To hang Lionel so he wouldn’t speak of her sins."

"My lady, breathe. You are shaking."

Livia began tearing at the fastenings of the guard’s livery. The doublet was stiff, too hot, too tight, and suddenly hateful against her skin. Livia pulled at the buttons with trembling hands, almost ripping the cloth in her haste. "I have to find the Lord Chancellor."

Tabitha caught her wrist. "My lady, we are locked in."