His Secret Slave to Scandalous Queen

"That simple?" Livia asked.

"The best plans usually are."

Livia absorbed that. "Not bad." She looked at Tabitha. "And Tabitha?"

"Mrs Crowe remains in Whitehall."

"She will be questioned as to where I am."

"She will not take the blame," Lionel said. "I will. I shall tell the court I took you into hiding on my own authority."

"That will condemn you."

"I have already confessed enough to hang. A little more rope changes very little. If anyone is tortured, it will be me."

Livia stared at him. She understood that he truly meant to stand between her and everything.

Lionel bowed. "I will make the arrangements."

Before she could answer, he turned and left the chamber. Livia stood motionless. Then the strength seemed to leave her face all at once. She sank into the nearest chair, the brief command she had worn folding inward.

"Do you still not trust him?" Tabitha asked.

Livia looked towards the door. "It is not that. I fear he will fail."

"Lord Ashcroft is highly skilled, my lady," Tabitha said.

Livia gave a faint smile. "Yes. I know that."

"Then why do you fear he will fail?"

"Because highly skilled men are rarely underestimated." Livia exhaled slowly. "That is why I fear he will fail."

Before Tabitha could answer, a knock came at the outer door.

A guard announced from beyond it, "Her Grace the Queen Mother requests an audience with Miss Valenti."

Tabitha turned sharply to Livia and lowered her voice. "I can have her sent away."

"No." Livia rose from the chair, smoothing her gown with hands that wanted to tremble and therefore were not permitted to. "No, let her in."

"My lady."

"It is good to know what ace your enemies have up their sleeves. Let her in."

Tabitha hesitated only a second more, then bowed her head and went out. Livia stood in the centre of the chamber and forced herself to breathe evenly. These apartments had become Livia’s shelter, however fragile. Theodora entering them felt like smoke slipping under a closed door.

The Queen Mother came in without haste. It was the first time Theodora had entered Livia’s chamber.

Until now, she had obeyed Henry’s order to keep away. She had kept her distance because distance gave her innocence.

Livia curtsied. "Your Grace."

Theodora’s eyes moved around the room. She took in the opulence of the chambers. "Livia. Did you truly think I would sit back and not watch everything you do in this palace?"

Livia folded her hands before her. "I do not think so much about you, Your Grace."

"You should," Her Grace said. "Many women before me have made the mistake of thinking too little of me." She took a slow step into the room, her skirts whispering over the floor. "How was your little trip to Oswald Finch’s house?"

Livia’s heart gave one hard beat then another.

Do not react.

Livia lowered her gaze to adjust the edge of her sleeve, giving herself half a second to arrange her face. When she looked up again, she gave Theodora nothing but mild confusion. "Master Finch, Your Grace?"

Theodora’s smile widened. "Do not insult us both."

"I had books to arrange for copying."

"Whitehall has clerks. Yet you went to Oswald Finch."

Livia kept her breathing slow. "The particular text I needed copied is rare."

"What text?"

Livia smiled faintly. "I had not realised Your Grace was interested in my reading."

"I am interested in your movements."

"That sounds exhausting."

"It is becoming necessary."

"Then I apologise for increasing your burdens."

"You should be careful with men like Finch. Scribes are nervous creatures. They talk when frightened."

Livia understood the warning beneath the words. Theodora knew about Finch. Perhaps she knew Lionel had taken him. Perhaps she knew more. Livia let herself look just slightly uneasy.

"You have become very busy for a woman who claims to be ready to obey the king’s order," Theodora said. "If you are wise, you will stop whatever little game you have begun."

Livia inclined her head. "As you say."

"The book," Theodora said at last. "What is it for?"

Livia allowed the answer to come gently, almost shyly. "It is supposed to be a gift I would leave for His Majesty when he arrives."

"I see," Theodora said. Her gaze remained on Livia, as though she were trying to peel away skin and read the intentions beneath it. Livia kept her hands folded before her and her expression mild. "Well," Her Grace continued, her voice dropping into a menacing chill, "I am watching you, little girl."

"I would expect nothing less, Your Grace."

"The gentlemen will be here in the morning," Her Grace said. "You and the others will be presented for selection. By evening," Theodora continued, "the marriages shall be solemnised before the Church."

"Yes, Your Grace," Livia said.

That calm troubled Theodora.

Her Grace turned to Tabitha. "Have her properly dressed and presentable by morning."

Tabitha curtsied. "As Your Grace commands."

Theodora swept out without another word. Only when the door closed did the air in the chamber become breathable again.

Tabitha turned to Livia at once. "I will find Lord Ashcroft."

Livia nodded. "You do that."

There was no need for more. The hour for arguments had passed. If Livia remained in Whitehall, she would be married under the false authority of Henry’s stolen hand before sunset.

So she would not remain.

******

That night, Lionel escorted Livia to the library. The palace had quieted. Livia walked beside Lionel with her cloak pulled close.

Her heart beat too hard, but she kept her steps measured. Lionel had arranged everything earlier. A guard’s livery had been hidden between shelves in the library, along with a plain cap, gloves, and a short cloak. The borrowed garments belonged to one of Lionel’s own men, chosen because he was near enough to Livia’s height to make the deception possible from a distance.

It was a simple plan. When they entered the library, Master Hartwell lifted his head from his desk.