Chapter 252: No Offense Meant To You
Bella’s gaze shifted to Tabitha. "No offence meant to you, Mrs Crowe. But Her Grace has such a hold on this place that even loyal hands can be outnumbered. One cannot oversee everything, even if one has eyes all over one’s body."
Livia turned the matter over in her mind. "But you gave the king a son."
Bella’s smile faded. "Yes...I did. Because I was the good little girl."
Livia frowned.
"I made Her Grace believe I understood my place and would never dream beyond it."
"And then she eased her hand?"
"Enough." Bella looked down at her own cup.
"So Her Grace relaxes when she believes she can control a woman," Livia said.
Bella looked up. "Yes."
Livia said nothing. The thought from earlier returned. Theodora liked women she could fold. Madeleine had failed because she was too proud to bend. What happens when one played both sides?
Tabitha poured the draught and passed Livia a cup. "Drink or do not. But this one is safe."
Livia trusted her. She took the cup.
Bella clapped her hands softly, banishing the darkness. "Enough of this miserable topic. I came for gossip. Tell me about your night out with the king."
Livia nearly choked on the first sip.
Bella smiled. "And do not lie. A few servants saw you leave."
Livia smiled in return. It spread with the memory. The river. The music. The strange, breathless happiness of standing among people who did not judge her. "It was nice...I had fun."
Bella stared at her over the rim of her cup. "With the king?"
"No." Livia’s smile deepened. "The king watched me have fun."
Bella leaned forward, delighted. "Why did he not join you?"
Livia laughed. "Because I was not doing anything exactly kingly. I was dancing at a late party outside an alehouse."
Bella’s brows flew upward. "Oh, then I understand."
"He looked happy watching."
The words came out more tenderly than Livia intended.
Livia looked into her cup, suddenly shy. "It had been so long since I felt that free."
The moment the word left her mouth, she stopped.
Free.
At Beaumont’s, she had never belonged to herself. At first, she had been a servant. Then Nicholas Beaumont had seen what her body could earn him.
Then came Richard who had taken her from ruin and wrapped her in a new name. Diana Bellamy had been a shield, and Livia would never deny the mercy of it. She had been fed. Dressed. Protected. Loved. There had been safety with him, even tenderness.
But not freedom. Diana Bellamy had been another room with a better lock. Last night, beneath the open night and lanternlight, she had been Livia Valenti.
Just Livia.
A woman who could hear music and walk towards it. A woman who could give her own name to strangers without Henry correcting her, or showing shame over what she had been. He had let her say it. Let her dance. Let her laugh. Let her belong to the moment without trying to own it.
Henry had given her space to be herself and she had felt free with him nearby.
"Your mind is spinning again," Bella said.
Livia blinked and looked up. Bella was watching her with softened amusement.
"It is nothing," Livia said. "I was only thinking." She looked down at her hands. "I never thought freedom was a word I would associate with myself." She swallowed. "Last night, I felt really free."
Tabitha moved towards the door after a soft knock sounded from outside. She opened it only enough to speak to whoever waited beyond, then returned with a small lift of her brows. "My lady, Master Stephen is here to see you."
Bella’s face brightened at once. "Ooooh. Someone is being called on by the king again."
"Oh, grow up." Livia set her cup down. "Please send him in."
Tabitha inclined her head and went to the door.
Bella leaned closer before Stephen could enter. "Would you like to wager that His Majesty is summoning you?"
"No."
"Wise." Bella smiled. "You already know why he sent Stephen."
"Perhaps it is ordinary household business."
Bella stared at her.
"What?"
"Livia, nothing about you and the king is ordinary household business. If Stephen appears at your door, it means His Majesty has either missed you, wants you, needs you."
Livia tried to frown, but her blush betrayed her.
"You don’t even know you are the envy of the king’s mistresses."
"I do not understand," Livia said. "Mistresses?"
"Oh, you poor innocent thing."
Livia raised a brow.
Bella leaned back against the chair. "You have not been given the proper tour. Her Grace has filled this palace with women for the king over the years. Pretty daughters of noblemen."
Livia’s mouth tightened. "And she simply sent them to him?"
"At times." Bella shrugged.
"And Henry allowed it?"
"Henry was younger," Bella said. "Lonely, perhaps. Angry. But also a man. It stopped after Thomas was born. I thought the king had grown thoughtful. Whitehall even came up with the rumour that the king was incapable of performing. Apparently he was saving himself for you."
Livia opened her mouth to answer, but the door opened before she could defend herself from Bella.
Stephen entered. "My ladies," he said, bowing. His coat was nicer. His boots were freshly brushed, his hair neatly tied, and there was, Livia noticed, a brightness to him.
"Stephen," she said, tilting her head, "is it me, or do you look quite charming today?"
"Oh," he said, "I stepped out of Whitehall to obtain certain things for His Majesty." His gaze shifted to Livia and caught the amusement dancing in her eyes. He stopped. "Ah...I see you are trying to embarrass me. Weldone." Stephen straightened. "But thank you. I do look good."
Tabitha shook her head. "Modesty is dead, then."
Livia’s smile widened. "You truly do look well, Stephen." She realised she had begun to know these people not merely as figures orbiting Henry, but as their own persons.
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