MAIDEN in the Tudor Court. June Francis

host poured ale into drinking vessels, Alex produced a silver brooch from a pouch. He handed it to Rosamund and she gazed at it with interest because its design was unusual.

      ‘What does it symbolise?’ she asked. ‘It looks like Christ’s cross, only…’

      ‘It was once an amulet of Thor’s hammer,’ said Alex. ‘As you can see, it has been made into a cross in the form of a brooch.’

      ‘You must value it highly,’ she said.

      He hesitated. ‘It belonged to Harry. I bent to pick it up and it was then that I was attacked from behind.’

      She paled. ‘You’ve kept this because you believe it is evidence against my brother?’

      Alex shrugged. ‘I kept it because I did not wish to be rid of it. You can keep it.’

      She was greatly moved by the thought of having in her possession that which had belonged to her brother. ‘Thank you. I will take care of it until I see him again.’

      At that moment Maud returned, along with a serving maid, so no more was said about the brooch.

      When the meal was over and Rosamund came to look for the bundle of clothes, there was no sign of it. She spoke to Alex about it.

      ‘Maud has tied it up with cord and it awaits us in the next chamber. We will collect it on our way out.’ He stood and helped her to her feet.

      Rosamund thanked Walther and Maud for their hospitality.

      ‘We hope all goes well with your plans and look forward to seeing you both soon,’ they said.

       Chapter Seven

      Alex and Rosamund spoke little as they rode through the streets to Lady Elizabeth’s mansion, which was situated near the Strand. Two watchmen stood on guard at the gates. Alex dismounted and spoke to them. The gates were thrown wide and a stable boy summoned to tend to the horse. Alex led Rosamund to the entrance of the house and the door was opened to them by the butler. Alex handed him a missive that he had written last night in his bedchamber. He exchanged a few words with him and, after a curious glance in Rosamund’s direction, the man showed them into a large hall and told them to wait while he informed Lady Elizabeth of their arrival.

      Rosamund’s heart was beating fast, but she did her best not to reveal her nervousness to Alex and gazed about the hall. She hoped that her godmother would recognise her. But would Rosamund remember Lady Elizabeth? Suddenly her eyes alighted on a portrait on a far wall and she hurried over to take a closer look at it.

      Alex followed her. ‘Your godmother when she was young,’ he said. ‘I recall that I once visited here with my grandfather. It had slipped my mind until I saw the house.’

      ‘Godmother was beautiful! I wonder if she has changed much.’

      ‘She is an old woman,’ said Alex in a low voice. ‘This was here when I visited as a boy.’

      ‘Her skin looks as soft as rose petals,’ she murmured.

      Alex rubbed his chin with his knuckles. ‘Aye, it is a pretty picture.’

      Rosamund darted him a sidelong glance. ‘How did your grandfather come to be invited here?’

      ‘If I remember rightly, it was due to her having visited Visby a few months previously. She had been widowed the year before and had decided she wished to travel. She commissioned some amber-and-silver jewellery to her own design. Grandfather took on the role of her agent and she asked him to deliver the commission in person. He decided it would be useful for me to visit London and so brought me along.’

      ‘I had no notion you were so long acquainted,’ said Rosamund.

      ‘The lady scarcely noticed me.’ Alex paused. ‘We need to decide what to tell Lady Elizabeth. We cannot tell her the whole truth.’

      Rosamund went over to the fire and removed her gloves. ‘If we did so, she wouldn’t want to have aught to do with me.’ She held her hands out to the flames. ‘Besides, we don’t know what else she might have been told about me during her sojourn in Lathom House except that I was ill and slightly crazed in the head.’

      ‘I do not believe you were ever crazy. Anyway, hopefully she will be sympathetic to one in your situation,’ said Alex, joining Rosamund by the fire.

      ‘I pray so. Do we admit to having met up north?’

      ‘Have you any other suggestions? I believe it is always best to stick as close to the truth as one can,’ said Alex.

      ‘I had believed my godmother dead until the day I met you,’ said Rosamund. ‘I think Father had mentioned that she was very ill some years ago. I believe he expected her to die.’ She sat down and smoothed out the kid gloves on her knee.

      Alex’s gaze rested on Rosamund’s bent head. ‘I presume your plan that day was to tell your godmother of how you were being treated at home and of your suspicion concerning the death of your father?’

      ‘Aye.’ Rosamund sighed. ‘When you told me that she had already departed for London, it placed me in somewhat of a dilemma, as you well know.’

      ‘But if you were pretending to be Master Wood, how did you plan to gain entry to Lathom House and speak to Lady Elizabeth?’

      She shrugged. ‘Does that matter now? I am more concerned about what I am to say to her when I see her.’

      He nodded. ‘We will tell her that we met outside Lathom where you discovered that she had already left for London. I told you that I was acquainted with her ladyship and intended visiting her. You decided to travel to London, so I offered you my escort as we were travelling in the same direction.’

      Rosamund shook her head. ‘It will not do. She will suspect that we travelled alone.’

      ‘Not if we can tell her that we had company on the road,’ said Alex firmly. ‘She is not to know otherwise.’

      Rosamund plucked at her skirts. ‘It sounds feasible, but you have not said what your reason was for calling at Lathom House?’

      Before Alex could answer, there was a sound behind them. They both turned to see a woman standing there. She was dressed in a plum-coloured gown and her red frizzy hair resembled a bird’s nest.

      ‘I cannot believe that at last we are to meet, Rosamund,’ she gasped with a hand to her chest.

      Rosamund realised that this lady must be her godmother and could only hope she had not overheard their conversation. She rose to her feet and went to meet her. The lady seemed to glide across the floor towards her as if on wheels. Close up, Rosamund realised that the lady’s face was painted white that gave her features a mask-like appearance. ‘Lady Elizabeth?’

      ‘Who else, my dear?’ said the lady drily. ‘I know I have altered somewhat, but it is still me beneath this paint.’

      A flushed Rosamund apologised. ‘I am delighted to see you again after all these years, Godmother.’ She dipped a curtsy and then took the hand offered to help her rise.

      ‘My appearance always gives people a shock, whether it be for the first time or after an age,’ said Lady Elizabeth.

      ‘You are very understanding and I thank you for your welcome. I would have visited you at Lathom House if I’d been able to do so. But it was not easy escaping my stepmother’s domination. By the time I did so, you had already left for London,’ said Rosamund.

      ‘That woman!’ snorted Lady Elizabeth, rolling her eyes expressively. ‘I am still angry that your father put her in my dear Jane’s place.’ She looked at Alex and her eyes softened. ‘Thank you for your missive, my dear Baron. You are so like your grandfather. If you will be so kind as to be patient whilst I talk with my goddaughter, I will give you my full attention in a moment.’

      My dear Baron, thought Rosamund, puzzled by the title. She watched him