I was going to plead with her to reconsider, but she stalked into her bedchamber, leaving me to look at her back, before she closed the door.

I withdrew, not knowing if she would make good on her subtle threat to take from us all she had given. I saw Mary Radcliffe as I made my way down the gallery to pack my apartments.

“Be you all right?” she asked.

After a quick embrace, I hurried down the hallway before any should see my tears.



TWENTY-FOUR

November: Year of Our Lord 1588