his nose, and ate that, too. “Oh. That’s unfortunate.”
Mary Queen of Scots pursed her lips unhappily. “Sometimes he pulls my hair or calls me names.”
“He’ll grow out of that, I think,” Edward said. And hopefully the nose picking, as well.
The little queen turned to regard Edward with a carefully blank expression that made him feel sad for them both, that they would have learned to wear such masks at their young age. “I think I would like England better than France, don’t you?” she said quietly.
He lowered his voice to match hers. “Definitely. Apart from the food.”
“Oh yes,” Mary agreed. “The food here is good. But the king is quite mad sometimes. And the queen is horrid to me, she hates me, and . . . and this is not a friendly place for people like us.”
Edward was intrigued. Gracie had done her work well on Mary, obviously. She wanted to confide in him. To trust him. “Like us?” he repeated.
She pulled on his shoulder to make him lean toward her, so she could whisper in his ear. “I hear you’re a kestrel.”
His heart beat faster in spite of himself. This was a country still in the hands of the Verities. It was dangerous, even for him, to admit to being an E∂ian here.
But this journey was about taking risks.
He turned Mary so he could whisper, “I am. What are you?”
She smiled conspiratorially, her dark head close to his, her breath on his cheek. “I’m a mouse. That’s how I get away if people chase me—I turn into a little black mouse that nobody ever notices. I’m very good at hiding. And listening. I hear such things, you wouldn’t believe them if I told you.” She leaned even closer. “I have a secret army, you know, back in Scotland. All of them E∂ians. Isn’t that marvelous?”
“Marvelous,” Edward agreed.
She bit her lip. “I will send my army to help you. But I think someday I might turn into a mouse, and run away from France and never return. Will you help me then?”
His breath caught. “Of course,” he said. “You’ll always be welcome in England, Your Majesty.”
She took his hand and squeezed it. Her fingers were soft, her nails perfectly cut and rounded. “Call me Mary.”
“Mary,” he said, and he became aware of an ache in his chest. He pushed past it. “And you should call me Edward.”
“Edward.” She smiled. “I’m glad we understand each other.”
Yes, he thought, and the ache bloomed into something larger. He understood her. Maybe a little too well.
Mary looked pleased. “And here’s your lady,” she said, glancing past him. “Hello, again.”
“My lady?” Edward turned to see Gracie approaching them in the gray velvet gown. His chest swelled at the sight of her.
“I’m not his lady,” Gracie corrected. “I’m just his friend.”
Queen Catherine was calling for Mary to dance with the dauphin. “He always steps on my feet,” the little queen said with a scowl, becoming once again the furious girl from her portrait. She swept away to join her betrothed. Edward felt a weight lift at her departure. He offered his hand to Gracie.
“Shall we?”
She shook her head so hard a curl came loose from its pin and tumbled into her face. “I don’t know how to dance.”
“There’s something you don’t know how to do?” he said incredulously. “How can that be?”
She laughed and considered the couples whirling around them. “It is a different world that you live in, Sire. So full of color and music. So very grand. I can see why you’d miss it.”
He didn’t miss it, he thought. Not really.
“Let’s walk along the river,” he suggested. “It’s stuffy in here.”
“If that’s what you command.” She took his arm and he led her outside, where the stars were bright and the palace seemed to stretch on and on against the Seine.
“Let me teach you to dance,” he said when they’d found a quiet place.
“I’m not sure that would be wise,” she answered wryly. “I’d hate for you to die now, after all this trouble I’ve gone to keep you alive.”
“It’s largely a matter of bowing and curtseying.” He dropped into a bow. “Now you.”
Grace stood still for a moment, considering, then slowly and awkwardly curtsied.
“See, that wasn’t so bad. Take my hand,” he directed.
She did.
“Now I’ll draw you toward me, and we’ll bow, and then we’ll step away, and bow.”
They practiced for a while, moving in time to the music that was still spilling from inside the palace.