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of Good Queen Bess, but now the idea of being the Virgin Queen had completely lost its appeal, and not because she was no longer a virgin. Now she could imagine only too well the lonely years of the great queen, whose position had made it perilous to have a man by her side. Diana had always liked to think that Elizabeth had at least enjoyed one lover - perhaps Courtenay, or Leicester - but now that didn't seem consolation so much as torture.

If she went to the masquerade, she would rather be someone else, and why not Diana the Huntress?

"The masquerade is two nights from now," she told the mantua maker. "Can this be made in time?"

"Of course, my lady. Though it is not as simple as it appears" - don't expect this to come cheaply, Diana interpreted. "White silk, my lady? Or fine linen for authenticity?"

"By all means let us be authentic," Diana said, rising. "And accessories. Mask, slippers, jewelry - though that can be paste. Bow and arrow, painted silver."

The lady curtsied. "It shall be exactly as you wish, my lady."

Diana left the establishment, spirits a little lighter at the thought of attending the masquerade as Diana, for Bey would surely take the point. In fact, her view of the masquerade brightened. The point of such affairs was to allow a little secret intimacy. Surely she and Bey could steal some time together.

"You are enchanting when you are happy, Lady Arradale."

Diana started, having completely forgotten her companion.

"Oh," she said airily, still trying to give him a dislike of her, "shopping is my chief delight."

"Then be assured, dear lady, that as your husband I would never restrict your merchant voyages, and never quibble at the bills."

Diana only just stopped herself from snapping that her bills were no concern of a husband's anyway. "As your wife," she couldn't resist saying, "I would not interfere with your purchases, either, my lord."

He looked more puzzled than outraged. "How could you, indeed?"

She longed to jab him with something sharp, but back into her part, she fluttered her lashes at him. "Are you saying that my wishes would carry no weight with you, my lord?"

"Ah, I see." He carried her hand to his lips. "In that way, my dear lady, you would rule me entirely."

Still fluttering, she said, "Oh, I do hope so."

He kept hold of her hand, there in the street by their waiting coach. "Are we agreed so easily, my lady?"

"Agreed?"

"That we are to be wed? Their Majesties will be pleased."

"No," Diana said, pulling her hand free. "We were speaking hypothetically, Lord Randolph."

"Come, come. It is not becoming to play hot and cold, dear lady. You know you have made your choice, so let's be done with it."

Diana hastily climbed into the coach, cursing again the fact that she was letting other matters tangle her wits again. As soon as he sat opposite her, she said, "You took me amiss, my lord. I need time to decide."

"You are playing games, my lady. I will inform the king as soon as we return."

"Then I will deny it!"

With a patronizing sigh, he turned to Mistress Haggerdorn, sitting beside her. "Lady Arradale was quite clear, was she not?"

The German woman said, "It did sound so, Lady Arradale."

"Then at the least," said Diana, "a lady has the right to change her mind."

"Ah, so you do admit that your mind settled briefly on the intention to marry me, dear lady?"

With an inner groan, Diana realized she'd been right in thinking that he wasn't stupid. He was clever enough to almost trap her.

She retreated into silliness. "Oh lud, my lord, you tangle me up so! Yes in truth, I am considering you as a husband. I like you very well. But we have known each other only days. I cannot make my mind up so soon. Please don't speak to the king just yet. My mind is quite spinning with the excitement of it all."

He took her hand and patted it. "Your mind will stop spinning once it is settled. Be guided by me, Lady Arradale. Only say the word and you will be able to put aside all cares except for the adornment of your beauty."

She made herself gaze at him as if this idea was a blessing. "If only I could, my lord. But my dear father instructed me never to make an important decision in a hurry. For his sake, I must take at least a week."

His look was all quick, sharp speculation, and