and the Lieutenant have put their heads together and have decided to give her this freedom.”
“It would seem that they are wise men.”
“How so, my lord?”
“They remember that the Princess may well be Queen one day. She would not look too kindly on those who had, during her imprisonment, shown her something less than kindness.”
The warder looked uneasy. He did not like this reckless talk. It was all very well for Lord Robert, who had little to lose since he was under sentence of death, but a humble warder to be caught listening to such talk concerning the Queen’s enemies!
He took the boy by the hand but Robert said: “And so my little friend visits the Princess in her garden, eh?”
“Oh yes. Her Grace is fond of children. She encourages them to talk to her; and young Will is almost as devoted to the lady as he is to your lordship.”
Robert swung the boy up into his arms once more. “It would seem, Master William,” he said, “that you are a gentleman of much discernment.”
The boy laughed aloud to find himself swung aloft, but Robert was thoughtful as he lowered him to the floor.
The next day when the warder came, the boy was again with him; this time he brought a nosegay—flowers which he had picked from the patch of ground outside his father’s apartments within the prison precincts. Primroses, violets, and wallflowers made a sweet-smelling bunch.
The boy handed them shyly to Robert.
“Why,” cried Robert, “this is the pleasantest thing that has happened to me for a long time. I need a bowl in which to put them, for they will quickly fade if I do not. A small bowl of water. Could you procure such a bowl for me?”
“I will bring one next time I come,” said the warder.
“Nay, that will not do. I’d not have my friend’s flowers fade. Go, like a good fellow, bring me a bowl and leave your son with me that I may thank him for his gift.” He picked up the boy. “You will stay with me … locked in my cell for a little while, will you not? You are not afraid to stay with me?”
The boy said: “I wish to stay with my lord.”
The warder looked fondly at his son and, seeing that to be locked in the cell with Lord Robert would delight him, agreed to go and bring the bowl. He went out, carefully locking the door behind him.
As soon as he had gone, Robert, who still held the boy in his arms, whispered into his ear: “You are my friend. You would do something for me?”
The boy was all eagerness.
“Bring me some flowers tomorrow?”
“Yes, my lord … bigger, better flowers tomorrow.”
“And when you bring me more flowers, I shall take these which you have brought today, out of the bowl and give them to you.”
“But they are for you.”
“I would that you should take them to a lady.” The boy’s eyes were alert. “ To the Princess,” whispered Robert. “But you must tell no one … no one at all … not even your father. It must be thought that I give you a present of flowers, and so you in return give me one. No one must know that you are going to take a present from me to the Princess.”
The boy was puzzled, but he was concentrating with all his might. His one desire was to do what his hero wished.
“Remember! It is a great secret. No one must know. In the bunch of flowers I give you, there will be a letter. You must be careful that you do not drop it. And if no one is near when you give the flowers to the Princess you might say: ‘I bring these from Lord Robert!’ Could you say that?”
The boy nodded. “I bring these from Lord Robert,” he said.
“Then you will do this for me? Tomorrow … bring more flowers for me. I shall give you these which you brought today. It is a game we are playing because we are such friends. It is a present from me to the Princess … but a secret present, and none knows of it but my little ambassador. Do you understand?”
“Yes, my lord.”
Robert put his fingers to his lips and the boy nodded gleefully.
“And can you do this for me, my clever little friend?”
The boy nodded.
“Not a word,” said Robert. “Here comes your father. Remember. It is our secret—yours, mine, and the Princess’s.”
When the warder had returned,