soon."
"But how will you—"
Mischief infected his tone. "It's a surprise. Now, go!"
She was pushed firmly toward the imposing palace steps, and then Sandhurst disappeared into the shadows, his sword hilt agleam in the moonlight.
* * *
It took nearly a quarter hour for Micheline to talk her way into an audience with King Henry. By the time she was admitted to his presence chamber, after passing through endless windowed, tapestry-hung galleries with ceilings wrought in stone and gold, her nerve was beginning to fail her.
In the cavernous presence chamber, Henry VIII sat on his throne of red and gold brocade. It crouched on a raised dais, with a canopy above, serving to make Micheline feel very small and insignificant.
Garbed in rich blue velvet and cloth of silver that was slashed, padded, and encrusted with all manner of gems, the monarch narrowed his tiny eyes at Micheline. Next to him sat Queen Anne, her rounded belly draped with violet silk. Her anxious gaze was fixed not on their visitor but on Henry as she waited to see what he would do.
"Good evening, my lady," he said in tone that made Micheline's heart sink. "I do not remember inviting you to Whitehall for this late interview."
She sank into a curtsy before the dais. "It was very gracious of Your Majesty to see me at this hour. I would not trouble you, but I am here concerning a matter of life and death."
"I thought as much." Henry sighed as if bored, and reached for his wine goblet. "If you've come to beg for Lord Sandhurst's life, you are doomed to disappointment. Any man foolish enough to make advances to my queen deserves to lose his head."
Anne spoke up imploringly. "I have told you, sire, that these accusations are lies! It is true that Lord Sandhurst smiled on me from time to time, but that was long before our marriage, and it went no further. He never touched me!"
Anger reddened the king's face. "Be silent! When you take his part, it makes me think that you encouraged him!"
"The queen speaks the truth, Your Majesty! This plot against my husband was concocted by Rupert and Patience Topping. They meant to see both of us dead and Andrew disgraced, hoping that our titles would pass to them!"
"What nonsense! Why, Topping could scarcely bring himself to disclose Sandhurst's behavior to me. His loyalty to his brother was nearly greater than his loyalty to me, but fortunately he saw that, morally, he had no other choice."
"I hesitate to contradict you, sire, but I think that when you hear what I have to say, you'll see things differently."
"This is a waste of my time," the king grumbled. Still, it was hard to be completely indifferent to Lady Sandhurst's anguished beauty. "Go on, then. Tell your story, but be brief!"
A shortage of time left her no alternative. Quickly Micheline related the various accidents and threats of the past few months and ended with an account of the events related to the fire at Sandhurst Manor.
"Rupert thinks that I am dead, Your Majesty, that Patience succeeded in her part of their plan. He can be tricked into revealing his true colors—if you will help."
Henry cocked a skeptical brow. "How do I know that you are telling the truth? And what part do you propose that I play in this scheme? After all, Sandhurst has refused to lift a finger to help his king of late! I really can't see why I should bother."
"I think you are wise enough to recognize the truth in my eyes, sire. In France I was told that you were both wise and just. Please help me now to right a terrible wrong, not only for the sake of me and my husband but for our unborn child and the Duke of Aylesbury. He would want his title to go to the proper person, a good man who will uphold the proud tradition of his family."
Henry shifted on his throne. The girl had appealed to his vanity. If he turned away from her, it would look as if he weren't fair and just! Also, her mention of France had given him pause. Henry had heard that King Francois was quite fond of the former Madame Tevoulere. Perhaps it would be better all around to humor her, just to be on the safe side.
"Very well, then, I'll go along with your plan. I've ever been one for digging out the truth. What do you want me to do?"
Micheline gave