again. Even after she left, it took weeks before the books lured me back, and I only went at night, returning each book to its shelf the moment I was done with it, as if she might somehow spy my transgression from afar.
As for the volume of psalms, it was the only thing that didn’t belong to me that I’d taken when I left the castle. I wrapped it in cloth and hid it in my saddlebag. I could not leave it behind.
Caustic laughter came from the person in the chair opposite Elizabeth, jolting me to attention. Lady Dudley hadn’t seen me yet. Left with no other alternative, I started to inch my way toward the group, sweat soaking me under my doublet. I was so focused on evading Lady Dudley’s notice, I didn’t watch where I was going until I’d stumbled against Jane Grey’s chair.
She shifted about, startled. In her gray-blue eyes, I glimpsed haunting resignation. Then she tensed her thin shoulders. In a tremulous voice she said, “Who are you?”
I felt my entire existence come crashing down around me.
At her side Guilford exclaimed, “What, you again!” He sprang to his feet, an accusatory finger pointed at me. “Prescott, you intrude on your betters.”
I had made a fine mess of things. I should never have come so close. I should never have followed that girl. Come to think of it, I should have just stayed put in Worcestershire.
“Prescott?” Jane Grey looked at Guilford in confusion. “You know him?”
“Yes, and he’s supposed to be serving my brother Robert,” Guilford snarled. “Prescott, you’d best have a reason for this.”
I opened my mouth. No sound came out. Jane Grey was staring at me. In a jerking motion, I removed my cap and bowed. “My lady, please forgive me if I have disturbed you.”
Glancing up through the tangle of hair falling across my eyes, I saw faint color blotch her cheeks. “You look familiar,” she said, her voice halting, hesitant. “Have we met before?”
“I don’t believe so, my lady,” I said softly. “I would remember it.”
“Well, you obviously haven’t remembered your manners,” snapped Guilford. “Go find something to serve us this instant, before I have you flogged.”
As I feared, his belligerence alerted the others. Elizabeth rose from her chair and retreated to the hearth. Her disdain was secondary, however, to Lady Dudley’s inexorable passage. My chest constricted. I had no excuse to offer, save that I searched for Robert, which sounded contrived even to me. As I bowed low, I feared it was the end of whatever illusions I had of furthering myself in the Dudley service.
“Is something amiss, my dear?” Lady Dudley asked Jane. I imagined her chill green-blue eyes passing over me in utter disregard. “I trust this manservant of ours isn’t troubling you. He’s obviously misinformed as to his proper place.”
“Yes,” said Guilford gleefully. “Mother, see to it he doesn’t disturb us again.”
I peeked up, saw Jane’s gaze shift from Guilford to her soon-to-be mother-in-law, and back again. She gnawed her lip. I had the distinct impression she wanted nothing more than to disappear.
“He, he…”
“Yes?” prompted Lady Dudley. “Speak up, dear.”
Jane crumpled. Darting an apologetic look in my direction she muttered, “I thought I knew him. I was mistaken. Forgive me.”
“There’s nothing to forgive. Your eyes must be tired from all that reading you do. You really must try to study less. It can’t be good for you. Now please excuse me a moment.”
I almost gasped aloud as I felt Lady Dudley’s fingers like blades, digging into my sleeve. She steered me a short distance away. Without a slip of that rigid smile, she said, “Where, pray tell, is Robert?”
My mouth went dry as bone. “I thought Lord Robert might…”
It was useless. I could barely talk to her, much less lie. It had always been like this. I often wondered why she’d taken me in, when it was clear she couldn’t abide me. I lowered my gaze, bracing for an ignominious end to my short-lived career at court. She’d not forgive my breach of etiquette. I’d be lucky if I spent the rest of my days scrubbing her kennels.
Before she could speak, a strident voice boomed, “Why the fuss over there?” And the ringed hand gripping the cane banged it twice, hard, on the floor. “I would know this instant!”
I recoiled. Lady Dudley went perfectly still. Then a peculiar smile tilted her lips. She motioned to me. “Well, then. It seems Her Grace of Suffolk would meet you.”