by Ruth Langan
Across the table, Lord Windham studied Morgan and Brenna through narrow, hate-filled eyes. It was obvious that these two had become lovers. They flaunted their intimacy in his face. In the face of everyone in the room. How he hated Morgan Grey. All his life he had had everything he had ever wanted. The most beautiful women. The most exotic jewels. This fine estate. But the day was soon coming when Grey would see everything in his life turn to ashes.
“I am disappointed by all this rain,” the queen was saying. As they enjoyed a late supper, she stared out at the gloomy sky. “I had hoped to hunt.”
“The weather is the one thing in England that does not obey your command,” Morgan said.
“Her Majesty will find a way to bring even that errant subject to its knees,” Charles said with a laugh.
“Would that I could.” Elizabeth tasted the tender young duckling and felt her mood lighten. “If we cannot hunt, then we must find another means of entertainment. Richard, did I not see a chess set in the library?”
“Aye, Majesty. You did.” Beside him, Adrianna sat quietly, content to have her hand held firmly in his. They thought that the table linens hid their hands from view. But everyone at the table was aware of the way they sat, shoulders brushing, gazes darting at one another.
“Then I challenge you to a chess match after we sup.”
“I accept your challenge. But be prepared. Though I am your loyal subject, I will not deliberately let you win.”
“If you did, it would be no challenge. But I warn you, my handsome friend, I do not know how to lose.”
Richard’s eyes crinkled with a smile. “Perhaps tonight you shall have your first lesson in losing, Majesty.”
“Rogue.” The queen sipped her tea. “What of you, Madeline? What is your pleasure?”
“You know my pleasure. And my weakness. Cards, Majesty.”
“Ah, yes. The gaming tables.” Elizabeth glanced across the table toward the man who sat scowling. “Windham, are your wounds causing you pain?”
“Nay, Majesty. They will quickly heal.” He seemed to catch himself. He had been brooding about the weather. All of his plans had centered around a hunting accident. It would have been so easy to hide himself and aim an arrow that would bring down the throne of England. But what if the damnable rain continued and they never got a chance to hunt? “I would prefer cards to another night of dancing.”
“And you, Cordell? Are you feeling well enough to join us for the games?”
“I would not miss it, Majesty.”
“I fear Madeline’s brother possesses the same weakness as my dear wife,” Charles said with an exasperated sigh. “Neither can resist a game of cards.”
Windham brightened. “Then we shall play for money rather than just the challenge?”
“But of course,” Madeline replied. “What fun would it be to play without a bet?”
Windham’s evil smile grew. He loved nothing better than to gamble. Especially if he could find a way to sway the cards in his favor.
When they had finished their meal, the queen stood and the others followed.
“Perhaps this will be even more challenging than the hunt.”
Everyone in the company brightened. The rain had not ruined this trip to the country after all. There were still many ways to test one’s skill.
The cozy library was the perfect place for the queen and her party to relax. A cheery fire burned in the fireplace. Small tables had been set up for the various games to be played. A side table groaned with trays of sweets. Crystal decanters of wine and ale gleamed in the light of the fire.
“Do you play cards, my lady?” Lord Windham asked Brenna.
She backed away from his touch. Though he was aware of her reaction, his only indication was a tight-lipped smile.
“Aye, my lord. But it has been a long time since I have tested my skill.”
“Splendid. Every game needs a sacrificial lamb.”
Morgan held a chair for Brenna at a small game table. Cordell, Madeline and Lord Windham took the other seats.
“Beware, my lady,” Morgan muttered loud enough for the others to hear. “There is talk of heavy wagers being made on the cards lately. Your cohorts at table do not play merely for sport.”
“Truly?” Brenna cast an innocent glance around the table. “You would not take advantage of a stranger in your midst, would you?”
Madeline and her brother exchanged wicked chuckles.
“Cherie. We are all friends here. What can be the harm of a friendly wager?”
“What harm indeed?” Brenna picked up her cards.
“You will need money for wagering,” Morgan said. He placed a large sum of money in front of her, which the others studied with greedy pleasure.
“How much is here, my lord?”
“The equivalent of fifty gold sovereigns.”
“Fifty…” Brenna glanced around the table. “Did you not say this was to be a friendly wager?”
“For fifty gold sovereigns, my lady, we will be very friendly,” Cordell said with a laugh.
Across the room, the queen and Richard set up their chess pieces and began their match. Brenna glanced at them and suppressed a smile. Adrianna sat beside Richard, drinking in every move he made. The queen, determined to win, studied her opponent with all the skill of a general.
Some of the queen’s ladies sat on cushions on the floor, listening to the haunting music of a lute played by the queen’s musician.
Servants scurried around with trays of goblets filled with ale and wine. In this relaxed atmosphere, even the queen enjoyed a second serving of ale.
Like a good host, Morgan moved between the tables, watching both the chess match and the card games.
“It appears that I have won,” Brenna said excitedly as the last card was played.
“You were indeed lucky,” Cordell said with a little frown. “This time I wish to double my bet.”
Brenna scooped up the money she had won and matched his bet. “What about you, Madeline?”
Grudgingly the Frenchwoman reached into her pocket for more money.
Across the table, Lord Windham studied his cards, then agreed to bet.
When the cards were played, Brenna won again.
“I have never seen such luck with cards.” Madeline turned to her husband, who stood watching the chess game. “Charles, I need…” She saw the disapproving frown on his face and bit back her words. She stood, scraping back her chair. “I have already overspent my limit.”
“So have I,” Cordell said with a laugh. “But I cannot allow myself to be beaten by a lowly female.” He and Lord Windham shared a laugh. “One more hand, my lady, and we shall see who ends up with all the gold.”
“Aye, Cordell. ’Tis only fair that the lady give you a chance to win back your money lost.” Windham’s words taunted. “Shall we double the bet again?”
“I would not advise it.” Brenna glanced at the young Frenchman, hoping to discourage him.
“But I insist.” Cordell tossed in his last coins.
Windham followed suit. Reluctantly Brenna did the same.
The cards were dealt and Brenna scanned them quickly, then made the first move. The others followed. When the hand was over, she scooped up a pile of money from the center of the table. At her yelp of laughter everyone looked up.
“Will you loan me the money to play again?” Cordell asked softly.
Brenna gave him a pitying glance. “’Twould be folly for me to allow you to sink into debt for a mere game.”
“Ah, but it is not a game to me, my lady. I am compelled to try again. I know this time I can win. Will you loan me enough to at least make a wager?”
Before she could respond, Lord Windham said, “I will loan you the money, my young friend.”
Cordell bowed his head. “I am most grateful.”
“As for you, my lady.” Fingering a gold coin, Windham turned to Brenna. “Your luck must end. We will play another hand, if you are willing. This time the wager w
ill be two hundred gold sovereigns.”
“Two hundred…” Brenna saw the greedy look in Windham’s eyes. But she also saw the way Cordell studied her gold. The money was, after all, theirs before she won it. “Aye. You both deserve a chance to win back some of your gold.”
She watched as Windham dealt the cards.
Morgan strolled across the room and stood behind Brenna as she played out the hand. When the last card was played, Brenna had again won.
“I believe the wager was two hundred gold sovereigns, my lord.” Brenna’s eyes danced with laughter.
“Aye.” Lord Windham’s face was expressionless as he counted out the money. But his eyes mirrored his anger.
“And two hundred for me,” Cordell said.
Lord Windham counted out another sum, then spoke curtly to Cordell. “I shall expect your payment on the morrow.”
“Aye, my lord. I am grateful for your generosity. Though in this instance, I fear the lady’s advice was sound. I should not have made the final wager.”
Morgan studied Brenna as she calmly collected the money. “I do not believe this is your first experience with gambling at cards, my lady.”
Brenna gave him a demure smile. “My father would have been shocked to learn that my sisters and I were taught the fine art of gambling by my old nurse, Morna, and our keeper of the door, Bancroft. Often, on a winter’s eve, my sisters and I would sneak into the servants’ quarters to while away an hour or two.” Her smile grew. “Old Bancroft showed no mercy toward us, despite the fact that we were the MacAlpin’s bairns. The only way we could win was to best the old man. And best him we did. Eventually.”
“Cordell,” Charles called to his brother-in-law. “It would appear that you and Lord Windham have been taken in by this innocent-looking female.”
The others burst into gales of laughter, and as Morgan joined them, he felt a grudging respect for the woman who sat calmly counting her money. There was so much about her he did not know. But he would learn. His smile grew as the wonderful thought struck. Aye. He would learn. They would have a lifetime to learn everything there was to know about each other.
Brenna turned to Morgan. “I believe this money is yours, my lord.”
“You won it, love. It is yours to keep.”
“I have no need of it.” She thrust it into Morgan’s hands.
Across the table, Lord Windham’s lips curved into a smile as he watched the woman who had charmed everyone. The magnificent jewels at her ears and throat caught and reflected the light from dozens of candles.
A plan was growing in his mind. A plan that could bring down the Crown, Morgan Grey and everyone around him. And in the process, Windham would wind up with the woman.
It was brilliant. And if handled correctly, he could not lose.
The Frenchman’s weakness could prove to be the key to everything.
Chapter Twenty-one
“Two hundred gold sovereigns, or the equivalent.” Lord Windham glanced out the window at the gray mist.
“Aye, my lord.” Cordell felt a trickle of sweat beneath his tunic. “As I said, I am a man of my word. I do intend to pay my debt. But if you could give me a few days…”
“You agreed to payment on the morrow. It is a new day, my foolish young man. And I expect payment, or I shall have to approach the queen about—” Windham paused for dramatic effect “—debtor’s prison.”
“My lord, I am a guest in your country. My resources are at my home in France.”
“Your sister is married to a very wealthy man. I am certain that if you went to her…”
“Nay.” Cordell held up a hand to interrupt him. “I cannot go to Madeline and Charles. As you know, my sister has run up gambling debts of her own, many of them to you. I sense that Charles is very unhappy with what he considers her weakness. Their marriage is happy enough, but I think that this could prove to be too much of a burden.” Cordell paced the room, his hands locked behind his back. “If you would permit me to give you a note of indebtedness, I will be happy to send you the funds by courier when I return to France within a few days.”
“Do you think me a fool?” Lord Windham’s face was a sudden mask of fury. “You will pay your debt, my young man. Or you will pay in prison.”
Cordell crumpled into a chair and buried his face in his hands. “Please, my lord. I cannot bring this scandal to my family. My sister has made a good life for herself here. She desperately loves her husband.”
“Love.” Windham gave a cruel smile. “It is such a fragile thing. It can so easily turn to hatred.” His voice frosted over. “Have you no friends?”
“I am a stranger in your land.”
Windham looked out the window, calculating how long before the young man would sink into despair. In silky tones he said, as though speaking to himself, “I suppose the tenderhearted young Scotswoman might be willing to come to the aid of anyone facing such bleak prospects as prison.”
Cordell looked up. “Do you think the Lady Brenna would settle my debt?”
“You saw the jewels our host has lavished upon her. And the ease with which he gave her the money to gamble. Two hundred gold sovereigns would be a paltry sum to her.”
Cordell brightened. “And the lady could be trusted to be—discreet.”
“Aye.” Windham watched the transformation in the Frenchman. “The lady seems your best hope.” He walked closer, pretending to be deep in thought.
He saw the frown of distaste etched on Cordell’s face at the thought of baring his soul to the beautiful Brenna, and added hastily, “Best of all, your family’s good name will not be marred.”
Cordell thought about Madeline, whose husband enjoyed a position of such importance with the queen. She would be devastated if any scandal touched him. And dear sweet Adrianna. The look in her eyes each time she was with Richard Grey left no doubt. She was in love for the first time in her life. She would be shattered if her brother’s gambling debts created a scandal.
“Do you really think the Lady Brenna would help me?”
Windham chose his words carefully. “The lady has sisters of her own. If you are completely honest with her, and tell her your fears for your sisters, I have no doubt that she will come to your aid.”
Cordell nodded. “I will speak with her immediately.”
“I would wait—” Windham touched his arm as he opened the door to his chambers “—until you can speak with her privately. Morgan Grey may not be as sympathetic to your cause as the Lady Brenna.”
“Aye, my lord. I will choose my time carefully.”
When he was alone, Lord Windham walked to the window and stared out at the prosperous lands of the Grey estate. When the new king of England was crowned, perhaps he would settle Greystone Abbey upon the one who had been responsible for the downfall of Elizabeth.
It was all so easy. Everything in life was a gamble. But it helped if one saw to it that one were dealt the right cards.
“Another day and still it rains.” The queen greeted the others in the refectory, then flounced to the windows to stare morosely at the leaden sky.
In an attempt to tease her out of her dark mood, Richard said, “I could beat Your Majesty at chess again today.”
He sat beside Adrianna at the table. He was achingly aware of the young lass who looked as fresh and sparkling as a spring day. Last night, after all the others had retired to their chambers, she had sat talking with him until almost dawn. She had even permitted him several chaste kisses before hurrying off to her bed as the first pink streaks had colored the sky.
“I have some news that should brighten your day, Majesty.”
Morgan placed a scroll before her on the table. “The people from the village have proclaimed this as a day of festivities in your honor.”
He saw the light that came into the queen’s eyes. It was no secret that Elizabeth loved all the pomp and ceremony that accompanied her wherever she traveled. There were even those who whispered that the reason the queen moved from palace t
o palace throughout the kingdom was to meet the people. In every hamlet and village in which she passed the citizens turned out to pay homage to their monarch. Their outpouring of love delighted her. And though she often complained in private about their long-winded orations, in public she was the benevolent monarch.
“Have you responded?” Elizabeth looked up from the scroll.
“Nay, Majesty. A messenger just delivered this from the village dignitaries. They await your decision.”
“How delightful.” She glanced around at her ladies. “If we cannot hunt, at least we can join in the feasting and celebration.” With a flourish she affixed her signature to the scroll and handed it to Morgan.
At the far end of the table, Lord Windham watched the queen’s reaction with great interest. He had come here for one reason—to find the right moment to do the deed for which he had been recruited. There had been a good chance that at some time during their hunt, he would find the queen unescorted. After all, he reasoned, Morgan Grey could not spend every minute at the queen’s side, guarding her royal flank. It would take but a minute to aim and shoot the arrow into her heart, then to hide himself in the forest. No one would ever learn the identity of her executioner. And the one who would ascend the throne would owe Windham a great debt.
The weather was forcing him to change his plans. He would simply have to find some other way to get the queen alone. Alone. Aye, that was the problem. He must find a way to eliminate Morgan Grey. And, he thought with a sense of elation, he had come up with the perfect plan.
It was not riches alone that Windham coveted; it was the power. No longer would Morgan Grey hold sway over the throne of England. It would be Lord Windham to whom the new monarch would turn in times of crisis. And it would be Windham who would be admired throughout the land.
“The thought of a village feast does not please you, Lord Windham?”
He composed his features and chose his words carefully. “I came here to Greystone Abbey for one reason—to bask in the glow of your radiance, Majesty. But of course I had hoped to join you in the hunt.”
“Aye. It is what I promised you.” Elizabeth gave him a happy smile. “But the people wish to show me how much they love me.” She shrugged. “How can I deprive them of their pleasure?”