It came to me in that moment that what I’d felt for Longueville all along had been exactly what I’d thought it was when I’d first seen him—lust. If I’d been a man, I would not have hesitated to say that to His Grace. How unfortunate that the king held those of my sex to a different standard. By royal decree, “lewd women” were not permitted in the royal household.
“I was intrigued by him, Your Grace,” I said carefully, “and interested to hear his stories about life in France.”
The king’s round, almost cherubic face knit into a frown, but it vanished almost as quickly as it had appeared. “You are Velville’s niece. I had forgot.”
“Yes, Sire.”
“He’s sworn allegiance to England. Can you say the same?”
“I have always been loyal to the Crown, Your Grace, from the moment your father first took me in.” I did not remind him that I had been his father’s ward and now was his. As my guardian, he might decide to exercise even more control over my actions.
He pondered my statement, his blue-gray eyes as serious as I’d ever seen them.
Although the king’s big body obscured most of my view, I caught a glimpse of the queen when he shifted his weight from one foot to the other. She did not look pleased to see her husband conversing with me. If we remained in the alcove much longer, she would think the worst.
“I cannot say I was pleased to learn you had become Longueville’s mistress,” King Henry mused aloud. “When I sent orders to make him welcome in England, I did not intend to go so far.”
At his comment, my stomach tied itself into knots, but I forced myself to offer an excuse. “I was swept away by passions I did not understand.”
The king nodded, as though I had said something profound. “Would you end it with him if I asked you to?”
“Your wish is my command, Sire.”
“I said ask, Jane, not order.”
“My loyalty is to you and the queen and the Lady Mary. No other will ever come before you in my heart or in my mind.”
“A pretty speech, but I believe you are sincere. I am pleased, Jane, and will be even more so if you will allow me to take advantage of the situation.”
“In what way, Your Grace?” Grateful as I was to have been spared either anger or censure, something about the purpose of this conversation eluded me.
“I want you to continue to bed the duke for the duration of his stay in England. During that time, as my loyal subject, you will report to me anything Longueville confides in you, no matter how trivial it seems.”
“You…you want me to spy on him?”
“I do. You are a clever creature, Jane. Persuade him to talk to you of French troops, French politics, even old King Louis himself. We are still at war with France. If Longueville plots against me, I must know his plans.” He put one heavy hand on my shoulder. “I am generous with my rewards for loyal service, Jane.”
“It is enough reward just to serve you, Your Grace.” And it would scarcely be a hardship to do as he asked.
AFTER THE MASQUE at Havering there could be no more such entertainments until Christmas Eve. Advent, encompassing the four Sundays before Christmas, was a time for fasting and prayer, and for forsaking all frivolity.
That did not include entertainments of a private nature. With the duke and his entourage now living at court, I came into daily contact with both Longueville and his half brother, Guy. It was difficult at first to make myself smile and laugh, flirt and entice, to pretend I did not know how little my lover thought of me. But I was so often in his company and he was so constant in his attentions to me, that it was not long before I was on the verge of forgetting everything I had overheard him say to the king.
“I have missed you, Jane.” He whispered the words in my ear as we strolled together toward a table set up for card play. His warm breath sent a rush of heat straight through me. “Will you not visit me later tonight?”
“I must remain with the Lady Mary, my lord.”
His chuckle was low and sensual. “It is not your turn to be on duty, my sweet. Others are assigned to see her off to bed and guard her through the night.”
I did not ask how he knew what schedule the princess’s attendants followed. Such information was not difficult to come by in a place where everyone accepted bribes. Instead I sent what I hoped was an enigmatic smile his way and busied myself arranging my skirts as I sat down.
The game was honors, which I had played since childhood. With pleasure, I saw that Longueville and I were matched against Harry Guildford and his wife. My smile faded at the hostile look in Meg’s dark brown eyes.
“You shall teach me this game, yes?” The duke’s tone made it obvious to all three of us that this was a command, not a request. As usual, he spoke in French, and Harry and I replied in that language. Meg Guildford, having only English, had to rely on her husband for translation. The necessity did not make her look any more kindly upon my presence.
“In honors, forty-eight cards are dealt,” I explained, trying hard to ignore the glares from the other side of the gaming table. “All the twos are discarded.”
When Harry had dealt twelve cards to each of us, he turned over the last one he’d given himself, revealing the five of spades. “That is trump,” I told Longueville and gave a little cry of delight when I saw that I had the ace. “I have the honor,” I said, producing it. “Have ye?”
He blinked at me in confusion. I switched to French. “You are my partner. I am asking if you have any of the other honor cards in spades. If we have three of the four—ace, king, queen, or jack—we score one point. If we have all four, we score two points.”
“Ah,” he said, sending me a smile so intimate it turned my insides liquid. “Alas, I have none.”
“Then play commences with you, since you sit to the dealer’s left. You must lead a card and the rest of us will follow suit, if we are able. A player who cannot may play any card. We win the trick by playing the highest card, either the highest in the suit that is led or the highest trump. The winner of each trick leads the next. One point is awarded for every trick taken over six tricks. The first team to score nine points wins the game.”
He frowned at me over his cards. “But if I understand you correctly, it is only possible to score eight points in a single hand.”
I beamed back at him, pleased that he’d caught on so quickly. “And so we must play at least two hands. Lead a card, if you please, Your Grace.”
By the time we had bested the Guildfords three times, we were in charity with each other. We were also considerably richer, as it was the custom to wager on the outcome of every game. And because the duke’s servant, young Ivo, had refilled our cups with wine before ever they could be emptied, I felt deliciously light-headed when we left the card table.
I made no protest when the duke steered me toward the spacious lodgings King Henry had assigned to him at court. The rooms were very grand. To the casual observer, these would seem the lodgings of an honored guest rather than an enemy prisoner of war.
I told myself I was returning to Longueville’s bed only out of a sense of duty, but in the one small section of my mind not fogged by wine I knew that was not entirely true. The duke was a skilled lover and I wanted to enjoy his embraces again. When we were both naked, I opened my arms, welcoming him into my eager embrace. Enraptured by the heat of our passion, I put out of my mind the insulting offer I had overheard him make to the king.
But I never again called him Coriander.
Hours later, I lay awake, sated but unable to sleep. My conscience had begun to trouble me. If I was in the duke’s bed on the king’s orders, should I have enjoyed myself so thoroughly? The only one I could ask was my confessor, and I did not think I wanted to hear his answer.