The Queen's Lady (25 page)

Durham House

Jane found James closeted in his rooms with Will, Silas Porter and Diego in attendance. More surprisingly, Christopher Turner was also present. She had heard rumours of a reconciliation, but had not yet seen him with his legitimate brothers. She stood at the door for a moment, eavesdropping. The men were gathered round a table planning how to approach the Queen; the player was being consulted on the possibility of using a specially staged play or sonnet sequence to soften the Queen’s heart.

My, my, they were really running out of strategies if James was turning to poetry, thought Jane. She was delighted, however, to see that the half-brother was slowly being brought into the family circle. There was nothing like a crisis to draw kin together.

The countess and the seamstress were leaving the men to it, enjoying a cosy gossip by the fire. Stepping over the threshold, she had no need to tell Ellie and Milly the news as her expression said it all. The two young women laid aside their sewing and gathered up their menfolk.

‘Come, dear, I have some purchases I wish to make,’ the countess informed her husband.

Will looked mightily alarmed. ‘Ellie, my sweet,’ he pleaded, like a man spying the gallows in his near future, ‘can you not persuade Jane to go with you? You know I am hopeless at telling you if something suits.’

Ellie pulled firmly on his elbow. ‘It won’t be so bad – we’re going to spend all our money at Milly’s. Diego can give you moral support through your trial. Master Porter, Master Turner, I think we have all just become
de trop
, or should I say, unnecessary to James’s happiness for the present.’

Turner was the swiftest to pick up the hint. He glanced at Jane then kissed the countess’s knuckles with practised flattery, making Will’s hackles rise. The earl moved to relieve him of her hand.

‘Some would say that I am always
de trop
, your grace,’ said Turner. ‘But my will as well as your Will are yours to command this day.’

Ellie gave her husband a laughing look, quite understanding of Turner’s teasing of his older brother. ‘Come along, gentlemen. Let us take ourselves elsewhere.’

James looked somewhat nonplussed to find his conspirators summarily removed from him. ‘Will, Kit, Diego, Master Porter, we have something rather more important than clothes to discuss!’ he protested.

‘No, you don’t,’ replied Milly pertly, bundling her father and Diego out of the room. ‘Ask Jane.’ She snapped the door closed.

‘What was that all about?’ James turned to where Jane waited by the fireplace. ‘What did she mean?’

Hugging her knowledge to herself for a moment, Jane enjoyed his bewilderment. ‘We need to discuss your clothes.’

He scratched his head. ‘Why? I am not much interested in them so long as they do their task of keeping me dry and warm.’

‘Your wedding clothes,’ Jane continued. ‘I think you would look very fine in blue.’

James thought he now understood. Smiling, he shook his head. ‘Ah, love, I’d like nothing better than to don my finery for you, but we must not put the cart before the horse.’

Jane stepped to him and took both his hands in hers. ‘Ah, love,’ she echoed, ‘the horse is now in the traces and ready to proceed.’

‘But … how … ?’ His befuddled expression was comical.

‘I spoke to my mistress this morning, telling her there was a poor vagabond gentleman around court who needed marrying off – to me. She saw that it would be doing the realm a favour so she agreed.’

‘What? The Queen agreed?’

‘Yes, as long as she does not lose my services, which I swore she would not, so I am afraid I cannot go to America.’

Radiant with happiness, James slipped his hands free to frame her face for a sound kiss. ‘Lady Jane, you are a miracle.’

She tugged his patched black doublet. ‘So?’

‘So, what?’ He looked puzzled.

‘Are you going to change this for blue?’

Chuckling, he pressed her to his chest. ‘Oh yes. But at the church in Stoke-by-Lacey if you have no objection. I’d like to wed you among family.’

Jane brushed her lips over his heart. ‘Excellent. You see, I know a very good seamstress with a quite remarkable shop who would appreciate the custom.’

James laughed. ‘You mercenary fiend – you are just protecting your investment. Later. We’ll go there later. For now, I want to spend as long as possible admiring my wife-to-be. Come, wench, and kiss me.’

‘Wench!’ Jane pretended to huff at his term. ‘I’m the Queen’s lady.’

‘Maybe. But first and foremost you are my lady and I claim you as mine own.’