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"Two of my brothers have come with me to be pages in her majesty's household," Nyssa volunteered. This young boy was not as intimidating as all the other people she had seen inside. "How old are you?" she asked him. "I think you are close to my brother Philip's age, but not quite as old as he is; yet you are older than Giles."

"How old are your brothers?" he countered.

"Thirteen and nine," she said.

"I am eleven," he told her. "The ambassador is my uncle. He is my mother's eldest brother, and that is how I obtained my place. Who are your people, my lady Nyssa?"

"I am the daughter of the Earl and Countess of Langford," she answered him. She did not think it was necessary to explain that Anthony was her stepfather.

"That is not a great name, I think," Hans said. "How did you obtain such a coveted appointment as maid of honor to my lady Anne?"

What on earth am I going to tell him? Nyssa wondered briefly. Then a little voice inside her said,Tell him the truth. "My mother was the king's mistress many years ago," she answered him. "They have remained good friends. When she asked him for this appointment, the king gladly complied." She was relieved to see that Hans von Grafsteen did not seem in the least shocked by her bold revelation.

Rather, he asked frankly, "Are you the king's get, lady?"

Nyssa blushed to the roots of her dark hair. "Ohh, no, sir! My father was Edmund Wyndham, the third Earl of Langford. I am trueborn. My mother was a widow when she came to court to meet the king." She would now have to explain everything. "My mother afterward married my father's nephew, who was his heir. The only father I can remember is my stepfather."

"Ahh," Hans said, smiling. Now it made sense to him.

"Tell me about the lady Anne," Nyssa said. "I am told she is fair of face and kind of heart. I am pleased to have been chosen to serve her. What is she really like? What language shall I speak to her?"

The boy looked amused, and then he said, "Do you speak High Dutch, my lady Nyssa?"

"High Dutch?" She looked puzzled. "Why, no," she replied.

"Then you vill not be able to speak to the lady Anne, for it is the only language she knows. In Cleves, vomen, even highborn vomen, are not educated as you English educate your vomen. God and the house; that is vhat the vomen of Cleves know, my lady Nyssa."

"How will she speak to the king?" Nyssa wondered aloud.

"I think it vill not matter," Hans said frankly. "She comes to cement an alliance, and to haf babies. She need not speak for that."

"Oh, you are wrong, I fear, Hans," Nyssa told him. "My mother always told me how greatly the king values an intelligent woman; a clever woman; a woman of wit. He loves music and dancing and cards. Any woman hoping to please him must conform to these standards. Beauty is not enough for the king, although he appreciates a pretty woman."

"Then my lady Anne is doomed on all accounts," the boy said. "She is not really pretty, and knows neither music, or cards. She cannot dance, for dancing and many other such pastimes are thought to be frivolous by the court of Cleves."

"Ohh, dear," Nyssa said. "What will happen to the poor lady if the king is not pleased with her? Hans, you must teach me some words and phrases of High Dutch, so I may help the lady Anne learn to acclimate herself to her new country, and to our ways."

How kind she is, the boy thought. None of the other women appointed to the lady Anne's new household had thought to inquire if there was a way they could make their new queen comfortable. Well, he would help Nyssa Wyndham. He had been at the English court for several months now, and he had quickly decided that his poor princess would have a very difficult time of it. Her upbringing had been so strict and sheltered. The English court was going to be a shock to her. "I vill help you to learn my language, lady. Vhat other languages do you speak?"

"Just French and Latin," Nyssa admitted, "although I can read Greek. I was raised in the country, you see, and never thought to come to court."

"Vhat else did you learn?" he asked, curious.

"Simple sums; I read and write a legible hand; and I know some history." She smiled at him. "The languages came easily. The sums were harder, but Mama says a woman must know enough to be sure that she is not being cheated by her servants or the tradesmen."

He laughed, his bright blue eyes crinkling at the corners. "Your mama sounds like a practical voman. In Cleves ve like practical vomen. The princess is a practical voman."

"She will need to be, I fear, if the king does not like her," Nyssa said. "Poor lady. It cannot be easy coming from so far away to a strange land with all new customs, and a new language. Do you think she will be able to learn English, Hans?"

"She is not stupid," Hans replied, "and although it vill be hard for her at first, I think she vill like England, and its many freedoms. My uncle, who knows her vell, says she is a high-spirited voman, although they haf tried to beat it out of her. A voman should be meek and modest in her behavior."

Nyssa giggled. "Not an English woman," she told him.

He stared at her. "You are very beautiful vhen you smile," he said seriously. "Alas I am too young, and of not high enough stature for an earl's daughter. Still, ve can be friends, can ve not?"

Nyssa was startled by his frankness, but she managed another smile. He was really very sweet, and she felt safe with him. "Aye, we can be friends, and I will introduce you to my brothers. Perhaps you can teach them some of your language as well, so they may be of true help to the princess, ah, the queen. She is to be the queen, and we must think of her that way, Hans von Grafsteen."

"Come," he said, and he offered her his arm. "I vill escort you back into the palace. It is becoming vindy, and you must not get sick, or another vill leap forvard to steal your place."