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Waldorf’s initial burst of anger flattened into disappointment, and then grief. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

She turned to Kat again. “Whether you continue in my service, both of you,” she added for Waldorf, “depends greatly on what happens next.”

Both Waldorf and Kat raised their eyes to the queen.

The queen took a breath and stood straighter. “Tonight’s mission has failed, but there is another avenue toward seeing that the Mercian Plan is advanced.”

Waldorf’s heart beat faster with hope, and he noticed Kat drawing in a breath as well.

“I will give the two of you one final chance to redeem yourselves,” the queen said.

“Yes, anything, Your Majesty,” Kat said, swaying forward a bit.

The queen stared at her for a moment, then continued.

“Our last hope of having the Mercian Plan introduced for debate in Joint Parliament is to go straight to Lord Walsingham, the First Minister. His influence alone may be enough to see that our plan is introduced.”

Waldorf frowned. As far as he knew, while Walsingham was in favor of unity, he was indifferent to the Mercians.

“Lord Walsingham is deeply partial to his wife,” the queen continued, pacing before Waldorf and Kat. “He will go to great lengths to fulfill her every wish and make her happy. If she asks that the Mercian Plan be considered for debate when Joint Parliament opens next week, then it most certainly will be introduced.”

“Forgive me, Your Majesty,” Waldorf said, “but if Lord Walsingham is so easily swayed, why has Lady Walsingham not been approached before?”

The queen stopped her pacing and turned to Waldorf, eyes wide with indignation. “You believe that Lady Walsingham has not been approached before?”

Waldorf immediately felt foolish for asking.

The queen seemed to relent somewhat as she continued her pacing. “Lady Walsingham is a peculiar woman,” she said, frowning as if she disapproved. “She becomes enamored with fanciful notions and what she considers to be science with alarming intensity. She has powerful beliefs about the benefits of the countryside, and of things such as mineral waters and tinctures of herbs.”

Waldorf furrowed his brow in confusion. He’d heard of an increase in fascination with certain pseudo-religious ideas about improved living and spiritual enlightenment. They had become particularly popular in East Anglia, where Walsingham was from, in recent years.

“Do you believe that Lady Walsingham can be influenced through these interests of hers, and as a result, influence her husband?” Kat asked.

“Possibly,” the queen said. She’d reached the end of her pacing and turned to walk back to a position in front of Waldorf and Kat. “It seems as though we have no option but to try at this point.”

Waldorf wondered how true that was. He and Pollock were not the only men who had been tasked with changing the opinions of ministers from various kingdoms, and he was certain Kat was not the only one who had been given the task of influencing ministers’ wives. The Badger Society had been compromised, but the queen had implied it would continue on, and she was correct.

He began to see a bit more of what Queen Matilda had in mind when she continued with, “Lady Walsingham is currently hosting what she refers to as aspiritual retreatat her country estate near Fakenham. The two of you will travel there on the morrow and join the retreat.”

Waldorf blinked, and he let out a breath. As far as assignments went, joining an eccentric noblewoman’s spiritual retreat so that he might influence her to support the Mercian Plan seemed like an easy one.

“Whatever you wish, Your Majesty,” Kat said, nodding enthusiastically. “Whatever you feel will make amends for?—”

“The retreat in question is for engaged and newly married couples,” the queen cut Kat off.

Waldorf jolted and stared at the queen again. “For engaged and newly married couples?”

“Did I not make myself clear, my lord?” the queen asked him, one eyebrow arched.

“Perfectly, Your Majesty,” Waldorf said, backtracking and bowing his head.

“There is already a rumor in London that the two of you have formed a particular attachment,” Queen Matilda continued, resuming her pacing as well. “Indeed, some believe that the two of you have been secretly engaged for some time, particularly since word of Lord Gerald Godwin’s efforts to marry off his sons and nephews has become a topic of conversation.”

Damn Father and damn his meddling in everyone’s lives. Waldorf had a bad feeling he might find himself backed into a situation that would cause him to be the laughingstock of the family for years to come.

“Therefore, it will come as a surprise to no one when the two of you arrive at a retreat for couples,” the queen went on. “You will attend this event eagerly, and you will show your appreciation for Lady Walsingham’s efforts to help herchosen couples to enter into greater spiritual togetherness by participating wholeheartedly in whatever activities she chooses to have her guests engage in.”

Waldorf had a sinking suspicion that he had not escaped punishment for his wrongdoings at all. In fact, he was very much afraid Queen Matilda had discovered a punishment worse than death.