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“Not very well, I must say, although His Majesty has taken to teaching me a few words when he comes to visit me in the mornings. Today he taught me the word ‘ro— , ’ ” she struggled with it a moment, trying to form her lips correctly to make the proper sound,” ‘roger.’ ”

Cassia managed to suppress her initial shock at hearing the queen speak such an inappropriate word. “And did His Majesty perhaps tell you what that word means?”

“ N?o , not exactly, although I believe it has something to do with either a dance or a card game. He only told me that when he brings Lord Buckingham here to see me later, I should tell him that—how did he put it?—he should ‘cease practicing his skills at rogering with Lady Stedley lest Lord Stedley become jealous.’” Catherine glanced at Cassia for a reaction.

“From the look on your face now I would guess I was incorrect in my assumption of its meaning.”

Though Cassia knew that it had been meant purely for amusement and not in any way maliciously, it would not have been the first time the king had pulled such a prank, teaching his wife an impolite word merely for the fun of seeing her repeat it to his shocked courtiers.

She smiled. “I am afraid His Majesty is practicing trickery again for that is certainly not a word you should repeat.”

“What does it mean?”

Cassia thought, pondering how to put it delicately. “Let me just say that should the Royal Physician prove correct in his diagnosis and you are indeed with child, it would seem His Majesty's skills at performing that word were to be highly commended.”

It took Catherine a moment to fully comprehend Cassia's explanation, but when the new word’s meaning finally dawned on her, her eyes grew wide and her face turned as red as the velvet pillows that cushioned the bed she lay upon.

“But, Cassia, why would the king wish me to say such a thing?”

Cassia patted the queen’s hand, trying not to make too much of it. “You know how much His Majesty enjoys a good jest, and you know he would never intentionally hurt you. He adores you. In fact, when I saw him earlier today, you were all he spoke of.”

Catherine's dark eyes immediately lit with hope. “Truly?”

Cassia nodded. “I'm certain he just wanted you to help him pull a prank on Lord Buckingham and meant no real harm by it at all.”

“But what am I to do? He is bringing Lord Buckingham here to visit me later today. I cannot repeat that phrase to him now, knowing what it truly means.”

Cassia thought for a moment. “Why don't you turn the tables on His Majesty?” she suggested.

“But how would I do that?”

“Instead of repeating the phrase he taught you, why don't you substitute one of your own? You could just say something like ‘His Majesty is so skilled at that word that it would appear England is to be granted an heir come the autumn.’”

Catherine considered it. “What if His Majesty should become angry with me?”

“But how could he become angry with you?

All you need do is remind him that it was he who taught you the word in the first place.

Really, though, I don't think you have anything to worry about.

I'm certain His Majesty will find it very amusing, will think you most clever for turning the tables on him, and you will have thoroughly delighted him in the process.”

This was all it took to convince Catherine to substitute Cassia's phrase for the one the king had taught her earlier that day.

Suffering as she did from a constant feeling of inadequacy amid the more worldly English ladies, Catherine would do just about anything to appear clever to her husband and cause him to regard her in a pleasant light.

She nodded. “And I think I will be certain that she is standing nearby when I say that.

It will serve her a deserving turn, don't you think?”

“Indeed, Your Majesty, a most deserving turn.”

Catherine smiled now, her mood definitely having lightened. “Enough of me, now come, Cassia, tell me how you are doing. When will you be returning to court?”

Now it was Cassia's gaiety that quickly faded.

“I'm afraid I will be away from the palace for a little while, at least until the true circumstances surrounding my father's death can be determined. His Majesty thinks it best. But he has consented to allow me to stay in the city and visit you privately whenever I wish.”

Catherine patted her hand. “Trust that Charles always knows what is best. I refuse to believe you were in anyway involved in this business. How could you be capable of murder, and of your own father? It is entirely unthinkable. Anyone who knows you would surely have to realize how ridiculous it all is.”

Cassia nodded, but thought to herself that not many at Whitehall really knew her at all. They only knew the person she wanted them to see, the person she had so skillfully invented, the character they called Lady Winter .

Cassia was more than a little surprised to find Rolfe still standing in the exact spot she had left him, leaning against the Chinese wallpaper, a stone-faced Winifred filling the small chair beside him.

She had secretly hoped he'd have grown tired during her long visit with the queen, and would have gone by now.

Having Ravenscroft constantly at her side only served to remind her of her father's murder and how most everyone in London believed her responsible for it.

In fact, she'd purposely extended her visit with the queen, hoping he'd have grown bored and would have gone to other parts of the palace for more interesting amusements.

But it seemed she had underestimated his loyalty to duty.

“You are most certainly true to your word, Lord Ravenscroft. I've been in visiting with the queen for nearly three hours. I'd have thought you gone off to chase some pretty skirt through the palace hallways by now.”

“Though the idea does have its appeal, Lady Cassia, if you think to dissuade me from my duty through tedium, I can assure you it would be a wasted effort. I have spent far longer periods of time in far less interesting places, waiting merely for a courier to arrive. I once passed an entire morning sitting in a henhouse at a farm not far from Versailles, hens and all. You will find, my lady, I do not abandon a task, any task, for any reason. So, I am afraid you are stuck with me for the duration.”

“A most appropriate choice of words, Lord Ravenscroft. How very noble of you to adhere to the task. But, please, do not allow me to keep you from your preferred pursuits. I assure you I have no intention of fleeing the city and becoming a wanted felon.”

Rolfe stepped in place beside her as she started down the hallway.

“I have no fear of that, Lady Cassia, for I do not believe you would attempt to flee the city. You see, that would be very foolish and after watching the way you handled the king today, I can say with certainty that you, Lady Cassia Montefort, are no fool.”