Page 29

B eth’s jaw ached from forcing her face into a pleasant expression as their party approached the palace gates.

After eleven exhausting days of travel from Glenhaven, her body felt battered and her nerves frayed from Baldwin’s increasingly terse demeanor.

The closer they drew to London, the more he retreated into himself, answering her questions with monosyllables when he bothered to answer at all.

Each night had brought a different inn, some clean and welcoming with savory stews that made her mouth water, others so foul she’d shared a worried glance with Eleanor before picking pebbles out of the bread and sniffing questionable meat.

She’d grown accustomed to sharing cramped chambers with Eleanor, the two of them whispering late into the night about court life and Baldwin’s darkening mood.

At least Eleanor and Roland remained talkative throughout their journey, telling her about London and the latest court gossip as their horses picked their way along muddy roads toward the imposing palace ahead.

Now, as the spires of Westminster Palace rose before them, Beth’s stomach twisted with anxiety. She smoothed the rich blue fabric of her gown and tried to remember all the instructions she’d been given about court etiquette.

“Remember,” Baldwin murmured, close enough that his breath warmed her ear, “speak only when spoken to. Keep your gaze lowered. And for the love of all the saints, don’t mention anything about... your origins.”

Beth turned to look at him, studying the severe line of his jaw, the tension that held his shoulders rigid beneath his deep green velvet doublet. “I’m not an idiot.”

His gray eyes softened slightly. “I never said you were. But London isn’t Glenhaven. The court is a nest of vipers, and you—” He stopped himself, glancing away.

“I what?” Beth pressed.

“You shine too brightly,” he said finally, his voice rough. “And things that shine attract attention.”

Before she could respond, their horses slowed to a walk as they crested the hill.

Beth gasped, her hands tightening on the reins as the full assault of London hit her senses at once.

The stench reached her first. A pungent mixture of waste, unwashed bodies, and smoke that made her eyes water.

Then came the noise, a cacophony of shouts, and the constant rumble of countless feet and hooves on packed earth.

“’Tis not Glenhaven, to be sure,” Baldwin said dryly, guiding his stallion alongside her mare. His eyes flicked to her white-knuckled grip on the reins. “Easy. She senses your discomfort.”

Beth forced her hands to relax, drawing a deep breath despite the foul air. After so many days on horseback, her thighs ached in places she hadn’t known could ache, and the thought of dismounting both terrified and relieved her.

“There are so many people,” she murmured, watching the mass of humanity flowing through the narrow streets below.

The constant clanging of metal made her head throb. And everywhere she looked, people crowded together in a dizzying array of colors and fabrics, pushing and jostling for position.

“It’s like Disneyland and a Tokyo subway station during rush hour had a baby,” she muttered, leaning slightly toward Baldwin as their horses picked their way through the streets to the palace.

He raised an eyebrow. “I know not what this ‘Disneyland’ is, but I suspect you’ve insulted the king’s residence.”

“Not insulted,” Beth said, forcing a smile. “Just a bit overwhelmed.”

Eleanor urged her palfrey forward to ride alongside them, her eyes wide with excitement. Unlike Beth, who felt like a fraud in her borrowed finery, Eleanor looked every inch the noblewoman in her crimson riding gown, her dark hair elaborately braided and adorned with pearl pins.

“Oh, look at all the shops!” she exclaimed, pointing with a gloved hand. “Is that Lady Margaret? And there, is that the Duke of Clarence?”

“Contain yourself,” Baldwin warned his sister. “We are not here to gawk.”

Eleanor’s smile dimmed, but she nodded obediently. Beth felt a stab of sympathy for the girl. At least Eleanor belonged in this world, even if she found court life novel. Beth was an interloper, a time traveler playing dress-up in clothes that pinched and shoes that rubbed blisters on her heels.

As they reached the palace gates, the royal guard motioned for them to dismount. Beth, stiff from the long days of travel, swung her leg awkwardly over the saddle. Her foot caught in her skirts and she pitched sideways with a startled gasp.

Strong hands caught her before she hit the ground. Baldwin steadied her, his arms firm around her waist. The scent of him immediately calming her nerves.

“Careful,” he murmured, his breath warm against her ear.

“Thanks,” she whispered, heat flooding her cheeks as she found her footing. “Dismounting with dignity is still a work in progress.”

His mouth twitched, almost smiling. “You’ve improved considerably since we left Glenhaven.”

A stable boy approached, taking their reins. “I’ll see to your horses, milord.”

“Our belongings?” Baldwin asked, his hand lingering at the small of Beth’s back.

“They’ll be taken to your chambers, my lord,” the servant replied with a bow.

Beth cataloged everything with a scientist’s eye as they proceeded through the courtyard. The guards’ positions, the layout of the grounds, the strange ceremonial gestures people made passing certain doorways. Knowledge was power, and right now, she felt powerless.

A servant approached with a tray of small meat pastries. Beth’s stomach growled as they’d eaten little on the road that morning, but she hesitated. Who knew how long they had been sitting out? No way did she want to get food poisoning and throw up all over some important noble.

“No, thank you,” she said, shaking her head.

Baldwin gave her a questioning look but said nothing as they continued into a grand hall where dozens of courtiers milled about. Beth felt their stares like physical touches, assessing her worth, her status, her relationship to the Lord of Glenhaven. She lifted her chin, refusing to be cowed.

“Remember what I taught you about precedence,” Baldwin whispered. “The king first, then the queen, then?—”

“I remember,” Beth said, though in truth, the elaborate hierarchy made little sense to her. In her time, they’d have called this a dictatorship, not a monarchy. As the king’s word was law, though she could think of a few people she’d have sent to the gallows.

A hush fell over the crowd as a door at the far end of the hall opened. Beth straightened her spine, preparing to meet royalty.

But it wasn’t the king who entered, just another nobleman in rich attire, surrounded by attendants. Without thinking, Beth began to curtsy deeply, as Eleanor had taught her.

Baldwin’s hand clamped around her arm, stopping her mid-motion. “Not him,” he hissed. “That’s merely the Duke of Suffolk.”

Heat flooded her cheeks as titters rippled through the nearby courtiers. Baldwin pinched the bridge of his nose, a gesture she’d come to recognize as his way of controlling frustration. Eleanor covered her mouth, but Beth could see the amusement in her eyes.

“Is she simple or foreign?” a voice whispered behind them, loud enough to carry.

Baldwin’s head snapped around, his eyes narrowing as he searched for the speaker. The crowd shifted, and Beth caught sight of a familiar face. Cedric Whitmore, watching her with undisguised contempt. Their eyes met briefly before he melted back into the crowd.

“Ignore him,” Baldwin said, his voice tight. “He seeks to provoke.”

Beth nodded, but her heart hammered against her ribs. Cedric’s presence here couldn’t be coincidence. He’d tried to have her branded as a witch at Glenhaven. What might he attempt with the power of the court behind him?

Before Beth could voice her concerns, the blare of trumpets silenced her, and the crowd’s reaction left no room for doubt. The king had indeed arrived.

With regal assurance, Edward IV strode purposefully across the floor, Queen Elizabeth by his side, moving with an effortless grace, radiant as she whispered something that made him smile.

Behind them, Jacquetta, Lady Rivers, scanned the gathering with an intense calm, as if absorbing more than anyone might guess.

“We greet you, Baldwin of Glenhaven,” the king declared, his voice resonant. “It pleases us to have you return to these walls, for your welcome is always gracious.”

Baldwin bowed low. “Your Grace, we are profoundly honored. No delight surpasses the pleasure of your royal presence at Glenhaven this summer.”

Edward laughed heartily, clasping Baldwin’s arm. “Lord Devereux, it is a joy to see you again. Your hospitality leaves a lasting impression, and we eagerly anticipate witnessing more of Mistress Beth’s wondrous experiments.”

Queen Elizabeth offered a gentle smile and turned to Beth. “Mistress Beth, it seems our visit to Glenhaven was especially fortuitous, as I discovered I am with child.”

Beth dipped into a deep curtsy. “Your Majesty, may your happiness be boundless, and blessings upon the child.”

Jacquetta nodded in acknowledgment. “Arrangements have been made for you to demonstrate your marvels in the east solar. The king eagerly anticipates new wonders.”

Beth remained low in her curtsy. “You are too kind. The little I know of natural philosophy is at your command.”

The queen regarded Beth with approval before she and Edward moved on. In the silence following their absence, Baldwin gently guided Beth toward a nearby alcove.

She spoke softly. “That was nerve-wracking.”

His touch on her elbow was light but unyielding. “Aye, but they have welcomed us. Let that be enough for now.”