She gave him a ringing slap. How dare you touch me in public? she demanded. A sudden hush fell upon the crowd, and Tina realized they had an audience.

Would you prefer to be private, sweetheart? he asked with a leer, not in the least deterred by the slap, and the crowd roared with coarse laughter. King Henry looked over to see what amused his courtiers. When he saw the young woman with the flaming hair who had caught his attention at mass that morning, he said to his partner, Lord Howard, Find out who the little wench is with your son Edmund. I would have intercourse with her, he punned.

Howard laughed at the witty sally, but by the time he glanced across the bowling green, the young woman in question had moved on. Tina moved back to the edge of the spectators. She would have to wait until the king finished his bowls, then she would again take up the chase. Her eyes strayed to the women of the court. She could hardly tell one from another, for they copied each others fashions slavishly. None of them looked very young, and all of them were full-figured or matronly.

Perhaps it was the clothes they wore that made them look like ships in full sail. The gowns were heavy and full, with large leg-o-mutton sleeves and frilled underskirts. They all seemed to be wearing matching headdresses that were embroidered and bejeweled in exquisite patterns but could never match the beauty of a womans crowning glory.

She stood upon a bench to look over the heads of the crowd and saw that the king had finished his game. He took a womans arm in a familiar manner and walked from the bowling green with her. The court trailed after, and Tina picked up her skirts and followed the courtiers.

As it reached the gardens, the crowd thinned. Some went indoors, others to the awning where the food was laid out.

At last Tinas efforts were rewarded by a glimpse of the king and the woman he escorted disappearing behind a yew hedge. She hurried after. Lord Howard, Earl of Surrey, caught up with his third son, Edmund. Back at the bowling green the king saw you speak to a young woman. He seemed most anxious to meet her.

Prettiest piece Ive seen at court in a twelvemonth, said Edmund. Unfortunately, I know not the ladys name, and I wouldnt share it with Henry if I did.

Dont be a fool, Edmundwhats a woman between friends?

Youve dined with him often enough. You know how he consumes everything in sight with that voracious appetite of his. Tis becoming the same with women.

Elizabeth Blount allowed him a tastenow he devours her daily.

Good lord, if my eyes arent deceiving me, I think Ive just seen Lady Valentina Kennedy. What the devil can she be doing here at Henrys court, unless the queen sent her? he shrewdly guessed.

Where? Edmund asked.

Shes easy enough to spot, she has the most glorious hair, the color of flame.

Thats the one I spoke with. There she goes, following the king into the maze.

Oh, my God! Henry wants to meet her, but not I assure you under the circumstances I am visualizing.

The courtiers trailing after Henry had discreetly gone their own way when they saw the king take Elizabeth Blount into the maze. Tina was so intent upon catching up with the king that she did not realize she had entered the labyrinth of a maze until she was inside. Boxwood hedged her in on all sides, and she became slightly disoriented because she had never before been inside a network of shrubs designed to confuse ones direction.

She turned a full circle on the path, found an opening, and went through it.

She found herself in a square space that held a sundial.

Her fingers trailed over the words inscribed upon its bronze surface: I measure only the sunny hours. A small sob caught in her throat. How many sunny hours had she wasted when she could have been enjoying Rams love? Now perhaps all they both had left were dark hours. She passed through another opening, heard voices, and moved forward toward them.

Suddenly, almost in front of her she heard an impatient voice demand, Up with your skirts, Bessie. Why are we suddenly coy?

Please, sire, can we not go some otherwhere than here?

In my bedchamber you could remove your clothes and be comfortable. The womans voice begged, yet her tone sounded hopeless.

Nonsense, Bessie! I cant undress and dress every time I have need of a woman. What the devil do you think they designed the codpiece for?

Tina put her hand over her mouth and shrank down against the bushes, trying to conceal her presence.

Henry Tudor was about to satisfy his lust not four feet in front of her through the boxwood hedge. She could see two pairs of shoes facing each other. One pair were a womans slippers embroidered with flowers. The other pair were enormous, square-toed and bejeweled.

Suddenly the slippers were turned in the other direction.

Lean over the bench, Bessie, and hike your damned skirts! Dont think to play the cocktease with me!

There followed such a rustling of garments, followed by grunts and gasps and strange mewling cries of a female in distress, that Valentina was thoroughly shocked and disgusted at the manner in which the amorous king handled a woman. He mounted her from behind exactly as a bull would a cow, standing in the field!

The woman gave a muffled shriek and began to cry. No need to cry, Bessie, love. I know Im big, and sometimes I hurt, but thats a small price to pay for the great honor I do you.

Your jewels have scratched and cut my bottom cheeks, sire.

Henry laughed. Ah, so they have. Ive branded you right well, Bessie. Whats a little pain, compared to such huge pleasure? Stop your sniveling and help me fasten this damned codpiece.

As the feet began to move, Tina pushed her way through the middle of the hedge where there was no opening, to avoid being discovered. She heard Henry say, Make yourself available after the hunt, but the ladys reply was too faint for Tina to hear. After waiting a full quarter of an hour, Tina found her way out of the maze and vowed never to enter another as long as she lived.

Her high hopes of the morning were evaporating. She returned to her chambers hoping to find Ada there, but instead she found a page waiting with a message from the chancellor It asked that she summon him the moment she returned. Tina sent the little page off to locate him and sat down on the edge of the bed to wait.

Suddenly she gasped in fright as a dark figure swung open her casement window and stepped inside. Heath!

Omigod, Heathyou near frightened me half to death!

Sweetheart, what the devil are you doing in England?

he demanded, not pleased at all by her presence.

She flung herself into his arms. Oh God, everything is in such a mess! Davie betrayed Black Ram Douglas to Lord Dacre. They were waiting for him aboard the Revenge. The English king put a price on his head.

The vicious little whoreson! He always did make me puke! If they bring Ram to London, theyll probably lodge him in the White Tower. He did not add that the scaffolds were just behind, on Tower Hill.

The king himself sent a protest, and the Earl of Angus gave me letters from Queen Margaret to her brother saying they have the wrong man, but I havent been able to get near the king yet.

Lord Howard, the Earl of Surrey, is probably the most influential man at court at the moment. Does he know you, Tina?

Yes, he once tried to seduce me. She lifted her shoulder in a helpless shrug.

Old lecher! He can certainly find out where Ram is.

Speak with him. Seduce him into letting you visit your husband. Im sure he has enough authority to arrange it for you. If he asks more than you are willing to give, tell him your brother is here with you to protect your virtue.

She looked so wobegone, he reached out a hand to ruffle her hair. Cheer up, Firebrandmost of the things we worry about in life never come to pass.

When a knock came upon the chamber door, Heath swung his legs over the casement and disappeared before she opened the door. It was the kings lord chancellor. She dropped him a pretty curtsy, and he raised her immediately. Forgive me, dearest Lady Kennedy. I had no notion you were here as an ambassador from His Majestys beloved sister in Scotland. The chamberlain has treated you most shabbily. The king hunts this afternoon, so it will be our opportunity to move you to chambers more fitting to a lady with your high connections.

These rooms are quite adequate, my lord chancellor, she demurred. Heath would have to find her again if she was moved.

I insist, my lady. If I left you here, it would bring down the kings wrath upon my head.

Tina shrugged an elegant shoulder and consented sweetly.

I shall present you to King Henry tonight in the banqueting hall.

Ah, thank you, my lord! It is a pleasant change to meet a gentleman.

The new rooms were exceptionally lovely. The larger chamber was a bed-sitting room paneled in golden oak.

The bed-hangings and carpet were Tudor green, and there was a carved fireplace with a small fire burning to keep out the damp of the river. Before the fire was a small table with a pair of cushioned chairs, while the adjoining chamber was designed to be a dressing room with a gilt screen and slipper bath and a trundle bed for a maid.

Since she was finally going to be presented to the king, Tina decided to wear the elegant black and silver creation Ram had purchased for her in Glasgow. It was the latest fashion, with its enormous bishop sleeves and low-cut square neckline. Ada fastened a small silver lace ruff about Tinas neck and assured her that her vivid hair was far too beautiful to hide beneath a coif.

Tina realized she may only get one opportunity to speak with the king, and when so much depended upon his goodwill, the first impression she made upon him would be vital. This was the fifth day since Ram had been taken. He must have arrived here in London by now.

Perhaps the king had already been informed that Lord Vengeance was his prisoner and had given orders to hang him.

Tina closed her eyes and offered up a silent prayer, then sent Ram a silent message to keep up his courage. Her stomach knotted painfully whenever she thought of him, and since this afternoons close encounter she hadnt been able to catch her breath. Ada, I need air.

Walk with me to the stables, and Ill speak with the men who gave us escort. At tomorrows revels I want them to stick close, for even the gardens and park are not safe for unescorted women here at Greenwich.

They had almost reached the stable doors when there came such a baying of hunting dogs and pounding of hoof-beats that it sounded like the hounds of Hell had been let loose. All of a sudden the courtyard before the stables overflowed with the returning royal hunt and its carnage. A master of hounds shouted orders to the kennelmen and fewterers who brandished whips among the unruly dogs. The hunt master sounded his horn over and over, half-deafening any who were unfortunate enough to be on hand. The men of the court and a sprinkling of women were laughing and congratulating the king for taking down the most game The kings beaters had a score of deer trussed, not all of which were dead. The kings arrows had left some of the stags and does wounded in their haunches, and now to great cheers of encouragement, Henry bent to dispatch them with his knife. He was covered with blood, totally oblivious to his magnificent clothes. He was so immersed in his task, the blood dripped from his elbows, forming great dark pools on the flagstones of the courtyard Valentina stepped inside the dimness of the stables and swayed. Ada saw that her face had gone chalk white.

She took Tinas arm to steady her Take a deep breath.

Tina shook her head, I cant breatheI feel as if Im suffocating. Henry Tudor was the coarsest man she had ever seen. Everything he did, he managed to turn into an obscenity. Even the Highland chiefs like Angus and Argyll, though rough and uncouth, were not this repulsive. The King of England did everything to excess. He was oversized, overindulgent, loathsome, and offensive. All those about him fawned upon him to such a degree it made Tina want to spew.

As she slipped from the stables, Lord Howard caught a glimpse of her from the tail of his eye and sent his groom to learn where she was lodged at Greenwich.

She was an alluring creature, no longer virgin since her hand-fasting, and the thought of her beneath him sent the blood beating in his throat.

Chapter 33.

Tina returned to her chamber and stood at the open casement with unseeing eyes. She shuddered at the thought of going to the banqueting hall to dine, but it would be her only opportunity to be presented to the king and give him the letter. She would have done almost anything to avoid meeting Henry Tudor, but circumstances did not afford her such a luxury.

She stood pensively recalling how she had once hated Ram Douglas. If only he could somehow be there with her now to watch over her, she would have felt completely and totally safe. She sighed and told herself to stop her silly, wishful daydreaming. She had a job to do, and she vowed to do it to the very best of her ability.

A dark shadowed figure appeared at the casement, but before she could be alarmed she heard Heaths low, reassuring voice: I saw them take Ram off the ship. Hes in the Bloody Tower which is part of the inner curtain wall Thats the place theyve reserved for Scots prisoners.

Was he chained and manacled? she demanded.

Tina, he was alive! For Christs sake, stop torturing yourself! Concentrate on getting Howards permission to see him. Ill take care of everything else. We need an official paper.

You have a plan! she cried with renewed hope.

Aye, but you are better off in ignorance. Just get the paper. His shadow merged with the darkness of the gardens beyond her window, and though she had a hundred unasked questions, she felt better able to face the task ahead of her.

She brushed her hair until it crackled, picked up her silver-handled black lace fan, and walked to the banqueting hall with feline grace. Ada took her place at a servants table, while Tina waited politely for one of the stewards to seat her. He had instructions to find her a place close by the chamberlain so that he could hand her over to the chancellor for presentation to His Majesty after the meal.

Music floated down from the minstrels gallery, while pages and squires rushed about the hall doing their masters bidding. Finally, Henry Tudor and his so-called gentlemen arrived, and the servitors started carrying in their laden-down trays.

Tina crumbled some bread absently as she sipped a little watered wine. Her nostrils pinched together to keep the smell of the roast venison at bay, and she tried to forget the does eyes, which had been liquid with fear. Of course these were not the same animals, but it would be a long time before Tina would be able to eat anything that had been hunted down.

Ada had told her that the queen, Catherine of Aragon, and her ladies had taken up residence at Richmond, farther along the river, so that she could politely turn a blind eye to the kings pleasures.

Tina paid more attention to the rich garments the courtiers wore than to the people inside them. As a result she did not see the narrowed eyes of Lady Howard, the Countess of Surrey, upon her, nor was she aware of that womans son, Edmund, observing her from another part of the hall. She was studying a crimson doublet with a white lace shirt pulled through its slashes when her eyes slowly rose to the closely trimmed beard above a frilled collar, and she looked into the familiar eyes of Lord Howard.

Apparently he had been watching her. Tina was so relieved to have made eye contact with him that she sent him a brilliant smile across the room and received a warm nod from him in acknowledgment. For the first time that day, Tina was able to take a deep breath.

Edmund Howard saw the look his father sent the vivid beauty and cursed beneath his breath. He knew better than to compete with his father for a womans favors.

Mercifully, Tina had no notion that Lord Howard had just saved her.

Finally the board was cleared except for the wine cups and sweetmeats. Henry Tudor took pride in eating and drinking his gentlemen beneath the table each night.

The chamberlain bowed before Valentina, then handed her over to the chancellor. He hurried forward with her toward the raised dais before the wrestlers came out to claim Henrys attention. The king was diverted from his victuals as his eyes took in the exquisite face and figure of the young woman who had eluded him since mass this morning.

Tina swept down to the floor as if she were paying homage to a deity. Henrys close-set eyes lit with greed as they licked over her half-exposed breasts beneath the delicious silver ruff.

Lady Valentina Kennedy has brought a message to Your Majesty from Queen Margaret of Scotland.

Henry held out his beringed hand so that the lady might kiss it, but Tina slipped the letter from between her breasts and placed it upon the Kings massive palm.

Henry was far more interested in the female his sister had sent him than her missive. He tossed it negligently upon the table and invited the lady to sit with him. With a wave of his hamlike hand, he removed the earl who occupied the seat beside him as if he were the meanest lackey.

Henry splashed malmsey into his large, gem-encrusted goblet and placed it in Tinas hands. She repressed a shiver at the thought of sipping from the same rim where the gross mouth of Henry Tudor had quaffed and covered her hesitation with a shy smile.

Dont be overwhelmed, sweeting, said the fatuous Henry, patting her knee in a pretense of fatherly affection. We would share more than our cup with you Two strapping wrestlers bowed before the king, wearing nothing but skintight hose. The kings champion wore Tudor green, while the challengers hose were a disconcerting yellow. They were both large, heavy men, and Tina thought all that exposed flesh most distasteful.

Henry bent toward her intimately. I wager a kiss that my champion pins your challenger.

Sire, he is not my challenger. I know naught of wrestling.

That is not very sportive of you, my lady. I will teach you all you need to know of wrestling. He threw back his head and laughed at his own wit, then smoothed down the golden curls of his beard. Henry, like an overgrown boy, wanted to shine before this attractive woman. My champion is the best. None can match himsave myself, of course. His eyes lit with zeal. Would you like to see me take him?

Tina could think of nothing she would like less. Her lips opened as she gasped for breath, and Henry thought she was overcome with awe of him.

Come sweeting, wager on me, and win a prize of your own choosing.

Tina immediately thought of the letter she wanted him to read and murmured, No lady ever had a more exalted champion, sire.

Henry threw his doublet and velvet cap to one of his gentlemen and climbed from the dais to a chorus of encouraging cheers. Tina was most relieved that he would wrestle in his shirtsleeves. She had no desire to see the gross Tudor stripped to the buff.

Tina thought the spectacle before her grotesque. Two oversized bodies, with arms and legs entwined, heaved and huffed until both men were red in the face and sweating profusely. She raised her fan to cover her expression of distaste. The kings champion was good at charades. He made a show of being a match for the king until the last split-second, when he went down like ninepins. The courtiers cheered and applauded and banged their goblets on the table in approval.