With Robbie on one side of her and Richard de Grenville on the other, Skye joined the other guests in the garden near the dock, awaiting the arrival of the Queen.
“Damme, if you’re not a succulent sight,” said de Grenville.
“Thank you, m’lord.”
“Getting mighty close with old Geoff, aren’t you?” remarked de Grenville. “From the way he behaved at the Rose and Anchor I’d have thought you’d have not spoken to him again.”
“Geoffrey apologized very prettily for his behavior, m’lord de Grenville.”
“You know, of course, that he’s married,” de Grenville pressed.
“My lord, what exactly is it you seek to tell me?” Skye asked firmly.
De Grenville was discomfited. It would hardly be gentlemanly or sporting to tell her of the wager he and Southwood had entered into. “I simply do not wish you to be hurt, my dear, and Geoff is known to be a bit of a rake,” he said innocently.
“You’re most kind, m’lord,” she said coolly.
Trying to regain the lost ground, he changed the subject. “Ah, Young Bess herself! Look, my dear Skye, the Queen comes.”
They stood looking out over the garden, across the colorful sea of guests. The Queen’s barge had docked and now the Earl of Lynmouth was handing his royal guest out. For a brief moment Elizabeth stood viewing her subjects. Then a small cheer rippled across the garden. The young Queen was just twenty-seven, and even from a distance Skye could see that she was lovely. Tall for a woman and with an angular slenderness, she, like Skye, had chosen to wear her hair differently than current fashion dictated. Parted in the center, it fell in long, red-gold waves down her back. It was dressed with many strings of pearls. The Queen had chosen to represent “Springtime” and was gowned in apple-green brocade, heavily encrusted with gold embroidery and diamonds. Her beautiful long aristocratic fingers sparkled with rings. Her almond-shaped eyes glittered like the finest jet and her smile was merry.
Lord Southwood led his honored guest through the garden, through the lines of bowing and curtseying courtiers, and into the ballroom. The ballroom, like the gallery across the hall, extended the length of the house. The Queen seated herself on a small throneset upon a raised dais, and one by one the guests approached her to present themselves. Southwood stood near her throne.
Escorted by both Robbie and de Grenville, Skye was brought before the Queen.
“De Grenville, you rogue! ’Tis good to see you,” smiled Elizabeth. “I was not aware you were up from Devon.”
“Just today, Majesty,” said de Grenville, kissing her hand. “Would I miss Southwood’s fête? And a chance to gaze upon England’s fairest?”
Elizabeth dimpled prettily. “And who would you present to me, Dickon?”
“First, Majesty, an old friend and Devon neighbor, Sir Robert Small, captain of theMermaid.”
Robert Small knelt reverently and kissed the Queen’s hand. “Madam,” he began, but his eyes filled with tears and he could not go on.
“Why, sir, what honor you do me,” said Elizabeth kindly.
“All England thanks God for Your Majesty,” said Robert Small, somewhat recovered.
“All England should thank God for stout seamen like yourself, Sir Robert,” replied the Queen. “You are our future.” Elizabeth’s gray-black eyes then flitted over Skye.
“Mistress Goya del Fuentes, Majesty,” said Geoffrey, from the Queen’s left.
Skye’s curtsey was graceful.
“The lady from Algiers?”
“Yes, Majesty,” answered Skye, her eyes modestly lowered.
“I understand your late husband was a merchant prince there.”
“Yes, Majesty.” Skye looked up, gazing directly at the Queen.
“You and Sir Robert are business partners? A bit unusual for a woman, is it not?”
“As unusual as it is for a woman to be Queen in her own right, Majesty. But I have never believed that being a woman meant one lacked intelligence. Certainly Your Majesty has disproven that notion.” The deep-blue eyes held the grayish black ones.
Elizabeth Tudor’s eyes narrowed a moment as she studied Skye. Then she laughed. “You desire a charter of me,” she said. “We will talk on it soon.” Turning to Southwood, she said girlishly, “My feet itch, m’lord. Let us begin dancing.”
