“My lord Burke, I hope you and your lovely lady are enjoying yourselves.” Geoffrey smiled graciously. “Allow me to present our new neighbor, Señora Goya del Fuentes. Skye, sweetheart, Lord and Lady Burke own the house on the other side of me.”
“Also built by your grandfather for abelle amie?” she teased him.
The Earl laughed. He was so intent on Skye that he did not notice Niall Burke’s stunned look.Her voice!It was her voice! Her name and her voice.
“Lord and Lady Burke. I am delighted to meet you,” she looked straight at Niall without a flicker of recognition. Her voice reflected only politeness. Niall Burke thought he was surely going mad. Mastering his fear and anguish, he said, “You’ll forgive us, my lord, if we leave early. Constanza complains of one of her violent headaches.”
“I am sorry,” replied the Earl, immediately sympathetic.
“Have you tried infusing witchhazel bark in warm water, then soaking a soft linen cloth in it and putting it on your forehead, Lady Burke?”
“Why thank you, Señora Goya del Fuentes, I have not heard of that but I shall try it,” murmured Constanza. Feeling Niall’s grip on her arm becoming insistent, she curtseyed and turned away.
“What a strange man,” said Skye, watching the Burkes’ retreating backs. “He stared so intently at me.”
Geoffrey laughed. “I wonder why. Could it be because you’re the most beautiful woman here?” He lowered his voice. “Sweetheart, you know what I want to say to you.”
“Yes,” she replied softly, her cheeks growing hot.
“If I come to you tonight, my darling …”
“I know I’m behaving like a damned coy maid,” she answered him, “but no man had ever loved me but my dearest lord. I don’t know if I could let you, Geoffrey. I want you, but I’m afraid. Can you understand?”
“When the Queen leaves,” he said quietly, “go home and wait for me. We will talk, Skye. I love you, and what is between us must be resolved. You feel that, too, don’t you?”
She nodded at him, her eyes huge and deepest blue. He smiled reassuringly at her, and the icy fear she had felt deep inside her dissolved in a quick, warm glow. He loved her! He had said so plainly!
Her soaring thoughts were interrupted as de Grenville arrived. “The Queen would speak with you, Mistress Skye. Allow me to escort you,” he offered.
“We shall both escort you, my love,” said the Earl firmly.
As they reached Elizabeth, the Queen ordered her page to bring a stool for Skye. Then she waved the two gallants away without a word, her beautiful hands gesturing imperiously. “You’re popularwith the gentlemen, mistress,” Elizabeth commented as the two men moved away.
Skye laughed. “My lord de Grenville is an old friend of my business partner, Sir Robert Small. Like Robbie, he feels he must protect me.”
“And that rogue, Southwood?”
“The Earl does not feel … protective toward me,” Skye twinkled and Elizabeth laughed, the deep gray eyes bright.
“An understatement, mistress!” she chuckled. “A woman of wit, I see. I like that! Tell me of yourself now. How did you come to be Sir Robert Small’s partner?”
“Of myself there is little to tell, Majesty. I am Irish, or so I have been told. I was left in a convent in Algiers at a very young age and I know nothing about my background. Several years ago I was wed to a wealthy Spanish merchant of that city. Robbie was his partner. When my lord died two years ago I was forced to flee Algiers because a Turkish governor had plans to force me into his harem. Robbie rescued me and my husband’s French secretary, Jean Marlaix, and his wife Marie. She and I were both with child when we fled. My daughter was born here in England, for which I thank God.”
“So you arrived here a poor widow, and Sir Robert Small took you in?”
“Poor? Oh, no, madam! I had, by Moslem law, one month to mourn my husband. During that time I secretly arranged for the sale of all my husband’s goods and properties and I had the monies transferred to England. Oh, no, madam! My daughter and I are hardly penniless.”
“ ’Pon my soul, mistress, you are a cool one. I like that. Indeed I do. So you have gone into business with Sir Robert Small, have you? Good! I like an intelligent woman, one who uses her brain as well as her body. Are you at all educated? You must be.”
“Yes, Majesty. I speak and read English, French, Italian, Spanish, and Latin. I can write and am competent with figures.”
“Very well, mistress. I am impressed with what I see and hear. Cecil will arrange an appointment with you and Sir Robert. We will all talk. I think perhaps a royal charter will be forthcoming.”
Skye rose and curtseyed deeply. “Majesty, I am most grateful.”
Elizabeth stood. Instantly the Earl of Lynmouth appeared by her side.
“Southwood, I am weary. It has been a busy holiday season. Escort me to my barge.”
