Will looks at me, and I grin.She’s used to paying Scottish students for cheap donations.
Ah.He nods.But we’re in London now. Everything’s more expensive here, even the blood!
Chapter 24
Hester | London, 1595
My position has grown precarious at court. I still look like a young woman of twenty-seven while the queen is now sixty-two. My youth is showing her up, and she is vain and does not like it. But my ageless appearance is also causing rumours to reach her ears—people think that I am fae, and for this reason, I am in danger of being cast out of Whitehall Palace.
But there is a way that I can still be useful to Her Highness. So I request an audience in her privy chamber ...
‘Come, Hester. Quickly. I have many matters to attend to today.’ The white-powdered queen, with her rouged cheeks and lips, beckons me forward impatiently; and I sink onto the velvet cushion—not the same one I have been kneeling on for thirty-five years. It has been replaced a few times.
The queen does not sound in an accommodating mood, but I hope that will change when I show her my uniquepower.
‘What is this about?’
I incline my head. ‘I understand Your Majesty is reconsidering my place at court...’
She doesn’t reply. That means she is.
‘I wish to show that I can still be a valuable asset. That I can serve Your Majesty in a different way. A special way.’
The queen’s jewelled fingers tap on the armrest of her chair. ‘Hmm, unlikely,’ she mutters. ‘But I will humour you, Hester, since we have a long shared history. Though it does not display on your dewy rosebud face as it does mine. What is this “special way” of which you speak?’
‘If you will permit a demonstration, Your Majesty?’
She nods. ‘Very well.’
I push backwards into a crouch, wrap my arms around my body, and mutter the spell. Moments later, I step onto the velvet cushion with my whiskered head lowered and my tail in the air.
‘Oh,’ she breathes, taking in my furry black form. ‘You can change into a cat!’
I miaow once at her for ‘yes’.
‘Was it hard to learn?’
I miaow twice at her for ‘no’.
It wasn’t difficult; the power came through suddenly a year after I had been turned. At the time, it was shocking,thrilling. But I have been struggling for years trying to learn the secret of how to change backwards and forwards at will. It was only when I begged Dimitri for help that he found me an ancient spell that worked after some trial and error. My scary sire has his uses.
The queen pats her knees, and I consider the distance with my slanted green eyes, then spring neatly into the royal lap. She strokes my fur thoughtfully with her jewelled fingers as I purr contentedly.
‘This does change things, Hester. Let me muse on it for a moment.’
I settle down to wait as her mind whirs and plots above me.
At last, the queen turns me to face her, and we look at each other: woman to cat.
‘Hester, I think you could still be a very useful member of my court.’
I miaow my thanks, incline my head, and the queen scratches it.
‘Here is your first job. I wish you to spy on William Shakespeare.’
I give an enquiringMiaow?
‘Yes, Shakespeare. The actor and playwright. We haveseen a few of his wonderful plays performed?’
