Anne whirled, her blue eyes widening as they met Katherine’s. “By all the saints! Katherine! What are you doing here!” Then her eyes widened even more with some inner comprehension Katherine did not understand.
“I must speak with the queen,” Katherine said tersely. “But we will speak later, privily,” she added, knowing Anne wished to learn all about her stay with the notorious pirate these many past months.
“Her Majesty is in the Presence Chamber,” Anne said quickly.
Katherine squeezed her hand, turning away.
“Katherine!” Anne cried. “Wait! There is more that you must know!”
But Katherine ignored her. She caught Macgregor’s eye, then hurried through the hall, pushing past the gentlemen and gentlewomen, keeping her head lowered and her eyes downcast. Her heart thundered now. Only when she had left the great hall, and stood in the antechamber outside the Presence Chamber, did she raise her head and lift her gaze. Her heart skipped a beat. The two massive wooden doors were closed, and a dozen gentlemen and courtiers, as well as a dozen Royal Guard, milled about them. The Queen was giving private audience to someone.
She would have to wait her turn. Katherine’s anxiety raced unfettered now—as did her fear.
Suddenly the doors began to open. The courtiers and gentlemen stiffened with attention. Conversation ceased. The guard moved forward, as if to escort the petitioner who was closeted with the queen.
But it was no petitioner ensconced within, no petitioner at all. It was a prisoner. Liam appeared on the threshold, disheveled, his wrists manacled behind his back—incredibly proud.
Katherine gasped. In the utter silence of the antechamber, the sound was loud and shocked, and many gazes shot her way.
He heard her, too, and as if he recognized the sound of her voice, his gaze sliced directly to her. It turned fierce and bright.
Her gaze locked with his. And despite his treachery, her heart wept for what he must be suffering. Slowly, her gaze filling with tears, no longer caring to hide her identity, Katherine released her hold on her hood, allowing it to fall back from her face.
Gasps and exclamations sounded as one and all recognized her—followed by a series of hushed, shocked whispers.
And Katherine realized then that the queen stood behind Liam, staring at her with the same stunned surprise as everyone else. And then her heart lurched. For the crimson-clad man who had moved to Liam’s side was none other than John Hawke.
30
Katherine’s gaze riveted upon Hawke. His expression was rigid with shock. She met Liam’s gaze again. If he was surprised by her appearance at court, he did not show it.
Katherine wished she could disappear. She was ashamed to face John Hawke now. She had behaved shamelessly with Liam when Hawke had been her true husband, before she and Liam had wed. She had never ever dreamed she would encounter him like this, publicly, surrounded by the tittering court—as he escorted Liam back to the Tower. While she prepared to go to the defense of the man who had abducted her out of her wedding bed—the man the entire world thought to be naught but her lover.
Katherine was very careful not to allow her gaze to flick to Liam again, not even once. She was resolved to ignore him, acutely aware of a hundred stares trained upon her—and of the heated whispers surrounding them. Had Liam revealed the fact of their marriage to anyone? She stole another glance at John, wondering if he still believed himself to be her husband—wondering what he would say and do if he knew the truth. In any case, Katherine was quite certain that one and all were accusing her of being a whore, and condemning her as such. It was undoubtedly the most horrible moment of her life.
To make matters worse, Katherine now noticed the earl of Leicester standing behind John, his expression as surprised as everyone else’s. But how quickly his surprisebecame something more, his dark gaze piercing. Katherine quickly looked away, noticing that her half brother, the earl of Ormond, was also present, and looking far from pleased.
Katherine felt dizzy.
Then the queen pushed past Hawke and Liam. Immediately Katherine dropped to her knees.
“Thiscoincidenceis unseemly,” the queen said sharply.
“Your Majesty,” Katherine murmured, her pulse racing.
“Rise. We shall speak privately.Now.”
It was a command, one Katherine was glad to obey. Not only did she wish to exit the antechamber filled with gawking gentlemen and gentlewomen, and her two husbands, she had come to court for this very reason—to have a private audience with the queen. Very awkwardly—and very carefully, Katherine got to her feet. Someone—Macgregor—reached down and aided her. She kept her cloak tightly closed. Her state of pregnancy would be another shock to everyone.
“Take the prisoner to the guardroom,” Elizabeth said to Hawke.
Hawke nodded, but then his gaze found Katherine’s again. There was no mistaking his disbelief that she had come to court at all. His anger was also clear. Did he guess her purpose? Or did he blame her for her fall from virtue? Katherine did not blame him, whatever the cause of his anger, it was justified. When he realized that she was pregnant with Liam’s child, he would be even angrier.
Hawke wheeled, pushing Liam forward. Katherine’s heart lurched hard against her breastbone and for a moment, Katherine could not help herself and she gazed after him. If only he had not betrayed her—if only he loved her—it would be so much easier to beg for his freedom, for his life. But if that were so, he would not be a prisoner of the Crown. If that were so, her own heart would be whole, instead of aching and broken.
Katherine flung one last glance in his direction. His shoulders were squared, his head high, yet his clothingwas in tatters. The steel cuffs on his wrists gleamed, catching the light streaking through the windows, as he was led away. He was so proud, so cool and so unafraid—as if he were in control, and not at the mercy of the wrathful queen or unkind Fate. He acted as if he were master not of the seas, but of this dangerous game, yet that he could not be. He was a victim now, no master at all. Katherine shuddered at the thought.
The queen was staring at her. Katherine jerked, praying that any remaining feelings she still had for him did not show upon her face. “Come,” Elizabeth said.
