Katherine sat down on the bed, staring at her friend.
Anne studied her. “Well? Is he as virile as it is said? Is he unsurpassable? Insatiable? You do not seem the worse for wear. And soon you will have his child.”
Katherine was disappointed with her friend. “Perhaps you should find out for yourself, Anne.”
“Oh! I have upset you! But can you blame me for imagining what he is like? My husband is old and fat and a lecher as well. There, there, dear, you are distraught. Iam happy for you, Katherine—to have enjoyed such a man. How I wish the pirate had abducted me.”
Katherine’s disappointment faded. Anne meant no harm. “I am afraid he will hang.”
“You have cause to fear. The queen detests traitors, and on principle will hang the most petty conspirator.”
“You are not soothing me.”
“I do not wish to soothe you. If you love your pirate, then you must be as clever as your mother was—you must politick for your cause, my dear. I can tell you this. Her advisors are divided. Cecil does not wish to see O’Neill hang.”
Katherine felt hope spark in her breast. “Lord Burghley often sways the queen!”
Anne held up a hand. “But Leicester despises O’Neill. He is pleased with this turn of events. He is advising Elizabeth to try him immediately, and he reminds her at every turn of the anarchy elsewhere in the world, and of the rebels plotting against her here in England—knowing that her fear of conspiracy will lead her to use Liam as an example to deter those others.”
Katherine’s heart lurched.Leicester. How right she was to have conceived of this plot. “Anne—I beg a single boon of you.”
Anne patted her hand. “If it is in my power, you know that I shall do it.”
“I wish for you to deliver a message to Leicester for me, immediately.”
Anne started, then stared. “Katherine!” Her eyes widened, filled with comprehension. “You know not what you do!”
“To the contrary. Anne, I know exactly what must be done.”
The chapel bells tolled the midnight hour. Nervously Katherine counted each ring. Her palms wet with sweat, her mouth dry, she sat upon a bench in the Privy garden, wrapped in her fur-lined cloak, shivering.
She saw him coming through the bare trees a moment later, the garden walls behind him. He was a tall, powerful,black-cloaked figure, moving swiftly toward the arbor where she sat. Katherine’s nails curled into her palms. “My lord,” she called.
He changed direction and strode to her. Katherine rose to her feet. He stopped before her. She wore her hood and now she held the neck of it tightly at her throat.
Leicester smiled slightly. “Do you know what it did to me, to receive word that you wished to meet me—clandestinely?”
Katherine trembled. She did not speak. Moonlight spilled from the parting clouds, and she could see his handsome face quite clearly.
He reached out. Katherine stood still, not flinching no matter how she wished to move away, and he pushed back her hood. “God, you are so lovely,” he said harshly. His hand touched her cheek.
Katherine forced herself to stand utterly still. “I am fat now.”
Leicester’s dark gaze held hers. “You bear his child. ’Tis no surprise. I always knew you were made for taking a man’s seed, for bearing a man’s children.”
Katherine did not respond.
Leicester’s gaze roamed slowly over her face. “Did you think of me, sweetheart? When the pirate sheathed his cock inside your lovely body—did you think of me?”
Katherine tensed.
“I have thought of you often,” Leicester said. “I still want you. More now than before.” He smiled slightly, took her hand, pressed it against his groin. He was rock-hard.
Katherine pulled her palm away. “I am with child!”
“Some women enjoy a man more in such a state.”
Katherine was shocked and afraid. She had not thought he would be ardent, not now, not while she was so heavily pregnant. “Not I.”
