Her glance darted to the bed. Had she not had a dream of Liam last night?
“That’s right, you’re not so comely now,” Eleanor said, breaking into her thoughts.
Katherine glanced at her, but saw no malice in her stepmother’s expression.
“You had better stop grieving,” Eleanor said firmly, “and think about living. Aye. There’s women who have suffered far more than you. You can grow old now—or you can choose to live.” Eleanor stared. “Your mother was a fighter.”
“And I must be strong like her,” Katherine murmured.
“Aye. Think of what you want, what you need. Then put the past behind you and go forward toward your goals.” Eleanor’s mouth firmed. “The queen wants you hanged, Katherine. You can not stay here with your father and me at St. Leger House.”
Katherine realized that Eleanor was correct in all that she had said. Not only must she recover her wits and resolve and continue to fight to regain her child, she must leave London. But where would she go?
The answer was simple. To Liam.
He was free now, having escaped the Tower. She did not want to live without him, and the time had come to face the fact. Shecouldnot live without him. She realized that she must go to him, tell him how much she loved him, and ask him to take her with him, wherever he now thought to go. And could he not help her regain theirchild? How ironic it was, she thought suddenly. They were both outlaws now, wanted by the Crown.
Katherine glanced at the bed again. It was coming back to her. She had dreamed of Liam last night, a wonderful dream in which he had held her and kissed her and comforted her. It had been so very real. But she knew better—didn’t she?
“I’ve put together a few things for you that you might be needing,” Eleanor said to Katherine’s reflection in the mirror.
Katherine turned, confused.
“Oh, did I not say why I’ve wakened you so early when you’re still needing to heal from the birthing and the rest of your ordeal?” Eleanor asked bluntly. “Your father is sending you to Mary Stanley in Essex.”
Katherine froze.
“O’Neill came here last night. ’Twas his decision. He wants you out of London, and we all agree. ’Tis not safe for you here, Katherine,” Eleanor said in a kind manner.
Katherine could not move. She was trying to unscramble her wild, racing thoughts.In the interim, I am sending you to Stanley House. Oh, God. Liamhadvisited her last night. But she had been half-asleep. She had mistaken his visit for a dream.
Why hadn’t he taken her with him?
Katherine strained to remember his words—for nothing he had ever said to her before was as important as what he had said to her last night. Had he not said that he would come back for her? She clasped her warm cheeks with cool hands. Yes, he had promised to return for her—with their child—after he captured FitzMaurice and restored her father!
Oh, God.
Katherine closed her eyes and prayed to God for His goodwill and intervention. And with all of her might and all of her heart she prayed that her dreams would come true—that Liam would be successful in all that he endeavored to do—that he would bring her their son—that he would return for her. And if any man could achieve such a mastery of fate, Katherine knew that that man was Liam O’Neill, the Master of the Seas.
35
Juliet had insisted that she accompany her uncle when he announced he was going to London on business. He knew just how anxious she was about her upcoming marriage, and hoping to improve her spirits, he agreed. Juliet did not tell him the real reason she wished to go to London now. That reason was Katherine.
The rumor of her attempt to murder the queen had traveled like wildfire, reaching Cornwall within a few days of the event. Juliet feared her friend had gone mad and desperately needed her help.
Juliet had to go to London to learn what she could of her friend. Richard had obtained rooms for them at a popular inn, and left her with several servants. She claimed that she wished to go shopping. But the coachman did not bat an eye when Juliet ordered him to Whitehall instead of to the market of Cheapside.
Now, as Juliet stood uncertainly in the Banquet Hall, ignoring the astrological decorations and the strange pendants and fruits hanging everywhere, her gaze searched the crowd. It was the dinner hour. But she did not see John Hawke. Indeed, she saw no one that she knew or even recognized, but she was not familiar with the court or the ladies and gentlemen who attended it.
Juliet hailed a passing soldier, ignored his snicker when she asked for Hawke, and was told he could be found in the Guard Room. Given directions, her pulse pounding, Juliet left the Banquet Hall and crossed the Sermon Court.It was a blustery November day, damp and chill and gray, and she held her fur-lined cloak tightly to her. How bold and brazen she had become.
Hawke was leaving the Guard Room as she approached. Juliet faltered and paused. His eyes were wide—he had remarked her immediately.
Juliet could feel her own blush. Oh, God, what was she doing? Ostensibly she had come to court because she wanted to learn if Katherine were well, and if the baby was being well cared for. But in truth, she had come to see John Hawke.
They stared at one another across the length of the corridor. Juliet recalled the last time she had seen him, when she had acted like a mad shrew, shrieking at him and attacking him for doing his duty to the queen. She regretted her wild, unladylike behavior. But there was no taking it back.
Hawke finally moved forward, his spurs jangling with each strong step, his high boots gleaming. Juliet glanced aside, for he was such a handsome, stirring sight in his taut breeches and crimson uniform. How could Katherine have preferred the pirate? It made not one whit of sense.
