“Before I go, I must tell you,” Beaufort said, lifting her hand to his lips, “you are the most exciting woman I have ever known.”
“I can hardly count that a compliment, sir, when you are but nineteen and have spent the last seven years as a hostage.”
Beaufort laughed. “ ’Twas a gilded jail. I was not completely deprived of female company.”
“Cavorting with dauphinists, were you? For shame. Just wait until I tell your uncle.”
The blood roared in Jamie’s ears. He remembered how often he had been wrenched with jealousy in the weeks they were together in Paris. How many times had he watched other men approach her? Being in love with a beautiful woman had been hell on earth. He’d borne it without killing anyone only because he believed Linnet would never go with another man. Fool that he was, he had believed she loved him.
Edmund Beaufort spoke again. “I do love the queen—”
Linnet interrupted him with a snort.
“But she is a bit… simple. If I could marry whom I wished, I would choose you.”
Jamie wanted to vomit.
“Was it your great-uncle Geoffrey Chaucer who taught you to speak with that silver tongue?” Linnet’s voice was laden with sarcasm.
“If you were my mistress, you could advise me,” Beaufort said. “Think of all we could accomplish together.”
“And I am sure listening to my advice is all you have in mind,” Linnet said, giving Beaufort’s arm what looked like a hard pinch. “Come, Edmund, you must be gone now.”
Suddenly, Beaufort had Linnet flattened against his chest. With a wicked smile, he said, “My price for leaving is a kiss.”
“Beaufort,” Jamie said, stepping out from the shadows. “The lady gives you wise counsel. You should go quickly.”
The scoundrel gave a deep sigh before releasing her.
“I beg you to consider my proposal,” Beaufort said in a low voice as he brought Linnet’s hand to his lips yet again. “Adieu, ma belle. Adieu.”
As soon as Beaufort went to join his men-at-arms waiting outside the stable, Jamie said, “I would advise you not to become entangled with Edmund Beaufort.”
Linnet turned wide eyes on him. “Entangled with Edmund?”
“I suppose you will say you were only flirting with him to protect your friend?”
“Someone had to get him to leave.” She shrugged. “ ’Tis dangerous for the queen to flirt with Edmund, but there is no harm in my doing it.”
“And if flirting is not enough to divert him from the queen, what then?”
She put her hands on her hips and glared at him for a long moment. Then she turned and called out to two stable lads who were forking hay on the other side of the stable.
“Could one of you saddle my horse for me?”
Both lads came running. In the blink of an eye, the damned horse was saddled and ready.
“When you see the queen, tell her I will meet her at Westminster tomorrow,” she said to Jamie as she pulled on riding gloves. “Don’t leave her alone with Gloucester.”
Jamie followed her out and watched as the two boys jostled each other to help her mount her horse.
When she was on it, Jamie asked through clenched teeth, “Where shall I tell the queen you’ve gone?”
“I have matters to attend to in the City,” she said.Matters involving Edmund Beaufort and a bed?Blood pulsed in his head and hands.
“Private matters,” she added, to twist the blade, “that are of no concern to you.”
He watched as she galloped off after Beaufort on her white horse. Damn the woman.
