Her large olive eyes grew rounder and filled with tears. “I cannot help that I care for the king, Nicky.”
“I do not condemn your heart, Lizzie. I just want you to be happy.”
“But Henry is my betrothed. He pledged himself to me when my father died.” She swiped tears from her eyes. “I haven’t seen him in quite some time. Two years actually. He was kind to me, but shy. I cannot help feeling like prized cattle awaiting the winner.”
“I know, Lizzie.”
He could imagine how difficult this was for her. She’d been around Richard often. The king was able to charm her and win her heart. She barely knew Henry. Now her fate was about to be decided. It was frightening being so out of control.
“Your life is difficult, Lizzie,” he said, looking into her eyes. “But you are up to it. Aye?”
“Aye,” she agreed with a smile. “So what are you going to do about Richard’s enemy?”
“I have yet to decide,” he lied. He wasn’t about to tell her how he would be victorious in the battle at Bosworth Field. “And let us not tell Richard any of this news yet. Let me take care of it.”
She nodded but tried to hide her disappointment over getting no answer by looking away.
Nicholas decided to drop the matter. She’d given him valuable information. Now the rest was up to him. He could spare time to those he loved.
“What do you think of Miss Locksley?”
She grew exuberant instantly. He felt her powerful intake of air against his side just before she moved away. “Oh, Nicky, I adore her! There’s something so, I do not know, genuine about her. Do you know that since you brought her here yesterday, instead of learning to embroider with her teacher, she was finding ways of being helpful to the staff?”
He wasn’t shocked by this behavior. Since her first arrival, she’d been doing things to help the servants. They loved her. They loved her more than the man who did little for them, if anything. Soon, maybe even now, she would have power here.
“She has also turned one of the storage rooms into anexerciseroom. We ladies are to strip down to our chemises and do what Kes does. Like touch her toes and jumping up and down while spreading your legs and clapping over your head. Kes says it helps keep us intip-top shape.”
“Tip-top shape, eh?”
“She is unlike anyone I have ever met,” Elizabeth continued excitedly. “Where did you say you found her?”
“Outside of Bridlington. She’d been wandering around hurt and remembered little about who she was. I brought her here to convalesce.”
“Dear Nicky, ever the knight, always stopping to help a poor soul.”
“’Tis my duty.”
She smiled and leaned her head on his arm. “Have Miss Locksley’s memories returned since she’s been here?”
“Some of them have,” he answered as if it were all true.
“Is she wed or betrothed?”
“No.”
The lady he considered his little sister smiled as if she’d just discovered some hidden truth. “That’s good news for you. Is it not?”
“I had not—”
“Her eyes are…mesmerizing, like fathomless oceans.” She looked toward the waves and smiled. “She is adored by many of the men and accepts hundreds of accolades a day over her eyes.”
“Hmm, is that so?” Nicholas asked her, senses piqued, honed to fight anyone for her. “What are their names?
She laughed. “I’m not so foolish as to start a battle over a woman. I want peace above all else. Whether ’tis from Richard or Henry Tudor, makes no difference to me in the end. I will do what is expected of me and always carry the white rose for my father.”
“As will I,” he promised.
“Oh, the sun is moving across the sky so quickly.” She pointed to the sky. “I promised Elia I would sit with her this afternoon and tell her about what it was like in the care of the Earl of Oxford this past year. The de Veres are very kind and thoughtful, and Richard still has their support. We shall speak more later. Aye, Nicky?”