Linnet had adored King Henry, who was like a king from tales of old. Owen was not a bad sort, but next to King Henry, he seemed so… ordinary.
“With Henry, everything came before me,” the queen said. “He was always off fighting or occupied with affairs of state. But Owen wants only to be with me and make me happy.”
“How long can he make you happy?” Linnet asked. “If Gloucester or the council find out, there is no telling what they will do.”
“They cannot do worse to me than my own mother did in the years of my father’s madness,” the queen said. “She cared more for her spoiled dogs than for us children.”
It was easy to forget that this delicate French princess had suffered a difficult childhood.
“While she entertained her lovers with lavish feasts on the other side of Paris,” the queen said, her voice bitter, “we nearly starved because she could not be bothered to pay for our upkeep.”
“I beg your pardon, Your Grace.” Linnet took her friend’s arm and led her to sit on the bench by the windows.
“I will not give him up,” the queen said again.
Her friend seemed to have found her strength at last. “All I ask is that you be cautious,” Linnet said, taking the queen’s hand in both of hers. “You do understand you must keep your affections a secret?”
After a moment, her friend nodded.
“As you are set on this course, I will do what I can to help you.”
“Thank you,” the queen said. “I hope someday you will understand that true love is worth any risk.”
“Is it worth losing all you hold dear?” Linnet asked, her voice strained. “Your very life?”
“You are braver than I am in so many ways, my friend.” The queen touched her fingers to Linnet’s cheek and gave her a patient smile. “But you are a coward when it comes to love.”
Chapter Sixteen
“Have you spoken to Owen again?” Linnet asked.
“Aye.” Jamie kicked a stone out of the path. “And he is every bit as unreasonable as the queen.”
A gust of wind blew cold and damp across the river. Linnet shivered and tightened her hold on Jamie’s arm. Each afternoon, they walked this path along the Thames where they could speak without risk of being overheard. No one else came out strolling in this chilly weather.
“I have begged the queen to be discreet,” Linnet said, “but she is poor at hiding her feelings.”
“I am certain no one notices but you,” Jamie said. “Owen’s lowly status is a blessing, for who would believe the queen would have an affair with her clerk of the wardrobe?”
Linnet rubbed her forehead against a threatening headache. “Until the queen tires of him or comes to her senses, we must help them keep their affair a secret. I’ve let the queen use my cloak to pretend she is me when she goes to meet him, and—”
Jamie jerked her to a halt and whirled her around to face him. “Linnet, you cannot do this. I forbid it.”
“You forbid it?” she said, arching an eyebrow. “Surely, you did not say that.”
“Listen to me,” he said, fixing eyes as hard as sapphires on her. “You owe the queen your good counsel, and you have given her that. But you cannot do more. You cannot help her with this deception.”
“Why not?”
“ ’Tis far too dangerous.” He pressed his fingers into her arms. “Can you not see? If their affair becomes known, it will look as if you promoted it. The council will want to avoid blaming the king’s mother for flouting their will, but they will be happy to blame you—a foreigner—for encouraging her misdeeds.”
“Let go of me,” she said, but she did not argue.
She had learned through painful experience that she and Jamie held different views on what loyalty required. Discussing this further would change neither one’s mind. The queen needed her help, and she would give it.
“Don’t be angry with me.” He caught her hand and raised it to his lips. “You know I am right.”
“Ha!” Still, it was hard to stay annoyed with Jamie when he was only trying to protect her—and harder still when he was gazing at her with that hungry look in his eyes.