“Because I am her friend, and she is friendless here,” she said, clenching her fists. “They have taken her only child from her care, and she cannot even choose his nursemaids. They treat her so poorly, it is almost as if they believe she is in league with her brother, the dauphin.”
Linnet’s heart fluttered as Jamie leaned closer.
In a low voice, he asked, “Is she?”
“Of course not!” she said, taking a step back. “Our French princess was raised to never have an opinion, to avoid conflict at any cost, and to do exactly as she was told.”
“That has served her well,” Jamie said. “I hate to think what you might be teaching her.”
“I would not let her make the mistake of supporting the dauphin,” she hissed at him. “A poorer excuse for a king I hope to never see.”
“So you are the queen’s confidante?” Jamie asked.
“I am exceedingly fond of her, and I do try to advise her…” Linnet raised her hands in the air. “But when I warn her she must walk a careful line between Gloucester and Bishop Beaufort, she responds by asking what they are wearing now in Paris.”
She took a deep breath and made herself stop speaking. With the news that Gloucester was about to arrive, she was out of her mind with worry about the queen. And then, Jamie’s pointed remark about virtuous wives had upset her further.
“What you said was unfair,” she said, her eyes hot on his. “I never said you were boring. I merely said I did not want that kind of life.”
His eyes sparked blue fire, and she had the satisfaction of breaking through his facade of calm control. Jamie could make nasty allusions all he wanted, but he did not expect her to speak directly about what happened between them five years ago.
He clenched his fists and leaned forward, as if to shout in her face. She hoped he did. Instead, he stepped back. With his jaw tight, he stretched his neck, tilting his head from side to side.
When he spoke, his voice was as calm as pond water. “We had best join the queen for dinner.”
She refused to take the arm he offered. The walk down the stairs and the endless corridor took forever.
“I am surprised you are still looking for a wife,” she said to goad him. “Surely you found another innocent virgin to seduce into marriage.”
He grabbed her arm and spun her around. “I did not seduce you, as you know damned well.”
“Hmmph.” She turned her head and tilted her chin up. She could not contradict him; that did not mean she had to agree.
He released his grip on her arm and blew out his breath.
“What method will you use to get a wife then?” she asked as they resumed walking down the corridor. “Since you are unlikely to win her with your excessive charm, I assume you will have your family arrange it?”
“That is the customary method,” he bit out. “But I have reason to hope Bedford or his uncle will suggest an appropriate lady.”
He must have impressed Bedford, indeed, to have the royal family facilitating a match.
“An appropriate lady, meaning a very rich one?” she asked in her sweetest possible voice. “And virtuous, of course.”
The muscles of Jamie’s jaw tightened, and he kept his eyes straight ahead.
“Rich and virtuous. Qualities tosatisfy”—she paused over the word—“any man, I’m sure.”
They had finally reached the hall, so she left Jamie without a backward glance and went in search of Edmund Beaufort. Young, handsome, brilliant—and unmarried—Edmund was the brightest hope of the next generation of Beauforts. And Linnet had an urgent need to speak to him.
When she spotted him, she wanted to groan aloud. How many times had she warned the queen to avoid showing favor to this particular young man, above all others? But nay, Queen Katherine must go straight to Edmund with a bright smile, take his arm, and invite him to sit in the seat of honor beside her.
Linnet could have slapped her for being so stupid. Nay, the queen was not stupid. She simply had a flirtatious nature. After a girlhood in a convent and marriage to the glorious King Henry, it was only now coming into bloom.
Linnet would wager all she owned that Edmund Beaufort had been instructed by his uncle to woo the queen. No doubt, Edmund found the queen charming and pretty, for she was. But he was a Beaufort; it was a calculated move. If Edmund became the young king’s stepfather, he could yield untold influence on the boy for years to come.
The prospect of that occurring would send Gloucester into apoplexy. If rumor of the queen’s flirtation with Edmund had reached Gloucester’s ears, that would explain why he had acted so rashly, raising that fervor in London.
Nearly everyone else was seated, so Linnet hurried to take her place at the end of the high table. Ignoring the attempts of the men on either side to engage her in conversation, she kept watch on the queen and Edmund.