Exile (14 page)

The papers went everywhere and we chased them down the passage while we apologised to each other, bumped heads, and apologised again. Finally we got them into some semblance of a pile, though I fear it will take him the rest of the day to sort them all out.

“I am looking for Her Majesty on most urgent business!” I told him by way of explanation. “Do you know where she might be?”

“The whole Court has gone to visit the armouries, my lady,” he told me. “The Queen wished to show the Banoo the workshops King Henry, her father, had built.” He seemed anxious to leave my presence. “With your permission I will withdraw….”

He bowed and scuttled away. And I headed for
the armouries. I took the short cut round the orchard and in through the low door that led to the workshops.

“Greetings, Your Ladyship,” came a voice. It was Jacob Halder, one of the armoury workers. I grinned. I have known him all my life. He was a very skilful man and proud of his work. I wished I had time to see what he was up to.

“Good morning, Jacob,” I said. “Do you know where the Queen's party has gone? I was told they were at the armouries. I am tardy, as you see.”

“Late for Her Majesty?” chuckled Jacob, wiping his brow. “That will never do! Do not distress yourself, my lady. They passed through here not five minutes since, and I heard they were on their way to the Tilting Yard, where the armour for the horses will be displayed.” He sighed. “That Banoo Yasmine is a most gracious lady. She told me how she had seen armour made for olifants!”

So here was another who had fallen under the Banoo's spell!

“Thank you, Jacob,” I said hurriedly, and left the workshop, picking up my skirts and running along the gravel path. I knew Mrs. Champernowne would disapprove of such unladylike behaviour but I had no
time to lose. As I passed the blacksmith's forge, I heard a hubbub of voices coming from the Tilting Yard. I ran down the little alley beyond the forge and remembered, just in time, to slow down and walk sedately as I came into view of the Queen.

The Tilting Yard was full of people. And in the middle of them all stood a huge and very patient warhorse, clad in shining armour.

I pushed through the crowd until I got to Her Majesty. My lord the Earl of Leicester was showing Her Majesty and Banoo Yasmine the horse's beautifully decorated chamfron, which protected its whole head. I could see Sharokh hovering nearby. I knew I must not make him suspicious.

“Your Majesty,” I said, pushing through the crowd and curtsying low in front of her, “may I beg a private word with you?”

“A private word? Here, Lady Grace?” said the Queen, raising her eyebrows and looking round at the milling courtiers. “You jest, surely!”

“Indeed not,” I said earnestly. “It is a matter of the ‘Heart' and therefore most serious and privy!”

“Come with me, Grace,” said the Queen, catching my meaning immediately. “Let us walk the length of the Tilting Yard.” She turned to the Earl. “I would ask you to entertain the Banoo a little longer, Lord
Robert,” she said loudly. “I have business of suitors to deal with and must have speech alone with this silly maid!”

She took my arm and marched me away. I saw Lady Jane and Lady Sarah looking and whispering to each other and knew that I would have to invent a very rich suitor to answer the questions they were sure to ask later.

As soon as the Queen and I were out of earshot I told her what I had discovered.

“So you think Sharokh is the real felon!” exclaimed Her Majesty. “But how did Ellie come to have the Heart of Kings about her?”

“I believe that Sharokh hid the jewel in his shirt, meaning to escape with it when he could. But after his nightly exertions he overslept, and Ellie unwittingly collected it in the laundry,” I explained.

“So far the villain has got away with it,” the Queen remarked. “This is not to be borne! I will not have a thief lurking freely about my Court. But I and my Privy Council must have proof before Mr. Hatton's guards can arrest him. What can be done?”

“I have put my mind to nothing else,” I replied, “for it is my dearest wish to see Ellie free. And I am sure that our only hope lies in Sharokh's desire to have the ruby.”

“So you have a plan,” said the Queen with a knowing smile. “And I can see that you are bursting to tell me of it!”

“Indeed I am, Your Majesty,” I said eagerly. “With your permission, we will put it about that the jewel needs cleaning. I will make sure word reaches Sharokh that the Heart of Kings has been carelessly left in an empty chamber without a guard.”

“This sounds a risky plan, Grace,” said Her Majesty disapprovingly. “I cannot jeopardise the safety of the jewel a second time.”

“But the ruby will be safe,” I assured her, “for, if you will permit it, Mr. Hatton's guards will have been instructed to keep vigil close by, but out of sight. They will arrest Sharokh in the very act of stealing the Heart of Kings.”

We reached the end of the Tilting Yard and the Queen stopped. “I am not convinced,” she said, twisting the rings on her gloves. “If anything goes wrong, the Banoo will hardly place her trust in me again. And soon the whole of Europe will know of it!”

“Would you have them know that the just are punished and the unjust go free in this kingdom?” I asked before I could stop myself. “Forgive me, Your
Majesty,” I added quickly. “I spoke in haste. But I beg you to agree to my plan. This is my only chance to save Ellie and discover the guilty party.” I fell to my knees and tears came to my eyes. I could not bear to think of the fate that awaited my friend.

But the Queen simply turned and began to pace up and down, deep in thought. After what seemed a lifetime, she came back to me and held out her hand. “Arise, Grace,” she said briskly. “Look, you have muddied your kirtle!”

I scrambled to my feet, though I could not have cared less about my kirtle.

“I will give this plan my blessing,” the Queen said, “for I would have the real thief caught. But there are two conditions.”

“Anything, Your Majesty,” I managed to gasp.

“For the first, the news of the unguarded jewel must reach Sharokh's ears alone. That will protect the Court from unkind words about lax security!”

“I will make sure of it,” I said, my heart singing.

“And for the second,” continued the Queen, and she looked me straight in the eye, “you must promise to be well away from the chamber, Grace. Sharokh may prove violent when he discovers he is surrounded by guards, and I would not have you there.

You have been hurt serving me in the past and it is not to happen again.”

I had to agree, for Ellie's sake, and I will keep my promise. But as the Queen's Lady Pursuivant, it is hard that I will not be there when the true thief is apprehended.

“I will speak to Mr. Hatton directly,” said the Queen, as we walked back towards the waiting courtiers. “Now, let me think. It must not be too easy for the thief to escape, so I've a fancy to have the ruby placed in the top chamber of the west tower here.” She made a small gesture towards one of the towers that King Henry had built in the Tilting Yard. “My father intended them for storming in mock combat. Let us see if your man can storm one of them single-handed! Now I shall dismiss you, Grace, so you may plant your little seed of gossip swiftly.”

“I will, Your Majesty!” I promised.

As we neared the waiting Court, the Queen turned to me and her face suddenly looked thunderous. What in God's heaven had I done? I wondered fearfully, and in such a short time.

“You can forget all thoughts of marrying this clay- brained coxcomb!” she roared. “I will hear no more of the matter. Now get you gone!” I ran off with my
hands over my face to disguise my huge grin! Truly Her Majesty is the best actor I have ever seen. If she were not our ruler—and if she were a man, of course—she would be the most famed player in the land.

I didn't run far. I lurked round the corner and waited, for I needed an accomplice. Soon the Queen and the Banoo and the rest of the Court passed by. I could hear Lady Jane and Lady Sarah muttering about my supposed suitor as they passed. At last Mary Shelton appeared.

“Mary!” I whispered, grabbing her sleeve and pulling her into the shadows. “I need you.”

“But, Grace,” protested Mary, “if it is about your admirer, I cannot help you. We all heard Her Majesty forbid you to have anything to do with him.” She grinned. “Who is it, anyway?”

“Mary!” I exclaimed. “You know me better than that. My suitor is Lord Nobody, as usual! This is much more important.”

Mary nodded. “So is it the secret business you have with the Queen? I wager you are still trying to clear Ellie's name!”

“That is why I need your help,” I told her urgently, “for I believe I am close to doing so.”

“I am glad of it,” said Mary, smiling. “I never
believed poor Ellie Bunting to have any harm in her. Do you know who is the real thief?”

“I believe it to be the Banoo's page, Sharokh. And you are going to help me prove it.”

“What do you want me to do?” demanded Mary eagerly.

“It is very simple,” I said. “We needs must gossip!” I told Mary my plan as we walked along behind the party.

“Where is Her Majesty going now?” I asked quickly, as we joined the crowd. “I hope it is somewhere we can get near Sharokh.”

“We are going to the Glass Gallery,” said Mary patiently. “If you had been listening when the Queen announced her plans you'd have remembered. She has promised to show the Banoo the painting of her father meeting Emperor Maximilian. She has had it hung in the Glass Gallery, for the many windows there give good light.”

I had never seen so many people in the Glass Gallery and began to despair. “How are we ever going to find a moment when Sharokh is alone?” I groaned.

“We may be lucky,” said Mary, always the optimist.

We hung about while courtiers, who have seen the painting often before, slowly processed in front of it, pretending to view it for the first time. At last the crowd began to move off, for it was nearly one and time to dine.

But Anoosh, Faruk, and Sharokh had waited their turn to see the painting and seemed very interested in the battle scene in the background.

“Tis a pity Sharokh's two companions are here,” whispered Mary. “This would be the perfect opportunity else.”

“Leave it to me,” I muttered. I knew exactly how to get rid of them. “Anoosh! Faruk!” I cried, stepping towards them with a merry wave.

The two pages turned, saw who it was, and fled without a word. At last Sharokh was on his own, still engrossed in the painting.

I nudged Mary and we began to walk past. “It is scarcely to be credited,” I said loudly, as if in the middle of a conversation. “The Heart of Kings left unguarded—and just for a cleaning!”

Out of the corner of my eye I thought I saw Sharokh stiffen.

“But there is no danger, Grace,” answered Mary, “for surely the ruby is safe, high in the west tower by
the Tilting Yard. And remember, the thief is caught and locked away.”

“You are right,” I said. “In any case, the jewel will not be there for long.”

“And no one knows but you and I,” Mary finished, “so all is well.”

We hurried off before we gave ourselves away, for we were both near to giggling!

So now the trap is set! It is hard that I cannot go near the Tilting Yard, but I have given the Queen my word and I mean to keep it. I have had Sharokh in my sights since the Glass Gallery and all through the long meal. Every time he leans forward to take something to eat, or stands to attend the Banoo, I jump in my seat. I fear people will think I have St. Vitus' Dance or some other terrible twitching disease! Of course, I know that Sharokh cannot just leave the room—but if he is as cunning as I believe he is, he could make any manner of clever excuses to go. And yet he sits there, eating and talking as if he hasn't a care in the world.

Now I begin to doubt myself. Perhaps I am wrong and he is not the thief at all. This waiting is terrible.