Rodney followed Elizabeth and Robin out of the dining hall but he kept looking back at Maria. This was not a good idea because he kept bumping into Robin’s backside.
“I must take a bowl of broth to Mistress Wrenn.” Elizabeth waved at one of her ladies-in-waiting who was quickly away to the palace kitchen to fetch the bowl of broth. “She must be suffering.”
“Good idea, Bessie.” For all his reputation as a daring rogue, Robin was, in actuality, a toad—a horny toad, but nonetheless a toad.
“By the way, Rodney Broadshoulders,” the queen said, looking over her shoulder, “why were you in court today?”
Rodney obviously was still intent on his thoughts about the lovely Maria when he bumped into Robin again. This time Robin forcefully laid his hands on the lad’s considerable shoulders and pushed him closer to her royal personage.
“Huh? Oh. Excuse me, your Majesty. I have urgent news from my father.”
“Your father is dead.” Robin was clearly impatient with the youth.
“He left me a letter with instructions to read it after his burial.” He leaned into the queen to whisper, “It’s about the Spanish threat.”
Elizabeth’s interest was piqued but not to the point of losing her composure. “Meet me in my private chambers in half an hour.”
“Yes, your Majesty.” Rodney bowed deeply and backed up to leave, almost colliding with the lady-in-waiting who carried a silver tray holding the tureen of hot broth. “Oops. Sorry.”
When the royal party arrived in front of Mistress Alice Wrenn’s chamber door, the queen nodded to Robin to knock.
“Come in,” a tiny voice called from behind the door.
Robin opened the door, stepped aside to allow Elizabeth to enter first, followed by the lady-in-waiting carrying the silver tray and then he shut the door, joining his monarch at the young lady’s bedside. As previously mentioned, he was quite skilled at being a toad.
“Your majesty!” Alice sat up.
Elizabeth sat on the side of the bed, motioned to the lady-in-waiting to come forward with the tray. Her highness took a silver spoon and began to ladle the steamy broth. “There, there, my dear. We mustn’t stand on formalities at times like this.”
Reminded of her recent tragic loss, Alice began to swoon again. “Clarence!”
“Sit up!” she barked at the young woman. Regaining her composure, the Queen smiled. “You need sustenance, my dear.
“You are much too kind.” Alice blew on the spoon and tentatively sipped the broth.
“Don’t be timid. Drink,” Elizabeth said in a soothing tone.
“I’m so sorry to be such a nuisance,” Alice mewed between sips.
“There’s no need to apologize. I’m not oblivious to the affairs of the heart in my own court.”
“Then you know about Clarence Flippertigibbit and me?” she asked, swallowing hard.
“I’d have to be blind not to see the love in your eyes and in the eyes of your young man.”
“We’d have to be blind not to notice the hickeys on your neck,” Robin cracked.
Elizabeth thumped him between the eyes with the silver spoon before dipping it into the tureen to present more broth to Alice, who put her hand up.
“No, please. I’ve had enough.”
“Very well, child.” The queen returned the spoon to the tray, and the lady-in-waiting took a step back. “Don’t fret. Your sorrow is understandable. Try to sleep. Swooning can be terribly exhausting.”
Elizabeth and her entourage left the poor girl as she snuggled down in the covers. The Queen dismissed the lady-in-waiting, but ordered her to find Lord Steppingstone and tell him to come to her private chambers as possible. She and Robin proceeded down the hall to her private chamber.
“You’ve a good heart, Bessie.”
“It’s what I do best, Robin. That’s why they call me Elizabeth the Great.”
“You’re so hot,” Robin murmured in her ear.
She saw Lord Boniface walking down the hall from the general direction of the Spanish ambassador’s chamber. “Not now.” She raised her voice so it echoed through the vaulted ceilings. “Lord Boniface.”
“Your Majesty!” He executed a perfect deep bow. “What a pleasant surprise!”
“Come to my private chamber in half an hour. I’m about to receive information about the Spanish threat.”
“Spanish threat!” Boniface asked incredulously. “What Spanish threat?”
Elizabeth and Robin did not stop nor even slow down as they passed Boniface. Robin whispered, “Half an hour. Will that give us time to—“
“No.”