Free A Love for All Time by Bertrice Small

that which Bess gave so freely she could take away as easily. He had come to England to find his fortune as had many Irishmen before him. As the youngest son in his family there was nothing for him in Ireland, particularly an Ireland ruled by England. He knew his fate was here, and he had no intention of endangering his future. Consequently the Holden twins would have to be forgotten. Instinctively he knew that passionate pair held an element of danger for him, particularly since he had only recently courted their mother. He would seek a less flamboyant arrangement for the court was full of lovely and willing ladies.
    Ladies like Signora Eudora Maria di Carlo, the wife of the ambassador from San Lorenzo. A most toothsome wench who had spent the weeks since her recent arrival in England staring at him with her marvelously expressive amber eyes, and brushing against him as they passed. The ambassador’s wife was tiny and plump, and he doubted not, a delicious armful. The thought of the chase ahead sent a tingle of anticipation down his spine. Last night had given him a distaste for bold and forward women. He far preferred sweet surrender and melting charms to the demands of Baron Marston’s daughters. He intended avoiding them if at all possible, but then perhaps it would not be possible, and he certainly could not cause a scandal. It was a difficult situation, but he had cleverly avoided worse in his lifetime.

Chapter 3

    “ T here is no help for it now,” said Lord Burghley to the queen. “The scandal has been caused, and by not acting to punish Master O’Malley ye make it appear as if ye condone his actions. Yer apt to be tarred with the same brush that tars him. Remember the Dudley scandal. Ye cannot afford it, madame.”
    The queen sighed deeply. “I know yer right, my dear friend. Ye have always had only my interests at heart, but I cannot help but be saddened. I like Master O’Malley!”
    “I know that, madame, and I would tell ye that I like him also. There is really no malice in him at all, and the fact that he has been caught in this situation is unfortunate for there are those here at court who do worse daily, but are never found out. Conn O’Malley is a good-hearted young man, but he has not learned, forgive my bluntness, madame, to keep his cock confined to his codpiece, and it is that sin that has brought us to this moment. The ambassador from San Lorenzo is outraged as he has every right to be. There is no doubt he has been insulted, which means his tiny, but valuable to England, country has been insulted. We cannot have him return to his master, madame, and break off relations with us.”
    “What am I to do then?” Elizabeth Tudor fretted. “I have had Conn confined to the Tower, but I cannot keep him there indefinitely simply because he was caught kissing the ambassador’s wife in a hidden corner.”
    That, of course, was not quite the matter, thought William Cecil, and the queen knew it. Conn had been found wrapped in a torrid embrace with Eudora Maria di Carlo, whose ample bosom was bared to his caresses, whilst the lady had ardently fondled the Irishman. It was in fact the ambassador’s wife’s delighted little cries of pleasure that had drawn attention to their dark corner in the first place. A knock upon the door to the queen’s private closet brought one of her secretaries into the chamber.
    “Madame, Baron Marston, and his family are without. The baron says it is urgent that he speak with ye. It pertains, he says, to the Conn O’Malley matter.”
    Lord Burghley raised an eyebrow. What was this? Was there going to be more difficulty relating to young O’Malley?
    “Let Lord Holden and his family come in,” the queen said, and she turned to Cecil. “I do not think this augurs well, William.” She seated herself in a comfortable highbacked chair for Lord Holden was known to be long-winded. Garbed in a white velvet gown with a wide gold lace neck wisk, the bodice of the gown bejeweled