Free Love, Remember Me by Bertrice Small

this morning, but I have come to serve the queen, and serve her I shall, as loyally and as dutifully as I know how."
    When they reentered the palace, Nyssa found her aunt and Lady Marlowe still engaged in conversation. She had not even been missed. She introduced the ambassador's page to them, but Adela Marlowe, it seemed, already knew of Hans, and gently corrected Nyssa.
    " Baron von Grafsteen, my lady Wyndham," she said with an arch smile. "Am I not correct, sir?" She beamed at him.
    He nodded, annoyed. He did not like being a baron, but his father had died two years before, and he was the eldest son. There was no help for it. He wished that automatic wealth had at least come with the title.
    "Hans is to teach me High Dutch. The lady Anne speaks no other language," Nyssa informed them. "I must have lessons with him every day until the queen arrives. I will be more of a help to her if I can at least communicate with her. Do you not think so, Aunt?"
    "Indeed," Bliss said, pleased with Nyssa for her quick thinking. She would wager none of the other girls appointed maids of honor would bother to learn the queen's tongue. She patted her niece's hand approvingly.
    The Earl of Marwood returned with Lord Marlowe and the young gentlemen. They were introduced to Hans von Grafsteen, and immediately the youngsters became friends. Nyssa felt very much out of place. Her brothers and cousins seemed already at ease in their new surroundings; and her aunt had settled in as comfortably as if she had never left the court at all. Perhaps when the queen came, and she was able to do something other than just stand about, she would feel better. Then suddenly she felt eyes upon her. Looking up, she saw she was being stared at from across the room by a richly clad gentleman. He made her most uncomfortable, and she felt her cheeks grow pink with the heat of embarrassment. She tugged at Lady Marlowe's sleeve.
    "Who is that gentleman staring at me?" she asked her.
    Adela Marlowe looked quickly across the chamber, and then she too blushed. "God's bones! 'Tis the Earl of March. He's one of Norfolk's grandsons, though born on the wrong side of the blanket, I'm told. He's notorious, my child! A dreadful womanizer! Do not look back lest he believe you to be encouraging him. No maiden of good reputation wants to be seen with Varian de Winter, and a girl seen alone in his company is ruined!"
    "He is very handsome," Nyssa said softly, and she didn't think he looked like a villain.
    "Indeed he is," Lady Marlowe admitted, "but he is a dangerous man. Why, I'm told most reliably that. . ." She lowered her voice and whispered to Bliss so that Nyssa could not hear them.
    Bliss paled. "Holy Mother!" she exclaimed.
    "I do not suppose you want to tell me," Nyssa said with some humor.
    "You are too young," her aunt said emphatically.
    "I'm old enough to find a husband," Nyssa teased her.
    "There are some things a woman is always too young to know," Bliss said firmly, "and this is one of those things."
    The two women went back to their gossiping, and Nyssa snuck another look at Varian de Winter. He was now speaking with a distinguished gentleman, and fortunately did not notice her. He had a hawklike face with strong features. His hair was very black, and she wondered what color his eyes were. Unexpectedly, he turned his head and looked directly at her. Placing his fingertips to his lips, he blew her a kiss, his smile wicked. Nyssa gasped and quickly turned away, her cheeks burning. Ohh, he was bold! She did not dare to gaze back again, to see if he was still looking at her, but the hair on the back of her neck felt all prickly.
    D URING the next few days she came to Hampton Court each morning after mass and reported to Lady Browne. Nyssa was introduced to the senior ladies-in-waiting chosen for the queen's household. Two, Lady Margaret Douglas and the Marchioness of Dorset, were the king's nieces. The Duchess of Richmond was his daughter-in-law, being married to Henry,