Free Love, Remember Me by Bertrice Small Page A

Duke of Richmond, the king's bastard son by Elizabeth Blount. There were two countesses, of Hertford and of Rutland; and Ladies Audley, Rochford, and Edgecombe, plus sixty-five other women of lesser rank. Nyssa was presented to the Earl of Rutland, who had been appointed Lord Chamberlain of the new queen's household. The management of that household would be his responsibility. She met Sir Thomas Denny, to be the queen's chancellor, or chief secretary, and Dr. Kaye, the kindly cleric appointed the queen's almoner, or chaplain.
    There would be a dozen maids of honor, of which only the Bassett sisters—Katherine and Anne, who were the daughters of Lord Lisle, Governor of Calais—and Nyssa Wyndham could be certain of their appointments. There was a list from which the other girls would be chosen, and of course, the new queen would have maidens with her. Most of them would eventually return to Cleves, making places for other English girls, but certainly one or two would remain with Anne. As the available places were so scarce, there was some grumbling about the appointment of a girl unknown to the court.
    The king silenced the carping by greeting Nyssa effusively her second day at court. Spying the girl with Lady Browne, Henry called to her, and Nyssa dutifully came forward to make her curtsey to the king. Henry raised her up himself, kissing her on both cheeks.
    "So, my young lady Wyndham, you have arrived safely. What think you of this court of ours? Is it unlike anything you have ever seen?"
    "Indeed, Your Grace, it is! I have never been anywhere as grand. Lady Browne is working hard to teach me all I must know to be of true use to our gracious queen. I am even learning High Dutch!"
    The king beamed with obvious pleasure. "Is she not every bit as sweet as her dear mother, my friends?" he demanded of his companions. "You remember Blaze Wyndham, my little country girl? This is her daughter, Lady Nyssa Catherine Wyndham. She is my personal choice to serve my new queen. I have promised her mother that I would keep her safe here among us, for Blaze was most reluctant to let her go." He patted Nyssa's slim hand. "Run along now, my sweet child, back to Lady Browne."
    Nyssa curtsied once again beneath the king's approving gaze.
    " Well ," murmured Lady Rochford to Lady Edgecombe, "that's one place that is well-secured. He has made it quite plain to us all, has he not?"
    "Assuredly," Lady Edgecombe agreed. "I fear it shall quite pique Lady Browne. Twelve places to fill, and at least half will be from Cleves. Margaret had hoped to benefit from the other six, and here the king has filled three of them with girls who cannot be overruled."
    "I can see places for the Bassett girls," Lady Rochford said. "After all, Anne served in Queen Jane's household, and Katherine with the Duchess of Suffolk, but this Wyndham chit is a nobody. Just because her mother was the king's plaything all those years ago . . . " Lady Rochford's dark eyes grew round with speculation. "You don't think the king is interested in the daughter now, do you?"
    "Don't be ridiculous," replied Lady Edgecombe. "He's about to be a bridegroom again, and is already enamoured with the new queen's portrait. He has no time right now for another woman. Besides, the chit is young enough to be his daughter."
    "The new queen is also young enough to be his daughter," Lady Rochford noted meanly. "She is but five months older than Princess Mary."
    Lady Edgecombe looked horrified. "You are mad to voice such a thing aloud!" she said. "Are you not satisfied to have been restored to favor despite your unfortunate connections?"
    "Connections by marriage only, and I am widowed now," Jane, Lady Rochford said. "Remember that I am related to the king himself on my mother's side, although being related to Henry Tudor is certainly no guarantee of personal safety."
    Winifred Edgecombe paled. "You will end up without your head one day, Jane," she warned. "As for Lady Nyssa Wyndham, the king has