Free The Twylight Tower by Karen Harper Page A

“may I present my new man, Anne’s second cousin, Luke Morgan.”
    She offered her beringed hand for the young man to kiss, which he did quite smoothly for one new-come to court. “He is more than a body servant and less than a bodyguard, I take it, Harry? Come along then, Luke,” she added, savoring the familiar blush she could bring to a man’s cheek with sudden attention or displeasure—except for Robin, who thought he ruled her, the wretch.
    Her ladies quickly fell in behind them. Elizabeth had been trying to give her courtiers more of her time since Robert was away. At least Harry’s arrival cheered her. They shared a love of music and drama, and bestowing lands and titles on him was her way of elevating her once-slandered mother’s family in everyone’s eyes and diverting attention from the gifts and preferments she showered on Robert. Because she’d named Robin Master of the Queen’s Horse, she’d named Harry Master of the Queen’s Hawks.
    “Oh, I nearly forgot, I have a surprise for you,” she said, turning to her entourage. “Mary,” she said to Robin’s sister, “will you fetch Franklin Dove? Baron Hunsdon will like to hear him.”
    “And who, pray tell, is Franklin Dove?” Harry asked as they descended the steps to walk outside in the shade of the covered passages.
    “Geoffrey Hammet fell to his death last week,” she explained, her voice catching. “I recall he was another young man you had taken under your wing once. Someone surprising came along to replace him, and I had to
carpe diem.
And don’t you be trying to lure this one away with promises of patronage or more than I pay him, my lord.”
    “Then, Your Grace, you in turn will not try to filch Luke from under my aegis. Besides, no one could lure anyone from you, nor can a mere youth tempt me to try to displeasure Your Gracious Majesty. But—Geoffrey fell to his death, you say?”
    As she explained the details of Geoffrey’s demise, she noted Harry’s deepening frown. Unlike many at court, her cousin’s emotions were writ plain on his countenance. She was expecting him to question her or ask what he could do to help probe the death, for he had served her twice thusly before. But as they sat in the shaded courtyard by the fountain and Franklin perched on its stone lip, playing, and Luke stood in the shadows as if he were guarding them all, Elizabeth would have wagered Harry forgot all about Geoffrey Hammet.
    “Remarkable!” he said, looking astounded and awestruck at Franklin’s performance. “Exquisite! Such alacrity and delicacy of fingering, but such robustness in interpretation too. The seething passion held within, I cannot fathom. Your Majesty, as tragicas is Geoffrey’s loss, this lad stands far above him. But fifteen years of age, you say?” he asked, squinting at the boy.
    “And I also said you’ll not pirate him.”
    “Ah, no, but I shall sue for just one favor.”
    “Which is, my lord?”
    He lowered his voice and leaned closer. “I can tell you are determined to put Geoffrey’s loss behind you, Your Grace, so will you not allow me to go up on the parapet where he played for you and portray what could have happened? You could meanwhile sit in your window and watch for what we both might discern. You have done such before in like matters.”
    “I fear, cousin,” she whispered, “you have been talking to the others of my Privy Plot Council, Kat perhaps, Meg or Ned.”
    “No, but will this not set all minds at rest if they are uneasy? And you, no doubt, are far too busy with the kingdom’s business to pursue such investigations anymore. Just allow me to borrow Franklin to play the part of Geoffrey, though I swear to you on my life, I’ll not let him fall.”
    “Aha,” she said, rising, “my Master of the Queen’s Hawks wants to seize my Dove after all. But, yes, Harry, I think that is a worthy idea. We’ll do that tonight to put all suspicions of suicide or murder to rest once and for all. For,”