Free The Queen's Rival by Diane Haeger

England and her young husband was the miscarriage of another royal child. To convalesce and to mourn, she did not return to court, but instead went to Windsor. Only her ladies to whom she was closest were summoned there to attend her. Bess, Jane, Elizabeth, and Princess Mary were to go on to Richmond Palace with the others to await the triumphant return of the king and his collection of soldier-courtiers, all of whom Bess had heard about but could not begin to imagine. That, however, would come soon enough.

Chapter Three

    October 1513
    Richmond Palace, Surrey
     
    H e led the three of them blindfolded, holding hands and giggling beneath a little vine-covered trellis. The aromas were a delicious mix of late-blooming roses and the burning of raked leaves coming from the great fields beyond. Bess was the first to remove her blindfold, Jane and Elizabeth following suit, so that they all saw the feast of sweets at nearly the same time. Before them on a small table, covered in white linen, was a cornucopia of gingerbread, marzipan, and crystal dishes full of jam and plump berries. There were chargers, ewers, goblets, and finger bowls. It was quite a display; one fit for a king. The girls gasped with delight, then began to giggle again when they realized he had done this especially for them.
    “However did you pull this off? It is magnificent; definitely one of your better ones, Gilly,” Elizabeth exclaimed, clearly impressed.
    Bess watched them closely to see if she could detect anything romantic between them; a glance, a smile, or a flirtation. But Gil looked at Bess instead.
    “Did it surprise you?” he asked her.
    “Completely,” she replied, smiling with the same delight as the other girls. She had only ever tasted marzipan once at home two years earlier when Lord Mountjoy had paid them a visit.
    “Gilly does things like this for us all the time,” Jane remarked, nonplussed. “The king, of course, would have laid it all out on silver.”
    “Obviously, I am not the king,” Gil replied, and Bess could hear the disappointment in his voice.
    “Well, since I have no idea what the king would design, I think it is glorious. May we try some?” Bess asked. She watched his smile return.
    “Try the gingerbread first while it is still warm.” He grinned as a greedy bee droned beyond the trellis. “I had Agnes prepare that especially for you.”
    Elizabeth and Jane sat down on the little iron garden bench behind the table, and each took up one of the confections.
    “Agnes?” Bess asked, letting Gil lead her to one of two little stools he had placed on the opposite side of the table.
    “The king’s favorite baker. She has been at court, she says, since he was a child, and she likes to spoil him.”
    “And you?” Bess supposed, once again surveying the impressive display spread out carefully in bowls, dishes, and plates.
    “I suppose you could say she fancies me a bit as well.”
    “Nonsense,” Elizabeth put in uncharitably as she took a rather unladylike mouthful of gingerbread. “In true court fashion, Gilly flirts with anyone and everyone to get what he wants.”
    “Untrue.” He smiled slyly. “But I do study diligently from our good king.”
    A moment later, everyone began to laugh, and realizing now that this casual banter was simply the way they were with one another, Bess relaxed and felt free to delight in the first taste of warm gingerbread in the crisp autumn air.
    “So what other surprises have you managed, Master Tailbois?” she asked with a smile as Jane and Elizabeth began to chatter excitedly about the king’s imminent return. “Since it was your idea that I steal into the king’s private chambers, I imagine they are all quite creative.”
    “I do what I can to be noticed by comely girls. Believe me, it is not always easy with the stiff competition here. So, if you don’t mind, I shall guard my ideas.”
    “I could simply ask the two of them,” Bess said, indicating Jane and