Free The Tudor Vendetta by C. W. Gortner Page B

compensate for his deficiency. “I believe that at the very least, we have no other alternative than to question the Spanish ambassador.”
    “Then do so,” said Elizabeth. “Only be discreet. Remember, His Excellency the Duke of Feria is a confidant of Philip’s. Moreover, if this gift came directly from Philip and was not a mere token of his esteem chosen by some menial, why did His Excellency not deliver it to me in person? The other royal envoys presented most of these gifts, as is the established custom. Yet seeing as Feria did not, indeed that he has shunned all but the most obligatory contact with me, is it possible these gloves did not come from Spain at all?”
    Walsingham gave a grunt of consideration; Cecil looked even more troubled. To me, her question was valid. If the new reign’s bureaucracy was as unsettled as Cecil described, anyone with knowledge of the inner workings of the palace could have hired someone to deliver the box. Her mention of Feria unsettled me, however. I recalled him well, a rigid Spanish nobleman I had met during my time in Mary’s court. He had stood by and watched Peregrine die in my arms. I also knew he bore Elizabeth no love. Could he have orchestrated the assassination attempt at Philip II’s behest? I had to doubt, if only because it was so obvious an attempt. Feria would surely have anticipated suspicion falling upon him and covered his tracks. Given what we knew thus far, taking into account the lack of poison on the gloves, it increasingly felt to me as if this would-be assassin was taunting us. Which left—
    “The message,” I said to Walsingham. “We must decipher it. If the culprit wants us to know his intent, it is there. He will not make it easy for us.”
    “So it would seem.” Walsingham cleared his throat. “I’ll work on it at once, Majesty—”
    Elizabeth did not let him finish. “I will see to it.” She extended her hand. “Lord Robert spoke the truth about Dr. Dee; while the man is an eccentric, I’ll grant you, he is also a marvel with ciphers. Robert can bring the message to him. In the meantime, you will perform the necropsy and assist Cecil with searching the delivery records and questioning Feria.”
    Walsingham inclined his head, giving her the parchment. Though he must have been taken aback to have his own expertise supplanted by the seer dubbed a “madman” by Cecil, he did not comment on it, and neither did I. It was evident Elizabeth sought to entrust Dudley with a weighty task that would satisfy his ever-urgent need to feel important.
    “And your women?” asked Walsingham. “Are they all familiar to Your Majesty or is it possible that one of them could have slipped this box among the other gifts? It would not be difficult, with so many to keep track of and your time in the palace so recent. And if you have strangers in your employ…”
    “Do you imply that I cannot trust my own household?” Elizabeth sounded brusque, but she was not questioning his judgment. He simply confirmed a fear she already harbored, that anyone in her life could be suspect.
    “I merely suggest the women should be questioned as well,” replied Walsingham. “We cannot be too cautious. May I request leave to arrange it with your chief gentlewoman?”
    For a moment, I thought I saw Elizabeth falter. Then she said, “Yes, of course. Though I fear Lady Parry, who oversees my women, has gone to visit relatives, while my other matron Mistress Ashley is still at my manor of Hatfield. However, you may apply to Mistress Stafford, who was nearly poisoned here today. She has served me many years and I trust her implicitly.”
    “Majesty.” Walsingham made his retreat to the door. Cecil lingered. Realizing he desired to talk with her in private, I decided to join Walsingham. I might be of help to him, though the thought of cutting up the dog made my stomach turn. As I made my leave, sidestepping the jumble of caskets, coffers, and other items littering the floor,