Free The Lost Duchess by Jenny Barden

described: adventurers ready to farm and lay bricks? Women prepared to risk their lives to make homes in the wild? I doubt that many of General Lane’s veterans will be prepared to go back to Virginia again. I hear they have been spreading tales of woe about their experiences.’
    ‘Soldiers make poor settlers, and those who complain about hardship are not the kind we want as citizens. These are the gentlemen upon whom our Virginia will be founded.’ He indicated the men around the table with a sweep of his hand. ‘I would lead the expedition myself if …’
    ‘No! I forbid it.’ The Queen clutched at his shoulder, and Emme could see the force with which her fingers dug into his flesh through his thin muslin shirt. ‘Sit,’ she commanded.
    He did, and turned his head to her hand still gripping his shoulder, then he raised his eyes to her face.
    ‘You will stay,’ she said softly. ‘If Spain declares war I shall need you here to protect us.’
    He laid his hand over hers.
    ‘I will stay, just as the Earth always stays with the Moon. I will never be far from you and I will never fail you.’
    She sighed, squeezed his shoulder, closed her eyes for a moment and let go.
    ‘Then who will lead this bold venture.’
    ‘Master White, here, has put forward his name as Governor.’ Sir Walter motioned to the limner who inclined his shaggy head. ‘He is well acquainted with the region having surveyed it for this chart.’ He gestured to the map. ‘Master Simon Ferdinando will act as pilot for the next expedition just as he did for the last.’ Sir Walter turned to the Indian, Manteo. ‘Our good ally, Manteo, will assist us from his island of Croatoan.’ He pointed to another island, near Roanoke, along the thin line between the huge lake and the sea. ‘Others at this table have already volunteered.’ He looked round as Kit stood.
    ‘I offer my skills as a Boatswain who has circumnavigated theglobe with Sir Francis Drake.’ Kit bowed to the Queen. ‘It will be a privilege to serve.’
    ‘And I will join as a settler,’ another man said as he rose.
    ‘Aye,’ said another, ‘I also.’
    Emme watched Kit standing there and bit back the urge to shout that she would go too. She yearned to tell them all she was prepared to leave everything and risk her life for the chance to start afresh in the land of promise; she could be as brave as any of them for that. But she did not need to make an idiot of herself to know that the reaction would be derision. She would never be taken seriously if she spoke up like a man, so she held her tongue as the Queen spread her arms.
    ‘I applaud you,’ she said, clapping lightly before turning to Sir Walter. ‘You may have the rootstock, but you will need more than this to plant a whole colony.’
    Emme looked from the half-dozen men standing to those still sitting down, Master Harriot amongst them. Perhaps his skills were too great to risk on another voyage. Who else would go? Where would the families come from that Sir Walter had spoken of? In the silence that followed within the hall, the sound of cheering outside seemed to grow louder.
    Sir Walter got to his feet, walked over to one of the windows, opened it and leaned out.
    A great roar swelled up from the street. He waved and beckoned for the Queen to stand by him and as she moved closer the noise became a crescendo.
    ‘There,’ he said to her. ‘There are the people we need: the salt of the earth.’
    A lump rose in Emme’s throat. The venture was so courageousit made her want to weep, but there was no place in it for her. She stepped back feeling excluded, wanting the shadows to swallow her. Then she flinched from the touch of something against her hand.
    She looked round to see Master Kit by her side. His hand enveloped hers, and as he turned to her he smiled.
    Without thinking, she pulled away.
    At the first opportunity before leaving Durham Place, Emme visited the garderobe and washed her hands. She locked the door,