Free The King's Courtesan by Judith James Page B

whisper in the ear, private looks that spoke volumes; their intimacy was palpable. It warmed him to see it and it made him jealous. Is it Elizabeth I crave…or simply to feel something like that?
    Yet on this strange night fil ed with laughter and music, old friends and old rivals, beautiful seductresses and whimsical kings, the room glowed with color and al that was in it came dancing to life. It almost felt as if he were creaking back to life. He grinned as he watched the king’s lovely courtesan, no longer impatient, for she was the enchantress who’d first cast the spel .
    General Monk, the kingmaker who’d engineered Charles Stuart’s return to the throne, stepped forward to greet him.
    “Sir Robert Nichols! What a pleasure it is to see you, sir!
    You’ve been far too scarce in London as of late.” They exchanged a hearty handshake. “Where have you been, Captain? I’ve been trying to find you.”
    “I have… I had …a smal estate in Nottinghamshire, sir. I’ve left the field of battle for fields of grain, and fighting armies for battling floods and heavy rains.”
    “Ah! Indeed, sir. I know it wel . One thinks that’s what one wants. Away from the smoke and thunder. At last a little peace. But one grows bored. There’s a longing.
    Something’s missing and the days take on a sameness that… Do you know what I mean, Robert?”
    “Yes, sir. I do.”
    “As it happens, I may have a cure.”
    “Sir?” He felt a keen thril of anticipation. Could this be why the king had brought him here tonight? To take one thing away but give him another?

    “You’re a superb warrior, Sir Robert, but more importantly for my purpose, you were always a man one could count on to keep a cool head, think for himself and get the job done.
    How do you like the sound of Colonel Nichols?”
    “I like it, General! I—”
    “General! I see you know our captain.” Charles Stuart came up behind them and embraced them both.
    “I do indeed, sire. He’s a fine soldier. One that I—”
    “And of course you’ve met Lord Rivers. A dear friend from my exile and a war hero himself. Al ow me to introduce his lovely wife, Lady Elizabeth.”
    The general bowed and kissed Elizabeth’s hand.
    “Congratulations, madam. Al London has been abuzz about the capture. Only an extraordinary woman could manage such a feat.”
    “Thank you, General. You’re very kind. But I assure you it was Wil iam who captured me.” She turned to Robert with a bright smile. “Oh, Robert, it’s so good to see you here! I miss our old visits and I worry about you al alone.” Robert greeted them al with a formal bow, but Elizabeth threw her arms around him and gave him a hug. As he set her back on her feet he took a quick glance at the handsome poet who had stolen her away. Though de Veres had never met him, he’d seen the man in taverns and coffeehouses many times before. There was a brightness to his face. Perhaps Elizabeth had done for her libertine what he had hoped she would do for him.
    The man stepped forward and offered his hand and he had no choice but to accept it. “Lizzy has told me many times what a comfort you were to her in the past, Captain Nichols.
    I offer you my thanks for watching over her when I couldn’t do so.”
    He bit back a scathing reply and managed a polite nod.
    This was the man who had put her in danger in the first place.
    General Monk put a hand on his shoulder as if reclaiming ownership. “If it pleases you, Your Majesty, Sir Robert is a mighty fine soldier. I’ve a proposition to put to him regarding the Coldstream Guard.”
    “Ah, reunions. Aren’t they grand. I had no idea the captain knew so many of my friends. But I’m afraid it wil have to wait, General. In fact I must ask you al to excuse us. As it happens, the captain and I have business to discuss before the dancing begins. Wil you forgive us?” A beaming Elizabeth curtsied while the general and Wil iam responded with a bow. His Majesty put a