"I think I can, Robin. And, anyway, I must. I cannot help myself.
I am but a woman, after all," she murmured, and sighed. "Be it as
thou wilt. Come to me again when thou art free."
He bent lower, murmuring incoherently, and she put up a hand to
pat his swarthy bearded cheek.
"I shall make thee greater than any man in England, so thou make
me happier than any woman."
He caught the hand in his and kissed it passionately, his soul
singing a triumph song within him. Norfolk and Sussex and those
other scowling ones should soon be whistled to the master's heel.
As they turned arm in arm into the gallery to retrace their
steps, they came suddenly face to face with a slim, sleek
gentleman, who bowed profoundly, a smile upon h is crafty,
shaven, priestly face. In a smooth voice and an accent markedly
foreign, he explained that he, too, sought the cool of the
terrace, not thinking to intrude; and upon that, bowing again, he
passed on and effaced himself. It was Alvarez de Quadra, Bishop
of Aquila, the argus-eyed ambassador of Spain.
The young face of the Queen hardened.
"I would I were as well served abroad as the King of Spain is
here," she said aloud, that the retreating ambassador might hear
the dubious compliment; and for my lord's ear alone she added
under her breath: "The spy! Philip of Spain will hear of this.
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