Come do honour to the Spring!
And join us in our merrymaking.”
And when she had said that she made two more nice little curtsies and handed up the flowers to the Queen.
“If we had known your Majesties’ purpose,” said a tall, narrow-faced man in a long gown, “your Majesties had had another than this rustic welcome.”
“Our purpose,” said the King, “was to surprise you. The Earl of Arden, you say, is hence?”
“His son and daughter are here to do homage to your Highness,” said the gowned man, and then Elfrida saw that Edred was beside her.
“Hither, lad,” said the King, and reaching down a hand caught Edred’s. “Your foot on mine,” said his Majesty. “So!” and he swung Edred up on to the saddle in front of him. Elfrida drew nearer to the white horse as the Queen beckoned her, and the Queen stooped low over her saddle to ask her name. Now was the moment that Elfrida had wished for, now was the chance, if ever, to warn the Queen.
“Elfrida Arden’s my name,” she said. “Your Majesty, may I say something?”
“Say on,” said the Queen, raising fine eyebrows, but smiling too.
“I should like to come quite close and whisper,” said Elfrida stoutly.