Marie held the note in her fingers, looking at it doubtfully. It was addressed to her, thrust secretly into her maid’s hand by a stranger in the crush outside the palace gates. At least that was the girl’s story. She tore it open.
“You are a patriot, the sister of Nicholas of Reist, and the King’s friend. By you he may be warned. The American woman who with her father has come to Theos, was betrothed to him in London. She has come to claim her position. The people of Theos will never accept as their queen a woman of humble birth, the child of tradespeople. Let the King be warned.”
She tore the note into a thousand pieces, and walked restlessly up and down the great room. Her eyes were lit with fire, and a scarlet spot burned in her cheeks.
“Oh, if he should dare,” she murmured. “If he should dare!”
She stopped abruptly before the picture of Rudolph. The flickering light of fifty wax candles from the huge silver candelabra on the oaken table lit up the dull canvas. It was Ughtred himself who looked down at her.
“Queen of Theos!” she murmured. “Why not? We have drunk together from the King’s cup.”
“Countess!”
She turned quickly round. Brand had come silently into the room.