“That you will not,” said the queen, haughtily; “you shall not spoil my entertainment. Remain there, good friends,” she added, recollecting her disguise; “we must propitiate the sage. Lead on, Sir Wizard; I will follow.”
“Be assured, madam, that I feel the honor of the visit,” he replied complaisantly, holding the door open for her to enter and then shutting it deliberately in the faces of her discomfited escorts.
“This is your fault, Mistress Wyatt,” cried Lady Rochford, angrily; “and if harm comes to her, you will rue it!”
“Have patience, madam,” said Raby, smiling; “what harm could come to her grace when we are here? and why should the little man design evil against her?”
“There be plenty who do design it,” she replied coldly, “and would gladly compass it.”
“Ay, those who are jealous of her beauty and her high estate,” said Mary Wyatt, with a hard glance at Lady Rochford, who affected not to notice it.
“’Twas no place to bring her in her nervous state,” remarked Mistress Gaynsford; “’tis enough to set a strong man’s heart beating. How could you dream of it, Mistress Wyatt?”
“Alas!” said Mary, passionately, “’tis hard that I who greatly love the queen’s grace should be held charged with this expedition. How could I know that she would plan it? It was as unlooked for by me as by any of you, and from my heart I do regret my careless tongue which tripped out the idle story.”
“You are not to blame,” said Betty, with generous warmth; “’tis a shame to charge it on you. The queen was bent upon some change, some diversion. I know this man Sanders, and truly I do not fear that he will offend her grace, for I believe he knows her.”
“He hath the eye of a ferret,” remarked Sir Francis, “and with you, Mistress Carew, I think he will be careful; he knows that it would cost little to split his gullet if he designed evil.”