Deception

The Twenty-third Day of November, in the Year of Our Lord 1569 The Queen's Presence Chamber--after breakfast I have a new daybooke and I cannot wait to begin writing in it! I am determined to keep this book neat and tidy with my best lettering throughout--and not make it look as if a drunken spider has crawled over it. I am seated on a cushion with the other Maids of Honour in the Queen's Presence Chamber awaiting Her Majesty's arrival. She is busy with matters of state. We have a huge fire, for it has been mightily cold this last week. Indeed, the river Thames itself has frozen! The ice is thick enough to walk on and everyone is talking about the Frost Fair that has been set up on the frozen water near the landing steps to the Inns of Court. It is so exciting! We hope to visit today, when Her Majesty has finally finished with boring state business. Outside, the ice and frost look very inviting, but inside it is gloomy and we have much need of candles. The other Maids are working at their embroidery and Mrs. Champernowne, Mistress of the Maids, is scowling at me for not doing the same. She looks ready to pounce the instant I make the tiniest ink blot upon my kirtle. But she dare not chide me too much, as Her Majesty herself gave me this daybooke and my fine quills and ink bottle. Ha, ha, Mrs. Champernowne! The Queen is my favourite person in the whole world. She has taken me under her wing and often shows me great kindness, because-- * * * Hell's teeth! I have nearly spoiled my book already. I had to duck from a flying cushion. It would seem that the matters of state did not go well, for the Queen has just burst in and is now roaring round the chamber like a baited bear. I'm not sure I should compare Her Majesty to a bear--baited or otherwise. However, this daybooke is for my eyes alone, so I don't think I shall have my head cut off! Besides, as I was about to write before the cushion interrupted me, I am a favourite with Her Majesty the Queen (except when she throws things). She has never forgotten that my dear mother, God rest her soul, died saving her life last year. My mother was Her Majesty's close companion, and the Queen was almost as sad as I was when she died. So she made me a Maid of Honour, though I was only twelve, and vowed to protect me always. And now I am also Her Majesty's secret Lady Pursuivant. If she should cut off my head, who would then pursue all wrongdoers who trouble the Queen's peace? Oh, dear, Her Majesty is glaring our way. I shall put my daybooke away for a while before some accident befalls it. Later this Day, still in the Queen's Presence Chamber The royal storm has now abated--but it was most exciting while it lasted. Her Majesty paced up and down, flapping a letter she'd just received, looking as if she would breathe fire on the poor messenger, who cowered in the doorway waiting for an answer. "What do you think is in that letter?" Lady Sarah whispered. "Mayhap there is another problem with the new coin Her Majesty is having minted," Mary Shelton suggested as she laid down the bonnet she is embroidering for her new niece. "What problems are those?" asked Lady Jane, wide-eyed. I was surprised that Lady Jane could have missed the tantrums and countless changes of mind the Queen had had. It had taken Her Majesty months to choose a design that pleased her. Mr. Anthony, her engraver, was up to the palace with new designs almost every day. We were all greatly relieved when Her Majesty finally declared that the pattern of a griffin rampant would adorn the new, pure silver coin. Her Majesty told me once that she thinks the griffin to be the epitome of nobility, with its head of an eagle and its body of a lion. I think it looks a bit ugly, buCavendish, Grace is the author of 'Deception' with ISBN 9780385733212 and ISBN 0385733216.