Read Online Court of Traitors (Bridget Manning #2) by V.E. Lynne - Free Book Online

write, but the quill had barely touched the surface of the parchment before she was interrupted by the sound of a single knock. She hastily finished her opening sentence, set down the pen, traversed the chamber and opened the door. She was met by the sight of a young girl standing impatiently in the corridor.
     
    “Lady de Brett?” the girl asked rapidly, and just a touch insolently for one who appeared to be not yet fifteen.
    Bridget crossed her hands demurely in front of her and looked the girl straight in the eye. “Yes, I am Lady de Brett. And you are?”
    “I am Anne Bassett, maid of honour to Her Majesty Queen Ja ne,” the girl replied gaily. “I bear a message for you from my mistress. She would like you to present yourself in her quarters forthwith. I am to conduct you there, my lady, if that is acceptable to you.”
     
    Bridget dug her fingers into the folds of her gown and tried to keep her expression as impassive as possible. Jane wanted to see her? Whatever for? Lady Rochford had told her that the queen had no use for her, which was no surprise, given the events of the recent past. So why the peremptory summons? She had no option but to find out. “It is perfectly acceptable to me, Mistress Bassett,” Bridget responded calmly. “In fact, I would be honoured to accompany you to Her Majesty’s apartments, but as you can see, you have found me at my leisure and therefore I am not properly attired to see the queen. Please allow me a few minutes to don an appropriate dress.”
     
    Anne Bassett nodded, and Bridget headed to a tiny antechamber where she furiously began combing, pinning and piling her blonde hair on top of her head, preparatory to covering it with a French hood. She threw off her robe and changed into a dark grey gown, one of her oldest and simplest, which she thought would please Jane. It was difficult putting on even the most basic of gowns on her own but finally, once everything was in place, she checked her reflection in the mirror and was reasonably content with what she saw there. She returned to the doorway and fixed the young maid with a brilliant smile. “Come then, Mistress Bassett, lead the way. I am ready to go.”
     
    Anne Bassett spun around and, with a self-assurance that belied her years, led Bridget away from her lodgings and towards the queen’s. On the way there, Bridget had time to further ponder what on earth Jane could want with her. Bridget was inextricably linked with Jane’s predecessor, a woman Jane herself had had no regard for in life and would not want to be reminded of in death. Lady Rochford had let Bridget know that her presence was unwelcome, and Sir Richard was not so important a person that his wife’s friendship needed to be cultivated. Her mind ticked over at a brisk pace, trying to hit upon the right reason for her summons, but so far she could only draw a blank. She sighed and Anne Bassett glanced back at her, a strange smile playing around at the edges of her lips. Clearly, Bridget’s summons was no mystery to her . This pert, little maid, with her freckled face and vivid blue eyes, knew exactly what was going on. Bridget’s heart rate picked up, and she tried, unsuccessfully, to loosen the stomacher of her gown.
     
    They soon came to a part of the palace that Bridget recognised, and she no longer had to pay such close heed to the direction of Anne Bassett’s steps. She knew now exactly where she was. She looked around at the familiar scenery and took note of the changes that had taken place. They were many. She passed by the section of wall where a portrait of Queen Anne had once hung, the portrait she had seen torn down by laughing tradesmen on the day of Anne’s execution. A new tapestry depicting the Three Fates had taken its place, and Bridget glanced at it as closely as she could as they trooped past—the figure of the most lethal of the Fates, Atropos, her gleaming golden shears gleefully cutting the thread of life, seemed to leap out