Read Online Elizabeth: The Golden Age by TASHA ALEXANDER - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: TASHA ALEXANDER
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Whitehall, their way lit by thousands of candles. “We shall dine in comfort,” Elizabeth said, leaning toward him. “But this palace could use a true banqueting hall. I ought to have one built. Are you interested in architecture?”
“I—I hardly know.” His voice was still shaking. He was a decent-looking man, far too young for her, but his nervousness touched her and she would not see him tortured by the court. For a moment, she considered him for Bess. They would make a good match. But she was not yet quite ready to give up her friend to matrimony.
Soon they were seated at an ornately dressed high table, on which stood an enormous castle sculpted out of sugar, flags depicting the arms of Elizabeth and the archduke flying from its towers. Musicians and tumblers waited on one side of the room, ready to entertain the guests, and there were more people in the room watching the party, eager to see the spectacle, than had been invited to eat. Among the observers was Walter Raleigh, who had taken care to dress in the latest court fashion, as handsome a man as had ever been in the palace. Bess Throckmorton lowered her eyes as she met his smile with one of her own. Elizabeth, watching, raised an eyebrow.
“So tell me, Mr. Raleigh, in your sea battles—how do you sink an enemy ship?” one of the courtiers asked, hardly able to take her eyes off him. “You shoot holes in its sides, I suppose.”
“No, ma’am,” Raleigh replied. “A sunk ship is of no value. The object is to capture and command.”
“And how do you do that?” she asked.
“Surprise. Speed.” He leaned closer. “Irresistible violence.” Calley, next to his captain, rolled his eyes.
Elizabeth could just make out their voices and was fully distracted by watching Raleigh flirt. She appreciated a man who could hold the attention of so many ladies, whose handsome features were matched with a quick wit and a ready smile. A not inconsiderable length of time passed before she realized that she was ignoring the archduke, who was picking at a dish of spiced rabbit.
“I think you’re not as accustomed as I am to eating in public. I have a secret.” She lowered her voice. “I pretend there’s a pane of glass— eine Glasscheibe —between me and them.” With an elegant flair, she moved one hand before her face, indicating an imaginary pane of glass, noticing as she did this that Bess, who had stepped away from her, was still watching Raleigh. Amused, she beckoned for the girl, who came to her at once.
“He interests me.” Her voice was low. “Talk to him.”
“Him, my lady?” Bess asked, moving her head slightly to indicate the man in question. “Him.” She was not being subtle in the least; it was obvious she was staring at Raleigh. Bess nodded, tugged her lip, blushing as she set off to speak to him. Elizabeth took a bite of chicken with rice and almonds and turned back to the archduke. “His Highness is tired after his journey.”
Shy beyond measure, frozen, he stared ahead, trembling, and Elizabeth could practically imagine him trying and rejecting responses to her simple statement. She did not rush him, gave no indication that he was taking too long. At last he spoke. “No man can be tired in the presence of so lovely a queen.”
“You play the game very well, my young friend.” Breaking a piece of crust off a mushroom pasty, she spoke softly in German, hoping that would make him more comfortable. “But don’t you find it hard sometimes not to laugh?”
His eyes flew wide, then relaxed as Elizabeth shot him a conspiratorial smile. “I’m too afraid to laugh,” he said.
“Why be afraid? We poor princes can only do our duty, and hope for the best.”
“You’re very wise, madam.” Grateful relief flowed from him, and he scooped up a large bite of rabbit from his plate, then drained his glass of wine before applying himself to the rest of the meal and accepting a heaping serving of golden steamed custard seasoned with
“I—I hardly know.” His voice was still shaking. He was a decent-looking man, far too young for her, but his nervousness touched her and she would not see him tortured by the court. For a moment, she considered him for Bess. They would make a good match. But she was not yet quite ready to give up her friend to matrimony.
Soon they were seated at an ornately dressed high table, on which stood an enormous castle sculpted out of sugar, flags depicting the arms of Elizabeth and the archduke flying from its towers. Musicians and tumblers waited on one side of the room, ready to entertain the guests, and there were more people in the room watching the party, eager to see the spectacle, than had been invited to eat. Among the observers was Walter Raleigh, who had taken care to dress in the latest court fashion, as handsome a man as had ever been in the palace. Bess Throckmorton lowered her eyes as she met his smile with one of her own. Elizabeth, watching, raised an eyebrow.
“So tell me, Mr. Raleigh, in your sea battles—how do you sink an enemy ship?” one of the courtiers asked, hardly able to take her eyes off him. “You shoot holes in its sides, I suppose.”
“No, ma’am,” Raleigh replied. “A sunk ship is of no value. The object is to capture and command.”
“And how do you do that?” she asked.
“Surprise. Speed.” He leaned closer. “Irresistible violence.” Calley, next to his captain, rolled his eyes.
Elizabeth could just make out their voices and was fully distracted by watching Raleigh flirt. She appreciated a man who could hold the attention of so many ladies, whose handsome features were matched with a quick wit and a ready smile. A not inconsiderable length of time passed before she realized that she was ignoring the archduke, who was picking at a dish of spiced rabbit.
“I think you’re not as accustomed as I am to eating in public. I have a secret.” She lowered her voice. “I pretend there’s a pane of glass— eine Glasscheibe —between me and them.” With an elegant flair, she moved one hand before her face, indicating an imaginary pane of glass, noticing as she did this that Bess, who had stepped away from her, was still watching Raleigh. Amused, she beckoned for the girl, who came to her at once.
“He interests me.” Her voice was low. “Talk to him.”
“Him, my lady?” Bess asked, moving her head slightly to indicate the man in question. “Him.” She was not being subtle in the least; it was obvious she was staring at Raleigh. Bess nodded, tugged her lip, blushing as she set off to speak to him. Elizabeth took a bite of chicken with rice and almonds and turned back to the archduke. “His Highness is tired after his journey.”
Shy beyond measure, frozen, he stared ahead, trembling, and Elizabeth could practically imagine him trying and rejecting responses to her simple statement. She did not rush him, gave no indication that he was taking too long. At last he spoke. “No man can be tired in the presence of so lovely a queen.”
“You play the game very well, my young friend.” Breaking a piece of crust off a mushroom pasty, she spoke softly in German, hoping that would make him more comfortable. “But don’t you find it hard sometimes not to laugh?”
His eyes flew wide, then relaxed as Elizabeth shot him a conspiratorial smile. “I’m too afraid to laugh,” he said.
“Why be afraid? We poor princes can only do our duty, and hope for the best.”
“You’re very wise, madam.” Grateful relief flowed from him, and he scooped up a large bite of rabbit from his plate, then drained his glass of wine before applying himself to the rest of the meal and accepting a heaping serving of golden steamed custard seasoned with
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