Read Online The Thorne Maze by Karen Harper - Free Book Online

shrugged slightly and frowned down at his armful of papers. “I visited Stamford in the spring, but it is my new land and building project at Theobalds I long for. But never,” he added, nodding to enunciate each word, “at the price of leaving my queen when she has need of me. And with this nearly fatal attack upon your royal person, we must be steadfast and vigilant.”
    Touched, she placed a hand on his arm. “Indeed, Sir William, Principal Secretary Cecil, Master of the Court of Wards, Chancellor of Cambridge College—and many more honors yet to come—your queen ever has need of you, and especially now. But when I soon visit Cambridge as we’ve planned and stay at my old home of Hatfield en route, Theobalds is but a scant few miles’ ride. And so, I shall go to see your land and building project there.”
    She was amazed that tears glazed his eyes. “It’s not worthy of your presence yet,” he insisted, “though I intend to make it so someday when the Cecils can house the queen’s majesty and your court for a fine visit. So far, despite the spacious grounds, it has but an old moated manor house I’ve scarce spent a night in—and, they say, it is haunted.”
    “Haunted?” she repeated, as her mind flashed to her strange experience in the chapel corridor yesterday.
    “And a further curiosity I hope to take Templar to see,” Cecil went on, “though I warrant you would fancy it, too, Your Grace. A water maze.”
    “Indeed? I’ve never seen such. Flooded by a stream or moat?”
    “A sturdy stream feeds both maze and moat. The hedges are planted in barrels with stone ballast, and one must row oneself through the shrubs. Templar will love it.”
    “Speaking of Templar, I had asked Bettina not to tell anyone what happened last night, but I never intended for a wife to keep such from her husband, so I must correct that, if she hasn’t told him already.”
    “How could a woman keep that in? To rescue and revive her queen?”
    “Perhaps if we put Templar’s and your fine minds together—with mine, too—we shall discover not only someone we suspect but someone we can question and imprison. When we restage the crime tonight, I intend to take Templar and Bettina with us.”
    With Cecil in her wake, the queen swept into the room where the Suttons awaited. As he bowed and she curtsied, Elizabeth found herself assessing them as she had everyone so far this morning by their height and musculature. Her attacker had been tall enough to easily reach those garters over her head and strong enough to throw her down. Templar was tall enough, but his body seemed almost frail, however firm and resonant his voice. Bettina was not only petite but had breasts like a shelf—though they were bound up last night to get her in that dress. Yet, she surely would have felt Bettina pressed up against her back. No, her attacker had either been a muscular man or a tall, spare woman of some strength.
    Elizabeth welcomed them and indicated they should sit across the small, round table from Cecil and her. The Suttons’ eyes grew wide as Cecil put down his papers to pour wine and the queen herself passed the plate of sweetmeats.
    “This privy audience is a great, great honor, Your Majesty,” Templar said.
    “Master Sutton, I believe you retired to bed directly after the masque last night,” Elizabeth began.
    “As ever, I lull myself to sleep by concocting legal conundrums for my students to debate. After dinner each night at Gray’s Inn, I write out a legal problem and place it before the salt, so that two of the inner benchers may argue it, and I retire to bed immediately after hearing their pros and contras. But I wish to extend an invitation to you to visit our law school at the inn, Your Majesty. You have graced us with your presence on holidays, but you would honor us even more if you would come to see the daily making of an English lawyer.”
    “I believe I have your curriculum and encouragement to thank for the fine men