“Anna!” She paused and took in a breath. “Mistress Anna, you are very brave, returning to court with” – her eyes flickered over to Max – “with him.” She turned to King John. “This is Mistress Anna, my lord,” she said, “my late lady-in-waiting, and Max Brant.” Anna shivered at the choice of words. She wasn’t dead, after all.
“I remember,” the king said. “I danced with you at the spring ball.”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Anna said, sinking into a curtsey. “Please allow me to offer my condolences for your loss.”
“Thank you.”
Matilda rose to her feet. “You have nerve, returning to my court with the lover you ran away with!” She stepped off the dais and walked over to her. “Do you expect me to forgive you, Mistress?”
Anna bit her tongue as a wave of heat rolled over her. “My lady, let me introduce my husband.”
“Your Majesty,” Max said. Matilda glanced at him, then returned to Anna.
“You married the man who dishonored you? Well, I suppose there was nothing else you could do.”
“You are mistaken, my lady,” Anna said, her rising dander making her tone flat. “Max did not dishonor me. The day I disappeared I had been taken prisoner by the king’s brother, Prince Rupert.”
Anna saw King John start at her words. Matilda stared at her for a long moment, before glancing out the window. “Pray tell, Mistress, why would my late husband’s brother do such a thing?”
“I overheard him talking to His Majesty, and he accused me of spying.”
“And were you?”
“No, my lady.”
Matilda turned and paced the room. “Why should I believe you?”
Anna took a step forward. “Please, my lady,” she said, “did I ever displease Your Majesty while I served in your chambers?”
Matilda stared at her for a moment before replying. “You did not.”
“Did I act dishonorably or give you cause to doubt my word?”
The queen turned away and started pacing the room again. “No.”
“I did not do what I was accused of, my lady,” Anna said softly.
Matilda stopped her pacing and turned to look at Max. “What about you?” she said. “You vanished about the same time as Mistress Anna.”
“I freed her from her prison and returned her to her family,” Max said.
“So you also claim wrongful accusation?” she said.
“Of course,” he replied.
Matilda resumed her pacing and for a moment all that could be heard were her footsteps against the stone floor. King John was watching his mother intently, and Eastwich stared out a window. Matilda halted and turned once more to Anna. “Be this as it may, I cannot receive you back at court,” Matilda said. “I was sorry to hear that you had run away, and I would be glad to think you are innocent of the charges, but even if that proves to be the case, you cannot return.”
“No, my lady,” Anna said. “I did not come here today to seek reinstatement. But I did want to give you an explanation, as well as offer my fealty to you and our new monarch.”
Matilda nodded, then turned to look at Max. “No-one will believe you have allowed yourself to be snared into marriage,” she said.
Max’s hand rested on Anna’s back. “I am not concerned what others may believe, my lady,” he said, “just as long as Anna knows that she alone holds my heart.”
“Even though she may not come back to court, you will always be welcome. You do know that, Max?” she said.
Max looked down at Anna, and she felt the heat spread through her back where his fingers splayed over her skin. “Thank you, Your Majesty, but if my wife is not welcome here, then neither am I. I have no desire to be anywhere except at Anna’s side.”
“Yes, my lady. I understand she is married.”
Matilda nodded. “Yes. But before she left she packed up your belongings.” She waved over a footman and whispered something to him before looking back at Anna. “Wait in the antechamber and someone will bring them to you.”
“Thank you, my lady,” Anna said. She turned to the young king. “Your Majesty, I wish you a long and prosperous rule.” King John glanced at his mother before nodding.
“Thank you, Mistress,” he said.
Anna and Max waited in the antechamber in silence. Half an hour had passed when Betsy hurried into the room, holding the cage of canaries in one hand while she clutched a wooden chest against her hip with the other. She greeted Anna with a small curtsey. “I’m so relieved to see you well!” She glanced at the floor. “I never believed the rumors set about by Lady Blanche.”
“Thank you, Betsy,” Anna said. “I didn’t run away with Master Max, but I did end up marrying him!”
Betsy looked up with a smile. “I wish you all the happiness in the world, my lady.” She nodded at the canaries. “I took over the care of these when I returned from the march. I am very glad to deliver them safely into your hands.” Max relieved Betsy of the cage, and Betsy pressed the chest she was holding into Anna’s hands. “I’m afraid Mistress Blanche raided your gowns,” she continued, “but I managed to keep a few things safe for you, in case you ever returned.” She leaned closer. “Your pearls are in there, as well as your personal correspondence,” she said in a low voice.
“Thank you,” Anna said. Betsy bobbed her head, and without another word left the room. The box she had given Anna was made of wood, with a small latch on one side. Anna pulled the pin free and glanced inside. Her string of pearls lay on top of a pile of letters, and tucked into the corner she saw a piece of paper, folded into a tiny square. She placed the box on the bench and pulled out the note, unfolding it slowly. ‘A mere arrow is useless against a beast,’ she read. She turned to look at Max, who glanced down at the note.
“I knew then that you still cared for me,” he said.
“Why didn’t you say anything?” she said.
“Because you needed to know it too, my darling.”
She smiled. “I know it,” she said. She linked her arm into his as they walked out of the room, the box tucked under her other arm. “I believe I’m done here,” she said. “What about you?”
Max smiled down at her. “I think I can safely say I never want to return to this place again.”
Anna drew back in mock consternation. “But what about all the women who will be left utterly distraught at your absence?”
Max grinned and drew her closer. “I thank you for your consideration,” he said, wrapping his arm around her shoulder. He buried his nose into her hair, drawing in deeply. “But you,” he said, and she could hear the laughter in his tone, “are as much shrew as one dragon can handle.”
Books in The Dragon Archives series:
Bound by a Dragon
Pursued by a Dragon
Loved by a Dragon
Facing a Dragon: A novella (a free ebook for subscribers only)
Dance with a Dragon
For more information about these books go to www.lindakhopkins.com. May sure you sign up to receive free access to short stories not available anywhere else (including Facing the Dragon, which covers the time period between Books III and IV), updates about new books and a chance to enter into prize draws. You can also connect with Linda on Facebook.
About the Author
Linda K. Hopkins lives in Calgary, Canada, in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains, with her husband and two daughters, but originally hails from South Africa. She also spent a few years living in England. Linda loves reading, dark chocolate, coffee and travel. Sometimes she even tinkers on the piano, but sadly, her teen daughter is the better musician!
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56