Suzanne Robinson Read Online Free Page B

the de Guises from meddling in English affairs.
    Blade knew that few temptations would be more irresistible to the cardinal than seeing one of his lineage rule both Scotland and England. And he had trained his niece to believe the crown of England to be rightfully hers as the niece of Henry VIII. Lately the cardinal had entertained many English visitors at a banquet given for Elizabeth’s ambassador. Whenever the cardinal sought out English company, Blade grew wary.The covers on the bed stirred, and Claude’s blond head poked out from under them. “Nicholas?”
    “I am coming.”
    He slipped beneath the sheets. Claude threw an arm across his chest and shoved him into the pillows. Her hands kneaded the muscles of his arms and pressed into the flesh of his buttocks. He resisted the urge to thrust her hands away and was relieved when she left off exploring his body, climbed on top of him, crossed her arms on his chest, and grinned at him.
    “I am well content with my wager. I’ve taken you from Louise St. Michel and given myself more pleasure than I thought possible. The vicomte will be furious.” Claude giggled.
    Blade shoved her off his body and began to free himself of the tangle of covers. With a cry of protest, Claude grabbed him and pulled him back beneath her.
    “What ails you?” she asked.
    “I dislike being treated like an amusing trinket you hang from your girdle and display to your friends.”
    “Oh, poor sweet infant, I’ve touched your pride. Does it not flatter you that so many compete for your favors? The vicomte would give a purse of gold to be here.”
    Blade scowled at her. “I trust you haven’t invited him.”
    “Of course not.”
    “Nor anyone else.”
    “Non
. I’ve no desire to share, but you know the court. Even the cardinal made a jest about my penchant for you.”
    Blade went still. “And what does he know of it? We have never met.”
    “La, he and I had a great quarrel but a fortnight ago. He dared to leave my bed to write letters.” Claude slapped Blade’s chest. “To write letters! I told him he hadn’t worked hard enough if he could still pick up aquill. He fell into a rage. His face turned crimson and he sputtered like an overheated pudding.”
    “I don’t believe you. The cardinal? God’s breath, Claude, you try to make yourself important by claiming a powerful man as your lover.” Blade cast a sideways glance at the woman.
    “I do not,” Claude said. “He is my lover.”
    “Sacré Dieu
, I think not.”
    Claude sat up and glared at him. “He is. You may ask the vicomte or St. André, or your stupid St Michel.”
    “That I won’t do,” Blade said. “I do not ask people about the lovers of a cardinal.”
    “Very well. I can prove it another way. I saw the letter he was writing.”
    Stretching his arms wide and yawning, Blade shook his head. “You could make up any fantasy you wished and claim you saw it in a letter.”
    “Non
, this letter was too odd. Its very strangeness will be my proof, for it spoke of times long past, and events of no importance to France.”
    “Let us send for something to eat.” Blade sat up and scooted toward the edge of the bed.
    Claude captured him in her arms from behind. “You’ll have no food until you admit I am beautiful enough to snare the Cardinal of Lorraine.”
    “Let go,” Blade said. He groaned when Claude boxed him lightly on the ear. “Very well, tell me of this wondrous letter. Mayhap I will believe you.”
    “Oh, it was most strange. The cardinal was writing to someone about the old English king, Henry VIII. He told someone to inquire about Henry’s second queen. What was her name? Anne? He told someone to find out about Anne and an old lover, who was also named Henry. Imagine, the great Cardinal of Lorraine bothering to find out whether some dead queen had a lover.”
    Blade said nothing. He allowed Claude to pull himback down on the mattress. She smacked kisses all over his face and chest.
    “Are you