stared at the offending fingers wrinkling her sleeve. “You will unhand me at once, or I’ll see that you are physically removed from this house and never permitted to return.”
When Emma released her, Celestine stiffened her spine and with a haughty gesture crossed to a side table. Pouring herself a goblet of wine she sipped, regarding her stepdaughter in silence.
She was pleased to see that all the anger had drained from the girl. In its place was fear. A terrible, palpable fear that her beloved father and sister had fallen under some horrible spell.
That must be the reason for this silence, Emma thought. Her strong, handsome father had been duped into marriage and was now being betrayed by this woman. And her sweet little sister, who had already suffered the loss of their mother, was now being denied the only comfort she had ever known.
Just how far would this new bride go to insure that all the Vaughn wealth, all the power, all the titles, would be in her hands? Would she poison not only their minds but their bodies as well? At the very thought, Emma felt the terror begin to grow. A woman as ruthless as Celestine would be capable of anything.
“Just how much do you desire to see your father and sister, I wonder?”
“I wish it desperately.” Emma felt a tiny flicker of hope. “Just to assure myself that they are not ill. And if, after seeing me, they should order me to leave, I will do so and never darken their door again. But please, I beg of you, I must hear it from their own lips. Let me speak with Sarah and my father.”
“Sarah is no longer here.”
“Not here? Where has she gone?”
“I had her sent to the country. To stay with friends.”
“But why would you send her away? She’s only six years old. Far too young to leave her father.”
“Aye, young. Young enough to forget.”
“Forget?”
“I wanted Sarah far away from you, Emma. You’ve had too much influence in her young life. Like you, she refused to accept my authority. But she will learn.” A hint of a smile touched the corner of Celestine’s lips. “I intend to keep Sarah away from you. But I might be persuaded to let you see your father.”
“Oh, thank...”
She held up a hand. “Save your gratitude. Before I grant this favor, you must do something for me, to prove that you deserve such kindness.”
“Anything. Anything,” the girl said with a sob of relief.
“As you know, I am cousin to the queen. As such, I can arrange for you to live in the palace, and act as lady-in-waiting to Elizabeth.”
“But I...have had no training in such things. I wouldn’t know what to do. And I would be all alone, for I know nobody at court.”
“All the better. You will get to know them. And one in particular.” Celestine lowered her voice, to avoid being overheard by any of the servants who might be passing by. “It is rumored that the queen is enamored of a certain Irishman, whose advice she values. I need to know what advice he gives the queen, and precisely how she intends to act upon that advice.”
The girl’s hand flew to her mouth. “You wish me to spy?”
“Don’t be so melodramatic. There are no secrets at court. I merely wish to know what everyone else shall eventually learn. Only I wish to know it sooner.”
The girl was already shaking her head. “I cannot do this. What you ask is wrong.”
“So be it, Emma. The choice is yours.” Celestine turned to stare out the window. “I have heard of so many... accidents in the country. A frail child falling from a hay wagon or from the back of a runaway steed.”
Emma sucked in a breath at the bold threat to her little sister.
Celestine turned to fix her with a steely look. “Know this, my ,girl. You will never see your father or sister again. Until,” she added with a sneer, “they are laid in the ground.”
“Oh. How can you be so heartless?” The girl turned away to hide her tears.
“Very well, you sniveling little coward.” Her stepmother waved a hand. “Go. Leave me now. Put your own comfort and your lofty scruples above the safety of those you profess to love.” She turned toward the door. “One of the servants will see you out And the entire household staff will be instructed that you are forbidden to enter your father’s house again.”
“Wait.” Emma began to pace.
Her stepmother counted to ten before saying aloud, “I grow weary of your foolish indecision.”
“All right.” Emma’s shoulders sagged. “I’ll do as you ask.”
Celestine carefully composed herself to hide the glint of triumph in her eyes. It had all been so simple. She had correctly guessed Emma’s one weakness. “I will send word to the palace at once.” She looked the girl up and down and said sarcastically, “I would hope you can find something more fetching than those horrible rags you are wearing. And try to do something with that unfashionable hair. After all, your only purpose in serving my cousin is to snag the interest of the Irishman. See to it as quickly as possible. His name is Conor O’Neil.”
Chapter Two
The Court of Elizabeth I of England
“Your Majesty must, I beseech you, bring the power of your Throne upon these obstinate peasants.” Lord Dunstan, trusted advisor to the queen, was charged with the “Irish problem.” That was how everyone in England referred to the constant upheaval between their land and the tiny island across the sea. At the moment Dunstan was holding forth at a gathering of the queen and her council in a lavish suite of rooms at Greenwich Palace in London.
“Our control over these barbarians remains precarious, Majesty. They defy our laws. They betray our trust. Why, they even revile our religion. A religion, I might add, over which you are charged with supreme governorship. Why, I remember when your father...”
“Leave that.” Elizabeth’s voice had the sting of a scorpion. “I tire of this subject. Besides, I would greet my fine Irish orator.”
Dunstan went deathly pale. Then he glowered at the handsome young man who bowed before the queen. At once she ordered her aged counselor Lord Humphrey to vacate his chair so that the newest arrival could be seated directly beside her.
“Here you are, Conor. You are late again.”
“Aye, Majesty.” More than a little out of breath, Conor bowed before the queen and brushed his lips over her outstretched hand. “I beg your forgiveness. I have no sense of time.”
“You are forgiven, my rogue. Come. Sit beside your queen, Conor O‘NeiL”
Conor O’Neil. The very name curdled Dunstan’s blood.
He turned to several advisors, who were watching in stony silence. “Ever since the Irishman has arrived at court, our
