Rosalind gave a small, tinkling laugh and clasped her hands to her bosom. "Oh, my, Sir Reginald. That would be delightful."

Incoherent now, his mouth opening and closing like a stranded fish, Sir Reginald allowed Jasper to lead him away, leaving Rosalind facing Christopher. She made as if to move past him, but he grasped her firmly by the elbow.

"Where are you off to, my lady?"

Rosalind allowed her gaze to drop to the long fingers wrapped around her arm. "What is it you want?" Despite her best efforts to break free, he steered her toward the shadows at the end of the hall.

"If you wish poems written for you, ask me."

"With your surly and unpleasant attitude, sir, I would fear to read anything you had written about me."

"Obviously."

"What on earth do you mean?" He made no reply. She tried to shake off his grip, but he refused to release her. "Sir Reginald was only being pleasant."

His eyebrows rose. "I can be pleasant."

"I haven't seen any evidence of it so far."

He leaned in closer until his mouth brushed her ear. "My, my, you have a very short memory, don't you?"

She shivered and swallowed hard. "And you've an even shorter memory, judging by your ability to cavort around the court without a care in the world."

His soft laughter was far too intimate for such a crowded place. "Are you jealous?"

She opened her eyes wide at him. "Why would I be jealous? I have plenty of other suitors to choose from."

Christopher straightened, all expression removed from his face. "Ah, yes, and here comes another of them to rescue you."

"I do not need rescuing."

He shrugged. "I know that, but it appears the rest of your 'suitors' don't. Jasper is bearing down on us with a very determined expression on his face."

"Which is hardly my fault. I didn't ask him to."

"Why? Are you enjoying our little chat more than I anticipated?"

Christopher's anger was so glaringly obvious that for a moment Rosalind could only stare at him. His barbed comments hurt far more than she had anticipated and made even less sense.

"Why are you being like this?"

Instantly, she regretted her plea. She'd learned from an early age that it wasn't wise to show weakness. She was well trained in how to handle overbearing men, and she could usually overcome her opponents despite her smaller status.

Christopher's gaze softened. "Rosalind, I didn't mean . . ."

She wrenched free of his slackened grip and swung around to face her cousin. "Ah, there you are, Jasper. Have you come to take me to the king?"

Jasper bowed and took her hand, completely ignoring Christopher. Rosalind found she was clinging to his arm as he led her away and she tried to relax her grip.

"Actually, I've arranged for you to meet with the king tomorrow, but I sensed you needed rescuing." He hesitated and looked back over his shoulder, but Christopher had already gone. "Was Lord Christopher annoying you?"

"He always annoys me."

Jasper snorted. "He is an extremely irritating man. After you left, he actually tried to ingratiate himself with me. I still can't understand why my uncle hasn't broken your betrothal."

"Neither can I." Rosalind kept moving and refrained from turning back to look for Christopher. His anger was puzzling. It was if he felt that she had let him down, but how could that be? She had done nothing to get out of the betrothal or to speak against him to her grandfather. She suddenly felt tired and squeezed Jasper's arm.

"I think I'll go and rest for a while."

"If you are sure you are all right." Jasper studied her for a long moment before releasing her hand. "I am more than willing to keep you company if you wish to avoid your betrothed."

Rosalind smiled at him. "Thank you, Jasper, but I'll retire for the night. I'll be quite safe." She curtsied, and he bowed, and she left the great hall. The clock in the courtyard struck eight times and Rosalind smothered a yawn. If she was to be alert and ready to hear Jasper's suspicions about the Vampires at midnight, a nap would be very welcome. She also needed time to ponder Christopher's behavior. Although, in truth, she was unlikely to understand him if she thought about him for a year and a day.

Chapter 3.

As agreed, Rosalind met Rhys under the archway between Clock court and Basse court. The huge clock boomed twelve times, vibrating the wall at her back. She only wished she had brought her boy's clothes with her instead of having to wear her skirts. Running around in a riding habit and petticoats left much to be desired. But at least she had her dagger. It felt comforting in her hand.

"Are you ready, my lady?" Rhys whispered.

"I'm ready." Rosalind fell into step behind him as he skirted the archway and headed out into the formal gardens. He used the older, more established trees that had shaded the earlier church buildings as cover and Rosalind followed suit. After a little while, he paused to point out a dense line of bushes beyond the more formal knot garden.

"There's the maze. I understand the king intends to pull this one up and build a much grander version."

"Of course he does. Everything the king owns has to be bigger and better than it was before he glorified it with his attention." Rosalind considered the entrance to the maze. "At least it affords us some cover. A new maze would be very hard to hide in."

"True," said Rhys. "I'll go first. I'll call you over when I'm sure it is safe."

Rosalind always chafed at being left behind, but she had sense enough to realize Rhys was well trained to ensure their safety. After all, he had taught her all she knew about fighting Vampires. She studied the long shadows cast by the old yew trees to her left and drew her dagger. Someone was coming. She could only hope it was Jasper.

Rhys lifted his head and beckoned for her to join him at the entrance of the maze. Rosalind gathered her cumbersome skirts in one hand and ran to him.

"There is someone approaching from the right," she whispered.

"Aye." Rhys nodded. "I heard. We'll keep back until we're sure it's Jasper."

To Rosalind's relief, it was indeed Jasper who appeared, his sword drawn, his clothes a dull, serviceable brown that didn't attract notice. In the moonlight, he looked more alert and much harder. With a quick gesture he led them into the first passageway of the maze.

Keeping his voice low, he began to speak without preamble. "Lady Rosalind, I wrote to your grandfather because something is definitely wrong at court. I do not have your womanly skill for sniffing out Vampires, but even I've become aware that there are many more of our enemies gathering at court." He grimaced. "Despite my best efforts, I've had little success in getting any information from Elias Warner. He professes to know nothing, but I'm certain he lies. There is a gleam in his eye that convinces me he enjoys misleading me."

"That certainly sounds like Elias," Rosalind said. "He delights in being deliberately vague-except when he wants something for himself or information for his superiors."

"Perhaps you will have more luck with him, my lady," Jasper replied. "He seemed quite disappointed when you left court and he had to deal with me."

Rosalind shivered as she remembered the Vampire's enigmatic silver gaze. Christopher had warned her that Elias had developed more than a friendly interest in her. And, when forced to share Elias's mind by the rogue Vampire, she'd realized it was true.

"I'll certainly try to get more information out of Elias, but surely the threat must be more specific for you to have requested my presence back at court."

"Oh, it's quite specific, my lady. Do you know the Boleyn family?"

Rosalind felt cold. "I met Mary Boleyn once, and just today I saw both the Lady Anne and her brother, George. But I'm not acquainted with them."

"It is whispered that the family has turned to the Dark Arts to ensure their rise to power. And it has certainly been spectacular."

"Witchcraft? That is what has you worried?"

Jasper hesitated. "I believe the Lady Anne is a Vampire out to win the king to the Vampire cause."

"But, by all accounts, she is just his latest mistress, one of his passing fancies. And he would never be influenced by a mere woman, in any case."

"He doesn't treat her like any other woman. He is determined to have her and she plays him like a fish on a hook. Surely you must have heard the rumors that the king is intending to annul his marriage to Queen Katherine on the grounds of their consanguinity?"

"Those rumors have swirled for years."

"But now the king has a reason to want to be free. Apparently, he has pledged Anne Boleyn a queen's crown and a place at his side as his wife."

Rosalind went still. "Are you sure?"

"Sure enough to write to your grandfather asking for your return. You are better able to detect a Vampire's scent than I am, and you are a maid of honor."

"To Queen Katherine."

"I'm sure if you asked the king, he would be happy for you to serve the Lady Anne instead."

Rosalind shivered and Rhys stepped up close behind her, shielding her body from the wind suddenly whipping through the channels of the maze. "How could I serve Anne Boleyn? I would feel as if I had betrayed and abandoned the queen when she needed me most."

Rhys squeezed her shoulder. "From what I understand, the queen has been forbidden to have more than a handful of followers with her. The king probably wouldn't allow you to go to her anyway."

Rosalind drew in a long breath. "Then I suppose my first task is to see the king and ask him if I might serve the very woman who wants to bring about his downfall." She glanced up at Rhys and then at Jasper. "At least if I can confirm that Anne Boleyn is indeed a Vampire I can inform the king."

Jasper nodded. "If he will listen to you. Many think him already bewitched and set on his course to end his first marriage and marry Lady Anne."

"We can only pray that is not the case and hope for a happy resolution," Rosalind said. "I will certainly do my best to talk to Elias and express our concerns."

"I pray you have more success than I did, my lady." Jasper bowed and smiled at Rhys. "Perhaps you can let me know what happens between the king and Rosalind."

"Of course, Jasper." Rhys bowed in return. "Now I suggest we return to our beds. It's a chilly night."

Jasper departed first, threading his way back through the yew trees. Rosalind turned toward the formal gardens, but Rhys suddenly blocked her path.

"There is someone else out here."

Rosalind tried to look around Rhys, but he shoved her back toward the maze. "Wait."

"There's no need to panic. It's only me."

Rhys didn't lower his weapon and neither did Rosalind.

"What do you want, Lord Christopher?" Rhys asked softly.

"Just to talk."

Rosalind finally succeeded in stepping around Rhys and saw Christopher, dressed in his habitual black, his hands open to display his lack of weapons, his expression somber.

"We have nothing to say to you, my lord."

Christopher smiled. "In truth, I have nothing to say to you, Rhys Williams. Only to Rosalind."

"Who has no wish to hear it."

Christopher glared at Rosalind. "Are you allowing Rhys to speak for you these days?"

"You know I am not."

Rhys grinned. "Mayhap you should, cariad."

A dagger appeared in Christopher's hand. "Did you just call her your 'love'?"

"I didn't realize you spoke Welsh, my lord."

"Never mind that. I don't appreciate you calling my betrothed your 'love.' "

Rhys pushed past Rosalind again and faced Christopher toe-to-toe. "You well know that your betrothal cannot last."

"And you think to take advantage of that fact and poach on another man's property?"

"I am not your property," Rosalind hissed.

Christopher gave her a quick glance. "My chattel, then."

Rosalind tried to get around Rhys, but he held her off with one muscled arm. "I can handle this, my lady."

She kicked him sharply in the shin and he yelped. "You two deserve each other. A pair of more mutton-headed fools I have never seen." To emphasize her point, Rosalind turned on her heel and walked back into the maze. She would wait them out. Perhaps she might even emerge to find they had killed each other, which would cheer her greatly.

The high hornbeam hedges closed in around her, but she kept walking until she could no longer hear their voices. She had an excellent sense of direction, so she reckoned the chances of getting lost in the maze were remote.

Christopher hardly heard Rosalind's cry of exasperation as he gazed at Rhys, a challenge in his eyes. "I have no intention of breaking the betrothal. You know that."

"It won't be up to you. Your family will find a way to release you, won't they?"

"I expect them to try. What is far more interesting to contemplate is why neither family has yet done so."

Rhys relaxed his fighting stance. "I've wondered that myself."