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for approval, and all nodded.
    After the meal which ended with plates of paper-thin sugar wafers, and tiny glasses of Malmsey wine, there was dancing. The queen adored dancing, and any gentleman who hoped to catch her favor was wise to be light on his feet. Shyly Aidan watched from the sidelines as the evening progressed. She noted that Conn O’Malley danced with no one before he danced with the queen; but once he had satisfied honor, he never danced with the same lady twice. At one point two beautiful young women got into a scratching, screaming match over whose turn it was to dance with the handsome man. Aidan never knew what it was Conn said to the two to stop them, but suddenly both were sunny-smiled, and one waited patiently on the sidelines while the other danced with the tall Irishman.
    No one asked Aidan to dance although her five pretty companions were most active. It didn’t matter to her, however, as she was extremely weary from her trip. She far preferred watching for she was discovering that the court was a fascinating place, and she expected that once she was up on all the current gossip, and knew the faces that matched the great names it would be even more interesting. As intriguing as it all was she was relieved when the queen called an end to the evening, and she trekked out with all the other maids of honor to accompany her majesty back to her apartments. There Elizabeth Tudor dismissed her maids, and Aidan found Robin at her side ready to lead her back to her own little room in the attics of Greenwich Palace.
    “The queen never found time for her embroidery tonight,” remarked Robin mischievously.
    “Nay, she did not,” replied Aidan, “but had she, the threads she needed were ready, my lord Southwood.”
    He chuckled. “Yer going to do just fine here, Aidan. My sister, Willow, the Countess of Alcester, will be returning to court for the Christmas revels, and I shall introduce ye to her. She is a bit younger than ye, but yer much alike. I think ye’ll find her a very good friend to have.”
    “Perhaps a lady of such exalted rank will not want to be friends with one of lesser rank.”
    “Willow married rank,” Robin remarked, “although she has behaved her entire life as if she were royalty. She was plain Mistress Willow Small until she was fortunate enough to trap Alcester in her little net.”
    “She is older than ye then?”
    “Willow will be seventeen in the spring. She met Alcester here when she was a maid of honor.”
    Aidan was curious. “How is it,” she asked, “that yer family name is Southwood, and hers Small? Has yer mother been married twice?”
    “My mother has had six husbands,” said Robin calmly, “and children by all but the fifth one.”
    “How many children?” Aidan was fascinated.
    “Eight. Seven of whom are alive today. My father, and my younger brother, John, died of the whitethroat. I have two elder brothers named O’Flaherty, one of whom is on his estates in Ireland, and the other at sea for he would one day captain his own ship. Both are wed. Willow is my older sister, but I have two younger sisters, Lady Dierdre Burke, and Velvet de Marisco, as well as a younger brother, Lord Padraic Burke. Padraic is a page with the Earl of Lincoln’s household.”
    “Where does yer mother live, Robin? In Ireland?”
    “My mother lives on the estate of Queen’s Malvern which borders yer own Pearroc Royal .”
    “They are the family that moved in last year?”
    “Aye.”
    “I never had time to pay them a call, and welcome them to the district as I should have. My father was ill then, and we could not entertain.”
    “I am sure,” said Robin, “that my mother knew that, and understood.”
    At this point they had arrived back at Aidan’s chamber. Robin bowed to her politely saying, “You will be expected to accompany the queen to chapel in the morning. I will come to fetch you. Good night, Aidan.”
    “Good night, my lord.” She opened the door to the room and