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Frances Walsingham and Helena.
    Frances waited until we were alone, then she said, “Your Majesty, I wish to stay. I feel it is my duty to remain by your side.”
    I looked at her. She was a plain little thing, not at all befitting the widow of the glorious Sir Philip Sidney. Ever since his death, she had effaced herself so that she was hardly visible. Even her name made her invisible, being the same as her father’s—Francis Walsingham. I thought it very odd for father and daughter to share a name. “Frances, it is your duty to obey me.”
    â€œBut my father is embroiled in running the war! I am not just a little girl to be sent home. I know too much ever to be free of fear and worry. I will do better to remain at the center of things. Please, please, let me stay!”
    I shook my head. “No, Frances, you must go. For my own peace of mind.” I turned to Helena. “And you, too, my dear friend. You must return to your husband and children. Families should be together now.” That made Frances’s request all the more unusual. “Frances, your little daughter—my goddaughter, let me remind you—she needs you. You must be with her when there is threat of war and turmoil.”
    So they departed—Frances glumly, Helena lovingly, kissing my cheek and saying, “It will not be long. I shall soon be back.”

    Drake, Hawkins, and Frobisher were out to sea, along with a goodly part of the navy. I suddenly had questions about the ships and the agreed-upon deployment, details only a seaman would know. Of all my able-bodied seafarers, only Walter Raleigh was still on shore to be consulted. Oh, how he had protested against his assignment—to be responsible for the land defenses of Devon and Cornwall. To stay at home when the others would set sail. To yield his custom-built fighting ship, the Ark Raleigh , to Admiral Howard as his flagship, now renamed the Ark. But he had bowed to necessity and done an excellent job not only fortifying Devon and Cornwall but inspecting the defenses all along the coast and up into Norfolk. He argued for heavy cannon to protect the deepwater ports of Portland and Weymouth as well as Plymouth, the port closest to Spain. It was essential, he said, to prevent the Armada from securing a protected, deep harbor to anchor in.
    Raleigh had managed to levy an impressive number of citizens to serve as land defense. But they were armed with home weapons—billhooks, halberds, longbows, pikes, and lances—which were no match for a professional soldier’s musket and armor. Our land defense was puny. Only our sailors could save us.
    Walter arrived in his best attire, his face glowing with hope. I quickly dashed it. I was not going to alter his assignment and send him to sea.
    â€œYour Majesty,” he said, trying to hide his disappointment, “I am here to serve you in any way you in your wisdom deem best.”
    â€œThank you, my dear Walter,” I said. “I rely on that.” I always enjoyed his company. His compliments were not so extravagant that I could not believe them. He was attentive without being fawning. He was pleasant without straining to be ingratiating, and he was not above gossiping. He also was good-looking and every inch a man. That was why I had made him captain of the Queen’s Guard, an entire company of two hundred tall, handsome men in gold and red livery. Their duties were to protect me and attend on my person. I certainly encouraged them to attend to that duty.
    â€œThe reports I have received about your work on the coasts have been excellent. I am only grieved that they were such a shambles to begin with,” I told him.
    â€œWe are so seldom invaded that it is natural we neglected to see to them. Not since your father’s day has an invasion been a serious possibility,” he assured me.
    â€œThere have been some successful ones. The Romans, for one. The Vikings. The Normans. It is