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to use the secret way. It is fortunate that today both King and Queen entertain the Spanish and French ambassadors, so the meal will be longer than usual. What are you looking for?”
    “I need to examine the wall near the Chapel Royal as well as the royal chamber.”
    “But I have told you what the words said...”
    Luke raised his hand. “Do not say them. They may hold a significance we cannot understand.”
    “But they are words from the Bible.”
    “Aye, but we do not yet know who wrote them and with what intent. What has happened to the girl’s body?”
    “It has been wrapped and given to her grandmother. Why?”
    “I need to see the poor child. Can you arrange that as well?”
    Gwenette looked at him, chewing the inside of her cheek and frowning.
    “Why?” she asked again.
    Luke sighed. This was precisely the kind of thing that irritated him. Pose that question to Byram Creswell and they would already be on their way, but ask a woman and she had to know Chapter and verse before she stirred a step.
    “I must examine her to find any traces the killer may have left,” he said with as much patience as he could muster.
    She considered. “It could provide fodder for gossip if I were seen visiting Goodwife Brook, Luke. People would conclude I was on the Queen Mother’s business, and that could bring her unwanted attention. Allow me some time to think about it,” she said.
    “You are a gem among women, Gwenette. I am sure you will find a way.”
    “Good. Now, you can show me to the royal apartments using the route my mistress spoke of. They will all be at table. Let us go.”
    Luke took Gwenette through to the kitchen to tell Rob of their plans to visit the palace and seize his scrip. Skirting the Tiltyard, they slipped from the grounds through the gate opposite Bushy Park. By degrees, Luke led Gwenette toward the Royal Mews.
    Muttering an evasion incantation under his breath, Luke rounded the corner, gesturing to Gwenette to stay where she was. He crept into the furthermost stable block. Although a couple of lads came in and out with buckets and straw, neither of them appeared to notice the visitors. Putting down their buckets, the two boys turned and walked straight back out again.
    As soon as the stable hands were out of sight, Luke beckoned his companion forward and sprang towards what looked like a solid wall, pulling on a small knot of wood. At once a door swung open revealing a long dusty passage. Grasping a torch from a rack on the tunnel side of the door, Luke lit it from the brazier. Urging Gwenette to enter, he shut the door behind them.
    The tunnel was longer than he remembered and it was several minutes before the ground began to slope upwards. On the alert, Luke saw the stairway cut into the sidewall and gestured Gwenette to precede him. They were now in the palace proper, walking in the gap between two interior walls. Knowing that any sound could prove fatal, Gwenette pointed at the small door to the Queen Mother’s suite of rooms. Luke shook his head, his first task being access to Queen Madeleine’s privy apartments. A few moments later, they emerged into the King’s bedchamber.
    This would be the most difficult part of all. They had to get from the King’s apartments to the Queen’s without being detected. The bedchamber was deserted, but a basket of logs had been placed in the middle of the room, covered with sacking. As Luke approached, the sacking shimmered. God bless Anne Boleyn. She had arranged for the logs as an aid to walk through the palace undetected. He and Gwenette exchanged glances and smiled.
    “I must go first,” Gwenette whispered. “Carry the logs on your shoulder to hide your face. If we are challenged, I will deal with it.”
    Luke noted her eyes alight with excitement like a child about to embark on an adventure. God alone knew what was on the other side of that door. Hauling the basket onto his shoulder, he nodded. Gwenette opened the door and peered out into the