Read The Winter Queen for Free Online Page B

fine white manchet-bread.
    â€˜What is it you care about, Rosamund?’ Anne asked. ‘Did one of the gentlemen catch your eye?’
    Rosamund shook her head. She could hardly tell Anne how handsome and intriguing she found AntonGustavson. Anne was already an amusing companion, and she surely could offer some sage advice on the doings at Court, but Rosamund feared she would not refrain from teasing.
    â€˜I will tell you a secret, Anne,’ she whispered. ‘If you swear to keep it.’
    â€˜Oh, yes,’ Anne breathed, wide-eyed. ‘I am excellent at secret-keeping.’
    â€˜I have no interest in Court gentlemen,’ Rosamund said, ‘Because there is a gentleman at home I like.’ Perhaps that would make Anne let her alone!
    â€˜A gentleman at home?’ Anne squeaked.
    â€˜Shh!’ Rosamund hissed. They could say no more as servants delivered yet more dishes.
    â€˜You must tell me more later,’ Anne said.
    Rosamund nodded. She didn’t really want to talk about Richard, but surely better that than Master Gustavson. She poked her eating knife at a roasted pigeon in mint sauce. ‘How is so much eaten every night?’
    â€˜Oh, this is naught!’ Mary Howard said. ‘Wait until the Christmas Eve banquet, Lady Rosamund. There will be dozens and dozens of dishes. And plum cake!’
    â€˜We never can eat all of it,’ Anne said. ‘Not even Mary!’
    Mary ignored her. ‘The dishes that are not used are given to the poor.’
    As the talk among the maids turned to Court gossip—such as who stole unbroken meats from tables which they were not entitled to—sweet wafers stamped with falcons and Tudor roses were brought to the tables. The wine flowed on, making the chatter brighter and louder, and the laughter freer. Even Rosamund felt herself growing easier.
    She almost forgot to wonder if Anton Gustavson still watched her. Almost. She peeked back at him once,only to find he was talking quietly with a lady in tawny-and-gold silk. The woman watched him very closely, her lips parted, as if his every word was vital to her.
    Unaccountably disappointed, Rosamund swung back to face forward again. She certainly hoped that life at Court would never make her behave like that.
    As the last of the sweets was cleared away, the Queen rose to her feet, her hands lifted as her jewelled rings flashed in the firelight. The loud conversation fell into silence.
    â€˜My dear friends,’ she said. ‘I thank you for joining me this eve to honour these guests to our Court. This has only been a small taste of the Christmas revels that await us in the days to come. But the evening is yet new, and I hope Master Vernerson will honour us with a dance.’
    Nils Vernerson bowed in agreement, and everyone rose from their places to wait along the walls as servants pushed back the tables, benches and chairs and more musicians filed in to join the lutenists. Anton stood across the room, the attentive lady still at his elbow, but Rosamund turned away.
    â€˜I do hope you know the newest dances from Italy, Lady Rosamund,’ said Mary Howard, all wide-eyed concern. ‘A graceful turn on the dance floor is so very important to the Queen.’
    â€˜It is kind of you to worry about me, Mistress Howard,’ Rosamund answered sweetly. ‘But I did have a dancing master at my home, as well as lessons in the lute and the virginals. And a tutor for Latin, Spanish, Italian and French.’
    Mary Howard’s lips thinned. ‘It is unfortunate your studies did not include Swedish. It is all the rage at Court this season.’
    â€˜As if she knows anything beyond “ ja ” and “ nej ”,’Anne whispered to Rosamund. ‘Mostly ja —in case she gets the chance to use it with Master Gustavson! It is very sad he has not even looked at her.’
    Rosamund started to laugh, but quickly stifled her giggles and stood up straighter as she