I inhaled sharply. “A prisoner…”

“I thought you might see it in that light!”

“So I have to live within your governance.”

When he handed me his cup, I gulped the ale inelegantly.

“As would any wife with her husband. And Parliament in its wisdom has decided to leave the judgment against you intact and unrepealed, to hang over your head, undeserving as you are of their compassion. To ensure your future good behavior.” His teeth showed in a cold smile.

“So I am not pardoned.”

“Yes, you are—but only on their terms—and mine.” His expression warmed. “You have of necessity to please me, so that I don’t cast you off.”

“We cannot live without arguing!” I retorted.

“Oh, I think we can.” He stretched his hands across the board again, to pin my restless fingers flat beneath his. “Don’t you trust me? After all we’ve been through? And I thought you liked living with me.”

“Yes…No! Of course I do! But, oh, Will!” The words were there before I could stop them. “When you didn’t come back—I was afraid that you would betray me,” I admitted. “I thought you would agree never to see me again, and I would be alone.…”

“Foolish girl!” He was completely unmoved by my lack of faith. By now he knew my buried fears well enough. “I will only abandon you and drive you from my door if you are very bad and argue over every juncture.”

Turning my hands so that they could grip his, I sighed softly, letting myself respond appropriately to his dry wit. “Then I must be good. I’d better start now!” I reached for the jug again and refilled his cup, one question still remaining. “Why did they do it, Will?”

“That’s simple, my love. The situation in France is deteriorating and they need able men.”

I stared at him. Of course. It made sense. “You.” My heart leaped uncomfortably against my ribs.

“Me, as you say. I think they have in mind a position for me. So they’re keeping me, sweet.”

“You bargained with them.…”

“I did. They’ve too many issues knocking on their door, not least a child king, to spend time on you and me.”

“What did Joan say? Did you see her?”

“Briefly.” His mouth twisted with distaste, but there was a flash of enjoyment after all. “Joan kept her opinions to herself in the presence of the young King’s counselors. She managed to refrain from cursing you—but from the look in her eye I expect she has set fire to Richard’s inherited bed. But for once she made the right decision. She put the good of the realm—my expert offices—before her personal vendetta—you, my love. She needs me.” He yawned widely. “Now, since you’re legally bound to be an amenable wife, or I may cast you from my door, come and help me remove these boots.…”

I removed more than that. Nor was I reluctant.

It was good to have him home.

Windsor was right. What an uncanny nose he had for political intrigue. Within the month he had been offered the eminent position of Governor of the newly acquired port of Cherbourg. His eyes positively gleamed at this new venture, and in them I read that he could not refuse. Nor should he. He was a politician, through blood and bone and sinew.

Ah, well! Loneliness beckoned for me.

“You’ll take it,” I said, a statement rather than a question.

“I think I will.” He slid me a quizzical glance over the official request, heavy with its ink and red seals. “But they’ll not get me cheaply. I’ll make them pay for my loyalty.”

“With what?”

“Aha! Nosy!”

“Tell me!”

“Not I! Or at least, not until I’m sure of my ground.”

Not for the first time, his confidence, his damned superiority, rattled me. “Are you so sure you’ll find the right bait to hook Parliament?”

“Certainly I am. There are few with my expertise in handling difficult provinces or squeezing money out of a reluctant populace.”

He spent the next few days in the parlor, his lawyer and clerk in attendance, the door closed firmly against me. He emerged, so it seemed to me, only to eat and sleep. The work was long and laborious, if the number of ruined quills was anything to go by.

Then, without a word of explanation, we were packed and off to London.

“Why won’t you tell me?” I asked.

“It would risk ill luck to air my plans at this stage. It’s the Lords I need to convince.” He was morose and preoccupied, staring between his horse’s ears. Perhaps he was not as confident as he would like me to believe, which made me shiver. Then suddenly he grinned. “But they will have no answer to make against my arguments, so there’s no reason for you to be concerned.”

Westminster. The memories it stirred up ripped through my careful composure. How is it that dread, even when the reason for it is gone, is easily reawakened? When I had appeared before the Lords, Windsor had been refused admission. Would I be forced to wait out the time in an anteroom with pages and servants whilst he put some questionable bargain before the lordships that they could not refuse? I hated the thought, and my powerlessness in the whole proceedings.

I was not even sure why he had insisted that I accompany him.

“Why am I here, Will?” I asked as we stood in that same ill-fated antechamber.

“Are you afraid?” He looked surprised. “Alice, my love. Would I have brought you back here if I had thought you in any danger at all?” He raised my hand in an unexpected grave and formal salute to his lips. “You are here as Lady de Windsor, my excellent wife, under my protection. The law can’t hurt you.…”

“No, it’s not that,” I admitted. “I’m just not sure why you need me.…”

“Because you are essential to me. Do you think you can manage an air of outraged innocence for the next hour?”

I stared at him.

“Perhaps not. Just don’t speak unless spoken to. Keep your eyes down in a wifely, respectful manner. And follow my lead. And here…”

Rummaging in the leather purse at his belt, he removed an object that glinted gold. Seizing my left hand, he pushed the ring onto my finger. It was a tight fit. With a grunt of irritation, as if it were my fault, he forced it over my knuckle.

“And make sure it’s obvious to every one of them!”

Before I could ask more, Windsor was ushering me into the chamber and I was left to take in the atmosphere. The Lords were expecting an undemanding session to confirm Windsor’s promotion. Self-congratulation sat comfortably on them until I entered at Windsor’s side, with Windsor brushing aside any objection and addressing the Lords with impressive authority. A little bubble of laughter swelled in my breast. The expression on their collective faces—one of fury—was a blessing to me. Windsor ignored it.

“My lords.” His voice and stance captured their attention. “The lady, known to you all, is here at my invitation. She is my wife, my lords. Lady de Windsor. The matter is pertinent to her and so the law makes provision for her attendance. She should not be required to stand. A seat for her, if you please.”

An attendant scurried forward with a stool. Windsor led me to it, ignoring the rumble of comment. I sat. I tried to project outraged innocence, my blood humming in expectation, as I turned the gold circle with its ruby stone around my finger. It did not turn easily. What in heaven’s name was he about? Gaunt, to my relief, was not present, but I did not think it would have mattered one way or another to Windsor.

Windsor bowed to me, then to the assembled gathering, and began without preamble. “I am honored by your offer of the post of Governor of Cherbourg, my lords.”

“We value your experience, Sir William.” I watched Northumberland’s uncertainty with pleasure.

Windsor bowed again, impressively austere in his courtesy. “I am gratified. However, I find my acceptance of the honor is compromised, and I am undecided. A small matter that you alone can rectify, my lords.”

“We will do all we can.…”

“It is the status of my wife, my lords.”

It was as if every man there held his breath. So did I.

“Indeed, sir?” Northumberland had no documents to help him now. I did not smile. I sat demurely with eyes downcast.

“I request, my lords, a reversal and annulment of all your judgments against her.” Windsor’s voice filled the chamber. The air was as thick as smoke.

What are you doing, Windsor? They’ll never do it.

“The law demands that a man—or woman—be tried in the weighty matters of fraud and treason before the Court of King’s Bench. When my wife was summoned by your august selves, she was given judgment by a Commission.” He allowed his eyes to roam thoughtfully over the startled faces. “My wife was not given due process before the King’s Bench, which is her right. Thus, I hold the judgment against her—of banishment from the realm, and most pertinently the confiscation of her property—to be illegal.”

“It was a time of great uncertainty, Sir William,” Northumberland stammered.

“It was a time when the law should have been upheld, my lord, as you and I both know.” Windsor drove on the attack. “Furthermore, my wife was not permitted to be present during the whole of the deliberations concerning her guilt or innocence. She was asked to leave the chamber. I know because I was cognizant of the whole series of events during your deliberations. This is not lawful, my lords. Do I continue? For I regret that there was yet another serious discrepancy between your conduct and the law of the land.”

“Ah…! I am not aware.…”

“My wife, my lords, was not given adequate time to locate witnesses and prepare her case.”

“But, Sir William…”

Oh, how he made them squirm. Oh, how I rejoiced!

“One afternoon and one night, my lords. I know it for a fact, since I was present with my wife at the search for those who might stand for her. It was not sufficient time. It was not legal.”