"If you ever need a messenger
to me, apply to John Heywood. He is a friend whom we can trust."
And she sprang forward to meet the princess, to recount to her all
the particulars of her adventure, and her happy rescue by the master
of horse.
Elizabeth, however, listened to her with glowing looks and thoughts
distracted, and as the queen then turned to the rest of her suite,
and, surrounded by her ladies and lords, received their
congratulations, a slight sign from the princess called Thomas
Seymour to her side.
She allowed her horse to curvet some paces forward, by which she and
the earl found themselves separated a little from the rest, and were
sure of being overheard by no one.
"My lord," said she, in a vehement, almost threatening voice, "you
have often and in vain besought me to grant you an interview. I have
denied you. You intimated that you had many things to say to me, for
which we must be alone, and which must reach no listener's ear.
Well, now, to-day I grant you an interview, and I am at last
inclined to listen to you."
She paused and waited for a reply. But the earl remained silent. He
only made a deep and respectful bow, bending to the very neck of his
horse. "Well and good; I will go to this rendezvous were it but to
blind Elizabeth's eyes, that she may not see what she never ought to
see. That was all."
The young princess cast on him an angry look, and a dark scowl
gathered on her brow. "You understand well how to control your joy,"
said she; "and any one to see you just now would think--"
"That Thomas Seymour is discreet enough not to let even his rapture
be read in his countenance at this dangerous court," interrupted the
earl in a low murmur.
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