Elizabeth: The Golden Age by TASHA ALEXANDER Read Free Book Online Page B

the queen, and he led his countrymen from the room. Elizabeth covered her mouth with her hand, unable to stop herself from laughing. She’d never thought entertainment could stem from anything involving Don Guerau. Raleigh was growing more and more attractive. “Continue,” Elizabeth said as soon as the Spaniards were gone. Now Raleigh was smiling, broadly, eyes full of life. He gestured for his men to bring forward the third basket, then drew out of it a gold coin and handed it to the queen. “Gold. You spend it,” he said. “Very satisfying.” She pulled her eyebrows together, all traces of humor gone from her face as she took the coin and examined the image of Philip on its obverse.
    “Courtesy of a Spanish ship that found itself unable to complete its journey,” Raleigh said. She dropped the coin back into the basket. “I can’t accept the proceeds of piracy, Mr. Raleigh.”
    “Philip of Spain is no friend of England, Majesty. The more gold I take from him, the safer you will be,” Raleigh said. “He balks when English ships refuse to respect the monopoly of trade he wants wherever his flag is found. And if you did not agree with me, I doubt very much you’d have sent Francis Drake to annoy him.” Philip had stopped all English ships in Spanish ports, and it had been a paralyzing blow to trade. In response, Elizabeth had unleashed Drake, favorite hero of the seas, explorer and soldier, on her nemesis. He’d met with nothing short of spectacular success. Success that she knew—not only because of what she’d seen when Philip was in England with her sister, but because of the reports from Walsingham’s spies—had made Philip furious. “Well, well.” She considered the man before her. “A political pirate. A logic-chopping pirate.”
    “And Your Majesty’s most loyal subject.” Their eyes met for too long. Yes, she liked him. It was decided. “But not my best-dressed,” the queen said. “Welcome home, Mr. Raleigh.”
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    “Mr. Raleigh.” Walsingham overtook him in an arched corridor after he’d left the Presence Chamber. “A word of advice. It amuses the queen to show you favor. You will naturally take advantage of that. But do keep in mind that even her private affairs are matters of state.” He paused. “Don’t ask for too much.”
    “You think all I want is money,” Raleigh said. “I hope all you want is money.” He walked on. Raleigh watched him go, thinking about his words and realizing that he’d very much enjoyed the queen’s sense of humor and quick wit. Machinating to win favor for his expeditionary plans would not be the chore he’d expected. As Walsingham disappeared down the hall, a tight group of the queen’s ladies burst out of the doors of the Privy Chamber. Their laughter bounced off the walls as light heels clattered on the stone floor. “‘Mud and leaves!’ I nearly died,” Margaret said.
    “‘Patata! You eat it!’” Bess said.
    “She liked him. I could tell.”
    “Well, wouldn’t you?” Bess asked. Raleigh smiled, listening to their banter, pleased to hear himself spoken of in such a favorable way. He walked straight toward them, and both girls fell quiet when they saw him in their path. He met their curtsies with a debonair bow, his eyes singling out Bess.
    “I’m glad to have the opportunity to thank you,” he said. “Without your help, I’d still be in outer darkness.”
    “I did very little, sir.” Bess flushed as she spoke. “You’d already caught the queen’s eye.”
    “Then I thank you for the very little,” he said. Their eyes danced together for a moment before Margaret pulled Bess away from him. The ladies continued on, their chatter and laughter growing more enthusiastic as the distance between them and Raleigh grew. It was a pretty scene. But in the shadows, a man watched, taking careful note of the flirtation, knowing that Walsingham would want a full report. If he hurried, he might hear news from other agents, agents