She had no idea whether she was still under suspicion after giving her testimony, but it was better not to draw attention to herself by wandering the court unaccompanied by her husband. She did not know where he had gone, but her body still bore the marks of his unexpected visit. Occasionally she pushed back the lace-trimmed sleeve of her gown to see the slight bruise he had left on her wrist, remembering the strength of their desire. The memory left her tingling with pleasure. When Mary came back from the kitchens with a trencher for her evening meal, she was full of whispers about the queen’s impending fate. It seemed that although the courtiers in charge of the investigation could not make the dates fit the queen’s movements, this was considered unimportant, for a theory had been put forward that she was a witch and could magically appear at will in any place. ‘Are these men out of their wits?’ Eloise muttered, stabbing at her food with her belt dagger. Suddenly she had no appetite.
