Exile (15 page)

It has been a most exciting day!

As soon as I could I sneaked away from the dinner table and came back to my chamber to hide my daybooke. Then I wandered about the room, waiting for news of Sharokh and the Heart of Kings. I tried filling the time with some embroidery—poor Robin Redbreast has been much neglected—but I could not concentrate. Then Lady Sarah and Lady Jane came in, united in their nosiness.

“You are a dark horse, Lady Grace Cavendish,” chirped Lady Sarah. “Who is this young man that the Queen so disapproves of?”

“I am not telling you!” I said. I wished they would go away.

“I warrant it is young Toby Pikelet,” sniggered Lady Jane. “He would like a better position at Court, but has no patron.”

“And no chin, either!” put in Lady Sarah.

“I will tell you my secret,” I said sweetly. “It is Sir William Paget. I am thinking of missing supper tonight so that I can dream of him in honour of St. Agnes's Eve.”

Both my fine ladies stopped their tittering at that. Lady Sarah gasped, while Lady Jane cast me a look
that held many a dagger. Then, without another word, they both swept out of the chamber. I was left in peace.

Except I could find no peace. I walked up and down. Then I gazed out of the window to see if there was any river traffic. Then I counted the crests on my bedcover. I got to two hundred and fifty-six and gave up. This was hopeless. I decided I would go for a walk around the grounds. So long as I stayed away from the tower by the Tilting Yard, I would not be breaking my promise to the Queen. I put on my warmest cloak and gloves.

As I walked down the corridor I suddenly had a thought. I could pay an innocent visit to the Banoo's apartments. That way I could at least find out if Sharokh was there.

My knock on the door was answered by Esther, who ushered me in. The Banoo was most gracious about my visit.

“I am pleased to see you, Grace,” she said, with a huge smile. “You are always welcome here. Come, sit with me. Esther will bring us some ale.”

Esther bowed and withdrew.

As we spoke I cast a furtive look round the long chamber. I could see Anoosh and Faruk at the far
end. They were engrossed in a game of chess and had not noticed me. Many of the Banoo's other servants were also there—but not Sharokh. He was nowhere to be seen! I felt my heart race and tried to concentrate on telling the Banoo all about skating and how I had only just learnt the skill. She was fascinated and wanted to know more, but all the time I was thinking about Sharokh. What was he up to at that moment?

There was a scratching at the door that led to Rajah's chamber. In my nervous state I had forgotten about the panther.

“Rajah is awake,” said the Banoo with a smile. “I expect you would like to see him, would you not, Grace?” She motioned to Anoosh, who jumped up and went to fetch Rajah.

“Come, my prince,” called Banoo Yasmine, holding out a hand to the panther. He trotted over and laid his huge head on her palm, looking up at her with devotion. Then he came over to me and rubbed against me like a cat wanting milk. He nearly pushed me off my cushion!

“What a life he leads,” laughed Esther, returning with the ale. “He has eaten well and slept for several hours. Now all he requires is to stretch his legs.”

“May I take him outside, Banoo Yasmine?” I
gasped. After all, I had thought of walking in the grounds, and Rajah's company would certainly help take my mind off Sharokh and the Heart of Kings.

“That is an excellent notion,” said the Banoo. “I can tell that Rajah likes you and will do your bidding. Won't you, my darling?” She kneaded the fur between his ears, which he obviously liked, for he closed his eyes and made a deep purring sound.

I got the most curious looks as I led Rajah through the passageways of the palace on our way to the gardens. He padded nobly along, with his head held high. Most of the courtiers had never been this near to the panther, and some of them did not look as if they liked it much, either! But after a while I realised I could have recommended walking Rajah to Lady Jane and Lady Sarah. Many of the young men who saw us couldn't wait to show how bold they were and I got more attention than I had ever had from them before. Actually it was the panther they made a fuss of, which suited me very well, but doubtless those two fine ladies would have turned it to their advantage. Perhaps I will suggest it to them and see what they say!

A river mist had come up since this morning and the air felt very cold and damp as we went out into
the knot garden. Rajah pulled on his leash as soon as he scented the outdoor smells. He went round every bush, sniffing keenly. I think he had picked up the scent left by something small and tasty-smelling— which probably meant one of the Queen's dogs! And I doubt he had ever seen or smelt fog before.

I wondered what was happening at the Tilting Yard. Surely by now Sharokh must have made his attempt. With any luck, Mr. Hatton had him in chains and the ruby was locked safely away again.

I was itching to make for the Tilting Yard and find out, but I knew I mustn't, so I took Rajah in the opposite direction through the palace gardens. We came to the door in the wall that led to the kitchen garden of the old friary. I knew that Rajah and I would be able to run round the garden if there was no one else there, and the guard at the door was very quick to let me through when he saw my companion.

There were pockets of mist hanging in the air and I could only just see the opposite wall of the overgrown kitchen garden, and the spire of St. Alfege's church in the village beyond. I was glad to have Rajah's company, for the garden felt eerie in the fog.

We were just picking our way over some fallen fruit canes when Rajah stopped and lifted his head.

His keen ears had heard something I had not. I wondered if there was someone in the garden that I could not see. Or perhaps it was just a bird. Then I heard it, too—the sound of running feet. It seemed to be coming from somewhere in the palace gardens.

To my surprise, Rajah began to pull me along the wall towards the far end of the garden. He must have keen sight, for he had definitely spied something. He began to give little eager chirrups of pleasure.

Suddenly the mist cleared in front of me, and now I could see what Rajah had spotted. A figure had appeared on top of the high wall near the end of the garden. He ran nimbly along the narrow bricks with no thought that he was at least fifteen feet from the ground. I recognised who it was and my heart began to pound. It was Sharokh! He must have escaped from the guards.

“Down, Rajah!” I whispered, laying my hand on his head and praying he would obey. He seemed most eager to run and greet Sharokh, but I wanted to stay hidden. I remembered how keen Rajah had been to play with Sharokh in the Banoo's chambers—and how terrified of the panther Sharokh had been at the time. Thankfully, Rajah lay down at my bidding and I crouched beside him. I hoped we were
hidden by the mist and the tangle of forgotten blackberry bushes.

Now I could hear the sounds of pursuit.

“Someone get up there after him!” came the voice of Mr. Hatton from the other side of the wall.

“The men have tried, sir,” somebody answered.

“It is too high!”

“Then shoot him down!” ordered Mr. Hatton.

Sharokh immediately leaped off the wall into the kitchen garden and landed with a swift forward roll, not far from where I was hiding!

I heard Mr. Hatton give an oath. “Quickly!” he called. “You two stay here in case he comes back this side. The rest—follow me to the door.”

I heard running footsteps as the guards rushed towards the door where I had entered. But it would take them a few moments, and Sharokh was now back on his feet and heading for the opposite wall. That way led to Greenwich Village and the river, with its many escape routes. Mr. Hatton and his men would never arrive in time to cut Sharokh off. The plan had gone horribly wrong! Sharokh was going to make off with the Heart of Kings!

Rajah stood up and pulled forwards with a whine. And suddenly I knew what to do. It was so simple. I let go of the leash!

With a happy roar, Rajah bounded joyfully towards Sharokh. Sharokh turned and screamed in terror. I imagine all he could see was the huge black shape of the Banoo's panther flying towards him out of the mist. Rajah knocked him to the ground, stood on his chest, and began to lick his face.

After a few moments, Mr. Hatton and his men came panting up. They slid to a halt at the sight of the felon, felled by a Maid of Honour and a panther! One of them nearly dropped the torch he was carrying.

“Well, my lady,” said Mr. Hatton, wiping his brow. “You seem to have caught the miscreant with the help of that … creature. We had him cornered in the tower, with the jewel in his hand. But somehow he slipped from our grasp.”

“Witchcraft!” muttered one of the guards. A look from Mr. Hatton silenced him.

“We have now but to put him in chains and recover the ruby,” Mr. Hatton finished.

Rajah was nuzzling Sharokh's hair and purring loudly. “Help me!” whimpered the page. “Get this devil cat off me, I beseech you.”

The Gentlemen of the Guard looked at each other. None seemed keen to do as Sharokh asked.

Mr. Hatton cleared his throat. “I wonder, Lady
Grace,” he said, sounding rather ill at ease. “If you have any power over the beast, perhaps you could use it now, so that we can make our arrest.”

I found it difficult to keep my face straight. There stood a lot of grown men in breastplates and not one would go near the panther. They must have thought Rajah had attacked his victim.

I stood over Sharokh and looked down on him. “I will call the panther off,” I told him, “when you have given me the Heart of Kings.”

Sharokh's eyes were wide with fright. Slowly he inched a hand down towards his belt and pulled off a leather purse. Without a word, he nudged it across the ground towards me. I picked it up and opened it. There inside was a ruby. But I wanted to be sure it was the Banoo's gem. I held it up to the light of the guards' flaming torches and saw the twelve-pointed Star of Karim deep within. This was indeed the Heart of Kings! I bent down and took Rajah's leash. “If you make any move to escape,” I told Sharokh, “then I will release the panther again. And we have proved that he can run faster than you!”

Ten minutes later I stood in the Presence Chamber. The Queen sat with the Banoo next to her. On the Banoo's lap was the casket containing the precious
ruby. Sharokh knelt in front of them, his head bowed. He was flanked by Banoo Yasmine's two guards. They looked as if they wanted to kill him there and then. Mr. Hatton's guards were at the door, but they needn't have been there at all. Sharokh was not going anywhere, for I was holding the panther's leash!

The Queen fixed Sharokh with a furious glare. “Explain yourself, you miserable wretch!” she demanded.

Sharokh raised his head. “I humbly beg forgiveness,” he bleated. “It wasn't me. It was Ashraf, the new king. He forced me!”

“Threatening you with great wealth, I imagine!” said the Banoo scornfully.

“No indeed, my lady!” whimpered Sharokh. He began to speak rapidly in his own language.

“Enough!” ordered the Banoo. “You will speak in English. Your actions have been insult enough to her Gracious Majesty.”