Page 51 of The Changeling

‘Go, Caitlín,’ Mary said through white lips. ‘They will no’ dare lay a finger on me.’

I hesitated and she gestured with a hand that shook.

Reluctantly I obeyed, dragging Carlin by her collar. My limbs did not seem to work properly. I went through the queen’s bedroom to her presence chamber. Signor Rizzio’s limp and bloodied body lay by the wall. He had been stabbed dozens of times. The king’s dagger was protruding from his back.

Dizziness almost overwhelmed me. I looked away, and went shakily down the narrow servants’ staircase to the ground floor. Carlin growled and glared at the door, one paw raised, so I eased it open just a crack and peered through.

The hall was full of belligerent men with bloodied daggers and swords.

‘Make sure the gates are barred and every door locked,’ one shouted. ‘No-one is permitted in or out. Double guards on the queen’s door, and allow no-one in to see her, except the king. Quick march!’

Most of the men hurried off, but the ones who remained were heavily armed and brutal-looking, so I carefully shut the door again and crouched behind it, my arm about Carlin’s neck to keep her quiet, waiting for a chance to safely creep back to my room. After a while, there was a series of thumps and thuds. I opened the door a crack and peered through. Signor Rizzio’s body had been hurled down the main staircase and tossed across a chest against the wall. The guards began to strip him of his furs and jewels. Then Robbie and his brother and father strode up the hallway, followed by their men-at-arms.

‘By my soul! What has happened?’ Lord George’s voice rang out. ‘Where is her Grace? If she’s been hurt …’

‘Her Grace is unharmed, and no hurt is intended to her,’ one of the guards replied. ‘As soon as she agrees to pardon the exiled lords and promises their estates will not be confiscated, she will be released.’

‘Are you mad?’ Robbie cried. ‘To murder the queen’s man in front of her … she could have been hurt, she could have lost her baby.’

I flung open the door and ran towards him. He saw me and raced to meet me, catching me in his arms.

‘Caiti! By God, there is blood on your face and on your dress. Are you hurt?’

I shook my head.

‘You were there? You saw?’

I nodded.

‘Sweet Mother of Christ!’

‘This is no place for a lass,’ Lord George said, moving to join us, Rory close behind, his hand on his sword. ‘Caiti, go to your quarters, while we do what we can do to help the queen.’

‘She is a prisoner,’ I said in a voice that did not seem like it belonged to me. ‘You canna speak to her. They are holding her captive.’

‘God’s wounds!’ Lord George cried. ‘Who has dared such a thing!’

‘Her brother,’ I said. ‘He means to rule in all but name.’

Lord George stared at me, thunderstruck, then cast a quick look around. Most of the men had returned to stripping Signor Rizzio of his clothes and paid us no heed, but one was watching us with frowning, suspicious eyes.

‘Hush,’ Lord George said. ‘Let us not speak of this now. Go to your chamber, while I try to discover the truth of the matter.’

‘I’ll take Caiti to her room, Father. It’s not safe for her to go alone.’

His father nodded. ‘Be quick, Robbie. Do not linger. The next few hours may be crucial for the whole country.’ He looked at me. ‘I am sorry you had to see such a dreadful thing. Lock your door and do not come out.’

Robbie led me to my room, and I went silently, Carlin slinking at my heels. He sat me on my bed, then dipped his handkerchief in the jug so he could wash my face like I was a child.

‘Those scoundrels! How dare they do such a thing! Cold-blooded murder, in the queen’s own chamber.’

‘Why?’ My teeth were chattering. ‘Why did they do it?’

‘A warning to the queen? She planned to confiscate the lands of the rebel lords this week.’

‘But in her own private rooms? When she is with child? How can they be so cruel?’

He hesitated. ‘They must’ve wanted her to know that she is not safe anywhere, that it could have been her life they took this evening and not that of her servant.’