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but then ye’ll find that out soon enough.”
    There was nothing more to be said, Aidan realized, and so she quickly washed her hands and face in the basin of perfumed water that the serving woman had brought her, and then looking into the mirror the woman held up Aidan sighed. Her hair was a disgrace! Doing the best that she could she tucked the wisps and strands carefully beneath her cap, and looking at herself again shook her head. From the few people she had already seen here at court it was painfully obvious that Mistress Tailleboys’ observation had been correct. Her gown was, if not old-fashioned, dull. The black velvet of the fabric did nothing for her skin, and the high neckline was positively prim compared to what the other women were wearing.
    “We must hurry,” Robin said to her gently. “Don’t worry about how ye look. I’ll give ye the name of my mother’s dressmaker.”
    She flashed him a quick grin, and Robin thought surprised that Mistress St. Michael wasn’t quite the plain Jane he first thought her to be. With the proper clothing, the right hairdo, and jewels, she would be more than passable. He brought her back to the queen.
    “Ahh, my country mouse is back.” Elizabeth, who was now in a good humor, smiled. “Are ye settled?”
    “Yes, madame, thank ye. My kinswoman, Lady Clinton, has most kindly given me a tiny room belonging to her husband for my servant and me.”
    “Very good,” came the queen’s reply, and then she handed Aidan her elegant workbasket.
    Opening it Aidan frowned. “ ’Tis a disgrace, madame. Yer box has not been neatened in weeks. ’Twill take me several days to sort it all out.”
    “I will want to work on my embroidery after supper,” the queen said testily.
    “Show me the piece, madame, and I shall gather the threads ye’ll need,” Aidan answered calmly.
    Across the room Elizabeth Clinton smiled softly to herself. Mistress St. Michael was obviously going to be a credit to the family, and she could not have been more pleased. She must speak to her husband about the possibility of making a good match for the girl. One that would aid their family, and make it more powerful. She cudgeled her brain to remember what she could about the St. Michaels. There had to be money for it was rich merchant stock. There were certainly lands, and as she remembered both the late Lord Bliss and his father had had a mania for adding to the original grant. She couldn’t be certain—after all it had been twenty-four years since they had had any contact with Lord Bliss and his family—but it was very possible that Aidan was an heiress of considerable wealth. She hadn’t been quick to volunteer any information about herself, but thought the Countess of Lincoln, there was plenty of time to learn what she needed to know. In the meantime she must speak to Ned.
    When it was time for the evening meal to be served Robin signaled discreetly to Aidan, and took her into the dining hall, showing her where to sit with the other maids. “Ye stay with the queen until she dismisses ye,” he said. “I’ll be there to lead ye back to yer room later.”
    “Thank ye, Robin. I may call ye Robin? Yer most kind.”
    “Of course ye must call me Robin. All my friends do, and I know already that I can count ye among my friends, Aidan St. Michael.”
    Suddenly at the end of the hall there was a disturbance of sorts. Two young men were quarreling noisily, and one of them made to draw his sword. “Not in the queen’s presence!” hissed the other loudly. “I will apologize before I will allow you to ruin yerself that way, man!”
    Looking at the man who spoke Aidan found herself unable to turn away. He was without a doubt the handsomest, most beautiful man she had ever seen in her whole life. Dark, dark hair. A tall, perfect form. The face with its high cheekbones, and dimpled chin. What color were his eyes? She was desperate to know, but stood too far from him to be able to see. “Who is that