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had ever seen her before. Threats against herself I had known her receive with impossible calm, but threats against her own servants seemed to have loosened her grip on that famous self-control.
    ‘Sir, this is unacceptable,’ she told him. ‘You have no authority to take my women away from me. If it is my name on Dee’s papers, what have my servants to do with this business?’
    Miguel de Pero spread his hands wide. ‘Perhaps nothing, my lady. We have arrested John Dee and intend to ask him the same question as soon as the Queen’s councillors have finished their interrogation. But if you are innocent, you can have no qualms about allowing us to question your servants.’ His smile was terrifying. ‘In my experience, a servant will often talk where the accused refuses to do so. So I like tobegin with the servants and . . . erm . . . work my way upwards.’
    ‘And how am I supposed to live without my women?’ Elizabeth demanded furiously, and I could see how desperately she was searching for reasons why he should not take us. ‘I am a princess at a royal court. Am I now expected to fetch my own meals and dress myself as best I can without my ladies-in-waiting?’
    ‘Perhaps one of the Queen’s ladies would consent to wait on you until your own servants have been restored to you?’
    The princess interrupted him, her eyes flashing. ‘Sir, I refuse to countenance such an outrage. My royal sister awaits the birth of her child and cannot spare her gentlewomen to wait on me. If you will not see sense, señor, then I pray you send for the King. I shall speak to His Majesty myself on this matter, since my sister is indisposed.’
    Having stood silently by all this time, betraying nothing of his feelings, Alejandro suddenly stepped forward. He bowed, then spoke aside in Spanish with the Inquisitors, his voice low and seemingly unemotional.
    Miguel de Pero nodded, though once again he looked at me with hostile eyes. ‘
Gracias
, Alejandro.’ He turned to the princess. ‘On this young man’s advice, I shall leave your maidservant to see to your needs, and take Mistress Parry for questioning first. She will be returned to you once we are satisfied with her answers.’
    Blanche struggled as the two men in black robes took hold of her arms and began to drag her from the room. ‘No,I shall not go with you! I must take care of the Lady Elizabeth.’
    Ashen-faced, Elizabeth stared first at me, and then at Alejandro. ‘Will you do nothing to help my servant, sir?’
    ‘Forgive me, my lady, but this is for the best,’ Alejandro said tersely, stepping between the Lady Elizabeth and the Inquisition as though to protect her. ‘They will not leave empty-handed, and at least this way you can have Meg to serve you until Mistress Parry’s return.’
    I had no skill for reading thoughts, but I could see that he was afraid for
me
– not for himself, nor the princess, nor even the unfortunate Blanche. It was my neck that was most at risk here, or so Alejandro seemed to believe. That was why he had protected me and thrown Mistress Parry to the wolves instead. Because he already knew that Miguel de Pero considered me an enemy.
    His face averted from me, Alejandro strode towards the door as if he intended to follow the priests and Mistress Parry, but Señor de Pero stopped him in the doorway.
    ‘We shall not require your services any further today, Alejandro.’ The Inquisitor’s voice was cool. ‘You have been most helpful and I thank you for it. But we can question this woman ourselves. You had best tend your old master before he falls off his seat; Father Vasco appears to have fallen asleep.’
    With that, the dark-robed priest bowed to the princess and strolled in an unhurried fashion after his men.
    We listened in horrified silence as Blanche’s shrieks and sobs echoed along the palace stairs and corridors, then abruptly stopped as a door slammed.
    I closed my eyes briefly, trying to understand what had just happened.