Chapter 7: What They Did With Betsy

We found out in the dark where they had taken her.

The housekeeper's boy had seen a closed carriage with the Prince's gold crest turn toward the palace.

Hadrian was already pulling on his coat.

"Stay here," he said.

"No," I said.

"If they hurt her because of me, I'm going to be there."

He looked at me for a second, then handed me a cloak.

The palace was lit, and in the Queen's long gallery, a dozen ladies were having late wine.

I walked in with the Marshal behind me and every head turned.

The Prince was at the far end by the fire, with Sorrel on a sofa and Betsy in a chair between two guards.

My maid's cap was gone and her cheek was red.

She had been crying and then she had stopped.

"Rosamund," the Prince said, in a pleased voice.

"We were just speaking to your girl."

"She has been telling us how she bought poison for you."

"I did not," Betsy said, in a small cracked voice.

"I didn't buy anything, my lady, they said they'd send me to the workhouse."

"Quiet," said a guard.

"Let her speak," I said.

I walked up to Betsy, took her hand and kissed it.

It was a stupid thing to do, and every lady in the gallery gasped.

"Betsy Oakby is my maid," I said, loudly.

"She is nineteen years old and she has never bought anything without a written list."

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