The queen"s guards surrounded Denys twenty-four hours a day. They flanked her chamber doors, held vigil at the foot of her bed, observed her every bite at mealtimes, oversaw her privy visits, at her embroidery, at her music, and followed her back to bed. How could marriage to Valentine Starbury be any worse?
Escape was impossible. She had no ally; she wasn"t even allowed to write letters.
She sat in her chambers plucking her lute strings, deep in thought. She pondered the revulsion that shuddered through her when her aunt commanded she wed Richard; she tried to rekindle that same contempt now, at the thought of marrying Valentine. But it was like trying to hate flowers and romance; she couldn"t force herself to despise him. She couldn"t stop her heart fluttering as she pictured him in he
