Valentine strode past the palace gates and inhaled the earthy air to further clear his head. He hadn"t realized how stuffy the great hall had been until he escaped court"s sweaty body.
London strictly enforced its 8:00 curfew. After the city gates slammed, anyone walking the streets was subject to a stiff fine. But fresh air and solitude were well worth the few shillings if he were stopped.
Whistling a French tune, he strolled towards the riverbank. The full moon"s pearly glow lit his way. At the distant curve in the Thames, the Tower"s four peaks stabbed the dark sky. Houses leaned into each other along the riverbank, flickering tallows lit in each window, in honor of St. Paul"s feast day. Silver-gray sprigs of birch, their green leaves giving the scene a festive air, decorated every do
