Witchfall Read Online Free Page A

concern.’
    ‘Just so.’ The Inquisitor turned with a bow to indicate Father Vasco. ‘We have brought a priest with us whom Ibelieve you already know from your time at Woodstock. I fear Father Vasco has not been well since accompanying your household to court, which has sadly delayed his return to Spain. But he is one of our most respected elders, my lady, and it was felt his presence might render our visit less of an intrusion.’
    Elizabeth curtseyed low to the old priest. ‘I am sorry indeed to hear of your continuing ill health, Father Vasco. Would you care to sit?’ she asked him politely, and nodded to me.
    Hurriedly, Blanche and I cleared a place for him on the high-backed wooden settle where the remnants of silver fabric had been laid, then stood back as Alejandro supported his elderly master to the seat and made him comfortable there.
    Straightening from his task, Alejandro met my gaze briefly.
Be careful
, his look seemed to say. Then he turned and bowed to Elizabeth with his usual deference.
    ‘My lady,’ he murmured.
    We waited in silence for the interview to begin, the Inquisitors seating themselves at the table where they whispered together, then took out quills, ink and a roll of paper.
    Why were the Inquisition here? Could they have some new evidence against the Lady Elizabeth? I remembered my brother William’s warnings about Queen Mary’s marriage to a Catholic prince, and how England would soon be overrunwith the priests of the Spanish Inquisition, hunting down heretics and burning them at the stake. I had thought William too gloomy about England’s future. But it seemed he was right. The Inquisition had followed King Philip here from Spain, and now they had come to the princess herself, looking for an excuse to accuse her of heresy – and inflict the death penalty.
    I schooled myself to seem as calm as Elizabeth herself, for to show fear in front of these men would be to compound their suspicion that Elizabeth was guilty of some crime. I even tried not to look at Alejandro, though I was sharply aware of his presence in the room, my skin prickling at every slight movement he made. Whatever passed here in the next hour must surely decide my mistress’s fate, I thought.
    Pale and determined, Elizabeth settled herself on her cushioned seat by the window and spoke briskly to the lead Inquisitor. ‘Come, Señor de Pero, I am ready whenever you are. Pray ask your questions on whatever pressing matter brings you here. I am my sister’s faithful and true subject, and have nothing to hide.’
    ‘
Muy bien
.’ Miguel de Pero drew up a chair opposite her. His tone was smooth, as though they were discussing the weather. ‘You will know that the Queen has asked for our aid in purging the court of the evils of Protestant heretics. Unfortunately, some of our enquiries have led us to your household, my lady. Do you know Master John Dee, my lady?’
    ‘Is he not the Queen’s astrologer, sir?’
    ‘Master Dee has been sometimes in that position, yes. But this past year he has overstepped his mark and done much to displease Her Majesty.’
    Elizabeth said nothing but waited, her face cool.
    ‘So you do or do not know Master John Dee,’ Señor de Pero repeated, writing something on the paper in front of him. When Elizabeth still said nothing, he frowned and looked up at her. ‘I require an answer to my question, my lady.’
    ‘Forgive me, señor, I did not know that it was a question.’ Elizabeth lowered her gaze to the floor and pretended to muse. ‘Master John Dee . . . yes, I may have seen him once or twice about the court. Just as I have seen many others in my sister’s service about the court.’
    ‘But you have never met with him privately?’ he persisted.
    Elizabeth raised her eyebrows. ‘Must I repeat myself, sir? Has it been claimed that I have met this man privately?’
    Miguel de Pero’s eyes narrowed on her face. He looked thoughtful. ‘What makes you ask that?’
    ‘Only that I