The Maid Of Honour
- Author: Dinah Dean
- Publisher: Mills & Boon #227
- Year: 1987
- Setting: England 1665-66
Book Description
The Front:
"Mr Hartwell?" a voice called in a reproving tone. "His Majesty awaits you!" Francis flickered one eyelid at Mary in the ghost of a wink, said quietly, "Don't disappear," and went to make a most elegant bow to the King and to drop on one knee, proffering his arrow balanced across his upturned left hand. The King, his melancholy face looking genuinely amused, reached to take the arrow with both hands, commenting, "A most unusual rent, but I've heard the history of it!", and then his eyes fell on the palm of the hand which was offering it, and his amusement vanished. He looked sharply at Francis's face. "Hartwell," he said thoughtfully. "Are you the same Francis Hartwell who sailed to the West Indies with my Cousin Rupert?"
"Yes, Sire, the same," Francis replied quietly.
"Had I the power then that I have now, you would not have come by those," Charles said, touching the scarred palm. "I owe more than I can ever repay to men like you. Why have you never come to claim your reward?"
"I have no need," Francis said simply, letting his hand fall to his side. "I lost nothing but a few years of my life and a little skin, and I learned a great deal."
The King considered him with close interest, and then said, "But there must be something you desire, something you lack, which is close to your heart?"
"Only one thing, Sire, and even you can't give me that," he replied with a wry smile. Then he turned his head slightly and looked across at Mary..."
Back:
"HAVE YOU FOUND THAT IDEAL MAN YET"
There was only one man at the court of King Charles II that Miss Mary Hook could contemplate marrying Prince Rupert was undoubtedly the most interesting, most intelligent, most honourable, chivalrous and handsome man at Court. If only she could find a man like him but attainable, and country-loving, with no desire to spend his life at Whitehall.
Perhaps she had and thrown away her chance when she had refused to marry Francis Hartwell. He had saved her from the plague, but she would not marry him out of gratitude. Now she realised what she had thrown away could she, dare she, say to him that she had changed her mind?
