"But you must," I replied insistently. "We must say nothing of your
terrible experience. Publicity of this sort ruins a woman's fair name,
but the result in this case would be far more disastrous. Fear will drive
the king to further acts of villainy to protect himself if he learns that
we suspect him, and your life and mine, as well as George's, may be in
peril. I shall go to my bedroom in the Wardrobe, and no one shall know
that I have not been there all night."
Frances seemed stubborn, but knowing her danger, I continued: "Let
us have a conference with your father and your sister. I deem it best
that we let it be known abroad that you were at your father's house all
night. Since the king did not see you at Merlin House, he may come
to suspect that his agents kidnapped the wrong person. Later on you may
leave court with honor; now you would leave in disgrace. Right or wrong,
the king can do no wrong, and even were it known that he had kidnapped
you, every one would laugh at you as the victim of a royal prank. Many
would say that you were willing to be kidnapped, and the court hussies
would rejoice at your downfall."
Frances and George saw the force of my argument, and we agreed to act
accordingly, George, of course, having little to do in the premises save
to remain hidden.
In a few minutes Pickering brought us a coach, and Frances and I drove to
Temple Bar, where I dismissed the coach and walked with my cousin to her
father's house.
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