"Drink it, Your Majesty," Geoffrey said. "If only so Mrs Crowe does not turn her attention to the rest of us."
Henry took the cup. After one swallow, he set it down. Mrs Crowe folded her arms. He picked it up again. "Does my mother know yet?" Henry asked.
"I came here first," Geoffrey said. "I shall go to Whitehall when I leave."
"Do not tell her. I feel better."
"With respect, you look like hell."
Henry gave Geoffrey a tired look. "Your loyalty overwhelms me."
"My loyalty is precisely why I am telling you the truth. Your back is bandaged. Do you truly think the Queen Mother will not notice? She is already paranoid enough to hear treason in a curtain."
"She will not know," Henry said.
The firmness in his voice brought silence.
Henry's fingers tightened around the arm of the chair. "I do not want her influencing anything for her own gain."
