The Unsuspected Spy

Chapter 1 October 1st, 1583

Frances sits in her room at her desk as the candle light shines on her papers. Her maid Jane is sleeping at the foot of her bed. The fire in the fireplace is dying out and it is late at night. By now everyone has gone to bed so she pulls out her cypher books and practice papers. She begins to do her nightly practices, her hand holds the quill as it dances across the paper. She loves cyphers, she loves the science and the thought it requires. She had always been one for being the one to take a challenge and to not just meet the challenge but to go past it. She was a Walsingham, and they were not the type to lose in a challenge.

Frances works but soon becomes lost in thought, realizing that she has only 19 days till the day she turns 16. Her parents have been speaking of marriages for her for a few years now and every time she accompanies them to court, there are always men trying to win her heart. She is not one to be so easily won by pretty words and gifts. She is not like every other Lady of the court. Much of the latest talk has been about her possible betrothal to Philip Sidney, whom was like a brother to her. She had met him in France in the time of St. Bartholomew's day when her father was the ambassador of France and Sidney was there and took refuge with the Walsinghams. Frances had only been 5 years old at the time and her mother was pregnant with Mary, Frances's now since passed sister. The idea of marrying Philip made Frances a bit uncomfortable but also a bit privileged. Philip was one of the most well known people at court at this time. He is known for his wonderful poetry specifically Aristotle and Stella. The one unfortunate thing is that his heart belonged to another, Penelope Devereux, the new Lady Rich who was his "Stella". Philip had proposed to Penelope and she rejected him and soon married Lord Rich instead.

Frances shakes her head to rid these silly thoughts of marriage to Philip. She didn't wish to marry, she wanted to be able to have freedom and choose a husband her own way, not by her father choosing which husband would be best for the family.

Frances looks at her time piece and sees that it is past 1 am and she put her papers and books away in their hidden space and picks up the candle after wrapping a blanket around her and peering out the door of her chambers and sneaks out and begins to sneak down to the kitchens. She had skipped on dinner and now she was regretting it.

As she walked down the many stairs to the kitchens, she stops by the front door hearing knocking and peers out the windows. She sees her servant James outside locked out. The rain is falling down hard and he is soaked and shivering from the cold. Frances unlocks and opens the door for him quickly. "James? What happened to you?"

James runs in quickly as Frances shuts and locks the door once more. "I was on a run to the village and got stuck Ms. The mud made it almost impossible to get the wagon through."

Frances gives him the blanket that is around her and wraps it around him. "No one else is up. Let's get you into the kitchens and by the fire otherwise you'll get sick." Now that the blanket is now around James, she is left in her white night gown, her long brown hair down to the middle of her back. James's black hair is matted down from the rain landing on his head, he is a bit taller than Frances, about 6' 2' and looks about her age.

Frances takes him down to the kitchens and no one is awake and the fire is dying. She starts to build the fire but James takes over. She's never really done it before so she was glad he took over. She did know how to make a good cup of tea though, so she makes him some tea to warm him up a bit.

"Thank you Ms. Why are you still up? Jane said you went to bed early tonight." James looks at her curiously.

"I did I just woke up thats all. I skipped dinner so I was hungry and I was heading down to the kitchens." Frances told him and sat beside the fire as well eating some fruit. James looks at Frances curiously. He can tell there is more than what she is saying but he knows his place and it is not one to pry. James had known Frances a long time. They had grown up together. James was a few years older than her, but they were friends as children. His mother was part of the Walsingham household for a long time so naturally he was here while Frances was as well. James had a slight blush on his cheeks as he looked at Frances. He had always had feelings for her but he knew nothing would ever happen between them because of such a gap between their ranks. Frances had always felt the same about him but she knows her father would forbid it. Her mother would be more than likely understanding but her father was all about being perfectly proper.

They both wake from their day dream realizing that they are both looking at each other. Frances's cheeks fill with red. James clears his throat, blushing a bit as well. They both start to chuckle at the awkwardness.

"I should um... head to bed..." Frances says flustered a bit.

"As should I. Sleep well Ms." James smiles his signature beautiful smile. Frances smiles back shyly and heads upstairs. She had no idea why she was blushing so much. She had never realized that the had thought of him more than a friend.

She gets to her room and slips inside and sneaks to her bed trying not to wake Jane as she climbs into bed and slowly falls asleep.