Chapter 20: September 1613
"The Queen has returned!"
Salisbury sighed with relief at the news he'd been waiting to hear. It had been months since the Queen had set off to visit her husband in Germany. Weeks since word reached them that bandits had made it impossible for women and children to make the journey back to Britain. And days since they'd learned her Majesty was making the perilous trip anyways, accompanied by an elite guard.
Salisbury might have pleaded with her not to risk it. But his father reminded him that the Queen had toppled and poisoned her first Prime Minister and likely could take care of herself.
Not to mention that no missive would reach her in time to change her mind.
And unfortunately it wasn't as if they didn't need her. Salisbury had done his best, with the aid of his father. But the business of government was noticeably grinding to a stop. Britain needed its monarch.
Elizabeth shocked him however, when she strode into his office. She, and the woman that came in with her, were both dressed in breeches and men's tunics. They both carried a sword and looked as if they had spent a great deal of time using them.
Of course the Queen could have come in wearing the Pope's crown and Salisbury would have been just as glad to see her. "Your Majesty!" he exclaimed as he bowed. "I am so relieved to see you."
"Thank you," Elizabeth replied. "I'm glad to be home, though I was loathe to leave my children behind." A sensible though infuriating practicality.
"Of course. Was it difficult making it to port?"
The Queen gestured to the woman with her, to come forward. "Very. I wouldn't have made it without my team. This is their leader, Miss Virginia Dare. Gin, this is my Prime Minister, the Earl of Salisbury."
"Pleased to meet you, sir."
Salisbury gasped, but nodded. "Yes, of course."
Elizabeth summoned a messenger. "I need to meet with the cabinet. Can you show Miss Dare to the conference room and then locate the other ministers?"
The boy nodded and left. Gin following silently behind. As soon as they were gone, Elizabeth dropped her formality. "How is he?"
Salisbury knew whom she meant, and the switch to discussing his father was like a punch in the gut. "He-- He doesn't have long. It's getting harder to wake him. Honestly it's entirely possible that he's-" He couldn't finish.
"Then I'd best not keep him waiting."
* * *
"My dear. I'm so glad I've held on to see you again." Cecil had aged terribly in the months since she'd last been there. His voice was very weak and he was indeed half asleep.
"I'm sorry to keep you waiting." Elizabeth winced. "I can't believe I just said that."
"Please don't be embarrassed. I hear all sorts of awkward things, but I have little time to be bothered by it."
Elizabeth nodded, not wanting to Queen just then. She took his hand. "I'm going to miss you, Cecil."
He nodded, sad and seeming a little guilty. "I'm sorry to leave you at such a trying time for you. I think I have some words of hope, though."
"I would love to hear some right now."
Cecil made an effort to rouse himself and sat up a little. "I never told you how I escaped from the Cataclysm. It was a handkerchief."
"A handkerchief?" Elizabeth laughed.
"It fell out of my sleeve on the way. I would have left it, but my wife embroidered my initials on it." Cecil's laugh turned into a cough. "She hated embroidery so much, I couldn't bear to ask her to replace it."
"Well, you're lucky you went back for it."
Cecil shook his head. "There was no reason to check my sleeve for it. None but divine inspiration. The Lord was looking after both of us. And I have no doubt He continues to do so." Elizabeth could do nothing but silently hope he was right.
It seemed the interview with the Queen was all Cecil's body could manage. The next morning he couldn't be woken, at all. He lingered for a couple of days before expiring in the last few minutes before the first of October. The Queen stood alone before his coffin.