Chapter 6

Should he tell her that Pepys had usurped his money as well as that of his step-mother’s? What could she do? Would the king intercede on his behalf? His uncle had the right of inheritance since his stepmother died without issue. Pepys was her only surviving male relative, so her manor went to him. He shook his head to clear his mind. He would not spoil the story or a visit from the queen mother with his unfortunate situation. “Was there something that I could for your grace?”

“Oh, yes,” she exclaimed, starting as if she had just remembered her reason for coming. She pulled two small cloth bags from the folds of her traveling cloak. Untying the drawstrings on one, she dumped a pile of broken glass onto his table of tools. “Her royal highness has broken her glass slipper. I know you’re not a glass blower but as a blacksmith I think you’re the best person to probably cast another one.”

Cillian ran a finger through the pile of shards, careful not to cut himself. “What did it look…?”