Queen of This Realm - Plaidy Jean. Страница 57

She did and I studied my face. Not beautiful…as Lettice Knollys was, but attractive with that white skin and tawny hair and large tawny eyes which had a faraway look, yet penetrating, because they were a trifle shortsighted. I touched my hair with my beautiful white hands. No one had hands quite like mine—not even Lettice Knollys.

I said, “Get your combs. I need my hair a little higher. Hurry, and take care that you do not pull.”

While Mary arranged my hair I was thinking: Sell my country to Rome! My dear Robert, you may be handsome, charming, much sought after by the women of my Court, but I am the Queen. I am the one who makes decisions. That is something you will have to learn.

No man shall govern me; and I shall govern my country.

TO MY DISTRESS Lady Jane Seymour died. She had been ailing for some time and had never been a strong girl. I had been quite fond of her and to please her family I ordered that she should have a state funeral in Westminster Abbey.

I missed her very much. Jane had been one of those good girls who never complained and was always willing to do what was asked of her.

I had always believed that I should show myself to my people, and I liked to move about the country so that those who lived in remote places could feel they had some contact with me.

Since the Amy Robsart scandal I felt more than ever the need to keep my people's good will and so I was traveling often. When we made these progresses through the country, the Court went with us. We stayed at the various big houses on the route and although my rich subjects found entertaining us very costly, they regarded it as a great honor and would even be piqued if their houses were not visited.

On this particular occasion we were in Ipswich and among my retinue was Robert, of course. As my Master of Horse he must always be with us and he would ride beside me which was all in keeping with the position he held and was one of the reasons why we had both thought it perfect for him.

I had not reprimanded him about his secret plot with the Spanish Ambassador, but I continued to hold him off, and he remained in a state of frustration which was sufficient punishment, I thought; since he was as ardently devoted as ever, I was quite satisfied with the state of affairs.

With us also was Lady Katharine Grey who had seemed very preoccupied of late. After Mary Sidney's confession, I wondered what Katharine was about. She was pale and there were rings about her eyes which I had not noticed before. She looked as though she was sickening for something. I was not greatly disturbed because she was after all a rival of whom I must always be conscious and my nature was not of a kind to endear me to such people.

It was while we were in Ipswich that Lord Robert surprised me while I was at my toilette.

It was early morning and he looked so disturbed that I dismissed my women and granted him an audience. I was looking quite attractive with my hair loose and in my petticoats, though when he appeared I immediately requested that a wrap be put about my shoulders.

When they had gone Robert seized my hand and kissed it.

“My dearest,” he said, “I had to come to tell you this without delay for I fear someone else should bring news of what happened last night and misconstrue…”

“Tell me quickly,” I cried. “I am all interest.”

“Last night Lady Katharine Grey came to my bedchamber.”

I felt myself go cold with fury but he went on quickly: “Oh, not on my invitation. She came to plead with me for help. I dispatched her with all speed, but I feared someone might have seen her either enter or leave my bedchamber and have come to you with some garbled story.”

“You had better tell me what happened.”

“She was not five minutes in my chamber. She was frantic with anxiety. That is why she came.”

“What is her problem? Does she want you to help her take the throne from me, or would she offer my country to Rome as a bait for their help?”

He flushed a little. Then he said: “She is pregnant and in a dire state.”

“Pregnant! She has no husband. I have never been asked to give my consent to a marriage.”

“She has a husband.”

“Who is he?”

“Lord Hertford.”

“He is in France.”

“Exactly so, and she does not hear from him. She swears she is married, but she has no proof of this until Hertford returns. Meanwhile she wants help.”

I was angry. She had no right to marry without my consent. She was next in line to the succession and she was pregnant, which would call attention to my barren state.

“Help?” I said. “How dare she? To marry without my consent and that of the Council! It is feckless in the extreme. She should go to the Tower. Do you believe there was a marriage? Hertford is not in the country. There must have been witnesses.”

“I dismissed her quickly from my chamber and know nothing but what I have told you, and that, I thought, should be imparted to you without delay.”

“Indeed yes,” I said.

He looked at me pleadingly. “How delightful you look so simply attired. I am not sure that you are not even more beautiful like this. I think you are. You do not need the adornments so necessary to other women. Simple, natural, beautiful, the Queen among women…in her natural state…”

He would have embraced me but I held him off.

“My women are close by,” I said. “We want no more gossip.”

“Then let us marry and put an end to it.”

I sighed. “I fear that would be the start of it.”

“My dearest, you would have nothing to fear with me beside you. I would protect you.”

“Oh never fear, Robert, I will protect myself well enough.”

“Then…”

“Now get out, dear Robert. I shall call my women to finish dressing me. I must see Katharine Grey at once.”

SHE STOOD BEFORE ME—a poor frightened girl. I could almost feel sorry for her.

“You had better repeat that tale which Lord Robert has brought to me concerning you,” I said.

She fell on her knees and I went on: “You are very humble today, my lady. That is unusual. Tell me everything.”

“Your Majesty, Lord Hertford and I fell in love when I was at the Seymours' place where I went with Jane. Jane was very anxious for us to marry and helped us.”

I nodded grimly. “So Hertford had to be pressed into it, did he?”

She did not answer.

“Well,” I said, “so you married. What witnesses have you? Where is the priest? Girls dally with men, I know, and then are amazed at the consequences.”

“Madam,” she said with some dignity, remembering doubtless that she had a claim to the throne. “Lord Hertford and I are married.”

“Well, then you should have no difficulty in proving it. Where is the priest who married you… without my consent I would like to add. I shall have a few words to say to that gentleman.”

“I do not know his name, Your Majesty. I do not know where he is now. It was a secret ceremony in my lord's lodging.”

“But you must have had a witness.”

“It was Jane.”

“Jane is dead,” I said. “So there is no witness and no priest. But there is a husband, so you tell us.”

“I do indeed,” she said quickly.

“Do you realize that you have committed treason? Do you know of the law?”

“I know it, Your Majesty.”

“You shall be taken this day to the Tower of London and there you will be held. Hertford shall be sent for and we shall hear his side of the story.”

“It will be the same as mine, Your Majesty.”

“Let us hope so. Go to your apartment and prepare to leave.”

She bowed and retired, looking relieved. She had been in a state of acute anxiety and was clearly glad to give up her secret even though it meant that she had become a prisoner in the Tower.

ONE OF MY RIVALS was safely in the Tower but I felt very uneasy about her. There was bound to be talk and fresh urgings for me to marry when she showed that she could produce offspring; and if it were a boy I should be doubly bothered.