CHAPTER XI
AT THE QUEEN'S COMMAND
But neither Greville's obsequious homage, nor Lord and Lady Stafford'sapologies could regain the goodwill of the queen. Seeing her state ofmind Lord Stafford advised that Francis should retain her chamber duringthe rest of Elizabeth's visit.
For the three days that the queen remained at the Hall her demeanor wassuch as to fill its master with a vague uneasiness. Lady Stafford shehardly tolerated, and though Lord Stafford lavished gifts upon her, yetshe refused to be propitiated.
"Surely," Francis heard her father say to her mother, "the remark of achild would not suffice for such behavior? Elizabeth is vain beyond mostwomen, yet 'twere doing her an injustice to deem her capable ofresentment for so slight a thing. Can she have learned of Ballard'spresence in England? Of our visit to Chartley? And yet none save wethree knew whither we went. And you would be discreet, I trow. Francis,young as she is, would reveal naught that would do me harm. She is toostraightforward, too truthful,"--he stopped with a light laugh and kissedhis wife. "What spirit the girl had to tell the queen that thou wertfairer," he said. "Thou art so in truth, Penelope, yet for my life Idurst not tell it to Elizabeth."
"Nay; I would not have thee to, my lord. Say that Elizabeth is theloveliest, the fairest of womankind, I care not so that I may keep theewith me. But our child, my lord! I fear for that very directness whichthou dost commend. A weaker spirit would be more politic. I would notthat she be less truthful, but I wish, I wish----"
"Nay, sweetheart, wish not that she be other than she is. I would nothave her fawning upon the queen as do the maids of the court. Dost markwhat words of flattery they utter and yet with what ridicule they speakof her to each other when they think that there is none to hear? I wouldnot that Francis should be as they are."
"Nor I," acquiesced the mother. "Yet sometimes truth doth not meet withthe merit it deserves."
"True; but let us think not on that, but be grateful that our child is asshe is."
Francis' heart glowed with love and tenderness toward her parents, andshe was grieved that words of hers had brought such disquiet upon them.
"I must try," she mused, "to retain my truth and yet not offend by it.But how could I have said other than I did? My mother is fairer to me.There was but the one answer to be given to such a question."
Over and over she turned the matter in her mind striving to reconcilepolicy with truthfulness. A problem which has vexed the souls of mensince the beginning of time.
At last the queen took her departure. As she bade her host and hostessfarewell, she said:
"Madam, I thank you for your entertainment. My lord, though thou bearestme no good will, yet shalt thou find that Elizabeth doth not forget thatthy father was the friend of her father. 'Tis pity that more attentionhath not been given to thy son's manners, but the fault shall beamended, I promise you. England surely hath schools for its youth thatare equal to those of thy faith abroad."
"Madam, what mean you?" asked the nobleman detecting the menace in herwords.
"We shall see what we shall see," was the queen's enigmatical rejoinder.She swept to her chariot, and with her brilliant train, soon leftStafford Hall behind.
As the days glided by, and no sign or message came from her, the anxietyengendered by her last words faded away, and once more a feeling ofsecurity crept into their hearts. This false confidence was dispelledhowever one warm day in July when a messenger from the queen rode intothe courtyard, and demanded an audience with the master of the Hall. Theguest had been but a short time in the presence chamber when LordStafford emerged from the apartment with pale face.
"Bid my lady and my daughter repair hither without delay," he criedhailing a servitor.
"But, my lord," Francis heard him say as they hastened to the room inanswer to the summons, "I do but speak the truth when I declare that, asI live by bread, I have no son. I have but one child, and that adaughter. She is here to speak for herself."
"What is it, father?" asked Francis going to him, while Lord Shrope, thequeen's messenger, looked his bewilderment.
"The queen hath commanded that my son, Francis Stafford, shall accompanymy Lord Shrope to the court to become one of her pensioners. He doubts myword when I say that I have no son."
"Nay, my lord; I must believe you if you say that you have none," saidthe nobleman courteously. "But there is misapprehension somewhere. If Ido not misreckon foully the queen spoke of both seeing and speaking withhim during her progress hither. There is grave misunderstanding, Ifear."
"Alas! my lord, this comes of deception," Lord Stafford despairing cried."Let me unfold to thee all that chanced during Her Majesty's stay, and doyou advise me what course to pursue for I am nigh bereft of wit."
"Let me hear all, Stafford," returned the other. "Thou knowest that Ibear a heart well disposed toward thee, and will gladly do aught thatwill aid thee. Full well do I remember how thou and I did consorttogether at the court, and there hath been none to take thy place sincethou didst go into retirement upon thy marriage. Therefore, say on."
"I thank thee that thou hast spoken so favorably and kindly of thefriendship that once held between us," replied Lord Stafford. "Albeit, Iwould not curry favor with thee because of it. But to the matter in hand.Know then that when the Queen's Majesty was about to come hither, and wewere preparing for her reception, Hugh Greville, my daughter's tutor andmy kinsman, did lament that I had no son to speak the welcome toElizabeth. In an idle moment, I unwittingly consented that Francis shoulddon the habit of a page and deliver the speech not thinking that thequeen would do more than to listen to it. But she was drawn to the girland spoke words of approbation to her, enquiring her name. 'Francis,' sheobserved as the child gave it her, 'ah! well do I ken, my lord, that thatwas your father's name.' Then as she moved on she asked if I had otherchildren. To which I answered, 'No.' Methought that that would end thematter, but mark you! She bade my supposed son to attend her in herchamber; and then, thou knowest the tenor of the court talk, she asked ifshe did not deem her mother fairer than she, the queen, was. My daughter,Shrope, knows naught but to speak the truth. She is a maiden of tenderyears, simply brought up, and as wild and free as the linnet that singsupon yon bough. She spoke the truth when she answered that to her, hermother was the fairest woman that lived. Elizabeth spurned her from herpresence, and conveyed threat as to the manners of my son when she leftthe hall. 'Ods life, my lord! to what pass hath England come whenchildren must be taught to dissemble and fawn else they be subjected todiscipline by the queen? Had she not enough courtiers to hail her as'Diana,' and 'The Miracle of Time,' and other things of like ilk that shemust needs try to subvert my child from truth? Gramercy! I am ready atthis moment to enter the tilt-yard to defend the girl's saying againstall comers. Her mother is the fairest lady that ere the sun shone on.I----"
"Hold, Stafford, thou ravest! Be not so heated in thy words. Give pausewhile I think on what thou hast told me."
Lord Stafford tried to subdue his feelings while the other sat inthought. Presently Lord Shrope looked up.
"Stafford, for the sake of that old friendship to which I have beforereferred, bear with me for what I am about to say. Rumor hath whisperedthat thou hast given entertainment to Jesuits which, as thou knowest, isfelony. Nay;" as Lord Stafford was about to speak, "I would not ask theeif it be true or no. But for that cause do I say, let the girl assumeonce more her male attire and go with me to the court. Elizabeth likesnot to be made the victim of a hoax, but there are times when none enjoysa jest more than she. When the time is propitious, I and other of thyfriends, will disclose the matter to the queen. Believe me when I saythat it will be best so."
"Let Francis go from me to that court?" cried the father in agonizedtones. "I cannot! I will not! She shall not stir from here! I will go tothe queen and lay the whole affair before her."
"Do not so, my lord. There are those who have the queen's ear who havewhispered against thee. Stafford Hall hath broad lands in its demesne,and covet
ous eyes have been cast upon it. 'Twould be a choice morsel forsome favorite. 'Twould not be wise for thee to appear at court justnow."
"Father," said Francis, "why should I not do as thy friend advises? Iwould not that aught of harm should come to thee, and surely none cancome to me? Let me go. It will be but a short time until my return,because I feel certain that when the queen learns that there was naughtof intent to deceive she will pardon all. Once, my father, thou didst saythat she was a queen but still a woman. A woman, my father, with awoman's heart and a woman's compassion."
"A woman, yes; with a woman's vanity, and a woman's spite," broke fromLord Stafford.
"Stafford, Stafford, it is well for thee that none other hears thee. Thydaughter hath well said that Elizabeth is a woman. Lion-hearted as wellbecomes a Tudor, but properly appealed to, sympathetic and generous. Beguided in this by me, my lord, and let her go."
"Yes, my father," pleaded Francis.
"It shall be as her mother says," said Lord Stafford turning to his wifewho had stood as if stricken since hearing the advice of Lord Shrope."Speak, my wife. Shall we keep our daughter, and defy Elizabeth----"
"Oh, no, no!" sobbed Lady Stafford. "I am loath to let her go, and yet Iwould not have her stay if by so doing we shall seem to defy the queen.My lord, surely harm could not come to the child, while for thee, I fear,I fear."
"Then I may go." Francis sprang to her mother and embraced her. "Oh, 'tisonly for my father that we need to fear. Naught of harm will I come to."
"Upon mine honor, Stafford," said Lord Shrope going to Lord Stafford whohad bowed his head upon his hands, "even as I have two lady birds ofdaughters of mine own, so will I look after thine. Take heart, oldfriend. I believe that all will be well else I would not advise thisstep. Courage!"
In Doublet and Hose: A Story for Girls Page 11