by Knox Magee
CHAPTER XIII
THE FLIGHT FROM THE PALACE
Hazel was with Mary in their own apartments when she received word thata messenger desired to see her.
"Bid him give thee the message, and do thou bring it here," said Hazel.
The servant went out, but soon returned. "The soldier, madam, dothrefuse to put the packet into other hands than thine," said the maid.
"What may this mean?" thought Hazel. "Surely this must be of vastimportance," said she to Mary.
"Mayhap 'tis best that thou shouldst see him," said Mary.
The two maids walked down the passage to where the man was standing,cap in hand, and as motionless as a pile of armour. However, when hesaw the ladies approaching he started forward and, dropping on oneknee, he handed the packet to the proper maid, though how he knew her Icannot understand. But then those fellows about the Palace have naughtto do but learn who people are and all about them.
"Here is a gold piece for thee," said Hazel, as she reached it towardhim.
"No, yer ladyship," he replied, "Oi thank thee much fer thoine offer;but moy master hath alridy given me so much o' the pricious stuff thatit's thinkin' Oi am to know what to do with it." With this he salutedthem smartly and walked away.
"What is it, Hazel?" asked Mary, when Michael was gone.
Hazel, however, was so deeply engaged with the reading of my letterthat she did not hear her companion; so Mary leaned on her friend'sshoulder, and read it for herself.
Neither said anything until they had read twice what was writ. "Whatcan it all mean?" asked Mary, at last. Then she read aloud, as thoughthe sound of her voice might make the meaning clearer, as it sometimesdoth.
"Hush!" said Hazel, as she put her hand over her friend's mouth; "dostthou not see that he commands me to keep this most secret? Come, letus to the Queen, and tell her all."
So they went to her Majesty's apartments; she was talking with herdaughter Elizabeth when they entered. "What causes thee to look sotroubled, Hazel?" asked the Queen, the moment that they had entered;for my dear girl was badly frightened by the contents of my note.
"I have just received a letter which is of great import to thee,"answered the maiden; and she handed the Queen the open packet; for herfear had robbed her of any bashfulness she might have felt in havingher Majesty see the manner in which I did address her.
The Queen read and reread the letter through, from first to last. Atlength she seemed to realize the terrible meaning of it all. "Oh! thataccursed, hump-back knave, to dare to lift his hand against those whichguard and protect the King! No peace shall I now have. He will notstop with Rivers. I shall be the next to feel his tyranny. But I willmatch him yet!" she cried.
"Send for my son, the Marquis of Dorset," said she, as her eyes flashedand her face became as though carved from marble.
When Dorset arrived, and heard from his mother what had happened to hisuncle and his brother, he showed his anger less; but in his cold greyeyes, and firm cut mouth, one might read even greater determinationthan his mother possessed together with all her quickness of perception.
"Methinks, mother," said he at length, "that thou hadst best leave thePalace, and take refuge in the Sanctuary yonder. Take with thee mydear sisters and our little Prince. Whilst he is not in the power ofthe boar young Edward shall be safe."
"You counsel well, my son," replied the Queen. "Let us then makehaste, and be in safety ere the traitorous cur arrives. Girls, ye mustaccompany us. Go and make ready, with all expediency, for in hastealone now lies our safety." This latter she addressed to Hazel andMary, who had remained in the room whilst these things were takingplace.
"Oh, Richard," said the Queen, as though he were there before her,"thou shalt suffer for this act of thine! Thou thinkest that by takingfrom the King the only man in England capable of training his gentlemind in the properest course thou shalt be able to infuse thy murderousthoughts into this helpless innocent, and so use him to thy profit.The curse of poor old Margaret is now falling upon me, and her prophecyis coming true. But yet," she added, as though to herself, "she cursedhim also. Oh, why hath not her curses first fallen upon him; I neverdid her wrong. Ah, yes, this is my punishment for having caused poorClarence's death. Would to God it had been this limping dog that I hadasked for, dead. Then all should have been well. Clarence was gentle,and never did me harm. 'Tis indeed God's curse for my climbing togreat heights upon the necks of others that has now fallen upon myhead, and bent it low. Where I have stepped on others, now others stepon me. It is just, oh Lord, it is just. But oh! merciful Father,"cried she, as her spirit began to give way, "let all thy wrath fallupon me; for I am the guilty one. Let not the jealousy of Richardbring harm unto others than me. I am to blame, and I alone shouldsuffer." As she finished this speech she stood erect, her face turnedheavenward, and her arms upraised in entreaty. As she stood thus hernoble form lost none of that queenly dignity which must ever havemarked her as a Queen among women.
"I am to blame, and I alone should suffer."]
"Come, come, mother, thou must not give way thus. Gloucester wouldrejoice indeed, if he knew that he had so affected thee," said Dorset,as he advanced and put his arm around his mother's neck, and patted hertenderly upon the shoulder. "Besides," he continued, gently, as he ledher to the window, "we are losing valuable time. We know not whenGloucester may arrive; and when he does, it is then too late for theeto leave the Palace."
"Thou art right, my son," said her Majesty. "Indeed 'tis weakness inme to thus give way. All mine energies must now be set aworking, thatI may cause that traitor's downfall." As she spoke she walked rapidlyto a door leading to some of her servant's quarters. This she opened,and called within:--"What ho! Jane!" Then as some one made answer,she continued:--"Have all my belongings put into boxes at once; all myjewels carefully put together in their case. All things must be inreadiness within the hour."
"It shall be done, your Majesty," came from the inner room.
The girls then hastened to their apartments, to get their belongings inreadiness for their departure; whilst Dorset went to give orders to hisfollowing to be prepared to escort her Majesty.
Within the time specified by the Queen all arrangements had beencompleted, and they were ready to cross over to the Sanctuary.
Though the distance is short--in fact, the two buildings join--yet theywere escorted by a body of armed men. Hazel told me after that theylooked more like Queen Margaret going to battle, in the time ofWarwick, than the good Queen Elizabeth on her way unto a Sanctuary.
The little Duke of York laughed and chatted as they were collecting histoy weapons. "Wait, Lady Hazel, until I grow up and am a man, and canhold a lance in rest. Then I will ride a tourney; and when I amproclaimed the champion of the day I shall make thee my Queen ofBeauty, and thou shalt put a wreath upon my head. Oh, thou needst notlaugh!" he cried, as Hazel smiled at this confident young gentleman;"remember, I shall soon be old enough to wear mine armour, and break alance; I'm nearly nine already," he added, as he straightened hislittle body, and threw back his head with as bold a toss as could anyold champion produce.
"And wilt thou not make me thy Queen of Beauty?" asked Mary, as thoughshe did feel the slight.
"Now come, Lady Mary, do not be cross with me; I'll make thee a Queenof Beauty too; for I shall ride lots of tourneys, and be the championevery time. Uncle of Gloucester is going to teach me how to hold mylance, that I can dismount a knight; so I cannot be other than a greatchampion, when I have such a teacher; for ye know uncle of Gloucesteris the greatest lance in the world. Is he not, sister?" And he turnedto the Princess Elizabeth, as though seeking support with which to propup his idol.
"Nay, that I cannot tell," answered his eldest sister. "Thou hast agreater knowledge of these things than have I." And she smiled sadlyon the young innocent.
"'Tis very true," said the little Prince, with a wise nod, as they setout after his mother, "we men know more of those things; yet
'tis theladies that do inspire us and lead us on to such great feats."
The Princess, Mary, and Hazel, could no longer restrain their laughter.This greatly offended the little Duke. He lowered the butt of thelittle whip which he did carry, no matter what his occupation, andcharged, with all the speed he could succeed in forcing from his littlebody. He struck his brother, Dorset, fairly between the shoulders,which gave that nobleman such a start that he scarce kept his feet.Then the little Prince turned and looked back at the girls, with asatisfied smile, which plainly said:--"Now, ye would laugh at me? Wasnot that course run right well and knightly?"
By this time they had reached their destination; so, after dismissingtheir following, they were all admitted to the Sanctuary.