by David Field
‘Young ladies at Court don’t require nannies,’ Frances observed.
‘This one will,’ Jane insisted as the tears began to flow freely and her parents looked apprehensively at each other over her bowed head.
XIX
‘Where are my normal guards and who are these people?’ King Edward demanded sharply as Edward Seymour bowed into the presence.
Seymour smiled reassuringly. ‘Given the recent threat to your life, I thought it better to install my own men, Your Majesty.’
‘And what was wrong with the usual guard?’ his nephew demanded testily. ‘Did they not manage to apprehend my other uncle — the mad one — before he had got beyond the privy garden?’
‘Only because they were alerted in advance, Your Majesty.’
‘By whom?’
‘I have no idea. I was given that information by the Captain of the Guard, but only after I questioned him most rigorously,’ Seymour lied. ‘I was not satisfied that I was getting the entire truth and would be much happier if my own men were responsible for your personal safety.’
‘And where is the Lady Jane?’
‘Outside, Majesty.’
‘You left her waiting in the corridor?’ King Edward bellowed in angry disbelief. ‘Bring her in — now!’
A somewhat apprehensive Jane was called into the presence and Seymour slid back out through the double doors into the hallway.
King Edward noted Jane’s dejected look immediately. ‘My dear Jane,’ he said consolingly, ‘you look sad. Why is this, when we are reunited after so many months?’
‘In truth, Edward,’ she replied as she allowed the King to take her hand and led her to the chair next to his, ‘I am fearful that when I am formally presented at Court I will shame myself by being a country bumpkin with poor manners and ungracious actions. I will need time to prepare for my first appearance.’
Edward looked puzzled. ‘Who told you that you were to be formally presented at Court?’
‘The Duke of Somerset. At least, that’s what he told my parents, seemingly.’
‘He had no business saying that,’ Edward assured her. ‘There will of course come a time when you will be presented at Court, but not before you are ready. In truth, you are here solely in order to raise my spirits, which my physicians assure me will in due course improve my health. But enough of that — tell me how you have been these past few months, and how is Leicestershire?’
‘Middling well, thank you, Edward, but I miss my lifelong friend, who was with me during my previous times in London, but has now been left behind, on the insistence of my parents.’
‘Is she regarded by them as not suitable as a companion for you?’
‘Only because they thought I was being presented at Court. If I am not, then perhaps I could send word for her to travel down here in order to be with me?’
‘Of course you may, and without delay. What is her name?’
‘You may remember her. Grace Ashton. She is the daughter of Sir Richard Ashton, who has a neighbouring estate to ours at Knighton. Grace and I grew up together and she is my dearest friend.’
‘Then we should lose no time in having her brought down here to Windsor. The park here has excellent distractions and the surrounding countryside is most pleasing for brief excursions on horseback. Do you both ride?’
‘After a fashion.’
‘Then we should spend a few days ahead of her arrival reacquainting you with the delights of being on horseback. I’ll give instructions for a quiet horse to be allocated to you from the stables here and we shall go riding tomorrow, after my lessons.’
The following morning, when Edward announced his desire to go riding along the distant Thames riverbank in the company of Jane, he was politely advised that Seymour had left word that, for his own safety, the King was not to proceed beyond the outer gate of Windsor Castle. Edward angrily summoned his uncle into his presence and demanded an explanation.
‘It is for your own safety, Your Majesty, given the recent attack on your own life.’
‘Alleged attack, Uncle. And is this alleged attack to be used as a justification for keeping me within the Castle walls like some captured foreign prince?’
‘I am the Lord Protector as well as your uncle, Edward, and my first duty is to protect you and, by the same process, the line of succession.’
‘And how will I attend Council? Or do you propose to bring the Council here, whenever we have need to convene it?’
‘That is obviously one possible course of action, Your Majesty. The alternative would be for me to convey your wishes to Council in person and ensure that they are fulfilled.’
‘And has Council yet agreed to either course?’
‘Clearly not, since I have not yet put those options to them. Perhaps now might be the opportune moment for you to choose.’
‘I choose to return to Greenwich, Uncle.’
‘Given the ongoing risk to your person, I cannot allow that, Edward.’
‘Your Majesty,’ Edward insisted. ‘And who are you, to decide what to allow me and what to keep me from?’
‘I am the Lord Protector, Your Majesty, and even though you are my nephew and my King, my first duty is to the nation.’
‘And should I choose to appoint another Lord Protector?’
‘I was appointed by Council, it will be recalled.’
‘A Council that you bribed!’
‘Nevertheless, it would require the approval of Council to replace me.’
‘Then summon Council here to Windsor and let us do precisely that.’
‘As you wish, Your Majesty,’ Seymour bowed with a sustained smirk. ‘Once the weather is more favourable.’
‘Now!’ Edward bellowed, as he waved his uncle out of his presence and called for Jane, who entered, looking distressed.
‘What ails you, Jane?’ Edward asked.
She lowered her eyes as she slid into her usual chair and whispered, ‘Why have you sent that awful man Wriothesley to ask me impertinent questions? Do you believe that I was involved in some way in the attack on your life, even though I was at that time attending the Lady Catherine at Sudeley?’
‘I gave no such order, to Wriothesley or to anyone else. Say you that he accuses you of being in league with Thomas Seymour in his foolishness?’
‘More or less. He asked about my “doings” with Seymour while we were all living under the same roof in Chelsea. He also wished to know what I saw of Seymour’s “doings” with the Lady Elizabeth, and I was obliged to tell him. Have you brought me down here to be interrogated?’
‘Of course not, dear Jane. I had no idea that Wriothesley was even here at Windsor, and I shall lose no time in having him sent back downriver. His commission was cancelled some time ago.’
‘What commission?’
‘You need not concern yourself with that. But since the alleged attack on my life, there have been many enquiries as to who might have been behind it, other than Thomas Seymour, that is. The older brother, who insists that he is the Lord Protector, and must therefore keep me confined here for the good of the nation, as if I were a prisoner, has clearly countermanded my order that Wriothesley pursue his enquiries no further. I seem no longer to be in command of the nation of which I am King.’
‘Can you not simply command to be taken back to Greenwich, or perhaps Hampton?’ Jane asked fearfully.
Edward shook his head and waved a hand in the general direction of the double doors to his audience chamber. ‘The guards outside are all Seymour’s men and they tell me — with excessive politeness — what I may and may not, do, beyond the walls of the Palace here.’
‘So we are both prisoners?’
Edward nodded, then looked at her with widening eyes. ‘But there is yet hope to get word to Council, which has not met recently, for various reasons that Somerset offers as lame excuses. Either it is the inclement weather, or the illness of Council members, or some such poor justification.’
‘How do you propose to ge
t word to them? Are your despatches read by Seymour or one of his bullies?’
‘I know not. But it is unlikely that yours will be.’
‘I know of no-one to whom I may write, I’m afraid,’ Jane conceded.
Edward still had a gleam in his eye. ‘Your friend in Leicestershire — the one you wished to have brought down here?’
‘Grace Ashton?’
‘Could you not write to her — perhaps in some sort of code known only to each of you — seemingly inviting her down here, but in truth asking that she gather an armed force to release us?’
Jane laughed, then corrected herself. ‘Forgive me, Edward, but the only army that Grace Ashton would be likely to be able to raise would consist of sheep, goats and water fowl from her estate.’
‘She has no friends in London in positions of armed power?’
‘Only Sir John Dudley.’
‘The Duke of Northumberland?’ Edward asked. ‘Do you tell me that Grace is friendly with Northumberland?’
‘In truth, it is I who can better claim that,’ Jane replied, ‘since we both resided in his house at his invitation when Baron Seymour went to Sudeley. But my friend Grace is very friendly with Sir John’s squire, and if I write to her, disguising my true message in some way, I’m sure she can alert Sir John and thereby arrange for his men to come and release us.’
Just over a week later, a puzzled Grace Ashton was reading and re-reading a portion of Jane’s letter to her, inviting her down to Windsor Palace. Knowing Jane as well as she did, she felt certain that there was some hidden message in there and she had never before known Jane to write to her — in truth, it was one of the rare occasions when she had even seen Jane’s very accomplished handwriting.
Eventually she opted for the opinion of someone whose superior intelligence and experience of life was readily available. She found her father in the stables, rubbing down his horse after his weekly pilgrimage to the Cardinal’s grave, and she put her hand into his and smiled her winning smile. ‘Father, I have this letter from Jane, as you know, but there is something in it that puzzles me. What would you make of this passage?’
She looked down at the vellum, now badly creased and repeated what Jane had written. ‘I really miss you now that the games here at Windsor have grown more serious and the other Seymour insists that Edward and I play that game that you and I used to play in the milking parlour. Perhaps you should bring Guildford and his father to break up the game.’
‘To what game is she referring?’ Richard asked, at a loss to understand the oblique allusion.
‘When the milking parlour was empty, we’d creep into one of the stalls and pile hay bales in front of it, so that it resembled a prison cell. Then we’d take it in turn to play “prisoner and gaoler”. But why would she and King Edward be playing that game, and why should Guildford and his father be invited to end it?’
Richard looked into her eyes with a stern expression. ‘This is not some childish game between you, designed to make me look foolish?’
‘Of course not, Father — but what can it mean?’
‘I think it means that you are required back in London as a matter of urgency. As I read this, Edward Seymour has Jane and the King imprisoned in Windsor Palace. Go and alert Maryy Calthorpe that we shall be leaving at first light tomorrow. We go first to Bradgate for some of Grey’s retinue to accompany us, then we go to rescue our King. And, of course, your very clever friend.’
XX
‘We must be very guarded in how we approach this,’ John Dudley told the Ashtons as they sat around the supper table. Wine and wafers had appeared as if by magic and supper had been ordered an hour early when Richard Ashton revealed why they were there unannounced with an escort of men in the Grey livery.
‘You share my unease regarding Jane’s hidden message?’ Richard asked.
Dudley shook his head. ‘Not really, since the Lady Jane has always seemed to me to be a most intelligent girl for her age. Also, the nature of her message — and the careful way in which it was ciphered — further underlines her devotion to the truth. My concern is that we do not overreact.’
‘But surely, if the King be imprisoned...’ Richard began, then fell silent as Dudley raised his hand.
‘There can be no doubt of that, in a general sense. He is being confined inside Windsor, certainly, but were I to challenge Somerset’s actions, he would claim merely that Edward is being isolated from further contagion. That is the reason he has given these past few weeks for not summoning Council.’
‘But that cannot, in the normal course of things, be allowed to continue, surely?’ Guilford chimed in, despite his father’s annoyed frown at his presumption. ‘What I mean is that the Council is required to meet regularly for the governance of the nation.’
Dudley shook his head with a look of resignation. ‘Somerset is “Lord Protector” and for some years has been authorised to make decisions without the consent — or even the knowledge — of Council. While he has King Edward contained, he can conduct the affairs of State as if he were King.’
‘All the more reason why we should at least attempt to rescue Edward from his clutches,’ Richard argued.
Dudley nodded. ‘This must, of course, be our ultimate objective, but first we must be sure that the King truly is Somerset’s prisoner. Were I to lead a body of armed men against the security of Windsor Palace, it could be seen as an act of treason — perhaps a further attack on the King’s life. That is how Somerset would describe it to Edward, and my next residence would be the Tower.’
‘Then what do you suggest?’ Richard asked, thoroughly out of his depth in current matters of Court intrigue.
‘We need a way of discovering the true state of things inside the royal apartments,’ Dudley explained, ‘and you have of course come ready supplied with our spy, in the person of your charming daughter. She is expected at Windsor, in order to join her lifelong companion Lady Jane, so there will be no suspicion raised when she is escorted thither by either yourself or myself, in either case with a suitable escort. The question that occupies my head at present is how she may thereafter send us news of the true state of things behind the ring of Somerset’s men.’
Richard turned to Grace. ‘That young suitor of yours — “Allan” — he is still here at Durham House?’
‘Do you mean Allan Bestwick?’ Dudley asked.
Guildford turned to Richard Ashton. ‘Allan is my father’s squire and my lifelong companion, just as Grace has been to Jane.’
‘So if Grace is installed inside the royal apartments, seemingly as a mere companion to Jane, Allan could visit her in the guise of her ardent suitor?’ Richard asked.
‘I cannot think of any role he would rather play,’ Guildford said, ‘and there would be no “guise” about it.’
Richard turned to Grace. ‘And I would imagine that you would have no objection to regular visits from your young man?’
‘Of course not.’ Grace grinned broadly.
Richard looked back at Dudley. ‘What do you think?’
Dudley beamed back at him. ‘We would seem to have the matter resolved.’
The two girls danced up and down with delight as they were reunited under the benevolent smile of King Edward. Grace’s entry into the Audience Chamber had been announced by an usher and she had not even noticed the slender young man in the throne seat to one side as she caught sight of Jane and rushed towards her with a gleeful shout. As Jane disentangled herself from Grace’s embrace, she nodded towards the King.
‘Say hello to Edward — he’s heard so much about you!’
Grace’s smile disappeared instantly as the realisation dawned. ‘You mean King Edward?’
‘Who else?’ Edward said. ‘Welcome to Windsor Palace, Mistress Ashton.’
‘I’m so sorry, please forgive me!’
‘For what? Making my dear Jane so happy?
‘For my ignoring you and not curtseying or something, I meant.’
‘Jane has not curtsied s
ince the first time we met, and neither should you. We are all friends, I hope, so come and sit with us and enjoy some wine.’
‘Did you get my latest letter?’ Jane asked eagerly.
Grace nodded. ‘I am sent to enquire whether or not you are really imprisoned.’
‘Sent by whom?’ Edward asked.
‘By my father and Sir John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland.’
‘And if we are, is he in a position to secure our release?’
‘Yes, Your ... Your ... what should I call you?’
‘Edward,’ the King laughed. ‘Your very clever friend here obviously achieved her purpose and yes, we are indeed not free to leave the confines of the Lower Ward — certainly not beyond its gates — so you could say that we are imprisoned.’
‘But you’re the King,’ Grace objected, earning another laugh from Edward.
‘And of what value is a king, if he be not allowed to rule his country?’
‘So Somerset really has you confined, as we feared?’ she asked.
Edward made a rude noise before replying. ‘One uncle allegedly sought to take my life and the other seeks to rule the country while holding me down as securely as if I were in the Tower. Those guards you saw outside the chamber serve Somerset and are no doubt being richly rewarded for their treason.’
‘So you wish Dudley to be informed, so that he may secure your release?’
Edward frowned. ‘Would that this could occur, but you’ll be saddened to hear that you are now as confined in here as we have been these past few months. How do you propose to get word to Dudley?’
‘Through his squire, I hope,’ Grace replied nervously. ‘He and I are ... well...’
‘They’re in love,’ Jane told Edward with a knowing smile.
‘We are certainly very close,’ Grace confirmed, ‘and the plan is for him to visit me as my suitor and then take back word to his master that he is to bring a force to release you.’
‘And how will he get past the guards?’ Edward asked, unconvinced.
‘That I do not know,’ Grace conceded, ‘but I have every faith in him.’