‘She will have the best of care, my Lord. She is the Queen after all.’
‘Yes, but even Queens die in childbirth, Princess. I would not wish to condemn England to the conspiracies of heretics if the Queen lost her life to this child.’
He looked at her levelly, to emphasise his meaning. ‘I would be happy to marry again, and remain on the throne here, should it come to that.’
It took all of Elizabeth’s self-control not to move her face into an expression of revulsion. She lowered her gaze so he wouldn’t see the contempt in her eyes and she dropped into another low curtsey so she could school her features before he looked at her again.
‘If you would excuse me, my Lord. I must return to the Queen. To ensure her safety.’ And with that Elizabeth straightened her spine and swept out of the gallery, trying not to tremble with anger and disgust, and trying not to bite her lip.
***
Elizabeth pulled parchment and ink towards her, and opened Machiavelli’s book they were still using for the cipher. Just writing to Robert gave her the strength she needed to continue with her pious and dutiful pretence at Court
My love, I need you with me. I need you beside me to help me through this viper’s nest of court. I need you here. I shall ask Mary how you may be released. I am yours. Bess
***
Elizabeth tried not to gobble her food, but she was so hungry that she could barely chew before she swallowed, to then put another bite in her mouth.
Mary, huge with child, smiled across at her sister as she ate.
‘Have you not eaten today, Elizabeth? Did you forget again?’ Mary looked at her sister anxiously.
‘I often forget, your Highness. I never want to eat when I first wake, then I find myself busy with other things, and I forget until the evening meal. Then I can’t eat enough and I give myself a pain in my belly.’ Elizabeth laughed as she tore another piece of bread with her teeth. Mary shook her head at her sister and smiled.
‘Your Highness, may I ask you something?’ Elizabeth’s stomach started to churn, but she didn’t know if it was with trepidation or too much food.
‘Of course.’
‘Do you intend to pardon the Dudley boys, your Highness?’ Elizabeth felt this was not the time for diplomacy and round about questions. She needed a direct answer.
‘Should I, after what they tried to do?’ Mary looked at Elizabeth, as if she actually wanted the answer to come from her. ‘Think what they did, and then tell me what you would do.’
‘Well, Highness, you condemned their father, and it was his plan. Guildford and Jane too, paid the ultimate price.’ Mary nodded, and gestured for Elizabeth to continue. ‘Jane’s father Suffolk is still imprisoned, and perhaps should stay there, so he cannot lead another uprising.’ Mary began to regard Elizabeth with interest. She was obviously displaying the capacity to think things through.
‘So, with Northumberland, Jane and Guildford dead, and Suffolk incarcerated, what harm can come from releasing the others? John Dudley is mortally ill, Ambrose just wants to go and live quietly in the country with his wife, and the other boys, Robert and Henry, they are young and would make good allies for your Highness.’
‘Philip is thinking of leading a force to France, to try and recover some of our lost territories. Perhaps the Dudley boys would make good soldiers, in my service this time, instead of against me? Do you think they would go?’ Mary lifted her eyebrow at her sister, waiting for her answer.
‘Is the King Consort going before you have the child, Highness?’
‘No,’ Mary answered quickly. ‘He is waiting until after the birth and then celebrating the union between England and Spain by capturing some land we can allow our Prince to rule, in the fullness of time.’
‘So, you need commanders then, for your forces?’
‘We do, and I think the Dudleys will serve very nicely. I shall order their release so they might prepare with their troops. Philip wants to depart as soon as he knows I have been delivered safely, and they will need to organise themselves.’
‘I’m sure they will be grateful, Highness. And it will be a mercy for John.’
Mary smiled and cut herself some more meat. Elizabeth chewed her lip, and longed for the morning, when she could write to Robbie and tell him he was coming back to her.
Chapter 17
eading your last letter was like having you beside me, dearest Cat, and I long for that day. You cannot know how much.
I hope this letter finds you well and not too stout with your new child or your new recipes for sweetmeats. There will be no Prince. The Queen has come out of confinement thin and anxious, with no baby. There have been scurrilous rumours, of course, of dead children and disappearing children, but the doctors think it was what they are calling a ‘phantom’ pregnancy, caused by the Queen’s anxiety to have a child.
Poor woman. I have little sympathy for her as Queen; the cruelties that are inflicted in her name, in the name of her God, are beyond my understanding. But as a woman with a full nursery, I am sorry she has no baby of her own to love. We know all this because Ralph is still in correspondence with William Cecil, and although Cecil might not be at court, his spies still are, so he does not lack for current information.
The Queen released the remaining Dudley family, and they all went to the estate of Ambrose, who has been able to retain the Earldom of Warwick in the face of their misfortune, but sadly John died the day after their release. We are told that Philip of Spain is mounting a force to take territory in France. This was supposed to be in celebration of the birth of a Prince, so he had his own lands. Now, I feel it is so Philip can retreat from Mary’s sorrow. The two younger Dudleys have been given commissions to command his troops, so they might redeem themselves.
Give my love to your children. We miss them here, and we look forward to seeing you all in England, back where you belong, very soon. Much affection. Meg
***
‘Robbie, what shall I do without you? How shall I live, here, with you gone from me?’
Elizabeth paced her presence chamber, chewing her lip in distress at the thought of Robert going to war.
‘My love, I have to go. You know this. It is the condition of our release, that Henry and I will fight for Philip.’
‘Any promise, any vow. That’s what you said.’ Elizabeth’s voice was rising.
‘Yes, my Bess. But some promises also come bound in honour. I must make reparation for our family, Bess. I must restore the honour to the Dudley name. And without the stipend I will get from Philip, I have nothing. I have borrowed the money to equip Henry and myself from Ambrose.’
He caught Elizabeth’s hands in his and made her stand in front of him. He brushed the bitten lower lip with his thumb as he stroked her cheek, and he leant his forehead against hers.
‘When I return, I will be able to restore our fortune. I will have money to stake on our family’s future. Calm yourself, my love. I shall return to you quickly. I cannot think the campaign will be very long, and then we shall be together.’ He thumbed her tears away and kissed her gently.
Elizabeth put her arms round his neck, and whispered, ‘Together, Robbie? Truly?’
‘Yes, my love. When I return victorious, we shall find a way to be together properly.’
‘And your wife? Have you forgotten you have a wife, Robbie?’ She pulled away from the embrace slightly to look in his eyes.
‘I have not forgotten, Bess.’ His voice was tight. ‘But I swear to you, that will not be a barrier to our love. She has no influence on where I go, what I do. Or how I love.’ He kissed her on her nose and that made her laugh. He suppressed a sigh of relief that he had averted another storm of
temper from Elizabeth. He could feel the latest letter from Amy in the pocket of his doublet and knew he would have to deal with her before he went away.
***
Lord Husband
Master Hyde tells me you are released. If this is so, why are you not here? Mistress Pincto needs further funds for my medicine. Please tell Master Hyde that he should release more money to her. You are my husband and you must come to me, and be at my side. We must see about our own premises forthwith, if you are now free. I should not be expected to stay here, as kind as Mistress Hyde is. I will see you soon, I trust.
Your wife before God, Amy, Lady Dudley
***
‘My dear Lord Robert. How wonderful it is to see you safe at last, after your misfortunes. Please accept my sincere sympathy for your father and brother.’ William Hyde bowed low as Robert stood in the hallway of his house, then stepped forward and shook Robert’s hand warmly.
‘Sir William. I must thank you for all the kindness you have extended to my wife, and therefore to me.’ Robert made his own bow to Sir William, and then allowed himself to be led into the parlour.
‘Not at all, my dear sir. Your wife is a very pleasant young woman, and is no trouble. We are sorry she is often unwell, but her maid Nell Pincto looks after her in those circumstances. When she has her health, she makes a very amiable companion for my wife.’
Robert accepted the cup of wine that Sir William pressed into his hand, and sat on the chair by the fireplace. He swallowed a mouthful, then looked back at Sir William, seated opposite.
‘I would pray your indulgence for a while longer, Sir William, but accept my assurance that my gratitude will know no bounds when I return to my fortune.’
‘My dear Lord Robert, think no more about it. I realise your circumstances are difficult at the present time. It is our pleasure to help such an esteemed family as yours. And I am confident that when you find yourself restored again, then you will….’
‘Most assuredly, good sir.’ Robert interrupted. He didn’t have time for endless reassurances and pleasantries. He wanted to make sure Sir William would keep Amy in his house while the campaign was fought, he wanted to pay the man for her upkeep, and he wanted a swift end to his visit with Amy.
Robert stood, placing his empty wine cup on the side table, together with a purse of gold; another debt to his brother, he thought. He indicated the purse.
‘That should be more than sufficient, Sir William. It should pay for Amy’s keep, wages for her maid, and a little over for her …. necessities?’ He raised his eyebrow, and Sir William nodded his understanding.
‘You wish to see your wife before you go, Lord Robert?’ Sir William walked over to the bell-pull at the side of the hearth.
‘Yes.’ Robert stifled the sigh in his voice. ‘I must take my leave and explain about the campaign upon which we embark.’
‘Tell Lady Dudley her husband awaits her in the parlour.’ Sir William spoke abruptly to the page who answered the call of the bell.
To Robert he turned and smiled, bowing once again. ‘Please feel free to use this room for your visit, Lord Robert, and help yourself to more wine.’ Sir William carefully swept up the purse full of gold, concealing it in his doublet, then opened the door to the hallway, allowing Amy to enter. He bowed again briefly and finally left the room. Robert looked at his wife and tried to put some sincerity into his voice.
‘Good morning, Amy. You look well.’ He smiled at her and made a small bow.
‘My Lord. You come to take me home?’ Amy raised her brows at her husband. Robert sighed.
‘No, Amy. I have come to tell you I am going on campaign with the King Consort.’
Amy looked at him, her brow furrowing as she thought about this statement.
‘But, I married the son of a nobleman, not a common soldier. My Lord, why do you go to be a soldier?’
Robert closed his eyes briefly to hide his impatience. ‘I have to earn some money, Amy. I have to make some swift funds so I can return and try to restore my fortune. This is the reason Henry and I were released from the tower, so we could fight for the Crown. Then we will be rewarded.’
‘And where shall I be, while you are being a soldier?’ Amy’s voice was vague and far away as she walked towards the window and gazed out over the pastures beyond the walls of the garden.
‘Here, Amy. You shall stay here, and be taken care of while I’m gone.’
‘I shall go and lie down then, if you aren’t taking me away. I might need my medicine.’ Amy continued gazing through the window, and Robert pulled the bell.
‘Please send my wife’s maid to help her.’ Robert spoke to the page that answered the bell.
Moments later, a brief knock came on the door and a slender middle aged woman entered, dressed in a plain grey gown, with a white cap on her head and a snowy apron tied over the front of her gown. She bobbed a curtsey to Robert.
‘Mistress Pincto?’ Robert had never met his wife’s maid, and Amy didn’t seem to realise anyone had entered the room as she still stood in front of the window.
‘Yes, my Lord. Nell Pincto.’ To Robert her voice was pleasant, with a soft country burr.
‘Tell me, Nell. How is my wife’s health really? She often complains that she needs her medicine. Do I need to have her see a physician?’
‘Sir William had a physician look at her, my Lord. He said there was nothing wrong with her, but that if she got her sudden pain, then she should take a tincture of poppy. That is her medicine. It calms her and takes away the pain so she can sleep.’
Robert nodded. ‘And where does she have the pain, Nell?’
‘In her chest, my Lord. Not her heart,’ Nell quickly shook her head, ‘as the physician said it was the wrong side. She gets it here.’ Nell Pincto put her hand over her own right breast. ‘But sometimes…’ Nell stopped, as if she wondered whether or not to tell Robert what she thought.
‘Sometimes, Nell? Sometimes what?’ Robert smiled and nodded encouragingly. Amy was still by the window, seemingly oblivious to the conversation.
Nell lowered her voice, ‘Sometimes I think she wants the medicine even when she has no pain. I think sometimes the pain is in her mind, and the medicine calms her.’
Robert considered her words. He barely knew Amy, had had little to do with her since the morning before they married so hurriedly, so he was unable to judge whether this was usual behaviour for her. She seemed calm, if a little vague. She was clean, well fed, well dressed and he had no reason to suppose anyone was being unkind to her. Sir William said she was a pleasant companion to his wife, and had expressed no doubts about the character of her maid.
‘I can see you look after her well, Nell. I am going to France on campaign, and you and Amy will stay here.’ He nodded across at his wife, still standing by the window. ‘I have tried to explain why I must go. I don’t know if she understood or not.’ He looked at the maid and shrugged helplessly. Nell Pincto smiled and nodded.
‘I understand, my Lord. When her mind is clearer, I will explain again. I’ll take her to rest now, my Lord, with your permission?’ Mistress Pincto went across to Amy and took her by the shoulders to turn her round. Amy blinked at her vacantly.
‘Lord Dudley has to go now, my Lady. Say your goodbye, and then we can go and rest.’ Robert walked across to Amy and kissed her briefly on the cheek.
‘Goodbye my Lord.’ Amy responded dutifully, like a child who has learned the correct response by rote and has no capacity to do other than repeat what has been taught.
‘Goodbye Amy.’ Robert smiled at his wife, and nodded at her maid ‘Take care of her, Nell.’
Nell bobbed a curtsey in acknowledgement and
led Amy gently away.
Chapter 18
obbie, I am being banished from Court. I am to live at Woodstock with a few servants.’
Elizabeth sat in her presence chamber, her black silk gown and white collar a stark contrast to the peacock colours of the rest of the court. Robert, clad in his leather doublet and breeches, only hours away from his departure to France, clasped both her hands in his as he sat by her side at the window. The rest of Elizabeth’s ladies busied themselves with embroidery and music at the other end of the room.
‘Surely not banished, my love?’
Elizabeth, voice low and rough with fury, whispered back ‘Yes, Robbie. Banishment. Some low-born spy told Mary what her husband, that …..that… Spaniard!’ She spat the word with such venom Robert was quite taken aback and Elizabeth dragged a shuddering breath and tried to calm herself.
‘His royal Majesty, Philip of Spain, husband to my sister, had the temerity to tell me he would be happy to marry me if Mary should die.’ Elizabeth looked at Robert with narrowed eyes, ‘Robbie, I wanted to kill him. I wanted to take a dagger from my belt and plunge it into his duplicitous Spanish heart. I shall never marry Spain. I would plunge the blade into my own heart first. But now Mary thinks I am encouraging him, wanting him for myself.’ She looked up at Robert and shuddered.
‘As if I would ever want him, my own sister’s leavings. Deigning to accept me, me! A Princess of England, who could marry any prince she might choose,’ her voice began to rise in her anger and disgust, ‘and why should I choose, when all I really want is ……’
‘Hush, Bess. Do not upset yourself so, in front of so many.’ Robert whispered softly as he brought Elizabeth’s hands up to his mouth, kissing her knuckles and gently blowing across them to calm her. He turned her hands palm up and ghosted a kiss into each, closing her fingers over as if to preserve the kiss in her grasp.
‘I must go soon, my love. I would have a memory of your smile to take with me.’
The Last Howard Girl (Tudor Chronicles Book 3) Page 10