The Last Howard Girl (Tudor Chronicles Book 3)

by Lesley Jepson

  Lettice shrugged and readjusted her position as she held her new son in her arms. He was freshly fed by the wet-nurse, who had gone down to the kitchen to have something to eat and drink, so Lettice took the opportunity to sit with Meg in the nursery with the other children and gossip over sweetmeats and ale.

  Meg turned to the door with a smile, as Ralph entered and threw his cloak and gloves on the chair just inside the door, then walked across to his wife and kissed her cheek.

  ‘Good morning again, my Meg.’ She smiled back at him and took his hand.

  ‘Why are you back so soon, Ralph? Not that we object at all. It is a wonderful surprise.’

  ‘I have some private business I must attend to here, my love. It is a matter most urgent, but it must be done here. And we will have company for the noon meal, so you may want to warn cook that there will be five additional hungry men to feed.’

  Lettice smiled to herself at the bewildered look on Meg’s face, then heard many more hoofs enter the stable yard and crunch over the gravel. Meg flew to the window to look out and beamed back at Ralph and Lettice.

  ‘It’s Tom, and Ed,’ she said excitedly, ‘and two more gentlemen with them. Ooh!’ she gasped as she recognised one of the other riders, ‘You have brought Lord Robert! Here? For the noon meal? Oh, Ralph. What will we feed him?’

  ‘Be still, my love,’ Ralph clasped Meg’s fluttering hands. ‘It is with Lord Robert that I have the private business. He wanted to come here, so he will be quite amenable to whatever we feed him. He wants no ceremony, my Meg.’

  Lettice’s heart had begun to pound and she ducked her head so the flush that had begun to creep up her cheeks would be unobserved. Suddenly she heard the door crash open and more heavy footsteps thunder into the chamber, while shrieks came from the other end of the sunny room

  ‘Papa. My Papa,’ Jane hurled herself into Ralph’s arms and he lifted her high.

  ‘Ed, ‘Om,’ Dickon barrelled forward and hugged both boys’ legs as they ruffled his hair and laughed. Lettice smiled at the children’s enthusiasm, and peered further into the nursery to nod at her own two little girls to come and join the enthusiastic reunion. Suddenly a prickle of awareness ran across her shoulders as she heard a throat being cleared at the open doorway, and she saw Meg drop into a deep curtsey.

  ‘Lord Robert,’ said Meg, with her head still bowed, ‘welcome to our home.’ She rose and walked forward as Robert made his own courtly bow.

  ‘Lady Sadler. My apologies for the impromptu visit, but I must discuss my business with your husband privately, and he offered his office here for our discussion.’ Robert gazed round into the nursery full of children of varying ages. ‘And these lads,’ he indicated Tom and Ed, ‘have told me I might have a new recruit here. I would meet him, if I may?’

  Lettice had seen Robert’s gaze move swiftly past her as he looked round the room. She saw Thomas at his shoulder, standing in wait in the corridor as always, hand on his dagger. She again dipped her head to adjust the shawl around her baby’s head as Robert walked further into the room.

  ‘My Lord,’ said Ralph, still holding his little girl, ‘might I present Lady Jane, my youngest daughter.’ Robert kissed the back of Jane’s tiny hand and bowed carefully. ‘My Lady,’ he smiled, and Jane giggled and nodded her own bow back.

  ‘And I would present Sir Richard Knollys, brother to young Ed,’ Ralph nodded to Dickon, still clutching Ed’s thigh. Ed extracted himself from his brother’s sticky grasp and whispered that he should bow to Lord Robert. Dickon bowed very formally.

  ‘D-ickon, m’Lord ‘Obert.’ Robert smothered a smile as he returned the bow. ‘Your brother tells me you shall come to me as a squire soon, sir?’ Dickon nodded enthusiastically and clutched back at Ed’s thigh.

  Lettice noticed Penelope and Dorothea standing hand in hand in the other part of the nursery, and she beckoned them to come through and join her. The two dainty girls, dressed identically in sprigged organza dresses, with their dark hair tumbling in curls down their backs made a beautiful picture in the sunlight and Robert’s eyes widened.

  ‘And who are these two beauties?’ asked Robert, bowing to the girls as they tiptoed hesitantly towards their mother.

  ‘My daughters, my Lord. Lady Penelope and Lady Dorothea Deveraux,’ Lettice’s clear voice came from the depths of the chair in front of the fireplace.

  ‘They have their mother’s beauty, my Lady,’ said Robert, suppressing a smile but eyes dancing with mirth, ‘and it is good to see you back, Countess.’

  ‘Yes, my Lord. I have returned with … my son. And when I have been churched, I shall be back at court. My husband will return from Ireland soon to meet … the babe.’ Lettice did her best to keep her tone even and pleasant. Meg was wide-eyed at their conversation, and Ralph, Tom and Ed were being dragged to the other end of the room to look at what the children were doing.

  ‘I will go and tell cook to prepare extra food, Lettice. If you would entertain Lord Robert until I return? Or until Ralph is released from the children’s clutches,’ she nodded smilingly at the chatter and laughter coming from the other part of the room then dipped a curtsey towards Robert before leaving the nursery.

  ‘I have missed you, Lily.’ Lettice felt her stomach knot and her heart beat faster as he spoke softly.

  ‘And I you, Robin,’ she breathed, ‘and I so wanted you to meet your son before my return to court.’ She pushed the shawl away from the child’s sleeping face and Robert gazed thoughtfully at the baby.

  ‘He is beautiful, like his mother,’ said Robert in a low voice, and Lettice felt a flush creeping up her cheek again. ‘But I must tell you why I am here, before you hear rumour from elsewhere.’

  Lettice looked up at Robert and raised her eyebrows at him. ‘Rumour, Robin? About me?’

  ‘No, my love. About me,’ his mouth quirked and he took a deep breath, ‘I am buying Lissey Sheffield a house, so she can bring up my child in privacy.’

  Lettice gasped in astonishment, then put her head down and Robert saw her shoulders start to shake.

  ‘Oh, my lovely Lily. I am so sorry to have hurt you so,’ Robert’s frantic whisper reached her ears as his breath ghosted her skin and she suppressed a shiver of longing. ‘Would that I never had to tell you, but she will give the child the name of Dudley and I wouldn’t have anyone else tell you this, my love.’

  Lettice raised her head to look at him, and he saw with amazement that she was laughing. He looked at her quizzically.

  ‘Forgive me, Robin. It is no laughing matter, I know. And you are an honourable man, to settle a house and an income on Lissey. But,’ and she had to hide her head in the baby’s shawl until her mirth had passed and she could speak again. ‘But Lissey has been determined to get with child by you, Robin. She knew you would never leave the Queen to marry her; she wanted your child, not you. And you …. succumbed … to her scheme.’ She snorted a laugh again, and then looked back at him seriously.

  ‘It is you that is hurt by this, Robin, most of all you. Lissey has what she wants. The Queen will recover, as it is you that she wants, and I am still married to Walter, and will have what I want from you whenever I can. But you, and your honour, are the most hurt, I think.’

  Robert straightened as Meg swept back into the room.

  ‘Isn’t he a wonderful boy, Lord Robert? Lettice does seem to produce such beautiful children.’ Meg beamed at Lettice who smiled back. Meg walked to the other part of the room and clapped her hands. ‘Come along, children. You must let Sir Ralph attend to his business, and the other boys go, if they choose.’

  Ralph put Jane back in her chair, kissing the top of her head as he did so, and receiving a beautiful smile in return, and then strode back towards Robert,
still seated on the arm of Lettice’s chair. ‘Shall we conclude our business before we eat, my Lord?’

  Robert stood, and bowed over Meg’s hand. ‘Until later, Lady Sadler,’ he said, kissing her hand. He took Lettice’s hand in his own and kissed the back of that too. Tom and Ed were ensconced in a game with Dickon, but as Robert left the room, Ed called across, ‘Letty, you should move away from that fire. I can see your face glowing like the sun from here.’

  Lettice screwed her face up at her brother, and Meg patted her hand sympathetically.

  ***

  ‘Ralph, I wanted this business to be conducted away from court, and away from prying eyes,’ Robert was determined to be frank, and he knew Ralph could be trusted.

  ‘My Lord,’ Ralph nodded his understanding. He had worked for Cromwell; he knew how important discretion was.

  Robert sighed, knowing he would have to tell Ralph the truth as far as he was able.

  ‘I need to buy a house, Ralph, a reasonably large private house away from court. I need to settle an income on Lady Douglass Sheffield for the upbringing of my child.’ Ralph’s eyes widened but he remained silent, and Robert continued in a low voice.

  ‘The income shall remain with Lady Sheffield, but should she choose to marry, then the income will revert to the child. The house will not be maintained from that income; the costs of the household will be paid from a trust that you will set up for that purpose, from funds I will give you. Is all that possible, Ralph?’

  ‘Of course, my Lord.’ Ralph gazed at Robert and narrowed his eyes, ‘I already know of a house for sale, my Lord. In Esher. It has to be sold for debt; there are no heirs but the creditors become impatient. It is reasonably large, eight bed chambers, if I recall correctly,’ he shuffled some papers on his desk and came up with the one he sought, ‘eight formal bed chambers, nursery suite, servant’s quarters, small woodland, two tenant farmers, steward completely trustworthy, wife the housekeeper,’ Ralph looked up at Robert and nodded, ‘Is that the sort of thing you are looking for, my Lord?’

  Robert looked at Ralph in astonishment. ‘I did not expect the matter to be settled so readily, Ralph. But it sounds admirable.’

  Ralph nodded, ‘The solicitor is a friend from my Lord Cromwell’s office. He sent the details to me in case I knew of anyone who might evince an interest. He is an honest man, my Lord. He would not steer me wrongly, and the conveyance can be achieved with haste; my friend does not want the property on his hands unnecessarily.’

  ‘Lady Sheffield is currently in residence at the home of her sister Lady Frances, but that is temporary. I am confident she would want her own establishment well before her confinement. If you would see to it, Ralph, and the income we spoke about?’

  ‘At once, my Lord.’

  ‘And if you need to send communications completely privately,’ Robert looked at Ralph intently, so Ralph did not mistake his meaning, ‘then my man Thomas will be at your disposal.’

  ‘Thank you, my Lord. That might expedite matters considerably. I would say, if you are able to release the necessary funds, then Lady Sheffield would be able to take up residence within two weeks, if that would suit her. The various trusts can be dealt with after her departure.’

  Robert nodded in satisfaction, then turned to the door as a light knock came and Meg stood in the doorway, bobbing a curtsey. ‘The noon meal is ready, my Lord, whenever your business is concluded.’

  ‘Thank you, Lady Sadler. We will join you at once. Will the children be dining with us?’

  Meg laughed and replied, ‘Indeed they will, my Lord. They may sit at a separate table, but we couldn’t keep Dickon away from food.’

  ‘He is a very sturdy boy, my Lady,’ smiled Robert. Ralph yelped with laughter, and said, ‘He is square, my Lord. He is as wide as he is high. But when he grows, he will be strong, I’m sure. Like his brothers.’ Robert nodded his agreement, and then stood to enter the dining room, suppressing a wide grin as he saw Lettice already seated and knowing that his seat would be opposite.

  Chapter 42

  lizabeth woke in her room and looked at the sun streaming through the window. She realised the sleeping draught that Cat had brought her to help her headache had caused her to sleep longer than usual, but she didn’t care. Robert’s words to her last night came crashing into her mind and she suppressed a sob. Lissey Sheffield was having Robert’s child.

  She lay for a long time, turning over in her mind what she would do when she next saw Robert, then she heard the latch turn quietly as she wiped the tears from her eyes with the ends of her fingers, and she looked to see Cat enter the chamber softly.

  ‘Good morrow, Princess. You are awake, I see,’ Cat smiled and began to move round the room collecting clean linens as usual.

  ‘Late awake, Cat. Your sleeping draught must have been potent.’ Elizabeth pushed herself up in her bed and settled against the pillows. Cat heard the thickness in her voice and looked quickly at Elizabeth, pale against the embroidered cushions.

  ‘Are you still unwell, Princess?’ asked Cat, concern in her voice as she moved to the bed and pressed her hand on Elizabeth’s forehead.

  ‘Cat, sit a moment,’ Elizabeth patted the bed at the side of her, and Cat hitched her skirt so she could perch on the edge of the large bed, ‘I would ask you something.’ Cat’s brows rose in question.

  ‘Have you heard any rumours about me? About me and Robbie?’

  ‘No, Princess. I have been so busy, between making sure you are recovering and making sure Lettice was safely delivered, I have hardly been in the solar. I have left Kit Hastings to make sure the maids did their duties. Why, my lovely? Is someone spreading untruths?’

  ‘It wouldn’t be untrue, Cat.’ Elizabeth lifted her face to meet Cat’s eyes and she dissolved into heart-wrenching sobs. Cat gathered her to her ample bosom and rocked her until she quieted, making soothing noises and brushing the wispy hair back from Elizabeth’s hot forehead.

  ‘Tell me what you think they are saying, my lovely,’ whispered Cat when she knew Elizabeth could hear her.

  ‘The truth, Cat. Lissey Sheffield is having Robbie’s child.’ Elizabeth’s voice was bleak and Cat closed her eyes at the pain in Elizabeth’s words.

  ‘Oh, Princess,’ Cat murmured sadly, ‘is it true? Is that what he told you that gave you a headache?’ Elizabeth nodded mutely into Cat’s bosom. ‘All I have heard, Princess, what I have been told, is that Lissey has gone to stay at her sister’s house because she is unwell and didn’t want to risk passing anything on to you, after you have been so low, my lovely. There is no gossip about a child.’

  ‘There will be, Cat. She is giving the child the name Dudley.’

  ‘Then when that happens, Princess, you will ignore it. You will rise above the gossip and rumour, and you will not let it affect you. Will you forgive Lord Robert?’

  ‘Oh, Cat,’ sighed Elizabeth, ‘how can I not? He is my all, has been my everything for so long, and I still love him.’ She shook her head sadly, ‘Besides, I think it was my fault really.’

  ‘How can you think that, my lovely? You cannot blame yourself for his …. transgressions.’

  ‘I feel we are moving apart, Cat. I feel it in here,’ Elizabeth put her hand over her heart, ‘I am slowly being consumed by her,’ she nodded over to the dresser beside which hung one of the jewel-encrusted gowns she wore as Queen, ‘and the more of me she takes, the less of Bess there is.’ Elizabeth dragged a shuddering breath, ‘One day, Cat, I think the sliver of Bess that I have left to give him won’t be enough, and I will have lost him.’ Elizabeth began to weep quietly again, and Cat held her shaking shoulders and patted her soothingly.

  Elizabeth wiped her eyes again and sat up properly, shaking
her head and looking at Cat. ‘I shall have to rise, Cat, although I shall not perhaps be her today. I shall have a quiet day being Bess, and I shall see Robbie and speak about the celebration he is arranging. I sent him away last night before he could discuss it with me.’

  Cat levered herself off the bed and went to get Elizabeth’s clean shift and petticoats.

  ‘Oh, Princess, what beautiful gloves. Were they a gift from Lord Robert?’ Cat picked up the gloves from the side table where Elizabeth had dropped them on the previous evening and examined the exquisite embroidery and workmanship.

  ‘I can’t look at them, Cat. They remind me of him telling me about Lissey Sheffield.’ Elizabeth looked at Cat and smiled, blinking away more tears. ‘You take them, Cat. Give them to Lettice as a gift from me to welcome her back to court.’

  Cat looked back doubtfully. ‘Are you sure, Princess? They are very lovely. Won’t Lord Robert expect you to wear them?’ Elizabeth snorted derisively.

  ‘He might, Cat. But although I will forgive him, he must serve some sort of penance. Giving away his gift to me will be part of that.’ Elizabeth sighed and swung her legs out of bed. ‘Come, Cat. Put me in my shift and petticoats, and then the others can come in and help me into my gown. By the look of the sun, it is past noon and I would eat something. My ‘headache’ spoiled my supper last night and I am starving.’

  ***

  ‘I thought three weeks of celebrations, my love, and then perhaps we should go on a progress this summer. To show the people that you are indeed recovered and are well and strong again.’

  Robert shifted his position slightly in the huge chair by the fire, and hugged Elizabeth to himself more tightly. He was gratified that she had agreed to have supper with him in her room, and she had been pleasant and playful throughout, allowing him to cut slices of meat for her with his dagger, and then licking the gravy from his fingers after he had fed her the meat.

  After the meal they had moved to the fire as the spring evenings still held a chill, and she had allowed him to seat her in his lap and hug her while he explained his plans.