‘That sounds like a good idea, Robbie. I should go out into England more. I seem to have been secreted away for so long, the people might forget they have a Queen.’
‘Once they see you, they will never forget, Bess. I thought we could spend the first week here, at Hampton Court for the jousting. Then how do you feel about moving to Richmond for the second week, and then Westminster for the third? You could finish any urgent council business at Westminster, before setting out on progress. We can ask Cecil if he thinks there are certain places that would ….. benefit …. from a reminder of your Grace.’ He laughed as Elizabeth jabbed him in the ribs with her elbow.
‘Yes, Robbie, that sounds wonderful. We have been here so long, all through the winter and while I was ill. The servants probably want us to move so they can clean the place properly. But the stables here are so magnificent, we should hold the jousting here, as you suggest.’ Elizabeth turned slightly to reach a goblet of wine from the side table and Robert kissed her neck as she turned back and giggled.
‘Your new green gown is lovely, Bess. And I’m so pleased you removed your ruff and fischu before supper.’ He kissed the tops of her breasts gently. ‘And some good food is helping you put on weight.’ Elizabeth laughed quietly.
‘Why do you laugh, my love. Do you not want me to do this?’ He kissed her neck and breasts again, and felt Elizabeth take a breath to speak.
‘Silk ruffles, Robbie. In my shift, to push up what is left,’ she snorted her laughter, ‘that’s why you think I have gained weight.’
‘Well, my love, I can feel you are still slender, and still have no corset under this gown at least.’
‘I save my corsets for her.’ Elizabeth nodded towards the bedroom and Robert looked at her with a question in his eyes.
‘Her?’ he shook his head to show he didn’t understand.
‘The Queen. The Lioness. She who wears the jewels and the corsets and the gowns that are so encrusted that they stand all by themselves. I have decided that she is someone I inhabit when in public. But she will not be me, Robbie. When I am with you, like this, I am Bess still.’ He kissed her deeply, and sighed into her neck.
‘Then I will love you as my Bess, and I will honour her as my Queen. We will pack her into boxes and chests, and take her with us for when we need her,’ Elizabeth giggled at the thought, ‘but we don’t need her tonight, my love. Tonight we will be Bess and Robbie, together again. Yes?’
‘Oh, yes Robbie. Yes.’
***
My love, my husband returns. He will spend the Queen’s celebrations with us and then return to Ireland. I long to see you, to touch your hand even if only in the dance, To see your smile, hear your voice, I have missed you more than you could know. Until the first day of May my love, know I ache for you. Your Lily
Robert replaced Malory’s book on his shelf, and reread the note he had transcribed from Lettice again before he committed it to the flames. He was torn between his love and loyalty to Elizabeth, and the feelings he had for Lettice, which were starting to surprise him. What had started as an amusing flirtation with a beautiful girl was starting to consume him.
***
Robert was relieved that May Day dawned bright and clear, with the promise of warmth later in the day. He had been up before dawn, dressed in his leathers, making sure all the horses were fit for the joust and all the squires were up polishing the last pieces of armour. Those boys taking part in the sword competitions and the archery were practising their strokes, and the servants were putting the finishing touches to the decorations on the Queen’s dais. The theme this year was Moonlight, so all the costumes, floats and other adornments were in varying shades of white and silver. Robert knew he only had a short while before he had to change into his doublet and breeches, carefully chosen and made to compliment the outfit Elizabeth would wear.
Satisfied that everything was as prepared as it possibly could be, Robert hurried up the tower steps to his room, stripping off his shirt and leathers to have a swift wash before he donned his outfit. As he passed the door to Elizabeth’s chamber, he could hear the laughter and squeaks of approval from the ladies as they helped dress the Queen. She would be behind her mask today, of that he was sure.
As he finished fastening the silver clasps on his doublet, fashioned to look like stars, a brief knock on his outer door sounded, and he heard the voice of his sister Kit calling to him to come and escort the Queen to the tilt-yard. He opened the door and smiled at his sister, dressed in sparkling dove-grey.
‘You look lovely, Kit. Like the moon on the water.’ She dimpled at the compliment and gestured for him to come to the Queen’s apartment and wait for her to exit her bed-chamber. Robert lounged by the doorway, reluctant to enter with all the commotion of the Queen’s ladies finishing off their own outfits, pinning and tucking and borrowing items from their friends. Suddenly the door to Elizabeth’s chamber opened and out came Cat, regally dressed in grey-blue brocade, with a silver trim and a silver coif pinned in her hair. She looked up at Robert and smiled, sweeping her hand towards the door, where Elizabeth glided into view.
She looked astonishing, and Robert immediately fell into a low bow.
‘My Queen, you look beautiful,’ he whispered as Elizabeth swished forward in a huge silver gown, stitched with tiny roses of the palest blue each with a diamond in the centre. There was a diaphanous ruff behind her head, with miniature pearl drops hanging from it, and she carried a slender golden rod, tipped with silver and white feathers to use as a fan. Her hair was piled high in an elaborate coiffeur, with matching feathers at the back and hairpins tipped with silver stars and moons holding them in place.
Elizabeth beamed at Robert, in his silvery blue doublet and breeches, also studded with stars and moons to match hers. ‘As do you, my Lord Robert.’ She smiled and he offered his arm to escort her downstairs. She placed her hand on his sleeve, all her ladies falling into lines behind them, and he tipped his head towards her ear.
‘A lioness indeed today, my Bess,’ he whispered, and he saw her shiver as his breath ghosted over her skin.
‘Lioness on the outside, Robbie. But underneath all this, I am still your Bess,’ she smiled into his eyes and he looked up at her hair.
‘Where did all that come from, my love?’ Elizabeth burst into laughter and everyone stopped speaking to watch her mirth. She shook her head at them, and they resumed their conversations so she could whisper to Robert.
‘Italy, Robbie. The Italians have a wonderful way of making wigs, and my own hair is so fragile I would rather treat it gently, and hide it under one of these.’ She looked up and giggled again, saying, ‘Another part of the mask, Robbie. That is all.’ He smiled at her, and they reached the dais in the yard.
The noise was terrific, the horses, the shouts of the grooms, the chatter of the court, mixed with the calls of the tradespeople selling sliced meat, soft bread, sweetmeats, sugared fruits as well as the stilt walkers and fire eaters and tumbling dwarfs. Over the chaos, a bell rang and through the stable yard gate, the horses and knights lined up to be presented to the Queen prior to the start of the tourney.
Robert bent his head again and whispered, ‘Let your celebrations commence, my love.’
***
‘Do you not wish to dance, Kit?’ Robert gratefully folded himself into the seat next to his sister with a sigh as she watched the dancers take to the floor after the banquet.
‘Not at the moment, Rob. You are not dancing either, it seems?’ She smiled as her voice rose in question. Robert took a sip of wine and shook his head.
‘I have advised Bess to dance with the ambassadors and foreign dignitaries to start with, Kit. I need to sit a while after today. I was up before dawn and haven’t had a moment since.’ He s
miled wryly and shrugged at her. ‘And I wanted to come across and compliment you on your hard word with the little maids. Their singing was truly delightful, Kit. You have worked hard with them.’
‘Thank you, Rob,’ she beamed at him, ‘the boys always get to show off, in the tourney or at the swordsmanship contests you arrange. I thought it was time my girls had a chance to show their skills too. And they were so excited, to sing at the Queen’s celebration.’ She smiled at him again. ‘They are looking forward to playing their lutes later in the week, and the dancing recital at Richmond.’
‘I can see I’m not the only one working hard at this celebration, Kit. For that I must thank you.’ He raised his goblet as a toast.
‘Have you spoken to Lettice today, Rob?’ Kit lowered her voice and leaned closer. Robert kept his eyes on the dancers and lowered his voice also for his reply ‘I know she is here, Kit. But I haven’t had chance to speak to her, to anyone really. Why do you ask?
Kit carried on leaning on Robert’s shoulder so she could speak softly over the sounds of the music and the tread of the dancer’s feet on the wooden floor. ‘She seems overwrought and anxious. Walter is returned from Ireland, but he seems … different, somehow. His pomposity has changed into something darker. Harsher.’
‘Soldiery is a harsh profession, Kit. We are all changed by it, by what we do, what we see. Some of us let it go when we return. Some of us cannot.’
‘Well, he obviously still carries some of it with him, Rob. Lettice looks positively haunted, and he hasn’t been back a week yet.’ Robert got to his feet and bent to kiss his sister’s cheek.
‘I shall keep my eye open for an opportunity to speak to her, Kit. I have to circle the room while Bess dances with others. Once she decides I shall be her partner, I may not get another chance.’
‘I shall see you later then, brother.’ Kit patted his hand and smiled up at him as he walked away.
Robert moved round the edges of the glittering banquet hall. Every candle in the sconces was alight, and he had arranged for a hanging of black velvet behind the Queen’s table, with slits cut in so light flickered though to represent stars in the night sky. It muted the light shining on Bess’s skin, which made her more comfortable eating and speaking with the other guests. He was unable to do anything about the brightness of the light on the dancers, however, and the torchlight was reflected a thousand times in the jewels sewn on the garments and worn round the necks and in the hair of the dancing court.
He greeted the guests, a word here, a jest there to each knot of courtiers who weren’t dancing. He spoke laughingly with the older ladies seated against the walls and gossiping about the young people, and he clapped the elder statesmen on the shoulders and dropped salient comments into their conversations. All the time his eyes roamed the crowd, trying to glimpse Lettice so he could speak with her.
As he lifted his head from complimenting one of the dowagers, magnificently upholstered in beige and light grey, with a bosom like the prow of a ship, he glimpsed the jewelled pewter silk of Lettice’s gown, and he excused himself to make his way over to where she was fanning her hot face after a swift dance with Harry Hastings.
‘My Lady,’ he bowed and took her hand to kiss her knuckles gently. She smiled at him and dropped a small curtsey in reply.
‘My Lord.’
‘How are you, Lily?’ his voice barely audible over the music. Lettice sighed heavily and took another long breath.
‘Walter is returned, Robin. He has seen our ….. my son, and is satisfied he has an heir.’ She shivered and gave Robert a small smile. ‘He looks forward to returning to Ireland, which is a sentiment I wholeheartedly share.’
‘Oh, my love. I am so very sorry this is so difficult for you.’ Robert had moved to her side, casually leaning against the wall as he sipped at his wine, and their whispered conversation was concealed by the music as they both kept their eyes on the dancers.
‘I had no idea, before his return, how difficult it would actually be, Robin. I doubt I will be able to see you properly whilst he is here.’
‘Then I too look forward to his departure, Lily. Do you know when that will be?’
‘Probably after the court travels to Westminster, Robin. I will have to endure at least two weeks, one here and then at Richmond. After that he will travel to visit his mother on his way back to Anglesey to sail once more to Ireland. She will want to spend time with her precious boy, make sure he has everything he needs before he leaves her.’ Lettice huffed a derisive chuckle.
‘Everything he needs, Lily?’ Robert shook his head in bewilderment.
‘Salves for his bruises, poultices in case he develops a bad chest, tinctures in case he takes cold and has a sore throat.’ Her eyes began to shine with mirth as she looked at Robert and he smiled in return. ‘She can’t let her Wally go off to war without his medicines, my Lord.’ She burst into giggles at the incredulous expression on his face, and fanned herself a little faster.
The music stopped and Walter, who had been dancing clumsily with the Countess of Derby walked across and bowed to Robert, looking curiously at Lettice who was busy trying to subdue the amusement on her face.
‘My Lord Deveraux,’ Robert smoothly distracted Walter before he could question Lettice’s mirth. ‘How goes the Queen’s Irish question?’
‘Badly, my Lord. It is like fighting fog. We have skirmish after skirmish, then they disappear like so much mist, only to reappear suddenly. Disease and desertion is rife, the weather is dreadful and the food is worse. I have come to petition the Queen for more funds and more men, but even then, I do not hold out much hope for a solution.’
‘Perhaps there is no solution, my Lord. Perhaps we should withdraw, bring our men home to their families, allow them peace, save the funds?’
Walter spluttered his wine in disgust at that comment, and Robert disdainfully flicked drops from his sleeve. ‘Apologies, my Lord,’ proclaimed Walter, ‘but you cannot mean that? We must crush them, my Lord. We must overcome them and make sure they can never contemplate rebellion against England again.’
Robert shrugged. ‘There may not be funds to succeed in your enterprise, Lord Walter, or men available. You will have to consult Will Cecil and put your case forward.’
‘I intend to, sir. When we finally leave all this ….. merriment, and arrive in Westminster, I will request an interview will Cecil before I return.’ Walter took another jug of wine from a passing servant and poured himself a large cup, offering the jug to Robert, who shook his head.
‘This merriment, as you call it, my Lord, is to celebrate the Queen’s recovery.’ Robert was very aware of Lettice by his shoulder, keeping silent as her husband became more and more drunk.
‘As a courtier, you might not realise that war is a serious business, my Lord Robert. As Earl Marshall of England, I take it seriously and want the Irish question settled before we have more trouble from the Scots.’ Robert looked at Walter, whose colour was flaring in his cheeks.
‘I lost my brother at Calais, sir. I well know how serious war is.’ Robert swallowed back his rising temper, and bent to bow to Lettice and kiss her hand again.
‘I must speak to my brother-in-law, Countess. I look forward to asking you to dance later in the evening, if I may?’ Lettice smiled carefully under the watchful gaze of her husband and bobbed a slight curtsey.
‘I shall look forward to that, Lord Robert.’
Walter snorted into his cup. ‘If we stay that long, my Lord. It is some time since I saw my wife, and …..’ he raised his brows and let the sentence trail away. Lettice’s eyes closed at Walter’s implication and Robert nodded a bow in Walter’s direction and stalked away, irritated beyond speech with Walter and worried about his intentions towards Lettice.<
br />
‘Robbie, I need you as my partner in this dance.’ Elizabeth’s voice called him over, and he smiled his brightest smile at the Queen. He would have to think of a solution to Walter another time.
Chapter 43
obert yawned and stretched, luxuriating in the feel of the soft clean linen sheet as it swept across his naked body as he stretched again and rubbed the sleep from his eyes with the heels of his hands. Outside his window he could hear the rush of water from the river, and the calls of the boatmen as they passed by on their way to the loading docks in the city. He was alone in his chamber at the Palace of Westminster, and he was glad of the respite.
The celebrations for Elizabeth’s recovery had been a huge success, but he thought if he arranged celebrations for another event in the future, then two weeks would be sufficient. The week at Hampton Court had included the joust, an exhibition of swordplay, archery, a huge Neptune-themed banquet and a whole day on the river with the barges decorated as sea monsters and the ladies of the court as mermaids.
Richmond had seen the hunting and the picnics, and he had again had small animals cleaned and dressed and placed for the ladies to find, lambs and fauns and piglets and rabbits. There had been horse races for the gentlemen to wager on, and ridiculous races for the ladies, egg balancing, blindfolds, bare feet and other foolishness.
Every evening had ended with a banquet and dancing and plenty of wine, and he was grateful that today was the last day. He had arranged a mock sea battle of model boats on the Thames, making sure that the ships of England would vanquish those of Spain and he knew Elizabeth would find that hugely amusing. Then there would be another feast, with dancing and a firework display to end it all.
He was relieved that Elizabeth had listened to his advice to postpone the start of her progress for one week, to allow the court to rest from three weeks of frantic jubilation. He knew she was also tired; he could see the thinly-veiled exhaustion behind her eyes as they danced into the night, and he knew she would be relieved to pack the ‘Queen’ back into the chests for a week and spend the evenings with him being Bess, wearing her plain brocade gowns and her hair in a jewelled net.
The Last Howard Girl (Tudor Chronicles Book 3) Page 30