Happy the gift to be enbowered there,
The giver sighs; such bliss he may not share!
he murmured.
'Very commendable, Sir Gallant,' Elizabeth acceded, brows raised. She rapped his hand sharply with her fan. 'But not all for love of me, I fear! What do you seek now?'
'Your kindness. Your esteem. And your belief that I speak true.'
"That I shall decide when I hear you, sirrah. What do you wish me to credit…for this bounty?'
Thirst, Madam, that you should know that your realm is in greater peril than even your Sir Francis Walsingham can tell you.' Patrick was all serious now. He no doubt informs you that ships are building in every harbour in Spain and the Netherlands for the invasion of your land. But he cannot know that there are plans to welcome the ships in Scottish ports; that Spanish soldiers are to land there, so as to attack at the same time as the others, over the Border. Also, French and Spanish forces are to land in Ireland, and to assail you from there. These plans are well advanced.'
'Christ God, man – and you come to me with a Protestant league! Is this true? Is this your James's true dealing? Is this the worth of your Scots Council?'
'Not the King, no. The King knows naught of it. Nor even the Council – or much of it It is his… advisers.'
The man Arran, you mean?'
'Alas, yes. My lord is misguided enough to see Scotland's place as with the Catholics.' 'But your Kirk…?
The Kirk, my lady, is being ever weakened and brought low. Arran's new Black Acts make the King supreme in matters spiritual also, and all resistance treason. He has the power to silence the Kirk.'
'And James?'
The King is young, inexperienced, and Arran holds him in the palm of his hand…'
'And in his bed, the catamite – so I am told!' Elizabeth interposed bluntly.
Patrick shrugged. 'That is as may be. But Arran will turn Scotland Catholic, if need be. And if James proves difficult, this Association in the Crown with his mother will solve all. Queen Mary will not prove backward in such an enterprise.'
'God's passion, she will not! And you ask me to free her – for this?'
'No, Madam. I do not ask it'
'Eh? See you, Master of Gray-with what voice do you speak? Whose envoy are you? Where lies your loyalty?
'To my prince and his realm of Scotland, lady. For that I work. I spoke yesterday as I was instructed, for the King and his Council. Today I speak in your secret ear, as Patrick Gray.'
Then your embassage is folly, and worse – false!'
'Not so, Your Grace. It represents the expressed desire of my prince, and is true and wise in all respects save in this proposed Association of the Queen and her son.'
The former Queen!' Elizabeth corrected. 'You, then -you advise me not to release Mary Stuart?'
'Who am I to advise as between two crowned princesses, Your Highness? All I say is that if Queen Mary returns to Scotland, Arran will use her to further the Catholic encirclement of England.'
'Arran than does not agree to this Protestant league? Yet he is Chancellor.'
'Arran is cunning, Madam. He does not oppose it openly. But he works against it. Once he has Mary back in Scotland…'
'I see.' The Queen was looking thoughtful. "There were two other proposals in your mission – James's marriage, and the return of the Protestant lords. Is Arran against these also?'
'No, not against them. They were, indeed, his own proposals. He would not have the King to marry, in especial with a Protestant princess, since that would strengthen James's position and weaken his own. So he proposes this stratagem – and for three years he is safe. And he would have the Ruthven lords back, that he may have them executed for treason, and so dispose of his rivals and gain their forfeited estates.'
'Aye, that is ever the way of it. A nice rogue, this Arran, of a truth, A fool also, if he thinks that 'I know not glass from ruby! It is time that he had a fall, 'fore God!'
Her visitor said nothing.
'Well, what do you propose, sir? Do not tell me that you have revealed all this to me for no purpose!'
Patrick shrugged one elegant shoulder. 'With the full weight of Your Grace's support, J could supplant the Earl of Arran. Already I have much sway with King James. I could have more. I could unite Scotland and your realm in an indissoluble league, and overturn all the secret plots of the Catholics.'
'I thought as much! You shoot a high shaft, Patrick. And so you would wish me to leave the banished lords in England?'
'Not so, Highness. Send them home, as King James requests – after I am back. Separately, one by one, in secret, I could use them to ensure the triumph of our Protestant cause – and Your Grace's.'
'You are a fervent convert, sir! And the princess, Mary Stuart?'
The peace of Europe and the survival of the Reformed Church demand that she be kept separate from her son, Madam, Do you not think so?'
I think that you have done a deal of thinking, Master of Gray! Who would have looked for it in that beautiful head! But… my good Walsingham assures me that you are one of Mary's men, trained in France to her service, and the recipient of her moneys. I cannot believe that he is entirely mistaken!'
'Your good Walsingham is not But the fair unfortunate Mary's weal and good do not necessarily demand that she should rule in Scotland, and there cause bloodshed, religious persecution and war. I would help my princess otherwise.'
'God – you are frank, man!' the Queen declared.
'Such was my intention, in seeing you alone, Madam.'
'And how would you help her, if you could, I would ask?'
'I would have her, with Your Grace's permission, return to France. There, with England and Scotland united in a Protestant alliance, she could work no harm. And… the Queen-Mother, Catherine, who hates and fears the Guises, would see that she never set sail for Scotland again.'
Elizabeth's sharp eyes blinked. 'God's wounds, man, where did you learn your business?' she almost whispered. Then, in a different voice, 'And think you that she would go – Mary?'
'I believe that I might persuade her to it'
'You? And you think that I would permit you to see her? You, of all men?'
'Why yes, lady, I do. Both as a wise ruler and a wise woman, I believe that you will.'
For moments oh end Elizabeth stared at him, almost through him. 'One day, Master Patrick, you are going to take one step too far!' she said at length. 'And then that so fascinating smile will be gone – for ever!',
He smiled still, and said nothing.
Abruptly the Queen lifted to her feet. 'Leave me now, Patrick… before I… I forget myself,' she said, a little breathlessly for so great a monarch.
'Would that such were possible – even for a moment, sweet princess.'
'Enough! Enough, sir. Go!'
He rose, as she reached over to ring a little silver bell. 'I go… desolate,' he told her.. 'So long as you go…'
The door opened, and Sidney stood there. 'Fair lady?' he said.
She looked from one to the other, frowning. 'Demons!' she declared. 'Limbs of Satan! Sent to tempt and try and mock me!
Both of you. Begone, begone – before I deal with you as you deserve.'
Sir Philip glanced quickly at Patrick.
That young man sighed, and bowed.
Elizabeth held out her hand to him. He stooped low over h, and then raised it to his lips. Slowly the hand turned over in his. He kissed the palm, the wrist, and was part-way up the forearm, before the Queen flicked him away.
'Off to your grey-eyed Lady Marie,' she ordered, hoarsely. 'I do not wonder that she will not marry you.'
'And the princess, her namesake, Your Grace? Have I permission to go speak with her?'
'We shall consider it, man. We shall see. But do not think it assured. Do not think anything assured.' She turned her slender back on them.
They bowed themselves out.
David waited for his brother in their lodging. 'Did you see the Queen?'
he demanded. 'Did you find her more to our favour? Did you speak of the Queen – our Queen?'
'I did, Davy.'
'And what does she say? Will she release Mary?' 'Not so fast, man – not so fast! That will not be achieved in a day. But I think, yes, I think that I will convince her.' 'And the Association in the Crown? Will she agree to that?' Patrick shrugged. That is less certain. Perhaps.' The banished lords?'
'I think, that she will send them back. Time, Davy – just a little time.'
Time for Queen Mary has been long, long.'
'I tell you, I do not think that it will be long now.'
'Why are you doing this, Patrick? Urging the Protestant alliance, working for the English advantage? It is not like you, like all that you have done hitherto. Are you doing it all on behalf of Mary, ofthe Queen? At last?'
'I suppose that you might say so.'
David rubbed his chin. Then, Patrick,' he said stiffly, awkwardly, 'I would say that I love you for it I have said many things ill of what you have done, spoken against your seeming forgetfulness of our poor Queen. But this – this is a great thing that you are doing now. To go so far, to harry Elizabeth herself; to change even the King's policy and risk all…'
His brother eyed him sidelong. 'I am overwhelmed, Davy I'
he murmured'
'Marie…she will love you the better for this, also.' 'Indeed! That is,h'm, a consolation.' For once Patrick did not smile.
'When shall we know? Know whether Mary goes free? Know what is decided?'
'We can only await Elizabeth's pleasure.' Abruptly Patrick turned away. 'I am tired. I am going to bed…'
Chapter Twenty-three
WAITING on Queen Elizabeth's pleasure was not apt to be a static business, however protracted and uncertain. The waterman had been right when he said that the Queen changed palaces day by day. She was possessed of a great restlessness and nervous energy, which seemed to drive her on to incessant movement, constant change. And all her Court and those who circled in her orbit must move likewise.
On the Tuesday, apparently without warning or prior arrangement, she decided to go on one of her frequent progresses. These peregrinations around the houses of her lords and powerful subjects served the purpose not only of satisfying her restlessness but of seeing and being seen by her people, and incidentally helping to reduce any unseemly surplus wealth which the said lords might have accumulated, and at the same time conserving her own resources; indeed, she deliberately planned her itineraries so as to include those whom she considered most in need of such blood-letting. Since she travelled with anything up to three hundred of a retinue, and expected entertainment suitable for a queen, her descent upon an establishment for even a day or two could have a salutary effect
They left Whitehall in fine style, the Queen driving in a white-painted glass coach drawn by six plumed white horses, their manes and tails dyed orange. Around her rode her gorgeously attired corps of Gentlemen Pensioners, splendidly mounted, led by Sir Walter Raleigh and Sir Francis Bacon. Then came her ladies-in-waiting, a blaze of colour, followed by her favourite courtiers – Leicester, Essex, Oxford, and the others, each surrounded by his own little court of admirers and hangers-on.
The Scots party rode with Sir Philip Sidney, who was rapidly becoming the inseparable companion of the Master of Gray, and quite soon they were joined by the dark, wiry, youngish man who had been one of the councillors at the official audience and whom Sidney introduced as Sir Edward Wotton, one of Walsingham's foremost deputies in the realm of foreign affairs. He was affable, charming, paying particular attention to Marie, and strangely enough, to David. Patrick was genially wary with him, as well he might be; anyone high in Walsingham's service was not a man to be under-estimated,
Progress was slow, for the narrow London streets were crowded with cheering people and the Queen's coach could, only proceed at a snail's pace. The Scots were interested at the crowd's obvious affection for Elizabeth. This was something new to them. In Scotland the common people were not great cheerers, and seldom saw much to cheer about in their rulers. The visitors knew of the Queen's boast that her greatest strength lay in the love of her ordinary folk, but it had never meant more than a saying to them, a mere theory.
'Why should your Queen be so well-loved by these people?' Marie asked Wotton. 'What has she done for them?
'She has given them much that they never had before, my lady,' he told her. 'She thinks for them, protects them from the fire and the gibbet of Rome, has paid back her royal father's debts to the city of London, gives them plays and spectacles, and lets them see her. No monarch before her has thought to do all this for the commonality. They love her because she loves them also.' He smiled. 'Your prince, I take it, is not so?'
She shook her head. 'No, I fear not. How could he be? He has never known the people, or they him – kept apart all his life. We had a king like that in Scotland once, who went about amongst the common folk – James Third. They called him the Gudeman of Ballengeich. But his lords resented it, and made constant trouble' Do your nobles here not do likewise?'
'Why should they? If the Crown is strong, the realm is strong, and they are secure therefore. It was not so under the late Queen Mary, Her Grace's sister, nor under previous monarchs. Only fools would change it now.'
Marie sighed. 'I wonder when it may be thus in Scotland?' she said. 'Our lords look for more than peace and the strength of the realm, I fear.'
'If a Scots king could live and reign long enough to gain his full strength, it might be so,' David put in. 'For generations we have not had a prince who did not the young and leave a child as heir.'
Patrick, a vision of elegance, riding just a little in front, with Sidney, looked back over his shoulder, and smiled at them mockingly, saying nothing.
Once free of the congested streets they made but little faster progress with the heavy coach slow on the atrocious roads. A succession of lords and gallants were summoned up to ride for awhile in the royal presence, but no invitation came for Patrick Gray. When Orkney and Marie were sent for to go forward, David drew the obvious conclusions.
'You have offended the Queen, Patrick' he declared. I fear that you have gone too fir with her. And on our Mary Queen's behalf. I am sorry.
'Never think it, Davy. Give her time. She is a woman, and will act the woman. But she will act the princess also, never fear. I believe that I have convinced her what is the best policy where our Queen is concerned. Wait, you.'
When Marie came back, she spoke in the same fashion, lowering her voice so that none others should hear. 'She must be displeased with you, Patrick. I tried to bring her to speak of you, but she would not. I wanted to ask her about Queen Mary, but could not I fear, Patrick – I fear the hopes for our lady are in vain, despite all your efforts.'
'Have patience, my dear. There is no reason for despair. It is a great matter, and Elizabeth must have time fully to consider it. That she may wish not to discuss it with me until she has done so, is but natural. I have just been saying the same to Davy -give hear time.'
'You are wonderfully patient, Patrick. In all this you have… surprised me. All who love my aunt will thank you for it.'
'Do you think that I do not love Mary also?'
I do not know whom you love, Patrick. I have sometimes thought, only yourself But now…'
'Have I not told you a thousand times that I love you?'
'Told me, yes. But deeds speak louder than words.'
'What would you have me do, then? Must I force myself upon you, seduce you, to prove my love?
'Even that might be preferable to merely using me for your other purposes, Patrick' she said quietly.
He looked at her thoughtfully, and said nothing.
'At any rate, in what you are seeking to do now, Patrick, even though Elizabeth loves you the less, others do not'
That thought will sustain me in all my disappointments!' he declared. And at the cynical note in his voice, she bit her lip.
With the early
October evening almost upon them, they came to Theobalds Park, Lord Burleigh's great red-brick house in Hertfordshire, down a mile-long avenue of cedar trees. They found it all lit up for them with coloured lanterns, fountains playing, and hosts of servants. Though a man of simple habits himself, Burleigh knew his mistress's tastes very well, and created this vast establishment largely for her entertainment
It was a convenient day's journey by the coach from London, and most of her northern progresses started from here. Beside it, even Morton's fine palace at Dalkeith paled to insignificance.
Presumably Burleigh had had a few days' warning of this excursion, for he had an evening of ambitious feasting and amusement arranged. It was to be a 'ladies' night'; while the spectacle of musicians, dancers, tumblers and masquers went on, the Queen dined alone at a table at the top of the huge hall, waited on by her host and four earls – Leicester, Oxford, Essex and Warwick. Tonight she was ablaze with jewels again. Patrick did not get near enough to see whether she wore his locket At a lower table were six countesses, served by lesser lords; at another the Queen's ladies-in-waiting with Raleigh, Sidney: Bacon, Wotton and others in attendance; this table Marie was invited to join. Following the Queen's example, the ladies fed tit-bits and sips from their glasses to the gallant and noble waiters, who made extravagant gestures of gratitude and adoration. Frequently Elizabeth summoned up one or other of the gentlemen to be presented with a sweetmeat or a glass of wine. Orkney was so favoured, and almost all of her intimate courtiers. But not Patrick Gray. Anxiously the Scots party noted, and waited.
Later, when Marie went out through the gardens to the dower-house where their party were quartered with many others, and David would have accompanied her, leaving Patrick to the continuing festivities, his brother shook his head and insisted in going with her himself. England's Queen could well do without him tonight, he observed, apparently entirely carefree. David could squire Marie's sisters back, in the unlikely possibility of their requiring such – their father being already much too drunk.
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