‘The Queen seems to enjoy the attentions of young, handsome men, my Lord. I would have thought she would welcome a husband with those attributes.’
‘But the young, handsome men that pay the Queen pretty compliments and bring her treasure from the Spanish Main are all young, handsome Englishmen, Cousin. She is their Queen, and she may listen or turn away as she chooses. Should she be married, she would have to listen to her husband, yes?’
‘Yes, my Lord. He would be her master, and she would have to listen.’
‘Then perhaps she doesn’t want a master, young Nell. Perhaps the only person she wants to listen to is herself.’
‘Perhaps she knows her own mind, my Lord. Perhaps she doesn’t need a man to tell her what to do, what to think. She has her own mind, and she wants to use it.’
Philip smiled at her gently. ‘I’m sure you have your own mind too, Cousin. I hope you also get the chance to use it.’ He looked down the vast line of horses and carriages, and saw that the Queen’s standard bearer had turned off the road onto a different track.
‘Are we at Leeds Castle already, my Lady?’ Nell looked forwards and laughed.
‘No, my Lord. We will be breaking the train for our noon meal. There must be a manor beyond those trees. Papa will have sent the cooks on ahead so there will be fresh food waiting for the Queen.’
‘And for us?’ Nell laughed again, shaking her head. ‘We will stop for no more than an hour, my Lord. Papa will want to be at the castle before nightfall, so we might have to choose something we can eat while we ride. There will be a hot meal waiting at the castle though.’
Philip nodded his understanding. ‘Will there be a public banquet, Cousin?’ Nell shook her head, turning her horse off the road carefully.
‘Not tonight. Tonight we eat and then fall into our beds.’ She giggled slightly, ‘Tomorrow night there is a public banquet, where the villagers might come and watch us all eat, then there will be dancing. After that, we will have private meals and masques and balls in the evenings, and hunting and jousting during the day, then a huge celebration the night before we leave.’
‘And how long will we be there, do you know, my Lady?’
‘Six nights before we pack all our things and move on to the next place. We might stay overnight somewhere as we did on the way here. Papa has been sending messages all over the country, informing them how long the Queen expects to enjoy their hospitality,’ she snorted a brief laugh and covered her mouth with her hand in embarrassment at the unladylike noise, ‘and how much they can expect to pay for the privilege of having the Queen stay with them.’ Philip chuckled at her mirth.
Nell slowed her horse as the train of horses and carriages and wagons and soldiers finally came to a halt. The soldiers dismounted and disappeared into the trees, making sure the parkland was safe for the Queen, while the ladies moved towards the head of the line to take up their duties for a while and stretch their legs.
‘Thank you for your company, my Lord. I have enjoyed our talk.’ Philip lifted Nell from her horse and set her firmly on her feet.
‘As have I, little Cousin. I look forward to many more in the next few weeks.’ Nell beamed at him and then bobbed a small curtsey.
‘Excuse me, my Lord. I must find my sister and attend the Queen.’ Philip swept off his hat and took Nell’s hand, kissing the back before he let her go to her duties, watching the sway of her second-best blue gown as she walked away from him through the grass.
***
‘Jane, could you attract Thomas’ attention for me please, poppet? The baby needs his clout changed and I would like to stretch my legs and have something to eat.’ Lettice smiled at Jane as she rubbed her son’s back over her shoulder and attempted to keep the damp baby from staining the sleeve of her gown.
Jane moved the linen curtain over the window of the carriage and popped her head out, looking forwards and behind for Thomas.
‘Jane, Jane. Is something wrong?’ Dickon hastily rode up to the side of the carriage, brow furrowed in concern. Jane smiled at him and shook her head.
‘No, Dickon, nothing is wrong. Don’t worry so. Letty wants to stop so baby Robert can be cleaned and so we can have something to eat. Can you see Thomas from your horse?’
Dickon stood in his stirrups and spied the older man riding at the front with the commander of the Dudley soldiers.
‘I will ride ahead and tell him what Letty wants, Jane. Put your head back in so you don’t hurt yourself. The carriage can throw up some big stones on these roads.’ Jane pulled herself back inside and lowered the blind just in time before Dickon’s horse threw up some stones and dust in his eagerness to speak to Thomas. She giggled softly and looked at Lettice and Ursula.
‘Dickon has gone to give Thomas his orders, Letty. I am sure we will stop soon.’
Five minutes later the carriages came to a halt and the squires leapt off their horses to help the ladies disembark the hot carriage. Daisy came and took the baby out of Lettice’s arms to change and feed him, and Cissy and Alice went to one of the wagons to find the food they had brought with them for the first part of the journey.
Thomas dismounted and threw his rein to Dickon before striding over to Lettice, who was shaking out her skirts and rubbing her aching back. She smiled as she watched him walk towards her, scabbard slapping the top of his well-worn leather boots and his dagger glinting at his waist. He swept his hat from his head and bowed before her.
‘My Lady.’
‘Thank you so much for stopping for me, Thomas.’ As he rose from his bow Lettice stretched out her hand and placed it as always on Thomas’ sleeve. He trembled. ‘Are we making good time, Thomas? Do you know where Robin has arranged for us to spend the night?’
‘At Bisham Priory, my Lady. We will be there a good while before dark, and they will have a hot meal waiting. His Lordship chose it because it has plenty of stabling for the horses, and enough chambers so you will not have to share with anyone, my Lady.’ Lettice gazed up into his pale blue eyes and smiled excitedly.
‘That will be lovely, Thomas. I am sure Jane and Ursula will be glad to have privacy too, after all day in the coach. Are there enough accommodations for the squires and soldiers too?’
‘There will be enough beds, my Lady, even if some of the lads have to share a room.’ He cleared his throat decisively and took a deep breath, ‘If your Ladyship doesn’t object, I shall arrange that the young Earl either has a room to himself, or chooses who he might share with?’
‘That would be wonderful, Thomas. He might like to share with Kytt? They seem to have become great friends. But don’t suggest Dickon, I beg you, or even worse, young Rob.’ She patted his arm affectionately, ‘I have enough of a headache still from this morning’s outburst, so I would keep him happy if I could.’ Thomas bowed again and Lettice beamed at him before he turned and walked away to organise the sleeping arrangements.
‘Dear Thomas,’ she said to the girls who were walking up and down trying not to get pins and needles in their legs from sitting still for so long, ‘I don’t know how I would manage without him.’
***
Raleigh strode along the gallery at Leeds Castle, a scroll of parchment held in his hand. He knew the person he sought wasn’t in attendance on the Queen. His discreet enquires had told him the object of his search would be in one of the galleries, taking a walk before the evening meal.
He went through yet another huge studded oak door into a different gallery, and spied a knot of colour at the end, those ladies who didn’t attend the Queen today talking with other members of the court. Raleigh slowed his pace so he could seem nonchalant in his approach.
‘My Lords,’ he bowed his head to the richly-clad gentlemen speaking
with the ladies of the Queen’s household, and then bowed from the waist to the three ladies in the group, ‘Ladies, it is a pleasure to see you all rested from the ride.’
‘Thank you, my Lord,’ responded Maisie on behalf of her two sisters by her side. Bella and Beth curtseyed slightly in response. Raleigh rose and looked at Beth.
‘My Lady, might I have the honour of a word with you, before we go into dinner?’
Beth turned to her sisters, and pressed Bella’s fingers with hers, ‘I shall be but a moment. Wait here for me, I beg you.’ Bella nodded silently, and Beth moved across to the window, closely followed by Raleigh holding out the scroll.
‘My Lady, I have a token here of my esteem.’ Beth took the offered scroll but didn’t open it. Her brows rose in surprise at his low tone of urgency.
‘I haven’t been able to put you from my mind, my Lady. I revisit all our conversations in my head, all our contact is imprinted in my brain, and I can think of no-one else.’
‘Our contact, my Lord? We have only had one conversation, as I recall.’
‘You gave me the goblet of wine the Queen didn’t want, my Lady, and our fingers touched. You told me about your sister when the court had been sent from the Queen’s presence chamber, and then the wonderful discussion we had on our ride here. I cherish every word from your lips.’
‘My Lord,’ Beth’s tone was scandalised, ‘you infer something from mere politeness that doesn’t exist.’
‘I am sure it might exist if you gave me a chance, my Lady. I have penned a set of verses for you, to tell you of my feelings, and I offer it most humbly.’
‘My Lord,’ Beth lowered her voice so the others still speaking at the end of the gallery wouldn’t hear, ‘I am betrothed to Sir Thomas Leighton, who is part of the force in the Low Countries. I cannot accept your suit.’
‘I beg you accept my verses, my Lady. They were written for only you, so as you read them know you are looking at my heart on the page.’ Raleigh cast his mind for something else to convince her that his feelings were genuine. He had been captivated by Beth’s beauty when he had first seen her, could see the family resemblance to the Queen, which in Beth had a gentler, fresher appeal. He didn’t doubt that he could convince her to turn her back on her betrothed and grace his sheets, and he had every confidence in his ability to seduce her.
He watched as Beth compressed her lips into a line and placed her hands flat on his chest to push him away as he stepped forward to take her in his arms. He was so intent on his quest that he failed to hear her words, and just felt himself being shoved violently backwards. His surprise was so complete that Beth caught him off balance and he had no choice but to step back.
‘I would be grateful, my Lord, if you didn’t seek me out again.’ Beth thrust the unopened parchment back at Raleigh and marched towards her sisters, taking Bella’s hand in hers and both of them disappearing through the far door. Raleigh sighed regretfully and secreted the parchment inside his satin doublet. Shaking his head in bewilderment at Beth’s refusal, he turned to walk in the opposite direction. Coming towards him down the gallery he saw the fair hair and silver gown of Bess Throckmorton.
‘My Lady,’ bowed Raleigh as Bess curtseyed and bent forward slightly so he could see her bosom under her lace ruff, ‘how wonderful to see you. I have been looking for you as I have penned a sonnet to your beauty.’ He caught the gleam of excitement in Bess’ eyes as his hand felt inside his doublet for the parchment.
‘You will be reading the words I have written on my heart, my Lady, so please be kind, I beg you.’
Bess gazed up at him, blue eyes wide as she excitedly broke the seal on the scroll. She scanned the page quickly, tongue peeking through parted lips as she concentrated on the spiky black handwriting. She re-rolled the scroll and then took Raleigh’s hand in hers.
‘Oh, my Lord, thank you. I have never had a poem written especially for me before.’ She blinked up at him again and lowered her voice to a whisper, ‘I would love to have you read it to me, my Lord. Somewhere private?’
Raleigh smiled into her eyes and raised her hand to his lips, but instead of kissing her knuckles he suddenly turned her hand and pressed a kiss into her soft palm. ‘Allow me to escort you, my Lady. I assure you, my lodging is quite, quite private.’
Bess giggled her affected laugh and squeezed Raleigh’s arm excitedly. ‘I would like that, my Lord.’
Chapter 13
ettice allowed Thomas to lift her from the carriage and set her on her feet. She looked up at the battlements on the tower at Kenilworth and sighed.
‘Oh, Thomas, I am so relieved to be here at last.’ As she gazed across the gravelled sweep of drive up to the entrance to her husband’s country home, and out over the vast tract of parkland and forest that belonged to the castle, the sound of the huge oak door swinging open on black cast iron hinges attracted her attention.
‘My Lady,’ Thomas’ steely tone brought her out of her reverie, ‘some of the staff wanted to greet you, and see the young Lord.’
Lettice beamed up at Thomas and then turned her smile towards the steward, coming down the steps as quickly as his portly legs would allow. He hurried forward, wringing his hands together in excitement, closely followed by a taller, much thinner woman clad in a plain black woollen gown, relieved at the neck and wrists by a snowy white linen collar and cuffs. Following this pair came a variety of servants, some wearing the doublet and hose that marked them as house servants, or the dark grey gowns and linen aprons that the maids wore. Others were in the brown fustian garments that the stable hands sported, practical garments for outdoor work.
‘Welcome, Countess, welcome. And to your companions, welcome, and to the little Lord, of course. We are well prepared for your visit, Countess. Would you like something to eat or drink, Countess? Or would you prefer to go to your room and have a rest before the evening meal? We have prepared the nursery for the little Lord, Countess, just as Lord Robert instructed. Permit me to introduce the servants, Countess. Many of them have been so excited to welcome you home.’
Lettice felt her smile become fixed to her face as she listened to the steward babble on nervously. She stepped forward and took his waving hands in hers.
‘William, I am thrilled to be here at last,’ she pressed his hands, and smothered a giggle at the astonishment on the man’s face, ‘and I am touched by the welcome you have given us.’ She nodded and smiled at all the servants lined up in front of the enormous door. Lettice gazed up at the woman by William’s side, placing her hand on the woman’s arm.
‘Grace. I am so happy to see you again.’ The housekeeper returned her smile warmly, lighting up her thin features and making her look far less austere.
‘We are relieved you had a good journey, my Lady, and you are safely here at last. Allow me to show your maid to the nursery so she can take care of the young Lord.’
‘Thank you, Grace. He has been so good on the journey, but I am sure he will be grateful for a proper crib instead of a basket.’ Lettice beckoned Daisy forwards, carrying the baby in her arms. The servants all craned their necks to glimpse Lord Robert’s heir and Lettice smiled at them.
‘Daisy, go with Mistress Grace to the Nursery, but let these good people have a peek at the baby before you go upstairs.’ Daisy bobbed her head in acknowledgement and walked towards the steps, stopping every few yards to show off her charge, closely followed by Cissy and Alice.
William stepped forward eagerly, ‘I will have your chests brought in from the wagons, Countess, and the stable hands will take care of the horses. If you would care to follow me, Countess, I will take you and your ladies inside and show you to your rooms.’
‘Thank you William,’ smiled Lettice, then she turned to Thomas, standing silently
by her side as always. ‘Thomas, could you deal with the squires please? Ask them to look after their own horse before having something to eat. By that time, I will have spoken to William about the suitability of rooms for them, and arranged accommodation for my husband’s soldiers.’ She pressed her hand on his arm and beamed up at him. Thomas bowed silently and then strode off to carry out her requests.
‘Jane, Ursula, come along. Let Master William show us to our rooms, then we can refresh ourselves and plan our stay.’ Lettice nodded at her steward, who excitedly led his mistress and her household into the castle.
***
‘Mother! Mother!’ Lettice sighed and fastened her bodice together. She had wanted an hour to herself to feed the baby, and she hadn’t even had chance to change from her russet velvet travelling gown into something cleaner. Her breasts ached with the milk they contained, and she hadn’t been able to feed her baby on the journey as often as she wished; as often as her body told her to. That task had been left to the wet nurse unless they had been quite private, and Lettice had missed the contact of her baby’s skin against her own. Her son belched a little milk back onto his lips and drifted into a satisfied doze.
‘Mother.’ The door to her suite bounced on its hinges as Essex hurled himself into the room, closely followed by Kytt. Jane and Ursula could be heard speaking softly in the next room as they unpacked all the things Lettice had brought.
‘Yes, my son?’ Lettice smiled at Essex and nodded graciously as Kytt bowed to her.
‘I need a different apartment, Mother. I can’t possibly stay in that midden one night.’
‘It is the room you always use, pet. Why is it suddenly a midden?’ Lettice heard the faint slap of leather on leather behind her, and knew Thomas was at the door, if not in the room. She smiled across at her eldest son, who was lounging on the window seat with his habitual petulance, and widened her eyes for him to continue.
On the Altar of England (Tudor Chronicles Book 4) Page 10