On the Altar of England (Tudor Chronicles Book 4)

by Lesley Jepson

  ‘We will be gone most of the day, Lily, so you can have a gossip with all your friends who choose not to hunt. I thought keeping the Queen busy on the first day would allow you some breathing space. Kit told me what she said to you.’ He reached the door and stopped, ‘Kit also told me what your reply was. Well done, my love. I will keep the court as occupied as I can, and you may choose which events you want to attend and which you would rather avoid.’

  Lettice dimpled at him as he went through the door. She was still seated at the window, haloed by the light behind her, and her son sucking greedily at her breast. She looked almost holy, sitting there with her hair unpinned and her shift down to her waist; a copper-haired seraph. He swallowed heavily and bowed, and Lettice laughed softly,

  ‘We’ll be waiting, Robin. Come back soon.’

  ***

  Lettice settled herself beneath the canopy of trees in the garden. She knew Jane and Ursula would join her when they had completed their toilette, and she had asked Daisy to bring the baby to her when he was dressed and changed. There was much activity round the house and gardens, and her face already ached from all the smiles as she greeted old friends from court who had chosen not to hunt.

  Surrounded as she was by servants and grand ladies and gentlemen, this small corner of the parkland, within sight of the house and stables but shaded by majestic oaks and sycamores, made her feel quite private. She heard the chink of spurs and the slap of a scabbard on leather, and she looked up from her stitching to smile another greeting.

  ‘Countess.’ Lettice’s brows rose in surprise at the voice. The footsteps she had heard had led her to her expect Thomas to appear by her side.

  ‘Good morning, Kytt,’ she smiled and tilted her head questioningly, ‘are you not with my son today?’ Kytt bowed another greeting and shook his head, fair hair drifting round his face and a rueful smile on his lips.

  ‘No, my Lady. He wants to hunt with the Queen’s party, and he thought I would be happier staying behind.’ He snorted a laugh and dropped on the grass at her side so she wasn’t straining her neck to look at him. Lettice observed that since he had been with their household, he had grown broader in the chest and shoulders, and the good food the squires had to eat had made him grow even taller.

  ‘Oh,’ Lettice’s brows rose in surprise, as the vast majority of squires relished the chase of hunting, even if they were less enthusiastic being at the kill, ‘do you not enjoy the hunt?’ Kytt laughed uncomfortably and looked away. He seemed to be formulating an answer in his mind and Lettice waited patiently while he found the words for what he wanted to say.

  ‘I find I do not enjoy court activities, my Lady. Last night was….it seems so ….. so false.’ He shrugged as if that word did not quite convey his feelings. Lettice raised one eyebrow and looked at him as he sat beside her on the grass, long legs stretched out in front of him. He had picked some stalks of grass and was shredding them as he spoke.

  ‘It is, Kytt. It is full of falsehood and duplicity, and one mistake can make everything you knew and everything you had hoped for suddenly disappear.’ Lettice pushed down the emotion that had threatened to clog her throat, but Kytt must have heard something in her voice. He stilled his shredding of the grass and looked at her intently.

  ‘Is that what happened, my Lady? To you? A mistake?’ His voice was soft with sympathy and Lettice felt her eyes film with tears. She pressed her lips together and breathed in and out quietly for a while, before looking him in the eyes.

  ‘Marrying someone you truly love is never a mistake Kytt, and that is what I did.’ Her mouth quirked in a rueful smile and she shook her head, ‘I cannot blame myself that someone else was in love with him too.’ She shrugged and looked back at her stitching, giving herself a little time for her flush to subside and her tears to ebb. This was something she seldom thought about any more. She was so happy in her life with Robert, and the birth of their child was so momentous, it had been a long while since she had thought about what she had relinquished to achieve such happiness.

  ‘The Queen, my Lady?’ Kytt’s voice was little more than a whisper, and it crossed Lettice’s mind that even though Kytt had recently come to a noble household, he had quickly learned that some subjects had to be spoken about in whispers, even when they were alone. Lettice lowered her own voice in reply, putting her stitching down again, then leaning forward on her stool and placing her hand on Kytt’s arm.

  ‘Yes, Kytt,’ she nodded solemnly, ‘the Queen. And I realise now, with meeting her here at my husband’s house, that I will never be forgiven. I shall never be received at court again, despite our kinship.’ Lettice smiled brightly at him and shrugged, ‘So I treasure every moment I have with my husband. The time she thinks she allows me,’ she huffed a gentle laugh, ‘because I have things she will never have, despite her being Queen.’ Kytt met her eyes and smiled quizzically as she patted his arm and sat back.

  ‘I have my husband’s love, and I have his child. I have everything I ever wanted.’ Kytt raised his brows.

  ‘Everything, my Lady?’ Lettice nodded solemnly and went back to her stitching. A long moment passed in silence as Lettice stitched and Kytt found more grass to shred. Once Lettice knew she had her emotions under control again, and could speak without the threat of tears consuming her, she lifted her head and smiled.

  ‘Do you like it here, Kytt?’ Lettice felt a change of subject might benefit them both. Kytt smiled and looked around the parkland as it rolled gently down to the lake, with the forest for hunting beyond the body of water and stretching out into the distance.

  ‘It is a beautiful house, Countess. The stables are immense and the horses Lord Robert has are truly magnificent.’

  Lettice laughed, the first genuine amusement she had felt since Kytt had joined her, although she felt comfortable with the young man. That he was so like his uncle made her trust him instinctively, and she felt relaxed and at ease in his company. She knew, without doubt, that whatever they discussed would remain between themselves; she knew he would never betray her confidence.

  ‘No, Kytt. I meant with us,’ she felt a giggle bubble in her throat, ‘in our household.’

  Kytt chuckled at his misunderstanding, and then regarded her with his wide blue eyes, ‘Oh yes, my Lady. It is a wonderful opportunity and I intend to make the most of it. I never imagined I could be thus.’ Lettice beamed at the enthusiasm she heard in his voice.

  ‘You seem to get on well with my son, Kytt.’ Lettice began stitching again, although she knew some of it would have to be pulled out. It was a distraction for her hands, and she smiled as she remembered her difficulty when she had been at court in her youth and Robert had spoken to her while she stitched. Then she could only manage straight seams, and her conversation with Kytt was proving equally distracting although for quite different reasons, she thought. Lettice dragged her mind back to listen to Kytt’s words.

  ‘He has been kind, my Lady.’ Lettice tried and failed to keep the doubt from her face as he continued, ‘He can be very charming when he chooses.’ She smiled wryly and sadly shook her head.

  ‘We don’t see that side of him very often these days, I’m afraid.’ Lettice looked at Kytt enquiringly, ‘He always seems so full of resentment and spite, and either thrilled and looking forward to some new adventure, or depressed and resentful of others’ good fortune,’ she shook her head again, ‘as if their good fortune somehow brought him low.’

  ‘I am no threat to him, my Lady.’ Kytt smiled, ‘I try and keep him company, keep him out of trouble, amuse him as best I might.’ He threw the shredded grass away and shrugged. Lettice cast her mind about to think of another subject to speak of, as Kytt seemed comfortable where he was, and the girls had not come out to join them quite yet. From the back of her mind she dredged the reason
why Kytt had come to join them in the first place.

  ‘And your mother, Kytt. Have you heard how she is?’ Kytt’s face took on a dreamy countenance as he thought of his mother, and it warmed Lettice’s heart to see the affection he felt towards his mother so apparent.

  ‘She is recovering, praise God. And thank you for asking after her, my Lady. I feel sure you would like her. She is the kindest, sweetest person, apart from yourself of course.’ Lettice laughed and put her hand on his arm.

  ‘Thank you, Kytt. That is a lovely thing to say. You obviously have your uncle’s diplomacy.’ It was Kytt’s turn to smile as he turned disbelieving eyes on her.

  ‘I have never thought of my Uncle Thomas as diplomatic, my Lady.’ Lettice dimpled at him and squeezed his arm. Beneath her fingers she could feel the muscle flex at her touch, and she took her hand back quickly. Breathlessly, she laughed.

  ‘Oh Kytt, you have no idea how diplomatic terse silence can be.’ She burst into gales of laughter as Kytt gazed at her incredulously, then joined in her amusement. Kytt recovered himself quickly, although his mouth still twitched at her description of his uncle.

  ‘I am so grateful to Uncle Thomas for bringing me here, my Lady.’ Again, Lettice noticed he picked some grass to shred, and she realised the grass was for Kytt as her stitching was for her; a distraction. She smiled brightly to put him again at his ease; she found she wanted him to feel as comfortable with her as she did with him.

  ‘We are happy to have you, Kytt. Do you get on as well with the others as you do with Essex?’ She met his gaze and tilted her head, waiting for his answer. He nodded.

  ‘I think so my Lady. Dickon is good natured, brave and becoming excellent at swordsmanship, and I do try to divert the Earl if he takes his teasing too far.’ Lettice snorted, but Kytt continued his reply, ‘Rob has a great deal of ambition, as well as an eye for the ladies.’ Kytt began to laugh, as a thought occurred to him. ‘You know, my Lady, if Essex would forgive the circumstances of Rob’s birth as he has forgiven mine, he would find they have much in common.’ He continued to laugh softly as he kept his eyes on the blade of grass in his fingers.

  Lettice was grateful for his discretion but nevertheless put her head down to scrutinise her needlework. In truth she could never be sure whether Essex was the child of her first husband, whose title he held, or of Robert with whom she had started an affair at that time. Sometimes when she looked at him she saw Robert and at others she saw Walter. She waited until the flush had subsided and then patted Kytt’s arm again.

  ‘We are so glad you are here, Kytt. It comforts me that my son has someone responsible to watch over him,’ she giggled softly, ‘as Thomas does me. It seems to be your family’s business to look after us. Keep us all out of mischief.’

  ‘My Lady!’ Kytt’s tone was scandalised at her suggestion, ‘I can’t imagine what mischief you might need keeping from.’ His brow furrowed as he looked at her, and she beamed back at him impishly.

  ‘Oh Kytt, you would be surprised at the mischief I can get into, even living as I do away from court, There is always naughtiness readily available if you know where to look.’ She burst into peals of laughter again, and Kytt gazed at her obvious happiness.

  ‘Letty, there you are.’

  Jane’s sweet voice carried across the grass as she and Ursula came towards them, Jane carrying the smiling baby. Kytt quickly jumped to his feet and brushed the pieces of grass from his doublet. He bowed at the waist to Lettice in farewell, and nodded amiably at the girls as he strode towards the stable block. All three of them watched him stride away in silence, before the noises of the baby wanting his mother made them laugh and turn their attention to Lettice’s son.

  Chapter 20

  ooking neither right nor left, Nell hurried down the gallery away from the Queen’s apartment. She had finished the Queen’s makeup for the celebration that evening, and she wanted to change her gown into the eau-de-nil silk one she had worn for the Robin Hood masque. She wanted her mother to see how wonderful it looked, and she decided to wear her hair pinned with the ornament that the Queen had given her. As her mind wandered and she neared her apartment, she suddenly felt her wrist grasped and she was pulled behind a drape over the window embrasure.

  ‘Oooh!’ A frightened gasp escaped her before she saw who it was. ‘My Lord! Oh, you startled me.’ Philip Sidney stood before her against the window sill.

  ‘My apologies. Cousin. I wanted to speak to you before you went into your chamber to change.’ He smiled down at her and stroked her cheek gently, then bent his head and softly kissed her mouth. Nell swayed closer to him and pressed her lips harder against his, and he encircled her waist with his arm.

  ‘Oh, Philip. How I have longed for your kiss.’ Nell murmured the words and then looked up at him in horror. ‘Oh, my Lord, forgive me! I said that aloud, didn’t I?’ A flush crept up her neck and she looked away from his gaze.

  ‘That you did, Nell. Though it pleases me greatly to hear you say it, I swear.’ Philip chuckled, moving his arm from round her waist but he kept her hand in his, pressing it to his chest.

  Nell dared a sideways glance up at him, then turned her face and smiled.

  ‘Honestly? You hoped I would want your kiss?’ Philip nodded and touched his lips to her knuckles.

  ‘I have sought your company every day, Nell. When you have been with the Queen, the day has been long until see you in the evening. If you dance with one of the other gentlemen, the music is never-ending until I can ask you to dance with me. If we are not seated together at supper, the conversation drags until I speak with you.’

  As Philip spoke, Nell’s eyes grew larger and rounder at his words. She had felt exactly the same, and for him to vocalise her own feelings astonished her. Nell bounced slightly on her toes in her excitement at his declaration.

  ‘Nell, I know that you are young yet, but I would ask Lord Robert’s permission to court you until you are older.’

  Nell beamed excitedly, then her face fell, ‘My Lord, it is not Papa from whom you would have to seek permission. Uncle Henry was charged by my father to settle my betrothal in a match of his choosing.’

  ‘Oh, well. I cannot see there would be any difficulty there. He is my Uncle Henry too, and I am sure that as sisters, Aunt Kit and my Lady Mother would be thrilled.’ Philip’s face grew serious and Nell’s heart dropped in her chest. ‘But that isn’t why I pulled you aside, Nell, gratifying though it is to know we both feel the same.’

  She looked at him questioningly, and from the purse hanging from his dagger belt he produced her hair ornament that had been the Queen’s gift. Nell’s eyes widened.

  ‘I imagine this belongs to you, sweetheart?’

  ‘Why yes, my Lord. Where did you get it? Did I lose it and not know?’ Nell took the clip carefully, not wanting to dislodge any of the beautifully set stones.

  ‘Essex used it to pay a gambling debt to de Vere, and I purchased it from him. I remember you mentioning the story of when her Majesty gave it to you, and I saw it in your beautiful hair in Nottingham.’ Nell felt tears pricking her eyes that he would do such a wonderful thing for her, before she felt the fury building in her chest at her brother.

  ‘Thank you, my Lord. It was very generous of you to do that. Please let me reimburse you.’ Nell held the ornament to her chest and tried to blink away angry tears.

  ‘I need no reimbursement, sweet Nell. I was happy to do it. And now you have it back, I look forward to seeing it again very soon.’

  Nell smiled gratefully and stood on her tiptoes to kiss his lips in appreciation.

  ‘I must go and get changed for supper, my Lord. But I look forward to seeing you then?’ Nell smiled up at him, knowing that he would make sure they had many dan
ces together. Philip drew back the drape and kissed Nell’s hand as he bowed.

  ‘My Lady, the minutes cannot pass swiftly enough.’ Nell wrinkled her nose in amusement at his pompously formal reply, a complete contrast to his usual easy manner, so she swept him a regal curtsey, gave him a flirtatious smile and hurried on her way along the gallery.

  ***

  ‘You absolute horror,’ Nell shrieked at Essex as he lounged against the chaise his room. She stamped towards him, voice rising further, ‘You selfish, egotistical, venal swine.’ Nell stretched out both her arm and shoved her brother hard onto the couch. ‘How could you steal my jewels?’ Essex shrugged and smiled easily.

  ‘I needed the money, sis. De Vere was becoming even more unpleasant than usual, and I have already spent my allowance.’

  ‘If you had asked me for the money, I would have lent it to you, brother. But to steal from me?’ Essex shrugged again and helped himself to a sweetmeat from the dish.

  ‘You said you wouldn’t sell it. Besides, I could always get her to give you another. She likes me.’ Nell looked at him curiously and shook her head, not understanding.

  ‘Who likes you?’

  ‘The Queen.’ Nell’s brows rose in disbelief. ‘She does, Nell. She says I make her laugh.’

  ‘Really? Does Papa know? That you make her ….laugh?’ Essex lowered his brows and poured himself a cup of wine, not offering one to Nell. He turned to face her and took a long swallow.

  ‘Why should he care? He’s far too interested in our mother to care about the Queen. They are disgusting together, kissing and touching and …. It’s humiliating. They are old.’ He wrinkled his face in distaste.

  ‘The Queen is Papa’s friend, Rob. He still cares about her, and won’t want her to look foolish.’ Essex drew himself up to his full height and towered over Nell, who took a step back quickly. His eyes glittered dangerously as he pushed his face forwards.