Prisoner of the Queen (Tales From the Tudor Court) (31 page)

“The
ambassador awaits us in the dining hall.”

Footmen seeped from the walls to take ou
r cloaks and then arm in arm we walked through several corridors until we reached a well-lit room with a high-arched painted ceiling and ornate furniture—fit for a king. I do not know why I was surprised that Durham House should have been so opulently furnished, but I was. It had not occurred to me that those without royal blood should have such wealth.

“Lady Katherine,” Ambassador de Feria said with a swift low bow in my direction.

“Your Excellency,” I said in return with a slight curtsy, not as deep as one I would give my own cousin Queen Elizabeth.

Feria
’s mouth quirked with a knowing smile.

“My lady wife,” he said to Jane Dormer, with a bow, and she returned his gesture with a murmur.

“I am glad you have decided to meet with me, Lady Katherine. The countess tells me you may be in need of our assistance.”

“Perhaps. I am willing to listen.” I did not want to give too much away. I did not want them to perceive that I might understand everything they said. Most at court referred to me as a pretty featherbrain, and while it might
have seemed odd to keep that reputation, it was important to me that I did. Most people were willing to say too much, or overstep their bounds because of it, which always set me in a higher position, giving me ammunition with which to wield.

Again
, he smiled, but it did not quite reach his eyes. “Would you care for a refreshment?” he asked, his Spanish accent thick. “We have wine imported from Spain, and ’tis not as watered down as you may find at court.”

I nodded. “I should be glad to taste your wine.”

Jane indicated for me to sit in one of the plush carved-oak armchairs, near the brilliant hearth, which exuded much heat.

“Is this your work?
’Tis impressive,” I asked of the burgundy seat cushions embroidered with gold Spanish pomegranates.

“Actually, Queen Mary made those for me for Christmas several years back. They are beautiful, are they not?”

“Quite. She was very talented with her embroidery.” A pang of sadness pinched my chest. I missed Mary, even with all of her neurotic ways. She had been a dear cousin, and despite my family’s treachery, she had held my younger sister and me close, had even remained friends with my mother.

The ambassador handed me a cup of dark red wine. I sniffed its fruity essence before taking a small sip. I had never tasted anything so fine. “
’Tis very good,” I murmured. “If it pleases, Ambassador, I would hope to get to the heart of the matter. I am expected back at Westminster presently.”

For a moment, the countess
’s eyes narrowed, and I suspected she would think my terseness related directly to her, but it wasn’t. ’Twas simply a matter of already being in a precarious position at court and not wishing to further Her Majesty’s hatred of me.

“You are just as lively as described.”

To this, I raised a brow. While most would think the ambassador’s representation of me in a positive light, from the dark look in his eyes, I suspected quite the opposite. My back straightened all the more, and I glanced at Jane Dormer.

The countess
looked down at the rings adorning her fingers. No doubt, she was the one to have issued such a depiction.

“My lady, I understand that within your cousin
’s court you are not given quarter. While she has moved you from the presence chamber back into her privy chamber, you are still not entirely trusted. Your letters are read”—to this he caught my eye, and I was fully aware that my letters to Ned had been read, and somehow he had even been one to see them—“and your whereabouts are marked. What you eat and drink is recorded. Your servants are employed by Her Majesty. They are not loyal to you but to her.”

I knew the latter with clarity—
save for Mrs. Helen—perhaps they were even more loyal to the countess and ambassador than to me, for what power did I really have?

“Everywhere you look, my lady, there are those who watch you, to see if you should slip, if you should cause concern to Her Majesty.”

I cocked my head and pursed my lips. “I am well aware that I have more a pretty face than a sharp mind, Ambassador, but did you think such would prevent me from being aware of my position at court and the lengths to which Her Majesty will go to protect herself from what she fears of me?”

From the fleeting look of surprise on his face, I could only surmise that was indeed the case. Even
his wife, sitting so primly on her armchair, glanced up from her bejeweled fingers for a moment, her gaze sharply registering on my face as if for the first time she realized rational thoughts might actually flit through my mind.

For shame that she
, too, someone I had considered close to me, should think such! But I suppose all my talk to my pets, my flirting with Ned and most otherwise keeping to myself would have made one think less of me. I almost laughed aloud now, as I looked back. Friends at court had seen me only ever read Plato, which I struggled with, and my prayer book written in French, which considering my French was mediocre at best, I also had an awkward time reading. If only courtiers, male and female, would look beneath the surface. Sad that I doubted anyone ever would.

“
Nunca
, my lady, never. I did not mean to suggest that you were not aware. I wanted only to bring further light to the situation. To serve you.”

“How can you
serve me, as you say, Ambassador? I am truly curious. For I have been trying to gain my cousin’s favor for years, and while she brings me closer, we all know ’tis not because I have succeeded.”

Ambassador de Feria and his wife exchanged a fleeting glance that spoke immeasurable volumes. They would share whatever plot they
’d hatched, I was certain. I was also certain that if I were to listen I would only implicate myself in said plot. My stomach soured. I took another sip of wine to calm my nerves. Why had I agreed to come here?

Dear Lord in Heaven, have mercy on me! Save me from plots and those who would work against me! Leave me not to my sister
’s fate, but deliver me into the hands of the one I love!

I resisted the urge to cross myself.

“My lady, it may be well if you should leave England for a time and go to Spain. The emperor has offered you a safe haven within his realm, indeed within his own court, and he is even willing to offer you a substantial yearly allowance.”

I kept my face neutral.
“’Tis a generous offer, Ambassador.” More than generous. Too generous.

De Feria inclined his head, lips pressed together in a smug smile, as if he
’d expected me to be much pleased. Better to keep it that way for now.

“What does Emperor
Philip seek in return?” I made my voice quite innocent and plucked at a make-believe string upon the lace at my wrists.

“Nothing, my lady. He only wants your happiness,” de Feria said with a flourish of his hands
, as if that was all everyone would ever seek.

I sheltered the urge to guffaw loud and unladylike. Where was Ned? He would
have so enjoyed this farce! And Mrs. Helen would have been having a ball without a doubt!

“That is very generous, indeed.” I tapped my chin. “Do you suppose my pets would be allowed to join me?”

The ambassador raised his brows. “How many pets does your ladyship have?” He shook his head and hands. “No need to answer, my lady. It was most uncouth of me to inquire. All of your pets would be welcome in Spain.”

From the corner of my eye
, I saw the ambassador’s wife nod to her husband, which showed me she had informed him previously that my love for my animals would be a deciding factor.

“Well
, that is certainly a relief, as I am very close with my dear pets. They are not usually apart from me, unless absolutely necessary.” And while I spoke the truth to a point, I was having entirely too much fun at de Feria’s expense. “Stew, my little monkey, short for Steward because he is so much in charge of my household, would be loath to remain at the castle and might in fact climb upon just anyone’s head and pick the lice from beneath their caps—even you, Ambassador!” I widened my eyes with innocence and nodded and held my belly firm and tight so much that it pained me not to laugh aloud at the disgust he was trying hide.

“Well,
si
, my lady, there is no reason to worry, you may bring them.”

“Marvelous. And how exactly shall we gain Her Majesty
’s permission for me to up and leave her court for that of King Philip whom she is not always on the best of terms with?”

The
ambassador did a double take at the change in conversation, and I could see I had him off his feet. I batted my lashes prettily and took a sip of my wine. “I confess, I have always wanted to see Spain. Lady Jane has told me such pleasant things of your country.” I turned and offered the countess a wide, sweet smile.

She smiled nervously in return and smoothed her skirts in her lap with one hand—I suspect she was wiping sweat from her palm—and with the other daintily sipped at her Spanish wine.

“I am most biased, my lady, but I do agree that Spain is a place of beauty, and I think you would be most happy there. Perhaps we could even arrange a marriage between yourself and a most noble Spaniard or…prince.”

H
ere we were, finally reaching the heart of the matter. De Feria wanted to see me married to a Spanish prince, which meant that King Philip wanted me to marry one of his heirs. An heir to Spain married to an heir of England, and once again the two realms would be united. Interesting, to say the least.

“Perhaps so, Ambassador,” I said, my voice serious, my gaze meeting his without faltering. I had no intention of following through on such a plot. But there was no sense in letting the
ambassador and his wife know. It was best to keep my enemies close, as I had learned from Her Majesty.

“If it were to be considered
, you would have to remain true to the Catholic faith, my lady,” de Feria replied.

I inclined my head rather than answer. I
’d pretended once before, and I had no problem playacting again.

“As I mentioned before…y
our correspondence is monitored,” he said.

My ears perked up, but I worked hard to keep my expression plain.

“As such, I am aware of your…esteem for Lord Hertford.”

Again
, I did not respond but waited for him to continue.

“If the Spanish are to
aid in your plight, my lady, I must gain your promise that you will not marry another nor change your faith from that of the true religion without first seeking my counsel.”

I smiled at de Feria, a smile I had oft given my father, and Her Majesty, which indicated that I had every intention of following
his directive, when in fact, the opposite was true.

“Ambassador, I assure you, I will do neither.”

My words served my purpose as I offered him the promise that he sought and at the same time offered nothing. For in truth, I was telling him I would neither change my religion nor promise to inform him of my prospects.

“Now, if it pleases, we have tarried here overlong, and I fear my absence will be noted, and as you yourself have said, I am watched. I should not want Her Majesty to look at you in a negative light.”

He stood and flourished a sweeping bow. “It was a pleasure speaking with you, my lady.”

“And you, Ambassador.”

March 3, 15
60

My footsteps outside the palace were muffled across dew-covered blades of grass. Spring had come. While there were not many flowers blooming, there were a few buds reaching for the sun’s sustenance.

A game of boules
was boisterously in progress, as today was the first day one might not freeze their limbs off from being out of doors.

I
was relieved to have had no word from Ambassador de Feria and, in fact, the countess had been absent as well, although for different reasons. The ambassador had been recalled to Spain for a time, most likely telling his king that I was amenable to their plan, which for their sake and my own I hope they kept quiet.

It was reckless on my part to play with him, but there
had been no way out of it. I had gone to their home. If I had naysayed him, then it was entirely possible a plot against me would have been hatched. I had trusted Jane Dormer and thought perhaps she had found a way to convince Her Majesty that Ned and I should be together. Never in my wildest imaginings had I thought a Spanish plot was afoot.

Perhaps, if I brought information regarding this new Spanish plot to Elizabeth, I may be able to use it to my advantage. I remained a victim of such plots as long as I was unmarried. But, if Elizabeth were to allow me to marry the ever-faithful Lord Hertford, she would have no cause to worry over me again. And then again, she may have more cause to hate me.

If I were my sister Jane, or Queen Elizabeth for that matter, I would have known. They were both shrewd and distrustful of others. I tended to believe in the goodness of people. I envied their abilities to read beneath people’s exterior and see they meant to do harm. And yet another reason I should not involve myself in the games of politics.