Betrayal (30 page)

             
“Please, Elisabeth, he is a fine fellow. Do not make me beg. What am I to do?” The young man’s voice was petulant.  “How can I say to him that he is rejected without a chance of presentation?  He will think me a fool for encouraging his suit to our, er, my, grandfather. Give me the words to say to him, to explain.”

             
“Elisabeth!” the shrill voice called again.

             
“Who is that screeching cat?” Jamie demanded.

             
“It is Lady Rochford, wife of the Queen’s brother,” Elisabeth said, feeling her cheeks burn. “Lady Jane has charge of the Queen’s household. I must go.”

Now Hays was angry. “You will not leave without firm plans to meet my friend. Will you come to The Three Bells to dine with us tonight? Surely your mistress does not require your constant presence. You will need an escort to the inn. If you like I can return here at any time you state and then see you safely home again. What say you, Elisabeth, will you join us?”

              “Elisabeth, Elisabeth Beeton, where are you girl?”

             
“I cannot, I really must go; I will send a messenger when I can come. But go now before she comes.”

             
“When will that be?”

             
“I don’t know, things are happening…,” Elisabeth’s voice trailed off. “Please, go.”

             
“What things?”

“I am not free to speak of them. We shall meet again soon, I promise.” Elisabeth smiled weakly as she hiked her skirts and ran for the palace gate.

James Hays walked slowly through the rose gardens of Whitehall. He smiled to himself as he thought ‘She is a strong-minded girl in need of an even stronger man, and Andrew is indeed that.’

             
Lady Rochford watched him through the open doorway.  “You have kept me waiting, girl,” she snapped at Elisabeth.

             
“I am most heartily sorry, my lady.” Elisabeth said dipping a deep bow.

“Who were you with?” Jane demanded. “He claims to be a relative, there are enough similarities that he may be, but I remember being told you had no family. Tell me
the truth, girl, for I will tolerate no lies. Who is this handsome man and what does he want with you?”

“Please my lady,” Elisabeth pleaded holding her curtsey, fearful to meet Lady Jane’s eyes.

“I know you are seeing someone. I have seen you move about the grounds at night. I have seen your face flushed like a rose. Who is this man? Is he your lover?”

“Oh, my lady,” Elisabeth said bringing her head up. “There is no lover. I admit I do take short walks some evenings when I cannot sleep, but I never meet anyone. This man is well and truly my cousin, son of my mother’s brother, though we had not met before today.” Elisabeth held her curtsey, her head down, her eyes studying the wide wooden planks of the floor.

“I do not like all this sneaking around after dark. Does your Mistress know where you go when you leave her?”

“Yes, my lady,” Elisabeth lied, knowing that should Rochford question the Queen, Anne would agree that she had given Elisabeth permission to be out and about.  A cloud passed over Elisabeth’s face as she thought of her betrayal of the Queen’s trust, but Lady Jane did not see as she had turned her back and was crossing into the Great Hall. Elisabeth held her position a moment longer wondering what would the Queen think when she found out that Elisabeth was pregnant with George’s child?

Before she reached the top step Elisabeth heard raised voices in the Queen’s chamber.  “Send her away, Anne, or I will,” Henry shouted. 

Elisabeth pushed into the drapery of the window watching through the open door. Were they arguing about her? Could the King possibly know she was pregnant?   

              After a moment’s pause to catch his breath, Henry started again, “I will not have that meddlesome woman at Court,” Henry shouted, his hands fisted tight in rage.

             
“What has she done to displease you so?” Anne asked innocently, turning her head to hide her smile.

             
“You know full well what she has done, and at your bidding, no doubt,” Henry sputtered.

             
Elisabeth breathed a sigh of relief; it wasn’t her they were talking about. But who was it?

             
“Have her gone from here by month’s end. No need to send her husband after her, I have need of him here.”

             
“But, my lord, where shall she go?”

             
“To Hell, for all I care, but see that woman, Jane Boleyn, is gone from Court and soon,” Henry demanded as he left the chamber, slamming the door behind him.

             
Elisabeth snuggled deeper into the window alcove; she turned to look out the window wondering why Lady Rochford was to be sent from Court.  How could this be? Did she dare to hope that George could now put aside his barren and disgraced wife? ‘And what, marry me?’ Elisabeth thought.  As she was about to move the heavy drapery she heard George Boleyn enter his sister’s chamber.

             
“Have you heard the news? Is it true?” he asked anxiously.

             
“Heard it? He has been raging night and day since the girl was recalled home.”

             
“What is to be done?”

             
“Nothing.”

             
“But Jane is to be exiled from Court,” he said quietly.

             
“Yes,” Anne said smiling.

             
“Then she did do what is being said of her?”

             
“And what is that?”

             
“That she sent the little whore packing.”

             
“You mean the little one, what’s her name? The one that took the King’s fancy?”

             
“Anne, stop playing games with me. Yes that one.”

              “Yes, George, that one; our Jane told the girl’s parents and they recalled her home immediately. The King is most displeased,” she said, smiling a wicked smile “but we are most pleased.”

             
“But Jane,” George started.

             
“Send her to Blicking Hall or wherever you wish, just do it quickly,” Anne said, turning from her brother.

             
“There is another matter,” George began.

             
“Later, George, I have a headache. Please send Elisabeth to me.”

             
“Yes, of course.”  He was surprised to find Elisabeth standing at the top of the stair when he came out of the chamber.  “You are wanted,” he said smiling.

Elisabeth blushed at his innuendo.  Dipping a deep bow she whispered, “By you I hope.”

“Yes, of course, always, but now my sister requires you.”

“Is it true then?  Is Lady Rochford truly sent from Court?”

“Yes, it is true. Now go, my sweet. We will talk later after the witch is safely gone.”

Elisabeth hurried into the Queen’s chamber to find her singing and dancing lightly about the room.   “You wanted me, my lady,” she said slipping into a deep curtsy.

“Yes, Elisabeth I have news to share.”

Elisabeth blanched. How was she to respond to the news that her rival was being sent from Court?  She held her curtsy, saying only, “Yes, my lady.”

“Call the musician; I want to practice our new song before tonight’s festivities.”

“Yes, my lady.”

“And return with him.”

“Yes, my lady,” Elisabeth said dipping a hasty bow.

Later when Elisabeth returned with Mark Smeaton, she tidied the chamber while the musician played his lute.  “Do you recognize the tune, Elisabeth?” the Queen asked.

“It is one of the love songs written by the King for you,” Elisabeth said shyly.

“Listen to the words,” Anne commanded as she began to sing. “I bow before you, my lord,” the Queen pantomimed. “I hath loved thee through all the ages. I have sought thee throughout time. I have put my trust in thee. For my friend, my lover, and my husband I have chosen thee,” the Queen twirled, dancing her way about the room.

Elisabeth was puzzled; this wasn’t about Lady Rochford’s dismissal.

              The Queen paused, “I want this to be a surprise for Henry. Tell me if you think he will be surprised.”

             
Elisabeth smiled weakly, unsure what was expected of her.

“From our love a daughter was born,” the young Queen began again, “now our daughter, the moon lights the way for her brother, the sun.”

Elisabeth gasped. “Oh, my lady, is it true? Why did you not tell me that your courses had stopped? Oh, my lady!  Oh my lady! When, when, shall the child be born?” The two women stood facing each other, hands clasped, tears running down their cheeks.

“Let me count.  In late March, hmm, yes, he shall come with the spring,” laughed the young Queen. “But now I must make ready for my performance tonight. That will be all for now, Mark. I believe we have had enough practice,” the Queen said, moving to the garderobe. “Elisabeth, go to the kitchen and order some hot water. I desire a bath.”

Elisabeth and Mark left the chamber together. “God has good timing,” the musician said on the stair.

“What do you mean by that?”

“It has been plain for all eyes to see; the King cools towards the Queen.”

“How dare you speak such? It is not true.”

“He hungers after another. His head is filled with doubt that the Queen can bear him a healthy child.”

“But she has already borne a healthy child, the Princess Elizabeth.”

“A son, she needs to birth a son.”

“Do not shout at me. I know full well where my lady’s duty lies.”

“Listen up, when the King hunts, he finds.”

“That one was sent home to mother,” Elisabeth sneered.

“The King now hunts at Wolf Hall, as he hunted at Hever.”

“What do you mean?”

“The King has turned his attentions to the Seymour girl, Jane. He rides with her brothers to Wolf Hall so that he can be alone with her.”

“Oh, that. He rides there to hunt, I knew that.”

“Silly woman, do you not see the danger to your Mistress? Should she fail again, there is another waiting to take her place. Guard this pregnancy well,” he finished as they reached the last step, and he was gone.

Elisabeth pondered his words, but refused to believe a real threat to the Queen existed. The afternoon passed quickly in preparation for the evening’s glittering ball.

After the Queen descended to the Great Hall; Elisabeth set about straightening the Queen’s chamber. She was startled to hear the door open.

“Are you alone?”  George Boleyn asked.

“Yes.”

             
Elisabeth turned to him; she waited breathlessly as he crossed the room in a few strides of his long legs.  “George,” she began, “I need to…”

             
Taking her in his arms he kissed her hair, softly whispering, “No time for words. I must leave in the morning for Beaulieu Palace in Essex; it must be made ready for Jane. Her family lives nearby; they will look after her. We have but a little while. Come here my dearest and love me,” he said, leading her to the bed.

             
“But George…”

             
“No buts, please.  I have hungered for your touch these many weeks in France. Touch me; love me, Elisabeth, as only you can.”

              Elisabeth resisted the urge to press her case, releasing instead her own pent-up desire, until at last they lay spent upon the great state bed.

             
“Now, dearest, what is it you wanted to tell me?”

             
“Not now, George, when you come back,” Elisabeth said sadly. “It can wait.”

             
George leaned over her naked body tracing the fleshy globe of her breast with his lips.  When he bit the nipple Elisabeth cried out in pain. “What is wrong, Elisabeth? Why are your breasts so tender? Have I hurt you?”

             
“Hurt me, good Lord, no, I am blissful in your arms, blissful in the knowledge,” she paused.  Placing his hand on her stomach, she continued, “that your child grows here.”

             
“You’re pregnant!” George exclaimed.

             
“Yes,” she answered demurely.

“All this time I thought the fault was mine,” he whispered. Then, leaning forward to kiss Elisabeth’s still flat belly, he asked wonderingly, “You are really pregnant with my baby?” unable to believe the joyous news.

              “Yes,” Elisabeth cried joyously.

             
“When, when will he be born?” he begged.