Mistress to the Crown (33 page)

‘The royal council is being difficult?’

He clambered to his feet. ‘Piss-weak, yes, girls the lot of ’em, and you’d think Dorset was the new king by the way he speaks to us.’ He gave me a sideways glance. ‘But I suppose I should be grateful to him. You are here at last.’

I was about to take issue when a Damascus moment overwhelmed me.

He stilled. ‘What is it?’

‘Maybe
this
is exactly what Dorset intended.’ I glanced round at the door. Given enough ale, the men in the hall would all be blabbermouths. ‘What if I’m his Trojan horse, my lord? Maybe forcing me to turn to you is aimed at destroying your public honour and Gloucester’s esteem of you.’ Not to mention rending what little respectability I had left.

Indulgence softened Hastings’ expression. ‘Then you go out through the gate and come in the postern, Elizabeth.’ A male solution offered with a speculative grin.

‘Oh.’ I sank down on the nearby settle, not sure whether to laugh or cry. The Gordian knot sliced with a thwack of words.

‘It’s all right, my dear,’ he murmured, sitting down beside me. ‘You are not on your own anymore.’

Call me too much a woman, but we all have moments of frailty and his kindness tripped me. Ned’s slow death, my family’s condemnation, Dorset’s threats and the robbery. I dissolved into tears.

‘They’ve thieved the jewels, too. The ones Ned gave me,’ I sobbed, finally jettisoning all my resolutions not to tell him.

I felt the hand stroking my shoulder tense and heard his breath catch between astonishment and outrage. ‘They? You mean the Queen and Dorset?’

‘I … Yes,’ I swallowed, my kerchief now a sodden ball between my palms. ‘It … it was the next night after you stayed with me. I was packed ready to leave Westminster and get out of their sight, but two knaves broke in. My plate was downstairs in chests ready to be hauled, but they left that. They took my sapphire collar, everything in my jewel coffer. One of them punched Isabel, almost broke her neck.’

‘In Heaven’s name! They didn’t rape you, did they?’

I shook my head. ‘It was frightening enough, though.’

He sat back with a deep intake of breath and then he sprang to his feet and glared down at me. ‘Hell take it, Elizabeth, if this was before I left for Windsor, why on earth did you not come to me straight away? ’

I gazed down at my lap feeling deservedly chastened.

‘Because I did not want to burden you.’ I looked up at his snort of anger. ‘And I can’t be sure the Woodvilles were behind it but it’s just that she, the Queen, I mean, remarked upon my sapphire collar. And there’s this.’ I fetched out the badge from my purse. ‘Isabel found it in my bedchamber.’

He carried it to one of the candles. ‘Yes, some of the Queen’s Kentish affinity still wear these. By God, I’ll have the Woodvilles’ balls for this.’

‘My word against hers, my lord?’ I rose to my feet. ‘No, pray you, let the matter rest. There’s sufficient bad blood between you
already and, besides, the case is too flimsy. I could not recognise the men.’

‘Flimsy? Here is evidence, for Lord’s sake.’ He glared at the door. ‘A cursed pity Catesby isn’t here.’

‘No, please, think upon it no more, my lord. I should not have told you.’

He stared down at me perplexed and then he relented. ‘Give me time, Elizabeth, and I’ll make sure you get everything back.’

I shook my head. ‘The important thing is that you don’t let the Woodvilles bring you down. Do you not see? Even the robbery may have been aimed at provoking you by harming me.’

He rubbed his fingers across his chin but he seemed to give the suggestion lodging, for he nodded and sat down upon his chair, slamming the wooden arms. ‘Bitch! I’ll be revenged on her, I swear it.’

I felt humbled, grateful, but I needed to distance myself to keep him safe, and yet being here felt secure as a citadel.

‘My dear friend,’ I murmured, lightly touching his shoulder. ‘I’ll not keep you further from your business, but dare I presume on your kindness further, please? Can you spare me some of your men-at-arms to guard my house?’

‘Oh, Elizabeth,’ he exclaimed guiltily. ‘By Heaven, of course.’ Then he was on his feet, taking my hands in his. ‘You can have an entire army.’

‘Hmm, that would shock the neighbours.’ I tried to slide my fingers from his.

‘Don’t go yet. Please stay.’ His gaze slid to my lips and he tightened his hold.

‘My gracious lord, no. This is not wise.’

‘Is honest friendship not permitted?’ He saw me glance nervously away. ‘Stay to dine. Out there.’

‘But the smoke of gossip, my lord,’ I reminded him. ‘Even now
we’ve been alone too long. Can you not see I’m the rift that could separate you and Gloucester? He already has me branded as a false friend to Ned.’

‘My dear, I am not some inconsequential nobody. Gloucester needs me.’

‘Please, send to Ashby for your wife to join you,’ I whispered, giving his fingers a gentle shake.

‘Why?’ His face hardened.

‘Because … because Gloucester flourishes his marital fidelity like a crusader cross and your wife is his cousin and a Neville.’

‘Rein in on this, for Heaven’s sake. You seem to see Richard as some sort of avenging angel, descending from the north all fire and brimstone? No, I’m not laughing at you, but we need to keep things in perspective.’

Well, I was!
He
was the one with a twofold agendum. He had the look of a man with kissing in mind, but when I did not lean towards him, he let go my hands.

‘I’ll dispatch some men round to your house, but first …’ He rang the bell for his page. ‘Bring us some malmsey and bid Sir Thomas Ferrers join us.’ If that’s how this must be played, his eyes told me reproachfully.

‘A chaperone?’ I sat down again, delighted to be outwitted.

‘And you may clothe him in a coif and apron if it will make you feel more comfortable.’

I gave him a sheepish smile. ‘I offer up my distaff in surrender.’

There was a swift arch of eyebrow, but he said nothing scurrilous.

Left alone for a few moments, I sighed and leaned back. The rumours that Hastings was preparing for withdrawal to Calais must be false. The Flemish tapestries had not been taken down nor the ornate cups fetched from the shelves.

For the first time in days, I could let down my guard, and by the time Hastings’ brother-in-law, Tom Ferrers, sauntered in to keep me company, I was in a mood of great affability.

Pouring me some mead, he remarked, ‘You know, Mistress Shore, it is a damned pity that William Hastings cannot be Keeper of the Realm for he understands far more of our late king’s business than any other.’

‘You do not think Gloucester sufficient for the task ahead, then?’ I asked.

He pulled a face. ‘Capable fellow, of course, but likely to stick in some of his northerners and that means tipping our late king’s lads out of their saddles. They won’t like that. Better if he went back to control the Council of the North again.’

Hmm, Gloucester was more likely to become a tinker than go along with that, and, presumably, in this ideal kingdom the Woodvilles were going to take a vow of silence.

‘Buckingham’s never held any high office, has he?’

Ferrers shook his head. ‘Bit of a dark horse, that young man, but he is a duke.’

‘Rearranging the kingdom, Tom Ferrers?’ Hastings came back in with a brisk step. ‘All’s well, Mistress Shore. I’ve sent a half-dozen reliable men to safeguard your portals. Has she told you her jewels have been thieved, Tom?’

That was my business so I diverted the conversation. ‘When is Prince Edward expected to reach London, my lord?’

A soldierly tension infused the room. Ah, this was why there was such a gathering of retainers here; they were waiting like hunting dogs for the horn.

Hastings shrugged. ‘A day or so, I reckon. I’ve had word his retinue reached Northampton yesterday afternoon and both dukes have the intent of meeting him there by nightfall this evening.’

‘Aye, town’ll be packed like herrings nose to tail,’ chuckled Ferrers. ‘Reckon Grey and the London retinue will be there by now as well, eh, William?’

‘No, they’re still on the road.’ Hastings’ tone was smug. Clearly
he had planned it that way, but I had misgivings. Northamptonshire was the Queen’s home shire. If I was in her shoes, I’d have a few sidesteps ready. However, before I could set a burr beneath Hastings’ girth, his page summoned us to join the company for supper.

I stayed until twilight. Hastings bade me farewell in the common view and Hyrst saw me to the porter’s gate where three stout fellows were waiting with torches. Before we even reached Baynard’s Castle, one of them took my arm.

‘This way, mistress.’ He pointed down the laneway towards the river. I thought he meant we should take a boat to Queenhithe and went with them cheerfully, but we walked no further than the postern.

‘You’re supposed to be seeing me back to Aldersgate,’ I hissed.

‘No, mistress, those were not our orders.’

I heard the bolts drawn on the other side and knew I had been outwitted. ‘Then I’ll make my own way,’ I snapped, but their lord stood waiting for me. His fellows herded me in without a by-your-leave and disappeared into the darkness. Hastings drew me into his arms and stifled my protests.

‘You tricked me,’ I said after being thoroughly kissed.

‘You asked for an escort. I gave you one. I thought we were agreed: “Out at the gate and …”.’

‘“In at the postern”. Do I not have a say?’

‘Not if I can help it.’ But he sensed my reluctance and, perhaps to give me time, he led me under the trellised arches and out the southern gate to the riverbank. The breeze had stilled and the moon was a newly minted coin flicked up in a game of chance. We were seen; a waterman rowed close, the lantern bobbing on his prow, its cheerful light prancing upon the lapping waves. For some minutes, the oars trod water hopefully and then the fellow gave up.

Hastings didn’t. ‘Why are you so moral all of a sudden, sweetheart? We still have a few days until your Duke of Brimstone
arrives and I could do with some diversion.’ I must have tensed for he changed his ply. ‘Forgive me, I spoke lightly.’

‘I’m not an heirloom from Ned, my lord.’ I drew away, frowning into the darkness. Was Ned’s spirit watching from beyond the stars or standing beside us like a guardian angel? I shivered. Perhaps the Devil was forcing him to witness our shabby behaviour.

‘I keep thinking upon him,’ I murmured, hoping that revelation might skew Hastings’ plans for tonight.

‘Yes, I realise how much you loved him.’

‘And you love your Kate.’ Another invisible presence.

He turned me to face him. ‘I do and yet … Elizabeth, my dear Elizabeth, I’ve watched you spread your wings like a butterfly awakening from her slumber. From the moment I saw you on the ladder in your shop and every moment since, your company has given me the most utter joy.’ His hair was a helm of silver; his face was ageless beneath my fingers. ‘Stay with me tonight,’ he pleaded, holding me against his breast. ‘Tomorrow what you will, but tonight I’ll keep you safe against the darkness.’

To surrender would be to distract him from the dangerous path he trod and jeopardise his reputation; to deny him might also madden him, divert his thoughts when these perilous times demanded a cool judgment.

Out on the inky water, a fish jumped into the alien air to avoid death and fell back into its destiny.

‘This night then, my lord, but tomorrow—’

‘Tomorrow is … tomorrow.’ Oh, I tasted the triumph in his kiss. ‘I knew you’d see sense.’

He led me back with a cat’s night sureness. We reached his bedchamber. How ironic that my old ambition to lie here should be finally achieved. Yet the room resembled a monk’s cell. The tapestries were furled in the corner like battle standards in the time of peace. No costly brocade canopied the bed; no fine coverlet draped the blankets.

The dissembling, poxy cur! So he was packed for a swift departure!

‘Is this a spring-clean?’ I asked dryly. ‘Or have you turned Benedictine?’

‘Undress me and find out, my darling.’ he teased, pulling me to him. ‘See if I’m wearing a hairshirt.’

I captured his hands. ‘You wouldn’t be packed for Calais, would you, my Lord Lieutenant? And what happens to “the woken-up butterfly”? Does she flutter along at the rudder keeping away from the seagulls or wait here to be gobbled?’

‘I would have sent for you.’ The rueful look had been quickly found.

‘Oh, I’ve heard that one before.’ I exclaimed angrily.

‘
You
left Westminster without telling
me
,’ he countered.

‘Yes, but I only moved to Aldersgate, for Heaven’s sake. It’s hardly Jerusalem.’

We stared at each other like a couple of angry swordsmen and then I started laughing and his face softened. ‘It doesn’t matter,’ I lied, but dear God, I hurt inside. I hurt so much. Was there no man in the world who could be true to me? Now I didn’t have much choice but to pretend forgiveness.

In a couple of strides, he was holding me again. ‘Oh, by Christ, I love you.’

What? The ‘L’ word? Useful to dredge up for mollification. I stared up at him in disbelief. First betrayal and now deceit, and I had stayed a loyal friend to him all these years.

‘I have loved you from the beginning, Elizabeth.’

If I had not needed him, I would have slapped the earnestness from his face. ‘If that is true,’ I retorted, ‘you wouldn’t have sacrificed me to the King. He need never have known.’

‘It was your decision.’ He kissed me. ‘And let’s talk about now, shall we?’

Now? He wanted to lie with me again because I was available and he desired me. In return, I would receive protection –
on his terms
.

‘My dear, I know you loved Ned, that you still grieve for him,’ he was saying. ‘But whatever is left for me, I’ll accept with all my heart.’

He’d accept if I would give? Yes, I could give, but I did not want to take, to become tethered again like the Pole Star. I desired my freedom but I wanted to live to enjoy it.

‘My lord,’ I replied. ‘A great deal is left for you, but by speaking so freely of love, you debase its currency. You always say you love your wife but you still betray her.’