Reluctant Queen: Tudor Historical Novel About Mary Rose Tudor, the Defiant Little Sister of King Henry VIII (25 page)

As soon as the gangplank was down, Mary flew across and threw herself into Lady Guildford’s arms, glad to feel the familiar security fold itself around her. But even then, she had to wait to ask her questions. The proprieties still had to be observed. Her old governess expected nothing less.

After a swift hug, Lady Guildford held Mary away from her and exclaimed, ‘What foolishness is this, my little Queen? As soon as my back is turned you throw discretion and sense to the winds it seems.’

‘Ah, but Mother, I’m happy, so happy.’

Her obvious joy softened the stern old lady. Mary had expected a lecture, but instead all she received was the warning, ‘Well, you’re married to him now, my lady, for better or worse. Naught I can say will alter that, so I give you my blessing.’

Mary smiled, brought Charles forward and bade them kiss each other, which coaxed a couple of chilly pecks. Finally able to pose the troubling question, she was relieved to learn that the absence of Henry and Wolsey heralded nothing sinister and that they awaited her and Charles at Wolsey’s manor at Barking. They set off eagerly. Mary gazed about her with delight to be back in England. How fresh and clean everything looked under the May sunshine. The trees seemed more green, the grass more lush, the countryside more rich than anything France could offer.

Wolsey met them along the road. Charles was inclined to be a little sheepish at first, but Wolsey, subtle politician that he was spoke to him in a friendly manner and soon put Charles at his ease. Mary chattered away happily, glad to be home and grateful to Wolsey for his kind greeting and for all his efforts on their behalf. They were nearly at Barking when they spotted the unmistakable figure of Henry riding towards them. Mary and Charles exchanged nervous glances. She saw him lick his lips as if they had suddenly become dry. Mary, too, felt a tremor course through her body as her brother approached. Henry looked as big and handsome as ever. He stopped his horse a few paces from them and regarded them solemnly.

A sudden hush descended at this silent regard. Mary glanced again at Charles and he at her. As their gazes returned slowly, reluctantly to the king, from the corner of her eye Mary saw Charles’s hand steal to his neck, in a repetition of the nervous habit he had developed while in France.

The silence lengthened. Suddenly, Henry broke it with a great roar which made them jump. But their fear was soon allayed. Henry had been playing with them. He slapped his thigh and cried out in a hearty manner, ‘Welcome. Welcome.’

Mary slumped in her saddle. For all that he was a grown man and a mighty king, her brother’s sense of humour could be surprisingly childish. Childish, and with a hint of cruelty. Henry had just been reminding them of his power.

Henry leapt from his horse and strode towards them. Mary knew she was truly home when he swept her to the ground and enclosed her in a huge bear-hug

When Henry released her, she stood back and smiled up at him. ‘You look well, Henry. Indeed, everything looks good here in England.’ Mary heard the breathlessness in her voice and hoped Henry hadn’t noticed it. She had been so determined to be calm and serene. ‘How is Catherine?’

‘Well enough, Mary. Well enough.’ Henry’s queen and her health were dismissed. He held Mary at arm’s length and gazed at her. ‘So, you’re finally home. ‘Tis good to see you, sweetheart. We’ve missed you.’

Mary bit back an ironic smile at this revelation of filial devotion. Who would have thought there had ever been any anger or disagreement between them? Or that Henry, through Wolsey, had haggled over her rich French ‘winnings’ till he had got his way? She could have been home weeks ago but for Henry. But with him ready to play the magnanimous brother now was not the time to remind him of this. Instead, Mary kissed him and allowed him to lead her over to her husband.

Charles had hung back. He attempted a smile for Henry, but it only betrayed his nerves. Mary felt a surge of compassion. Doubtless, he would tell her afterwards that his low birth had never prepared him for showing defiance to a king.

But Henry was set on playing the jovial prince. He slapped Charles on the back and bellowed, ‘Well, brother-in-law, so you’ve brought our sister home to us. We are pleased.’ With narrowed gaze he asked, ‘You have her dower safe we trust?’

Mary bit her lip as Charles threw himself on his knees before Henry. He clutched Henry’s hand and kissed it fervently. His lips moved, but it seemed his ability to speak had deserted him. Before Henry began to suspect they had lost her dower, Mary answered his question.

‘Aye, brother. We have my dower. My lord Cardinal has it safe for you.’

Henry smiled. ‘Good, good.’ He gazed benevolently at his handsome friend, humbly kneeling in the dirt of the road. ‘Get up, man, get up,’ he told him. ‘There’s no need for you to kneel in the dust. We forgive you your presumption in marrying our sister. We gave her a promise and kings, my lord, do not forget their oaths.’

This was a taunt for the vow-breaking Charles. Mary felt the temptation to respond in like manner with the rejoinder - especially when they’ve been well bribed so to do - wisely, she remained silent. But for her rich dower their homecoming might have been very different. She must be grateful for that.

Henry made much of them both as they rode the short distance to Barking. He was boisterous and merry as he related to them all the doings of the court.

He could well afford to be merry, was Mary’s thought. This day’s dawning had brought him great riches and Henry’s delight in them was evident. It soon became apparent that others were less delighted. Mary noted the many envious and grudging glances directed at her husband. She could read in their faces what they were thinking - that Charles was a low-born upstart who had wed a queen when he had naught but a king’s stature and handsome looks to recommend him. Mary supposed it was natural that many were jealous of his altered circumstances. She was thankful the king was behind them. They could weather the jealousy of others.

Soon, they travelled on to Greenwich, their journey made doubly joyous by the brightness of the May sunshine and the anticipation of another celebration of their marriage. This one, the third, was all that Mary could have wished for. After so many betrothals and weddings, she felt fully able to do justice to the occasion. Her looks had recovered and her mirror told her she had never looked lovelier. At last, as she clung proudly to Charles’s arm, she was truly a willing and beautiful bride.

Henry was still being magnanimous, but he was keen to cover up their previous marriages in France, the first and secret one and the second, more open ceremony. The first he could conceal, but the second was too widely known and its concealment proved impossible. Mary didn’t greatly care. She and Charles threw themselves into the public celebrations of their marriage. They had been unhappy forever it seemed. Now they were free to enjoy life. Mary was determined to do so.

Henry held tournaments in honour of their nuptials at Greenwich Palace. Mary watched with bright eyes as her husband rode out, his relief and gratitude inscribed on his banner for all to see:

‘Cloth of gold, do not despise,

Though thou hast wedded cloth of frieze.

Cloth of frieze, be not too bold,

Though thou hast wedded cloth of gold.’

This gesture of humility pleased Henry. Mary thought it might well have saved her husband from harm as the resentment of certain of Henry’s Council still seethed. Norfolk still made loud calls for a bloody revenge for Charles’s presumption. She discovered that he had been behind the plan to use her to cement an alliance with the Low Countries for the good of trade and to still any warmongering urges that King Frances might harbour. Thwarted in this by her marriage to Charles, Norfolk went about the court with his friends, all wearing long and scowling faces.

Mary wondered that they dared. She and Charles had Henry’s backing and that was all that mattered. Let Norfolk scowl as he may, he couldn’t harm them.

So Mary and Charles ignored the ill-feeling. Mary, especially, considered the world and Norfolk’s friendship well lost for love. She was home. Now their love could be freely expressed and she thanked God for it. God and Henry.

Charles was full of plans, as happy as she’d ever known him. Henry’s name was mentioned in his every sentence. Inwardly she would smile as she listened to him when he spoke to his friends. It was all ‘the king, my brother-in-law’, or ‘my wife’s brother, the king.’ Mary couldn’t resist teasing him about it when they were alone.

‘For such a reluctant bridegroom, Charles, you certainly make a keen brother-in-law.’ She saw by his frown that she had touched a tender spot and instantly regretted her words. ‘Nay, don’t look at me like that Charles. I’m only teasing. But did you not realise how often you mention your brother-in-law, the king, in your conversations? I’m sure Henry would be flattered if he realised.’

Charles pulled a face. ‘What else can I call him, Mary? I don’t feel he would welcome the presumption of me calling him Henry. I’ve presumed enough for one lifetime. I aim to please the king now in all things. He’ll find none as loyal to his desires as me.’

Piqued and more than a little jealous, Mary asked with a pout, ‘Can you spare a little time to please the king’s sister also, Charles? It seems your thoughts are so much on the king that I feel sore neglected.’

His scowl vanished at this. But he took the hint and quickly covered the two paces that were between them. He picked her up bodily and threw her on the bed.

Mary gave a mock cry of fear.

Charles told her, ‘Now woman, I’m about to stop neglecting you. I’m sure my brother-in-law, the king, can spare me for long enough to pleasure his sister.’

Mary gave him a lazy smile. ‘He’d better, Charles. I feel sure I’m going to require a lot of your attention. A wife surely has first call, ahead of a mere in-law on her husband’s time.’

Charles bent over her, his body shutting out the light. ‘You can be sure, sweetheart, that I’ll always have my priorities well ordered. At worst a king can only kill you, but a frustrated wife can make of life a hell on earth, if she’s a mind to.’

Mary gave a contented sigh. ‘It’s true. I hope you remember that, my love, should you be tempted to neglect me again. I’m sure my Mother Guildford could give me a few tips on how to correct errant husbands.’

He drew back in mock horror. ‘No Mary, anything but that. I’m yours, now and forever. Please God don’t learn any tricks from Lady Guildford. I’m sure she would teach you things that would make of me another Louis. From what I hear, she helped to unman the old king.’

Mary softened. She curved her body into his and gazed lovingly up at him. ‘Don’t worry, Charles. With you, I have no desire to learn such tricks.’

‘I’m glad to hear it, sweetheart.’

Mary smiled and demanded, ‘Is your pleasuring made up of words only, my lordly husband, or do deeds figure also?’

‘You’re lucky, sweeting. I was ever a man of few words and much action.’

To Mary’s delight, he proceeded to demonstrate just how much of a man of action he was.

Daily now, Charles expected Henry’s forgiveness to take a more tangible form. They had handed over the money that had ransomed his life and Charles had waited, confident Henry meant to make them a gift of much of it. Only slowly did it dawn on him that his optimism had played him false. For even though their expenses were mounting, still Henry made them no offer. Charles began to worry. He was head over heels in debt to the crown and to others, as the cost of his embassies, tournaments and marriage had been large. How casually he had incurred the debts. But then he had not expected to have to pay them. As it sunk in that his jovial brother-in-law had no intention of paying up, Charles became so hung with gloom that Mary asked him what had happened to so lower his spirits.

‘It’s what hasn’t happened that worries me, Mary,’ he told her.

‘Were you expecting something to happen, then? What could it be? Is it a surprise?’

It was clear Mary thought he had planned some treat for her. He was quick to disabuse her of the idea. ‘It’s a surprise, all right. One I wasn’t expecting.’

Her face fell. ‘Can you not tell me plain, Charles? I’ll not break, you know.’

‘It is all these debts, Mary. How are we ever to pay them. They mount daily.’

To his consternation, Mary’s pretty mouth puckered as she realised what he had been hoping for. ‘Did you think Henry would settle the debts?’ He nodded. ‘But – but you said you didn’t care about my dower money. You said you were satisfied with me and didn’t want the money also.’

‘That was before I realised the true extent of our debts. We can’t pay them, Mary. We’ll have to leave the court. Leave the king.’

‘Is that all?’ Mary smiled. ‘Surely that wouldn’t be so bad, my love? I could enjoy seclusion in the country with you.’

He scowled. ‘You don’t understand, Mary. I have no desire to leave the court.’

Charles was aware that his revelation that he had no desire for seclusion in the country with her had wounded Mary and he was sorry for it. But what did she expect? She had known when she had first married him that he was a man of ambition. How else was he to achieve those ambitions but by remaining close to the king? She was the daughter and sister of kings, had been wife to another. All her life everything she needed and more had been provided for her. Royalty didn’t bother their heads about debts. He could see that she truly didn’t understand why such matters should cause him to worry. But for all his high title, he was still of low birth. And men of low birth had no choice but to worry about debt. The world insisted on it.

The world, in the shape of Cardinal Wolsey, was quick to remind Charles how sharp was reality. Henry, his jovial brother-in-law, wanted his money. And as soon as it became widely known that Henry didn’t intend to undertake the role of bearer of gifts to his new kin, the other creditors became even more pressing, their demands for payment louder and more persistent.