When the Heavens Fall (40 page)

Sir John Fairfax had grown to dread his visits to the queen. Now as he entered the room, he found Mary seated in a chair. He was shocked to see how ill she was and even more startled to see that she was wearing armor. Her bosom and waist were covered with burnished steel. Sir John was at a loss for words. He thought,
This is madness. What can the woman be thinking?

Mary's voice was deep as any man's. No matter how ill she became, always her voice was powerful and strong. “You're surprised
at this armor, are you not?” She tapped the steel with her fingertip. “I do it to protect myself. There are assassins who would kill me, and I must take every precaution.”

“Certainly, Your Majesty,” Fairfax murmured. “I think that's very wise indeed, and I'm sure that you have increased the guard.”

“Yes. I'm guarded at all times.” Mary's face was the texture of old parchment, sallow and mottled. The shadows under her eyes were deep, her thin lips were drawn tightly together, and her eyes were dull. She fastened them now on him and said, “I have bad news for you, for all of us, John.”

“What is that, my queen?”

“We have lost Calais.”

“Yes, it is a great loss, Your Majesty.”

“Yes. She's been our possession for many, many years, and always we have taken great pride in this. But she has fallen now to the French.”

“I grieved to hear it, Your Majesty.”

Mary whispered, “Heaven has deserted us.” Then she fastened her eyes on John and whispered huskily, “When I die, when they open my body, they will find Calais written on my heart.”

“We must withdraw our troops. It is a futile battle.”

Mary nodded wearily. “So all of my counselors say, and it shall be done.”

“Your Majesty, may I speak plainly?”

Mary's eyes suddenly grew wary. “As always, I'm willing to listen to you, John.”

“I would like to persuade you to mitigate the executions of those who are not of the Catholic persuasion.”

“I will never do that! God has put me on the throne of England to bring this nation back to the true faith, and I will do it as long as I live.”

“But Your Majesty, some of those who are executed are very young. And some are old and infirm and really do not know their own mind.”

Mary seemed not to hear his words. “I will bring this nation back to the true faith! Those who will not submit to the pope and to the Catholic religion must pay for their heresy.”

John Fairfax argued for a time, but he saw how hopeless his argument was.

As soon as he could take his leave, he took a deep breath.
The woman has lost her power of thinking. She's besotted with Philip, who cares nothing about her. Why is it she can't see this?
Depression gripped him as he thought of those who were already in the Tower and would soon die and those who would soon be arrested, as many were every day.

Eden walked among the roses, stopping from time to time to inhale the fragrance. She bent over and peered at a toad seated underneath a large plant. “Well, how are you today, Master Toad? Caught lots of flies, have you?” The toad croaked and hopped away. As she straightened up, she thought of how her life had changed. Ever since she had knelt with Brandon and called on God, her entire world had been different. She had heard her father say once, “A fellow bends over to pick up something, and when he straightens up, the whole world is different.”

She had not understood at the time; now she did. “So it's been with me,” Eden whispered. Her life in Spain had never been happy, and the bitterness she'd felt about Brandon had made her life miserable since coming to England. But now she was filled with peace and joy. She had told her parents about finding God but had told them little about Brandon. She knew that at some point she would have to tell them of their love, but she felt it was too soon.

Time had passed slowly, but she and Brandon had written to each other over the long months since they parted. He had said, “I long to come to you, dearest, but our time isn't yet. God is doing a work in my life, and in yours also, from what you say.
Let's rejoice in that and have faith that soon we'll be ready for the next step that God has for us.” He had signed the letter, “With all my love,” and for Eden that was enough. She knew in the depths of her soul that she and Brandon would find God's way and that they would share their lives.

Leaving the garden, Eden passed her father's study. The door was open; she knew he had a visitor. She stopped short when she heard the name Winslow mentioned. She drew closer and listened to the voices of the two men. “It's come to that at last, I'm afraid, Lord Fairfax.”

“There's no question about it?”

“No, sir. Not any. The order has been given. Queen Mary has signed it, and Quentin Winslow is one of those who will be taken to the Tower.”

“When will this happen?”

“Almost at once, sir. I know you fought for this man, but he is doomed, it seems.”

Eden waited until the messenger left, then went at once to her father. “I overheard what Lord Humphrey had to say, Father.”

“It's terrible news, Daughter. I've done all I can, but it has not been enough.”

Eden made an instant decision and said, “Father, I must go to the Winslows. I can't do anything, but perhaps I can comfort them in some small way.”

“Of course, Eden. We must do all we can. I'll have Jensen drive you in the carriage. But you'd better inform your mother.”

Eden found her mother at once. She said, “Mother, I feel I must go to the Winslows for a time.” She told her mother about the danger to Quentin, and her mother said at once, “I think you might be of some comfort. Of course you must go.”

Eden packed a few things and within the hour she was in the carriage, headed for Stoneybrook. She wondered at herself taking such an action, but she knew Brandon and his family had to
know about the dangers that awaited Quentin Winslow. And her heart pounded as she thought of seeing Brandon again at long last.

A servant had told Brandon that a carriage was coming, and from his window he had seen it was Lord Fairfax's. When he reached her, she put out her hands, and he took them.

“Eden, my love. I cannot tell you how happy I am to see you again. But your face is plainly troubled. What is it?

“I'm afraid so. It's about your Uncle Quentin.”

“What is it?”

“An order for his arrest has gone out. One of Father's friends told him about it.”

“It's what we've most feared, Eden. Thank you so much for coming. Please come in.”

He took her to a small parlor and ordered refreshments brought.

“Now tell me all about it.” She repeated what she could remember of the conversation, and he shook his head. “It's come at last. I've been afraid of it for a long time.”

“Isn't there something someone can do, Brandon?”

“I'm afraid it's out of human hands now. Only God can help.”

“Do you think much about the time in Dover when we called on God?”

“Every day,” he said instantly. He studied her and then asked, “Do you ever get impatient? About us, I mean.”

“At times—but then I pray and God gives me peace. I trust him and you, Brandon.”

He took her hands, kissed them, and said, “There'll be a time for us, Eden. You and I, together.”

“Yes, God has promised us this, hasn't he?”

Quentin Winslow was arrested and charged with treason on October 13, 1558. He was taken to the Tower, where he joined others who were awaiting a judgment. Quentin made no protest, and the soldiers who took him were amazed at his calm demeanor.

He spoke to one of them on the way to the Tower, asking him if his heart was right with God, and the soldier answered roughly, “Mind your own business!” But after Quentin was delivered to the Tower, the soldier shook his head. “He's got enough problems, hasn't he, without worrying about my bloody soul.”

The prison was a foul place. Even the three privies that served all the prisoners in the block in which Quentin was kept did not meet the need. By noon each day the close stools were overflowing with excrement, and the smell was as bad as a midden. It invaded everything and threatened to shrivel the very lungs.

Quentin spent his days in prayer and comforting the other prisoners. He had become a pastor of sorts to all his fellow prisoners. He was the first to greet newcomers with a comforting word and the last to speak a word of comfort to those taken out to be burned at the stake. His heart was pained by the cruelty of
the punishment as men, women, and children, even the blind and the lame and the simple, were hauled past him. Some women were with child, and the child, of course, was burned with them.

“The sacrifice of innocence, Lord!” he cried out in prayer, weeping. “Only you could know such pain!” Some were seen to be moving after four hours in the flames. One of the guards who had a cruel streak recounted the details with great relish to those who would yet face the fire. His words reverberated in Quentin's mind.
Spare us, Father. Spare us!

With the aid of Lord Fairfax, Eden and Brandon had managed to get permission to visit Quentin. The stone walls were cold and seemed to have soaked up the misery of years. Eden trembled as she thought of all who had suffered in this place. They were shown into a large room in which were some twenty male prisoners, and the stark agony in the faces of some of them wrenched Eden's heart.

“Look,” Brandon said. “There's Quentin.” They made their way across the cold stone floor, and Quentin, who had been sitting on the floor with his back against the wall, dozing, awoke when Brandon called his name. He came awake instantly and stood on his feet. His clothing was filthy, and his silver hair was unkempt. He was not as large a man as Brandon or as strong or as active, but there was peace in his eyes.

“Brandon,” he said, “And you, Miss Fairfax, how good to see you both!”

The two men embraced. Then Eden stepped forward. Quentin said, “It's good to see you again, lady.”