Courtier in the Royal House of Stuart

by Leslie Hatton

  ‘Receiving a letter from a friend is like receiving a gift. Even if her feelings for you have changed, she will still be delighted to hear from you. Don’t be afraid to express your feelings, she may have the same feelings for you as you do for her, but be honest and be truthful, she will know if you’re not sincere. Love is a very real emotion, and you should not fear telling her how you feel, but don’t be too disappointed if things don’t turn out as you expected, you are both very young and a first love is often quickly forgotten.’

  ‘I don’t think I could ever forget her Thomas.’

  ‘Then write your letters today if you can, I think there is a courier going to The Hague in the morning.’

  ‘Thank you Thomas, I will do them right away,’ I said, which was easier said than done, especially the one to Anne. It took me the whole of the afternoon, and I was still not completely satisfied.

  I took them to Thomas who wrote the names of the recipients on the outside of the envelopes.

  ‘Are you sure you don’t want me to check them for you before I stamp them with the royal seal?’

  There was nothing too embarrassing, nothing he didn’t already know so I agreed.

  ‘You can read them, but they took me a long time to write, and I don’t want to have to do them again.’

  He took a few minutes to scan through each one then laid them down on the table.

  ‘In the letter to your friend Louis, I see you are inquiring about a permanent job in the royal stables. Are you serious about that?’

  ‘Charles has no money and I don’t want to be a burden… the Dutch don’t want him in The Hague, and Paris is turning into a madhouse with everybody arguing about something. You know I love horses and Louis offered me a job there once before.’

  ‘Well Toby I must say I admire your enterprise, and if you can find stability at Noordeinde so be it. I doubt Charles will prevent you taking the job, but I will have to ask him first, if that is what you really want?’

  ‘It is Thomas. I love it there, it’s my favourite place.’

  ‘Now your letter to Anne. You say you miss her and that you think of her every day but you don’t mention the word love, you don’t tell her you love her.’

  ‘I think I love her but I decided to wait for her reply before telling her.’

  ‘No matter, you are both still very young, we’ll wait to see what she has to say in her reply. You also say you made a promise to her… can you tell me what the promise was, or is that a secret?’

  ‘It is for now, I may tell you if I receive a positive response.’

  ‘Your letters are not perfect but are more than adequate, I suggest you now get back to your studies… you have lost enough time as it is.’

  ‘Do you think Charles will ever go back to The Hague?’

  ‘Not for a while Toby… you heard what the dowager queen said, though I’m sure he will want to visit Mary at some time.’

  ***

  Thomas had started to produce written tests for me which I found challenging but also exciting in an odd sort of way, as they helped to relieve the boredom of being stuck in Paris. The first test was probably the most interesting and the one I remember the most.

  ‘I have here a book about Thomas a Becket, a former Archbishop of Canterbury who was brutally murdered in the most wicked and appalling way. Read the book and then write about it as if you were producing a column for a newsletter.’

  Christmas passed with very little celebration compared to the parties I enjoyed when living with Madam Veronica and her ladies in Fleet Alley.

  Queen Henrietta was unhappy because Charles and James joined Thomas and me in celebrating the birth of Christ in the Protestant Church… disobeying her orders to attend Mass in the Catholic Church with herself and their little sister. There followed the usual predictable arguments.

  It was six weeks before the replies to my letters arrived from The Hague, and on that day I was the happiest I had been since the day I arrived in Paris six months ago. I was bored, miserable and depressed, but it all changed. On that day I really began to think I had a future, because almost everything I had hoped and prayed for was positive in her replies.

  ***

  ‘Darling Toby: I thought my heart would explode with joy when I received your letter. I have been so unhappy since you walked out my life, which seems like a lifetime ago, especially when it was rumoured that you were all dead. I must see you. It’s important that I see you Toby, but I don’t know how it can happen as we no longer live at Noordeinde.

  My mistress Princess Mary had a baby boy, and just two days later her poor husband Prince William died of smallpox. The baby seems to be the most important child in the country, him being Prince William’s only heir. So we were moved to the Binnenhof Palace… the main administration centre for the whole country, and I don’t think they would allow you entry without the right documents. You asked about my engagement to the Frenchman… it’s complicated and I will tell you all about it when I see you.

  I do have free time to myself, and I am allowed out on my own, so I quite often go to the gardens where I read and think of you. If I knew when you were coming I could meet you. You are coming aren’t you? You must come. Come soon Toby… I love you. Anne.’

  Louis’s letter was more formal but encouraging… it including what I wanted to hear the most.

  ‘The stables here at Noordeinde have been extended to make room for all horses and carriages from Binnenhof Palace, and also all government and administration buildings in The Hague. I have asked my father and he says there is a job of stable boy available for you if you return, but he will need to interview you in person first.’

  There was much more news in Louis’s letter, but it was the job I was interested in. I read both letters over and over again before showing them to Thomas. I then watched while he read through them both. Trying hard, but failing to read what he was thinking by his eyes, they told me nothing. Eventually he placed the letters back in their envelopes and handed them to me. Then folding his arms he sat back in his chair and looked at me.

  ‘I take it you would like to take the job at Noordeinde?’

  ‘Yes sir… yes I would.’

  ‘If you take the job because you know Anne is there… you will be taking it for the wrong reasons. You do know that don’t you?’

  ‘I want the job because I love horses. I want the job because I don’t want to be a burden for you and Charles and I want the job so that I can earn my own money… there is one other reason. I hate Paris.’

  ‘I think it is the Castle of Doves you hate not Paris, but no matter. What I am more concerned about is your studies, I am responsible for your education. What are we going to do about that?’

  ‘That is up to you Thomas, I will do whatever you tell me. I enjoy my studies you know that, just tell me what to do.’

  ‘Very well, I will think of something. Now I have some good news for you. We are to return to The Hague within the month, Charles is determined to see Mary despite the warning from his mother, and then from there, we are going to Cologne. Charles has some important business there, so it may suit him to let you stay at Noordeinde rather than drag you across the continent.’

  ***

  I was in the garden trying to read, but too excited to concentrate when a group of Queen Henrietta’s maids walked by… they were using their free time to take a picnic down to the river and seeing me on my own invited me to join them. I had not really tried to mix with any of the staff at the castle… perhaps that was why I was so bored with Paris… so I jumped at the chance to join them. It turned out to be a really good fun afternoon as their English was about as good (or bad) as my French. We talked all afternoon in a language that came somewhere between the two. We laughed a lot and by the end of the afternoon I had made some new friends, albeit temporary ones, because when we arrived back at the Castle of Doves, T
homas was waiting for me with the news I had been waiting for.

  ‘We will be leaving for The Hague at the weekend and you will be pleased to hear that Charles has agreed to release you from his service for an undetermined time. You can therefore take the job at the royal stables at Noordeinde if it is still available.’

  ‘Thank you, thank you so much.’

  ‘Save your thanks for King Charles,’ said Thomas.

  ***

  I was among the small group of knights and courtiers who arrived at the gates of Binnenhof Palace with King Charles II on the first week in July, 1652.

  ‘I demand an audience with my sister Princess Mary of Orange,’ he ordered.

  ‘Follow me my Lord,’ said a rather portly servant.

  We were taken up a staircase to a large reception room and asked to wait… two footmen were positioned by the door which I found rather strange. What did they think we were going to steal?

  The Palace was a hive of activity with many people busily working at desks or rushing about with sheaths of documents. I instantly thought of ants, running around in circles looking lost, but knowing full well that like the ants, they were industrious and well organised.

  Minutes later, Mary entered the room and rushed into her brother’s arms. I had hoped she would have been accompanied by her ladies but she came alone. There were many tears from both Charles and Mary and they were not all tears of joy.

  Charles guided his sister to a window seat where they sat quietly talking, Mary dabbing her eyes with a silk handkerchief. I could make out some words but not them all… but what I did hear was Charles asking could he see his nephew.

  ‘Come… I will take you to him,’ she said, ‘but I don’t think they will allow you all in there.’

  ‘They can wait here,’ said Charles, waving his arm in our direction.

  Almost an hour later they came back walking hand in hand and looking much happier, Charles content having now seen his nephew.

  ‘I think he looks like me.’

  ‘But hopefully he will change,’ Mary said jokingly.

  Before leaving, Mary embraced Thomas and then to my surprise she came to me. I thought she looked shorter than I remembered, but then realised it was probably me that had grown. Her embrace was warm and genuine which gave me the courage to ask about Anne.

  ‘Anne will be so pleased to see you again Toby. Be nice to her, she’s a little fragile at the moment.’ She then slipped a folded note into my hand.

  ‘Of course I will my Lady… I love her,’ I said.

  The note contained just one line, but a line that excited me beyond my wildest dreams. I read it over and over again and I could hardly contain the joy in my heart.

  ‘Dearest Toby… meet me in the boathouse, midday on Saturday.’

  ‘Do I get to see the note Mary passed to you?’ asked Thomas.

  I handed it over without speaking, I didn’t need to say a word the smile on my face must have told him it was good news.

  ***

  It was a hot day… probably the hottest of the year when Thomas left me at the gates of Noordeinde Palace. ‘Are you sure you can find your way back to Breda from here?’

  ‘Of course I can,’ I said.

  ‘Well enjoy yourself and good luck with your interview.’ He then turned and walked away leaving me feeling just a little uneasy and alone, but also excited.

  I could smell the stables before I could see them… some might call it a pungent offensive odour but to me it was a friendly and welcoming aroma.

  It wasn’t hard to find Louis, he was just where I expected him to be at this time of day… grooming the horses or cleaning out the stalls.

  ‘Toby… welcome back to the real world my friend, I heard you were dead,’ he said as he hugged me.

  ‘Well as you can see I am alive and well and bursting with joy at the prospect of working with you.’

  ‘Working for me. You do know I will be your boss don’t you?’

  ‘I don’t fear working for you Louis, but I am just a little uneasy at the thought of meeting your father.’

  ‘Don’t worry about him, he’s lucky to be getting you back. Now I want to hear everything you have been up to… especially how you managed to escape from Cromwell. And have you seen anything of Anne yet?’

  ‘No but I am meeting her on Saturday.’

  ‘You are also meeting my father on Saturday. He wants to see you at midday in his office.’

  ‘That’s when I am supposed to be meeting Anne. Is there any way you could get a message to her?’

  ‘There’s no need to do that, I will ask my father to move you forward to eleven o’clock. Now let’s go somewhere quiet, I want to hear all about your adventures.’

  ***

  Saturday was to be a massive day for me, I was feeling uneasy and less than confident at the prospect of meeting Louis’s father. Mr Anderson was the master of horse, and the most important person at the royal stables. His office was on the ground floor of the palace… I knocked cautiously on his door and he called me in.

  ‘Sit down Toby,’ he said from behind a desk heaped with papers. He was reading a document and I sat quietly waiting until he had finished.

  ‘I have a letter here from Thomas Hudson. It’s a glowing testimony of your character and to your loyalty. He tells me that King Charles has agreed to release you into my care, but respectfully reminds me that you are a ward of the English Court until you come of age, and that your education is important. He also reminds me that he could recall you to his service at any time. Do you understand that Toby?’

  ‘Yes sir but I hope he doesn’t recall me.’

  Mr Anderson smiled at my comment.

  ‘The job of stable boy here at Noordeinde comes with accommodation, food and clothing but the remunerations are small. There are no set hours. You will be expected to rise early and work until everything is done, but I think you already know that.’

  ‘Yes sir I do.’

  ‘Every fourth Sunday, you and one other hand will be expected to remain at the stables on your own while the others go to church.’

  I already knew all this, and was wishing he could hurry up… time was ticking away and I wanted to get down to the boathouse before midday.

  ‘You will be provided with working clothes, and also a tabard, a hat and suitable shoes for when you are called to ride with a carriage.’

  ‘As a footman sir?’ I asked.

  ‘Yes… you may also be asked to take the reins if we are short of drivers.’

  That surprised me but I thought it to be an interesting diversion from mucking out stables.

  ‘Those who live on the premises are expected to be first in the stables in the morning, to feed the horses and to make a start cleaning out the stalls. Are you all right about that?’

  ‘Yes sir, I have always been an early riser.’

  He put down his pen and folded Thomas’s letter.

  ‘I don’t believe I have ever spoken with you before, but that does not mean that I was not aware of your presence, and the work you have done here in the past. Do you know how many hours you worked in the stables during your last stay here?’

  ‘No sir… I didn’t think of it as a job, it was something I enjoyed doing.’

  ‘Louis keeps a log on all the staff that work here, and over a period of six months, you worked just over 200 hours.’

  ‘That sounds a lot sir.’

  ‘That commitment went a long way in convincing me you were the right person to work here. I told you the remunerations were not good, but I will see if I can work in some back pay for the hours you worked in the past. Do you have any questions?’

  ‘No sir.’

  ‘Then, report to my son, he will tell you when to start.’

  ***

  I was sure I was going to be late
and ran the whole way, wondering why on earth she would choose the boathouse. When I left to go to war almost three years ago, she wouldn’t go anywhere near the place.

  The doors were ajar, and as I stepped inside sweating and panting, I saw Anne standing bare foot on the deck of the nearest yacht surrounded by an assortment of scatter cushions. At first glance I wasn’t even sure it was her, she looked different… older and slimmer than I remembered, then she smiled and I was in no doubt it was my Anne.

  ‘I thought you were not coming Toby.’

  She was wearing a summer dress, a colour to match her hair which was shining like silk and hanging loose over her shoulders. The dress was buttoned up the front and had short puff sleeves edged with white lace, as was the hem and collar. A white belt tight around her slim waist completing the ensemble and also highlighted her new feminine figure. The top four buttons of her dress were undone which was pleasing to my eyes as it offered just a glimpse of her cleavage and her firm young breasts.

  I stepped onto the deck and before I could speak, her arms were round my neck, and her lips pressed hard against mine, I slipped my arms around her waist and pulled her closer. I could feel my juices rising and I was running out of air, but I didn’t want it to stop. Eventually she released me… pushing me gently away. We were both panting for breath, smiling and looking into each other’s eyes. ‘Make love to me Toby… please make love to me.’

  ‘You have changed since I last saw you. I clearly remember you being so shocked to see Charles and Lucy Walter making love in this very boathouse… I thought you would never come near the place ever again.’

  ‘I was just a naive child, and now I am a woman, a woman old enough to marry and old enough to give birth.’

  ‘You are fourteen years old, the same age as me.’

  She unbuttoned her dress to just below the waist, took hold of my hands and put them inside the dress, and behind her waist.

  ‘Make love to me Toby.’

  It was one of the hottest days of the year and yet I was trembling. ‘Are you sure you know what you’re asking of me?’