CHAPTER XIII
A FAMILIAR FACE AND A CHALLENGE
Lady Shrope received the girl with kindness but her anxiety, when herhusband recounted the manner of his reception by the queen, was great.
"Thou hast no cause for fear," remarked Lord Shrope. "Elizabeth is thevery muster of justice and honor. When she hath suffered a few hours topass she will repent her of her injustice."
The nobleman was right. At an early hour the next day he was summoned tothe presence of the queen, and bade to bring his charge with him.
"I cry your pardon, my lord," said Elizabeth extending her hand to himgraciously. "Thine entrance yester e'en was ill-timed. We had receivedtidings that ruffled our royal dignity and permitted us to treat theewith undue rigor. Dost forgive thy queen, my lord?"
"There is naught I would not forgive Elizabeth," returned he withearnestness. "Had I known I would have delayed seeking an audience butmethought it was your wish that I should come to you upon my firstarrival. Forgive me that I did misinterpret your desire."
"If thou hast forgiven me then do I forgive thee," said the queen. "Rise,my lord, and I will speak of this boy, and then to other matters.Business of state awaits the morning hours."
"He is here, my liege, to speak for himself," answered he, and beckonedFrancis to come forward.
She did so diffidently and kneeled before the queen.
"Nay; I wish not to speak with him, my lord," and Francis noted withdismay that she did not extend her hand to her. "Let him take his placewith the pages. They will soon let him into the manners of the court, Itrow. When he shall have rubbed off some of the rustic mayhap I will havesomething to say to him."
"My liege," ventured the nobleman, "will you listen to somethingconcerning the lad which 'tis best that you should know?"
"Now, by my faith, my lord! thou dost try our patience," said Elizabethsharply. "Said we not that affairs of state awaited us. We go at once tothe council chamber. My lord chamberlain," turning to that official whosewhite staff indicated his office, "place this lad where his manners willmeet with the most improvement."
She swept out of the room followed by her ministers, while the courtiersand ladies dispersed according to their fancy.
Francis had remained in a kneeling posture all this time scarcely able tocontrol her tears. A tap on the shoulder aroused her, and looking up shesaw the kindly face of Lord Hunsdon, the lord chamberlain, bending overher.
"Be not disheartened, boy," he said compassionately. "The tide will turn,and thou wilt soon be swept upon the flood into the sunshine of HerMajesty's regard. Come, and I will show thee those who are to be thyfellow companions."
"My lord chamberlain," said Lord Shrope hurriedly, "out of the goodnessof your heart, permit me one word. The lad is unacquainted with thecourt, and unused to the society of pages whom as thou knowest, albeittheir outward 'havior conforms to custom, yet still are ofttimesunmannerly in their demeanor to each other. For that reason, and for thelove which once I did bear his father, I entreat you, let the lad remainwith me. I will see to't that his deportment is all that could beasked."
"My lord, I dare not," was the chamberlain's reply. "Thou knowest thatwhere the queen commands she exacts obedience to her behests. He must gowith the pages."
"My lord, a word in your ear. The lad is not as he seems." And LordShrope rapidly explained the matter.
"Ha! sayst thou so?" explained Lord Hunsdon regarding Francis earnestly."By my halidom, my lord, there is none who would take her to be otherthan she appears. Somewhat delicate looking, forsooth, but there are manylads as maiden-like. If the matter be given to the queen in proper mannershe will regard it with lenient eyes, but if not, she may treat it asdeceit practised upon herself. That she would not forgive."
"True;" assented Lord Shrope. "'Tis that aspect of the affair thattroubles me. Thou seest that for this cause I would that the girl mightremain with my lady wife."
"It may not be," said the chamberlain. "Let the girl be in attendancewith the pages in accordance with the queen's command until she learns ofthe child's sex, which, for the damsel's sake, I would discover soon."
"I thank you, my lord, for your kindness," returned Lord Shrope. "It ismy desire also that the queen should learn of the affair at an earlyseason. But the time must be propitious."
"Yes; the time must be propitious." The lord chamberlain turned toFrancis who had listened to the above conversation with blushing cheeks."It seems best, my child, to carry out the queen's command at least inpart. Canst thou so bear thyself that none will be the wiser of thy sex?The discipline of the palace is strict and the pages observepunctiliously the outward forms of respect. Still the minions do ofttimeso'erstep the bounds and indulge in rare pranks. Methinks 'twould be wisefor them to know naught of thy disguise. The knaves are as full ofmischief as sprites."
"I fear them not," said Francis spiritedly. "I fear naught but thequeen's displeasure. For any other, I care not who he be, woe to him whodares touch Francis Stafford." She touched the poniard that dangled fromher belt significantly as she spoke.
"Child," cried the old lord in delight, "thou wearest the proper garb.Thou wast never meant for a girl. Zounds! what spirit! And so thoufearest naught in all England but the displeasure of the queen. Gramercy!the air of the court is beginning to tell upon thee for those are thewords of a courtier. Come! I no longer fear for thee so long as thou dostcontinue to bear thyself in so fearless a manner."
"I bid you farewell, my lord," said Francis to Lord Shrope.
"Farewell for a season, my child. Return to my lady when thy duties areended," said her friend. "Lighter will my heart be when thou art oncemore in thy father's house. Marry! I would that I had not advisedbringing thee thither. Now I know not what may befall."
"Chide not thyself, my lord," returned Francis who had recovered hernatural courage now that the interview with the queen was over. "All willbe well in a few days, I doubt not. Meantime, it suits me well that I amto see somewhat of the court."
"Marry! it suits not me," returned his lordship bluntly. "I like not tosee a wild bird caged. The linnet is never so sweet as in its ownwoodland."
"But the hawk flies as high for its keeper as when seeking its ownquarry," said Francis as she moved away. "Again, my lord, farewell untilthe eventide."
"Farewell. Be discreet, child."
Francis followed Lord Hunsdon through several lofty halls and chambers.Finally the official caught sight of a youth who stood idly by a pillar.
"Devereaux," he called. "I would speak with thee."
"I am here, my lord." The boy was at his side instantly. "Command me, Ipray you. How can I serve you?"
"Take this lad, and make him thy pupil, Edward. He hath been sent here tobe taught manners. There be none so well versed in such things as thouart. Therefore do I give him into thy charge."
The youth raised his head and gave a keen searching glance at Francis.The recognition was instantaneous. Francis gave a slight exclamation forthe boy was he with whom she had contested the slaying of the deer.Beyond a slight sparkle of his eye the lad betrayed no sign of everhaving seen her before.
"And, Edward, I know the custom that prevails amongst the pages oftreating with undue harshness such as come among ye for the first time. Icharge you, as you wish to curry favor with me, that this lad shall meetwith naught but gentleness. Dost hear, Edward?"
"Ay, my lord. It shall be as thou sayst. He shall be treated withgentleness. With exceeding great gentleness, I promise you."
The boy's manner was very deferential, but the ears of Francis caughtthe sinister meaning that lurked beneath his words.
"My lord," she said boldly, "is there none other to whom I may beconsigned except this youth? I like not his appearance."
"Like not Edward?" exclaimed Lord Hunsdon in surprise. "Why, what capriceis this? He is a proper lad, and there is no other of the pages sotrustworthy. Thou shouldst deem thyself fortunate to be put into hishands."
"Marry, sir," remarked Edw
ard Devereaux with a sorrowful air, "'tis pitythat my visage is so unattractive. If the boy is afeared," with a slightemphasis on the word, "you would best place him with another. Fear makescowards of us all, and breeds distrust of the most worthy."
"Gramercy," cried the girl hotly, "dost thou think that I fear thee,sirrah? Nay; my lord, I will take none other for my mentor than he.Mayhap while he imparts to me the nice customs of the court, he will inturn learn of me something he wots not of. Marry! we each have much tolearn."
"Tut! is this the way to begin?" said his lordship impatiently. "Edward,I shall look to thee for a good report of thy charge."
"It shall be well, sir," returned Edward Devereaux bowing profoundly. Thechamberlain left the two, and the boy faced the girl. "So," he said, "weare come to learn manners, are we? By my faith, 'tis time. Thou dostdiscover too much heat, Master Stafford, and that, thou shouldst know, isnot permitted at court. Take that for thy first lesson."
"I will take naught for my lesson from thee," said Francis quickly. "Whoart thou to teach manners to me?"
"Hast never heard of Edward Devereaux?" queried the lad. "Much hast thoumissed for he is before you," and he bowed mockingly. "Know, FrancisStafford, that thou and I have a feud of long standing. Hast heard thyfather speak of Sir Thomas Devereaux of Kent? I am his son, cousin germanto Robert Devereaux, Earl of Essex. Surely, even if thou dost reside farfrom the court, thou dost know that there hath always been enmity betweenthe Devereaux and the Staffords?"
"Ay! I know of it," assented Francis. "And that is why thou didst claim,the deer which was slain by my hand in the park?"
"So thou dost still claim the deer? Mark you, Francis Stafford! We of thecourt think it not honorable to claim that which doth not belong to us.Thou hadst no shadow of hand in the deed. It lies between thy sister andme. Yet still thou sayst,--'I slew it.' Hark ye! if ye so choose we cansettle the matter in the great park some eventide. But for the sake oftruth say no more that you slew it. It is between thy sister andmyself."
"My sister," murmured Francis, and then remembering herself: "My sisterbe it."
"And thou and I will meet and decide the business once for all," went onDevereaux. "Come! what say you to the third night from this? There areduties that forbid the undertaking sooner."
"But, but," stammered Francis. "I----"
"Ah! thou dost fear." Edward Devereaux looked his scorn. "We will dropthe matter. But thou must fight, or concede that I slew the deer."
"I fear nothing," cried the girl. "I will meet thee when and where thouwilt."
"Then on the third night from this, thou and I will meet in the parkclose by the wicket of the western gate. I will show thee this day whereit lieth. And now we must to duty."
In Doublet and Hose: A Story for Girls Page 13
