house of Rookwood!"
"Who hath brought these tidings?" Basil asked of the steward.
"Marry," replied the man, "one of her majesty's gentlemen and twofootmen have arrived from Cottessy, and brought this letter from LordBurleigh for your honor."
Basil broke the seal, read the missive, and then quietly looking up,said, "It is true; and I must lose no time to prepare my poor housefor her majesty's abode in it."
He looked not now red, but somewhat pale. Methinks he was thinking ofthe chapel, and what it held; and the queen's servants now in thehouse. I would not stay him; but, taking my hand whilst he spoke, hesaid to Lady Tregony,
"Dear lady, I shall lack yours and Constance's aid to-morrow. Will youdo me so much good as to come with her to Euston as early beforedinner as you can?"
"Yea, we will be with you, my good Basil," she answered, "before tenof the clock."
"'Tis not," he said, "that I intend to cast about for fine silks andcloths of gold, or contrive pageants--God defend it!--or ransackthe country for rare and costly meats; but such honorable cheer and somuch of comfort as a plain gentleman's house can afford, I be bound toprovide for my sovereign when she deigneth to use mine house."
"Master Cobham, I do crave the honor of your company also," he added,turning to that gentleman, who, with many acknowledgments of hiscourtesy, excused himself on the plea that he must needs be at his ownseat the next day.
Then Basil, mounting his horse which the steward had brought with him,rode away so fast that the old man could scarce keep up with him.
Not once that night did mine eyes close themselves. Either I sat boltupright in my bed counting each time the clock struck the number ofchimes, or else, unable to lie still, paced up and down my chamber.The hours seemed to pass so slowly, more than in times of deep grief.It seemed so strange a hap that the queen should come to Euston, Ialmost fancied at moments the whole thing to be a dream, so fantasticdid it appear. Then a fear would seize me lest the chapel should havebeen discovered before Basil could arrive. Minor cares likewisetroubled me; such as the scantiness and bad state of the furniture,the lack of household conveniences, the difficulty that might arise toprocure sufficient food at a brief notice for so great a number ofpersons. Oh, how my head did work all night with these variousthinkings! and it seemed as if the morning would never come, and whenit did that Lady Tregony would never ring her bell. Then I bethoughtmyself of the want of proper dresses for her and myself to appear inbefore her majesty, if so be we were admitted to her presence.Howsoever, I found she was indifferently well provided in thatrespect, for her old good gowns stood in a closet where dust could notreach them, and she bethought herself I could wear my wedding-dress,which had come from the seamstress a few days before; and so we shouldnot be ashamed to be seen. I must needs confess that, though manydoubts and apprehensions filled me touching this day, I did feel somecontentment in the thought of the honor conferred on Basil. If therewas pride in this, I do cry God mercy for it. As we rode to Euston,the fresh air, the eager looks of the people on the road--for now thereport had spread of the queen's coming--the stir which it caused, theputtings up of flags, and buildings of green arches, strengthened thisgladness. Basil was awaiting us with much impatience, and immediatelydrew me aside.
"I have locked," he said, "all the books and church furniture, and ourBlessed Lady's image, in Owen's hiding place; so methinks we be quitesecure. Beds and food I have sent for, and they keep coming in.Prithee, dear love, look well thyself to her majesty's chamber, for tomake it as handsome and befitting as is possible with such poor meansthereunto. I pray God the lodging may be to her contentation for onenight."
So I hasted to the state-chamber--for so it was called, albeit exceptfor size it had but small signs of state about it. Howsoever, with themaids' help, I gathered into it whatsoever furniture in the house wasmost handsome, and the wenches made wreaths of ivy and laurel, whichwe hung round the bare walls. Thence I went to the kitchen, and foundher majesty's cook was arrived, with as many scullions as should haveserved a whole army; so, except speaking to him civilly, and inquiringwhat provisions he wanted, I had not much to do there. Then we wentround the house with Mr. Bowyer, the gentleman-usher, for to assignthe chambers to the queen's ladies, and the lords and gentlemen andthe waiting-women. There was no lack of room, but much of properfurniture; albeit chairs and tables were borrowed on all sides fromthe neighboring cottages, and Lady Tregony sent for a store fromher house. Mr. Bowyer held in his hand a list of the persons of thecourt now journeying with the queen; Lord Burleigh, Sir FrancisWalsingham, Sir Christopher Hatton, Sir Walter Raleigh, and many otherfamous courtiers were foremost in it. When their lodgings were fixed,he glanced down the paper, and, mine eyes following his, I perceivedamong the minor gentlemen there set down Hubert's name, which moved mevery much; for we did not of a surety know at that time he did belongto the court, and I would fain he had not been present on thisoccasion, and new uneasy thoughts touching what had passed at SirFrancis Walsingham's house, and the words the queen had let fallconcerning him and me, crossed my mind in consequence. But in thatsame list I soon saw another name which caused me so vehement anemotion that Basil, noticing it, pulled me by the hand into anotherroom for to ask me the cause of that sudden passion.
"Basil," I whispered, "mine heart will break if that murtheringRichard Topcliffe must sleep under your roof."
"God defend it!" he exclaimed. But pausing in his speech leant his armagainst the chimney and his head on it for a brief space. Then raisingit, said, in an altered tone, "Mine own love, be patient. We mustneeds drink this chalice to the dregs" (which showed me his thoughtstouching this visit had been from the first less hopeful than mine).Taking my pencil out of mine hand, he walked straight to the doorbefore which Mr. Bowyer was standing, awaiting us, and wrote thereonMaster Topcliffe's name. Methought his hand shook a little in thedoing of it. I then whispered again in his ear:
"Know you that Hubert is in the queen's retinue?"
"No, indeed!" he exclaimed; and then with his bright winning smile,"Prithee now, show him kindness for my sake. He had best sleep in mychamber to-night. It will make room, and mind us of our boyish days."
The day was waning and long shadows falling on the grass when tidingscame that her majesty had been hunting that morning, and would notarrive till late. About dusk warning was given of her approach. Sherode up on horseback to the house amidst the loud cheering of thecrowd, with all her train very richly attired. But it had waxed sodark their countenances could not be seen. Her master of the horselifted her from the saddle, and she went straight to her ownapartments, being exceeding tired, it was said, with her day's sportand long riding. Notice was given that her highness would admit noneto her presence that evening. Howsoever, she sent for Basil, and,giving him her hand to kiss, thanked him in the customary manner forthe use of his house. It had not been intended that Lady Tregony and Ishould sleep at Euston, where the room did scarcely suffice for thequeen's suite. So when it was signified her majesty should not leaveher chamber that night, but, after a slight refection, immediatelyretire to rest, and her ladies likewise, who were almost dead withfatigue, she ordered our horses to be brought to the back-door. Basilstole away from the hall where the lords and gentlemen were assembledfor to bid us good-night. After he had lifted me on the saddle, hethrew his arm round the horse's neck as if for to detain him, andaddressing me very fondly, called me his own love, his sole comfort,his best treasure, with many other endearing expressions.
Then I, loth to leave him alone amidst false friends and secretenemies, felt tenderness overcome me, and I gave him in return somevery tender and passionate assurances of affection; upon which hekissed mine hands over and over again, and our hearts, overchargedwith various emotions, found relief in this interchange of lovinglooks and words. But, alas! this brief interview had an unthought of witness more than good Lady Tregony, who said once or twice,"Come, children, bestir yourselves," or "Tut, tut, we should be off;'"but still lingered herself for to pleas
ure us. I chanced to look up,whilst Basil was fastening my horse's bit, and by the light of a lampprojecting from the wall, I saw Hubert at an open window right overabove our heads. I doubt not but that he had seen the manner of ourparting, and heard the significant expressions therein used; for alivid hue, and the old terrible look which I had noticed in himbefore, disfigured his countenance. I am of opinion that until thattime he had not believed with certainty that my natural, unbiassedinclination did prompt me to marry Basil, or that I loved him withother than a convenient and moderate regard, which, if circumstancesreversed their positions, should not be a hindrance to his own suit.Basil having finished his management with my bridle stepped back witha smile and last
Constance Sherwood: An Autobiography of the Sixteenth Century Page 79
