The Last Howard Girl (Tudor Chronicles Book 3)

by Lesley Jepson

  ‘My Lord.’ Thomas, already awake, got to his feet and stood waiting for his orders.

  ‘Is the way clear?’ Robert looked up and down the tower corridor.

  ‘No one has been near, my Lord. The servants have been told the Queen is still unwell. Lady Knollys has taken her another posset and sleeping draught, but even she has gone. The Queen is asleep in her chamber, my Lord.’

  Robert nodded. ‘I may have an errand for you in an hour Thomas. I shall bolt this door from the inside while you go to the kitchen and break your fast.’ Thomas bowed his head in assent.

  ‘I shall return in an hour, my Lord. Shall I knock?’

  ‘Once, Thomas. Then I shall need you to be an escort. And Thomas,’ Robert looked at his manservant intently, ‘no-one must know. No-one. We should both be undone if anyone found out.’ Thomas again bowed his head in assent and instinctively his hands went to the hilt of his sword and the dagger at his belt.

  ‘No-one shall know, my Lord.’

  Robert nodded and returned to his room, bolting the tower door firmly, then pulling across the hanging to cover the keyhole. He returned to the bed and slipped under the covers. His body had become chilled despite his robe, and he circled Lettice with his arms to warm himself on her. She smiled and shivered and he realised she was no longer asleep.

  ‘I must go, Robin,’ she murmured, smiling up at him then stretching like a lazy cat.

  ‘Yes, you must.’ He kissed her nose and her lips and her neck. ‘But we have an hour before your escort arrives, and no-one can enter my rooms because someone locked the doors last night.’ His cold hand brushed her warm breast and her nipple came alive in his palm. She gasped and shivered again, but this time he knew it wasn’t the cold.

  ‘I mustn’t be seen, Robin. No-one can know.’

  ‘I trust Thomas implicitly, Lily. He will protect you, and he will make sure you are not seen. I will not have you compromised by this. I swear to you; no-one will know.’

  She reached up and kissed him again, and then they made the most of the hour left to them, before Thomas came to escort Lettice secretly away.

  Chapter 34

  lizabeth blinked at Cat and smiled wanly as the key rattled in the lock out of habit; this was the warning Cat always gave before unlocking Elizabeth’s chamber door each morning. She put the key back in her pocket and walked quietly over to the bed.

  ‘Good morrow, Cat,’ whispered the Queen, voice cracking from lack of use. Cat smiled and drew back the curtains.

  ‘Good morning, Princess. How are you today?’

  ‘Better, Cat. My headache has receded, although my head still feels woolly. And my throat feels scratchy. And my skin is sore.’ She gave a small smile and a shrug, then put her hand to her face and pushed back her hair. Cat came back to the bed and put the flat of her hand against the Queen’s forehead.

  ‘You are still a little warm, Princess. I shall have some cool ale sent, and some fruit and cheese. Perhaps if you ate a little, you would feel better. You haven’t eaten anything for quite a while.’

  Elizabeth pushed herself up the bed as Cat plumped her pillows, then Cat went to the door of the bedchamber to beckon one of the ladies waiting there.

  ‘Frances, send a page to the kitchen for some fruit, cheese and ale for the Queen, and have some water sent up for her to bathe.’ Frances bobbed a curtsey and Cat turned back into the room. ‘Do you wish to dress after your bath, my lovely?’

  Elizabeth looked at Cat with shadows under her eyes. ‘I have been asleep for almost two days, Cat. I shall have to see Will Cecil, at the very least.’ She thought for a while, then looked at Cat again. ‘After I have broken my fast, ask Will to attend me in my presence chamber with anything urgent. Then ask Robbie to come and share the noon meal with me. I shall dress simply today, and stay in my apartments.’

  Cat moved about the room and took a burgundy brocade gown from the armoire, holding it up for Elizabeth’s approval. She nodded and then turned towards the door as Frances Howard brought a tray and set it down near the bed.

  ‘Your breakfast, Majesty,’ Frances dipped a curtsey and looked at Cat for further instructions.

  ‘Send Anne Cecil to tell her father the Queen will see him, alone, in her presence chamber in around an hour and send a page to tell Lord Robert the Queen wishes to eat the noonday meal with him.’ Frances nodded and left as Cat collected a clean shift and petticoats from the clothes chest and spread them over the chair.

  ‘Eat what you can, Princess, then I’ll call some more of your ladies and we’ll get you ready to see Will Cecil.’

  Elizabeth chewed her bread and cheese dutifully, and sipped her ale as the maids brought water for her bath and her ladies brought linen towels and bottles of scented oil, dripping some in the water and filling the room with the scent of roses.

  ***

  Robert entered the presence chamber at noon and saw Elizabeth standing at the window with a crumpled piece of parchment in her hand. He could see by the set of her shoulders and the clenching and unclenching of her hand that something was wrong. He strode across the room and put his arms around her, kissing her neck softly.

  ‘I am glad to see you well again, my love.’ His breath whispered across her skin and she shivered involuntarily and leaned her head back onto Robert’s chest.

  ‘I am better than I was, Robbie. Until I got this, that is.’ She shook her fist that contained the paper and continued to chew her lip. Robert took her by the shoulders and turned her round to face him, then stroked his thumb over her mouth, releasing her lip from her teeth.

  ‘You need some salve, Bess. You worry your poor lip so.’ He bent his head and kissed her gently, then took her hand and led her towards the table filled with food. He cut her a small piece of warm chicken breast and put it in her mouth, and Elizabeth chewed as he poured them both a small cup of wine.

  ‘What has you so upset, my love?’ He looked at her over the rim of his cup and raised his eyebrows.

  Elizabeth jumped to her feet again and started pacing, shaking the paper she still held tightly in her hand. Her face was becoming flushed and there were two spots of high colour on her cheeks. Robert thought she might still be slightly feverish, and he watched her with concern in his eyes.

  ‘Our cousin is with child,’ she spat the words, voice rising in irritation.

  Robert’s stomach dropped, his skin began to tingle and he heard a buzzing in his ears. He took another drink of his wine and then placed his cup carefully on the table, knowing his hand shook. Elizabeth continued pacing, not looking at Robert who was trying to school his features and regulate his breathing.

  ‘You told us that it wouldn’t happen, Robbie. You told us it wasn’t possible.’ Robert took a deep breath to answer, but Elizabeth carried on, becoming more and more agitated. ‘But now he seems to have overcome his disgust and he has got her with child.’

  Robert felt relief rush through his veins, and he found he could breathe normally again. ‘Henry Darnley,’ he whispered.

  ‘Yes Robbie. Henry Darnley, who you said couldn’t, or wouldn’t. Who else would it be?’

  ‘No matter, I just thought ……’

  ‘God’s blood, Robbie. This means an heir for Scotland! Do you realise what it could mean for England?’

  Robert stood, now he was able to breathe and his legs would hold him. He took another drink to calm himself, then strode across to Elizabeth and took her hands to stop her pacing. He removed the screwed up ball of parchment from her hand and threw it onto the fire. As the paper flared, he put his forehead to Elizabeth’s and whispered, ‘Calm yourself, my love. Do not upset yourself so. Many women find themselves with child and then it comes to n
aught.’ He kissed her closed eyes, and then gently kissed her lips. He could feel the tremors of anger and fear leave her body as her breathing calmed and he whispered against her temple.

  ‘You could still have an heir for England, Bess. You know I would …..’

  ‘No, Robbie,’ Elizabeth’s voice was firm and steady, her agitation receding. ‘You know I shall always hold to my vow. I shall never marry.’

  ‘Then you will have to accept that your cousin has, and not begrudge her the fruit of that marriage. God knows what an unexpected windfall it is.’ Robert snorted in amusement.

  Elizabeth sighed and nodded, still with her forehead against Robert’s. ‘It is hard, Robbie. I am still a woman, and now she …..’

  ‘You are the Queen, Bess. Still beautiful as the Queen, yet still my Bess. And you have so much that she doesn’t. You have a mind that can out think all these foreign ambassadors. That can picture Europe as a chess board and manipulate the pieces to England’s advantage. You are sufficiently strong-minded not to be a victim of your own desires, but to rise above them,’ his mouth quirked slightly, ‘make us all rise above them, for the good of the country.’ He sighed, and kissed her gently again then rocked back on his heels and let her go, walking back to the table to pick up Elizabeth’s wine and take it to her.

  He turned, smiling, with two cups of wine in his hand and stepped towards Elizabeth, who was in front of the fireplace. She looked at him and suddenly put her hand up to her head.

  ‘Oh, Robbie,’ she breathed, ‘I feel ….’ Suddenly Elizabeth collapsed to the floor like corn cut by a scythe. Robert was across the room in two strides and swept Elizabeth into his arms. He carried her to the door of the ante-room, shouting for assistance.

  ‘Lady Cat, the Queen is unwell,’ Robert’s voice was hoarse in his concern. Cat hurried to him and together they took Elizabeth back into her bedchamber, where Robert sat on the bed and cradled Elizabeth to him.

  ‘Lissey, go and get the physician.’ Lissey Sheffield bobbed a curtsey with wide eyes and hurried away. ‘Lettice, go to the yard and find Tom and your brother Ed.’ Cat spoke sharply to her daughter, who couldn’t seem to pull her eyes away from the scene of Robert cradling an unconscious Elizabeth on the enormous bed. Cat grabbed Lettice by the arm and dragged her round, away from the door.

  ‘Lettice, are you listening?’ Lettice looked at her mother with huge eyes and nodded mutely. ‘Then go and find Tom and Ed. Tell them to take a cart and go and fetch Blanche Parry from Richmond. Do you understand?’ Lettice nodded again and turned, grabbing at her skirts and bunching them up in her hand as she ran along the gallery. Cat looked into the ante-room again.

  ‘Kit,’ Robert’s sister hurried to see what else Cat wanted, ‘Kit, go into the south wing and bring Kat Ashley back with you. Tell her the Queen has fainted and we await Blanche and the physician. Hurry, child.’ Kit nodded and hurried away.

  Cat turned and went back into the room, where Robert still held Elizabeth closely.

  ‘My Lord, help me lay her down on the bed.’ Robert shook his head, not meeting Cat’s gaze.

  ‘She just collapsed, Lady Cat. I was bringing her some wine, and she just …. fell.’ Robert kept his face hidden in Elizabeth’s hair so Cat wouldn’t see the moisture in his eyes. Cat patted his arm soothingly.

  ‘The doctor is on his way, my Lord. It is probably the remains of her sick headache. I’m sure she will be well again soon.’

  Robert raised his head, anguish written large on his features.

  ‘But what happens if she isn’t, Lady Cat? What happens then?’

  ***

  Cat stood at the door of the bedchamber watching as the physician made his examination of the Queen. Kat Ashley and Blanche Parry were at the doctor’s side as he whispered his conclusion to them, and they recoiled in dismay. Robert sat hollow-eyed on the window seat in the presence chamber and the rest of the ladies sat at the end of the large solar, twittering together as they stitched.

  The doctor walked over to Cat and bowed. ‘Variola, Lady Knollys. The Queen is suffering from Variola.’ He bowed again as Cat looked at him questioningly. Robert’s voice came from the window-seat, cracked and bleak.

  ‘Smallpox, Lady Cat. Bess has smallpox.’ Cat gasped in horror and looked at the doctor, who nodded solemnly.

  ‘What is to be done?’

  ‘These two ladies have said they will nurse her,’ he swept his hand towards Kat and Blanche, who nodded in unison. ‘They say they had it as children, so they will be quite safe. Have you had the disease, my Lady?’ Cat shook her head mutely.

  ‘Then you must stay away. Have you touched the Queen today, my Lady?’ Cat nodded. ‘Then you must burn your clothes and bathe. Go near no-one until you have done this. Has anyone else touched her?’

  Cat shook her head again. ‘She only wanted me to help her bathe and dress. She said her skin hurt.’ Tears gathered in Cat’s eyes.

  ‘A symptom, my Lady, along with a headache and sore throat. Similar to the ague, but it is the lesions that prove the diagnosis. They begin in the mouth, which is the source of the sore throat. No-one else, are you sure?’ Cat nodded her assurance.

  Robert got to his feet. ‘I have touched the Queen, sir. And kissed her.’ Cat’s eyes closed in despair.

  ‘You must burn your clothing also, my Lord,’ the doctor turned and bowed to Robert, ‘and you must retire to your own room to be in quarantine. If you have no other symptoms in five days, then you have been fortunate.’ He turned to Cat again and continued, ‘The Queen will have to remain in here until all the lesions have gone. She must see no-one but her nurses, and the door must remain closed. Food may be brought into this room,’ he nodded towards the presence chamber, ‘but the person who brings it must have left before this door is opened and the food collected.’

  ‘You speak like she has leprosy, or the plague, Doctor.’ Cat was becoming quite indignant at how the doctor was ordering their lives over this.

  ‘My Lady, the infection must be contained as far as possible. Notes may be passed regarding her progress back to health, but the Queen will be in isolation for at least three weeks, possibly four or more. And she will be very ill indeed before she shows any sign of recovery.’ The doctor moved forward, shepherding Cat and Robert away from the sick room, and Blanche closed the door firmly behind them.

  ‘Burn your clothes, my Lady, my Lord. Bathe, and in your case, my Lord, stay in your apartment. I am sure Lady Knollys here will find a way of keeping you apprised of the Queen’s health.

  Robert turned on his heel and left the room, looking neither right nor left as he went back to his own apartment. Cat wrote a swift note for Lettice, telling her what was happening and the doctor went back into the Queen’s sick room to give Kat and Blanche further instructions.

  Chapter 35

  lizabeth’s fever raged for three days, and the court held its breath. Cat organised the ladies in waiting so that clean linens and fresh food and drink were always available for Kat and Blanche’s use, and a regular stream of messages were sent to Cecil and Robert regarding the Queen’s progress.

  Anne Cecil took messages to her father’s office, and Cecil, along with the rest of the Privy Council ran the country while the Queen was so ill. The question of an heir, should Elizabeth die, was foremost in the discussions they held, but no-one had an answer. Any overtures to the Scots felt like a betrayal of Elizabeth and they all refused to countenance any approach to Europe. The Privy Council also held its breath, and prayed for the recovery of the Queen.

  Robert prowled his apartments like a caged lion. Thomas had had the disease as a child, so he stayed in the apartment with Robert, playing cards and dice when Robert felt like the distraction, sitting in silence
when he didn’t. Notes from Cat were pushed under his door, and food and clean linen was left in his ante-chamber until the long days of quarantine were over.

  On the evening of the fourth day, when he knew for certain he wouldn’t be developing the disease; he had no symptoms at all, and felt that if he didn’t get out of his chamber he would go mad, he heard a slight knock against his chamber door. He crossed the room swiftly and snatched open the door.

  ‘Lily,’ he breathed, as he saw Lettice place the tray of food on the side table and then approach the door with a folded note.

  ‘My mother sent me with a note, my Lord,’ she held out the paper towards him, and he stepped away from the doorway, taking it from her trembling grasp.

  ‘We are quite alone, Lily. Thomas has gone to the kitchens, and no-one else has been allowed near.’ He looked at her longingly. ‘I have missed you, lovely Lily.’

  ‘And I have missed you, Robin.’ He had to take another step forward to hear her words, as she looked down and whispered them. Robert took hold of her hand and brought it to his lips.

  ‘Would that you could stay longer, Lily. With me.’ He kissed her knuckles then turned her hand over and kissed the palm, bringing it to his face and holding it against his jaw.

  ‘I cannot tonight, Robin. I am having supper with your sister and her husband. And mine, of course.’ Lettice closed her eyes and stroked her trembling hand along his beard, tickling her fingers into it gently. Robert let out a ragged breath and let her hand go.

  ‘But tomorrow evening, my husband has a dinner date with his captains. I could bring your supper again then, perhaps?’ She looked up shyly into his eyes, and then smiled downwards again.

  ‘I shall count the minutes to that, lovely Lily. And I shall make sure we are quite, quite private.’ Robert leaned forward slightly and kissed her softly on her mouth, then picked up the tray and returned to the bedchamber while Lettice went on her way to sup with Kit and Henry Hastings.