The Merry Monarch's Wife

by Jean Plaidy

  I protested.

  “Not you, my love. You are a woman apart. Well, Jane saved my life. I owe much to Jane and many like her. Determined as she was that our plan should succeed, yet she could not forget that I was the King…a king without a kingdom assuredly, but nevertheless a king.

  “When we reached Abbots Leigh we were to stay a night at an inn, and she asked for a private room for me, her servant, mark you…because I was suffering from the ague, she said. And, would you believe it? It was given to me. Oh, Jane Lane was a lady of great character.”

  “And what happened after that?”

  “Jane took me to a colonel, Francis Wyndham, at Trent, which is a place near Sherborne. He was to take me over the sea and get me to France…which, God bless him, he did.”

  “And did you ever see Jane Lane again?”

  “Indeed I did. Cromwell’s spies were everywhere. The last thing he wanted was for me to escape to France. He would never be at peace while I was alive. Poor fellow, he must have had some uneasy years. The French were friendly to me. After all, I am half French…and any monarch knows that the fall of one king is a danger to all kings. So I could rely to a certain extent on the French. I had my sister Mary to help me to regain my throne. So there would be some consternation in Cromwell’s camp. They had set a reward of a thousand pounds on my head, and I had left taking that head with me. There were rumors. There were some who remembered seeing a somewhat incongruous servingman who had accompanied Mistress Jane Lane on her journey toward the coast.

  “So one day, when I was in Paris, a courier brought a message to me. Colonel Lane, Jane’s brother, had brought her to Paris so that if there were inquiries about that journey she had made with me, she should not be there to answer their questions. She and the Colonel disguised themselves as peasants and made their way to Yarmouth, where they found a ship to get them out of the country.”

  “How very dangerous it all must have been!”

  “We lived in dangerous times, Catherine. The days had become filled with hope and despair. No, not despair. I always knew in my heart that one day I would come back…and that hope was kept alive by all those good people who risked their lives for my sake.”

  “What happened to Jane Lane?”

  “They had come to Paris and I went to meet them. I remember it well. My mother was in the party…and my brother Henry was alive then. They all wanted to thank Jane for what she had done. I was overjoyed to see her. I was eager to thank her. I kissed her cheek and called her my life…because it was true, I owed it to her.”

  “Did she stay long in France?”

  “She was in Paris for some time where she was treated with great respect by the court there. They were very good to me. I owe much to Louis. Oh yes, I like to think that Jane was rewarded for what she did for me.”

  “I am sure she did not want payment.”

  “That’s true. She was one of my most loyal and loving subjects. I was glad when she went to stay at my sister’s court. Mary was in Cologne at the time and Jane went to join her household there. It was unsafe for her to go back to England after what she had done. Cromwell could be venomous against anyone who helped the monarchy. Now, I thank Heaven that all that is over.”

  I still wanted to hear more of Jane and I persisted, “Where is she now?”

  “She married Sir Clement Fisher of Warwickshire, on my restoration. The government gave her a thousand pounds and from me there was a gold watch. I suggested she should keep it as a memento of her bravery and it should go from eldest daughter to every eldest daughter in the household to remind them of what their noble ancestor had done for the King of England.”

  “What a wonderful story!” I cried.

  “With a happy ending. Would that all stories could have them. Without Jane I might not be sitting here at this moment. I am sure I should be mouldering in my grave…in two parts perhaps, head in one place, body in another.”

  “I pray you, do not mention such.”

  He touched his head lightly. “It is safe now,” he said, “and I intend it shall remain on my shoulders for the rest of my life. I will do everything to prevent the parting.”

  “It is not a matter to joke about.”

  “My dearest, life is a matter to joke about. It is the only way to live it.”

  He went on to tell me of his stay in Scotland, where he was crowned at Scone.

  He shrugged his shoulders. “It was no fun being King in Scotland, I can assure you. It was more like being a state prisoner. I must repent my sins, put away most of my friends, resist the merry way of life and change it for one of fasting and prayer. Odds bodikins, I’d as lief be a wandering exile far from home. At least there was some merriment in that! I was glad to leave Scotland behind and march into England. You know that they caught up with us near Worcester…and after that I wandered through England, west and south…on one occasion hiding in the branches of an oak tree in Boscabel while Cromwell’s men searched for me, even coming under the tree, but the kindly leaves hid me from view—so that oak tree was yet another that saved my life.

  “Two years in Cologne…three in the Low Countries…and three in France…an exile…waiting, waiting for the call. Then on that glorious day…it was the twenty-sixth of May…my thirtieth birthday approaching. What a birthday gift! Could ever a man have a better! They wanted me back. The country was weary of the Protectors. They wanted a king on the throne.”

  I clasped my hands together. “What a wonderful life you have had,” I said. “How different from mine.”

  “My dear one has seen so little of the world…and I so much.”

  “Does that matter?” I asked anxiously.

  “It will not…if we do not let it,” he said, and I did not realize then that that was a somewhat cryptic remark. He had told me so much…and so little.

  ONE OF OUR MOST DELIGHTFUL PASTIMES was teaching each other our languages. I said that it was far more important that I should learn his than he mine; and with this he agreed.

  I said: “I find it very trying that I cannot hear what the English ladies are whispering about. There seems so much to amuse them.”

  “Perhaps it is better not to know,” he said with a sudden smile which was half humorous, half serious.

  “I want to know…all.”

  “Sometimes there is greater happiness in ignorance than knowledge.”

  “Never.”

  “Think of Adam and Eve and what happened to them. Thrown out of the Garden of Eden.”

  “Whatever there is to know…I want to know it.”

  He was unusually silent then, but a few seconds later he was laughing at the pronunciation of some word I had spoken.

  I PERSISTED. I did so want to master his language. I was helped considerably by Lady Suffolk, of whom I was becoming quite fond. She had been so kind and helpful and took such pains to please me. She had made me see how unbecoming the Portuguese costume was, and I never thought of wearing it now. I could see how ill it became my women. Of course, Donnas Maria and Elvira deplored my adoption of the English fashions, but they were ready to disapprove of everything in my new country.

  I was beginning to improve my knowledge of English sufficiently to enable me to carry on a somewhat halting conversation…lapsing now and then into Spanish or Portuguese. Charles was very encouraging and I often talked to him in English, with him helping me along.

  Then suddenly the happy days were over. I had known we could not stay indefinitely at Hampton Court. We would return to Whitehall and perhaps make a progress through the country. There would be more presentations, more levees and more ceremonies generally to be attended.

  It appeared that some dispatches had arrived for Charles and he had to leave at once. He assured me he would not be away for long.

  “It is urgent business,” he said.

  I wanted to share everything and was disappointed that he did not tell me the nature of this urgent business.

  So he went away and I felt very lonely, which
was silly of me. He would soon be back, I assured myself. Perhaps that very day.

  He did not return that day.

  I noticed that there was a great deal of whispering and giggling among the ladies. I guessed something amusing, interesting—perhaps scandalous—was taking place at the court, and I felt shut out. How frustrating it was not to be able to interpret the words…to feel excluded.

  I was preparing to retire that night and found myself alone with Lady Suffolk, and in faltering English I asked what had happened to amuse the ladies.

  She hesitated and I thought she was going to say she did not understand, as I fancied she might do if she thought the subject was not for my ears.

  Then suddenly she seemed to make up her mind. She said slowly and clearly, so that I understood most of what she said: “It is something which has happened to one of the ladies.”

  “Something…of scandal…is that the word?”

  “It is the word, Your Majesty…and it fits the case perfectly.”

  “Tell me…”

  She looked puzzled for a moment and then she said: “Oh, this lady has left her husband.”

  “And that is this…scandal?”

  “In the circumstances, yes.”

  “What are this circumstances?”

  “She has just given birth to a baby boy.”

  “And this?”

  “Well…Your Majesty. Her husband is a Catholic, and the child has been baptized in the Catholic faith.”

  “And…and this is Protestant country.”

  “It is not that so much. The lady says that her husband has no right because the boy is not his. And she is leaving him…her husband, I mean.”

  “I do not understand.”

  “It is not easy to explain, Your Majesty.”

  “But she leave because the child is baptized in the Catholic faith?”

  “Yes, she says he has no right. The child should not be baptized as a Catholic just because he is…”

  I looked at her in puzzlement. “Because…why is because?”

  “She says his father is a very important man and not a Catholic. So she has left her husband, packed up her jewels and possessions of value and taken the child away.”

  “And this…amuses?”

  “Well, the lady does provide amusement.”

  “Because she is a woman who has a child…not her husband’s?”

  “That…and other things.”

  “So what will be now?”

  “That is what everyone waits to see.”

  “She is one of the ladies of the court. Then I will know her?”

  “Oh, no, Madam. She had been away from the court…having the baby, you see.”

  “Who is she? What her name?”

  “She is Lady Castlemaine, Madam.”

  My heart began to beat fast. I heard my mother’s voice. I remembered the grave look in her eyes. “If by chance you meet this woman—which you should not—you must treat her as though she does not exist. You must never allow her to come to court.”

  Lady Suffolk, herself overcome by embarrassment, was not looking at me.

  I heard myself faintly: “I do not think I have met this lady.”

  I was shaken and wanted to be by myself.

  THE NEXT MORNING I felt better. I must stop thinking about Lady Castlemaine. Just because she had once been a friend of the King did not mean that she was now. I had to cast off my conventional ideas. My mother had understood. A young man with Charles’s gifts, his high position—even though at that time his rights were not acknowledged—would have many women to fawn on him. He was human. It was natural. And I was certain now that any amour of the past was over. We were married and he had shown well enough during the time we had been together that he loved me. He had said so many times.

  I had to be worldly. I had to understand. The past was over. I must not look back. Soon he would be with me and I should be reassured.

  Ignore her, my mother had said. Treat her as though she does not exist.

  What sound advice she always gave.

  I would forget what I had heard. There would no doubt be many stories about such a woman. It was no concern of mine that she had left her husband.

  Charles returned. It was wonderful to see him. His eyes shone with joy at the sight of me. He put his arms round me and picked me up. I was so small and light that it was easy for him.

  “Well,” he said. “Have you missed me?”

  “Very much,” I answered.

  “And I you…so much, my Catherine.”

  I felt wonderfully happy.

  We talked together. He said my English had certainly improved.

  “Lady Suffolk has become my tutor.”

  “I would be your tutor.”

  “But when the master is away should not another take his place?”

  “No one must ever take my place with you, Catherine.”

  “Nor mine with you,” I added.

  “You are my wife. Does that not mean something?”

  “It means everything to me.”

  It was wonderful to be together. When we were about to retire for the night he took a paper from his pocket and said carelessly: “Here is a list of the ladies I have agreed shall be in your household.”

  I was about to glance at it when he took it from me and put it into a drawer.

  “Look at it tomorrow,” he said. “There is time for that later.” He was smiling. “We shall be leaving this place soon and you will need a household fitting for the Queen of England. I know these people well and you have yet to meet them so I can vouch for their suitability…and you know you can take my word. I want you to be well served, my love. So…leave it all to me.”

  I said I should be happy to do so.

  It was not until the following morning when I was alone that I remembered the paper in the drawer. I took it out and studied it.

  I felt faint, for the name at the top of the list was that of Lady Castlemaine.

  My hands were trembling. What could this mean? He had chosen this woman, who had been his mistress, and was now involved in some scandal, as one of my ladies-in-waiting!

  I could not understand what it meant. “Ignore her. Do not have her near you,” my mother had said.

  I would not. I took up my pen and scratched out her name.

  I sent for my secretary, Sir Richard Bellings, and said to him in Spanish, “Sir Richard, this is the suggested list of the ladies of my household. I have amended it. You will know where to take it.”

  “Yes, Your Majesty,” he said and took the paper from me.

  I sat down. I felt dizziness coming over me and I thought I was going to faint.

  I sat there trembling, wondering what this could mean.

  CHARLES CAME TO ME. He dismissed the women who were with me and I knew what he wanted to talk about before he began.

  He said: “I see you have scratched out the name of Lady Castlemaine on the list I left for you.”

  “Oh yes,” I said, speaking in Spanish. I was too emotional to think in English. “I could not have her in my household.”

  “I have selected her,” he said coolly. “I have promised her the place.”

  “How could you do such a thing?”

  “My dear Catherine, I am choosing those whom I think would serve you best.”

  Like most docile people, I am aroused to temper rarely, but when it is released it is apt to be more fierce than tempers which are allowed to show themselves more often. I felt angry now, and my anger was the greater because of the sadness behind it. He had chosen her. There could be only one reason. Because he wanted her here. She had been his mistress. She had borne a child. Whose child? She had left her husband, implying that he had no claim on the child. Then who…? It was becoming clear to me. The urgent business which had taken him away from Hampton Court had been to go to her. I had been deceived. I had been innocent…ignorant…and he had used my innocence to betray me.

  I said: “Are you sure you do not mean she w
ould serve you best?”

  “What does that mean?” he demanded.

  “It means that I know she has been your mistress in the past. The indication to me is that she still occupies that dubious position.”

  He was angry; he was disturbed; but even so he managed to be amused. I felt then that he would be amused by any situation, no matter what pain it caused to others.

  “What amuses you?” I could not help asking.

  “Your solemnity, my dear. This is nothing…a bagatelle. We can arrange this.”

  “I have already done so by crossing her name off the list.”

  “But I wish her to have the post.”

  “Why?”

  “Because she is the most suitable for it. I know these ladies.”

  “Very well, it would seem.”

  “Catherine, you are so different. Where is my sweet little wife?”

  “You cannot expect sweetness from her when she is asked to accept your mistress into her household.”

  “I admit to a liaison in the past. There were…others, you know. It is natural enough. I was never meant to be a monk. All that is changed now. I swear I have not been with Barbara since our marriage.”

  “Barbara!”

  “Barbara Palmer, Lady Castlemaine.”

  “And you are now proposing to resume the relationship?”

  “Catherine! What has happened to you?”

  “I should have thought that would have been clear.”

  “This jealousy…this unreasonableness…it is so unlike you.”

  “I saw no reason for jealousy before this.”

  “There is none now. Catherine, you are the Queen. You must behave like one.”

  “And tolerate the presence of my husband’s mistress in my bedchamber?”

  “She is not my mistress now.”

  “She was.”