by Laura Dowers
Douglass’s news was brief and to the point. She had given birth to a son and was calling him Robert. A cry of – joy, relief, disbelief - burst from him and he realised with happy astonishment his cheeks were wet. A son. He had a son. He was a father at last.
He wiped the tears away and read on. Both the child and Douglass was healthy and wishing he were with them. Robert thought it the most perfect letter he had ever received. He pulled out the chair to his desk and hurriedly wrote a reply, sending them both his very great love. Then he shook sand over the wet ink, folded and addressed it, sealed it, and left it for his secretary to send.
Then he gave his face one last wipe, clearing any trace of happiness from it, and began the walk back to Elizabeth.
49
Kenilworth Castle, Warwickshire, Summer 1575
Henry Sidney helped his wife down from the carriage. ‘He must have half the county here.’
Mary shielded her eyes against the sun. ‘Robert never does anything by halves, you know. Well, Phil, it’s been a while since you were here. What do you think of it?’
Philip Sidney climbed out after his mother, a tall, serious-looking young man. ‘Uncle has certainly improved it.’
‘Let’s find him, shall we?’ Henry led the way, past the people running to and fro, their ears ringing with the shout and clamour of voices. ‘There he is. ROBERT!’
Robert turned around, a harassed expression on his face. He began to walk towards them, even as he continued to bark orders over his shoulder. ‘Hello, Henry.’ He kissed Mary through her veil. ‘Phil.’
‘Uncle.’ Philip stepped forward and embraced him.
Robert held him tight for a moment. ‘Oh, just what I needed.’
‘Are things as bad as that?’ Henry asked.
Robert nodded grimly. ‘I’ve organised this sort of thing before, but never on this scale. And this has to be good. An extravaganza! Well,’ he turned back to the castle and spread his arms wide, ‘it’s finished. What do you think?’
‘It’s wonderful, Rob,’ Mary said.
‘Fit for a queen, Uncle.’
Robert turned to him, grinning. ‘You remember me saying that, Phil?’
‘I remember everything you tell me, Uncle.’
‘I’m very glad to hear it.’ Robert turned as one of the workers called out to him. ‘I’m sorry, I’ve still got so much to do. You know where your rooms are, don’t you? Make yourselves comfortable and we’ll meet for supper.’
‘Is there anything I can help you with, Uncle?’ Philip asked as Robert made to go.
‘Actually, yes, Phil, I could do with some help. I have some players waiting for me – they should be in the hall. Could you go and see them, make sure they know what they’re doing and run them through the play?’
‘Of course, Uncle.’
They made off in different directions, making promises to meet later.
‘You know, Mary,’ Henry said ruefully as they began walking towards the castle, ‘I sometimes wonder whose son Philip thinks he is.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Well, his father’s only a knight. His uncle’s an earl.’
‘Oh, Henry, you’re not jealous?’
Henry looked away. ‘Do you blame me? Rob’s been given all this,’ he gestured towards the castle, ‘he has the queen’s favour, he has power and prestige. What do I have?’
Mary grabbed his arm, halting him. ‘Now you listen to me. You have your knighthood and you’re Lord Deputy of Ireland. And more importantly, you have me, you have your children. Rob may have power and prestige, but he’s not allowed to publicly own a wife, he’s not free to acknowledge his own son. He has to take the taunts and insults of Elizabeth when she’s in a temper, for it’s not all billing and cooing in their relationship, I can tell you. So, I don’t want to hear anymore of how you’re not good enough. Do you hear me, Henry Sidney?’
‘I think the whole damned castle heard you,’ he said with an embarrassed smile. ‘And you’re right. I have everything I could want. But I’m right too, you know.’
‘About what?’
‘You don’t need this thing,’ he gestured at her veil. ‘Take it off. Please.’
‘Don’t make me, Hal,’ she said, and he heard the tremor in her voice. ‘I can’t bear people to see me. They look at me for a moment and then they’re too embarrassed to look any longer, so they look away. I’d rather they didn’t see me in the first place. So, please don’t make me take it off.’
Henry sighed. ‘Very well, I won’t. Come on, let’s get to our bedchamber and have a lie down.’
‘It’s the middle of the afternoon, Hal,’ she said, her voice curling with her smile.
‘And we have nothing to do until supper,’ he said, taking her hand.
50
Kenilworth Castle, Warwickshire, Summer 1575
Their horses trotted side by side as he brought her to the bridge of Kenilworth, just as the blue sky was beginning to darken. The castle rose out of the water, the reflections of a thousand torches glinting and rippling on the surface, the pennants on the battlements swelling with every breeze.
‘It’s beautiful, Robin,’ Elizabeth congratulated him. She smiled down upon the people crowding around her, anxious to see a glimpse of their monarch. ‘I want your people to see how high in my favour I hold you.’
‘They’re a good people,’ Robert said, ‘and loyal.’
‘I’m very glad to hear it. I’ve learnt my lesson with the Duke of Norfolk. I don’t intend to foster traitors in my country again.’
‘No traitors here, madam, you have my word.’
‘And I trust your word, Robin,’ she said, reaching over to place her gloved hand upon his. ‘Hallo! What’s this?’
They brought their horses to a stop and Elizabeth peered over the side of the bridge. Fifteen feet below, a raft covered with green grass and flowers floated. Standing upon it, her naked feet crushing the flowers, was a young woman, clad in white silk, her golden hair, far too beautiful to be her own, streaming over her shoulders. Two children, cupid-like, with tendrils of green ivy wrapped around their legs and arms, knelt behind her, offering up bunches of wild flowers.
‘I am the Lady of the Lake,’ the woman said. ‘Keeper of this sacred pool since the days of the great and glorious King Arthur, king of all the Britons. Never, until now, has England had such majesty. Never, until now, have I been able to entrust the keeping of this lake to anyone but our most gracious Queen.’
The Warwickshire accent was unmistakable and spoilt the mythic quality of the speech, but her words pleased Elizabeth and she smiled down at the woman. ‘I thank you for your generous gift, but we had thought the lake had belonged to us already.’
Robert’s jaw tightened. Couldn’t Elizabeth accept a compliment gracefully, just for once?
‘Very nice, Robin,’ Elizabeth murmured.
A cannon discharged its shot. Robert touched Elizabeth’s arm and pointed to a large ornate clock high on the tower he had named Caesar’s. The hand moved slightly and then stopped. ‘Whilst you are here, Bess, no time will pass.’
‘Old Father Time stands still. A happy thought.’ She looked around her, at the fairyland Robert had created for her. ‘If only.’
Days passed, all of them spent in pure enjoyment. Fireworks, dancing, hunting, masques, food, food and more food. Robert had prepared well and there were only words of praise for his accomplishments and murmurings of jealous admiration from the courtiers as the entertainments played themselves out.
One warm night, Elizabeth and Robert stood on the bridge by Mortimer’s Tower, looking down at the dark, moonlit water where a mermaid glided through the water. Beside her, a dolphin, expertly crafted, floated and atop him, sat a masked Arion. When they were directly below Elizabeth, the mermaid thrashed her tail and Arion kicked his heels, until the water foamed and tumbled. Up swam Triton, his long hair entangled with seaweed. He held a hand aloft.
‘You winds, return unto your cave
s and silent there remain. You waters wild, suppress your waves and keep you calm and plain,’ Triton shouted into the night, determined to play his part well. But Arion whipped his mask from his face and looked up at Elizabeth.
‘I heed him not, my queen. Triton commands not me, for I’m not Arion, but only honest Harry Goldingham.’
Robert scowled. The idiot had spoiled the whole scene. Was this what he had paid for?
But Elizabeth was amused. ‘Well, honest Harry Goldingham, I would rather have you than Arion and I’ve enjoyed this more than all the other entertainments put together. Here.’ She threw him a gold coin. ‘A sovereign from your sovereign.’ Honest Harry waved it above his head in triumph as he was dragged away by a sulky Triton.
Elizabeth moved off, laughing with her ladies.
‘Is something wrong, Lord Robert?’ Lettice Devereux’s smooth, low voice curled into his ears.
‘Not really,’ he said, ‘I was just thinking of how easily a fool can spoil my plans.’
‘It wasn’t spoilt. The queen laughed.’
‘Laughter wasn’t the response I was after. I suppose it doesn’t matter. So, Lettice! Are you enjoying yourself?’
‘Well, you certainly put on a good show, my lord. But I cannot help feeling that there is more sport to be had indoors of a night.’ She edged nearer so their sleeves touched.
Robert checked over his shoulder to make sure Elizabeth was not in earshot. ‘How is your husband, Lady Essex?’
The green eyes looked slyly at him. ‘He is well, and in Ireland, which is the best place for him.’
‘You,’ he said with an admiring grin, ‘are a saucy wench.’
‘As you would have discovered had you not abandoned me all those years ago.’
‘Ah, yes, so I did. Tell me, were you very upset?’
‘Devastated,’ she mocked, laying an elegant hand upon her breast. ‘To be wooed by the most handsome man at Court, and then forsaken as soon as the queen clicked her fingers. And I can’t believe that the queen ever offered you more than I could. She has not the experience. At least, that is what she claims, our dear virgin queen.’
Robert said nothing.
‘I believe you still wish to wed her,’ Lettice said sharply, irritated by his silence.
‘Only a fool would not want to.’
‘But would you be marrying her for her crown, or her body? Will you not answer me, my lord?’ She moved closer, her mouth at Robert’s ear. ‘You will find my bed warmer than the queen’s, and free to visit whenever you wished.’
‘And if I wished to visit tonight?’ he asked quietly, turning at last to look at her.
Her lips curled as her heart beat faster. ‘Then you would find my door unlocked, and I, alone in my chamber, waiting for you.’
‘Leicester!’ Elizabeth’s voice, hard and angry, cut into their conversation.
Robert turned to her immediately. ‘Yes, Your Majesty?’
‘You’re neglecting your duties as host, my lord.’
Robert moved to her. ‘Forgive me. I had thought you were attended.’
‘So I was, but not by you.’ Elizabeth’s fierce eyes flashed at Lettice. ‘You and I, sir, shall walk alone.’
She took his arm and they walked on through to the gardens, flaring torches on long poles casting shadows across the path.
‘You have been most direct these past few days,’ Elizabeth said as the scents of flowers filled their nostrils. ‘Day after day I am told I should marry. In masques, in poems, by people who jump out at me from behind trees. And who, am I told, should I marry? The answer, it seems, is you.’
‘It’s my greatest desire and no strange news to you, Bess.’
‘No, indeed. But I’m afraid all your efforts have been in vain. For I do not mean to marry. Not you, not anyone.’
Robert came to a halt. ‘I see.’
‘I am sorry, Robin,’ she said. ‘When I think of the expense you’ve gone to –’
‘Be sure, Bess,’ he turned to her, his face grim. ‘Be very sure. I’m going to ask you one last time. Marry me.’
He was in earnest, she realised. ‘I am your queen. You are oath sworn to serve and love me.’
‘I will always love you, Bess,’ he said, bending his head to kiss her.
She pushed him away, angry. ‘I can’t marry you, Rob. I can’t.’
‘Why not?’ he demanded.
‘I have reasons you could not possibly understand. Now you have your answer. Hate me if you wish.’
‘I can’t hate you, Bess, nor will I ever. You’re my queen and my friend. But lover no more.’ He sighed and looked back to the company. ‘Shall we walk back? It’s getting late.’
He pushed down the handle and opened the door. A solitary candle burned beside the bed. Lettice lay beneath the sheets, her hair fanned out over the pillow. Bare shoulders above the bed sheet, undulating over her breasts and hips. Robert stepped inside and turned the key in the lock.
She giggled as he began to pull the sheet away from her body. ‘I was beginning to think you wouldn’t come.’
He whipped the sheet away and drank in the sight of her. ‘How could I resist such an invitation?’
Her toes prodded his codpiece. Robert grasped her ankle and pulled her further down the bed, spreading her legs and placing himself between them.
‘Oh,’ she moaned, curving her body towards him, ‘thank the Lord for a proper man.’
51
Kenilworth Castle, Warwickshire, Summer 1575
‘Your Majesty, the entertainments for today –’
‘Are cancelled,’ Elizabeth finished sharply.
His feeling of happiness faded quickly. God’s Death, he thought, here we go again.
‘Why, Your Majesty?’
‘Get out,’ she barked at her attendants. They retreated hurriedly, kicking against one another’s feet in their haste. Robert watched them go and prepared himself for another quarrel. ‘Where were you last night?’
‘Why, Your Majesty?’ Robert repeated.
‘Answer me. Where were you?’
‘I did not retire to my bed until late last night, Bess. At what time exactly do you mean?’
‘Two o’clock this morning.’
‘I do not rightly remember. Perhaps in my study.’
‘Liar,’ she hissed. Her hand thudded against the pommel of her chair, and he watched her knuckles turn white as she gripped it. ‘You were in some harlot’s bed.’
He sighed heavily, and ran his fingers through his hair. He was getting tired of this game. ‘If you knew where I was, Bess, why ask me?’
Elizabeth jerked from her chair and slapped his cheek. Robert staggered back. The inside of his cheek had caught against his teeth and he tasted his own blood.
‘Madam, you deny me your bed. Would you deny me comfort elsewhere?’
‘Why do you need comfort, Robin? I do without, why can’t you?’
‘It’s not natural for a man to do without. To keep me from other women’s beds, you will need to send me to the Tower, madam, for I swear I was not made to live the life of a monk.’
The light of anger faded from Elizabeth’s eyes. She fell against the chair, missed and tumbled to the floor. She fell on her face and sobbed into her arms. Robert was too angry to go to her.
‘You will torment me to my death, Robin. I cannot bear the thought of you with other women.’
‘Then don’t think of it, Bess,’ he said, none too gently.
‘Who was she?’
‘Does it matter? Besides, the less you know, Bess, the less it will torment you. How did you know I was not in my chamber last night?’
‘I went to you. I wanted to talk to you. You weren’t there. You were sweating in some bitch’s bed. It hurt, Robin. I have cried all night long.’
‘I’m sorry that you were upset, Bess. I didn’t mean for you to find out.’
Elizabeth sat up and wiped her eyes with her fingers. Robert took a lace handkerchief from his sleeve and handed it
to her.
‘You’re right, Robin. I don’t want to know.’ She pushed herself back into her chair, sniffing. ‘As for the entertainments today, I’m sorry, but I’m not in the mood. Perhaps tomorrow. I have a headache. Leave me.’
Robert nodded and bowed out of the room. ‘See to your mistress,’ he instructed her ladies who clustered outside the door. ‘Wait a moment,’ he said, grabbing Lettice’s arm.
‘Gladly, my lord,’ she said. ‘Are you in disgrace again?’
‘In disgrace, and yet forgiven. She knows I wasn’t in my own chamber last night.’
‘Does she know whose you were in?’ Lettice asked hurriedly.
‘No, Lettice. Fear not, I didn’t inform against you. It’s better she knows nothing.’
‘She shall not hear it from me,’ Lettice promised. ‘It’s not to be the end though, is it, Robert?’
Robert pulled her to him and nuzzled her neck. ‘I enjoyed you too much to forsake you again, sweetheart. I shall come ...’
‘Tonight?’ she clutched at him. ‘Come tonight.’
‘Tonight,’ he promised.
‘Lettice,’ Elizabeth’s imperious voice called from the chamber. ‘Cousin, is that you?’
Lettice shot a quick glance at Robert, then hurried to her mistress. ‘Yes, Your Majesty,’ he heard as he pressed his ear to the door.
‘We will be leaving here in the next day or two,’ Elizabeth said. ‘I would like to stay at Chartley, cousin. You may leave at once to see to the arrangements.’
‘Oh, but Your Majesty,’ Lettice began to protest, ‘Kenilworth is far more comfortable than my home can ever be.’
‘If you don’t want me there, cousin, just say so.’
The tone of Elizabeth’s voice made Robert wince.
Lettice continued. ‘No, Your Majesty, I just want you to be comfortable. I will leave at once to make all ready for you.’ She backed out of the room, and watched the door close upon her. ‘She’s sending me away. Do you think she knows?’
