In The Midst of Madness: Tudor Chronicles Book Two

by Lesley Jepson

  Ned’s letter lay unheeded on the bed as he read the same six words over and over in Anne’s large loopy handwriting, trying to understand what had happened in the three weeks since he had left Germany that had destroyed his future.

  “The King has married Kate Latimer.”

  Tom threw his cup at the wall, and upended the tray of bread and fruit over the bed. Last time he had wanted to make Kate his wife, her father and Lord Latimer had conspired to thwart him. This time the blame lay with the King, and he had to wonder if Kate herself was avoiding her marriage to him as well. He would ask her that question when he saw her, he thought grimly.

  ***

  ‘Your Royal Highness,’ spoken tightly through gritted teeth, eyes down as he bowed.

  ‘Sir Thomas. It pleases me that you are returned safe home,’ eyes downcast, murmured words as a blush rose up her cheek.

  He looked at his Kate, sat in the Queen’s solar with a book in her lap, dressed in a collared gown of sapphire blue silk slashed with gold at her sleeves and round the hem, with a large sapphire and diamond pin at her throat and a prim hood in matching fabric covering her hair. Her glorious light brown hair, which spilled over his chest when he took her and they …..!

  ‘Why, my Kate?’ a whisper as he bent to kiss her fingers.

  ‘He’s the King, Tom,’ a whispered answer.

  ‘But you were to be in mourning until I came home for you,’ another whisper.

  ‘And he’s the King,’ said sadly, resigned, with a dismal shrug and downcast eyes so tears didn’t fall.

  Louder, ‘May I sit a while with you, Highness?’

  ‘Gladly, Sir Thomas. I should like to hear of your adventures in Germany and France.’ Kate nodded to her attendants, who moved to the other side of the room to listen to the musicians playing softly.

  ‘I shall wait for you, Kate,’ said softly. Kate looked at him sharply.

  ‘I cannot expect you to do that, my Lord.’

  ‘I have wanted no-one but you for so many years, Kate. I will wait.’

  ‘And I still want you, Tom. But I shall not dishonour this husband either. I promise myself to you, but not while Henry lives.’

  ‘He is old, my love, and often ill. We may not have to wait long.’

  ‘Be careful, my Lord. Others have died for saying that out loud.’

  He laughed, as if at a jest, and the attendants looked across curiously. ‘I shall not die, my Kate, until I have made you my wife.’ He stood, just as Henry appeared at the door of the solar.

  ‘Tom Seymour,’ Henry boomed and Tom made a low bow to his King. ‘You have come to congratulate us, Tom?’

  ‘I have, Your Majesty. I was just offering my good wished to Her Highness before coming to find you.’

  Henry clapped Tom on the back. ‘We are well pleased with our sweet Kate. And we will be pleased to hear about your efforts on our behalf in Germany and France, eh sweeting?’ His benevolent gaze fell on Kate, who rose to curtsey. ‘And join us for supper, Tom. Your brother and his wife will be there, so you can regale us all with your foreign adventures eh? Those adventures you can discuss with ladies present, eh?,’ and Henry clapped him enthusiastically on the back again before kissing Kate on the cheek and making his way out of the room, followed by his attendants.

  Tom bowed deeply to Kate and murmured, ‘Until tonight, Your Highness,’ then hurried to join the court that surrounded Henry. He would not stay in the Queen’s apartments and invite scandal.

  Chapter 24 - 1543

  eg snuggled under Ralph’s encircling arm as her breathing calmed after their lovemaking. She loved these moments, in the aftermath of passion, the feeling of belonging she had with her husband. ‘We are invited to court, Ralph,’ she smiled into his chest as she whispered her news.

  ‘Really, my Meg? In what capacity?’ Ralph was surprised. ‘I thought you quite safe away from court in the service of the Princess. Am I wrong to think that?’

  ‘We are going with the Princess, of course. She has been invited by the new Queen to come to court, and share the tutors of the Prince and the other children of the court, the Grey girls and the Dudley boys. Princess Mary will be there too, although of course she is too old for tutors.’ Meg giggled, ‘I shall be able to keep my eye on you, my Lord.’ She wriggled her eyebrows at Ralph and he burst into laughter.

  ‘Then I shall make sure I keep myself decent, if I am under scrutiny,’ he whispered into her ear, making her shiver with delight. She jabbed him in the ribs.

  ‘Decent? Why decent?’

  ‘Well, I have been known to have assignations with linen maids, who carry piles of linen with messages hidden in them.’

  She snorted with laughter. ‘I never carried a message hidden in the linen, Ralph! And I never thought our courtship a series of assignations.’

  ‘Nor I, my love,’ he began to kiss her neck and shoulder, ‘but if you want to come to my office with a hidden message, let me show you where I’d like to find it!’

  She laughed again as his hand swept up her leg and he began to make love to her once more. Hidden messages indeed!

  ***

  ‘A family portrait, my Lord?’

  ‘Yes, Kate. A portrait by Holbein, of me and my children and my Queen. What do you think, sweeting?’

  ‘I think it’s a lovely idea, my Lord. Since your children have been at court with us, we seem to have shaped them into a little family.’

  Henry smiled indulgently at his Queen. He knew Kate loved his Edward, and the little boy loved her back with a devotion that warmed his heart. Elizabeth was blossoming under Kate’s tutelage, he thought. His studious daughter was an expert scholar, well versed in Latin, Greek and the classics, as well as French, Spanish and German. But Kate was teaching her to be a young lady, with her easy grace and cheerful disposition. Even Mary; difficult, spiky, easily insulted, worryingly devout, even she enjoyed Kate’s company and that of her sister and little brother. They all seemed to laugh more, since Kate became his Queen.

  The whole court seemed lighter, less troubled. And his leg seemed to be improving since Kate took over his treatment, cleaning it twice daily and gently spreading her mother’s salve over the ulcer. The surrounding skin seemed to be responding, and it seemed, at last, to be healing. Dr Butts was very impressed with the success of his recovery, and had told him that horse riding would strengthen the muscle, as long as he didn’t overdo it and split the fragile skin. Henry was delighted to be back in the saddle again, even if the horse wasn’t quite the destrier of his youth.

  ‘When shall we sit for the portrait, my Lord?’

  ‘Well, whenever is convenient, sweeting. Holbein will make sketches when he can, and put them together into a portrait. None of us has the time to sit for hours while he paints, I’m sure.’

  Kate smiled at her husband. Life as Queen had settled into a routine of seeing petitioners, spending time with Henry’s children, reading, sewing and then either a meal in the great hall with the whole court, or a series of small suppers, usually with Ned Seymour and his wife, and a few other of Henry’s ministers; Thomas Wriothesley, Archbishop Cranmer, Stephen Gardiner and of course, her Tom. That was difficult, because she couldn’t see him without wanting him, and he obviously felt exactly the same. They had to be careful how often they spoke to one another, and guard against longing glances. And the way Anne Seymour behaved at these suppers was often the hardest thing to bear, Kate thought. The woman obviously detested her, and she couldn’t imagine why.

  ‘Edward wouldn’t want to sit for hours, my Lord. He spends too much time cooped up with a book in any case. He needs to be in the fresh air, riding and practising with the sword.’

>   ‘I have asked Tom Seymour to see to his horsemanship, and to help him practise with his blade. Could you go with him, just at first, sweeting? Tom can be a little too overwhelming for a reticent boy like Edward.’

  Kate lowered her eyes to her stitching, ‘As you wish, my Lord,’ and she smiled.

  ***

  ‘Your Highness, and Your Highness! This is an unexpected honour.’ Tom bowed to the Queen and to the Prince of Wales. The little Prince laughed at both of them being “Highness”.

  ‘Your steed awaits, my Lord,’ Tom nodded to one of the grooms, who led a placid chestnut pony out, saddled ready for Edward to ride. Edward bowed his thanks to Tom and allowed the groom to help him mount.

  ‘I shall stand here with the Queen, my Lord, and watch how you ride. The groom will lead the horse to begin with, and I shall watch how you sit,’ Edward smiled and nodded. He liked his Uncle Thomas, who was more fun than his Uncle Ned. The groom led the horse to the middle of the paddock, and Edward concentrated with determination on keeping his back straight and his heels down.

  ‘How now, my Kate?’ whispered Tom. He did not touch her; he did not dare.

  ‘Hello, my love,’ she replied, keeping her hands on the paddock rail and her eyes on the Prince.

  ‘How are you, Kate? How is being the Queen?’ He tried and failed to keep the hard note from his voice when he spoke. Kate sighed.

  ‘What would you have me say, Tom? My life is as you see it. I am never alone, I cannot speak my true thoughts to anyone. I nurse my husband, as I have done since I was thirteen.’ She closed her eyes, and opened them again, looking directly at him. ‘I would rather be in your bed, Tom, with you inside me, but I am here, as you see.’

  He let a groan of longing escape from his throat, and then waved at the young Prince. ‘Well done, my Lord. A beautiful seat. Now tap her sides with your heels and try a trot.’ The groom quickened his pace as the horse started a slow trot at the Prince’s command.

  ‘I can’t bear to think of you in Henry’s bed, my love.’

  ‘Then don’t, Tom! Although it is not as you obviously imagine.’

  He turned to look into her eyes. ‘Not?’

  ‘No, Tom,’ she said with a sigh, ‘Henry is old, and ill. He might be better with his leg, but ‘in bed’, as you so obviously mean it, he is still old, and still ill.’

  ‘Then the marriage is unconsummated?’ His tone was incredulous.

  ‘We were ‘put to bed’ Tom, but that was ceremonial. We stayed together all night, and it is supposed that nature took its course. But none have dared ask about it.’ She laughed bitterly. ‘Until now, that is!’

  Tom had the decency to look abashed at her answer, but then couldn’t resist a whisper, ‘So I am still your only?’

  Kate looked at him levelly, then turned to watch the Prince, still trotting, although the groom was becoming quite breathless. ‘You know you are, Tom.’ She smiled at Edward who was trotting towards them, still standing at the paddock rail.

  ‘Did you see me, Lady Mother Kate? I trotted a long time, didn’t I?’

  ‘You certainly did, my Lord Prince. And your back was ramrod straight, and your heels were down like an expert, were they not, Sir Thomas?’

  ‘You were wonderful, my Prince. The horse has been quite exhausted with your prowess.’ The fat little mare was breathless, but Kate suspected it was too much hay, rather than the exertions of the Prince’s ride. ‘Now, pat her neck, Sir, to thank her for her hard work, and then the groom will help you dismount at the mounting block yonder.’ Edward patted the mare’s neck, and she blew through her nostrils in acknowledgement, which made the little boy laugh, then the groom led the horse to the mounting block.

  ‘I look forward to seeing you again, my Kate,’ a low murmur so the groom didn’t hear.

  ‘As do I, my love,’ a whisper in reply, then louder, ‘Shall we have your company at supper tonight, my Lord? Your brother and sister-in-law are invited, so we would so enjoy your company as well.’ The little Prince ran up to Kate and she took his hand in hers, then smiled and nodded to Tom. ‘Later then, Sir Thomas.’

  ‘Good day, Your Highness. Good day, Your Highness,’ he bowed, and Edward giggled again.

  Chapter 25 - 1542

  eg held tightly to Ralph’s arm as they walked, telling her sorrowful tale. ‘Then when little Alys and I came back to look for the Princess’ gloves, that’s when I heard her.

  Oh, Ralph, it was awful!’

  ‘So what did you do, my love?’

  ‘Well, I sent Alys back out with the gloves for Princess Elizabeth, so she didn’t hear, and then I went to see where she was.’

  ‘And where was that?’ Ralph stroked the curls from Meg’s flushed face. They had both escaped their duties for a while, and were walking in the sunshine round the vast garden at Hampton Court.

  ‘On the window seat in the corner, behind the hanging. She was sobbing into her hands, but when I found her, she was so embarrassed.’

  ‘She is the Queen, my love. She’s bound to be embarrassed, being found by a lady in waiting.’ He kissed her forehead gently. ‘Did she tell you why she cried so?’

  ‘I don’t think she has many friends, Ralph. If she had, I don’t think she would have confided in me.’ Meg shook her head at the thought of someone like the Queen having no-one to tell her troubles to.

  ‘It is difficult for a Queen to have friends, my love. That is why, when they have one, they do everything to keep them at their side. Like Lady Willoughby.’

  Meg thought about that, remembering that Lady Willoughby, one of the oldest ladies at court, still straight-backed and indomitable, had come to England in the retinue of Katharine of Aragon as Maria de Salinas, and had stayed by Katharine’s side throughout all her troubles until she died. Meg sniffed and nodded her understanding.

  ‘So why did she cry, my love?’

  ‘The portrait. You know - the portrait that Hans has been painting, of the Royal family?’

  Ralph nodded. Meg knew Hans Holbein had been a friend of Ralph’s from the days when they all used to lodge at Austin Friars with Master Cromwell. Ralph had laughingly told her tales of how Hans had got him unexpectedly drunk on schnapps many times.

  ‘Well, did you know that the King told Hans to paint Queen Jane’s face? The Queen posed for the sketches, and it is her gown, and her stance, but it is Jane’s face! How awful is that? She felt so humiliated when the King was singing its praises, and thanking Hans for all the hard work. And then she said….’

  Suddenly she stopped speaking, and realised to whom she told the story. Ralph was her husband, and she told him everything, but this wasn’t just the minutiae of her day, domestic detail and frivolous gossip. This was a confidence from the Queen, and Ralph’s job hadn’t changed.

  He turned and looked at her, biting her lip and trying to decide whether to say more or not. He smiled and hugged her tighter, then carried on walking.

  ‘My love. I know you understand what I do. You have been with me, and at court, for many years, and you know well, almost above everyone, what can happen. But know this, before you tell me, I am on the side of the Queen.’

  She looked at him, puzzlement in her eyes. ‘On her side, Ralph? There are sides now?’

  ‘Factions, my love, as there ever was. Only people change sides, don’t they? People you wouldn’t expect to change their allegiance, suddenly aren’t who you thought they were!’

  Now she was really bewildered. What had started as a tale about the Queen being upset had turned into a discussion about the political factions of the country, and she could tell that Ralph was worried.

  ‘If I tell you what
the Queen said, Ralph, can it be a secret from a wife to a husband? I would not have it held against her.’

  ‘If you tell me, my love, it shall stay a secret. And I will explain what I meant, as a secret from a husband to his wife.’ He smiled and bumped her nose with his own.

  ‘She told me she’s in love with Tom Seymour and he’s in love with her!’ Meg spoke the words quickly so she didn’t change her mind. Ralph gazed at her in surprise. He hadn’t expected that.

  ‘Tom Seymour? Love? Well, sweet Meg, I hadn’t thought to hear those words together.’ Ralph laughed shortly. ‘He is tired of maids in waiting, obviously!’

  ‘Oh, Ralph, it was really sad. She’s really sad. They had promised themselves to each other when her husband died, and then he was sent to Germany, remember? Then, by the time he returned, she had married the King.’

  ‘Mmmm! I remember. I wonder if that’s why he was sent, to keep him away from her?’

  ‘But Ralph, the King hadn’t asked her then. She was still nursing her husband.’

  ‘The King didn’t send Tom to Germany, my love. His brother did! At his wife’s suggestion, which always seemed odd. Why would anyone think Tom Seymour of any use as an envoy? Perhaps it was a ruse, to get him out of the country? That would make more sense to me.’

  ‘Well, they’re apart now, because she won’t dishonour the King. And her heart is broken. Except he’s always there, at court, playing with Prince Edward, whispering to Princess Elizabeth, so she never gets a chance to get over him and let her heart mend.’