The blade skittered away in the dust of the yard, and the lads cheered wildly for Tom, who pushed his hair out of his eyes and laughed at the boys’ enthusiasm. Then he looked back at Essex, preparing to tell him how the trick was done, but the words died on his lips at the look on the young Earl’s face.
‘How dare you?’ spat Essex, standing with his hands on his hips and his legs planted apart, ‘I am the Earl of Essex and you are merely my step-father’s bodyguard, born of a clerk and a laundry maid.’
Tom snorted a laugh at the arrogance of this remark. His father Sir Ralph, trained by Thomas Cromwell, was Private Secretary to the Queen, and a member of the Privy Council. He smiled as he bent to retrieve the blade, and offered it to Essex hilt first, and he replied, ‘My father may be a clerk as you say, my Lord, even though he has risen to be the highest clerk in the land. But my Lady Mother, sir, was never, ever, a laundry maid.’
All the boys sniggered at the dripping sarcasm in Tom’s voice. They all well knew Lady Sadler, who visited regularly and always brought marchpane animals and honeyed sweetmeats for the squires, and they liked her immensely.
Tom drew himself up to his full height, shoulders broad with horsemanship and sword practice, and he looked directly into Robert Devereux’s dark eyes with his hazel ones. Pacing round the circle, he winked at the lads, who had fallen silent at the look on the young Earl’s face then taking a deep breath, he spoke again.
‘My Lady Mother, my Lord, was a linen maid!’ Tom burst into hearty laughter and the other squires joined in, ‘and she brought you into the world and changed your dirty clout more times than I can count.’
Devereux’s face darkened as the laughter grew and his fingers moved towards the dagger at his belt. Thomas suddenly straightened from his negligent position, aware of the tension suddenly crackling in the air and he began to watch the Earl carefully. Tom’s smile didn’t falter but his eyes suddenly glittered with danger and he shook his head imperceptibly.
‘Robbie, my love,’ called Lettice, walking into the yard on her husband’s arm, ‘do spar again and show us how good you are.’
Essex snatched his sword from Tom’s grasp and stalked out of the yard, snarling, ‘Watch the others, Mother. I have no stomach for another bout with a peasant. I prefer the company of gentlemen.’
Lettice blinked up at Robert in surprise, and he smiled down at her, ignoring her son’s outburst, although his mouth had tightened.
‘I’m sure Tom has the energy for another bout, eh, Tom? Put my lady’s brother Dickon through his paces and we’ll see what he’s made of,’ said Robert smoothly, settling Lettice carefully on a stone bench to watch the sparring.
A cheer went up from the other boys as Dickon stripped off his jerkin and grasped his sword. Dickon was tall, fair and broad shouldered, but with such a gentle nature it was hard to inspire in him the single-minded toughness needed for an aggressive sparring match.
‘Now then, Dickon. I hope you were watching.’ Tom grinned at the younger boy as he paced the circle.
‘I was, Tom. And I know… where you leave yourself… open to a strike.’ Dickon spoke slowly, concentrating to control the stammer he had as a child. Tom feinted a strike towards Dickon that was easily avoided, and Dickon brought his blade round for Tom to parry. Having measured one another’s strike length, the two young men traded blow for blow for a while, as Tom called out the type of blow to the other squires, and how he intended to reply to it.
Being ten years older than Dickon was beginning to show in Tom’s breathing, but not his strength and the bout continued for some while until Dickon parried a thrust from Tom but whirled round quickly and unexpectedly flicked his blade underneath Tom’s sword. The sudden jar of the blow made Tom drop his blade in the dust and all the squires cheered and rushed in to raise Dickon on their shoulders.
Tom laughed at Dickon’s triumph and walked to the water butt to drink and catch his breath. Thomas walked over and clapped his former pupil on the back.
‘They were good bouts, lad. Dickon will be a competent swordsman when he grows up.’ Thomas looked across the yard at Lettice and Robert, who were trying to speak to Essex, who sat petulantly on the rails to the tourney yard taking no part in Dickon’s celebration. Thomas narrowed his ice blue eyes, then turned and bent his head towards Tom, who was slaking his thirst again. ‘But beware Essex, lad. He won’t abide humiliation in any guise, from anyone. Keep your spare blade handy, lad, and well oiled.’ Tom looked at the older man questioningly, then nodded briefly before wiping his face on his shirt sleeve.
‘I’ll be careful, Thomas. I swear.’
Chapter 6
ittle more than two weeks later, Lettice sat in her solar with Jane Sadler and Ursula Sherrington, stitching and gossiping with her Aunt Meg, who had come to visit.
‘Has Uncle Ralph told you that Drake has returned, Aunt?’ Lettice glanced up from the embroidered collar of the shirt she was making for Robert. The others were busy making a quilt for the new baby’s crib, the rich fabric stretched out across three laps as they embroidered flowers and animals around the edges.
‘Yes, sweetheart. He told me the ship had been sighted off Folkestone but he was unsure where it would dock. Drake prefers Plymouth harbour, but if he has a rich cargo, he may choose to sail up the Thames to St. Katharine’s Dock.’ Meg smiled across, and then tilted her head in sympathy as she remembered Lettice’s brother Ed had missed saying farewell to his mother.
Lettice laughed, ‘You mean if they are bringing pirated booty to the Queen, Aunt.’
Ursula gasped in surprise, eyes wide as she looked round the sewing circle. ‘Pirated booty, my Lady?’
Jane swallowed a giggle and turned solemn eyes on Ursula, schooling her face to seriousness while her mother and Lettice bent their faces to their sewing.
‘Did you not know that Letty’s brother Ed was a pirate with Drake, Ursula?’
‘A pirate?’ squeaked Ursula, hand to her throat as she looked at Lettice. ‘My Lady? A real pirate?’
Jane’s shoulders were lifting as she laughed silently, and Lettice leaned forward and took Ursula’s hand, squeezing it gently. ‘My brother Edward sails with Drake. They say Drake is a privateer, and robs Spanish ships to swell the Queen’s coffers with gold. The Spanish call Drake ‘El Draco’ – the dragon. Ed wanted so badly to be a pirate when he was small, and now he sails with Drake.’
Ursula’s eyes were round as she listened to the tale.
‘Your Lady Mother thought he might have fallen overboard when you all went to Frankfurt in Queen Mary’s reign.’ Meg huffed a laugh at the memory. ‘He was into such mischief when he was small, she thought he might drown.’
Lettice smiled wistfully, ‘He was no trouble on the ship as I recall, Aunt. He was very young when we went over, and just watched the sailors perform all their tasks round the ship. When we came home, he was so much bigger, and full of questions. He asked them everything about the ship, the rigging, the sails. The captain showed him how to steer and plot a course, but told him he would have to grow up and grow stronger before he could receive a commission to go to sea.’
Meg nodded, taking up the tale that was fascinating Ursula, ‘He and Tom trained together in Lord Robert’s household. Thomas trained them both in weaponry and horses, and he did indeed grow strong.’
‘Thomas who is your steward, my Lady? He trained the squires?’
‘He was my husband’s man at arms before he was my steward, Ursula. After King Edward died, my husband and his family were brought low, and when Lord Robert was in the Tower, Thomas protected his interests, found coin for bribes, whatever he needed. Then when he led some soldiers for King Philip at Calais, Thomas went with him.’ Lettice smiled at Ursula, who was becoming mor
e and more astounded at the tale she was hearing.
Lettice continued her story, ‘So, when Lord Robert became the current Queen’s Master of Horse, Thomas helped him train the squires while still being my husband’s man. He helped when my husband lost his first wife, and then when he married me and I left court, Lord Robert asked him if he would look after me, and so took Tom into his service.’
‘Oh,’ gasped Ursula, overwhelmed by the intriguing tale. Lettice met Meg’s eyes over the quilt and smiled, knowing that Meg understood all the details she had left out of the story. A sharp rap sounded at the door and in walked Thomas, accompanied by a slender, fair youth. Lettice smilingly put her sewing aside and rose, extending her hand to the young man, recognising by his familiar features who he was.
‘Welcome, Sir Kytt,’ she said in a pleased tone. The youth bowed over her hand, removing his soft felt cap, then straightened and grinned at her words.
‘But I am not a knight, my Lady,’ he said softly, eyes large at her smile.
Lettice dimpled at him, making a flush creep up his neck above his shirt collar, and his pale blue eyes widen further as she took his hand and leaned forward to whisper, ‘Not yet, Sir Kytt, but I am sure you will be one soon.’
He nodded enthusiastically, and whispered back, ‘I hope so, my Lady.’
The others in the room were silent as they listened to the scene in front of them, their sewing neglected on their laps. Lettice again smiled at the youngster, who was twisting his cap in his hands nervously, then she turned her laughing dark eyes on Thomas, standing silently by his nephew’s side. She tilted her head curiously and looked back at Kytt.
‘You are very tall for your age, Sir Kytt. Thomas tells us you are twelve.’
Kytt looked down at his boots and then cut a quick glance at Thomas, mouth quirking as he thought whether to reply. He took a deep breath and met Lettice’s eyes.
‘I was fifteen last month, my Lady,’ he breathed quickly, then looked down at his boots again, avoiding anyone’s gaze. Meg’s eyebrows rose and she regarded the young man quizzically, as if a thought had just occurred to her.
Lettice huffed a laugh and shook her head as if scolding, ‘Really, Thomas. You must certainly have lost track of time.’ Kytt continued to study the toes of his boots while waiting for his uncle’s reply.
Thomas shrugged unconcernedly, although a flush started to creep up his own neck. He cleared his throat, and then answered in his flat, expressionless way, ‘Time sometimes has no meaning, Countess.’
Lettice laid her hand on his arm and laughed merrily, shaking her head in exasperation, ‘Oh Thomas, you are such a one as my husband. Time must have little importance for men, while we women seldom think of anything else.’ She straightened and smiled into Thomas’ eyes, hiding her amusement as his arm trembled under her fingers.
‘Come, Thomas, let us take Kytt to meet the other squires with whom he will train.’ She turned and looked at the ladies, who hadn’t yet picked up their stitching, ‘Shall we all go?’ Ursula and Jane leapt to their feet immediately, and Meg swallowed a smile at their eagerness to go and watch the squires. She was well aware that Jane would hope to see Dickon, but she didn’t yet know who Ursula was hoping to see.
Thomas bent his head to speak to Lettice softly, ‘Are you sure you are well enough, my Lady?’
‘Of course, Thomas. And I trust you to take care of me outside.’
‘My Lady.’
***
Kytt and the girls clattered down the steps to the stable yard with Thomas helping Lettice down the stairs at a more leisurely pace and Meg following sedately behind. Lettice pushed her amusement down at the solicitous way Thomas held her elbow on one side, and she gripped the bannister rail as she slowly descended the steps. She knew Robert’s first wife had died of a fall down the stairs, and although she had heard all the scurrilous rumours surrounding this tragic event, she realised that, with her compromised balance, she really needed to take extra care. As she reached the final step, Kytt extended his hand to her and she allowed him to help her down the last stair.
‘Why, thank you, Sir Kytt. You are obviously as chivalrous as your uncle,’ she laughed as they both released her and Thomas held his arm out for Meg as she reached the foot of the stairs. Meg smiled her thanks and he bowed his head briefly.
Kytt allowed Lettice to walk in front of him through the outer door, where the girls were waiting, eyes wide and mouths agape at the man standing in the yard watching the other boys practice with their swords and at the quintain.
The man, tall and broad, stood with his legs planted wide, his hands on his hips as he watched the practice. He had curls of a reddish gold showing below his brown velvet cap, and a cloak of the same fabric adorned with intricately woven gold braid hanging from one shoulder. His bronze brocade doublet and breeches were similarly trimmed, and his boots had ornate golden buckles on the side. He was offering advice to the lads in a booming voice, laughing heartily when one poor unfortunate was knocked from his horse by the quintain swinging round. Suddenly, he felt a change in the air as Lettice and the girls whispered together, and as he turned, Lettice gasped as she recognised the bright blue eyes in a tanned face.
‘Ed!’
‘Letty. Good God be praised, but you’re as big as a house.’ Lettice’s brother Ed strode forward and picked Lettice up easily, kissing her on both cheeks before setting her down carefully. He turned and saw Meg smiling up at him, and he picked her up gently, giving her the same greeting.
‘Aunt Meg. You haven’t changed a bit!’ He set her back down and then looked at the girls, his broad face breaking into an incredulous grin.
‘Lady Jane!’ he boomed, and grabbed Jane up into an enormous bear hug, swinging her round as she shrieked with laughter and Ursula, eyes huge, tried to make herself invisible against the wall. Ed put Jane down after kissing her face all over, and he made a courtly bow to Ursula, taking her hand and kissing the back briefly.
‘Sir Edward Knollys at your service, my lady. Might you do me the honour of telling me your name? I’m sure it will be a lovely name, for such a beautiful lady.’ Ursula blinked at him in overawed silence, and Lettice swatted Ed on the arm.
‘Don’t embarrass the poor girl, Ed. She isn’t used to us yet. This is Ursula Sherrington, and she is part of our household.’
‘An absolute honour, Mistress Sherrington. I hope we see much of each other while I am here.’ Ed bowed again and then turned to Lettice, ‘I am pleased to see you so well, Letty.’
‘And I you, brother. Come, I will have some ale and food brought,’ she turned bright eyes to Thomas and Kytt, ‘and could you introduce Kytt to the others, Thomas? While I speak with my brother?’
‘My Lady.’ Thomas bowed, and Kytt smiled at Lettice before he too bowed as she left them, arm in arm with her brother and followed by the others.
Chapter 7
etty, the biggest regret of my life is that I couldn’t say goodbye to her.’ Ed drained his cup of ale and proffered it for a refill.
Meg looked up from her stitching as Ursula filled Ed’s cup before resuming her place by Jane.
‘She was peaceful at the end, Ed. She knew you would have all been with her if you could, but no-one understood duty like your mother.’ Meg’s eyes grew bright with tears as she thought of her friend.
‘Did Father not get back either, Letty?’ Ed buttered some warm bread and put a piece in his mouth.
‘No, Ed. Father and Franc were coming as fast as they could from Chatsworth, where they had been questioning the Scots Queen. We that were here said our farewell, the girls, the other boys,’ Lettice swallowed, ‘the Queen.’
Ed looked at his sister, sorrow written plainly on both their fac
es. ‘She would be glad of that then, at least.’ He broke some cheese from a block and chewed silently, lost in his thoughts.
‘We were telling Ursula about you being a pirate, Ed, and now here you are.’ Jane’s clear tones broke the shroud of sorrow that had descended on the little group. Ed snorted a laugh.
‘Has Lady Jane been frightening you with tales of my exploits, Mistress Sherrington? They are not half as terrifying as people would have you believe, you know.’
‘Do tell, Ed,’ said Lettice, picking up the embroidery once more and settling her bulk more comfortably.
‘I’ll swap a story of mine for one of yours Letty. I have been away for months, and I don’t know what is happening with anyone.’
‘Tell us about winning the booty from a Spanish Galleon then, brother, and I will tell you what I know about court.’
Ed sliced himself some more cheese and began to regale the astonished ladies with tales of Spanish gold and treasure captured for the benefit of the realm.
***
‘The Countess’ brother leads a very exciting life, Jane.’ Ursula looked across at Jane as they stitched while Lettice accompanied Meg to her carriage. Ed had gone down to the yard to watch Thomas and the boys while they trained. Lettice had asked Jane if she would stay with them while they waited for the baby, and then accompany her to Kenilworth, and Jane had readily agreed.
‘He seems to,’ agreed Jane, snipping her thread with the silver scissors attached to her belt and then choosing another shade for the flower she was embroidering.
‘Why does he call you ‘Lady’ Jane? Do you really have a title? From your father, perhaps?’ Ursula’s eyes widened at her own daring, asking questions like this. Jane looked across at her new friend and smiled gently, shaking her head.
On the Altar of England (Tudor Chronicles Book 4) Page 5
