Chapter 26 #2
Together they would face Parliament to revoke Mary’s return of the Church to Rome and end the persecution of heretics.
Elizabeth and Cecil had already had to fight against the bishops in the House of Lords, many of whom had prospered under Mary and were reluctant to return church supremacy to the monarch.
The Lords tried to dance around her demands, but Elizabeth was firm—she was of the reformed religion, and that was that. No more answering to the Pope and no more persecution of heretics.
I wish I could say that the instant Elizabeth put the crown on her head England became a smoothly running kingdom of peace and prosperity, but of course I cannot.
At the time of Mary’s death, influenza had run rampant. I’d come down with it myself soon after reveling at Elizabeth’s coronation, one reason my babe came early, or so the midwife claimed. I suppose my illness had made the child ill too, though at the time I’d had no idea she was inside me.
So, with half her kingdom sick, Philip’s war in France continuing, and the bevy of eager suitors constantly besieging her, Elizabeth spent most of her time at the business of ruling.
Not all of it, however. Aunt Kat and I had come today to confront her about her private life.
Cecil gave us a courtly, if preoccupied, bow when we entered. He only nodded when Elizabeth said she would withdraw to speak to us, clearly wishing to return to the task at hand. Cecil ever enjoyed his labors.
“You look well, Eloise,” Elizabeth said after we’d made obeisance to her, and she had kissed our cheeks. “Motherhood agrees with you.”
“I have become fond of its state,” I answered neutrally. In truth I adored my little daughter, but I knew Elizabeth did not like mothers gushing about babies.
“One day, I too may sample it,” Elizabeth said briskly, as though she did not care one way or the other. “What is this important matter, Kat?”
Aunt Kat creaked to her knees, and I knelt beside her. “Lord Robert Dudley,” Aunt Kat said without preamble. “You must leave off.”
Elizabeth stilled, the silk of her dress rippling like silent water. Her mind had obviously been elsewhere, and she’d only indulged us with this private audience because she was fond of Aunt Kat. Now she focused on her, eyes narrowing.
“Oh, must I?” Imperious frost entered her voice. “Who are you to tell me I must?”
“Your old governess,” Aunt Kat returned. “I have looked after you these twenty years and longer. And never more than now have you needed me to chide you about your behavior.”
“Chide me?” Elizabeth laughed, the sound cold and shrill.
“There is no need for your chiding, Katherine Ashley. I have been friends with his lordship nearly the twenty years you have been looking after me, as you well recall. We were children together, as close as—nay, closer than—brother and sister.”
Aunt Kat fixed her with a disapproving frown. “Your flirting, dancing, laughing, and kissing have nothing to do with being brother and sister.”
Elizabeth reddened, the daughter of Henry working herself into a fine rage. “And you, Eloise Colby.” She turned her hard stare on me. “Do you agree with my aging governess?”
I nodded, bravely meeting that unforgiving gaze. “I am afraid I do. It was I who persuaded Aunt Kat to seek you today. I, who insisted she speak.”
Aunt Kat sent me an offended glance. “I certainly know my own mind, Eloise. I speak as I please.”
Elizabeth regarded us for a moment longer, then she balled her fists in fury. “My friendship with Lord Robert is none of your concern,” she snapped. “It is friendship only—mind that.”
Aunt Kat barely winced at her temper. “Rumor says otherwise. They say you enter his chamber as you please, day and night, and that you might well be carrying his child. These things are discussed at the courts of Paris and Spain. I’d not be surprised, at this rate, if it has reached the Saracen lands.
Take a husband quickly, Your Grace, I implore you, and stifle these stories. ”
Elizabeth stormed to Aunt Kat and slapped her. The red imprint of her hand was stark on Aunt Kat’s face, but Aunt Kat set her mouth in stubborn lines.
She’d said far more than I would ever have dared, but Aunt Kat knew she’d needed to say it. Or rather, she knew Elizabeth needed to hear it, bluntly and without diplomacy.
Elizabeth lowered her arm and stepped back, her breath coming fast. A muscle in her jaw moved as she strove to master herself.
“I know that you are devoted to me.” Elizabeth’s fire dispersed and the ice returned.
“Because of that devotion, you see fit to speak to me of this. But I cannot simply take a husband because you wish it, or because you think it will be good for me. Such things need to be weighed carefully, because I must marry for the good of the realm and nothing more.”
“If ever you marry him,” Aunt Kat said, not daring to say Dudley’s name again. “I believe your realm will oppose it.”
Elizabeth’s smile was brittle and terrible. “How lucky for me then that Lord Robert is married. Your concern is noted. Now, go from my side, and never speak to me of this again.”
Aunt Kat firmed her mouth and made no move to rise. “I will take any punishment you choose to give me.”
Elizabeth scowled. “I do not wish to punish you. That is, unless you do not get out.”
Aunt Kat did not flinch at her command. “Help me to my feet, Eloise. It is difficult for me to rise these days.”
I sprang up and assisted Aunt Kat, and then, under Elizabeth’s incandescent glare, we took ourselves out of the room.
Cecil, still scribbling away in the outer chamber, pretended to have heard nothing through the door, but his quick glance at us revealed he had. He, too, disapproved of Elizabeth’s excessive flirtation with Dudley, and I noticed a small smile hovering about his rather pompous mouth.