Chapter 24
TWENTY-FOUR
Thomasin woke to find a figure sitting beside her bed.
“Ellen?”
Her cousin looked up. “Ah, you are awake. How are you feeling?”
“Tired and strange. How come you are here?”
“Well, you know how quiet things are at Baynard’s Castle, so the queen gave me leave to visit. I’ve brought some books, if you are up to reading, and a few treats from the queen’s table.”
Thomasin propped herself up on her elbows. “Oh, that is very kind. How are things with the queen?”
“She is doing well, full of hope. She dined with Bishop Fisher and has gone out riding this morning, on account of it being such a fine day.”
“That is unusual. She must be feeling better.”
“She has gone up to the fields above the city walls, taking the Scottish ambassador and his wife with her; she seemed quite her old self again. I can only pray that the court’s verdict merits this confidence.”
“Who is in court today?”
“No one is needed now. The main arguments have been made and the cardinals are consulting the legal documentation provided by the universities. So fear not; you are not missing out on your duty.”
Thomasin sighed. “Is Mother about? Has there been any news of Father?”
“When I arrived, she and Cecilia said they would take the opportunity of me being here to visit him, so they have ridden out in the carriage with Sir Matthew, bound for the Tower.”
“I must speak with Cecilia upon her return.”
“I am sure you will, but until their return, there is little more that you can do but rest.”
“I suppose so.”
“Or you can pass the time by gossiping with me, should you have the strength.” Ellen had a mischievous look upon her face that Thomasin knew well.
“What is it? What gossip is there?”
“Very little, save that one of the queen’s ladies, who you know very well, might be about to become betrothed in the next day or so.”
Thomasin’s addled brain struggled to grasp this. “What, who? Not you, Ellen? Tell me, is it you?”
A shy smile crept across her face. “None other than me.”
“Betrothed? But I cannot… Sir Henry Letchmere? I can think of no other.”
“And I can think of no other either, Thomasin. Yes, it is Harry Letchmere. He is on the verge of proposing; he hinted as much to me last night and only awaits the queen’s permission. But tell me: what do you think of my choice?”
“I am stunned, honestly. I had no idea things had progressed so far. You have kept this secret to yourself.”
“It’s not so much a secret. You have seen us together. It has been fast, I admit, and I did not wish to get my hopes up, but I am minded to accept him when he asks.”
“Goodness. I feel I hardly know him.”
“Well,” said Ellen, frowning a little, “it is not you who he is asking. I hope you can be a little happy for me.”
“Yes, of course I am. Dear Ellen, of course I am. You have taken me by surprise, that is all. Tell me all about him.”
“I hardly know where to start. It is not the same as with Hugh; he is a very different character, quiet and gentle.”
“Yes, I have seen that myself.”
“He has also been married before and is a widower with no children, so it is ideal for us to start again. I am not too old yet; I might have the family I always hoped for.”
“Yes! I am delighted for you, truly I am. And he is all you would wish for?”
“I believe he is. Kind and thoughtful and generous. He has a house in the north of Essex, near the forest of Epping, not too far from court, so I will remain in the queen’s household until such time as I may bring forth children.”
Thomasin could see the happiness radiating from her cousin’s face. “I had not expected it, but this is the best news I could have hoped for. You deserve it, Ellen, after all you have been through.”
“And we’ll have my inheritance, along with his, so we might have no concerns about providing for ourselves. We have not yet ironed out the details, but he wishes for me to keep a generous portion of it under my own control. I could not ask for more.”
“How about love?” Thomasin mused. “This is all very well, but do you think you love him, Ellen?”
Her smile answered the question. “If it is not love yet, it very soon will be. I have twice been burned by the infatuation of love, but this is a slow-burning affection based on respect and companionship. He is simply the best man I know, and a friend of Giles, of course, which speaks volumes.”
“It does?”
“Of course. Anyone who Giles considers a friend must be a trustworthy and honourable man, like himself.”
“You have a high opinion of Sir Giles.”
“Yes, he merits it. Don’t you?”
“Indeed, I do, for the kind help he has given my family in our hour of need.”
“There is more to him than that, is there not? After Harry, I will admit he is a true paragon of a gentleman, unequalled at court.”
“Yes, well.” Thomasin shifted in bed, uneasy at this talk. “I wonder if I might be strong enough to get up today.”
“Dr Butts said you should stay in bed. I do not want you collapsing while I am here with the sole charge of you.”
“All right, I will wait until my mother returns and collapse then. Is there wine?”
Ellen poured some from the flask on the table. Thomasin drank gratefully, her throat parched after her long sleep and their talk. She wondered what her cousin would say about the conversation she had overheard the previous evening.
“I am concerned about Cecilia,” she began.
“I think William Hatton visited the house yesterday evening. I woke in the darkness and heard them in the garden. Their plan was to ask the king for a quick divorce so they could marry before the child arrives, but it seems that Henry is reluctant to grant them what he longs for himself. So, they are making plans to run away together and live abroad as man and wife, in Italy, I think. Hatton is a lot more certain, while Cecilia is afraid to travel in her condition.”
“I cannot blame her for that. I would not wish for the discomfort, or to be away from home and family at such a time.”
“That is what I thought. Mother had hoped she would lie in at Eastwell Hall, where she can be on hand. I cannot think of Cecilia undergoing such an ordeal among strangers, in a foreign land, unable to speak the language.”
“No, it does not bear thinking about. It cannot be.”
“This is why I wish to speak with her, but it must be soon.”
“They will be back soon, I am sure.”
“There is also another matter. I do not trust Hatton at all. No matter what she feels for him, I have always had my doubts, but I was prepared to see them happily married until John Dudley mentioned something. He has heard reports of Hatton having a betrothed down on the south coast, near the residence of his stepfather. Hatton must refute this himself. We can’t have Cecilia being lied to again. ”
“No, all must be clear and above board if they are to be together.”
“But the matter of the child is pressing. It is due in September, although it may come early, as first children often do, or so Mother says.”
Ellen sat up. “Wait, what was that?”
Thomasin strained to follow the sound, and soon she was also aware of hooves on the cobbles outside, followed by footsteps in the downstairs hallway.
“They are back! I will not get up, as you advise, but please ask my mother to come up as soon as she is able to.”
Ellen nodded and left the room, her steps receding down the staircase.
Thomasin lay back on her pillows. She knew she was right to speak up about Italy, but should she have mentioned the reputed betrothed? The last thing she wanted to do was stand in the way of her sister’s happiness, but what if she might be protecting her from further heartbreak?
The voices from the hallway were rising in pitch and energy.
Thomasin turned her ear to the door, trying to discern her mother and uncle’s words, as the former seemed almost beside herself with excitement.
It was all Thomasin could do not to shuffle out of bed and across the floor towards the door, although she feared she would stumble on the stairs.
Soon, the sounds grew louder, mounting the staircase, turning the bend and heading up to the rooms above. Thomasin could barely contain her anticipation.
“Hello?” she called out. “What is it?”
Ellen entered the room first. “You will not believe it, Thomasin, but your mother has brought home a surprise.”
Two figures followed her into the room, more slowly. Lady Elizabeth was leading a man by the arm, whom Thomasin suddenly recognised with a shock of delight.
“Father!”
She sat up in bed and reached out her arms.
“He has finally been released,” said Lady Elizabeth, her face a mixture of relief and concern. “Just as we were visiting, a letter arrived from the king giving permission for him to leave.”
Sir Richard stepped into the light, revealing just how tired he looked. The ordeal had drawn the colour from his face, and he was clearly in need of rest. He leaned over the bed and wrapped his daughter in an embrace.
“And you are unwell in bed?” he asked, before letting her go.
“Oh, it is nothing. Dr Butts calls it the green sickness, but I am resting and already feel better.”
“It is good to see that. And thank you for your visit, and all those of your friends.”
“My friends?”
“More and Fisher and Dudley have been keeping me company, but none more regularly than your cousin Giles.”
Thomasin knew this, but hearing it again struck her anew.
“Every day he came, bringing gifts, reading to me, composing letters on my behalf. I cannot thank him enough.”
“Such a treasure he is,” said Lady Elizabeth. “He has done us so much good. I am sure his hand is behind this release; he must have been petitioning the king.”
Behind her, Ellen raised her eyebrows at Thomasin.
Thomasin refused to be drawn. “But how are you feeling, Father?”
“If truth be told, I am a little weary of it all. For all the companionship I had during the day, the nights were long and my bed was not comfortable. I had a lot of time to think, and I have come to the conclusion that my time at court is at an end. I am done with the nonsense of men and their vanity and cruelty to each other. I intend to rest for a few days and recover my strength, and then we are returning to Suffolk. There is no place I would rather be than among the trees and birds and wide skies of my own peaceful home, where I am king and master, and there is no divorce or decree or incarceration.”
Lady Elizabeth flinched a little at the mention of divorce. Thomasin realised she had not yet told Sir Richard of Cecilia and Hatton’s plans, but this was not the time to raise them.
“Where is Cecilia?” asked Thomasin. “Could she not make the stairs?”
“She is with Dr Butts,” said Lady Elizabeth, “consulting him about her condition. I am to send the carriage for her again in an hour.”
A sudden wave of concern struck Thomasin. There was every chance that her sister was meeting the doctor, but after the conversation she had overheard the previous night, there was a possibility that she was with Hatton, making plans, or even embarking upon their escape.
Ellen had the same idea. “We should not tire you, dear Uncle Richard, nor Thomasin either. Let us leave her to her rest and take you to yours. Shall I send to the kitchen for wine and spices, or would you rather have a caudle made from honey and almond milk?”
“A caudle would be most beneficial,” he said, leaning on the arm she offered, just as Thomasin gestured for Lady Elizabeth to remain with her.
When their voices had receded down the stairs, Thomasin took a deep breath.
“Mother, close the chamber door. I would not disturb Father with this.”
“What is it? Are you unwell?”
“No more than before.”
“Such good news! I can’t express how grateful we are for your father’s release. It was all Sir Giles, you know, all down to his good offices. Sir William Kingston said as much.”
“Yes, it is wonderful news. But, Mother, are you certain that Cecilia is with Dr Butts?”
“We dropped her outside his house.”
“Did you see her go inside?”
“Into the courtyard, but not inside the house itself. Why do you ask?”
“Hopefully it is only my caution that makes me doubt her.”
Lady Elizabeth frowned. “She has done much to cause doubt. What else do you fear?”
“Last night, I woke and heard voices outside my open window. I do not know what time, but it was Cecilia and William Hatton.”
“Yes, he was here last night. He called before supper to speak with her about their plans.”
“Their plans to wed after her divorce from Hugh?”
“That’s right.”
“Well, they are planning more than that. It seems that the king is reluctant to grant their wish and Hatton is all for whisking her away to some other country. He spoke of going to Italy.”
“Italy? In her condition? He must be mad.”
“That is what I thought. So he has said nothing of the sort to you?”
“No, I would have nipped that nonsense in the bud had he dared to do so. Your sister will come to Suffolk with us and spend her lying-in at Eastwell Hall.”
“Unless she has already flown.”
“No, surely not. She has no necessaries with her. She has been rash in the past, impulsive for the sake of love, but she is not stupid. She would not risk the life of her unborn child for a whim of Hatton’s, would she?”
“I hope not, Mother. There is more. John Dudley spoke to me of a woman on the south coast who may be betrothed to Hatton. I do not know the truth of it, but I do not like it.”
Lady Elizabeth rose to her full, diminutive height. “I will send the carriage for her at once. There is no need to trouble your father with this. You must rest and recover now, Thomasin. I thank you for your vigilance.”
“I pray it is unnecessary.”
“I think your sister is past prayer, now.”