Chapter 5
Elizabeth had a growth spurt that summer. By August, her clothes were too tight and too short, and Lady Bryan had to beg Cromwell for new ones.
“I’ve still had no word from the court,” she said to Kat Champernowne, exasperated.
“I know only of her demotion from princess by hearsay! I know not how to order her, nor myself, nor any of her servants. Look at these smocks! Nothing she has fits her. I’m beginning to wonder if his Grace remembers that he has a daughter.
Well, I shall go on treating her as befits the daughter of a king.
I shall just have to beg Master Cromwell to be good to my little lady and all of us here. ”
Kate felt sorry for her. She knew that the dear lady feared she would be dismissed. But she did not have to fret for long, for in August her fears were allayed.
That was when the thing Kate had long been dreading came to pass.
The King’s daughters were summoned back to Hunsdon, where he intended to visit them.
Kate quailed at the thought. She did not think she could bear to see that unspeakable, blood-soaked monster.
She feared she might try to scratch his eyes out or give him a piece of her mind.
She knew that, in truth, she would do no such thing, but still she did not want to be anywhere near him.
When the royal harbingers brought word of his approach, Kate forced herself to line up in the courtyard with the rest of the household.
And there he was, trotting in on his horse, his steely gaze raking over them all, as if seeking out some sign of disloyalty.
Kate sank in an obeisance along with everyone else, unwilling to look him in the face, and suddenly, as his retinue clattered into the courtyard behind him, the quiet, ordered world of the nursery household exploded into color, gaiety, and noise.
The King was always surrounded by brilliantly dressed gentlemen and ladies—who made much of Elizabeth—and attended by hordes of ministers, officers, and servants.
There was no sign of Queen Jane, much to Kate’s disappointment.
Her presence would have made the occasion more bearable.
When he dismounted, he greeted Mary with a hearty kiss, saluted Lady Bryan quite amiably, and asked to have Elizabeth brought down to see him.
In the vast hall of the palace, everyone waited for Mistress Champernowne to bring her from the nursery.
Kate stood behind the others, clenching her hands and trying to look invisible.
If the King noticed her, she would not answer for what she might say or do.
When the nurse set Elizabeth on the floor, to Kate’s horror, the child ran straight to her, carrying the doll they had been playing with earlier. “Grizelda is better now!” she told her.
“Your Grace, the King your father awaits you,” Kate muttered, keeping her eyes downcast and giving the little girl a gentle push toward him.
She heard Henry roar with laughter as she ran over to him and curtseyed.
When Kate raised her eyes, he was looking directly at her.
“By St. George, you two cousins are alike,” he observed.
Kate realized that he was referring to her and Elizabeth. She lowered her eyes, feeling herself flush, and dropped a curtsey.
“I wish Kate was my sister,” Elizabeth piped up. “Mary is too old!”
There was a long pause as Mary reddened and looked distressed.
“Your Grace, Mistress Kate is like a sister to the Lady Elizabeth,” Lady Bryan said.
“Then we have chosen her well as a companion for our daughter,” the King said stiffly.
“Come now, Bessy, let us walk in the garden.” Kate watched as he lifted the child up, kissed her, and carried her out of the house, his fawning entourage following.
Then she fled upstairs and lay down on her bed.
When one of the maids came to tell her that dinner was about to be served in the hall, she said she was feeling sick and could not eat.
All she wanted to do was escape. The house seemed tainted by the King’s threatening presence.
As soon as she judged that he and everyone else would be at their meats, she hastened down the stair that led to the privy garden, flitted along the paths, and slipped through the wooden door in the wall that led to the hunting park.
Keeping close to the wall, she ran as fast as she could to a place where she could not be seen from the hall windows and made her way through the trees.
She had often brought Elizabeth here to play hide-and-seek, but today she was just glad to be able to sink down and rest against a trunk, breathing in the clear, unsullied air.
She would not be disturbed here, and she could stay until after the King had left.
She had not reckoned on Elizabeth. After an hour spent luxuriating in the peace and solitude, she heard voices approaching, and then Elizabeth, saying, “And this is where Kate brings me to play.”
“Does she indeed?” It was the King, and the crunching of grass told Kate that he was approaching fast.
What should she do? Pretend to be asleep? Get to her feet, curtsey, and excuse her absence by saying that she had had a headache and needed fresh air? She closed her eyes, praying they would not see her, or would leave her be.
“It seems that Kate is waiting for you, sweeting,” she was dismayed to hear the King say.
“But she’s asleep,” the child said. “She’s not well.”
“I think she’s pretending!” he chuckled. “Am I right, Mistress Carey?”
Kate opened her eyes to see his huge, glittering figure looming over her.
“She’s awake! She’s awake!” Elizabeth was dancing up and down.
“Your Grace!” Kate made it look as if they had roused her from sleep. She struggled to her feet and strove to speak without betraying her hatred. “I was feeling unwell and very tired.”
“No matter.” He grinned. “I trust you are feeling better.” He extended a pudgy hand and patted her shoulder. She tried not to flinch. “As it happens, I have been wanting to speak with you. I know you have recently given me good service in difficult circumstances, and I wish to thank you.”
Difficult circumstances? Had he any idea of the agony he had put her through, or the horror of it all, which she knew had scarred her for life?
“I thank your Grace,” she mumbled, knowing that her tone was cold and offhand.
He ignored that. What had she expected—that he would show some Christian compassion for her?
“The greatest service you can give is to continue to befriend Elizabeth,” he said. “I want her young ears protected from the infamous bruits that are circulating.”
Kate knew what he was talking about. The household was alive with gossip about the late Queen’s crimes, much of it concerning Elizabeth’s paternity.
It was being said that she was the child of Henry Norris or the lowly musician Mark Smeaton, or even, God forbid, Uncle George, which was ridiculous.
And then there was fervid speculation about the grounds on which Anne’s marriage had been annulled. No one had any idea what they were.
“It is my pleasure,” the King was saying, “that Elizabeth shall keep to her chamber for a time and not go out. That way, she will be protected from what people are saying.”
“But I don’t want to!” Elizabeth pouted.
“You must do as your father’s Grace commands,” Kate said, stepping back a pace so as to distance herself farther from the King. But he stepped forward and bent to her ear.
“Her mother is not to be mentioned. The subject is too shameful. Lady Bryan has her orders. I am telling you too, Kate, because you are close to Elizabeth.”
“Of course, Sir,” Kate murmured, trying not to recoil from him.
Her heart bled for Elizabeth, who had stooped to pick daisies.
She would grow up with the awareness that there was a dark and dreadful secret about her mother’s fate.
And Kate knew what that was like. She had still not fathomed the mystery about her own mother’s past.
“There is no need to be afraid of me, Kate,” the King was saying, looking down at her tenderly from his great height.
“I have ever had an affection for you, since you were born. I thought highly of your father. You may think me harsh in confining Elizabeth to her chamber, but you must understand that I am determined to keep her in innocence about what happened to her mother for as long as possible.”
He had misunderstood her response to him.
If he thought to cozen her, he must think again.
Why he had a particular affection for her she could not conceive.
Many noble courtiers had daughters, and there was always rampant competition for marriages or court posts for them.
Why had she been singled out and given one of the most sought-after positions of all?
Unless, of course, those pats on the arm betokened something utterly disgusting.
No, he could not fancy her! She was twelve years old!
“You will remember what I have said,” he enjoined her. “Her mother is not to be mentioned to her.”
“I understand, Sir,” Kate said. “Now, if I may take her in, it is time for the Lady Elizabeth’s dancing lesson.”
He nodded, his steely blue eyes still fixed on her. She curtseyed, took Elizabeth’s hand, and almost ran with her to the palace. In an hour or so, the King and his colorful train would be gone, and they could all breathe again.
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