Chapter 9 #3
A richly caparisoned palfrey was waiting for Anna, its reins held by Sir John Dudley, her Master of Horse.
Kate saw her look at it in dismay. But she mounted with ease and grasped the reins as she set off with her footmen about her.
In front of her rode a great company of gentlemen, and after her came her ladies, mounted in order of rank on palfreys.
Kate loved to ride, and she enjoyed being the recipient of admiring looks as the maids passed through the ranks of gentlemen on either side of the road that led to Greenwich Palace.
Ahead, she could see the royal trumpeters approaching, and, behind them, marching toward her in orderly rank, a company of spearmen, each wearing a dark velvet doublet and a gold medallion of office on a chain round the neck.
“Your Grace, that is the King’s elite guard, the Gentlemen Pensioners,” Sir John said. Kate looked for Will, and saw him toward the back of the troop, his eyes fixed straight ahead.
Anna’s procession halted to allow the King’s Guard to pass.
Among the Gentlemen Pensioners, a young man caught Kate’s eye.
He was long-legged with strong features, a Roman nose, and a neatly trimmed chestnut beard—and he was looking at her with undisguised interest. Her heart gave a flutter and she realized that she was blushing, but then he had gone, and the King’s party was approaching.
Henry looked magnificent on his splendid courser trapped in rich cloth of gold, although Kate refused to feel overawed or impressed.
Nevertheless, he glittered, godlike, in the weak January sunlight, and the crowds gaped in awe as he passed.
To left and right, he turned a princely countenance, raising his hand in greeting.
Kate could not see Anna’s face and could only guess what she might be feeling.
The ranks of gentlemen parted, leaving a clear path between the King and his bride. Henry spurred his horse and, doffing his cap, came to greet her, looking surprisingly pleased to see her.
“My Lady Anna, welcome to England!” he cried, so that all could hear, and bowed in the saddle, whereupon Anna bowed, too.
“Your Majesty, I am both honored and joyful to be here,” she replied. Still the King was smiling at her most kindly. Suddenly, he reined in his horse beside hers, leaned over, and embraced her, to a burst of loud cheers.
“See how my subjects welcome you, Madam!” he said.
Anna returned his smile. “Sir, I mind to be a good and loving mistress to them, and a humble and loving wife to your Majesty,” she said loudly, in English. “I thank you, and all the good people here, for this wonderful welcome.”
While they were exchanging pleasantries, everyone else was taking their places amid the great concourse of people gathered on Blackheath.
Kate looked for the young man who had been gazing at her so appreciatively, but the Gentlemen Pensioners and the King’s Guard were now turning around and riding off toward Greenwich, and she had no choice but to follow the bridal pair as they made their way to the pavilion, amid great cheering.
There, the royal couple and their retinues demolished the replenished banquet, but soon it was time to leave for Greenwich.
Outside stood an empty litter, hung and upholstered with cloth of gold and crimson velvet.
Kate heard the King tell Anna that it was a gift for her, heard her thank him warmly.
With the trumpets going before, the royal couple passed through the assembled ranks of knights and esquires, preceded and followed by their entourages.
In the chariot behind Anna’s sat six German ladies and gentlewomen, whose fair faces and ornate gowns drew appreciative cheers from some Englishmen watching.
Then came the chariots bearing Anna’s English ladies, who were feeling a touch resentful at having to take second place.
“But the foreign ladies will be going home soon,” Mrs. Stonor said.
When they arrived at Greenwich Palace, they were saluted by guns positioned on top of the massive central tower.
It dominated the facade facing the river, a long range of apartments boasting a costly expanse of glass in a row of fine bay windows.
Passing through the gatehouse at the bottom of the tower, the ladies and maids entered the inner courtyard, where the King and Anna dismounted and he lovingly embraced and kissed her in front of their cheering, clapping retinues.
As he led her through the magnificent great hall, Kate, following with the rest, noticed the guards lined up like statues along the walls, but they were in a different livery to the Gentlemen Pensioners and the intriguing young man was nowhere to be seen.
She could not rid him from her mind. Among the many splendors of the day, he stood out the most vividly, and she felt almost breathless at the thought of him.
He was somewhere in this court and maybe, if she was lucky, she would see him again soon.
—
The Queen’s apartments were as magnificent as the rest of the palace, with every surface painted and gilded.
Kate and the other maids gaped, fascinated, at ceilings decorated with gilded bosses, hearths lined with expensive Seville tiles, and window alcoves tiled in green and yellow.
Again, Anna thanked Henry for his goodness to her, then he left to deal, he told her, with matters of state.
The German ladies, headed by a formidable matron called Mother Lowe, were poised to change their mistress into another gown for the feast that had been prepared, but Margaret Douglas quickly sidestepped them and commanded Kate and her companions to fetch it from the bedchamber.
As they dressed her, Anna seemed distracted, while Mother Lowe and her cohorts were positively simmering.
Yet the English ladies took no notice and pressed on with their duties.
Anna looked regal in her gown of rich green velvet, and all eyes were on her as she arrived in the King’s presence chamber, followed by her long train of ladies and maids.
The banquet was sumptuous, and Kate tucked in with gusto, despite having eaten her fill at Blackheath earlier.
That was the best thing about the court—the food was excellent and plentiful.
Afterward, they accompanied Anna back to her apartments, where they helped her change into a taffeta gown, then returned to the presence chamber, where Kate had been told there would be dancing.
She was excited at the prospect, as she took up her place with the others at the side of the dais where Anna was sitting with the King.
One by one, the maids were invited to dance, and Kate was feeling conspicuous standing there alone when she noticed that he was there. He was seated by a table and gazing in her direction. She saw him get to his feet. He was coming toward her!
“Would you do me the honor of dancing with me, Mistress Carey?” he asked. “Francis Knollys at your service.” His eyes were green, something she had never seen before, and they were looking at her appreciatively.
“I should be delighted, Sir,” she replied, and gave him her hand. He led her out onto the floor and bowed, as the consort of musicians in the corner struck up another tune.
He was not a good dancer, but he was trying hard, and all the time his eyes were on her. He was not her ideal of manly beauty, but there was something special about him, and her heart began to beat faster. When their fingers touched, she felt a frisson of pleasure.
“You know my name,” she said.
“Yes. One of the other maids told me,” he replied. “Have you been at court long?”
“I only arrived before Christmas. I was in the Lady Elizabeth’s service before that, as a companion.”
“You must be in high favor, then.” His gaze was admiring.
“She is my first cousin.”
Francis paused. “Then your aunt was—”
“Yes. I attended her in the Tower.” He won’t like me so much now, she thought. It seemed best to change the subject. “Tell me about yourself.”
Francis smiled, and it was as if the sun had come out again.
“Nothing so impressive! I’m twenty-six and I come from a gentry family.
My father served King Henry VII and was rewarded with lands, but he died when I was seven, leaving me some wealth.
I went to the University of Oxford and then a friend at court recommended me for the post of Gentleman Pensioner.
Last year I was chosen as one of those sent to greet the Princess Anna when she arrived in England. How old are you, Mistress Carey?”
“I will be sixteen in the spring,” she told him, thinking already that he would be highly eligible as a husband. Could he be the one she had been waiting for? But she was running ahead of herself!
The music stopped and Francis bowed once more. “Will you dance with me again, Mistress Carey?”
“Yes, I will, Master Knollys.” She smiled. “And please call me Kate.”
“I will—Kate!” he promised. “As long as you call me Francis.” They embarked on a stately pavane, then broke into a lively galliard. The floor was crowded and they could hardly hear themselves speak.
“Let’s go up to the gallery,” Francis suggested. “We can talk there.”
Delightedly, Kate let him lead her up the spiral stair. In the gallery overlooking the hall, they sat on an old dusty bench where they could peer unseen through the balusters at the dancers below.
“Do you have any brothers and sisters?” she asked.
“Two sisters called Mary and Jane, and an annoying brother called Henry.” Francis grinned. “I love him really! And you?”
“I also have a brother called Henry, but I never see him because he was educated at Syon and now lives at Woburn Abbey. The King sold his wardship to Sir Francis Bryan, who sent him there to complete his studies. He’s younger than me.”
“And your father and mother?”
“My father died of the sweating sickness when I was four. My mother remarried and lived in Calais for some years, where my stepfather served in the garrison. His name is William Stafford.”
“I know him!” Francis exclaimed. “I met him and some of his fellows in a tavern when I was in Calais awaiting the Queen’s arrival, and now we serve the King together as Gentlemen Pensioners. A good man, thoughtful and deep. He is as hot for religious reform as I am.” He suddenly looked serious.
“Most of my family are,” Kate said.
“And where do you stand?” he asked intently.
“Oh, I am, too!” she answered fervently, wanting him to think well of her.
“Then we are happily met, Kate!”
The way he was looking at her made her feel as if butterflies were fluttering in her stomach.
She was hoping he would take her hand, but then she spied Mrs. Stonor glaring up at her through the balustrade and knew, with a sinking feeling, that she was in trouble, especially when she saw that Anna had left.
She shot to her feet. “I’m sorry, but I have to go. The Mistress of the Maids is looking for me. I have to attend the Queen!”
Francis rose, looking crestfallen. “May I look for you again?”
“Yes, of course.” She darted a quick smile at him and hastened away.
At the foot of the stairs, Mrs. Stonor was waiting for her with a face like a thunderstorm.
“What do you think you are doing, Kate Carey? It is most improper for a maid-of-honor to be alone with a young gentleman. It reflects badly on you, your family, me, and most of all the Queen! Have you no regard for your honor?”
“I most certainly do,” Kate retorted, stung by her words. “We were only talking, and we were not alone. You could see us!”
It was true. Mrs. Stonor pursed her lips. “You are young and innocent of the ways of men. Young gentlemen are not to be trusted. They take every advantage they can. Never let me see you running off like that again. Now hurry. The Queen is waiting!”
Grabbing Kate by the arm, she hauled her out of the hall.