Chapter 15 #4
‘See that she does,’ Anna said shortly. She came across to Marris and kissed her warmly on both cheeks.
‘My dear Lady Sharington, I am sorry, but I do not care for your youngest sister. She is – how do you say it? An adder in the grass. I shall not be inviting her to Bletchingley again. Not that I invited her in the first place,’ she reflected.
‘She came of her own accord, in a most encroaching manner.’ She stood back and beamed at Marris.
‘But you, dear Marris, you I am most pleased to see. Let us get away from this horrible place and take Mistress Bridget back to Richmond with us.’ She looked from Marris to Will, and there was a twinkle in her eye.
‘Or perhaps the two of you would prefer some time alone?’
‘Yes, I thank you, Your Highness,’ Marris said. She glanced at her husband and felt his hand close more tightly about hers. ‘All we wish for now is to go home.’
‘Then you must come to see me tomorrow at Richmond,’ Queen Anna said, ‘and we shall talk. I want to hear about the baby.’ She shot Audley a look brimming with laughter. ‘I speak of Sir William and Lady Sharington’s son, my lord, should you be in any confusion.’
‘Most amusing, Your Highness,’ the Lord Chancellor said through gritted teeth. ‘May I call your carriage for you?’ He bowed. ‘I am most grateful that this unfortunate matter has now been resolved and apologise again for the misunderstanding.’
Anna looked at him. ‘The King and I shall no doubt laugh about it the next time we play cards together,’ she said, with poisonous sweetness. ‘Good day to you, Audley.’ She allowed Will to help her on with the scarlet cloak, and swept from the room.
‘The Lady Anna has nerves of steel,’ Will commented later as he and Marris sat in the parlour of their Southwark house in front of the roaring fire.
They had lit but one candle, content to sit quietly in the silence and shadows together.
‘What a magnificent entrance and a performance to rival any player! You once told me that she was gallant, and she has proved it yet again.’
‘She always had a quick understanding and a brave heart,’ Marris said.
She smiled a little sadly. ‘Poor Anna, she deserves so much better from life than the half-existence she is granted now.’ She reached out a hand to Will.
‘I am so grateful that you went to find her, Will. That was quick-thinking indeed. And there I was, fearing that you were in Dover with no notion of the peril we were all in.’
Will shook his head. His jaw had set in a hard line.
‘As soon as Bridget was arrested and questioned about Queen Katherine’s infidelities, I sought a way to help her.
Then I discovered from one of Audley’s servants that Geoffrey Stent and your sister were stirring up trouble about the Lady Anna, and suspected that Rose was trying to draw you in.
I wrote to Winterhill to warn you, but I fear my messenger must have passed you on the road. ’
Marris nodded. ‘Rose wrote to beg me to come to London to help Bridget,’ she said. ‘I set off immediately.’
‘As she knew you would.’ Will’s voice had hardened. ‘Stent is a fool – I confronted him with what I knew and he admitted their plans. Perhaps he did not care for the way I phrased my questions.’ A smile curved his lips. ‘I was a little… abrupt… with him.’
‘You mean you threatened him,’ Marris said.
Will shrugged. ‘It was the quickest means of persuasion I could think of.’ He stretched out his legs and sat back with a sigh.
‘When he heard Rose’s scurrilous tales from Bletchingley, Audley saw a way to bring down the Lady Anna as well as Queen Catherine.
He has long been opposed to the increasing influence that Anna holds with the King, who has come to recognise her loyalty and sound advice.
Audley already held Bridget to use against you.
He thought this was his opportunity to take Anna as well. ’
Marris shuddered. ‘I don’t understand,’ she said. Her heart was aching at the thought of her youngest sister trying to hurt them. ‘Why would Rose do such a thing to us?’
‘Advancement,’ Will said simply. ‘Her husband, Sir Geoffrey, has his eye on my place at court. I imagine that that was why Rose thought of befriending Lady Anna in the first place. Knowing that she was on good terms with the King now, Rose thought to turn it to their advantage. Alas for her, Anna soon saw that Rose was not like you and wanted nothing to do with her.’ He touched her cheek gently.
‘When Anna declined to speak to His Majesty to advance Sir Geoffrey’s career,’ he continued, ‘and I was recalled to court and the King’s favour, Rose struck back.
The King had already been grievously hurt by the news of Queen Catherine’s betrayal.
What better time than when he was angry and wounded to deliver another blow about another apparent act of treason?
Rose had heard some gossip at Bletchingley, then she had seen Lady Bray’s child, and she deliberately sought to cause trouble.
She almost succeeded because her interests and Audley’s coincided. ’
‘Poor Rose.’ Marris’s tone was wry. ‘Little does she realise how close she came to the truth. If she had made her claims about a secret child a year ago rather than now…’ She shivered again. ‘It does not bear thinking of.’
‘Then we shall think of it no more.’ Will stood and drew her into his arms. ‘I am done with the court and these games of power. All that matters to me now is you and my family. Let us go home. I may even put in a word for Sir Geoffrey Stent with the King,’ he added thoughtfully. ‘He may have my place at court.’
‘Don’t you dare!’ Marris drew back in outrage. ‘Rose must not be rewarded for her treachery!’
She could feel Will’s body shaking with laughter as he held her. ‘I do but jest. Although I suspect that Sir Geoffrey will get himself into trouble soon, all of his own accord. He is rash and hasty to action, and his judgement is poor, and your sister will goad him on, I fear.’
‘I want no more to do with her,’ Marris said, burrowing closer into his embrace. ‘But perhaps we can take Bridget back to Berkshire with us and try to help her heal. It will take her a long time to recover from the shock and horror of Queen Catherine’s arrest.’
‘That is a good plan.’ Sir William nodded sombrely. ‘For there will be worse to come. I fear the Queen is doomed to execution. Bridget is going to be hurt beyond measure at this dose of how cruel life can be.’
Marris held him even more tightly then, her head against his chest, thinking of Thomas and the child that would be born in the spring. Anna had repaid her debt, she thought, saving her, and saving Bridget too. And Will had enabled it. They had come full circle.