Chapter 48
ELSPET KNEELS ON THE BED, leaning over the Queen, her sleeves rolled up above her elbows. Her hand, warmed by a pail of boiled water, rests on the Queen’s naked stomach and her ear is lowered next to it.
‘They’re moving,’ the Queen says with excitement. ‘I can feel my child moving.’
Elspet feels it too. The shifting and rolling under her hand. ‘This is a sign all is progressing as it should. The bairn is well, Your Majesty.’
The Queen’s face breaks into a smile of such joy, the happiness is infectious. But the moment doesn’t last long – she looks up in alarm at a loud clattering sound. Before she can assume a more dignified position, the door is thrown open and Gilbert Primrose storms in.
Elspet kens in this moment she couldn’t look less like an aristocratic lady if she tried – bent over on the bed in what is clearly a medical examination.
Primrose stumbles forward, face red, spittle in the corners of his mouth. ‘I knew it. What are you doing to the Queen? You are not authorised.’
The Queen sits up, pulling her gown down with as much dignity as she can muster. ‘How dare you speak to my lady in this manner?’
Primrose puts up his hand to silence the Queen.
‘It is as we feared, Your Majesty, you are being influenced by unscrupulous people in your sphere. You are not at fault, of course. But you . . .’ He looks directly at Elspet, his red-rimmed eyes fixed on her.
‘You are not to be trusted. The King will hear of this.’
She is discovered. Her worst fear is about to come true. ‘No,’ she says weakly, getting down off the bed and pulling at the sleeves of her gown in a belated attempt to appear dignified. ‘I can explain . . .’
‘Really?’ Primrose’s voice drips with scorn. ‘How can you possibly explain why you’re administering medical care when it has been expressly forbidden?’
‘I asked Lady Alvah to examine me,’ the Queen says. ‘She is acting entirely at my request.’
‘With the greatest respect,’ Primrose steps forward now, ‘that makes no difference. Your Majesty is in a weakened and vulnerable state. You cannot be held responsible for the requests you make.’
‘Oh, for goodness’ sake,’ the Queen snaps. ‘I’m feeling better than I have for weeks. I simply wanted to know how the child fares.’
‘Then you should have asked me,’ Primrose says firmly.
‘No lady of good standing would ever conduct such an examination. I fear you are in very deep trouble indeed, Lady Alvah Gordon. The King may well want to interrogate you personally.’ Primrose lurches for her arm.
‘Come with me. Don’t force me to call for soldiers to assist. Imagine how suspicious that will appear. ’
The Queen steps forward. ‘How dare you . . .’ But, before she can go on, she’s interrupted by the side door of her chamber opening suddenly.
Martin Schoner rushes in. ‘Whatever is happening here?’ Elspet has the distinct impression he’s been listening in.
Oh God, she thinks, not Schoner too. He may have trusted her the night of the masque, but only out of desperation, and once they were away from the prying eyes of the rest of the court.
Who’s to say he’s not still waiting for an opportunity to trip her up, punish her for knowing as much as she does, for daring to be right when he’s been wrong?
The Queen and Primrose both turn to stare at Schoner, standing in the centre of the room, looking around, his face full of thunderous rage.
‘Why are you not performing the examination I asked you to undertake?’ he barks at Elspet, his eyes boring into hers.
‘What . . . what do you mean?’ She trips over her words.
‘I specifically asked you to get started on an examination of the Queen, following my strict instructions. Why is this not happening?’
Confused, Elspet starts to grasp what he’s saying. ‘I was interrupted . . .’
‘You ordered the examination?’ Primrose points a finger at Schoner.
‘Of course,’ Schoner says. ‘The King has forbidden anyone except us from undertaking care for the Queen. Lady Alvah could not very well have been examining the Queen of her own accord. Not only would that be treasonous, she would hardly have the skill . . .’
‘But I thought—’
‘You thought what?’ Schoner sighs heavily. ‘As I’ve told you on many occasions, you would do well to observe, to pay attention, not rely on assumptions.’
Primrose stands, open-mouthed and silent. Seizing their advantage, the Queen turns to him, furious. ‘Your behaviour today has been outrageous. Lady Alvah has been kind enough to assist the King’s personal physician in my care, and you’ve insulted her, insulted me, in this manner.’
Primrose looks from the Queen to Schoner to Elspet. ‘You . . . you should’ve told me you were acting under instructions.’
‘You hardly gave us the chance,’ the Queen counters.
Primrose realises he’s beaten. ‘It was an easy mistake to make, I’m sure you agree. The King need not know of what’s happened here today.’
‘It would certainly be better for you if he didn’t know,’ the Queen says.
There is silence for a moment before she continues.
‘And I see no need to tell him. Not yet, anyway, as long as there is no repeat of this dreadful behaviour. I think we would all benefit from having a little more trust in each other.’
Primrose nods. ‘I’m most grateful. Your Majesty is right, of course.’
The surgeon takes his leave, walking out of the room with a lurch. Elspet and the Queen are left alone in the chamber with Martin Schoner. In the silence that follows Primrose’s departure, Elspet’s mind spins trying to work out what the physician’s intervention means – and what his intentions are.
Schoner clears his throat and breaks the silence. ‘I think you’d better tell me what’s been going on.’
Elspet looks at the Queen. What can they tell this man? Despite what’s he’s just done, she’s reluctant to trust him with the truth.
‘Please sit down,’ the Queen says, indicating a cushioned armchair next to her bed. ‘I’m grateful for your actions – Primrose was making a great nuisance of himself. I must ask first though, why did you act as you did?’
Elspet’s relieved the Queen’s taking the lead in the conversation – there’s nothing she wants more now than to fade into the background again. But the physician turns to look directly at her.
‘It’s been clear to me for a while,’ he says, sitting down heavily, ‘that there’s more to Lady Alvah Gordon than meets the eye.
’ He turns back to the Queen. ‘She has been correct, Your Majesty, about a number of things relating to your care. I am a proud man, I know, but I am committed to learning.’
‘That is admirable,’ the Queen says.
‘The daily exercise, the prevention of bloodletting, the seaweed, fresh air, rose syrup and teas. All these suggestions have come from Lady Alvah, and they have all been efficacious.’
The Queen nods. ‘True.’
‘I spoke to Lady Alvah of the King’s threats of what might happen to me should this pregnancy not be a success. Especially since he made me give the declaration of the child’s health to ward off the Earls’ rebellion, I have been under enormous pressure.’
Elspet and the Queen exchange a glance.
‘But you are close to the birth of this baby now,’ Schoner continues. ‘You are strong, and all the signs are it will be a healthy child. I confess, this was something I feared may not come to pass.’
‘It speaks well of your character that you’re able to admit it,’ the Queen says. ‘You have not always shown a great deal of humility.’
Schoner laughs awkwardly, a strange coughing sound. ‘My overriding concern at all times is to be the best physician I can. I may have been slow to see it – but I have learnt from Lady Alvah. And I would like to continue doing so.’
‘So much so, you are willing to lie to your colleague to protect her?’ the Queen asks.
The physician scoffs. ‘Primrose is not my colleague – the man is a fool.’
‘Well, we thank you,’ the Queen says. ‘I know we’ve not always seen eye to eye, Schoner, but you have acted well today.’
‘I hope so. I understand what it’s like to be an outsider.
I am a man of Habsburg in the Scottish court – it is not always easy for me to carry out my work here.
There are conventions, some rules and traditions, that I do not understand.
However, this means I am adept at spotting other outsiders.
’ He turns back to Elspet. ‘Now, Lady Alvah Gordon, I ask that you tell me the truth.’
Beneath his conceit, Schoner is a man who cares deeply about his profession. But he’s still a man at the court of King James, a man at the mercy of the politics and manoeuvring of the Scottish aristocracy like any other.
Queen Anna places her hands over her swollen belly and nods decisively. ‘You have proven yourself trustworthy today, so I shall tell you the truth. However, I must swear you to strictest secrecy.’
‘Of course,’ Schoner says curtly.
Elspet looks on in fear. The Queen isn’t about to tell him everything, is she?
‘Lady Alvah is the ward of Lady Jean Gordon, the Countess of Sutherland and mistress of Dunrobin Castle, as you know.’
Elspet stifles a sigh of relief.
‘Indeed,’ Schoner says.
‘Lady Jean is wonderfully knowledgeable about healing herbs and practices,’ the Queen goes on.
‘Her gardens at Dunrobin are quite something, I’m given to believe, and medicinal plants from all over the world grow there.
It is her great passion. During her lifetime she’s amassed a great deal of knowledge and it would be the most dreadful shame if that knowledge were not passed on. ’
‘I quite agree,’ Schoner says.
‘Lady Alvah is her favourite ward – the one she’s chosen to inherit all her great knowledge. I suppose you could say she’s her apprentice – if such a thing were allowed.’
Schoner catches on. ‘And you would have to be careful about keeping this secret. In the current situation, with His Majesty’s preoccupation with finding and executing witches – all quite right and proper of course,’ he adds quickly, ‘but a lot of these practices are considered suspicious now when they would have been respected in the past.’
‘Yes,’ Elspet finds herself saying. ‘That is exactly the case.’
‘Lady Jean was kind enough to agree to send me her beloved ward to act as lady-in-waiting during my pregnancy and birth, knowing my great need for the best care possible.’
‘But you’ve had to keep her knowledge of healing plants and practices a secret for fear she will fall under suspicion of collusion with the Devil?’ Schoner asks.
Elspet’s fear rises once more – even this peedie part of the truth is dangerous. But she must admit, this story from the Queen is the perfect balance of telling the physician enough for him to feel he’s been taken into their confidence, but not so much he knows the worst of her secrets.
The Queen nods. ‘I see you understand.’
‘I do indeed, and I’m pleased I stepped in as I did today,’ Schoner says. ‘I am curious to learn more of what you know, Lady Alvah. I wonder if one day I might even be fortunate enough to see the great gardens at Dunrobin too?’
Elspet releases a long-held breath. ‘I’d be delighted to show you myself. Perhaps after the child is born safe and well, we could pay the countess a visit.’
Schoner smiles, a rare sight. ‘I’d like that. Now I’d better go and find the King and give him a positive report of your health, Your Majesty – entirely truthful, I’m glad to say, in case Primrose does decide to go to him.’
‘Very wise,’ the Queen says as Schoner takes his leave, then she breathes a deep sigh of relief when they are left alone.
‘Well done,’ Elspet says. ‘That was perfect – you told him just the right amount. If he can be trusted with this, perhaps we may even share the full extent of our plans. Time is running short and I’m afraid I have thought of no other way to remove this obstacle.’
‘Perhaps,’ the Queen touches Elspet’s arm, ‘and I can’t thank you enough, Mistress Balfour . . . for everything.’
Elspet places her hand reassuringly over the Queen’s. ‘You’re welcome.’
The Queen fixes her with an intense gaze.
‘I know you’ve travelled far from your home, far from your family.
And I know I treated you unfairly when you first arrived – made such demands of you.
But I reward those who serve me faithfully.
I will see you safely home and reunited with your children.
You can depend on my protection against the Earl of Orkney.
As soon as our plan is complete, we will arrange for your safe travel home. ’
A surge of relief washes over Elspet. She can’t help allowing her mind to fill with images of Gillie’s and Broden’s bonnie faces, and her eyes fill with tears. ‘Thank you, Your Majesty.’
She is close, so close, to going home. This plan may be reckless and impossible, but it is coming together – and its execution is all that stands between her and her children.