The Betrayal (25 page)

I curtseyed and murmured something which might have been
Sorry, Sir,
but was actually an impolite expression I’d heard one of the watermen use.

‘Come on, girl!’ he said, clapping his hands.

I turned to go and get wood from the kitchen, but at that moment there was a knock on the door.

‘Answer that,’ said Mr Kelly, although he was standing right beside it.

The chanting from Dr Dee stopped. ‘Quickly with the firewood,’ he called from within. ‘’Tis damned cold in here.’

I hesitated a moment, then opened the front door to discover – to my enormous surprise – a man wearing the royal colours and a livery badge. Mr Kelly saw him at the same time and elbowed me out of the way, bowing
and asking in a fawning way if he might be of service.

‘I have instructions to bring a Mistress Lucy to the palace,’ the man said, while I stood, amazed and immobile.

‘There is not …’ Mr Kelly began, then looked at me and his jaw dropped. ‘
What?
What has she done?’

‘I have instructions to convey her hence,’ the man said.

Dr Dee appeared. ‘What is it? Does the queen want me?’

‘I fear not, Sire,’ the carrier said. ‘I come for Mistress Lucy.’

I suddenly found the means to speak. ‘I am Mistress Lucy.’

‘Then, Madam, may we proceed?’ said the carrier.

‘Of course,’ I said grandly, and without more ado stepped under Mr Kelly’s arm, curtseyed to my employer, then climbed on to the litter (one bearer at the front, two at the back) which had been placed on the cobbles. I had a wool rug tucked around me and two cushions were placed at my back.

‘Aloft!’ the bearer called, and I felt myself lifted rather unsteadily into the air.

I glanced back at the house, gave my girls (now at the door also) a goodbye wave, and felt myself propelled forwards at some speed.

I lacked a fancy hat and had neither satin shoes, pomander nor fashionable outfit – but nevertheless, was on my way to the palace …

I would, I decided, concern myself later about what Dr Dee and Mr Kelly might have to say regarding my being collected by a royal litter, for I was so very excited by what had happened, so full of anticipation, that I did not want to think on anything which might spoil the occasion. The curtains on my litter were open, so I sat back and, once used to the unsteady motion, enjoyed my new elevated aspect, the indoor scenes viewed through undraped windows and the envious glances of those we passed on foot. As we neared the Strand the houses grew more stately, with countless candles lit within, and I could scarcely take in their costly interiors, their tapestries, paintings and polished furniture quickly enough.

Entering the square which fronted the palace (ablaze with light, with much happening and many people coming and going) the litter-bearer deposited
me at the fountain, where waited Tomas. He was dressed in what, for him, must have been conventional mode: as court jester, wearing a patchwork coat with bells along the hem and at the elbows, and breeches having one leg of green and one of red. His deep hood extended into a cape over his shoulders and this too was decorated with bells, so that a-jingling and a-jangling accompanied his every movement.

The bearers lowered my litter to the floor and I stepped out, whereupon Tomas smiled, bowed over my hand and kissed it as if I were a lady.

‘I thank you kindly,’ I said. I gave a low curtsey, now wishing most desperately that I’d been able to wear a gown which was more costly, more fashionable, more
enticing
than this, which I’d worn a dozen times before. But Tomas did not seem to notice my gown, and indeed was smiling at me very warmly indeed.

‘Did you enjoy your journey?’ he asked.

‘Very much! ’Tis the first time I’ve travelled so. But mostly, before we set out, I enjoyed seeing the face of Mr Kelly when he realised that the litter was meant for me!’

Tomas laughed and offered me his arm, and we began to walk across the square. ‘I realised I’d given you neither time nor destination,’ he said, ‘so thought it appropriate to send for you.’

‘Then I’m very much obliged for your consideration.’

These little formalities over, I asked of the whereabouts of Mistress Juliette and whether or not she’d
been apprehended. I was told that she had not – not yet.

‘Then might she still be a danger to the queen?’ I asked somewhat anxiously.

‘Nay! She is a marked woman.’ Tomas was carrying a jester’s stick with a doll-head at the end and waved it aloft, bells jangling. ‘She has as much power as this poppet!’

Satisfied with this, I sought to find out more about the evening ahead, asking him what might happen and what was its purpose.

‘’Tis merely one of the entertainments that the queen so loves to give from time to time,’ he answered with a shrug. ‘Mostly these are held to impress her foreign suitors and visiting ambassadors. There are many such in England at the moment.’

‘And what form will the evening take?’

‘There will be some dancing by the maids of honour, and a masque and some other diversions – including a fire-eater and fireworks at the festivities’ end.’

I gasped, delighted.

‘At some stage I believe the queen will ask to meet you – and I believe may present you with a mark of her appreciation.’

I stopped walking, all the more to savour the notion that I was to be presented to the queen. ‘What sort of a mark?’ I could not resist asking.

He shrugged. ‘Perhaps a ring or brooch bearing her
insignia. Mayhap it will replace the lost groat in your affections.’

‘Oh, it will!’ I said, and fell into a happy reverie about wearing this pretty piece of jewellery and, on it being admired, being able to give its provenance.

We walked on, but did not proceed into the palace itself, but went through the orchard and across the tilt yard. Ahead of us was a vast edifice of white canvas and silvery oak attached to a palace wall. I was very amazed at seeing it, for the material was such that the whole structure seemed to glow from within.

‘Is
this
the new banqueting hall?’ I asked.

Tomas nodded. ‘’Twas built to remain just a few months, but the queen is so enamoured of it that I believe it may stay longer.’

We entered and I saw that the exterior glow came from the many burners, torches and candles placed within which gleamed through the fabric. Grasses and herbs grew underfoot and these, being bruised as they were walked upon, released their fragrance into the air. There were living trees within the structure, vast swags of sweet-smelling flowers intermixed with green vines, and vases containing branches of pink and white blossom, so that the whole effect was one of extreme beauty.

‘’Tis all most wonderful!’ I said, gazing about me. ‘And difficult to know whether we are inside or out.’

Tomas nodded. ‘That is just what the queen wanted.’

To one side of the hall, long tables had been erected, and these were filled with all manner of sweetmeats in glass and silver dishes. On the centre table stood the queen’s arms in sugarwork and, displayed beneath, spun-sugar nests filled with nuts and fruit, crystallised rose petals and frosted herb leaves. Each of the other tables was headed by one of the queen’s beasts, also in sugarwork, and spun nests filled with a different form of confectionery: marchpane cakes, jellies, fruit in aspic, orange suckets, cinnamon comfits and the like. I could have stood there for an age staring at this display of wonders, for every type of delightful confection was there.

At one end of the structure some musicians were playing and a small stage had been erected. This was fronted by three rows of seats and a gilded throne. Looking about, I realised I need not have worried about the comparative drabness of my gown, for those assembled there took not the slightest notice of me. Some people acknowledged Tomas with a nod, but then, their eyes passing on to see who accompanied him, slid over me and away, as if they could discern immediately that I was a nobody. If only, the thought suddenly hit me, I’d had the wit to ask Mistress Hunt if I could borrow the gown of Mistress Mistletoe!
Then
I might have merited more than a cursory glance.

Tomas came and went from my side as his various responsibilities dictated, but I didn’t mind this in the
least, for being in the background gave me leave to gaze on and marvel at the variety of the exquisite gowns around me. I saw gold, magenta, scarlet, ivory, azure, vermilion and daffy-dill yellow at a glance, and sapphire, jade, lilac, silver and petal-pink at another – and all these gowns bejewelled and embroidered to the most marvellous degree. The gentlemen were no less finely clad, and these glittering creatures approached and greeted each other effusively, with much bowing and curtseying, fan-fluttering and hat-flourishing, like wonderful butterflies or other exotic specimens of nature.

When the hall was full of people the Lord Chamberlain came upon the stage and asked those gathered to prepare to take the blessing of their sovereign lady Queen Elizabeth, which caused a great stir and made us, as one, sink into our deepest curtseys or bow very low from the waist. A fanfare of trumpets sounded and an instant later I knew that Her Grace had entered the hall, for the very air about us became charged and vibrant.

The queen was accompanied by a body of finely dressed courtiers, and as she walked she blessed those she passed, smiling to each side and greeting those recognised by her. As she moved through a section of the hall, the people there rose and began to cheer and applaud, so that by the time she took her throne at the front of the stage the whole place was ringing with the heartfelt approbation of her subjects. This not dying
down, she rose from her seat and, taking to the stage, thanked us all heartily, saying, ‘The well-being of my people is the chiefest thing in the world that I do pray for’, which made everyone cheer anew. I now moved to take a better position from which to see her and admire her gown. This was the most wonderful creation of silver and white tulle, with an immense ruff of silver lace spread like wings behind her head, decorated with rubies hanging as thickly as cherries from a tree in spring.

The audience becoming quiet, she regained her seat before the stage, and the courtiers she’d arrived with sat down. A small masque commenced, which – now that I’d seen for myself the cleverness and sophistication of the Queen’s Players – I fear did not hold my attention greatly. While this was playing, therefore, I amused myself by discerning numerous flirtations between the elegant ladies and distinguished gentlemen around me.

When the masque finished, there was a display of country dancing by children, and then a pretty dance with ribbands given by some of the Court ladies, who stepped and twisted in and out of each other to make a pattern with their differently coloured strands. It was after this, Tomas had already informed me, that the queen was firstly going to take refreshment from the displays of sweetmeats, and then walk about the hall meeting some of her people – myself included. I began to feel nervous, wondering what she might say to me
and what I would reply.

The dance ended, the music ceased – and just at that split second of silence, where one has to make quite sure that everything has really come to a close before applauding – there came sounds outside of horses galloping and being reined in, followed by some shouts from the queen’s guards. Applause for the dance began but was half-hearted, for everyone was wondering what had caused the disturbance. An instant later we found it out, for the canvas doors swung open and a black-coated messenger ran in: hatless, breathless, his face and clothes spattered with mud. Two of the gentlemen closest to the door seemed to protest at this intrusion and rose as if they would catch hold of him, but, evading them, he ran to the queen and knelt low before her, holding up a rolled parchment.

The hall was now absolutely silent and every eye was on the queen. I glanced at Tomas standing at the side of the stage, his jester’s colours giving the lie to his pallid face. The queen took off the seal, unrolled the parchment and, frowning, read what was written there. She gave a loud scream (of fury, some said, while others said of fear) and immediately hurried from the hall, followed at once by her maids of honour and some of the gentlemen.