The Boleyn Deceit (36 page)

“He only left yesterday, Your Majesty. Even riding hard, he won’t reach Dudley Castle until sometime tomorrow.”

“I know. I just hate sitting here while others do my work for me.”

“No one can do your work for you—that’s rather the point of being king. But I know it can be chafing to feel as though others are running around and you are sitting still. Believe me, sitting still can often be the hardest work of all. It all depends on the men you have doing the running around.”

What William really wanted to do was ride to Hatfield—ostensibly to tell Elizabeth in person about the Dudleys’ perfidy, actually to put his arms around Minuette and assure her that she was safe now. But he knew that would have to wait until Dominic had the Dudley men safely under arrest. William could not risk Elizabeth doing something rash and finding a way to warn Robert of what was coming.

Could it be that he didn’t trust his own sister?

Not where her heart was concerned, he realized uneasily. Elizabeth might convince herself that she knew better than the evidence, and then heaven only knew what action she would take to prove it.

The door was flung wide and Rochford exclaimed, “What are you doing!” before even William could protest. His guards had their weapons drawn in an instant but William recognized the man, breathing heavily as he bowed behind them.

“Let him through,” he commanded, wondering what on earth had brought John Dee to court in this state.

“Your Majesty.” Dee bowed. “I’ve come straight from Dudley Castle and there’s something you need to know.”

“What?”

Dee was blunt. “Princess Elizabeth arrived at Dudley Castle four days ago with her friend, Mistress Wyatt. I do not think it wise for them to remain there.”

Caught completely off guard, William couldn’t decide whether to laugh in disbelief or swear. “Then why in heaven’s name did you leave them there and come away yourself, Doctor?”

“Have you ever tried to persuade Her Highness to a course she did not wish? Princess Elizabeth declined to leave at my suggestion, and I could hardly force her to do so. But when I realized that you did not know of her visit to Dudley Castle, I thought it prudent to alert you as quickly as possible.”

William looked at his uncle, who seemed—for once—utterly at a loss for words. “Lord Rochford, we shall have to send an army after Dominic. Raise five thousand men as quickly as you can and send them after me.”

“Where are you going?”

“To Dudley Castle.” William turned back to John Dee. “You did well, Doctor. Perhaps now would be a good time for you to terminate your connection to the Dudley family and come to my court instead.”

“Perhaps it would. But the first matter is retrieving your women.” Dee said it as though he knew that William’s urgency concerned Minuette even more than his sister.

Not that he wouldn’t make Northumberland pay for his insolence with Elizabeth. No one touched a Tudor and lived to tell about it.

Dominic pressed hard on the ride from London and made Dudley Castle late on the third day. Reining up outside the village, he studied the castle looming on its medieval motte above, the fading daylight and damp mist lending it a desolate air. The castle had a perimeter wall, quite low, and the moat had been filled in, but this was no longer a defensible structure so much as it was a family home. Why was he thinking such things anyway? He had only five men in his immediate party, including Harrington, and
though he expected anger at his news, he certainly did not anticipate violence.

Still, he kept a wary eye out as they rode up the motte. Men bearing the Northumberland badge with its azure lion greeted them a fair distance before the entrance. They spoke politely, no doubt recognizing Dominic’s standard—gold with lions similar to Northumberland, and also the crimson discs distinctive to the Courtenays—but recognition did not buy them easy entrance.

“We have orders,” the spokesman told Dominic. “You are welcome, my lord duke, but the others will have to wait here.”

Dominic shrugged and dismounted. “Fair enough.”

Before Harrington could protest—whatever that might look like in a man so taciturn—Dominic added, “But my own man, at least, comes with me.”

The guard, relieved not to have had more of an argument, readily acquiesced. Harrington strode a pace behind, his eyes roaming constantly. Something was definitely odd in the Dudley household. Dominic wasn’t surprised that the duke knew he was coming—he hadn’t traveled in secrecy and had ridden straight through the heart of Northumberland’s power base—but he was troubled at Northumberland’s attempts to control the number of men coming into his home.

Still, he was allowed to retain his sword and dagger, and Harrington’s size alone made him a formidable weapon in his own right. And Northumberland was not so stupid as to offer real harm to the king’s closest friend.

The duke himself met them in the inner courtyard. Dominic could see the powerful figure waiting for them as they crossed beneath the Triple Gate. Even from a distance Northumberland radiated tension. He stood alone—no wife or family to soften his greeting.
I don’t think I’ll be asked to stay,
Dominic thought wryly.

“Exeter,” Northumberland said gruffly when they were in
speaking distance. Dominic stopped a good ten feet away from the duke, and inclined his head in greeting. “What news do you bring?”

“Would you prefer to withdraw somewhere more private?” Dominic asked. Though there was no family about, the courtyard held plenty of servants and more than a handful of armed men bearing Dudley badges.

“I would prefer to hear your news on my feet and at this moment.”

Dominic delivered his news, more or less truthfully. “Guildford has been found guilty of felonious treason against the king’s own body. He has been sentenced to death.”

Actually, Guildford was already dead. Dominic had attended his execution the day before he left London. In his memory he held a picture of Guildford’s body, being borne away with his severed head. But William and Rochford had decided it would be wiser that Northumberland not know of his son’s execution just yet, in order to reduce the likelihood of his resistance to arrest. Assuming one of the duke’s own sources in London hadn’t already brought the news.

A muscle along his jawline twitched, but Northumberland did not move otherwise. “I suppose the king wants me to beg before he’ll commute the sentence.”

“The king will not commute the sentence, Your Grace. I’m here to take you to London to answer charges laid against you personally.”

“You plan to take me with half a dozen men?” Northumberland huffed a bitter laugh. “You’ve grown as arrogant as the boy king, Exeter, if you think you can bring me in on your own.”

“I have a half a dozen men outside your gates—but another half a hundred two miles off. Surely you know that.”

“I know it.”

“Your Grace, if you will submit yourself and your son Robert to my custody, the king will be inclined to deal generously with the rest of your family.”

“Robert?” Northumberland’s brow creased. “What has he to do with this?”

“I have a warrant for Robert as well as for you. The charges will be explained in London.”

The duke snorted. “Too bad for you that Robert isn’t here. My son rode off to Kenilworth ten days ago. Afraid you’ve missed him.”

Damn it. “Not for long. Don’t make this harder than it needs to be. You have no position from which to bargain, Your Grace. We have hard evidence. You must come to London and answer it.”

“I don’t know what evidence you think you have, you jumped-up son of a traitor, but you are dead wrong when you claim that I have no bargaining position.” Northumberland no longer bothered to pretend politeness. “I really thought you must have known, I thought even that arrogant young brat of a king couldn’t be so careless as to mislay something precious to him. But neither of you have any idea, do you?”

“No idea of what?” Dominic’s tension increased. He did not like surprises.

Northumberland barked an order at a guard. “Fetch the younger one.”

Dominic’s training as a soldier stood him in good stead, allowing him to control his tumultuous thoughts by focusing on the physical details of the courtyard. As though taking notes of enemy positions, he assessed the layout of the domestic wings and outbuildings. His uneasiness increased as he realized that, just as
the family were not to be seen, neither were any female servants. Only men were visible, many with the hard faces and powerful figures of fighting men.

First thing he’d do when he got back to his camp was send out scouts to discover if Northumberland had troops within twenty miles of here. Fifty royal guards would not be enough to bring in the duke if he were prepared to resist in battle.

Dominic tried not to let curiosity about what—or who—the young one might be, but he recognized that his body was taut with uncertainty. He was a soldier first, and he couldn’t fight what he didn’t understand. Still, he had come here to arrest Northumberland, and he wouldn’t leave until he’d done so.

That surety sustained him right up to the moment when the guard reappeared escorting the person he’d been sent to fetch. Young. Golden-haired. Female.

Minuette.

Dominic only realized he’d stopped breathing when his chest began to hurt. He took a series of quick sharp breaths—as much to control his fury as to fill his lungs—and said, “What do you think you are doing?” He wasn’t sure if he was speaking to Northumberland or Minuette herself. How the hell had she gotten from Hatfield to Dudley Castle?

“What do you think she’s doing here?” Northumberland jeered, jerking his head to the guard, who brought Minuette to stand next to the duke. “This girl goes nowhere alone.”

God and all the angels in heaven … “You are holding Princess Elizabeth hostage?” Dominic asked in disbelief. How had Northumberland tricked the princess here from Hatfield? What was Minuette thinking, riding across country after nearly dying from poison? Dominic didn’t know if he wanted to hug her or shake her. He would have done either gladly so long as he could reach her.

But though no weapons had been drawn, they didn’t need to be. Northumberland had made his stand. Misguided, impulsive, rashly hotheaded, and ultimately suicidal, but a stand nonetheless.

“The princess came willingly at my request. Well, let’s not mince words, she came for Robert and to spite her brother. Elizabeth’s got Henry’s stubbornness and Anne’s willfulness, and she wanted to show that she is her own mistress. And now she is my bargaining point.”

“You’ll die for this, Dudley. And threatening the king’s sister will only ensure that you take your family down with you.”

“I won’t bargain with you.” Northumberland was dismissive. “Go back to your half a hundred men and don’t return without the king. I will deal only with William.”

Dominic flicked his eyes over Minuette in assessment. She appeared unharmed and not at all frightened—more irritated than anything. She nodded at his unspoken query and said, “Elizabeth is perfectly well. You needn’t worry about us. Except for the inconvenience of not being allowed to leave, we have been treated with the utmost courtesy.” Her words were laden with sarcasm, and Dominic almost smiled. He could imagine Elizabeth’s temper. He hoped she was taking her fury out on everyone inside.

“I’ll be back,” he promised Minuette. Then, repeated, to Northumberland as a warning. “I will be back.”

“I count on it.”

Harrington didn’t speak until they were remounting their horses outside the gates. “Send to the king?”

“As fast as a man can ride.”

Minuette watched Elizabeth pace, reminding her of William in her controlled agitation. The simple cut of the princess’s dark green overdress and the lack of any jewels save a single ruby ring
on her right hand enhanced the unreal nature of the situation. Elizabeth looked almost as though she were dressed for battle, and the impression was heightened by the intensity of her voice. “Tell me again what they said. Every word.”

She had already gone over it three times, but Minuette complied. “Northumberland said you are his bargaining point. He told Dominic not to return until he had William with him, that the king is the only one with whom he’ll bargain.”

“But what is he bargaining for? If he wanted to avoid arrest, using me to bargain with is a wretchedly bad decision.”

“He’s bargaining for Guildford’s life, I imagine. Whatever we may think of Northumberland, he loves his family. If he’s going down, he will want to save them.”

Elizabeth shook her head. “Who could have guessed it would come to this? A royal guest, guarded by Englishmen and not allowed to even leave this room unless one of my brother’s peers permits it.”

Minuette agreed it was disconcerting. They had gone to bed last night in adjoining chambers as favoured guests, accorded all the courtesies of such, and then awakened this morning to a softly spoken guard who had barred the outer doors and forbade them from leaving. Elizabeth had laughed in disbelief and moved forward regardless—until the man drew his sword. He pointed it not at her (Northumberland’s men were loyal but not suicidal) but at Minuette.

Elizabeth had laughed at that a little as they dressed and waited for Northumberland to tell them what was happening. “They think of you as disposable, valuable only insofar as I would not want you hurt. If they knew what William would do to the man who pointed a sword at you!”

Now Elizabeth let out a frustrated sigh and whirled around,
skirts swirling. “This is maddening! Why doesn’t Northumberland tell us something? I suppose I’m glad I sent Robert away before he got caught up in this, but if he were here, he would make sure I was kept informed.”

Minuette had said nothing yet of what she’d learned from Amy. But perhaps it was time. “Elizabeth, will you sit down? There’s something I need to tell you.”

“What?”

“Please, sit down.”

“Oh, all right.” Elizabeth dropped elegantly into a chair. “What is it?” Her expression was quizzical, curious, but not alarmed. Minuette heard the patter of rain on the mullioned windows and for a moment considered not saying anything at all. But she owed Elizabeth more than that.