At the clatter of hoof beats, she looked up and glimpsed a gray
stallion saddled with the Gilford livery and its handsome rider. "I
hope I haven't come at a bad time," Matthew shouted across the
field.
She felt a sudden surge of joy at seeing him and began to run
towards him.
He waved, gesturing her to stay put and not move on his account.
Since that evening of the priest's visit when the cold fingers of
death were at her throat, he'd sent her flowers, small gifts, and
visited her for a few moments on two more occasions to check her
recovery and bring her peaches and apples from his orchard.
"Nay, not a bad time for me, but Mother has gone to visit Aunt
Margaret with Emerald." She looked up at him, saddled on his mount,
his eyes as green as the carpet of grass beneath them, his skin
aglow in the sun.
"'I am sorry to miss them, but in truth, 'tis you I care to speak
to. Shall I stable the horse?"
"Please do. Join me back here when you are ready." She sat down on a
stone bench and turned her face up to the warmth of the sun, though
noticed with a frown that it had gone behind a cloud. Why then did
her head and face feel so hot and flushed?
He galloped off and was back, on foot, within a few moments. He sat
and removed his shoes and stockings and began to dig his toes into
the cool grass.
"What a glorious day," he said with a warm smile.
She laughed inwardly at the boyish gesture and gazed admiringly at
the man Topaz had chosen for a husband. His sandy hair, sun-bleached
to a platinum, was now clipped short in the French style that
fashion demanded, brushing the collar of his linen shirt. A dark
blond brow introduced a pair of brilliant green eyes, eyes
expressing merriment, proudly displaying laugh lines in the corners.
His ruddy complexion flaunted daily rides in the fresh country air.
She'd been so enthralled by the King, she hadn't even looked in
another man's direction. Matthew was charming and attractive—but he
was no Henry Tudor. And he was her sister's husband in any case.
Save for that, he might certainly have turned her head long ago. But
now–
"I am sorry to come upon you unawares and intrude upon you while you
are still recovering."
"To say sooth, I am much better. All the better for all the help you
gave me when I was ill, and for my longing to see my old friend to
thank him for his care and attention," she added with a smile.
"I was glad to be of service to you and your family in your time of
need," he said modestly. Then he dared look into her eyes. The truth
is, well, I need to speak with you, Amethyst. Please hold this in
the strictest of confidence."
If it were about Topaz, which it invariably would be, who would she
tell? Who could possibly be interested? "What did she do now?" she
asked flatly.
"She has done nothing, yet."
He raised his eyes to meet hers and she noticed that they lightened
with the sun to a bright green in contrast to how they darkened in
the blaze of their great hall's candles. "It's what she's about to
do."
"What else can she do? Come over here and stuff me into the
oubliette?"
"Nay, 'tis not against you. 'Tis much more serious. She's talking of
engaging Wolsey's services for a tidy sum and going round the realm
to raise support for her cause."
A stab of fear hit Amethyst. Her mother was the only person who knew
she'd been invited to court. What would happen now?
She thought quickly, then spoke calmly, for Matthew's sake. "Fear
not, Matthew. I don't believe she means it. She's got no way of
rousing that much support. Besides, Wolsey's a feeble old man. His
days are numbered. The King would never see him as a threat."
"She's already got followers. She constantly reminds me of your
family history and how strongly she feels about reclaiming her
birthright, as she calls it. I tried to reason with her; to talk her
out of it. I tried to stop her by forbidding her to go anywhere
without my permission."
Although she tried to put Matthew's mind at ease, Topaz's success
was what Amethyst feared the most. She had no doubts of her sister's
capabilities. What had been dismissed as mere talk by her mother had
been recognized by Amethyst as careful planning, maneuvering, and
organizing. That had taken years, and perhaps now Topaz was ready.
Her time had finally come.
Amethyst tried to appease Matthew, though; she dared not betray her
own concerns, which had multiplied as soon as her sister had tried
to kill her. "I'm sure it will not come to anything. She'll see how
hopeless it is and give up before any blood is shed."
"That's not only it, Amethyst." Matthew yanked a clump of grass out
of the ground and nervously kneaded it with his fingers. "She's been
talking of poisoning the Princess Mary."
"Oh, God." Amethyst hadn't been expecting this. Fighting against
Henry's armies was one thing—but harming an innocent child? "No, she
couldn't. Mary is surrounded by guards, moves from residence to
residence. It couldn't be done."
"It has happened through the ages. Didn't Topaz once tell me that
your father's own mother and brother were supposedly poisoned? 'Tis
nothing new. Poisonings have been taking place since the beginning
of time. I doubt she would personally dispense a cup of hemlock to
Mary. It will be done slowly, painstakingly, in stages. Henry has
enemies. Mary has enemies. Don't put it past her."
The thought of her recent illness sent a shudder through her.
Although she would never know for sure if Topaz had poisoned her,
her mind believed she had, but her heart fought the evil judgment,
pushing it into the past, leaving it there.
Matthew did not know about her confrontation with Topaz over her
last visit to the King, and she did not wish to tell him, but it was
clear he suspected his wife from the way he was watching her,
gauging her reaction.
Topaz had bribed or bullied a member of her own household to
continue poisoning her until she was dead. Only the fearful doctor
and her own determined mother and brother in law had helped her
elude death.
She tried to keep her tone light as she said, "Matthew, I used to
worry about Topaz a lot more when we were younger, because it never
seemed like merely talk, the way we all spew forth our lofty dreams
and ambitions when we're children. To her, it was going to be a
lifelong quest, one that she has never given up."
"She talks of reforms," Matthew said, lying sideways on the lawn
now, resting on an elbow. "She's like no one I've ever met. She lets
the servants dine and sup with us, she invites the stable hands in
for Mass in the chapel, she tore down the high board in the great
hall, she turned the dungeon into an animal shelter and... Believe
it or not, she forbade the consumption of meat and fowl in the
house! I finally convinced her that the lads' bones would become
fragile as birds' wings should they not have meat."
"Topaz always felt this way about animals." She laughed, picturing a
menagerie, creatures of all sizes wandering among the chains and
irons and instruments of torture strewn about the dungeon.
"Perhaps I can talk to the King myself," she said more to herself
than to Matthew. Maybe it was about time Henry found out about
Topaz's obsessions. She was sure she and the level-headed King would
come up with a reasonable solution. Their minds worked so well
together.
"Talk to the King?" he gasped.
"Matthew, I haven't told anyone this, but King Henry invited me to
court to join the King's Musick. Had I not had this...illness, I
would have gone already."
"Were you planning on telling Topaz?"
"Nay." She shook her head. "She would never forgive me for betraying
the family, as she sees it."
Matthew nodded knowingly. This much of Topaz's personality he knew
how to handle.
"I was going to write her from court and tell her...Matthew, I have
an admiration and respect for King Henry like I have for no other
human being. I also love my sister. But I shall obey the King's
orders. I have the chance to raise our family in the King's
estimation with the help of my aunt and my own music. Truth to tell,
I am also very much looking forward to life at court."
"I'm sure you are. I am so excited for you... Imagine, one of our
own Warwickshire folk, a courtier!"
His smile and warmth penetrated her being, making her feel comfort
in his company as their hands reached towards each other and touched
precisely in the middle.
Their eyes locked upon one another, Matthew's imploring, confused
gaze pouring into Amethyst's, searching for an answer. "I don't want
to see her harmed in any way. But..."
His countenance intensified and his grasp on her hand tightened.
"When you were ill, well…" He blew out a ragged breath. "If
something happened to either of you, I could not live."
"Oh, Matthew... Don't even think that way. I can talk to the King.
He really is an understanding man."
"Just be careful there at court. Although it is intriguing and
luxurious, it can be a dangerous place. And please do write to me to
let me know how you are getting on."
"I wish I could, but what would my sister say–"
"You are right, of course." He shook his head as if trying to clear
it. "But I will seek news of you from your mother and Emerald, and
may write to you if you will permit."
"Yes, yes of course," she said eagerly, squeezing his fingers hard.
His gaze upon her widened, his brows darting up and down as his eyes
reviewed her features, tucking her image into his memory.
"Wish me well, Matthew?"
"Of course I shall."
A wave of melancholy clouded her face as she held Matthew's hand
tightly. As much as she wanted the court life, to be near the King,
she would surely miss her cozy realm right here with her beloved
family, and those who really loved her. But her destiny lay
elsewhere, of that she was sure.
"Just as I wish you and Topaz well. I pray that you may get her to
see reason, to stop all her conspiring and wild talk. I fear she
will no longer listen to me–"
"Why, what has happened between you?" he demanded, his eyes
narrowing suspiciously once more.
"Nothing other than forbidding her to spout her anti-Tudor venom in
my hearing, nor allow your young son to be polluted by her
scurrilous talk," she said quickly. "'Tis not good for you or your
family and she is so hot-headed at times that she never thinks of
the consequences of what she says or does until it is too late."
"All the more reason for me to worry," he said grimly.
She patted his shoulder. "I am going to the court to fulfill my
destiny. If anyone can get through to her, it will be you. Make her
understand that your sons' lives are at stake if she does not curb
her loose tongue and meddling ways. I think the love she bears us
all will help her to see reason."
"I pray to the Lord you are right. For if not, then God help us
all."
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Whitehall Palace
Amethyst gathered a stack of sheet music from the gallery and headed
down the corridor towards her apartments. It was a hot and sticky
day, and the courtiers who remained were either out riding or
walking the grounds. The King and Queen had just left the day before
on a summer progress. As much as she knew she would miss him, she
felt a strange relief when he had departed the palace. A few weeks
without his presence meant time to herself, to get to know the ways
of court, and to lose herself in her music, her first passion and
deal with her feelings for him as a man, not just her King, in
solitude.
As she headed for her apartments, she decided to take her lute out
to the gardens and practice there among the colorful array of
flowers and neatly clipped hedges and get some sun.
A page scurried down the hall towards her as she was about to ascend
the staircase. "Lady Amethyst, Lady Amethyst! You have a visitor!"
The lad sped up to her, his shoes scuffing along the polished floor.
The royal crest emblazoned on his skinny chest looked overbearing
and incongruous, but no doubt made him feel like a grown man.
"Who visits me?"
"Lady Topaz Gilford. She is in the garden, Lady Amethyst."
Topaz! What on earth was she doing here at court? A stab of
apprehension shot through her, and for a second she thought to tell
the page to send her away.
She did not want to hear more of Topaz's tirades, stand captive to
her accusations, her disparaging remarks about the King, and worst
of all, another possible physical confrontation. Her life was at
court now, and Topaz would have to accept it. But what excuse could
she use to put her off? And would it not be worse to spurn her in
such a way? Her sister was nothing if not volatile.