The Three Crowns epub (52 page)

Anne, that dear friend whom she knew had always loved her since their childhood, was bolder. “Your Highness does not
want
to believe,” she said, “and that is why you will not put us to the test.”

“Put you to the test?”

“Yes. Make sure that we are speaking the truth.”

“How?”

“He goes to her apartment almost every night. You could wait for him to leave it.”

She shook her head.

But she went on thinking about William and Elizabeth. She pictured him, slyly mounting the stairs to the maid of honor’s room, opening the door, Elizabeth waiting … the embrace. Sly Elizabeth! Cold William! What was this attraction between them? Were they laughing at her for being so simple that she had not discovered their deceit?

The card game
was over. Mary said that she was tired and would retire to her room.

She smiled at the Prince, who although he did not play cards, had joined the assembly.

“You are looking tired,” she told him. “Could you not desert your work for one night and retire early?”

He looked at her coldly and replied that urgent dispatches were awaiting his attention.

“You work too hard,” she said, smiling fondly, and bade him goodnight.

Her ladies prepared her for bed and she dismissed them all except Anne Trelawny and Mrs. Langford. Then Anne brought a robe and wrapped it about her.

“It may well be that you will have to wait a long time at the foot of the privy stairs to the maids of honors’ apartments,” she said.

“I shall wait,” said Mary firmly.

They made her comfortable there.

They knew that he was visiting Elizabeth Villiers that night because Mrs. Langford’s son had been set to wait behind the hangings and he had seen him go to her.

Only Mary’s anger saved her from tears.

They had successfully convinced her that she had allowed herself to become an object of pity since, it seemed, all knew of the adulterous intrigue except herself.

William looked down
at Elizabeth who yawned sleepily as she smiled up at him. She implied that she was utterly contented.

He felt rejuvenated, as he always did after these occasions. She attracted him as no other woman ever could. He did not know exactly what it was; she was knowledgeable, dignified, and without a trace of humility, which surprised him for he had always thought that docility was what he would ask in a woman, but she was so eager to be all that he wanted, he was deeply aware of that and it flattered him. She kept in step with him on state affairs and he guessed that must have been a great task; she was not afraid to offer an opinion. She was sensual but never over demanding; she seemed to be able to assess his strength to the smallest degree. She had made him her life, and she flattered him without seeming to do so. He would not have known what he wanted of a woman until he met Elizabeth and she had shown him.

He could never break with her, however much the intrigue worried his Calvinistic soul. He told himself that she was a necessity to him. She supplied the recreation he needed; with his frail body and active mind, he needed that relaxation and only she could give it. That was his excuse; and he would scheme and lie to keep her.

Sleek as a satisfied cat she watched him, delighted with the part she was called upon to play. The power behind the throne! She could not have asked for a more exciting role. She was no longer jealous of foolish sentimental Mary as she had been in the nursery days and she could always hug herself with delight to consider their positions now.

William shut the door gently and cautiously descended the privy stairs.

As he reached the last step a figure rose before him. He stared, unable to believe in those first seconds that it was his wife.

“Yes,” she said. “It is I.”

“What are you doing here?”

“Waiting for you to finish dealing with those … state papers. I did not know that you kept them in Elizabeth Villiers’s bedchamber.”

“This is most unseemly.”

“I agree. The Prince of Orange tiptoeing from his mistress’s bedroom!”

“I do not wish to hear another word about this.”

“I do not suppose
you
do. But
I
wish to speak of it.”

“You are behaving even more foolishly than usual.”

“And, William, how are you behaving?”

“With great restraint, I assure you.”

“William …”

He pushed aside her arm.

“Go back to your apartments. I am most displeased with you. I should have thought you would have had more dignity than to behave like a cottage shrew.”

“And your behavior …” But her voice had faltered, he noticed, and he seized the advantage.

“I am more than displeased by your conduct,” he said. “I am very angry. I do not wish to see you or speak to you until you are in a more controlled and reasonable state of mind.”

With that he left her standing there, forlorn and tearful.

Anne Trelawny and Mrs. Langford, who had been listening, came out to take her to her bed.

They looked at each other in exasperation. One would have thought that she was the sinner. Oh, it was indeed time she had a kind and loving husband.

They got her to bed and she lay shivering and sleepless.

For some days
William avoided her but he was very uneasy.

He sent for Bentinck as he did when he was perplexed, and told him what had happened.

“Someone must have advised her to do this. I suspect that girl Trelawny. I am going to find out, and if she is guilty she shall go back to England.”

“It’s a little harsh on the Princess,” suggested Bentinck.

“I don’t understand.”

“Your Highness
was
visiting my sister-in-law. She
is
your mistress. The Princess would naturally be disturbed to discover this!”

“And you think it right and fitting for her servants to help her to spy on me?”

“I think it a very natural state of affairs,” said Bentinck.

“There are times, my friend, when you exceed your duty.”

“I had believed that Your Highness always wanted me to answer your questions truthfully.”

“I do not want insolence … even from my friends.”

“I would respectfully point out that there was no insolence in my reply.”

“You are being insolent now. You may go, Bentinck. I no longer need your presence.”

As Bentinck bowed and retired, William stared at the closed door in dismay. This was the first time he had ever quarreled with Bentinck; he could scarcely believe it had happened.

First to be discovered in that undignified way by a wife waiting at the bottom of a staircase! Then to be told he was in the wrong by one whose friendship he valued!

He was ashamed, and when he was ashamed he was angry.

Elizabeth opened very
wide those eyes with the—to him—enchanting cast and said: “It is simple. Anne Trelawny and the Langford woman are at the bottom of this. They are always whispering together. Get rid of them and everything will be well.”

“I should want to prove them guilty first.”

“It should not be difficult. Others will be in it. Leave it to me. I’ll find out.”

He kissed her. He could trust her he knew, his clever Elizabeth.

In a few
days she had the answer.

“It is more serious than we believed. James is behind this.”

“James? But how?”

“His idea is to have your marriage annulled so that Mary can make a marriage more to his liking.”

“A Catholic marriage!”

“That is exactly what he would like. Whether the people of England would accept that is another matter. In any case, James does not want
you
to remain his son-in-law. Covell is an old fool … fortunately. He cannot keep his mouth shut. He’s delighted to be working with Skelton who has his orders straight from Whitehall. You see the nature of our little plot?”

“You’re a clever girl, Elizabeth.”

“Have you only just discovered it?”

“I always knew it.”

“I am glad, for the more clever I am the greater service I can offer my Prince.”

She took the frail little hand and kissed it. She expressed herself charmingly; her gestures were delightful.

I’ll never give her up, he thought. I’ll defy James and all England if necessary; and I’ll keep Elizabeth … and Mary.

The Prince of
Orange was out hunting but his thoughts were not on his quarry. They were back at the Palace where he had given instructions to a few trusted servants to keep watch for anyone leaving with letters.

These were to be stopped and searched, and any letters found on them were to be subjected to scrutiny.

The stratagem worked.

When he returned to the Palace several letters from Covell to Skelton and from Skelton to his master were laid before him.

In these it was quite clear that a plot was in progress to bring about the dissolution of the Orange marriage. The Princess was first to be made aware of her husband’s infidelity with Elizabeth Villiers, then to be made to see she could not condone it. The names of Anne Trelawny and the Langfords were mentioned.

William, having read the letters, sent for Covell.

There was nothing brave about Covell, and William in a cold rage could be intimidating.

“Do you admit that you have been plotting against me?” demanded William.