Queen Elizabeth's Daughter: A Novel of Elizabeth I by Barnhill Anne Clinard

Author:Barnhill, Anne Clinard [Barnhill, Anne Clinard]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Published: 2014-03-18T00:00:00+00:00

Twenty-five

January 1571

The fires blazed at Richmond Palace as the icy winds blew outside. Mary sat in the queen’s Privy Chamber, a warm quilt across her knees, the flames throwing out heat and light. The fire felt good on her feet and legs. She looked across the hearth at her friend Mistress Eleanor and smiled. They had the early afternoon to themselves as the queen was busy with Cecil and the other members of the council.

“How go the plans for the wedding?” Mary said.

Mistress Eleanor looked up from her work, an impish grin on her face.

“My father has raised the dowry and we shall be wed at Eastertime. The queen has given her blessing,” said Mistress Eleanor.

“Did she put up a fuss?” said Mary.

“Well, when my father asked her, she made that little ‘pup’ sound she makes when she is not particularly pleased. But then she smiled at him and granted permission. They say she usually does so after a brief time of prating against marriage in general. But, her mood is good these days. I think it is because she is engaged in negotiations for marriage with the French duke,” said Mistress Eleanor.

Though the Duke of Anjou had not acquiesced to any of the queen’s demands yet, negotiations continued. Elizabeth had made so many demands, no one expected him to agree to them. By asking for the impossible, it would then be easy for Elizabeth to blame Anjou if things did not work out. She would seem to be trying to marry, yet marriage itself would be avoided once again.

“I do not think she will ever marry,” said Mistress Eleanor.

“She loves to be wooed, that much is certain. And, for six months, she has had little to plague her—no uprisings, no attacks on her lands—she has been making merry with Lord Robert and the new man, Hatton. She likes him well enough,” said Mary, her needle working in and out quickly. She was stitching gold thread around the edge of a handkerchief and it was easy work.

“They say it is his dancing! Lord Robert told her he could find a dance master who did a jig as well as Hatton. And she replied, ‘I will not see your man—it is his trade!’ Everyone laughed but not Lord Robert. He stomped away and danced the next three dances with Lady Douglass,” said Mistress Eleanor.

“I am sorry to have missed such a show. But my duties as Keeper of the Queen's Clothes have kept me quite busier than usual. And, I have not enjoyed dancing as I once did,” said Mary.

“You mean you are afraid to be around the courtiers after you refused Oxford. And now that he continues to besmirch your good name, you hide in the queen’s apartments. I wish you would come out of your shell and show him you care not a fig for his slander. Hold your head high and ignore him,” said Mistress Eleanor.

“I shall one day soon—I will not have a choice. The queen has noticed how I absent myself from her evening activities.

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