Royal Inheritance by Kate Emerson

Author:Kate Emerson [Emerson, Kate]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, General, Historical, Romance
ISBN: 9781451661514
Google: mlREur3FVtgC
Amazon: 1451661517
Publisher: Gallery Books
Published: 2013-09-24T00:00:00+00:00

26

December 1545

King Henry spent the last part of the year in Surrey, moving between Nonsuch, Petworth, Guildford Castle, and Woking, but when he came to London for the opening of Parliament, he sent for me. It was the first time I’d seen him since that long-ago progress, more than two years earlier, when I had met Prince Edward and Princess Elizabeth.

Once again we met at Whitehall, this time in the privy gallery that overlooked the gardens. The king, even more obese than when we’d last met, sat in a wheeled chair. He had no reason to rise when I entered and made my curtsey, but I had to wonder if he could. All that had once been muscle had turned to fat. His Grace had always had small eyes, but now they were nearly swallowed up by the abundant fleshiness of his face. A faint, unpleasant odor clung to him, in spite of the strong sweet perfume he wore.

“How is that little dog we gave you, eh?” the king asked.

Father had prudently retreated. The king’s attendants also moved out of earshot.

“Pocket is well, Your Grace.” I did not think I should mention that my dog, like my king, showed the effects of overindulgence in rich food. Early on, Pocket had learned to beg table scraps from me and my sisters. Even Bridget had tossed him choice bits of meat and bread.

For several minutes, the king spoke of trivial matters. I was considering how to broach the subject of Father’s post as royal tailor, in the hope of preventing its loss to Richard Egleston, when King Henry placed one bloated hand on my arm. His words, although gently spoken, had the force of a command.

“It is our wish that you wed young Richard Darcy.”

I bit back my first response, well aware of the folly of outright refusal. “I am too young yet to wed,” I temporized.

The king chuckled. “Many girls your age are not only married but mothers twice over.”

Greatly daring, I answered him. “And many wait until they are five and twenty, with a good dowry saved up and a chest full of linens ready for their new home.”

Maidservants like my Edith, if they wed at all, did not do so until they were able to afford to leave service entirely. Some never reached that point. Or they failed to find anyone to marry them.

“You may wait awhile if it is your wish, Audrey,” the king said. “It is true that you should come to the marriage with a proper dowry. It is a father’s duty to provide one. We will talk with Malte about that, never fear. But marry young Darcy you must. I have promised his father.”

I could not bring myself to agree, but I dropped into a subservient curtsey in the hope that the king would not ask for more. His Grace seemed satisfied. When I rose, he waved me away. Father was waiting to lead me back outside.

“His Grace is not well,” I said as we made our way to the water stairs.

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