The Merry Monarch's Wife by Jean Plaidy

Author:Jean Plaidy [Plaidy, Jean]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fiction, General, Historical, Historical Fiction, Great Britain, Queens, Biographical, Biographical Fiction, Queens - Great Britain, Catherine, Great Britain - History - Charles II; 1660-1685
ISBN: 9780307409966
Publisher: Crown Publishing Group
Published: 1990-12-31T06:00:00+00:00

IT WAS AFTERNOON before I saw Frances. She had not appeared, so I sent for her. I was alone when I received her. She looked frightened.

I said: “Come and sit on the stool, Frances, and tell me what is wrong.”

“Your Majesty has doubtless heard what happened last night.”

“Yes. The Duke of Richmond and Lennox was in your apartments when Lady Castlemaine burst in with the King. That is so, is it not?”

“Yes. There was nothing wrong. I have never…I have always said I wouldn’t…and I never have.”

“I believe you, Frances,” I said.

“Oh, thank you, Madam. I fear the King does not. He will be very angry.”

“He should not be,” I said ironically.

“But it was not so. I never have. I’ve always sworn.”

I patted her hand. “I understand the Duke came in for a little chat before saying goodnight. Is that so?”

“Yes…yes.”

“Perhaps it was a little unwise. I believe he has strong feelings for you.”

“He…he wants to marry me.”

“And you?”

“I should like to be married, Your Majesty.”

“Well, Lady Castlemaine brought the King to your apartments because she knew the Duke would be there. I wonder how she knew? Perhaps he made a habit of escorting you to your apartments and coming in to say goodnight.”

“He has done it before…but that was all. We never…”

I silenced her again. I believed her. If she had been going to be someone’s mistress, it would have been the King’s, I was sure.

“And now,” I said, “what shall you do?”

“I do not know. Perhaps the King will send me away.”

“I scarcely think he will do that. I understand the Duke has already gone. Do you know where?”

She looked at me in frightened silence, her lips pressed together. So she did know.

“All right,” I said soothingly, as one would to a child. “It is going to be rather uncomfortable for you at court, Frances.” She looked at me trustingly. “I should like to help you.”

She took my hand and kissed it.

“It is time you were married,” I continued. “If you had a husband he would protect you from all these men who are seeking to seduce you.”

“Oh yes,” she said.

“And you say the Duke wishes to marry you?”

“Yes, Madam. He has asked me.”

“And what have you said?”

“I…I am not sure.”

“You would be a duchess.”

She smiled. The prospect was obviously agreeable to her.

I had heard that the King had offered to make her a duchess if she became his mistress. That was before the rumors of divorce had crept in.

She had refused. I believed that she was a virgin. She had no doubt been taught that it was unwise to give in to any man without marriage, and in her rather simple mind that had become an indisputable doctrine to which she clung.

But to be a duchess through marriage would please her.

“You would like to marry the Duke, would you, Frances?”

“Yes,” she said.

“If you joined him, you could be married…then you would be safe.”

“The King…”

“The King could do nothing if you were already married.”

She was thoughtful.

“There could be an elopement,” I suggested.

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