Beware, Princess Elizabeth by Carolyn Meyer

Author:Carolyn Meyer [Meyer, Carolyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

WHEN I ARRIVED at Somerset House, I first had to acknowledge the salutes of the guards, the gentlemen who attended me, the servants, my own ladies-in-waiting. My legs were still weak, but I held myself erect and walked to my bedchamber, pretending nothing was wrong. As soon as the door shut behind me, I flung myself upon my bed and wept until I was wrung dry of tears.

Then anger overcame fear. I leaped up and called for Kat.

After I had described the scene with the queen, Kat said, "You must go away from here. The sooner the better. You are in danger of your very life, Elizabeth. This is not simply some inconvenience of where and how you worship."

I considered Kat's advice. "You are right," I agreed, and the next day I sent a letter to my sister. "I beg Your Majesty's leave to remove my household to Ashridge in Hertfordshire," I wrote.

For days I waited for a reply. When it came, the answer was no.

I wrote again, imploring her to grant me an audience. Anxious days passed. Finally the queen agreed to see me.

As I knelt before her in an attitude of supplication, Mary gazed at me for a long time. In my heart I was furious, but I could not reveal any of that anger.

"You wish to leave court?" she asked finally.

"If Your Grace will grant me leave," I whispered, "I wish to move to Ashridge."

"You may go," she said at last.

I thanked her—at least I meant that! When I rose and prepared to depart, kneeling, backing, kneeling, the queen stopped me. "Elizabeth!"

I waited nervously for what might come.

"Before you leave London," she said, "we should like to meet with you once more."

"As Your Majesty desires," I replied, and knelt a third time.

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