Sisters of Treason: A Novel by Elizabeth Fremantle

Author:Elizabeth Fremantle
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Published: 2014-07-08T00:00:00+00:00

IV

Kitty and Mouse

September 1560

Hampton Court

Mary

“Where did those come from, Lady Katherine?” says Kat Astley, pointing to the decorated gloves that my sister is unwrapping. I am in a corner of the presence chamber sewing with Peggy and Mistress St. Low, who has dropped off and is snoring slightly. Mistress St. Low is charged to take care of the Queen’s maids, myself included. She is a solid, motherly sort and kindly enough, but she cannot begin to fill the great chasm of emptiness that was carved out of me when Maman died. Maman has been gone almost a year now. Our family is shrunk to a meager two; it is a sorry excuse for a tribe. I watch Katherine on the far side of the chamber with Juno and Kat Astley, whom I have spent the last year assiduously trying to avoid. Of all the ladies, she is closest to the Queen and does not seem fond of us Greys.

“I don’t know, Mistress Astley,” Katherine says. “The package was handed me by one of the pages.” I can tell she is trying to sound respectful, but a sliver of insolence lies beneath her words. She cannot help it. “A gift for Her Majesty, the messenger said.”

“Here! Show me.” Kat Astley beckons her sharply with a hand. “Is there a letter?”

“I haven’t seen one.” Katherine begins to burrow among the wrapping, eventually pulling out a fold of paper, which is snatched smartly from her.

“But the treaty with France and Scotland was signed weeks ago and Marie of Guise is dead,” says Juno.

I suppose she means there is no longer a need to be suspicious of offerings for the Queen. For months we have been burning gifts—candied fruits, jeweled gloves, scented handkerchiefs, finely tooled books of poems, and gallons of exotic perfumes have been given to the pages to pour down the jakes—ever since the rumor came of the Guise plot to poison Elizabeth.

“You can never be too careful,” says Kat Astley, reading something written on the note but not sharing it. “Put them on the hearth.”

“But there is no fire,” says Katherine with a little smirk. Kat Astley looks towards the empty fireplace with her lips drawn tight like a leather pouch.

“Give them to me.” She holds out her hand, but then seems flustered, snatching it back. “No don’t give them to me. Wrap them up again and then give them to me.”

“So you don’t mind Lady Katherine risking herself on poisoned gloves, but not you,” says Juno, taking one of the offending objects and waving it close to the woman’s horrified face.

I swap a look with Peggy; she raises her eyes to the ceiling. We both know it doesn’t do to cross Kat Astley. But a part of me admires Juno’s gall—she will say anything to anyone.

“Lady Jane, kindly desist.” Juno drops the glove to the floor. Kat Astley looks like thunder.

“Just leave them,” says Juno, taking my sister by the hand. “We will be late anyway.”

“She’s right,” says Katherine. “You wouldn’t want to make us late for the Queen’s hunting party now.

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