Read Online The Boleyn Reckoning by Laura Andersen - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Laura Andersen
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know she is not the right choice for England’s queen.”
John Dee tapped his fingers along his leg and Elizabeth had a flash of the same déjà vu she’d experienced with him before—that this was neither the first nor the last time she would consult him on matters of some delicacy. Though only a few years older than she, Dee had an ageless quality to his wisdom that Elizabeth respected. At last he asked, “Might I inquire as to the nature of the assignment you spoke of?”
“I wondered if you would care to travel the Continent for a time, finding books to add to my personal library. A man of your talents will know the sort of volumes I’m looking for—humanist, rare, thoughtful. You have contacts in Europe and I thought you might enjoy the opportunity to renew acquaintances.”
He regarded her shrewdly. “And perhaps you would be interested in what those acquaintances have to say about conditions in Europe and the political pressures facing England abroad?”
“Very interested.”
“Is this your idea, or Walsingham’s?” John Dee had known Walsingham longer than Elizabeth had—his was one of the recommendations that had sent the intelligencer to her during her visit to France the year before.
She stood, velvet skirts rustling into place. “Walsingham and I so often see eye to eye. Will you do it?”
John Dee bowed. “It will be an honour, Your Highness.”
Ten days after Easter the court moved east to Greenwich and Minuette received a petitioner who she was actually happy to see. Jonathan Percy was a musician and poet who had once courted her—he had gone so far as to propose—and Minuette retained her fondness for the soft-spoken young man. In spite of the fact that his twin sister, Eleanor Percy, had borne William a daughter two years ago and hated Minuette with a ferocity that had landed her in the Tower.
“Jonathan,” Minuette said with real pleasure as he kissed her hand in greeting. They were in her privy chamber, small but lovely with its blue and gold décor. Minuette had memories of Anne Boleyn in that chamber, the queen a perfect match for her surroundings. Every now and then she wondered what Anne would make of Minuette’s hold on her royal son.
“Mistress Wyatt,” Jonathan said in his beautiful musician’s voice. “Thank you for being willing to see me.”
“I am always willing to see my friends,” she said warmly. “Would you care for any refreshment?”
“No, thank you. I wondered if … that is, there are two matters I wished to raise with you. If it is convenient.”
Minuette signaled to Carrie to leave them. When they were alone, seated at right angles to one another, she said to Jonathan, “What may I do for you?”
His brief smile was a reminder of simpler times. “I suppose everyone wants something from you these days. As to the first matter, I simply wished to inform you that I am going to be married next month.”
“I’m so glad! Who is the young woman—do I know her?”
“I doubt it. Her family is from York, Honoria Radclyffe is her name. We will be married at York Minster and the king has agreed to my transfer to the Archbishop of York’s service. We prefer to make our home away from court.”
“I envy you.” She meant it as a wistful wish for a life that was rapidly being shut to her, and only wondered if he took it as personal regret when he eyed her closely. Before he might say something awkward, Minuette asked brightly, “And the second matter?”
“Ah,” said Jonathan, looking once more the uncomfortable boy she remembered. “That, I’m afraid, is a request. I wondered if … Honoria and I had hoped …” He stuttered to a halt, colour rising in his cheeks.
“Jonathan, you need not be afraid of me. I am not yet grown so grand that I cannot be asked a simple favour.”
“It is simple, but that doesn’t make it easy. Honoria and I would like to be named guardians to my niece, Anne Howard. Eleanor’s daughter.”
Minuette
John Dee tapped his fingers along his leg and Elizabeth had a flash of the same déjà vu she’d experienced with him before—that this was neither the first nor the last time she would consult him on matters of some delicacy. Though only a few years older than she, Dee had an ageless quality to his wisdom that Elizabeth respected. At last he asked, “Might I inquire as to the nature of the assignment you spoke of?”
“I wondered if you would care to travel the Continent for a time, finding books to add to my personal library. A man of your talents will know the sort of volumes I’m looking for—humanist, rare, thoughtful. You have contacts in Europe and I thought you might enjoy the opportunity to renew acquaintances.”
He regarded her shrewdly. “And perhaps you would be interested in what those acquaintances have to say about conditions in Europe and the political pressures facing England abroad?”
“Very interested.”
“Is this your idea, or Walsingham’s?” John Dee had known Walsingham longer than Elizabeth had—his was one of the recommendations that had sent the intelligencer to her during her visit to France the year before.
She stood, velvet skirts rustling into place. “Walsingham and I so often see eye to eye. Will you do it?”
John Dee bowed. “It will be an honour, Your Highness.”
Ten days after Easter the court moved east to Greenwich and Minuette received a petitioner who she was actually happy to see. Jonathan Percy was a musician and poet who had once courted her—he had gone so far as to propose—and Minuette retained her fondness for the soft-spoken young man. In spite of the fact that his twin sister, Eleanor Percy, had borne William a daughter two years ago and hated Minuette with a ferocity that had landed her in the Tower.
“Jonathan,” Minuette said with real pleasure as he kissed her hand in greeting. They were in her privy chamber, small but lovely with its blue and gold décor. Minuette had memories of Anne Boleyn in that chamber, the queen a perfect match for her surroundings. Every now and then she wondered what Anne would make of Minuette’s hold on her royal son.
“Mistress Wyatt,” Jonathan said in his beautiful musician’s voice. “Thank you for being willing to see me.”
“I am always willing to see my friends,” she said warmly. “Would you care for any refreshment?”
“No, thank you. I wondered if … that is, there are two matters I wished to raise with you. If it is convenient.”
Minuette signaled to Carrie to leave them. When they were alone, seated at right angles to one another, she said to Jonathan, “What may I do for you?”
His brief smile was a reminder of simpler times. “I suppose everyone wants something from you these days. As to the first matter, I simply wished to inform you that I am going to be married next month.”
“I’m so glad! Who is the young woman—do I know her?”
“I doubt it. Her family is from York, Honoria Radclyffe is her name. We will be married at York Minster and the king has agreed to my transfer to the Archbishop of York’s service. We prefer to make our home away from court.”
“I envy you.” She meant it as a wistful wish for a life that was rapidly being shut to her, and only wondered if he took it as personal regret when he eyed her closely. Before he might say something awkward, Minuette asked brightly, “And the second matter?”
“Ah,” said Jonathan, looking once more the uncomfortable boy she remembered. “That, I’m afraid, is a request. I wondered if … Honoria and I had hoped …” He stuttered to a halt, colour rising in his cheeks.
“Jonathan, you need not be afraid of me. I am not yet grown so grand that I cannot be asked a simple favour.”
“It is simple, but that doesn’t make it easy. Honoria and I would like to be named guardians to my niece, Anne Howard. Eleanor’s daughter.”
Minuette
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