Read Online To Shield the Queen by Fiona Buckley - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Fiona Buckley
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I do not wish her ill. She has a woman attendant always with her, of course, a Mistress Pinto, but my wife is in great distress of mind and body. Her fears are feeding rumour and I wish those rumours to be stopped. Mistress Pinto knows of this, but her task is a heavy burden for just one woman. I want you to join my wife’s household, assist Mistress Pinto, and convince Lady Dudley, if you can, that she has nothing to fear from me. You are not linked to me or to my wife either by blood or previous service. If you are there when the end comes, and can confirm that my wife died naturally, by the will of God, you will be protecting my reputation.”
“And mine,” said Elizabeth. “In this matter, what touches Sir Robin’s honour, also touches mine.”
Scandal would not smooth the way to the altar, I thought, and was startled when she added firmly, “It is our wish that Lady Dudley’s life should be preserved as long as possible. That means giving her peace of mind. Will you assist in that? It would help us, and would, I think, be a way of helping you.”
Elizabeth did indeed have a personality full of mystery. I was sure, immediately, that she was not merely saying the right things, but meant them, although in that case . . .
I was not given time to pursue this puzzling idea. “I myself can do little for Amy,” said Dudley. “I visited her not so long ago and she wept and trembled at the sight of me.” He shrugged, more in exasperation than pity, I thought. “The kindest thing I can do for her is keep away from her. But if you will succour her, I can offer you . . . ”
The sum he named made me gasp. It should solve all my financial problems for at least three years.
It had crossed my mind that if Matthew asked me to marry him, I would not have to worry about money any more. I had even wondered if I ought to encourage him for Meg’s sake. But here was a way to earn, which did not involve marriage before I was ready for it, would demand no disloyalty to Gerald’s memory.
“Where is Lady Dudley living?” I asked.
“In Berkshire, near the Oxfordshire border,” Dudley said. “Close to Abingdon. The house is called Cumnor Place.”
I had no idea what lay ahead of me. At the time, it seemed to me that I was to be highly paid for simply comforting a frightened, sick young woman and trying, kindly, to stop her from spreading rumours. It might be distressing; but it didn’t sound difficult and I would have money to spend on Meg. She must by now be growing out of everything she had had when I parted from her. She would need new caps, gowns, shoes. I looked at Elizabeth.
“Ma’am, is it your wish that I should go to Lady Dudley?”
“Yes, Ursula, it is our wish. We have your interests in mind,” Elizabeth said. “It may be as well for you to be away from the court for a while. There is a matter on which you may wish to meditate, undisturbed. Is there not?”
She meant Matthew. I saw from the amused glint in Dudley’s eyes that he knew all about it, and I reddened.
“But it is not our command,” said Elizabeth. “You are free to choose. Do you need time to consider?”
No, I didn’t. I did want time away from Matthew, and I needed Dudley’s money. I thought of the gowns and caps and shoes for my daughter and said yes, at once.
4
Cumnor Place
E lizabeth clearly felt I should be separated from Matthew and I agreed with her. I knew that I must tell him why I was leaving the court. He had been paying his addresses to me and I had not dismissed him; I owed him some courtesy. He and Arundel were expected back that evening and I would see him then, I thought.
However, before evening came, I received a note from him delivered by the page Will, who ran many of the errands connected with the queen’s ladies. He handed it over with a knowing look, which annoyed me, but I gave him the expected gratuity, and went to break the seal in private.
It was an apologetic little letter, saying that an urgent matter
“And mine,” said Elizabeth. “In this matter, what touches Sir Robin’s honour, also touches mine.”
Scandal would not smooth the way to the altar, I thought, and was startled when she added firmly, “It is our wish that Lady Dudley’s life should be preserved as long as possible. That means giving her peace of mind. Will you assist in that? It would help us, and would, I think, be a way of helping you.”
Elizabeth did indeed have a personality full of mystery. I was sure, immediately, that she was not merely saying the right things, but meant them, although in that case . . .
I was not given time to pursue this puzzling idea. “I myself can do little for Amy,” said Dudley. “I visited her not so long ago and she wept and trembled at the sight of me.” He shrugged, more in exasperation than pity, I thought. “The kindest thing I can do for her is keep away from her. But if you will succour her, I can offer you . . . ”
The sum he named made me gasp. It should solve all my financial problems for at least three years.
It had crossed my mind that if Matthew asked me to marry him, I would not have to worry about money any more. I had even wondered if I ought to encourage him for Meg’s sake. But here was a way to earn, which did not involve marriage before I was ready for it, would demand no disloyalty to Gerald’s memory.
“Where is Lady Dudley living?” I asked.
“In Berkshire, near the Oxfordshire border,” Dudley said. “Close to Abingdon. The house is called Cumnor Place.”
I had no idea what lay ahead of me. At the time, it seemed to me that I was to be highly paid for simply comforting a frightened, sick young woman and trying, kindly, to stop her from spreading rumours. It might be distressing; but it didn’t sound difficult and I would have money to spend on Meg. She must by now be growing out of everything she had had when I parted from her. She would need new caps, gowns, shoes. I looked at Elizabeth.
“Ma’am, is it your wish that I should go to Lady Dudley?”
“Yes, Ursula, it is our wish. We have your interests in mind,” Elizabeth said. “It may be as well for you to be away from the court for a while. There is a matter on which you may wish to meditate, undisturbed. Is there not?”
She meant Matthew. I saw from the amused glint in Dudley’s eyes that he knew all about it, and I reddened.
“But it is not our command,” said Elizabeth. “You are free to choose. Do you need time to consider?”
No, I didn’t. I did want time away from Matthew, and I needed Dudley’s money. I thought of the gowns and caps and shoes for my daughter and said yes, at once.
4
Cumnor Place
E lizabeth clearly felt I should be separated from Matthew and I agreed with her. I knew that I must tell him why I was leaving the court. He had been paying his addresses to me and I had not dismissed him; I owed him some courtesy. He and Arundel were expected back that evening and I would see him then, I thought.
However, before evening came, I received a note from him delivered by the page Will, who ran many of the errands connected with the queen’s ladies. He handed it over with a knowing look, which annoyed me, but I gave him the expected gratuity, and went to break the seal in private.
It was an apologetic little letter, saying that an urgent matter
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