Elizabeth knew then that it was safe to take the next step, and on another great occasion—that of New Year’s day—she proclaimed that the church services were to be held in English.
Thoughts of her Coronation occupied her mind. She looked forward to it with great eagerness; it had figured largely in her dreams; and now she wished to discuss it with one whose triumph was her triumph and who should have his prominent part to play in its ceremonies.
What a joy it was to be in his company during those days of preparation! It seemed the more exciting to her because they were never alone together. Always surrounding her were her Councillors of state or the ladies of her bedchamber. Poor Robert! She knew he was at times incensed, for how could he say what he wished in the presence of these people! He must keep his distance, address her as his Queen; he must play the subject, never the lover. Her royalty was between them now as once his prison walls had been. Yet each day she knew that she was more deeply in love with him, for if she did not see him she was fretful and disappointed. She could not continually demand to know where he was. She was trying to exercise her usual caution. She would not wish to tell the Court that she was in love with her Master of Horse.
I verily believe, she thought, that I would marry him. But he has a wife. Does he forget that, the sinful man!
She should be grateful to that woman. What was her name? Anne? Amy? She pretended not to remember. Stupid little country wench! What had she had to attract him in the first place?
There was nothing she liked so much as to escape from her councillors and sit among her courtiers—if Robert were with them—and talk of pleasure: masques, balls, and all the ceremonies which must attend her coronation.
“I doubt not,” she said one day, “that the Lord Mayor and his fellows will give me as good a Coronation as they gave my sister. Would I knew which would be the most propitious day. What do you think, my Lord Dudley?”
“The day would be unimportant, Your Majesty.”
“How so?”
“The very fact of its being your Majesty’s Coronation day would make it the greatest any of us had ever lived through.”
“What means the man? Do you know, Mistress Ashley?”
“I think he means that the greatest boon this country has ever received was your Majesty’s accession to the throne,” said Kat.
“Mistress Ashley has explained my meaning, Madam,” said Robert.
She looked from him to the lady who was sitting beside him—a dark, and sparkling-eyed beauty. The sight did not please the Queen.
“I pray you, do not shout at me from such a distance, Master Dudley. Come here and sit beside me.”
Willingly he came, his eyes adoring, pleading: Why cannot I see you alone? Why must there always be these people between us?
She wanted to answer: Because I am the Queen and you were foolish enough to marry a country girl. If you had been a wiser man, who knows what I might not have done for you!
Was he too familiar? Now he looked a little sullen. Was he a little too certain of her favor? She could not reprove him before her ladies and gentlemen. If she did, he might absent himself from her presence, and that would be as much punishment for her as for him.
She fancied those about her were smiling slyly. Had they noticed her preference? Her reign was too young for her to make any false steps.
Kat said to her later: “Your Majesty, they are beginning to notice. There are whispers.”
“Of what do you speak, woman?”
“Of our dark and handsome gentleman, Madam. It is noticed that your eyes are often upon him, and that you like not to see him laughing with other ladies.”
“I’ll not endure such insolence. Who are these gossips?”
“The whole Court, Your Majesty. And ’tis true, you know. You give away your feelings. You could not show them more plainly if you put your arms about his neck and kissed him before them all.”
Elizabeth so far forgot her queenly dignity as to box Kat’s ears. But Kat knew that her warning had gone home.
Elizabeth was perturbed.
At the next assembly she said: “I wish for the advice of Dr. Dee on my Coronation. You will go to him, my Lord Dudley, and ascertain from him which day would be more suited to that event.”
“When does Your Majesty expect me to leave?”
“At once … at once.”
He looked at her reproachfully. Even if it were only for a short time, he was being sent away from Court. He was hurt and angry. But so was she.
She watched him leave, with such longing in her eyes that Kat felt she merely betrayed herself the more.
When Robert left the Court for his visit to the Queen’s favorite astrologer, Dr. Dee, he was in an exalted frame of mind.
Elizabeth had not hidden her feelings from him. He knew enough of his powers to recognize in her the same longings he had so often encountered in others. Very soon, he was sure, that longing would grow to such magnitude that not all her pride nor all her royalty would be allowed to stand in its way.
He contemplated the future with complacence. No member of his family had risen as he would rise. But there was one obstacle—Amy.
The very thought of her angered him. He compared her with Elizabeth. The Queen attracted him apart from her royalty. Had she not been the daughter of Henry the Eighth she would have been his mistress ere this, he was sure. But she was doubly desirable; not only could she give him erotic satisfaction but that crown which his father had intended for Guildford.
He would be King of the realm, for no woman had yet refused him what he demanded; and Elizabeth had shown quite clearly that she was essentially a woman.
He could not ignore Amy. She was becoming restive; she wanted to come to Court and share in her husband’s good fortune. She wrote asking if he were in love with some lady of the Court who was demanding all his attention. Amy had discovered the truth. Elizabeth certainly demanded constant thought, constant attention.
Dr. Dee welcomed him warmly at his country residence and, on consulting his charts, decided that the 15th of January would be a very good day for the crowning of the Queen.
When he left the astrologer, as he was not far from Siderstern, he felt that it would be a good opportunity of seeing Amy and making some attempt to stifle her desires to share his life at Court. He was afraid that if he did not visit her, she might decide to come to Court to see him. He did not think the Queen would be very pleased to see Amy at Court.
When he reached the house it was early afternoon and all was quiet. He sent his servants to the stables with the horses and went into the house to find Amy.
The hall was deserted; he went quickly up the staircase and along the gallery to the bedroom which he shared with Amy when he lived in the house.
Someone was in the room, bending over a press. It was Pinto.
“So … Pinto!” he said.
She straightened and bobbed a curtsy. She was embarrassed, he saw. “Lord Robert! We were not expecting you.”
“I know it. And your mistress?”
“She is riding with her father, my lord.”
“Is anything wrong, Pinto?” he asked.
“Wrong, my lord! No … no. All will be well for my lady now that you are here.”
Lightly he wondered why Pinto interested him; but he knew almost at once. She was not ill-favored; and she was deeply conscious of him. In her case it was not love but dislike which he engendered. What a strange woman Pinto must be!
She was preparing to hurry from the room, but he felt in a mischievous mood.
“Do not let me disturb you, Pinto. Do not hurry away.”
“I was merely putting away my lady’s things.”