Then she has heard the rumors! thought Pinto. Oh, my poor little mistress. God preserve her!
“Do you know, Pinto,” went on Amy, “I believe that to be near death would make a woman feel that she must live every minute of her life to the full because life is, after all, so precious. Bring me my new purple velvet gown. I will put it on. I think it needs a little alteration. I should like to know that it was ready …”
Ready? thought Pinto. Ready to wear for the husband who so rarely comes?
But at least, here at Denchworth, they must be safe.
They did not stay at Denchworth. It was while Amy was trying on the velvet dress that Anthony Forster and his wife arrived.
Amy, hearing their arrival and hoping it might be Robert, went down clad in her velvet. It hurt Pinto, who followed her, to see her disappointment.
Anthony Forster, whom Lord Robert had made his treasurer, had come for a purpose, Pinto surmised.
“My lord thinks,” he told Amy, “that you should not stay so long the guest of Mr. and Mistress Hyde. He would like you to remove to your own house; and as you so like this district he says you may go to Cumnor Place which, as you know, is not such a great distance from here. There you can live in state and entertain Lord Robert and his friends when they come to you.”
Amy, always eager for excitement, accepted the plan with enthusiasm. The idea of Robert’s bringing his friends for her to entertain had always attracted her. There would be something to do besides lie on her bed, eating sweetmeats, chattering to Pinto, and trying on her dresses.
Cumnor Place! Why, of course. It was a lovely old house, and Robert had leased it a few years ago from the Owens. It had been a monastery at one time, and had been given to the present Mr. Owen’s father by King Henry the Eighth for good services as the King’s physician. It was only a few miles from Denchworth, and about three or four from Abingdon.
She would prepare to go there at once; and when there she could entertain the Hydes as they had entertained her; then she would prepare for grander company—all the ladies and gentlemen whom Robert would bring from the Court.
Pinto seemed disturbed when she told her of the plans.
“Cumnor Place. You remember it, Pinto?”
Pinto did remember it. A lonely house, surrounded by trees, a tall house with views of the downs from the top windows. Pinto did not let her mistress see the shiver which ran through her.
“I remember it,” said Pinto.
“You do not seem to be eager to leave here. Have you become attached to Denchworth?”
“Mayhap I have. Who will go with us to Cumnor Place?”
“Mr. Anthony Forster and his wife will be there for a while to prepare for my husband. And I think that Mistress Owen will be there. She is much attached to the place, and Robert allowed her to stay. We shall not be lonely, you see.”
“And my lord … suggested this move?”
Why did suspicions leap to her mind? wondered Pinto. Cumnor Place was so lonely. His servants would be there—men and women who would not hesitate to do anything the future King of England demanded of them.
“Yes. It is my belief that he wishes to entertain his friends there. Oh, Pinto, the lonely days will be over. We shall have many guests to fill the house. I must have some new dresses.”
Pinto said on impulse: “Mistress Odingsells is very fond of you. Why not take her with us? She would be a pleasant companion for you, and you know how you hate to be alone. When you have not me to talk to, you will have her. And it will be doing her a good turn. Take her as your companion.”
“Why, I like that idea, Pinto. Yes. I shall take her as a companion.”
Pinto was glad. She could not get out of her mind the thought that it would be good for Amy to have as many friends as possible in lonely Cumnor Place.
The Queen was worried. She was wondering how much longer she could stave off a decision. It seemed that unless she acted quickly she would be forced into a position which she was determined not to accept.
There was war in Scotland. The Scottish Protestants were in revolt against the French, who, under the Dowager Queen of Scotland, Mary of Guise—mother of Mary Queen of Scots, who was now Queen of France—were taking too prominent a part in Scottish affairs. They determined to rid themselves of their Gallic masters, and in this Elizabeth must help them, for if the French gained possession of Scotland she would have a very powerful enemy on her borders.
Her ministers advised war, and she saw the wisdom of this. Philip of Spain was watching and hesitating according to his custom, not caring to throw in his lot with the French, yet, stern Catholic as he was, finding it impossible to aid the Protestants.
But when he saw how well the war was going for the Protestants, he ordered his ambassador to deliver an ultimatum. Unless the peace was made and kept, he declared, he must send aid to the Catholics. The Queen was in a panic. Philip must be held off at all costs, so she placated him by the only means at her disposaclass="underline" she promised she would marry the man he wished her to—Archduke Charles.
Philip was well pleased, for if Charles should be King of England he foresaw the return of England to the Catholic fold; but he was beginning to know Elizabeth, and he would not be put off as he had previously been.
Plans, he commanded, should be made at once for the coming of the Archduke to England.
Robert and Elizabeth met secretly and alone.
“I am afraid of what may happen,” she told him. “With Charles here my hand may be forced.”
Robert exulted. Never before had he realized how completely she needed him. She was appealing to him now. Something drastic must be done.
The question they were asking each other was: What?
Robert knew that he had many deadly enemies. The Queen was popular enough to withstand the scandal their relationship had set in motion; but the people did not like to think that their Queen was conducting a dishonorable association with a married man. They therefore blamed Robert.
In the streets harsh things were said of the Dudleys, and in particular of Lord Robert. Who is this upstart? it was asked. It is true that he is the son of a Duke, the brother of a King, and the grandson of a Knight; but his great-grandfather was a farmer, and he was the only one who died in his bed an honest man. Let Lord Robert get back to his farm, and sowing his crops reap the family honesty.
Would they accept such a man as their King? And what would their reaction be if he divorced his wife in order to marry the Queen?
Elizabeth looked at him, seeing in him all the manly vigor of his twenty-eight years. She yearned for him; but even as she yearned, she cried out angrily: “Why did it have to be you … you with your blood tainted with treason, with your father, grandfather, and brother all dying by the axe … you, a married man with a wife between us!”
Robert gripped her arms, and her heart beat faster as she felt the strength and power of him.
“My beloved,” he said, “something shall be done … and soon.” She looked at him expectantly and he went on: “If I were free to marry and we married, our troubles would be over. All will be reconciled to our marriage when our son is born.”
She nodded, still keeping her fearful eyes upon his face.
“Nothing must stand between us,” he said. “Nothing!”
“But, Robert …”
“I know … I know what you think. We cannot thrust this aside just because it seems impossible. It is the most important thing in the world that we should be together … important for us and England. None but I shall give you your sons.”
She said faintly: “That is how I would have it, my sweet Robin. But how can it come about?”
“It shall come about … and speedily.”