Low tide permitted us to walk along the shore. Courtiers’ houses two and three stories high lined the land side of our route, and behind them rose what remained of the old palace of Westminster, largely destroyed by fire well before I’d first come to court.
“How can I help you, Bess?” Nan asked when we were certain we were far from listening ears.
I studied her face for a long moment before I spoke. There was compassion in her intensely blue eyes, but also a certain wariness. “You know that my marriage has been nullified and that my husband . . . that Will Parr remains in the Tower under sentence of death.”
She nodded, but held up one hand, palm out, to stay my next words. “If you wish an audience with the queen, that will not be possible. Her Grace will not undo what she has done. Will Parr did much offend her over the matter of her celebrating Mass during the late king’s reign. I was with Her Grace in those days, and I heard the harsh words he used to her. Her Grace is convinced that his evil persuasions were what made her impressionable young brother behave so cruelly toward her.”
“I know nothing of that.” Will had never told me of the incident, but I had always known he favored religious reform . . . until his life depended upon returning to the old ways. “I would ask Her Grace’s forgiveness for him, now that he has recanted.”
“He claims he has accepted the true church,” Nan said, “but it remains to be seen if he is sincere.”
We continued on past Canon Row. I saw the young Earl of Hertford come out of his house. He exited by the water gate but had to cross yards of half-frozen ground on foot before he could hail a wherry. He, too, had embraced the old ways. We all had. I attended Mass every Sunday now with Aunt Elizabeth and Sir Edward.
“We have no choice but to accept the will of the queen,” I said, “but I don’t want Will to die!” My anguish broke through despite my best efforts to remain calm.
“I will do what I can,” Nan promised, “but I do not have much influence. No one does save the Spanish ambassador and a few members of the Privy Council. Her Grace disregards all other advice.”
“I want to meet with Will’s other wife.” I swallowed bile. “Since Queen Mary has brought Anne Bourchier to court, Her Grace must have some fondness for her.”
“She may not wish to meet with you, Bess.”
“Will you ask her? I beg you, Nan. Intercede for me. She can help Will. Perhaps if I . . . if I assure her that I will not . . . oh, Nan, just find a way for us to meet!” I dashed unwanted tears away, embarrassed and humiliated by them but willing to humble myself further if it won Will’s freedom.
Nan sighed and turned back toward the palace. We walked in silence until we reached the water gate. “Come by boat tomorrow afternoon,” she said, “and ask for the sergeant porter. His name is Keyes and his private rooms are situated on the upper floors of the gatehouse. If she is willing to meet you, she will be there.”
THE NEXT DAY, I met Will’s other wife face-to-face for the first time. He had once described her as a bone-thin, whey-faced girl. I’d pictured her as a slovenly whore. She was neither. Anne Bourchier was a tiny, delicate woman with a long narrow face, a slightly pointed chin, and chestnut-colored hair. She was older than I by nearly a decade, but if age, poverty, or disgrace had marked her, it did not show. Her features were as smooth as a child’s. She was also in full court dress, resplendent in dark, wine-colored velvet sparkling with jewels. I recognized some of them as baubles I’d left behind in Winchester House.
“So, Mistress Brooke, we meet at last.” She had a soft, tinkling voice, like fairy bells. I could not imagine what fault Will had found with her.
“Lady Parr.” I choked out the name and pasted a neutral expression on my face.
“I am styled Viscountess Bourchier.” She circled me as if I were a horse offered for sale at a fair. “I have been curious about you.”
I was well aware of the contrast we made. In plain, unadorned garments, I looked drab and unimportant, but I’d had no finery to wear. That, too, had been left behind when we fled.
When I’d borne her scrutiny as long as I could stand, I blurted out what was on my mind. “I will never trouble you again if you will but promise to plead for my . . . for your husband’s freedom with the queen.”
“Why should I care what happens to Will Parr? He treated me most cruelly.”
“You betrayed him.” The words were out before I could stop them. I began again, more diplomatically this time. “I do beg your pardon, my lady. But it does seem to me that there was fault on both sides.”
“We are quite alone here.” A wry smile twisted her lips. “You may feel free to speak your mind.”
“I have no wish to insult you, my lady.”
She laughed softly. It was a surprisingly deep sound, considering the timbre of her speaking voice. “Let us begin again, then. What is it you think I can do?”
“Convince the queen to pardon Will.”
“So that he can return to you?”
My chest tightened. The next words were physically painful to force out, but I was determined to save the man I loved. “Whatever Will has done, he does not deserve to die for it. It is in your power to help him, my lady. It is also to your advantage to do so.”
“Why? I do not want him back.”
“If he is executed for treason, all you claim as your inheritance will be lost, along with everything else Will owned.” When I’d conceived of the idea of asking her for help, it had seemed logical to me that she would want the security of such a large and prosperous estate.
“The queen can grant those properties to me in any case,” Viscountess Bourchier said.
“But will she?”
She walked to the window to look out over the Thames. She had a clear view of Norfolk House from where she stood. Tears blurred my vision, thinking how happy Will and I had been when we lived there.
Without turning, she said, “I am told you have no children.”
“We were not blessed.” I heard the tremor in my voice but could not control it.
“Be glad of it. They would be a curse upon you now. My children were disinherited, thanks to Will Parr. That ruling has not been reversed.”
I bit back a reminder that her children were not her husband’s, but rather bastards borne to a lover. Her bitterness alarmed me. If she wanted revenge more than she wanted her inheritance, she would never help Will. I said nothing, too afraid that the words I chose would be the wrong ones.
Lady Anne’s hands gripped the sill as she stared out at the late-afternoon sky. A few flakes of snow drifted down, although the sun still shone brightly. In spite of the brazier heating the room, I shivered.
“I am told he weeps continuously,” she said.
“Will?”
“Who else have we been speaking of?” She swung around to face me, her hands curled into fists at her sides. “I have made it my business to know everything about him, and about you, as well.” She drew in a deep, steadying breath and slowly unclenched her fingers. “However, it is to my advantage to do as you ask. I will petition the queen. I have friends and kinswomen here at court who will join me in asking for a pardon.” She gave a wry laugh. “But be warned. It will come with conditions. To the queen, I am Will’s only wife. She wants us to be reconciled. He will be required to give up his illicit alliance with you if he wants to go free.”
She took a step closer to me, forcing me to meet eyes that were cold and calculating, without a shred of softer feelings.
“If you care for him,” she said softly, “you must abandon him. The queen will not tolerate any further infidelity.”
I held her gaze. “I will do whatever I must in exchange for a full pardon.”
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