“Come here, young man,” said James.
Villiers stood before the King.
“You’re over-rash, lad,” James continued.
The clear young eyes looked straight into his. James could not meet them. They were as beautiful as Robert’s had been when he was as young as this one. James’s eyes rested on that right hand; it was well shaped and the fingers were long and tapering.
Mutilate that beautiful body, thought James. Never!
“A fine coat spoiled,” went on the King and his mouth turned up at the corner.
“Yes, Your Majesty,” murmured the young man.
“But coats, lad, can be replaced; hands cannot.”
He saw the terror in the boy’s face; and he was aware of Robert, smiling almost complacently beside him. In that moment he began to turn away from Robert.
“Well,” he said, “ye’re young and a newcomer to Court. Guard your temper, lad, and dinna let such a thing happen again in my sight.”
When the young man knelt before the King and lifted his beautiful face, James was deeply moved. “Get back to your place, boy,” he said. “And remember my words.”
There was a rustle throughout the Court; there were sly glances and whispered comments.
Some fell from their horses; some boldly cuffed a gentleman in the King’s presence.
It did not matter. One way was as good as another for a handsome young man to bring himself to the King’s notice.
George Villiers had indeed come to Court.
There was great exultation in the Pembroke group, particularly when a few days after the incident of the ruined suit, a post in the King’s bedchamber fell vacant.
“It could not be more opportune,” cried Pembroke. “The time had come to put Villiers in the King’s intimate circle. It is the duty of one of us to suggest to His Majesty that Mr. George Villiers would adequately fill the post which has fallen vacant.”
When the matter was suggested to James he was excited. He had not forgotten young Villiers and he would have been delighted to comply with the request; but knowing Robert’s feelings he hesitated and said he would think of the matter and give his answer in a few days.
This was a blow because Villiers’s supporters had believed that James would agree immediately.
Robert still had his friends who knew that if he were supplanted by Villiers their own careers would automatically suffer. So it was not long before Robert heard that Pembroke and his friends were trying to get the bedchamber post for Villiers.
He talked to Frances about this and her eyes grew dark with anger. She was throwing herself wholeheartedly into the conflict against Villiers; she found it stimulating to have something to work for; also it took her mind off that little band of blackmailers whom she was paying regularly.
“Villiers must not have the post,” she cried. “If he does, depend upon it, he will be in your place ere long.”
“He could not be. He is too young and inexperienced.”
“You were once.”
“It has taken me years to get to my present position.”
“Villiers looks a sharp one.”
“I see,” said Robert bitterly, “that you mean I was a fool.”
“You had friends to help you.”
“And so has he.”
“That’s exactly what I mean. He has powerful men behind him. You had my great-uncle, but he is dead now.”
“I would to God Overbury were here.”
Frances clenched her hands and screamed: “He was no good to you … no good to us. You were a fool over that man, Robert. For God’s sake try to have a little more sense.”
She ran from the room and Robert scowled after her.
What had happened to his life? What had happened to him?
Frances was not the sweet and loving woman he had imagined her to be. She was continually goading him. A fool! Was he? He thought of other men who had taken bribes—something he had disdained to do. Had he been a simpleton? He had always agreed with the King … until now. He had never tried to force his opinions on James.
Did James think him a fool too? Did James think that he could introduce that sly boy into the bedchamber because he, Robert, was too soft to protest?
He went off to James who had retired for the night and arrogantly entered the private apartments.
“Why, Robbie,” said James, starting up. “What brings you here at this time?”
“I see, Your Majesty, that you are no longer my good friend.”
“Now, Robbie, what has come to ye, lad. Where’s the gentle boy I used to know?”
“Perhaps Mr. George Villiers has taken his place.”
“Ah—so it’s that, lad, is it. Nay, Robbie, there’s none who could take your place with me. Did you know?”
“It does not seem that is so.”
James patted the bed. “Sit ye down, Robbie, and listen to your old Dad. You’re not the boy you used to be. What’s happened to change you?”
“I change?” cried Robert. “It is you who have changed … toward me … ever since they brought that pretty boy to your notice.”
James shook his head. “You grieve me, Robbie. You grieve me sorely. You come to me in temper at this most unseasonable hour. You bereave me of my rest, it seems on purpose to hurt me. Why have you become sullen of late, Robert? What has happened to your love for me? I have suffered through my affection for you. I have prayed for you, because, my boy, I think that if you go on as you have begun you will be sorry. I never prayed for any subject alive but you. I will speak to you now with great seriousness. You should not forget that you owe your wealth and your standing here at Court to me. It is because I have loved you so much that I have borne patiently with your tempers. Do not try me too much. Continue to love me, be to me as you once were and hold me by the heart, Robbie. If you do this you may build upon my favor as upon a rock. Rest assured that I shall never weary of showing my affection for you. I have accepted your arrogance toward me, and I forgive it—although it is something I find hard to forget. Your fate is in your own hands. Here is the best and kindest master you could ever have. But if you are ungrateful, if you forget that although he loves you, he is still your King, then you will have only yourself to blame for the consequences.”
Robert listened sullenly to his speech. He longed, even as James did, to be back on the old footing. He wished that he were more articulate; he wished that he could explain to this good friend how everything had changed since he had betrayed Essex through his love for Frances. He believed that James would have understood more readily than he did himself.
He fell on to his knees then and kissed James’s hand, and seeing the sullenness fade from his face, the King was delighted.
“Your Majesty,” said Robert, “forgive me.”
“We’ll say no more of this matter, Robbie. But forget not what I have said.”
Robert remembered then why he had come here and he said: “Could I ask one favor of you?”
“What is it, Robbie?”
“A kinsman of mine seeks a place at Court and as there is one at this time in the Bedchamber it would give me the greatest pleasure to offer him that.”
Deeply moved the King answered: “My dear friend, dispose of the place as you deem fit. And remember this: I shall never suffer any to rise in my favor except that he may thank you for it.”
This was victory. Robert wept with affection and relief; and both he and James were happy because it seemed to them that their love was as firm as it ever had been.
There was disappointment in the Pembroke faction when it was known that the bedchamber post had gone to Somerset’s nephew.