I thought he was going to explain, but he just said: “We shall have to wait and see how deep the interest went. The song was his own. That could have been it.”
Then he left me.
The ladies were talking about the King’s interest in me.
The Countess of Rutland said: “You were honored indeed, Mistress Howard.”
“She played very well and sang with deep feeling,” commented Lady Richmond. “I think that was what interested him. He gets sentimental over ‘Greensleeves’. It was a brilliant idea to choose that piece.”
“Mayhap,” added the Countess thoughtfully, “it was more than the song.”
They exchanged glances and smiled.
“It is not everyone who pleases the King,” said Lady Richmond. “His leg gives him great pain … among other things.”
“Which,” put in the Countess, “may possibly be more painful to him.”
Then they seemed to come to an understanding, which I guessed meant they realized they were talking too freely before someone who was not included in their circle.
Lady Rochford was quick to seek me out.
“There is much talk about Mistress Howard,” she said, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “The King was most impressed by her singing.”
“Oh yes, he liked it. It was because it was ‘Greensleeves’.”
“Was that so? Then we shall have all the ladies singing it. May the good Lord spare us! And what of my Lord Norfolk? He was, I’ll warrant, proud of his little niece on this occasion. That is somewhat rare with my lord, is it not?”
I laughed. I could always laugh with Jane Rochford.
I said: “I think he was more surprised than anyone. You know, he has not a very high opinion of me. Indeed, he always makes me feel more stupid than I am.”
“Oh come, Mistress Howard, you are not stupid. Methinks you have become a very important lady.”
“My uncle does not think so. But it was amusing, Jane. When he presented me to the King, he was very different from what I have ever seen him before.”
“That is the power of royalty, my dear Katherine. It is good to bask in it, but one must never forget it can soon be withdrawn. ‘Well done, thou good and faithful servant’ can quickly be followed by ‘off with his—or her—head’.”
“Oh, Jane, you are very funny.”
“There is truth behind the mirth, dear child. I should like to know what the mighty Duke thought of the King’s interest in his little niece.”
“I think he was afraid I was going to disgrace the family. He was surprised.”
“You may do that yet.”
“What? Disgrace or surprise?”
“Both.” She laughed and went on: “Well, I think we may assume that at this time His Grace the Duke is not displeased with his niece.”
“I am not sure.”
“But the King was certainly not!”
“He did not seem displeased with me, of a surety.”
“’Tis a beginning, and where there is a beginning there must be an end.”
Some of the Queen’s ladies were invited to the Bishop’s house once more—I among them—and, to our surprise, we had not been there long when the King arrived; and among the courtiers who accompanied him were my uncle and the King’s brother-in-law, the Duke of Suffolk.
I noticed a look pass between my uncle and the Bishop, and it seemed to me that there was something conspiratorial about it.
My uncle came to me and looked me over with that critical manner to which I was accustomed. He took my arm and led me away from the others to the King, bowed, and said: “Your Majesty, may I present Mistress Katherine Howard.”
The King smiled broadly. “Of a surety you may,” he said, turning that smile on me.
“Your Majesty was kind enough to commend her for her singing. Your Majesty may remember the occasion. My niece was overwhelmed.”
“Now, let me think,” said the King, his eyes twinkling. “Sing, did you say? Ah, I recall the lady.”
“Your Majesty was most gracious.”
“The grace was not mine,” said the King. “Rather that of the young lady. Sit beside me, Mistress Howard. I would speak with you for a while.”
He waved his hand to dismiss my uncle, who bowed and moved away.
Then the King talked to me, asking me questions which he had asked before. Did I like living at the Court? It must be different from what I had done before—and so on.
On this occasion I was less shy. In fact, the King was so friendly that I forgot that he was the King. I am afraid I laughed rather immoderately until I remembered who he was and curbed it.
He realized this and, taking my hand, patted it gently. I was fascinated by those fat, glittering fingers, and could not take my eyes from them.
“You must not be afraid of me,” he said gently. “You are a good girl, Mistress Howard. I know that well. I like young ladies to be modest and virtuous. Such gifts are rare, and especially so in surroundings such as these. You are newly come and know nothing of this, so, prithee, Mistress Howard, do not adopt too many of the habits of my Court.”
His mouth fascinated me. It was so small and seemed particularly so because his face was so big. Such a thin straight line of a mouth. Such little eyes that seemed to peer forth from all that flesh. When I had seen him at first, I had thought it was a cruel face. It was quite different when he talked to me. There seemed something young about it now—almost like a baby’s. And then, talking about the morals of his Court, it was almost prim and definitely disapproving.
He noticed how I looked at him, for he said: “You study me, Mistress Howard. What do you think, eh? What do you think of your King?”
I was unsure how to reply and I stammered: “I think Your Majesty is very kind to me.”
He looked pleased and a great sense of relief swept over me because I must have found the right answer to this difficult question.
“To those who serve me well, I can be very kind.” He was smiling now and there was something very soft and sentimental about his face. I was amazed by the speed with which it could change. Now there was a glitter in his eyes and it was different again. It was a look which sent a shiver of alarm through me. I had seen it before, and suddenly I was thinking of Manox and Derham and my dear Thomas. The King was pressing my hand.
“I could be very kind to you, Mistress Howard,” he said.
“Your … Your Majesty is gracious.”
“And will be more … and will be more, I swear to you.”
He looked sentimental again, with that glazed expression in his eyes, and suddenly he said: “Tell me of your music. You play the lute, I know.”
I told him that I also played the virginals.
“You shall play for me,” he said. “I like much the virginals. We share this love of music, you and I.”
It grew increasingly easy to talk to him. I completely forgot he was the King. I pulled myself up sharply, putting my finger to my lips to prevent the informal words coming out, and he said to me: “What ails you, Mistress Katherine?”
I sought to explain. “Your Majesty is so gracious to me. I forgot you are … Your Majesty.”
That seemed to amuse him. His laughter boomed forth and everyone was looking our way.
For a moment I thought he might be angry, but his smile was more soft and sentimental than ever.
“I like that, Katherine,” he said. “I like it well.”
The Duchess asked me to visit her. This was not the command to which I was accustomed, more a request.
I sailed upriver in a barge which had been sent to take me from Greenwich to Lambeth.
She greeted me warmly.