He grinned and grew faintly red and I knew I had found the truth. He owed me no dance nor anything else, so I did not press the tease again. “How were your travels?”
“Unsettling. Daunting. Wondrous. Marvelous. But I have not yet earned my knighthood nor my fortune, so I shall have to return.”
“To Austria? I had understood that the campaign was over.”
He shook his head. “To war. But that is not talk for this night. If you have strength for one more dance, I should very much like to partner you.”
I stayed myself from thinking of the many ways I could interpret that statement and simply said, “It would be my pleasure.”
He took my hand and led me out to dance; the musicians had struck up a melody of the king’s own composing so all danced for fear of giving insult by remaining seated. I noticed little else but the feel of Jamie’s hand on the small of my back, his eyes holding mine, and the unforced rhythm of both our steps and our conversation.
“Lady Latimer is much in demand at court these days,” he said.
“’Tis true,” I noted as I looked toward the king, who partnered her again. Sir Thomas was firmly in the arms of another lady but did not look happy. “Lady Herbert believes the king is eager for another wife. His Majesty visits Lady Latimer several times a day, in either her own chambers or those of the Lady Mary.”
Jamie shuddered. “Five wives is enough,” he said, though it was dangerous to speak it. I admired his boldness. He turned with a grin. “The Turks take four wives. Sometimes all at once.”
“I know that well,” I said. “My late father shared many tales with me of the lands in which he traded.” I flashed a wicked grin. “Do you aspire to become a Turk, then, Jamie?”
He laughed aloud. “Nay, mistress, they are braver than I. One wife is enough for me. If she were the right one,” he parried. “What other tales did your father tell you?”
“Oh, some from the East. And some of the natural world. But he was a proud Englishman and loved best to tell the story of Saint George. But that, too, is talk for another night, and another audience.”
The song soon ended and Sir John Temple touched Jamie on the shoulder and, bearing his greater status, indicated that he would like the next dance with me. Jamie graciously kissed my hand, and I felt the kiss run through me afore he took his leave. In less than a minute he’d partnered a woman who glittered more than I. John Temple held me close, and I suspected that my cool reserve earlier had somehow driven him back to me in a challenge.
Later, I sat at a table and took some refreshment. Dorothy joined me, so I asked her, “Are you fond of Sir Tristram Tyrwhitt?”
“Not particularly. I scarce know him. Why do you ask?”
“I noticed you enjoyed his company,” I said.
“I noticed he enjoyed yours,” she said a little sharply. “And yet, mayhap you prefer the Irishman?”
I grinned and she saw it and grinned back. Then I replayed in my mind every word Jamie had said, the sound of his laugh, and the most welcome feel of his hand on my back.
Later that night I took in hand the jeweled pins Kate eased from her hair and then returned them to their casket. “Did you enjoy yourself this evening, Juliana?” she asked.
“Oh yes, my lady,” I said. “It truly was a marvelous time. There are no words adequate to express my gratitude at being included in your household.” She stood to be unbuttoned and I fetched her bed gown whilst her lady maid left the room with Kate’s gown. This left Kate and me alone for a moment.
“Court is a wondrous place,” she agreed. “I enjoyed the evening too.”
“Especially with Sir Thomas?” I teased.
She turned to correct me but saw the grin upon my face, and, I supposed, remembered my own connection to Sir Thomas and softened some. “Yes, yes, especially with Sir Thomas.”
“How did you become acquainted with him?”
“My brother, William, was in the household of the Duke of Richmond at the same time that Thomas’s older brother, Edward, was. I had occasion then to begin our … friendship. And it grew with stops and starts through the years.”
“He is not yet married,” I ventured with care. “Nor are you, since the passing of Lord Latimer, God rest his soul.”
Kate closed her eyes for a moment and finally said, “My mind is fully bent to marry Sir Thomas before any man I know.” The maid came back into the room and Kate, startled by the noise, wakened from her reverie and perhaps recognized that she had disclosed more than she had intended to.
“Yes?” she asked in a faintly sharp tone.
“The king, His Majesty, has sent this for you,” she said as she held out a box. Nestled within was a pair of pearl drop earrings.
FOUR
Spring and Early Summer: Year of Our Lord 1543
The Palace at Whitehall
Hampton Court Palace
Nearly every day after the masque an invitation came to Kate from the king. He might invite her to a hunt or to join him at cards or request her presence in his dining chamber. She oft reciprocated, as she knew she must, with an invitation to join her in like manner. One night she invited His Majesty and his men to dine with her maidens and ladies, which still numbered few, in her chambers.
The king arrived last, as was fitting, and none could depart thereafter till he gave them leave. We knew that our gowns and persons must please the king’s eye, which was ever drawn toward all that was beguiling. Kate had asked me to lightly sugar the claret whilst she talked with the king. Discussion turned toward the laws Parliament was about to pass, on the king’s behalf, banning certain books and Bible translations that we all knew to be dear to Kate. As her voice grew more strident the room grew more still.
“Your Majesty has done much good in this realm, the most good done of any king ever, truth be told,” Kate said with sincerity.
The king’s face warmed quickly. “We are well pleased with your opinion of us, Kate.”
I glanced at Dorothy. She’d caught it too. “Lady Latimer” had been replaced with “Kate.”
“We’ve insisted that anything hinting at heresy shall be made illegal. Tyndale and Coverdale’s translations of holy writ will soon no longer be allowed, only the Great Bible, and we have made changes in our own hand on the Necessary Doctrine and Erudition for Christian Men. Luther’s repugnant thoughts have been refused.”
He then clapped his hands together for more wine and Kate nodded to me to serve him, as his cupbearer, Edward Askew, was not present. I approached him carefully. I stood close and could hear him breathing heavily, ignoring the faint but pungent scent of a rotted tooth. I smiled down at him and he smiled back at me but just as quickly turned back to Kate, who was speaking.
“And yet, Your Grace has himself instituted great reform,” Kate said rather bluntly. “Turning the realm away from all things of a superstitious manner and allowing prayers to be said in the mother tongue of your subjects, by your subjects, great and mean.” I stepped back and Lady Herbert grimaced. But the king seemed delighted that Kate could hold her own in conversation with him.
“And we shall continue to determine the boundaries as is our place as Defender of the Faith. We expect our subjects of every rank and station to bring themselves unto strict obedience to the new law, as is meet.” The king had brought the conversation to a close.
Kate opened her mouth to speak again but I saw her sister shake her head slightly. Kate instead turned the conversation to the merrier topics and insisted on playing dice. She beat him handily and he seemed glad of it. “This is one debt we shall be glad to pay,” he said, taking her hand in his and raising it to his lips. Before he took his leave that evening he drew her into his arms and kissed her on both cheeks. “You are sweet and pure, Kate,” he said. “Your very goodness exudes from within.” He still maintained his courtly manners and indeed showed interest in all present in some small capacity or another, a warm touch, even to those of lower status. This was more than could be said for many men of lesser rank.