“Good eve, Sir John.” I retreated to the side of the room, next to Dorothy, who looked at me questioningly but said nothing so as not to be impolite. I took a glass of watered wine in my shaking hand. Had he meant me no harm and I misjudged his intent? Just then, Sir Tristram arrived. Dorothy smiled with real pleasure, the affection softening her already pretty face. But ’twas me Sir Tristram wanted to speak with, and as he pulled me to the side I saw her smile slide.
“Mistress Juliana,” he said, “I feel I must warn you. Do not do anything to encourage Sir John.”
I stepped back in shock. Had he witnessed John Temple’s attempt and interpreted it as welcome? “I never would, Sir Tristram!”
He softened and called me by my given name. “Juliana. You are pure, but in want of understanding of the ways of court. Have a care. And please call me Tristram. I shall look upon your return to court with great anticipation.”
“I do believe my friend Mistress Dorothy will be in attendance upon the queen whilst I am away,” I said. “She’s got a strong mind for holy writ and is a wonderful dance partner. I think you would find time in her company to be most enjoyable.” He nodded briefly, and then spoke of inconsequential matters for another moment or two. As he took his leave, he neglected to stop and greet Dorothy. She continued to look upon him with pleasure, but when she turned to me, she scowled and then looked away. I blinked away my hurt. I had tried to turn him her way.
Why was she upset with me?
Because the greater ladies in Kate’s household were themselves preparing to leave on the morrow, and because I had so little to pack and prepare, I was allowed to help Kate ready herself for a visit from His Majesty that evening.
I rubbed a bit of almond oil on my hands and then through her hair afore I brushed it out. Whilst I did, she leaned forward and, looking into a small glass, plucked her eyebrows into a neat, up-tipped V, using a silver pincers.
“I should like to try that sometime,” I said. “I feel that my brows are unruly, and, well, simple.”
She laughed. “Set the brush down.” She bid me draw near and then one by one plucked the hair from one of my brows till she showed me its perfect shape in the mirror.
“It feels like bee stings!” I rubbed my left brow with a bit of her oil of clove afore she began on the right.
“’Tis not easy to be a woman,” she said. “Surely your mother has told you that.”
I cast my eyes down. “My mother does not discuss such things with me, Your Grace.”
“Ah, I see,” she said. “Well. Now your brows shall appear perfectly obedient when the young men seek to partner you at dance.”
“My lady?” I inquired.
“I’ve watched many seek you out this eve,” she said. “And I suspect there will be many more.”
I smiled. Courtiers, knights, were interested in me. What would Matthias think?
She looked at the gold and diamond watch hanging from her girdle, one of her many watches, of which she was fond. “His Majesty will arrive presently.” I nodded and stood up.
“Thank you for taking the time to assist me, tonight, Your Grace, when it should have been me assisting you.”
She drew me near to her in an embrace. “’Twas a pleasure, Juliana. You are a pleasure, one perhaps your mother does not recognize.” Then she let go. “I shall see you upon the morrow.”
Late that night Elisabeth and I stayed up packing and sharing excitement over the forthcoming progress. Because she was oft with the queen’s brother, and he so highly placed, she flew well above the official station as a maid of honor and was rarely in our chamber. We did not, therefore, discourse much. But when we did, I found her a marvelous friend.
We left the next day, riding ahead of the plague. The king had a particular fear of that illness, though none could blame him as it was a fearsome contagion. He left behind death of his own making, however. Four good men were convicted of acting in conscience against the King’s Act of Six Articles, which spelt out acceptable faith and practice thereof, and were sentenced to death. They were burned, reported to have walked to their deaths filled with glee, almost as those far gone in drink. One arranged a coronet of straw on his head so he would present himself to our Lord with a martyr’s crown of fire. Kate had told us that she meant to change this, somehow, and set her mind upon it.
Among the silks and perfumes and dozens of shoes that were her delightful perquisites, Kate had begun her dangerous work.
I knew that the king’s daughters, the Lady Mary and the Lady Elizabeth, were to join us on progress. I had become well accustomed to the Lady Mary, as the queen often kept her in her company and they were great friends. The Lady Elizabeth had been at the wedding itself but had not attended the festivities afterward, being only ten years old. So I was eager to make her acquaintance. Because she had not long been restored to the king’s affections there was not even yet one portrait of her by which her features may have been made known.
It was a shock to me of the gravest nature, then, when I did meet her. Kate called me over, along with Dorothy and Lady Margaret Neville.
“I would like to present the king’s daughter, the Lady Elizabeth,” she said.
Dorothy and Margaret dropped into an immediate curtsey. I stared, near about to faint. Her fiery red hair, her fair face, her dark black eyes.
Here, now, in front of me, stood the girl in my vision, the very one who would have her gown chopped from her person. There was no doubt at all. The king’s daughter!
Dorothy tugged my elbow and I remembered, quickly enough, to drop to a curtsey.
“Lady Margaret Neville, Mistress Dorothy Skipwith, and Mistress Juliana St. John,” Kate said.
“It is a pleasure,” the Lady Elizabeth responded politely. She was yet a girl, but already unbelievably dignified in presence. I had never known her mother nor seen her mother’s portrait—His Majesty had them removed upon the execution of Queen Anne Boleyn—but I certainly knew King Henry. And the Lady Elizabeth was his not only in countenance but in bearing.
Within a minute, the dignified young royal dissolved and a girl of ten replaced her when Robert Dudley, the son of one of Kate’s highest-placed ladies, Lady Dudley, tugged on some of that magnificent mane and Elizabeth spun around to repay him. Kate grinned and let them go. “’Tis good to allow her some time to play as a child might. She’s led a difficult life.”
Dorothy and Margaret agreed but I was still too shocked about the prophecy to speak much. I stumbled about my duties and muttered something about feeling unwell. Although she appeared to be some years older in my dream, it was clearly the same person. Sir Thomas’s hands would touch her with unseemly overtures, and the Lady Elizabeth would without a doubt be under duress and fear, far removed from the sunny, majestic child in my presence.
Presently, we reached Surrey, the first stop of our journey. I tried in vain to push the thoughts aside then. I had not had a vision for over a year. Perhaps something had waylaid their intent and the time of danger had passed. I fervently hoped so, and, in any case, no longer had to feign feeling unwell, as I truly did. My sense of shock and certainty reminded me that my gift may have been at rest these months past but it had not been removed. What do I do with this now, Lord Jesus? Please tell me, somehow, if this is to come or if this horror has blessedly been set aside.
In any case, I saw little of the Lady Elizabeth during the next few weeks, and due to her age, she shortly thereafter departed for her home at Ashridge.
After Surrey we visited Oatlands, Woking, Guildford, Sunning-hill. August found us at Hanworth near Twickenham, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire. We stayed but a few days, or mayhap a week, at each place, long enough to indulge in the delicacies of each household, bankrupt our host, and force the replacement of the sweet grass rushes covering the floors. In September, the Lady Mary became ill and returned to London. Kate gave her gold bracelets set with diamonds, emeralds, and rubies as a consolation and promised that Christmas at court would be a family affair and merry indeed.