The king did not answer right away, and it was interesting that he did not ask by whom these tidings came. “You must be misled, Kate,” he said, but his voice was not tender. “Come now, sit with us by the window and regain your senses.”
After a few more moments of reassurance, His Majesty took his leave, allowing his physician to remain behind to attend to her.
I was terrified. Having seen what he approved for Mistress Askew, and knowing what he’d allowed, nay, commanded, to happen to his other wives, I had no doubt he would dispatch of Kate if he took a mind to do so.
The doctor, still present, drew near to her. “Gardiner has taken every occasion to speak ill of you to the king. He told the king that you seek to undermine and rule him on every occasion. He has told him that if Henry would agree to protect him, he, along with other counselors, would expose such treason, cloaked in heresy, that His Majesty would perceive how perilous a matter it is to cherish a serpent in his bosom.”
Kate said dully, “And His Majesty gave him leave to find out, hence the warrant for arrest.”
“Yes. However, madam, the king did come to visit you, though he be cold in manner, something he never did for Queen Anne Boleyn nor Queen Catherine Howard afore their arrests.”
Relief swept through the room like a breeze on this hot day. Mayhap there was yet hope!
“What shall I do?” Her Grace fretted.
“My lady, all is not yet lost, though the situation be grim,” he said. “Show humble submission unto the king, His Majesty, as is meet and required, and mayhap he once more will find you gracious and favorable.”
The doctor took his leave, and Kate sent a note to His Majesty asking if she might dine with him as she had recovered after his tender ministrations.
The king replied that yes, they might dine together.
The queen’s sister took especial care in dressing her that night. Although Kate normally preferred ruby-colored gowns, this night she chose one of a pale violet with soft slippers to match. She could not, of course, wear her hair down about her shoulders but especial care was taken to make it look flowing and womanly. Her rubies were replaced with a gold necklace with a diamond drop, which had been given to her by the king. Her sister would serve as lady in waiting but I was allowed to carry the candle down the hall and serve Lady Herbert, whilst she assisted Kate as required.
The king had not many servants in attendance, either, and whilst he was courteous in welcoming Kate to table he did seem indifferent.
The table was set with beef stuffed with forcemeat, soft white manchet bread, and the tarts of jelly and cream-of-almond that the king preferred. He had Edward Askew pour Kate’s wine and then asked her a question of a religious nature.
“Tell me, Kate, because you are so learned in this matter. What think you of auricular confession? We hear there are many varied opinions of this at court and we should value your counsel.”
Lady Herbert did not move her gaze but I could tell by the tensing of her neck that she found this line of conversation unusual and dangerous.
“Sire,” Kate responded, “you know as I do that women were created as inferior to men in these matters, and being little able to make wisdom of these issues, which are weighty, we better turn to our husbands to advise us. I thank you right kindly for tolerating my womanly weakness and imperfections, but I would rather be guided by Your Majesty on this matter than offer my own unworthy opinion.”
The king set down his goblet. “Not so, by Saint Mary, you are become a doctor, Kate, to instruct us, not to be instructed or directed by us.”
I slid back into the shadows and even Lady Herbert stepped back. The queen was on her own now to claw her way up from this trap.
“Sire, I am sorry if I have misled you otherwise, but in this, you are mistaken. I seek to follow your counsel and wisdom in all matters. And where I have, with Your Majesty’s leave, heretofore been bold to hold talk with Your Majesty, I have not done it to maintain opinion but rather to provide lively conversation which may, for a time, distract you from the pains that beset you. I also, by hearing Your Majesty’s learned discourse, might even receive to myself some profit.”
She bowed her head becomingly. A minute passed. Then another. Then he grinned afore taking a large drink of wine from his golden goblet.
“Is that even so, sweetheart? And tended your arguments to no worse end? Then perfect friends we are now again, as ever at any time heretofore.” He patted his good leg and she made her way round the table to sit upon his lap.
I closed my eyes for a moment and swooned with relief. The rest of the evening was forced merriment, and Kate spent the night in His Majesty’s chamber.
There was no certainty that reinstatement in his affections was permanent.
The next day when His Majesty and the queen were walking in the gardens, which he had not done for some time, Norfolk, Wriothesley, and forty guards approached them. “Stay yourself, sweetheart,” the king said to her. We, her ladies, remained behind whilst she sat on a bench.
We saw them look as Wriothesley tried to hand him a piece of paper that the king snatched out of his hands and tore up afore motioning for Norfolk to humble himself and bend down to gather the pieces. “Errant knaves! Beasts! Fools!” the king shouted at them, and sent them on their way with a boxing to the ears.
The king then made his way back to the queen, whilst we ladies withdrew to a discreet distance. I could still hear Kate, though, pleasingly telling the king that he should be kind to his men, who only loved him. She acted her role well, not letting on that she knew anything at all of the plot against her.
“You are too kind, sweetheart,” he said. “You know not what they had planned. But an unwarranted attack upon a wife is an attack upon the man, and we shall not forget this.”
In the days that followed, the king began, once again, to shower his wife with all manner of affection and treasure. And, rewardingly, she did likewise with me. One afternoon after she had dismissed most of her ladies, she called me into her private dressing chamber.
“Yes, Your Grace?” I curtseyed afore standing in front of her.
“Come, Juliana,” she said, patting the seat next to her. “First, I must apologize to you for the ill-mannered way in which I pushed you aside after you had delivered the scroll to me. I was quite beside myself and not in my right senses.”
“My lady, there is never a reason for you to apologize to me,” I quickly said, my ear tips growing warm. “’Tis perfectly understandable that you would react thusly, especially as someone had besmeared your name with the king—to terrible consequence.”
She drew near me. “I do believe our Lord made providential arrangements for you to come upon that warrant, and in so doing, save me.”
“I, too, Your Grace, I heartily believe that,” I said. “And I thank Him.” Thank You for using me to help Her Grace, I prayed.
“I have not forgotten the lovely gift you gave me from your father’s treasures. I should like to give you a gift in return.” Kate handed over a large silver box to me. I took it in my hands and looked at the elaborate carvings on the lid, running my fingers over the top.
“Open it!” she said with delight.
I lifted the box lid; the inside was lined with blue velvet and there were tiny compartments in which rested treasures. “My own pincers!” I said. “I shan’t have to borrow Elisabeth’s any longer.” I moved to the next section, in which was a jewel-studded case; inside was carmine powder for the lips and the cheeks. One long case held sticks of kohl. There was a tiny case of cinnamon-scented drops, the very kind she had the physic prepare for herself to keep her breath sweet. And loveliest of all, a small glass, dear and rare.