“Fine, but don’t tarry. After you see to the horses, come to me straightaway.”
“Yes, master.” With a mock flourish, he led the horses away.
Slinging my bag over my shoulder, I went to the nearest entranceway. Three sentries swathed in cloaks and bearing halberds blocked my way. Only after I reiterated that I was here to see Lord Rochester did one of them sneer, “Her Majesty’s comptroller? Now, what would a common oaf like you want with an important lord like him?”
“Can you please tell him Master Beecham is here?” I asked wearily, using my alias and hoping Rochester would remember me. I was left shivering under the colonnade. It seemed hours had passed when I finally heard a blustering voice exclaim, “By the rood, if it isn’t the very Master Beecham who saved us all from perdition!” and I turned to find Lord Rochester beaming at me.
I had last seen him in Norfolk, marshaling troops for Mary’s defense as she prepared to fight Northumberland for her throne. He had been robust then; now he looked fat in his too-tight doublet of expensive mulberry velvet, his gold chain of office dangling about his meaty shoulders, his jowls reddened and breath hot with the odor of roast meat and mulled wine.
He pumped my hand. “Master Beecham! Who would have guessed? I never thought to see you again. After you came to us at Framlingham, you disappeared like a ghost.”
I forced out a smile. “I regret to say, I had urgent business elsewhere.”
Rochester chortled. “No doubt, what with all of Northumberland’s men running for cover after the duke’s head rolled. No matter. You’re here now, and I’m glad of it, as will be Her Majesty.” He whisked me past the sentries into the palace. Sensation painfully returned to my hands and feet as we moved through corridors hung with tapestries.
“How long has it been?” he asked. “Five months? Six? Ah, but so much has happened since then. You may not be aware of it”-he shot a look at me-“but Her Majesty has won the heart of the realm. It’s a new England, Master Beecham, a new England indeed. Oh, but she’ll be pleased to see you. Pleased and relieved. She wondered what happened to you.”
I was heartened to hear it. I needed her to be pleased.
He came to a sudden halt. “Best not mention any of the past business, eh? Her Majesty will no doubt show gratitude for your services, but … well”-he coughed uneasily-“I’d not remind her of it. She’d rather forget what Northumberland and his sons nearly did to her.”
“Naturally, I understand the need for discretion.”
“Yes, a man in your position would. Are you here for work, then? If so, I daresay you’ll find it. Her Majesty is always in need of able men, and you’re as able as they come.”
I could only hope Mary would feel the same. Of Elizabeth, I dared not ask. But I did want to know of a friend I’d not heard from in some time. “Is Barnaby Fitzpatrick here?”
Rochester paused, frowning. Then his broad smile returned. “Ah, you must mean our late king’s companion. No, he’s in Ireland. Her Majesty honored his claim to the baronage of Upper Ossory. He left a few months ago.”
I did not remark, recalling that Barnaby had feared Mary’s accession because of her staunch Catholicism. Apparently he’d found a way to escape living directly under her rule.
We entered a gallery. Enormous double doors stood at the far end under a carved archway. As I caught the distant sound of music, my pulse quickened. The great hall lay beyond those doors. Instead of leading me there, however, Rochester steered me in the opposite direction, into another, darker gallery and through a narrow corridor, after which we started up a flight of cramped stairs.
Rochester panted, his girth taking a toll on his breath. “I’ve put you in one of the smaller rooms on the second floor. The Hapsburg delegation is here, and we’re rather crowded at the moment. We can see later about something better for you, eh?”
We reached a low-ceilinged hallway punctuated by a series of plain doors. I recognized this section of the palace as well. This was where Robert Dudley and his brothers had lodged when their father the duke held sway. It felt strange to be here again, a free man in service to the princess, when just months before I’d been a Dudley squire with little hope of escaping my lot.
“Did you bring any servants?” Rochester sifted through keys on an iron ring he produced as if by magic from his voluminous breeches.
“Yes, one squire. He’s gone to stable our horses.”
“Oh, fine. The chamber is big enough for you and a squire.” As he unlocked the door before us, I braced myself. Had he actually brought me to the same room? One look inside showed me he had not. While the chamber bore some resemblance to that overturned sty where the Dudley boys had bedded, this room was smaller, almost fully occupied by a utilitarian cot, with a rush mat on the floor, a rickety-looking stool, and a battered chest, on which sat a pewter decanter, a warped candlestick, and two wooden cups. I saw no privy area save for a bucket in a corner. A mean thick-glassed window set high in the wall probably admitted little daylight. Now, tallow flares in oil dishes cast a rancid glow.
“Hardly luxurious, but at least it’s clean,” said Rochester, “and not damp like the rooms on the lower floor. At this time in the year, you could catch an ague there overnight.”
“It suits me.” I set my bag on the floor. “I prefer my accommodations simple.”
“Well, this is about as simple as it gets. You must be hungry. There’ll be some leftovers from tonight’s feast. You can go to the kitchens or have your squire fetch a platter. I’ll see word is sent to him. The stables are also full, and he may have trouble securing stalls. The Spaniards arrived with horses.” He rolled his eyes. “Can you believe it? Horses! Brought all the way from Spain on ships, as if we didn’t have anything to ride here.”
“I’ve heard the Spanish breed some of the best horses in the world,” I said. I wasn’t about to be drawn into criticism of foreigners, though I did find it noteworthy that he’d referred to the Hapsburg delegation as “Spaniards.” Recalling the graffiti I’d seen, I added, “The people don’t seem too pleased about their visit, either. I saw placards in the city.”
“Aye, that would be the apprentices.” He shook his head. “Cheeky lot. Ought to mind their manners, lest Her Majesty claps all of them in the Fleet for their insolence.” He turned solemn. “We had an incident at court not too long ago. Someone tossed a dead dog into the queen’s chapel.” He grimaced. “They’d tonsured the poor animal like a priest and tied a note about its neck calling for death to all Catholics. Since then, she’s ordered the curfew strictly enforced. The apprentices are still posting placards, but they’re wise enough to do it late at night to avoid our patrols. If any gets caught, he’ll lose a hand.”
I took a few moments to contemplate this. Evidently, the anti-Spanish faction was more overt than Cecil had supposed. I decided it couldn’t hurt to ask. It wasn’t as if the rumor were a secret, given the upset in London. “I’ve heard that Her Majesty is considering taking Philip of Spain as her husband. Could it have anything to do with the protest?”
Rochester’s expression froze for a moment. Then he harrumphed. “Philip of Spain? Now, where did you hear that? I wouldn’t put too much stock in rumors, if I were you. They’re a dozen a groat these days.” He tugged at his doublet. “Well, then, I’ll leave you to rest. I’ll advise Her Majesty and let you know as soon as she has time to see you.”
I inclined my head. “I am indebted to your kindness.”
“Oh, not at all! As I said, delighted you’re here.” He left, clicking the door shut behind him. In the silence, I moved to the coffer to touch the decanter.
It was hot. Lifting the lid, I found it full of mulled wine.
I had the distinct sense that Rochester had been expecting me.
After drinking half the jug, I collapsed on the hard bed. Despite the scratchy mattress and my best efforts to stay awake, I soon drifted to sleep. When I awoke hours later, my mouth was dry and the room so dark I couldn’t see my hands in front of my face. I didn’t recall dousing the tallow lights. As I struggled to get my bearings, I realized I wasn’t alone. There was a warm weight by my feet.