Then she turned and went into her lodging, and was pleasantly surprised to discover that she was to be housed in a degree of splendor.
Blanche, who was allowed to come and go as she pleased, soon put paid to Elizabeth’s hopes of pleading her cause to Mary.
“The Queen has gone into seclusion to await the birth of her child, my lady,” she informed her disgruntled mistress.
“Then why am I here?” Elizabeth asked. “Surely it was the Queen who wished to question me. Had it been the council, they would have sent a deputation.”
Such a deputation arrived the following afternoon, much to her surprise and concern.
“Madam,” Bishop Gardiner said, bowing, “the Queen has taken to her chamber and cannot see you just now, but she is convinced that you have much to confess to her. If you would have an audience with her, you must tell all to us first. I assure you that, if you do confess, Her Majesty will be good to you.” The old man suddenly fell to his knees. “I beg you, submit to the Queen!”
This was not what Elizabeth had been hoping to hear. She had returned in high hopes of a successful meeting with her sister. Was she still suspected of treason? Had she really only been brought back to court as a prelude to being consigned once more to the shadowy grasp of the Tower? That was unthinkable. She must stay strong and not betray such fears.
“I am innocent and therefore have nothing to confess,” she declared firmly. “Better for me to lie in prison for the truth, than to be abroad and suspected by my prince. In yielding, I should confess myself an offender toward Her Majesty, which I never was, and the Queen and the King would thereby ever afterward conceive an evil opinion of me.”
She stood indignant and proud. The lords began murmuring among themselves, wary of angering her further.
“I will convey your words to Her Majesty,” Gardiner said, rising to his feet.
“I tell you, madam,” the Bishop said, “nothing further is likely to be obtained from the Lady Elizabeth.”
Mary, resting on her bed, hands crossed over the huge mound of her belly, grimaced and tried to raise herself. Her ladies came hurrying to help her.
“I marvel that she should so stoutly stand by her innocence,” she said bitterly. “Well, she shall not be set at liberty until she has told the truth. She will remain here under house arrest.”
King Philip, who had been standing by the window, looking out over the privy garden, came over to her bedside.
“Let me talk to her,” he said. “I should very much like to meet her.”
“It would do no good, my lord,” Mary told him jealously.
“Nevertheless I insist,” he said, adamant.
“The decision is mine,” she faltered. “I am the Queen, and she is my sister.”
“And I am your husband,” Philip said challengingly. “I command it.” His blue eyes were icy, beautiful but cold.
“Very well,” Mary capitulated, with great reluctance. “I see I cannot dissuade you.”
“My finest robes, Blanche,” Elizabeth ordered. “That is what the Lord Chamberlain said. The Queen has commanded me to put on my finest robes and prepare to receive the King. And I too would look my very best, for much depends on this meeting.”
He was married to her sister, but Philip, she knew, was an experienced and handsome man of twenty-eight, and he must be not only curious about her but also susceptible to feminine charm, if rumor spoke truth. She must dress to advantage, and present herself at her most beguiling…
She had few outfits with her—much of her wardrobe had been left at Ashridge—but she had brought one court dress, packed in the hope that she would one day have occasion to wear it. It was of white damask beaded with pearls and had a low, square neck, cut wide on the shoulders; it showed off her small breasts and slim waist to perfection. She would wear her red hair loose, as a royal virgin.
Thus attired, she sank into the deepest of curtsies when the door opened late that evening and the King was announced. A well-set, brown-haired man with a pointed gold beard strode into the room. He was much shorter than she had expected; he owned the famous jutting chin of the Habsburgs, and his eyes were chilly, but he greeted her courteously, nonetheless, and himself raised her to her feet. She smiled at him, and in that moment, the cold eyes took fire and began regarding