In the Shadow of the Crown - By Jean Plaidy Page 0,31

was present,” said the Countess. “I have always held him to be one of the most saintly men I know.”

“It was Doctor Wolman, I believe, who was making the case against the King,” added my mother.

“And Doctor Bell was the King's Counsel,” said the Countess. She added scornfully, “I can imagine it. ‘Henry, King of England, you are called into this archiepiscopal court to answer a charge of living in sin with your brother's wife.'”

“It is so false. It is so untrue!” burst out my mother. “I was never Arthur's wife in truth.”

They seemed to have forgotten my presence, and I sat there quietly, trying to efface myself lest they should remember me and cease to talk so frankly.

I could imagine it all… that scene with my father looking shocked and anxious. It was a grave charge which they were bringing against him. If he had not wished it to be made, those who made it would have doubtless lost their heads by now. The case for the validity of the marriage was that, on account of Arthur's health, the marriage had not been consummated. Pope Julius II had given a dispensation, and the King had innocently believed that all was in order.

“And now the Bishop of Tarbes has said this monstrous thing …” said my mother.

She looked at me and stopped, and the Countess abruptly changed the subect.

But they had aroused my suspicions. I must discover what the Bishop of Tarbes had suggested.

They were subdued after that, and their conversation was constrained. I knew I was ignorant of a great deal regarding this matter. But after a while they could not resist the temptation to talk of it, and then they seemed to forget my presence.

The Countess said, “Archbishop Warham is an old man. Old men seek comfort. He wants to live peacefully in his old age. He will agree with all the King wishes him to.”

“And we know what that is,” said my mother tragically.

“Warham declares that, if the marriage with Arthur was consummated, you were truly his wife and therefore the King has married his brother's widow.”

“It was not. It was not. I tell all it was not. I was a virgin when I married the King.”

“John Fisher is an honest man. He declared that the Pope had given the dispensation so that the King could suppress his fears. He had no doubt that his marriage was a good one. There was a Bull from the Pope to legalize it. There was no need for the King to question the validity.” The Countess looked at my mother with the utmost sympathy and, seeking to comfort her, went on, “The King spoke so well of you. He said that through the years of your marriage he had found in you all he could hope for in a wife.”

“Save this one thing,” said my mother, “and that of the greatest importance.”

“It is only the suggestion of the Bishop of Tarbes …” She paused. Then she went on, “We know differently. It is not an unusual occurrence. It is just that this is the King…”

“And his need for sons.”

“He said that, if he had to marry again and if it were not a sin to choose you, you are the one he would marry. He would select you among all others.”

“Words,” said my mother bitterly.

#x201C;Words hiding the truth.”

They were silent again. The the Countess said briskly, “Well, they have settled nothing.”

“I believe the King is very disappointed with them. He greatly desired the matter to be settled.”

The Countess took my mother's hand and held it firmly.

“It cannot be,” she said. “The good men of the Church would never allow it… nor would the people.”

“I think you underestimate the determination of the King,” said my mother sadly.

I sat there quietly watching them. I knew this was by no means an end of the matter.

IÑIGO DE MENDOZA, the Spanish ambassador, called to see my mother and was with her for a long time.

The Countess was silent and withdrawn. It was no use trying to get her to talk. I wished that they would not leave me so much in the dark. They were thinking that I was too young to understand. I chafed against my youth. My future was involved. I should know. This matter concerned me. And I was determined to find out all I could.

In time I learned what was said to have aroused the trouble. It had come about during the betrothal celebrations. The Bishop of Tarbes had said