The Sixth Wife_ The Story of Katherine P - By Jean Plaidy Page 0,111
and the King’s divorced wife, Anne of Cleves, must have precedence; that was understood. But that Katharine Parr, who was now but the wife of her husband’s younger brother, should do so, was monstrous.
She faced her husband when she heard the news and, though fully acquainted with her turbulent moods, never had Edward Seymour seen her so furious.
“The Dowager Queen!” she cried. “And who is this Dowager Queen? Katharine Parr! King Henry the Eighth married her in his doting days when he had brought himself so low by his cruelty and his lust that no lady of honor would venture near him. And I … I, my lord, must give place to her! Once she was Latimer’s widow; now she is the wife of your brother…your young brother…and yet she is placed above me. Methinks we shall have to ask Master Admiral to teach his wife good manners. And if he will not, then I swear I will.”
The astute Protector, both calm and cold, ever ready to see an advantage and be on the spot to take it a second or two before a rival could do so, was yet gentle with his Duchess.
“Anne,” he pleaded, “be calm. Nothing can be done at this moment. You must accept this state of affairs. She has married Thomas, and, no matter what we do, we cannot prevent that.”
“Do you not see that your brother Thomas has done this that he may become more powerful than you are?”
“I am watchful of him,” he answered serenely.
“With the Queen his wife, and the two of them preparing to mold the King, what might they not do?”
“The King is in our care. Thomas may be his uncle, but so am I. And I am the elder.”
“You have been sterner with him than Thomas has. Thomas has bribed him with gold, and bemused him with charm. Beware of your brother.”
“I am wary, dearest Anne. I am ever watchful. Thomas knows how to charm people, but there his accomplishments end. He is a fool, that brother of mine.”
“His charm has brought him much. It has already brought him the Queen.”
“I fear neither Thomas nor his Queen. I and my Duchess will be a match for them.”
She smiled. They were together in all things, bound by affection and ambition. To her he was not cold and ruthless; to him she was not proud and haughty.
“My dear,” he said, “this matter of marriage has set me thinking. What would you say to our daughter Jane’s marrying the King? It would not be the first time a Jane Seymour sat upon the throne.”
The Duchess flushed with pleasure. “Our daughter…Queen of England!”
He kissed her cheek.
“You would like that, eh? And what do you say to the Lady Jane Grey for our son?”
She seized his hand and pressed it. “Our daughter a Queen!” she repeated. “Our son married to one who is not so very far from the throne. My lord husband, there are glorious days ahead for us.”
“There, my love, you see we are doing well. Do not let us begrudge Thomas his Queen.”
She looked momentarily grave. “He has his Queen; he has his influence with the King; and our daughter is not yet Queen of England, our son not betrothed to the Lady Jane Grey. Methinks that Thomas should be shown he cannot flout the Protector’s authority.”
“How should we show our displeasure?”
“By confiscating all the jewelery which King Henry gave to Katharine Parr. It is not in truth her property now, because it belongs to the crown; and you, as Protector, are responsible for it.”
He looked at her slyly. “Much of it would become you, my dear.”
“That it would! But I could not wear it—and should your younger brother’s wife be adorned with jewels that I may not wear?”
He put his arm about her waist. “Why, indeed,” he said, “should my brother’s wife wear jewels which mine cannot!”
TO SOME IT MIGHT have seemed difficult to concentrate on lessons; this was not the case with the young Elizabeth. Hurt and humiliated she had been, but there were times when she could completely banish that humiliation from her mind. She could welcome what had happened with Seymour as an experience from which she could learn much; and one thing she had learned was that no amount of study could give a Princess that knowledge of human nature which was perhaps more desirable than any other. A good understanding of the people would be the first requirement of one who planned to rule them.