many allies in this court, if you would use them.’
‘Thank you, Lady Frances,’ he replied quietly. ‘I hope that God will be my ally too.’
1624
CHAPTER 53
2 October
The rhythmic splash of the oars was almost lulling Frances to sleep as the barge made its way slowly along the Thames. They were passing the Bishop’s Palace now, its elegant red-brick façade just visible through the trees.
‘I have a mind to begin another history. One of the few advantages of my reduced circumstances is having more time to write.’
Frances smiled. Bacon’s account of Henry VII’s reign had been published to great acclaim two years earlier – even the King had declared himself delighted with it.
‘Perhaps you should dedicate it to Lord Somerset, now that he has been restored to favour,’ she suggested slyly.
Although news of the King’s pardon to his former favourite had been announced several days before, Frances still marvelled at it. Even after their release from the Tower more than a year ago, Somerset and his wife had been living in virtual exile, denied the King’s presence as well as his forgiveness. That James had finally shown them his favour had been taken as another sign of Buckingham’s diminishing influence. Frances had been as pleased as she was surprised that the duke had failed to worm his way back into his master’s good graces as quickly as he had expected. Although she had had no further conferences with the prince, she suspected that he had played a part in this.
‘I was thinking Master Brett might be a better choice,’ Bacon replied, raising an eyebrow.
And it was true that the King had grown ever fonder of the young man. With his quiet devotion, Arthur formed a welcome contrast to the overbearing duke, whose temper had been ever more volatile since his return from Spain the previous year. Thomas had borne the brunt of it on many occasions. Frances was glad her husband knew what a powerful adversary his master had in the prince, or he might have been provoked to retaliate, as Buckingham clearly intended.
‘Thomas heard the King means to secure him a seat in the next parliament,’ she observed.
‘Then he will be fortunate enough to enjoy the debate about His Majesty’s proposed war with Spain,’ Bacon retorted. ‘I do hope he will argue against it, as all good men must. It will be so diverting to see the duke in a fury again.’
‘A few months ago, he was all for Spain.’ Frances did not trouble to disguise her scorn. ‘Yet now he would see all Spaniards at the bottom of the ocean. He still smarts from that business with the infanta.’
‘King Philip’s envoys have made much of his current weakness,’ Bacon concurred. ‘I hear they are putting about rumours that Buckingham encourages the King to hunt in order to seize the reins of government himself.’
Frances did not remark that there was truth to the rumours. What the duke had failed to grasp was that the more hunts he arranged for his master, the stronger James’s attachment to her husband became. Thomas was careful not to boast of it: there was nothing to be gained by antagonising Buckingham further. She only hoped that he would hold on to the King’s favour long enough for them to make use of it.
‘Tell me, how is the duke’s delightful mother?’ Bacon asked. ‘I no longer enjoy the good fortune of seeing her at court, and I can hardly hope that her delicate footsteps will ever be heard in Temple Church.’
Frances had had to endure several interminable evenings in the countess’s apartments at Whitehall. Clearly, the older woman deemed her worthy of interest – or suspicion – even though Kate was far away at Tyringham Hall. ‘Still as friendly as a viper. You should have a care, my lord. If she thought you could serve her or her precious son, she would insist you join her for supper too.’
‘Then I shall continue to be as insignificant as possible,’ he replied cheerfully. Though he was in jest, she knew he still smarted from his loss of favour. He was little suited for a life of quiet retirement, despite the hours it gave him for writing and study.
‘How is Lady Alice?’ she asked.
‘Well enough, I understand,’ he replied. ‘She has promised to visit, before winter is upon us.’
Frances felt a surge of pity for him. Bacon’s wife had been a virtual stranger to her husband since his fall from grace.
‘Now, tell me, my dear,’ he said, with forced