young man who was destined to be her husband.
“There is only one reason why I could object to your choice, Your Majesty, and that is because I feel within myself that the married state is not for me.”
Mary looked cynically at her sister. “You … to be a spinster! When did you make up your mind to this?”
“I think, Your Majesty, that it is something I have always known.”
“I have not noticed that you have shown much maidenliness toward the opposite sex.”
“Your Majesty, it is because I have always felt thus that I have perhaps at times appeared to be unguarded.”
“Do you feel then that there is no need to guard that which you have determined at all costs to preserve?”
“Your Majesty, it is only necessary to put a guard on that which one is in danger of losing. My inclination for virginity being what it is, I had no need to restrain myself as have some maidens.”
“I would not have you come to me in frivolous mood.”
“Your Majesty, I was never more serious.”
“Then we shall contract you to the Duke of Savoy.”
Elizabeth folded her hands on her breast. “Your Majesty, I am of such mind that I prefer death to marriage.”
“I should not talk too readily of death. It could be reckless talk.”
“Your Majesty, I am reckless. I prefer death to betrothal to the Duke of Savoy.”
“We shall see,” said Mary.
She summoned the guard, and Elizabeth was taken back to her apartments, believing that her end was at hand.
She lay on her bed staring up at the tester. Her ladies were weeping quietly. She had come back from her interview with the Queen and had told them: “I think I am to die.”
Did she really prefer death to marriage with the Duke of Savoy?
For so many years she had dreamed that she would wear the crown. How many times had Kat Ashley read it in the cards? She could not give up that dream. But would she in truth rather die?
Once during the night she half rose. She thought: Tomorrow I will go to the Queen. I will accept Savoy. I am a fool to go meekly to death.
Wait, said her common sense. Has there not always been safety in waiting?
The next day she left the Palace, but not for the Tower. The Queen was undecided what to do with her sister, and finally she resorted to the old method. Elizabeth should go back to Woodstock, where she would remain a captive, although living in the state her rank demanded. The people would be appeased if the Princess was in one of her country houses; they had been restive while she was in the Tower. Elizabeth, sly and cunning, appeared to them young and pathetic; and she had the people on her side as always.
Even when she sailed up the river the people lined the banks to watch her pass. They called cheering words to her; they had gifts for her. At Wycombe cakes were brought to her, and so numerous were these that she could not accept them all. She thanked the people prettily, and all along the river their cries resounded: “God bless the Princess. God save Her Grace.”
She felt happy now. She had done the right thing in refusing Savoy. Time would always be her ally, for she was young and the Queen was old.
She arrived at Woodstock, yet even there she was not given the royal apartments but taken to the gatehouse. This was surrounded by guards, and Sir Henry Bedingfeld told her that his instructions were that she was to be kept under strict surveillance.
She wept a little. “Like a sheep to the slaughter I am led,” she said, as her ladies helped her to retire.
As she lay in her bed unable to sleep, the door of her room was quietly opened; the curtains of her bed were suddenly divided, and she found herself held tightly in a pair of loving arms.
“Kat!” she sobbed in relief. “How did you get here?”
“Hush, my love! Hush, my little lady! I am free once more. This prisoner is released, so what did she do? When she heard her lady was on the way she arrived before her. I reached the house before Master Bedingfeld and his merry men. And what do we care, sweetheart, since we are together!”
“What do we care!” said Elizabeth and began to laugh.
Kat lay beside her on the bed; and through the night they talked of what had happened.
Elizabeth said suddenly: “And, Kat,