Her Highness, the Traitor - By Susan Higginbotham Page 0,107

bedchamber who had no business being around the king—she spoke of mysterious potions that she was giving him, and of people visiting her in secret. Such a woman might have well been capable of poisoning His Majesty. I can also tell Your Majesty that soon after Lord Guildford and my Jane were married, Lord Guildford fell ill. Jane was not affected, but I believe it possible that the dish that was served to him was meant for her. In the Tower—when she was constantly in the presence of the Duke and Duchess of Northumberland—her hair started falling out in clumps. And, Your Majesty, my husband, too, fell ill. He is not a sickly man, and although my Jane was ill last year with the sweat, she has otherwise been a healthy young woman. I have no proof, but I cannot put aside as coincidence that Harry and Jane fell ill after they began coming in contact with the Dudley family.” For good measure, I added, “There is even a rumor that after Northumberland was captured, an apothecary who had been employed by him threw himself in the Thames.” I had not taken the rumor seriously when I heard it, it was true, but in my fervor to accuse, I saw no reason not to pass it along.

Mary nodded gravely.

“It is also true that the lord Guildford repeatedly expressed a desire for a crown and that his mother encouraged him openly. She was furious when my Jane—acting as a queen out of a sense of duty to the men who forced her into acting as one—refused him the crown matrimonial. If my Jane had been got rid of, I believe Guildford would have claimed the right to rule England. Your Majesty’s right to rule England.”

“Northumberland will die,” said Mary.

I looked up at her.

“He may die in the true faith or as a heretic, as he chooses, but he will die. Whether or not he actually poisoned the king, we could not keep such a man alive, for he deliberately subverted the law of succession set down by our most noble father. Such treason cannot go unpunished except by death. His wife has attempted to come to us, we hear. The imperial ambassadors met her upon the road. She is not a bad woman, but it is common knowledge that she is deeply in love with the duke”—a shadow of sadness passed over the queen’s face—“and that she would likely do anything for him. We will not risk our person in her presence.”

I shut out the Duchess of Northumberland’s tear-stained face, begging for me to intercede with Queen Mary. “Jane?” I ventured. “She never asked for the crown. It was Northumberland’s manipulations that put it on her head. And Harry—he loves Jane dearly, Your Majesty, more than me or my other daughters. She is the pride of his life. He could no more resist the chance to put a crown upon her head than a child can resist a sweet, but he truly meant no harm to Your Majesty. He proclaimed Your Majesty upon Tower Hill and tore down Jane’s canopy himself, although it broke his heart to do so.”

“Rise, Cousin.” I obeyed, and the queen embraced me. “We will grant your petition as to your husband. We do not forget that your mother was a friend to our mother when others had gone to that great whore, Anne Boleyn. Nor have we forgotten your silence when we confided to you our foolish plan to flee from England.”

“Oh, thank you, Your Majesty.”

“Our pardon is not without conditions. Until we can trust your husband, he must stay away from court—and we will not tolerate any insolence from him against our religion. Let that be known to him.”

“I will, Your Majesty. I thank you. But Jane—”

Mary shook her head. “We cannot let your daughter leave the Tower at this time. Not until the kingdom is stable under our rule and before those who were most culpable have paid the price. Even if she was manipulated by Northumberland, your daughter acted as a queen, and she was old enough to be held responsible for her actions. We cannot free her at this time. It would be a sign of weakness.”

I could realistically not ask otherwise, I knew. “But will Your Majesty spare her life?”

“Yes,” Mary said without hesitation. “The girl shall not suffer for the mistakes of her elders.” She smiled. “You must be very weary and famished after your journey. Stay and rest the