Her Highness, the Traitor - By Susan Higginbotham Page 0,52
He raised the glass of ale from which he had been sipping. “Long life to King Edward.”
***
“I must talk to you.”
Since my indiscretion of the autumn, Adrian Stokes and I had been on cordial, if formal, terms. I did not know why I was confiding in him now, except something told me I could trust him, just as Mary had felt she could trust me.
“Perhaps you have heard of the lady Mary’s plan to escape, and its failure.”
“Something of it, my lady.”
“I knew of it and said nothing. I made a promise to her that I would not, and I kept it.”
“That must have been a painful position for you to be in, my lady.”
I relaxed a little under Adrian Stokes’s sympathetic gaze. “Yes, it was. We are friends as well as cousins. I did not ask for her confidence, but when she gave it to me, I felt bound to uphold it, even though I thought her plan was unwise and advised her against it.”
“Does my lord know that she told you?”
“No. I concealed it from him, and when he asked me this very day whether I had had knowledge of it, I lied to him. I am not proud of that, but…” I looked down at my feet, then up again. “But that is my own problem. What I am concerned about is that word did get out about Mary’s escape plan. It distresses me to think that Mary might believe that I betrayed her.”
“And you wish me to tell her?”
“Yes, but I do not wish you to risk going yourself. Harry is not an ill-tempered man, but I don’t know if—”
“I have brothers and friends. I will find a way to get a message to her—a verbal one. It would be foolish to trust something to writing.” Adrian Stokes paused, then added, “I should tell you, my lady, that I have no sympathy with the lady Mary’s religious ideas or, indeed, with her contumaciousness toward the king and his council. I share the views of my lord Dorset. But it distresses me that her folly has troubled your mind.”
I thanked him. A couple of weeks later, Master Stokes came to me. After we had discussed business for a short time, he said, “My brother William made contact with the lady we spoke of. She assured him that she knew you had nothing to do with a certain matter becoming known. I hope that eases your mind, my lady.”
“It does, very much, and I am grateful to you.”
Master Stokes bowed his head, apparently expecting to be given leave to depart. Instead, I asked, “I gather you and your brothers are close, Master Stokes?”
“Yes, my lady. We have each other’s confidence.”
“Harry is fond of his brothers too. I wish my daughter Jane and my daughter Kate were on friendlier terms with each other,” I confessed. “There is nothing like having a sister or brother one can confide in.”
”I believe your ladyship’s sister, the lady Eleanor, died several years ago.”
I nodded. “I still miss her. Have you ever been married, Master Stokes?”
“No, my lady. I had intentions once, but the young lady died.”
“I am very sorry to hear that. Have you ever thought of marrying?”
“No, my lady, until recently I have lived the life of a soldier, and it would not have been meet to take a wife. And in truth, I had no desire to marry. I took my betrothed’s death very hard. I loved her, you see. But forgive me, my lady, that is probably more than you wished to hear.”
“Why? I asked a question, and you answered it. I hope you are happy with us, Master Stokes.”
“I am very happy in this household.”
“Well, good.” I could hardly go on asking Master Stokes personal questions, I realized, though something in me longed to keep on doing exactly that. Reluctantly, I said, “You may go now, Master Stokes.”
***
Despite my worry about being found out, our life at Bradgate went on as normal. Harry’s brothers often visited, and one day in August when the weather had been especially fine, we decided to go hunting.
It seemed too fair a day for any young person to spend indoors, so once I had donned my riding habit, I went to Jane’s chamber. “We are going hunting, Jane. Would you like to join us?”
“No, Mother. You know I think that folly.”
“I didn’t see you turning down the venison the other day,” I said mildly. “It came from our own park, and the deer certainly