Her Highness, the Traitor - By Susan Higginbotham Page 0,81
so.”
“But the lady Frances has not borne a child in years, and the last have all been girls.”
“Precisely. So under the king’s devise, as he calls it, if Lady Jane marries and has a son, that boy could be the king of England.”
So if Guildford married the lady Jane and sired a son, our grandson would be King of England. I sank into a chair.
John continued, “Of course, this all supposes the king will die without issue of his body, which is most unlikely. His French match is sure to go through now that we’re at peace. And his health will certainly improve now that spring is here. I told the king these things.”
“And what did he say?”
“He said that he believed that God would be merciful and let him reign for many years, but that it was best to be prepared. Then he put his devise away in a chest he has, away from prying eyes. He likes to tinker with it from time to time, he said.”
We were silent for a short while. Then I said with some relief, “You could not possibly ask him now to approve Guildford’s marriage to Lady Jane, even if they wished it. It would make it appear that you had ulterior motives.”
“To the contrary, the king has urged it upon me. He said that should his line happen to fail, he believed that England would be safest in the hands of my grandson.” John looked out over the Thames. “I set out to win the trust and affection of the king, and I have succeeded, it appears.”
“Do you intend to marry our son to the Grey girl?”
“I can think of no good reason to refuse the king. Even without that devise of his, it is, as the Marchioness of Northampton says, an eminently suitable match. I will talk to the Duke of Suffolk.”
“What about the king’s devise? Can’t you persuade the king not to disinherit his sisters? It seems so unnatural, and it is bound to lead to trouble.”
“I can try. But the king is not a child who can be distracted from one bauble by handing him another. He has thought about his sisters’ legal status, read about it, even asked that the records of Anne Boleyn’s trial be brought to him. I fear it will not be an easy task. I can only hope that the necessity does not come to pass.”
“And if it does come to pass? John, you must think of this!”
John reached for me. “I really don’t want to,” he said quietly.
***
“Jane Grey? That sour little girl? I tried to carry on a civil conversation with her—in Italian, mind you—and it was sheer misery. Of all of the women in England, why must I marry her?”
“She was younger then, Guildford,” I said. “You have seen her at court. She’s perfectly polite and civil.”
“Like a stick of wood.”
“She’s pretty.”
“Not enough to make up for the rest.” Guildford looked at John, who had been standing silently by. “Father, must I marry her?”
“It is the king’s own wish.”
“Why? What is it to him whom I marry?”
“She is of royal blood, and the king wishes to honor the Dudley family by bestowing her upon us in marriage,” John said.
“Then why not bestow her on Hal? He’s a better scholar.”
“You are the oldest of our unmarried sons. It would be perceived as an insult, perhaps, if we offered him our youngest in your stead. Besides, you and the lady Jane are nearly the same age.”
“Fourth son, fifth son, what’s the difference? And Hal’s but a year younger. Please, Father.”
“I am sorry. It must be.”
“You let Mary and Robert marry people of their own choosing.”
“Have you contracted yourself to someone else?”
“No,” Guildford admitted. “But I wish I had. Then you couldn’t make me marry this self-important little chit.”
“Guildford, many marriages start in dislike, and end in deep love. The two of you will come closer together when you get to know each other better. Especially when you have children.”
“I’d rather not even think about that, if you please,” Guildford snapped.
“She is a far more prestigious bride than any of your brothers’ wives.”
“If only Ambrose hadn’t remarried so quickly. He could marry her.” Guildford suddenly brightened. “Why not annul Jack’s marriage? The girl doesn’t care for us, and it’s never been consummated. Then the lady Jane could have an earl for a husband, not just Lord Guildford.”
“We are not going to throw the Countess of Warwick out of our household just to oblige you,”