Her Highness, the Traitor - By Susan Higginbotham Page 0,83
Grey
April 1553 to May 1553
Guildford Dudley?” I said after Harry broke the news to me of my daughter’s betrothal. “You cannot be serious.”
“I certainly am, my dear. What’s to be said against him? He’s a presentable young man, with no mean share of learning, and his father’s the virtual ruler of England. It’s a pity, I admit, that his older brothers are married already, but there’s the chance he’ll be created the Duke of Suffolk in right of his wife one day, just as I was created the Duke of Suffolk in your right. In any case, they won’t be poor.”
“His grandfather died on the scaffold!”
“Quite a few families can now claim that distinction.”
“But Edmund Dudley was not a nobleman who fell on the wrong side of King Henry. He was a money-grubbing lawyer!”
“Whose skill at it left your uncle quite wealthy, one could add. And if it makes you feel any better, Northumberland’s mother was of noble stock. But whatever Edmund Dudley did, it hardly matters now, does it? The king regards Northumberland as his father, practically, and he wants this match. So does Northumberland. He’s not even demanded an unreasonable dowry, as I thought he would. For a man with three daughters, that is a consideration.”
I said nothing. Harry took me in his arms. “I know it’s sudden, speaking of having our girl married, but you know I wouldn’t match her where she would be miserable. I’ve talked to the lad. He’s not a scholar like she is—how many men of her station are, really?—but he’s well educated and presentable. They must come to know each other. We did.”
“Just the other day, I told Jane that we didn’t have a match planned for her.”
“Well, we didn’t then. This has come up quite suddenly. Shall we tell Jane now?”
“You tell her,” I said.
***
“I am to marry Guildford Dudley?” Every single one of Jane’s freckles stood out upon her face as she stared at her father and me. “You cannot be serious.”
“And you, young lady, cannot be serious in speaking to me like that.”
“I beg your pardon, Father.” Jane lowered her eyes, but only briefly. “But Guildford Dudley! A traitor’s grandson.”
“Your mother has already reminded me of that. He happens to also be a duke’s son.”
“A duke’s fourth son! A virtual nobody. And he speaks terrible Italian. It was painful to listen to him.”
“And how often will you be speaking Italian with him? Jane, if you are going to oppose me, at least do so with reason.”
Jane turned an accusing pair of brown eyes on me. “You told me, my lady, there were no plans to marry me yet.”
“I spoke the truth. There were none that I knew of.”
“What if I refuse? I cannot be forced to marry him. Our marriage would be invalid then.”
“Do you set yourself up as a canon lawyer now, child?”
Jane stared at the ground. “I don’t wish to marry him, Father. I don’t much wish to marry anyone, I confess, but by no means do I want to marry him.”
“Are we thinking of the same young man? He is not a repulsive creature, Jane. He’s good looking, tall for his age, well spoken—in English, at least. I daresay he’s fallen into bad company now and then, but that’s the nature of young men his age.” Harry suddenly wrenched Jane’s chin up. “You have not promised yourself to someone else, have you?”
“No, Father.”
“You don’t fancy yourself beholden to the Earl of Hertford, do you? That would have been a fair match in its day, but that day is done. He’s of no account now.”
“I do not regard myself as betrothed to him.”
“Then is it not right for you to accept Guildford Dudley as your husband?”
“He is commonplace.”
“For God’s sake, girl! You could not have spent more than an hour or two with him in your life. And he is barely older than you are. What do you expect of a lad his age?”
“I had hoped for someone different.”
“Who?” Harry’s voice softened. “Jane, you’re not still hoping for King Edward, are you? If so, I am sorry we ever put the idea in your head. He is destined for France. If—”
“If what?”
“If he lives long enough to go to his wedding. I’m beginning to have my doubts.”
It was the first time anyone had voiced the thought that had been troubling me for some time. I interrupted the volleying between my husband and Jane. “Harry, you see him at court. Is he that ill?”