Her Highness, the Traitor - By Susan Higginbotham Page 0,96

arm, though Guildford was easily a foot taller than she. “Come!”

“You cannot leave our presence like this,” Jane said.

“We can, and we will. Come along!”

Guildford reluctantly obeyed.

“You can’t let him go to Sion, whatever that insolent little woman says,” I said. “There will be scandal.”

“I will send the Earls of Arundel and Pembroke after him,” Jane said. “Now leave me.”

“Jane—”

“Leave us, we said!”

Meekly, I backed out of the chamber.

***

It was not the Earls of Arundel and Pembroke who led a sheepish-looking Guildford Dudley back to Jane’s chamber later that evening, but Harry. “A little row this afternoon, I hear,” he commented when he came to my own chamber in the Tower later that evening.

“To put it mildly. That Dudley woman must be put in her place. And that son of hers, always harping on being made king!”

“He’s not a bad sort.”

I turned to stare at him. “You are standing up for him?”

“Yes. Jane can be a tall order for a boy, my dear, especially one who’s not used to the ways of women, as I wager young Guildford is not. So this evening, I have played peacemaker. Someone had to, I must say.”

“You have not persuaded her to make him king.”

“No. I persuaded them to consummate their marriage. That’s right, my dear, consummate it.”

“But they have been sleeping together!”

“Yes, and that’s all they’ve been doing—lying side by side. At least King Henry got as far as kissing Anne of Cleves; these two haven’t done even that.” Harry snorted. “It’s our Jane who has been stalling, I fear. Guildford’s been too ashamed to mention it to his own family—considering the way his mother acted today, I can see why—and he didn’t want to force her. So that was step one: making Jane understand that she had to act as a proper wife to him. Step two was making Guildford understand that he has to stop nagging Jane about being king. He’s not even of royal blood, and the people have to accept Jane on the throne before they accept him as king. A dukedom’s a sensible start, and she’s agreed to let him dine at a separate table, to assuage his pride. He’s a reasonable enough lad when handled well.” Harry rose. “The Duchess of Northumberland and you I shall leave to your own devices, my dear. One man can’t work miracles.”

I frowned as Harry suddenly grabbed his side. “Harry, you look ill.”

“I do believe I am, my dear. The stone is part of it, I think. I had a fainting fit the other day, as a matter of fact. I didn’t want to concern Jane with it.”

“You must go to Suffolk Place and rest.”

“Maybe after a day or so. First, let us get through this night. If Jane reneges on her promise to Guildford, it’s going to be a long one.”

***

The next day, Guildford did appear more at ease, being served at a separate table and being addressed as “Your Grace.” Jane herself seemed less skittish than she had been since her marriage, and even bestowed a royal smile upon Guildford’s uncle Jerome when he timidly presented her with a red rose from the Tower garden. The Duchess of Northumberland and I managed to sit side by side without incident.

Jane and Guildford’s marital relations, however, were not the chief concern at the Tower on July 12: the council was preoccupied with choosing a commander to lead the forces against Mary. They chose Harry.

“I don’t like Father being chosen for this,” Jane said later that afternoon when only the two of us were present, Jane having waved off her attendants. “He’s been looking ill, don’t you think?”

“He complained of feeling poorly only last night.”

“And he has so little experience in these matters.”

“That is true.”

“And I would be left here with the Duke of Northumberland. I don’t trust him, Mother, or his odious wife.” She pointed to her hair. “Look. It’s falling out in clumps.”

I pulled gently on an auburn lock. Sure enough, a few strands of hair did come out in my hand.

“It’s even worse when Mistress Ellen brushes it at night.” Jane lowered her voice. “Nothing was wrong with my hair until I came here. I think Northumberland is trying to poison me. Or perhaps his duchess is.”

There could be other reasons Jane’s hair was falling out, I knew. Still, I thought of Mary telling me years before that she did not trust Northumberland. How far had King Edward been influenced by the duke in changing the succession? And what