the key will be brought to me.”
The Duchess sat back in her chair, well pleased.
“I think that will be a very excellent plan, Your Grace,” said Mary Lassells unctuously.
“Your opinion was not asked, Mary Lassells,” said the Duchess haughtily. “That will do. Now remember please, and I will send someone for the key this very night.”
Mary said nothing. It was shocking to consider what went on in that room at night. Catherine Howard behaved quite shamelessly now with Francis Derham; he would bring fruit and wine for her, and they would sit on her bed and laugh and chatter, telling everyone that as they were really married there was no harm in what they were doing. Derham was very much in love with the child—that was obvious—and she with him; he salved his conscience by pretending they were married. It was very silly, thought Mary Lassells, and certainly time such wickedness was stopped.
They were planning for tonight. Let them plan! What a shock for them, when they were waiting to receive their lovers, to find the door locked, keeping them out! And so would it be every night. No more games, no more of such wicked folly.
Though Manox never came to the room now, she often thought of him. Some said he was sorely troubled because he had lost little Catherine Howard. And she not fourteen! Thirteen at the most. Was ever such crass wickedness allowed to go unpunished! She will go to hell and suffer eternal torment when she dies, I’ll swear! And Mary Lassells felt happier at the thought.
They were all laughing, chattering in their silly way, when Mary Lassells went to the door to obey the Duchess’s instructions. “Where go you?” asked one girl.
“Merely to act on Her Grace’s orders.” Mary put the key in the outer lock. Inside the room they heard her exchanging a few words with someone outside the door. Mary came back into the room, and the door was immediately locked on the outside.
There was a chorus of excitement. “What means this?” “Is it a joke?” “What said you, Mary Lassells?” “Why did you take the key?”
Mary Lassells faced them, her prim mouth working. “Her Grace the Duchess is much displeased. She has heard the laughing and chatter that goes on here of nights. She has taken me on one side and told me what she will do. Every night the door of this apartment is to be locked and the key taken to her.”
There were cries of rage.
“Mary Lassells! You have been bearing tales!”
“Indeed I have not!”
“What can one expect of a cook’s daughter!”
“I am not a cook’s daughter.”
“Oh, well . . . something such!”
“This is shameful. Her Grace merely asked me to put the key outside. . . . I suppose because she sees I am more virtuous than the rest of you.”
Dorothy Barwicke said: “Do you swear, Mary Lassells, that you have said nothing to Her Grace of what happens in this room?”
“I swear!”
“Then why . . . ?”
“She has heard the noise in here. She says too that she has heard whispers of what goes on. . . . Doubtless the servants. . . .”
“They may have heard the gentlemen creeping up the stairs!” said one girl with a giggle. “I declare Thomas made one devil of a row last time.”
“The truth remains,” said Mary Lassells, “that you are under suspicion. I only hope Her Grace does not think I have been a party to your follies!”
“Impossible!”
“You would find it difficult, Mary, to discover one who would be a partner.”
The girls were rocking on their beds, laughing immoderately.
“Poor Mary!” said Catherine. “I am sure Manox likes you very well.”
Everyone shrieked with laughter at that. Catherine was hurt; she had not meant to be unkind. She had seen Manox and Mary together before she had broken with him, and she had thought they seemed friendly. She would have liked Manox to find someone he could care for. Mary too. It seemed a satisfactory settlement, to Catherine.
Mary threw her a glance of hatred.
“Well,” said Dorothy Barwicke, “this is an end of our little frolics . . . unless . . .”
“Unless what?” cried several voices.
“There are some very rash and gallant gentlemen among our friends; who knows, one might find a way of stealing the keys!”
“Stealing the keys!” The adventures would have an additional spice if keys had first to be stolen.
The young ladies settled into their beds and talked for a long time. Mary Lassells lay in hers, trembling with