Nine Days a Queen: The Short Life and Reign of Lady Jane Grey by Ann Rinaldi
Book: Nine Days a Queen: The Short Life and Reign of Lady Jane Grey by Ann Rinaldi
Read Free Book Online
Authors: Ann Rinaldi
Ads: Link
She did not like me, this woman. Considered me not worthy of Guildford.
"Guildford, of course, must take himself there too," she added. And then: "He misses you.
150
He pines for you, Jane. My darling boy."
I wondered what she was plotting. Anything for Guildford, of course. But how much power did they have? I shivered, not wishing to know the answer. But not for a minute did I believe her. I saw her out, wondering what her real motive had been for coming.
By July second we heard, from a friend of Mrs. Tilney's who'd been at court, that King Edward was begging God to take him.
We heard that Northumberland was preventing both Mary and Elizabeth from seeing their dying brother.
The summer quiet lay about Chelsea Manor, like the calm before a storm. Sometimes I went outside and walked along the riverbank just to hear the sound of the gulls flying overhead. Their cry echoed something lost and wandering in my soul.
I felt as if the world were standing still, as if this were my last chance to look around and enjoy it before plunging into an abyss. I felt like a prisoner here, and yet I knew I was safe. I thought of all the good people I'd known. I
151
wondered what Queen Katharine and Sir Thomas would have to say about all that was happening.
Northumberland was in charge, running the kingdom. I had the feeling he was moving people around on a chessboard. I could see him, grinning, leaning over it.
On the eighth of July rumor ran through the countryside that Edward VI had died.
Our milkmaids had it before we did. Rumor travels swiftly, faster than sound, faster than the wind and the tides.
I knew it this time not to be rumor, though. When the common people had such intelligence, you could be sure it was true. I waited for something to happen. And very soon it did.
152
SEVENTEEN
T
he first I knew that something was truly amiss was when a rider came through the countryside crying the fact that Princess Mary was gone. That she had retreated to Norfolk, dressed as a boy, to board a ship and flee the country.
The rider was not from Northumberland or the palace. He wore nobody's colors. He just had news and was spreading it for his own ends, accepting coins of the realm, and meat and drink, for his trouble and enjoying himself immeasurably.
Sometimes when ordinary folk got hold of rumor they did this. Carried it through the countryside. People were hungry for news.
153
"She stayed the night at Sawson Hall near Cambridge," the man told us. "It's the manor house of John Huddlestone, a Catholic gentleman. He received her gladly, 'tis said, had mass said in his house for her. In the morning after they rode off, some Protestants in Cambridge set fire to the house, thinking she was still inside. It is said that Mary saw it from a hilltop and told John Huddlestone that when she was Queen she would build him an even better house."
"Why is she fleeing if she hopes to be Queen?" Mrs. Tilney asked. We stood in the courtyard, in the sun.
"It is said that Northumberland ordered three important Catholic prisoners in the Tower to be executed this day, lest they take up the banner and support Mary."
"But she is supposed to be Queen," I put in.
The messenger shrugged and gulped his brew, seeing that we were growing impatient with him. "I must be off. It is all the news I have this day. Perhaps I'll be back tomorrow."
The next day he did come back. Mrs. Tilney sent me out alone, not wishing to be subject, as she
154
said to "more lies."
"A fleet of seven great warships now wait off the eastern coast, in the event that Mary tries to flee the country," he told us. "Northumberland cannot have her bringing in supporters from another country to help her with her pretensions to the crown."
"But she is not pretending," I said.
A number of servants who had gathered around nodded in agreement with me.
"Northumberland has informed Princess Elizabeth of her brother's death."
I wondered how Elizabeth was feeling.
"Princess Mary
"Guildford, of course, must take himself there too," she added. And then: "He misses you.
150
He pines for you, Jane. My darling boy."
I wondered what she was plotting. Anything for Guildford, of course. But how much power did they have? I shivered, not wishing to know the answer. But not for a minute did I believe her. I saw her out, wondering what her real motive had been for coming.
By July second we heard, from a friend of Mrs. Tilney's who'd been at court, that King Edward was begging God to take him.
We heard that Northumberland was preventing both Mary and Elizabeth from seeing their dying brother.
The summer quiet lay about Chelsea Manor, like the calm before a storm. Sometimes I went outside and walked along the riverbank just to hear the sound of the gulls flying overhead. Their cry echoed something lost and wandering in my soul.
I felt as if the world were standing still, as if this were my last chance to look around and enjoy it before plunging into an abyss. I felt like a prisoner here, and yet I knew I was safe. I thought of all the good people I'd known. I
151
wondered what Queen Katharine and Sir Thomas would have to say about all that was happening.
Northumberland was in charge, running the kingdom. I had the feeling he was moving people around on a chessboard. I could see him, grinning, leaning over it.
On the eighth of July rumor ran through the countryside that Edward VI had died.
Our milkmaids had it before we did. Rumor travels swiftly, faster than sound, faster than the wind and the tides.
I knew it this time not to be rumor, though. When the common people had such intelligence, you could be sure it was true. I waited for something to happen. And very soon it did.
152
SEVENTEEN
T
he first I knew that something was truly amiss was when a rider came through the countryside crying the fact that Princess Mary was gone. That she had retreated to Norfolk, dressed as a boy, to board a ship and flee the country.
The rider was not from Northumberland or the palace. He wore nobody's colors. He just had news and was spreading it for his own ends, accepting coins of the realm, and meat and drink, for his trouble and enjoying himself immeasurably.
Sometimes when ordinary folk got hold of rumor they did this. Carried it through the countryside. People were hungry for news.
153
"She stayed the night at Sawson Hall near Cambridge," the man told us. "It's the manor house of John Huddlestone, a Catholic gentleman. He received her gladly, 'tis said, had mass said in his house for her. In the morning after they rode off, some Protestants in Cambridge set fire to the house, thinking she was still inside. It is said that Mary saw it from a hilltop and told John Huddlestone that when she was Queen she would build him an even better house."
"Why is she fleeing if she hopes to be Queen?" Mrs. Tilney asked. We stood in the courtyard, in the sun.
"It is said that Northumberland ordered three important Catholic prisoners in the Tower to be executed this day, lest they take up the banner and support Mary."
"But she is supposed to be Queen," I put in.
The messenger shrugged and gulped his brew, seeing that we were growing impatient with him. "I must be off. It is all the news I have this day. Perhaps I'll be back tomorrow."
The next day he did come back. Mrs. Tilney sent me out alone, not wishing to be subject, as she
154
said to "more lies."
"A fleet of seven great warships now wait off the eastern coast, in the event that Mary tries to flee the country," he told us. "Northumberland cannot have her bringing in supporters from another country to help her with her pretensions to the crown."
"But she is not pretending," I said.
A number of servants who had gathered around nodded in agreement with me.
"Northumberland has informed Princess Elizabeth of her brother's death."
I wondered how Elizabeth was feeling.
"Princess Mary
Similar Books
