Queen Without a Crown by Fiona Buckley

wordy proclamations, describing themselves as the principal favourers of God’s Word and eulogizing the Duke of Norfolk, who had been arrested when the trouble first broke out, as a martyr and a high and mighty prince. There, however, matters seemed to have halted.
    Sussex had mobilized his own men and sent word to the midland sheriffs, who had raised forces from their respective counties to fight for the queen. The resultant army was now a formidable barrier between the insurgent earls and both Mary Stuart and Windsor.
    Indeed, it was more than a barrier, for it was moving north towards the insurgent earls. In addition, snow was falling, a hindrance to movement on both sides, but as long as the earls were among the hindered, the south would remain safe.
    Another of the northern nobles, the Earl of Cumberland, had declared for the queen, and the rebels would find no sanctuary in his lands, let alone reinforcements. Three powerful cities in the far north of England, Berwick, Carlisle and Newcastle, had also announced that their citizens would support Elizabeth. The wives of Westmorland and Northumberland were said to be beside themselves with fury and urging their husbands to greater efforts, but Sussex’s report said that, in his opinion, neither of the earls had half the stomach for war that their womenfolk had, and that the whole lot of them would either be prisoners or would flee into exile before Christmas.
    Mark came to see us as soon as he had delivered his message to the queen and Cecil. He repeated his news to us in person and on the whole with optimism. ‘My Lord Sussex says all these marchings and proclamations are no more than heat and nothingness, like the hot air above a chimney,’ he declared cheerfully. ‘I must set forth again soon to fetch whatever is the next news. I shall wear the road between here and York six inches deeper if I go to and fro much oftener.’ After that, however, his mien became downcast. He sat in our chamber with his hands dangling between his knees and his good padded doublet hanging on him, as though all the toing and froing had made him lose weight.
    ‘I tried to see Jane,’ he said. ‘I begged two days’ leave and rode across Yorkshire to Tyesdale, where she’s living.’
    ‘Is it in good order now?’ I asked. ‘It was very run down when we were there, before Penelope married Clem Moss. But Clem struck me as a hard-working and competent young fellow.’
    ‘He is. Tyesdale is prosperous. I could almost wish it were not,’ said Mark glumly. ‘When it comes to finding a husband for Jane, her family have too much choice. They wouldn’t let me see Jane. They were polite to me, gave me some excellent French wine and told me, quite kindly, all about the well-off people, good supporters of the queen and with no criminals in their ancestry, who have made approaches on behalf of their sons. The Mosses particularly favour one candidate, I understand.’
    ‘I’m sorry,’ I said inadequately.
    ‘Just now,’ said Mark, ‘most of my rivals are in Lord Sussex’s militia. Nothing will happen about their marriages until they’re home again. Personally, I almost hope that the earls fight back and that the war in the north drags on and on – given that it stays away from Tyesdale.’
    Hugh cleared his throat and said: ‘We’ve written to Jane’s mother and brother in Lockhill. We’ve asked them to relent. Then, even if we can’t clear your father’s name, you would at least be able to marry. But I also have to say that they haven’t yet replied and we aren’t hopeful.’
    ‘If they do agree,’ Mark said, ‘I will honour our contract. That is, if you would not be offended by that.’
    With an inward sigh of relief, I said: ‘We will discuss that when the reply comes – if it’s the right answer.’
    ‘If only it is!’ I said to Hugh when Mark had gone. ‘I’m sorry for him,’ I added. ‘I think he’s one of the type that fall in love once and for all.