My Enemy, the Queen by Victoria Holt Page A

marriage was happy enough. Walter was a devoted husband, deeply in love with me, and marriage and all it entailed agreed with my nature. I went occasionally to Court, where the Queen received me affectionately. I fancied she was more than mildly pleased that I was married, which showed that she had become aware of the pleasure I took in masculine society. She hated the attention of any man to stray from her even for a few moments, and perhaps she had noticed some of her favorites eye me with approval.
    Walter had never been among those favored. He lacked that dashing gallantry which she so much admired. I think he was too innately honest to think up the extravagant compliments which they were all expected to pay and which when considered were really rather absurd. He was for the Queen and the country; he would serve them with his life; but he simply could not dance attendance on her as those in her innermost circle must.
    This meant of course that we were not so often at Court as I had previously been, but when we did go she never forgot her good cousinyselfnd invariably wanted to hear how I was enjoying married life.
    Oddly enough, I was quite prepared in those early days of marriage to spend a certain amount of time in the country. I even developed a fondness for the life. I took an interest in my home. It was cold and drafty in the winter and I had great fires roaring in the grates; I made rules for the servants. They must be up at six in summer and seven in winter; the beds and fireplaces must be cleaned by eight and fires started for the day. I became interested in the herb gardens and made one of the servants who was especially interested in herbal art instruct me. I arranged flowers in bowls and set them about the house; I sat with the women and embroidered the new altar cloth they were working on. It seems scarcely possible now that I could have thrown myself so whole-heartedly into the country life.
    When my family visited us or we had people from the Court to stay, I took a pride in showing what a good housewife I had become. I was proud of our Venetian glasses, which sparkled so delightfully in candlelight when they were filled with good muscatel, romney or malmsey; and I made the servants polish the silver and pewter until the whole scene was reflected in their shining glory. I was determined that our table should be admired for the good fare we offered our guests. I liked to see it laden with meat and fowl and fish, pies fashioned into fanciful shapes, which usually contrived to do some honor to the visitors; and we did the same with marchpane and gingerbread, so everything was much admired.
    People marveled. ettice has become the best of all hostesses,they said.
    It was another trait in my nature that I must always be the best and this was like a new game to me. I was satisfied with my home and my husband; and I gave myself wholeheartedly to that enjoyment.
    I used to love to walk through the castle and imagine the days of the past. I had the rushes swept regularly so that our castle was less odoriferous than most. We suffered a good deal from the proximity of the priviesut what house did not?nd I made a rule that the emptying of ours should be done while we were at Court so that we should escape that unpleasantness.
    Walter and I would ride round the estate and sometimes walk near the castle. I shall always remember the day he showed me the cows in Chartley Park. They were slightly different from cows I had seen elsewhere.
    hey are our very own Stafford cows,said Walter.
    I examined them closely, interested because they were ours. They were sand-white in color and there were smudges of black on their muzzles, ears and hoofs.
    e must hope that none of them produce a black calf,Walter told me, and when I wanted to know why he explained: here a legend in the family. If a black calf appears that means there will be a death in the family.
    hat nonsense!I cried. ow can the birth of a black calf affect us?
    t one of