is a Stafford?’
‘It would seem so,’ answered Elizabeth Fitzwalter. ‘I am informed that it can only be a matter of days before she surrenders.’
‘She is such a fool that she would not hold the King’s attention more than a night or so,’ growled Buckingham. ‘Moreover, the King is still too enamoured of the Queen for a mistress to have any chance of making her position really secure.’
Elizabeth bowed her head. She was deeply shocked that asister of hers should be ready to indulge in such immorality, but she was after all an ambitious Stafford and did know that the families of King’s mistresses rarely suffered from their connection with royalty. But she, like her brother, realised that Anne’s triumph would be short-lived; therefore it was advisable to stop the affair before it went too far.
‘I suppose the whole Court is gossiping of this matter!’ said Buckingham.
‘I do not think it is widely known as yet; but of course as soon as she has shared the King’s bed for one night it will be known throughout the Court. So far Compton is acting as go-between, and the final arrangements have not yet been made. Our sister is behaving like a simpering village girl – clinging to her chastity with reluctant fingers.’
‘And likely to let go at any moment. Well, she shall not do so. I trust that we may rely on our informants.’
‘I am sure of it. You remember Francesca de Carceres? She is a clever woman and very eager to return to Court. She is anxious to show the Queen that she is still her humble servant. Anne – the little fool –allowed this woman to wheedle her secret from her; and I believe that Carceres feels that if she can prevent our sister becoming the King’s mistress she will have earned the Queen’s gratitude. She makes a good spy, that woman.’
The Duke nodded. ‘There is one thing to be done. I will send immediately for Huntingdon. He shall take his wife away to the country with all speed.’
‘I was sure you would know what should best be done, Edward.’ She looked anxious. ‘And the King? I am a little worried concerning his feelings when he knows that she has been whisked away from him.’
‘He will have to understand,’ said Buckingham haughtily, ‘that if he wants to take a mistress he must not look for her among the Staffords, whose blood is as royal as his own.’
‘Edward, do not let anyone hear you say that.’
Buckingham shrugged his shoulders. ‘It does not need to be said. It is known for the truth by any who care to look into the matter.’
‘Still, have a care, Edward. I shall be so pleased when her husband has taken her out of danger.’
Anne’s maid came to tell her that Sir William Compton was begging an audience.
‘Then bring him to me,’ said Anne, ‘and do not forget to remain in the room.’
He came in and once again the maid set about tidying the sewing box.
‘I declare you grow more beautiful every time I have the pleasure of seeing you.’
‘You are gracious, sir.’
‘I come to tell you that impatience is growing strong in a certain breast.’
‘And what should I do about that?’
‘It is only yourself who can appease it. I come to ask you if you will allow me to arrange a meeting between you and this impatient one.’
‘It would depend . . .’
‘On what, Madam?’
‘On when and where this meeting should take place.’
Compton came closer and whispered: ‘In one of the royal apartments. None would see you come to it. It should be amatter between you and him who bids me tell you of his impatience.’
‘Then it seems this would be a command rather than a request.’
‘It could seem so,’ agreed Compton.
She smiled, her eyes gleaming. ‘Then I have no alternative but to say, Tell me when . . . tell me where . . .’
The door opened suddenly. The Countess of Huntingdon gave a little cry of alarm, and the maid dropped her sewing box as the Duke of Buckingham strode into the room.
‘Why, brother, is it indeed
‘It would seem so,’ answered Elizabeth Fitzwalter. ‘I am informed that it can only be a matter of days before she surrenders.’
‘She is such a fool that she would not hold the King’s attention more than a night or so,’ growled Buckingham. ‘Moreover, the King is still too enamoured of the Queen for a mistress to have any chance of making her position really secure.’
Elizabeth bowed her head. She was deeply shocked that asister of hers should be ready to indulge in such immorality, but she was after all an ambitious Stafford and did know that the families of King’s mistresses rarely suffered from their connection with royalty. But she, like her brother, realised that Anne’s triumph would be short-lived; therefore it was advisable to stop the affair before it went too far.
‘I suppose the whole Court is gossiping of this matter!’ said Buckingham.
‘I do not think it is widely known as yet; but of course as soon as she has shared the King’s bed for one night it will be known throughout the Court. So far Compton is acting as go-between, and the final arrangements have not yet been made. Our sister is behaving like a simpering village girl – clinging to her chastity with reluctant fingers.’
‘And likely to let go at any moment. Well, she shall not do so. I trust that we may rely on our informants.’
‘I am sure of it. You remember Francesca de Carceres? She is a clever woman and very eager to return to Court. She is anxious to show the Queen that she is still her humble servant. Anne – the little fool –allowed this woman to wheedle her secret from her; and I believe that Carceres feels that if she can prevent our sister becoming the King’s mistress she will have earned the Queen’s gratitude. She makes a good spy, that woman.’
The Duke nodded. ‘There is one thing to be done. I will send immediately for Huntingdon. He shall take his wife away to the country with all speed.’
‘I was sure you would know what should best be done, Edward.’ She looked anxious. ‘And the King? I am a little worried concerning his feelings when he knows that she has been whisked away from him.’
‘He will have to understand,’ said Buckingham haughtily, ‘that if he wants to take a mistress he must not look for her among the Staffords, whose blood is as royal as his own.’
‘Edward, do not let anyone hear you say that.’
Buckingham shrugged his shoulders. ‘It does not need to be said. It is known for the truth by any who care to look into the matter.’
‘Still, have a care, Edward. I shall be so pleased when her husband has taken her out of danger.’
Anne’s maid came to tell her that Sir William Compton was begging an audience.
‘Then bring him to me,’ said Anne, ‘and do not forget to remain in the room.’
He came in and once again the maid set about tidying the sewing box.
‘I declare you grow more beautiful every time I have the pleasure of seeing you.’
‘You are gracious, sir.’
‘I come to tell you that impatience is growing strong in a certain breast.’
‘And what should I do about that?’
‘It is only yourself who can appease it. I come to ask you if you will allow me to arrange a meeting between you and this impatient one.’
‘It would depend . . .’
‘On what, Madam?’
‘On when and where this meeting should take place.’
Compton came closer and whispered: ‘In one of the royal apartments. None would see you come to it. It should be amatter between you and him who bids me tell you of his impatience.’
‘Then it seems this would be a command rather than a request.’
‘It could seem so,’ agreed Compton.
She smiled, her eyes gleaming. ‘Then I have no alternative but to say, Tell me when . . . tell me where . . .’
The door opened suddenly. The Countess of Huntingdon gave a little cry of alarm, and the maid dropped her sewing box as the Duke of Buckingham strode into the room.
‘Why, brother, is it indeed
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