She awoke to a sunny morning. Annie brought her breakfast, and then she bathed her hands and face and scrubbed her teeth with her little boars bristle brush. Now she was ready to begin getting dressed, for it would take some time, and then there was the trip down the river to London. The Thames was a tidal river, and they must travel at a certain time in order to get there easily. It would not matter if they arrived at Westminster long prior to her audience with the queen. What was important was that she not keep her patroness waiting. She sat patiently as both Annie and Doll fitted her soft knit wool stockings over her foot and up her leg. Then to her surprise they rolled a second pair of stockings atop the first. These were black silk, embroidered with gold thread leaves and vines.
“His lordship?” she asked Annie.
“Aye. He says the wool are to keep you warm, for the river will be cold and so will the palace. The silk are for elegance. Even if no one can see them, you will know you are one of the most fashionable women with the queen,” Annie explained, her explanation obviously a parrot of what Sir Thomas Bolton had told her when he gave her the silk stockings for her mistress.
“How kind of cousin Tom,” Rosamund said, a small smile on her lips as the two servants affixed garters fashioned of golden ribbons with pearl-studded rosettes around her thighs to hold up her stockings. She had never owned anything so pretty, and she would enjoy them.
Rosamund stood up now, and her smock was removed to be replaced by a chemise of fine linen that would show just a scrap of ruffle above the gown’s neckline.
“Sit down, my lady,” Doll said. “The master has instructed me as to how he wants your hair fashioned today.” She picked up the pearwood brush and began to undo the plait and brush it out. Rosamund’s long hair was thick and straight. It shone with just the hint of golden lights. “You watch me, Annie,” she said, “and you can learn how to do this style. It will be very flattering for our mistress.” She parted Rosamund’s hair in the middle, and then working quickly, she fashioned it into a chignon, pinning it securely at the nape of her neck. “There now,” she said, “and doesn’t that look grand!”
Rosamund looked at herself in the glass that Annie held up. A woman she just barely recognized looked back at her. “Oh, my,” she said softly.
“It’s real different, m’lady,” Doll said. “French, in style, it is, and new to this country. Most of the queen’s ladies wear their hair old-fashioned and long beneath their headdress, although I’m told some of the older women pin up their hair like washerwomen.”
“It’s beautiful, Doll, and I thank you,” Rosamund told the girl. It was a pity, she thought, that the elegant style would scarce be seen through her veil. Still, she suddenly felt very confident.
Carefully the two servants helped Rosamund step into her skirts, and then they drew them up, tying them at the waist. Next came the bodice and sleeves. The black brocade was very beautiful with its delicate gold embroidery. The addition of the small pearls at the square neckline and on the wide cuff of the sleeves had turned a pretty gown into a splendid garment. Her cousin had a good eye for fashion. Finally everything was tied and laced and taped. The skirt on its narrow hoop took a bit of getting used to, but she quickly found it was manageable. She sat again, and Annie affixed her pearls with the gold and pearl cross about her neck. She then handed Rosamund the pearl broach that her cousin had given her. It was affixed to the center of her neckline. Her wedding band and her garnet ring were the two adornments she chose for her hands.
When Doll saw them she said, “Oh, his lordship said this is to go with the broach, my lady.” She drew a small box from her gown and handed it to Rosamund.
“How wonderful!” Rosamund was delighted as the open box displayed a large baroque pearl ring. She slipped it on her finger, admiring it and realizing that it was suddenly very easy to accept beautiful gifts from her goodnatured cousin. She knew little about Tom Bolton, but for his bloodline. “Does his lordship have any brothers or sisters?” she queried Doll.
“Aye,” Doll answered. “He had a younger sister. Much younger. His lordship don’t look it, but he is forty this year. He was fifteen when his sister was born. He adored her from the moment of her birth. She died five years ago in childbed, and her youngling with her. She was twenty. He never seemed to get over it until he brought you to London, my lady. We’re all so glad to see his lordship happy again. He’s an odd gentleman, but a kind and generous master.”
“Aye,” Rosamund agreed. “He is kind and generous.” She slipped her feet into the shoes that Annie placed before her. “Doll, I cannot take you with me to court this time, but I promise I shall another day. And I thank you for your good service to me.”
“’Tis a pleasure to serve you, my lady,” Doll answered her. Then she carefully set the sheer lawn veil and the little English cap on Rosamund’s auburn head. “Annie has your cloak and gloves, and you’re ready to go, my lady.”
Rosamund stood up. “Do not cover me with the cloak until my cousin has seen our efforts,” she said. Then she walked from her apartment with Annie carrying her outdoor garment and gloves in her wake.
Watching her descend the staircase Sir Thomas Bolton thought his cousin Rosamund most elegant. He kissed her hand as she reached the bottom, and said to her, “You are as fashionable as any lady at court will be today, my dear girl.”
“I thank you for the ring, Tom. Was it your sister’s?”
“Aye,” he nodded. “I thought how well it would suit you.”
“What was her name?” Rosamund asked him as Annie slipped her fur-lined and -trimmed cloak about her shoulders.
“Mary,” he said. “’Twas a simple name, but she was born on May Day, and my mother would have it no other way than her daughter be called for the Blessed Mother. But I called her May for she was the very essence of that month. Bright and warm and full of fun. Like you, dear girl, she accepted me for who I was. I shall always miss May. She was the light of my life, but you, now, dearest Rosamund, have made your own place in my heart.”
“My birth date is April thirtieth,” Rosamund said. “And my eldest daughter, Philippa, was born on the twenty-ninth of April.”
“Ah, then you are Taurus,” he told her. “As my sister was. I am a Scorpio, the opposite of Taurus.”
“What on earth are you talking about?” Rosamund asked him as he escorted her down through his garden to the dock where his barge was awaiting them.
“You have never heard of astrology? The science of the stars? My dearest darling girl, I have the most wonderful man! We shall have your chart drawn while you are at court. Many do nothing without the advice of their astrologer. I simply prefer a yearly overview.” He helped her into the vessel. “I shall explain all to you as we go to Westminster.” He settled himself next to her and drew a fur robe over their laps. Then he waved his hand at the bargemen, and they pulled away from the dock at Bolton House and headed down the river to London.
Chapter 15
The late morning was chilly, but the sun sparkled on the river.
“There is Richmond,” Lord Cambridge said as they passed the great palace. “You see how near it is to Bolton House? I have a house near Greenwich as well. I purchased a charming little vessel for you while I was in London yesterday,” he chattered on. “And I have hired two men to row you. What color should we make their livery, and do you have a motto that we may design on their badges?”
“Friarsgate blue and silver,” Rosamund answered him promptly, “and the motto of the Friarsgate Boltons isTracez Votre Chemin.”
“Oh, I do like your motto,” her companion enthused. “I shall have a broach designed for you with those very words. Our Boltons choseService Tourjours.It is so uninspired. Blue and silver, eh? Very stylish, my dear. Everyone is changing to Tudor green these days, which is really quite boring. It makes it impossible to see whose servants are at court, unless one can get close enough to peer at the badges. And, that, of course, is in the worst possible taste.”
