Heir to the Spanish throne and a large part of the Netherlands, nephew of the Holy Roman Emperor—yes, Philip Hapsburg would be a far more powerful alliance than the passive Swedes. Elizabeth waited for her brother to refute it.
He did not refute, or confirm. “Allowing Erik to send an envoy can do no harm. We’ll entertain him, show him the best of the English court, and send him home with a carefully equivocal response. It will serve its purpose.”
“That purpose being to distract attention from your own behavior?”
William was beginning to lose his temper—she could see it in his darkening cheeks and hear it in his too-precise enunciation. “I will inform Prince Erik we will gladly receive his brother at our court this autumn. And you will look to your own behavior while he is here.”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning you’d best keep away from Robert Dudley.”
She longed to scream at him, or slam her way out of the room, or even throw something. But an idea struck her at the very moment she opened her mouth. Instead of an angry retort, she found herself saying, “I’ll agree to behave precisely as you want on one condition.”
He narrowed his eyes. “I don’t do conditions.”
“You do with me.”
“What is it?”
“I want to go to France with Lady Rochford.”
He gave a bark of astonished laughter. “Absolutely not.”
“Why not?”
“You are my heir. I cannot risk sending you out of England as long as that is true.”
“You are king and you left England last year. To fight a war, as I recall. I will be doing nothing so risky.”
He shook his head, but she knew she was every bit as stubborn as her brother. “Let me do this, Will. I am a much better representative than our aunt anyway. And if you want to impress the French with your devotion to their princess, then who better to send than your own dear sister?”
Then she delivered the final blow. “Besides, you are sending Minuette. Won’t you feel better having me there to protect her from any amorous French gentlemen?”
He narrowed his eyes. “If I agree, you will be gracious to Prince Erik’s representatives?”
She smiled sweetly. “As gracious as ever a woman was.”
In her head, she heard an echo of a voice from a wintry night, John Dee saying,Before another year passes, you will be your brother’s voice in a foreign land.
As if he were reading her mind, William said, “Do you suppose this was fated to happen? Or are you merely taking advantage of John Dee’s words?”
“Does it matter?” she answered lightly.
He shook his head, ruefully this time, and grinned down at her. “I should know better than to fight with you, Sister. I never win.”
CHAPTER NINE
9 May 1555
Wynfield Mote
I confess to a pang of envy when I read Elizabeth’s letters from Hatfield. Even removed from the court, her household is always in the heart of things. As she plans for her first visit abroad, she is deep in study and correspondence. Trust Elizabeth to put all her energy into being perfectly prepared.
Though Wynfield is more remote than Hatfield, both physically and culturally, I have myself been busy from morning till night. I begin each day in consultation with Mistress Holly, who has kept the interior of Wynfield spotless all these long years. She is almost giddy now that she has someone to actually serve. And the presence of an actual duke in the house…frankly, I am surprised Dominic hasn’t yet given her a fit.
In the afternoons, while Dominic is busy with treasury business, I ride out with Asherton. I have now visited every tenant farm and cottage on the estate. There are only twelve in all, but I quite delight in the pretty households and the healthy faces of my people. My father was born at Wynfield and I can judge the respect in which he was held by the reverent manner in which he is spoken of to me.
My only concern is Carrie. It cannot be easy for her, returning to Wynfield where her husband and children are buried. If only she would talk about it, I would be easier in mind. But she has become withdrawn and speaks only when asked a direct question—and then only if the answer cannot be conveyed by a nod or shake of the head. I shall have to do something about her.
