“His chambers are being prepared.”
“At his instigation or yours? He gave no indication of visiting the castle?”
“I am told, My Lady, that he is taking an extended hunting trip. It was decided at the last moment.”
“Is…” began Catherine, her mind clearly running on Anne Boleyn.
Mountjoy understood her pain. “His Highness is accompanied only by a small group of gentlemen.”
Catherine sighed in relief. “Then convey to them that we expect them for dinner tonight. Make the necessary arrangements. I shall ride out to the lodge with a small group of my ladies when the hour strikes.”
“Very well, My Lady.”
Catherine turned away, then paused. “And the Venetians?”
“I believe they are departing, My Lady.”
“They do not wish to take their leave of me?”
Mountjoy looked uncomfortable. “I believe they do not wish to be discovered here, attending Your Highness, when the king arrives.”
A moment passed while Catherine let this sink in. A frown chased across her brows. “And why so? Is it a secret that they are here? Do they not wish the king to know of their visit?”
Mountjoy spread his hands in silence, unable to answer her questions.
Thomasin pondered this. If the untrustworthiness of the ambassadors had not already been a matter of understanding, it was confirmed now. For all their fine words, Vernier, Nico and the others had been pursuing some business of their own. So much for giving Nico an audience with the queen!
Catherine narrowed her eyes and lifted her chin. “They come to me with talk of honour, of friendship, and say they understand my situation. They want to ally with me against the French, but to keep the alliance a secret because the king is a friend of Francis! This is double-dealing.”
She looked about in anger. “What a fool I have been. They would befriend me behind my husband’s back, making secrets between us. Now I understand why Signore Vernier was so keen to speak to me of the emperor, my nephew. They would have my ear, try and make me influence him to support their cause. They would make me a vassal of Venice! Win the emperor through my friendship!”
She brought her fist down upon the table. “They would make use of me, me, a Queen of England! The daughter of Spain! Behind my husband’s back! They would make me work against his will, make me a treasonous part of their cause, all dressed up in gifts and honeyed words.”
“My Lady,” spoke Thomasin, sensing the moment was right. Even the memory of Nico’s kiss did not deter her. “We have further proof of their dealings.”
Catherine fixed her pale eyes directly upon her. “Then speak up, girl, speak up at once.”
“It was at the banquet held for their arrival. I was approached by one of them, a Matteo of Venice, who spoke cordially at first, but then he asked me to supply him with information about yourself and the court, by writing letters in exchange for gifts. He wanted to know who visits you, and what happens with your marriage. Another asked Ellen the same. We both refused, of course.”
“I was asked too,” said Mary from the corner, “by some slick gentleman half my age, and I laughed in his face.”
“As was I,” added Gertrude. “They promised me gold lace.”
The fury rose in Catherine. “So this is their plan. All those sugared words and elaborate attention. Do they think we are so easily won? And what was their purpose? To whom are they to report this news?” She strode to the window and looked out across the forest. “What is it they want to know? Or their master, whoever pulls their strings. Who is it? Who is behind this? It is not of their doing alone, certainly. Who is behind this?” She turned back and looked around at the assembled faces in her chamber. Thomasin felt herself prickle uncomfortably.
“I am sure this business has its roots in their conflict with France,” said Mountjoy reflectively. “They know about Wolsey’s visit to Francis’s court last year and they seek allies. I do believe they are testing the waters to see if Your Highness would back the emperor above your own king and husband.”
“Yes, yes,” she replied, impatiently. “But they are being encouraged by someone here. Someone who wishes me ill, and wants to see me led into trouble.”
Mountjoy cleared his throat. “Perhaps the cardinal encouraged them to visit you here.”
“Really? Can Wolsey be a part of it? He is no friend of mine, but would he stoop so low?”
“When I saw him at Westminster last, he was a man desperate to retain the king’s favour. He sees himself being replaced in Henry’s affections and he would do anything to win back his former influence.”
Catherine was quiet. The parallel with her own situation was painfully obvious to all. “You think he would go so far? A man of the cloth? A cardinal?”
“If he could implicate you in an Imperial plot, My Lady, he would give the king ample cause to seek annulment of your marriage, in the hope that Henry would look kindly upon him again.”
