Ellen nodded. “But he will not mention that. Threw him to the floor in front of the crowds. And they say Francis has longer legs, but a longer nose, too. And other things besides!”
Thomasin laughed but paid her foolishness no heed.
Catherine had slowly, with effort, risen to her feet. The hall fell quiet as she raised her glass. “While we speak of such things, I should also like to drink in remembrance of my sister queen, Claude of France, whose soul now resides with God.”
It was a clever move. Catherine’s own status was delivered amid the act of remembering the dead, so out of respect, no one would dare challenge her self-identification as a queen. “To Claude of France,” she added, lifting her glass high.
“To Claude of France,” they all echoed, then drank deep.
“Music!” called Henry. “We are not so old, nor so melancholy or weary that we cannot celebrate the evening with a little dancing.”
Dreaming away the hours in their gallery, the musicians abruptly came to life and hastily began to assemble.
Wolsey rose to his feet, slowly, in the throes of aching bones. “My Lord, I have letters to write. I will bid you goodnight.”
But Henry was too excited to hear him. He had already risen, seized by the impetus to dance. The cardinal slunk away like a wounded animal, leaving the king to occupy the floor. Thomasin saw him pause in the doorway and look back at the young people enjoying his home, as if he was a ghost from a past time, before he disappeared. The last thing she saw was the glint of his jewels, like stars in the shadows.
“We are still healthy and strong,” continued Henry. “We have ladies and gentlemen, of good fortunes and spirit; we have, thanks be to God, as yet escaped this terrible scourge. Come, let us enjoy some modest dancing to lift our spirits.”
Stepping down from the dais, he extended his hand to Gertrude, who happened to be nearest. At his side, Brandon offered his hand to Maria and they took their positions.
“Another two pairings,” Henry insisted. “Come, join us.”
William Compton offered his hand to Ellen, who accepted. Thomasin could not stop her eyes from flickering over to Hugh Truegood, but he was on the further side of the hall, trapped behind the table. To her horror, it was William Hatton who reached her first.
“Mistress Marwood? Will you forgive my past mistakes and partner me in the dance?”
Thomasin felt the rage mount inside her. She turned her face away.
“My Lady?” The slight, dark William Carey had seen her discomfort and understood the circumstances. Now, she gratefully put her hand into his and followed him to the floor. Hatton was left standing, with no choice but to wait until the next dance.
The musicians struck the opening chord again and the dance began. Thomasin and Ellen made their low curtseys, then took two steps forward to join arms with their partners and walk in a circle.
“I am very grateful to you for rescuing me,” she thanked Carey, when she had a moment. “It was odious for me to receive that man’s request.”
“It was nothing. I have not forgotten the wrong he did your sister, even though I am sure that most at court have.”
For some reason, Thomasin felt tears prick her eyes. She had never really looked at Will Carey before, as he had always been in the background, another young man of the court — fashionable enough, smart, ambitious, but above all, she knew him as Mary Boleyn’s husband. His comment was kind.
“She is well, your sister?”
“Well and happy in the country, I thank you.”
“She will recover from this, no matter what people say. She has good looks enough to make a good match still. As do all her family.”
Thomasin blushed at the implied compliment.
As they linked arms to form the circle, she remembered with a rush that she was dancing with Anne Boleyn’s brother-in-law. “This is not so exciting as the masques you must be used to at court, I think, my Lord?”
“I care little for those. They delight my wife more than myself.”
“How is Mary? I hope she is well.”
“I believe so. She remains in her parents’ London house with Anne.”
“And your children?”
“They are in the country, at Pleshey, with their nurse. I have heard it is all quite safe there and they are taking every precaution.”
