“I don’t know. Just hunting, he said.”
Thomasin slipped out of the bedchamber. Tonight, she and Ellen were on the truckle beds in the parlour.
“The queen noticed Anne especially tonight,” Ellen said, looking up from where she was arranging their bedding. The fire was dying and a single candle remained burning on the table. “She takes this latest news hard.”
“It was impossible not to notice her,” Thomasin agreed. “She went out of her way to make a display of herself.”
“I wish she would be more discreet.”
“But that is not her purpose: she is fighting to win her position; every day, every meeting it is a game of status. I doubt she has forgotten the queen’s words over their card game.”
“It is not kind of her to flaunt herself before the queen so much. The palace is large enough that they might never meet unless by choice.”
“But she wants to meet the queen, wants to display her power and force her to withdraw. She will never be satisfied until she takes precedence over her.”
Ellen frowned, slipping off her shoes and rubbing her feet. “But she is nothing, nobody in comparison with Catherine, the daughter of a king and queen, with the blood of John of Gaunt in her veins, raised to be queen, married and anointed. What audacity is it that such a woman believes herself to be the queen’s equal?”
Thomasin had a moment of insight. “She would not believe it, unless the king let her believe it. He must have made her promises; there must be a secret agreement between them, otherwise I cannot think she would behave so.”
“I think you are right.”
“And yet he will not openly admit it. That is why she is so on edge in public, always trying to push for his attention. He will not make his intentions public.”
“And all the while he does not, the queen continues to hope, continues to assert her place.”
“It is cruel.”
“Cowardly,” Ellen nodded.
“He doesn’t want to dirty his hands with the whole business, but waits upon the Pope’s pronouncement, so he can say it was divinely ordained, not of his making, but he must abide by it.”
“It is despicable. And as for her father…”
Ellen blew out the candle and they burrowed down into their beds by moonlight. “The queen favoured you tonight, for your discovery.”
“She did. I am overwhelmed by her gift.”
“Show me.”
Thomasin held out her hand across the beds and the pearl ring gleamed in the moonlight.
“It is beautiful.”
“Yes, it is. And I was only doing my duty.”
“But you uncovered the queen’s enemy in this matter, and she will never forget that.”
“Now, that is not the main matter I wished to discuss,” replied Thomasin, changing the subject with mischief in her voice.
“Oh? How so? Is there more?”
“You know there is, full well. What have you been up to this evening, Ellen?”
Her cousin laughed. “How did you know? How in the world did you know? We were merely talking after the dance, in sight of all.”
“And later, at the bottom of the courtyard staircase?”
Ellen sighed in defeat. “Yes, that too.”
