It was a clear plea, with a simple request. The king was caught in public, bound to answer. Henry’s mouth turned down at the corners. “I am surprised that you seek this role, Madam.”
“Any petitioner may ask for assistance from the king.”
“And there is a long line of them waiting. I am also surprised that you seek to champion the Spanish cause, when you are aware that relations between myself and the emperor are at a delicate stage. Have you forgotten your allegiance?”
Catherine was stunned. “I speak on behalf of a few sailors, my Lord, for the sake of justice. Their nationality and mine should not be significant.”
“And yet you cite their Spanish identity as the reason for the incident. Perhaps your bishop could write to the emperor for assistance in the matter.”
There was a stunned silence in the hall at Henry’s lack of civility.
Catherine understood it was not wise to push the matter further while the king was in such a combative mood. She offered her arm to Mendoza, who took it, and together they walked from the hall.
“I will write to the customs men in Rye myself,” Thomasin heard her tell the bishop.
THIRTEEN
Thomasin could hear her own breathing as she strained to listen. Along with Ellen and Lady Mary, she waited at attention in the antechamber. Early morning light filtered through the window and their limbs were heavy with sleep. The insistent knocking had woken them well before the appointed hour.
The door to the queen’s chamber was firmly closed and a guard in livery stood before it. Leaning a little forwards, Thomasin could hear a flurry of movement from within: footsteps and voices, the flutter of linen or curtains. The unwanted visitor had stirred up a wasp’s nest inside.
Suddenly, the door was flung open. Thomas Cromwell appeared, frowning in anger and passing quickly through the chamber. Catherine braced herself in the doorway after him, a robe thrown over her nightgown, her face like thunder.
“And do not think to return again, Thomas Cromwell, blacksmith’s son from Putney! How dare you enter the bedchamber of the Queen of England!”
She closed the door firmly, and they heard the key turn in the lock, leaving Cromwell looking sheepish outside. He pulled his cloak over his rounded shoulders and turned to the women, displacing his irritation.
“You are the queen’s ladies? You dress her and assist her at night, into and out of her bed?”
Thomasin could only look upon him with disdain, and Ellen seemed dumbstruck by his audacity. It was left to Lady Mary to mutter a monosyllabic acknowledgement.
“Have you, in recent months, seen any indication of her monthly courses? Any blood in her underclothes or sheets?”
The intimacy of the question sparked Thomasin’s fury — and it had been asked by this coarse, intrusive man, who had turned up before the queen had risen and blundered his way into her private chamber. She might have been sleeping, or dressing, or at her prayers. It was a gross breach of court rules, but one which he would never have dreamed of committing, unless confident that he had Henry’s backing to do so.
“Well?” he asked again.
To answer would have been an absolute betrayal of Queen Catherine.
“Speak up!” he demanded. “Have you seen any signs that she is still capable of bearing a child in the last year or more? It is of the utmost importance.”
“You would be better asking the laundresses,” replied Lady Mary in a steely voice. “We do not strip the beds.”
Cromwell looked closely at her. “No. Think yourself too good for that, do you?”
But Lady Mary held her own. “It is not part of our role, as gentlewomen.”
“Your role is to obey the king’s orders.”
“We are part of the queen’s household and follow her instructions.”
Thomasin was impressed by Lady Mary’s bravery, but feared for her with this reply.
“Well,” said Cromwell, with undisguised menace, “perhaps you will not be for much longer, once the king hears of this insolence.”
“What greater insolence can there be, than forcing your way into a queen’s bedchamber unbidden?”
Cromwell looked like he might explode, then he mastered himself. “We all have our orders, Madam.”
