“And you are still willing to proceed?”
She nodded again, briefly, but unequivocally.
Thomasin felt sick to the stomach. She turned to Ellen. “Does my mother know of this?”
Ellen shrugged. “I doubt it. I think she is still at home in Thames Street. The queen sent a carriage to fetch your sister alone.”
Lady Howard turned in triumph to the queen. “There, I think we have an understanding.”
Catherine came forward, her hands clasped together. Thomasin noticed that her knuckles were white. The queen was short in comparison with Cecilia and looked up into the younger woman’s bright, excited eyes.
“Mistress Marwood, remember your purpose at all times. You are doing this in service to me, to England. You are to break the spell the Boleyn woman holds over him, then quietly melt away, your duty done. We shall arrange you a grand marriage and great rewards for yourself and your family, should you succeed. But in all things, you are mine.”
Cecilia dropped a curtsey. “I am grateful for the opportunity to serve you, my Lady. I will do my best for you, and be trustworthy. You may rely upon it.”
Her words were in such contradiction to those spoken by their mother at the feast yesterday, that Thomasin was left in no doubt that Lady Elizabeth was unaware of the plan. Probably Cecilia had been, too, until she arrived here, excited at the prospect of being needed. And by the looks of things, she was going to seize the challenge with both hands.
“The problem of Anne will collapse once the king has been weaned off her,” added Brandon. “She must remain away from court as much as possible.”
“Well,” said Lady Howard, “there is no better time to start than at once. I will take Cecilia to walk about the hall, where we may be sure the king will notice us, and engage him in conversation.”
“God be with you, for England,” said Catherine.
The pair of women curtseyed, then left the room.
A heavy silence followed. Catherine turned and slumped in a chair. Maria Willoughby brought her wine and reassurance at once.
“There, my Lady, you saw how willing and compliant the girl was. All will be well.”
Catherine drank but did not reply. Thomasin wondered whether she was thinking about how willing and compliant Cecilia had been a year ago when she had hosted a betrothal feast for her.
As the queen and Mary Tudor sat talking together, Thomasin drew Ellen into the antechamber.
“I feel sick. I can scarcely believe this has happened so quickly, and Cecilia is so keen to get started.”
“She arrived soon after you went out. They had her dressed and primed so quickly, before I had the chance to even speak with her.”
“Did she express no concerns?”
“None. She was so excited to be summoned. She said yes before she even understood what was being asked of her.”
“But she understands now.”
“As you saw.”
“It turns my stomach, especially given our mother’s past.”
“I know,” said Ellen softly. “I know.”
“That man isn’t here, is he? At court? I mean William Hatton?”
Hatton’s brief affair with Cecilia had been the ruin of her proposed marriage last year, but while Cecilia had returned, disgraced, to the country, Hatton had been received back into the king’s household, and had been close to him throughout the summer.
“I overheard it said that he was in the north, seeing to his estates.”
“That is a relief, at least. I could not bear for him to witness this, or to think Cecilia is fair game again.”
“No,” said Ellen, “let the north keep him, for his sins.”
