“Mother, please!” Cecilia rolled her eyes.
“And where is Hugh?” Lady Elizabeth looked through the door and down the corridor, as if Cecilia’s new husband was about to appear.
“He is in Bruges, Mother, where else? He is always in Bruges; it is his second home.”
“So you came here alone?”
“Not alone. I have a maid and Hugh’s stableman.”
Thomasin wondered who was looking after Hugh’s ancient mother in the absence of the maid from Raycroft Court.
Sir Richard Marwood came striding towards them, having disentangled himself from Wolsey.
“Cecilia, this is indeed a surprise.” Thomasin recognised the danger in her father’s tone, but his elder daughter apparently did not.
“I was delayed by snow, but here I am at last. Have I missed much?”
Sir Richard took Cecilia firmly by the arm and led her out of sight of the crowd, which soon resumed its dancing. Thomasin hurried with them.
“Of course we are pleased to see you, Cecilia, although we had not expected you.”
“Sir Hugh received an invitation, although the king knew full well that he was absent in Europe. But as he could not come, I thought I might as well accept on his behalf and take his place, instead of sitting alone at home.”
“But do you think,” said Sir Richard, throwing a look towards the dais, “do you think that it might be a little insensitive that you are here?”
The full truth suddenly dawned upon Thomasin. It was barely three months since Cecilia had played the central role in the “false mistress” plan, hatched in the queen’s chambers. With the intention of breaking Anne Boleyn’s hold over Henry, she had followed their instructions to ingratiate herself with the king, and end up in his bed. The plan had been a short-term success, causing an argument between Henry and his paramour, and prompting Anne to leave court. Even though Anne was now back, and they were reconciled, there was a new hint of mistrust between them. Anne’s new machinations to move their situation forward were intended to strengthen her grip upon the king again. She would not be happy to see the return of her former rival.
Having served her purpose, Cecilia had been married off to Sir Hugh Truegood, the flame-haired merchant beloved of their cousin Ellen, who had been heartbroken at the match. Ceciliahad been dispatched to the country, to the magnificent Raycroft Court, where she was supposed to remain. The invitation to Sir Hugh, absent in Bruges on business, was a mere formality, a sign of respect to his rank; it had never been intended for Cecilia. Certainly not for Cecilia alone. Now here she was, draped in gold, before the very three people who least wanted to see her: Catherine, Henry and Anne. A sinking realisation of this new shame struck Thomasin to the core. And what of Ellen, whose heart was just beginning to recover, who had loved Hugh and believed he loved her, now that Cecilia was parading her new position as his wife in their faces?
“Are you going to present me to the king, or should I go myself?” asked Cecilia, blind to her predicament.
“Oh, I think the king knows you well enough,” said Sir Richard, placing a hand upon his daughter’s shoulder so she did not rise.
Lady Elizabeth protested. “She has just arrived! She should be presented, as we all were.”
“No,” said Sir Richard firmly, “now is not the time or place. She cannot be guaranteed a welcome.”
Thomasin wondered how Henry would interpret Cecilia’s arrival, alone, without her husband. Might he suspect that she was after more rewards, or hoped to insinuate herself into his bed again? Was that her plan, in her husband’s absence? Nothing would surprise Thomasin when it came to her sister.
“Come, let me show you to our parents’ rooms,” Thomasin offered. “You will be tired after your journey, and will need to change into something more comfortable.”
“I wore these expensive clothes to be seen!” Her sister laughed. “And seen is what I intend to be!”
“No,” said her father, firmly, “you will go with Thomasin, by my request.”
Cecilia stuck out her bottom lip. “I am a married woman now, Father. I answer to my husband.”
“Who is not here,” frowned Sir Richard. “Leave now, before you bring more disgrace upon us.”
“Disgrace?” questioned Lady Elizabeth, looking round to see many eyes upon them. “Surely not disgrace, not after all these months?”
“You think that the king wants to see her? Or the queen? Or Anne? As usual she thinks of no one but herself. Leave, now, Cecilia.”
Thomasin held out her arm to her sister, who stubbornly remained.
It was too late. Thomas Cromwell was heading for them across the hall, clearly briefed by King Henry, who had turned his back upon the Marwoods. There was a sinking feeling in Thomasin’s gut.
“Lady Truegood?” Cromwell made a short bow. “By the king’s request, I am sent to accompany you to your parents’ chamber. You may dine there tonight and leave first thing in the morning.”
