“Where is she?”
Hurrying after her, Thomasin heard the words Anne had directed towards Sir Richard, who was standing by the fireplace, astonished at the intrusion.
“Sir, I hear your eldest daughter refuses to leave court! Where is she?”
“Mistress Anne?” said Sir Richard, taken by surprise. “We were not expecting you.”
“Your daughter?”
“If you are referring to my eldest daughter, Cecilia, I must inform you that she is unwell. Please keep your voice down, or else you will disturb her rest. Here is the doctor come to examine her.”
“In here?” Anne ignored all of Sir Richard’s pleas and headed towards the bedroom door, throwing it open before anyone could stop her.
Lady Elizabeth looked up from Cecilia’s bedside in alarm. “What is this commotion?”
Anne stood over the figure lying before her. Cecilia looked white as a sheet. It was not the first time the two women had come face to face over their rivalry. Thomasin was taken back to the explosive confrontation just after the discovery of the false mistress plot, in which Cecilia had been intended to replace Anne in Henry’s affections.
“Why are you here?” Anne blazed. “You should not be here; you are not wanted, nor were you invited. You must leave! Rise at once and depart this palace by the end of the day.”
Cecilia stared back with terrified eyes.
“My lady, please have pity,” attempted Lady Elizabeth. “She is unwell.”
“She can be unwell to her heart’s content at home. She should not have come here, and you all know it. I am of a mind to throw you all out, if she refuses to follow my instructions!”
Lady Elizabeth looked anxiously at her husband, who had followed Anne into the chamber. Thomasin and Dr Vittorio were standing behind him.
“See now,” Lady Elizabeth said, echoing her husband’s words, “the doctor is here. Please let him examine her and make his recommendations. Then if she is well enough to leave…”
“My lady,” began Sir Richard, attempting to be the voice of reason, “we are guests of the king. We are here by his invitation.”
Anne turned to him, looking as though she was barely able to contain her wrath. “Do not speak to me of the king! I do not want her here! This is another of her plots, another trick, to get what she wants. She must leave at once. Cease this pretence!”
And in one dramatic move, Anne stepped forward, took hold of the top coverlet, and tore the bedclothes away, leaving Cecilia shivering in her nightgown.
A collective gasp went through the chamber.
“Come now,” said Mary Boleyn, appearing from behind and laying her hand on Anne’s arm. “You have done enough; let us leave them.”
“She must be gone by the end of the day, or else you all leave!” Having pronounced her final sentence, Anne allowed herself to be led away.
For a moment, all those in the chamber stood in shock. Then Lady Elizabeth and Thomasin hurried to reassemble the bed and cover the figure exposed upon it.
“Are you harmed?” Thomasin asked her sister.
Cecilia shook her head, and looked so bad that Thomasin wondered if she really was unwell.
“I am astounded,” began Sir Richard, barely able to conceal his indignation, “at such a breach, such treatment. I am certain that the king does not know of it. We are his guests here. He should not allow us to be treated in this outrageous manner!”
“It is intolerable,” said Lady Elizabeth. “Poor Cecilia — look at the effect upon her! I don’t care who she is, or who she thinks she is, she cannot behave like this!”
Sir Richard nodded, turning to those in the doorway. “Doctor, our profound apologies for the scene you had to witness. We are at sixes and sevens temporarily. Would you still be so kind as to examine our daughter?”
“Of course,” said the old man, coming forward to her bedside.
Sir Richard led Thomasin out to the main room to give the others some privacy. “I can’t believe it. To burst into our private chambers and behave in such a manner, making demands and threats!”
“It is behaviour we certainly would never see from the queen,” said Thomasin, still stunned by the scene.
