Thomasin handed her father some wine. He took it without a word and drank it down.
“Let us compose ourselves and choose our words carefully,” said Sir Matthew, taking a seat by the fire and indicating for Thomasin’s father to sit opposite him. “And remember who we are up against.”
TWENTY-TWO
Thomasin escorted Dr Vittorio back to the queen’s apartments in a state of anxiety. As they walked together, following the familiar route, her feelings were in turmoil. This clash between Anne Boleyn and her family could only lead to more trouble, coming amid this festive season. It was down to Anne’s impatience and hot-headed character: if only she had stayed away until the morning, accepted that Cecilia was out of sight and had the patience to wait, then for all she knew, Cecilia might have already departed. But no, she had to exert her will. The injustice of it struck Thomasin. If the patient Queen Catherine was forced to endure the sight of Anne Boleyn constantly under her nose, then Anne must at least turn a blind eye to Cecilia, lying ill in bed for one night.
Perhaps Thomasin’s anger showed on her face, for as they approached the double doors, Dr Vittorio put a hand on her arm.
“Try to remain calm. This is a difficult situation,” he said. “You need to think with a clear head.”
“Thank you, I will try.”
“And another thing: the queen and princess do not need to know about this.”
It had briefly crossed Thomasin’s mind, on their walk back, that the queen might be gratified to hear of Anne’s misconduct, and to anticipate the scene that lay ahead between her and the king. It was further proof of Anne’s unsuitability, of the contrast between the two women. “Do you not think the queen would wish to hear of it?”
“She has quite enough to concern her. Let her enjoy her rare moment of peace. This is merely a small cloud, not a storm; it need not touch her.”
“Very well. I will not speak of it, but if she hears of it another way, then I must speak up.”
Vittorio nodded his head in acknowledgement and the guards opened the doors. The scene inside stilled them at once.
The queen’s outer chamber had erupted in chaos. Lady Norfolk had reappeared, from having been retired from the queen’s service, and was searching the room, looking under cushions and behind hangings, in corners and inside chests. Various items and pieces of clothing lay strewn where she had thrown them. She was a short, shrewish-looking woman with sharp features, who Thomasin had no love for.
Ellen, Lady Essex and Maria Willoughby were looking on in horror, while Lady Salisbury attempted to stop Lady Norfolk, following her about the chamber.
Lord Mountjoy was lecturing her from the side, but Lady Norfolk was paying no attention.
“Cease at once! Leave these apartments; you have no business being here.”
The intruder turned her back, searching inside a sewing box that stood open where they had been stitching on buttons.
“Leave, I said! Or I will call the guards to remove you.”
Lady Salisbury attempted to place her body in the way, to block the duchess’s path, but she merely turned and started to rifle through a chest of cloaks.
“Guards! Guards!” called Mountjoy, summoning two burly-looking men into the room.
Lady Norfolk pointed her finger at them. “I am the wife of the Duke of Norfolk. Do not lay a finger upon me!”
“Madam, this is unruly, threatening, even treasonous!” blurted out Mountjoy in his frustration.
She pulled a terrible face at him. “Where is it? Where is it?”
Thomasin wondered what on earth she had wandered into, exchanging one scene of madness for another. Ellen’s hurried glance gave her no answers.
Lady Norfolk whirled around the room, taking them in one at a time. “One of you has stolen it, and no doubt concealed it in this chamber, thinking it the last place that anyone would look.”
Confused faces stared back at her.
“You know exactly of what I speak. The book! I know you have the book!” She turned over cushions on the chairs by the fire. “Where have you hidden it?”
“What book is that?” asked Thomasin, fully aware of the answer.
Lady Norfolk rounded on her. “You, again, Mistress Marwood! I am surprised you are allowed to remain in the queen’s service after your blatant disloyalty. No doubt you are behind this, too.”
Thomasin stared straight back at her, not moving an inch. All the anger she had felt towards Anne crystallised in her response. “I have no idea of what you speak, Lady Norfolk, but I do know that you have broken every rule of order and respect by entering the queen’s apartments thus, and conducting yourself in this disgraceful manner. You ignore the baron, the guards, even. You should be ashamed.”
