Dutifully, Thomasin and Ellen followed, although Catherine’s forced jollity gave them cause for concern. The old cardinal had been housed on the palace’s ground floor, as close to the Blackfriars site as possible, to allow for ease of access. Arrangements had been made for a litter to carry him across the Fleet bridge into the court room if the need arose.
However, at the door, Catherine paused. “I will take only Maria in with me. We need not all crowd in. The rest of you may go in to dinner.”
“Are you sure, my lady?” asked Thomasin, trying to conceal her relief. “You do not need us with you?”
The queen patted Maria on the arm. “All will be well. Go.”
The hour that the king liked to dine had not yet arrived. It was approaching ten, when the first meal of the day was served, but there was still a short while to fill, so Thomasin and Ellen resolved to take seats in the anteroom and wait for the doors to open. The place soon filled up, with various servants of the crown anticipating filling their rumbling bellies.
“Let us pray for a miracle with this court,” said Ellen after a while. “I cannot see how the king will allow it to rule against him, no matter what God’s intentions might be.”
“We cannot influence the outcome,” said Thomasin, realistically. “All we can do is be ready to support the queen, whatever is decided.”
“Do you think they will send her to a nunnery?”
“I don’t see how, against her will.”
“It was done in France, I believe, and also in Spain, twice before! Lady Essex was telling me; there was Queen Joan, the first wife of Louis XII, and poor Blanche of Castile, although she was locked up by her family, just like the queen’s sister Joanna is locked up.”
Thomasin shot a look at her cousin. “You seem to know much on the matter.”
“Like I said, Lady Essex told me, but we need to know these things, to be prepared. No doubt the court will use these examples.”
“It’s likely. Do you really think they might send her back to Spain?”
Ellen shrugged. “Who knows what Henry will do to get his way? He is growing impatient. I heard a rumour that he is determined to wed Anne this summer, after the court closes.”
“Perhaps he will. It can hardly be a marriage Anne can feel confident in, then.”
“I’m not sure she cares,” said Ellen. “Once she bears a son, that will be the security she needs.”
Thomasin stared at the stone flags on the floor, smooth with the passage of many feet. A feeling of helplessness on the queen’s behalf came stealing over her.
“Would you leave with her?” she asked. “I mean, if she has to leave court. We are her ladies, so should our fate be bound to hers?”
Ellen sighed. “I do hope it does not come to that.”
“But if she was to be sent into Spain, would you go with her?”
“I don’t think I should like that strange country. I have heard they are savage there and the food is unpalatable. Yet, I could not abandon the queen. Perhaps I might accompany her there, and see her settled with Spanish ladies, then return to England.”
“You might be swept off your feet by a Spanish gentleman.”
Ellen gave a wry smile. “I doubt that very much.”
“Or perhaps you will find a husband here at court.”
“Like you have, you mean?”
“Yes, don’t you want to marry?”
“Not particularly. Not at the moment.”
“That obviously means you are going to fall in love with the next man you set eyes on.”
At that moment, a figure came striding round the corner. Both women recognised the broad shoulders and long legs of Sir Hugh Truegood, dressed in his habitual chestnut shades which complimented his colouring.
“Oh, Lord!” breathed Ellen.
