“Indeed. We are all angels until we are put to the test.”
They had reached the staircase leading up to Catherine’s apartments.
Thomasin turned to her companion, noticing the fine lines on his papery skin that the daylight revealed. “Will you walk up and see the queen?”
“Another time. She may not be in the mood for visitors, but please give her my kind regards. And this.” He paused and removed a silver cross on a chain that he had worn about his neck. “Give her this with my deepest love. Dear Catherine.”
Thomasin took the chain in her hand. If only every man at court was as good, kind and wise as Sir Thomas More.
SEVEN
Catherine was waiting for Thomasin in the window alcove of her antechamber. Her anxiety was plain as she wrung her small, jewelled hands together, rising to her feet as her gentlewoman approached.
Thomasin curtseyed low. “My lady, be not alarmed. There was little of import today beyond the swearing of oaths and laying out of procedures. Nothing was discussed touching your marriage, only the date that you would be summoned to the court, on the eighteenth of June. The clerks will visit you soon, to give you formal notification, but that was the sum of it.”
Catherine held out a hand to her, and Thomasin took it.
“You are the most faithful and true of ladies, Thomasin Marwood. Take this as thanks for your pains.” She held out a gold coin.
“Oh, I did not expect this. I truly did not; I did it in your service.”
“But it is my pleasure to reward you. Put it aside for your wedding day.”
Thomasin blushed and the queen smiled.
“Perhaps you already have someone in mind. You have visitors, Thomasin, in my main chamber. They came to pay their respects to me, but have lingered in their desire to see you, I believe.”
“Me?”
“You are the only Thomasin in my household. They asked after you, quite boldly. Two young men; I could hardly decide which was more handsome. Go, go — they are still waiting.”
“First I must give you this, my lady.” Thomasin held out the silver cross. “And the most devoted love from your servant and friend, Sir Thomas More.”
Catherine took it and smiled. “God bless dear Sir Thomas.”
“May I do anything more for you, my lady?”
“Send Maria out to me, but otherwise, go!” The queen waved her hand and in a flash of diamonds and rubies, Thomasin was dismissed.
Thomasin approached the door in a sudden fever of excitement. Had Rafe come here, to find her? Surely he must be intending to seek the queen’s approval for their match, or else he would not have been so direct. Did the Boleyns know he was here?
The sound of music and laughter reached her from beyond the doors. The guards in green livery threw the heavy wooden panels open to reveal a jolly scene, of musicians playing, Ellen singing and little Mary Willoughby walking through dance steps with their encouragement. She looked about wildly, seeking Rafe, but instead, standing before the fire, clapping in time with the rhythm, stood Sir Giles Waterson, resplendent in red and yellow velvet. Thomasin struggled to conceal the surprise on her face, and perhaps also a little disappointment.
“Here she is, just in time!” Giles cried, his face lighting up. “We had begun to despair that you had fallen into the Fleet and been carried out to sea!”
“And we would have to take a Spanish ship and sail after you, all the way to the New World,” added little Catherine, “and fight monkeys and bears to get you back!”
Thomasin opened her eyes wide at the child. “That does sound like an adventure. Unfortunately, I was only at Blackfriars, and survived the crossing of the bridge.”
Mary, Lady Essex, called for wine, asking Thomasin a hundred questions with her eyes.
“Yes, all is well,” Thomasin reassured her, “nothing to fear.”
“For now,” said Mary, handing her a glass. “You will need this, after listening to all that talk!”
Thomasin sipped her wine eagerly, letting the spices roll across her tongue. Then, across the room, she spotted Ellen sitting with the second of the two gentlemen the queen had mentioned. He was a man in his thirties, with flecks of grey at his temples, a kindly face and twinkling eyes, but what Thomasin noticed most was the way he was smiling at Ellen. And the way she smiled back at him.
As if her cousin could feel her eyes upon her, Ellen turned and saw Thomasin watching them. Beckoning Thomasin over, Ellen gestured to the man at her side.
