‘Yes,The Squire’s Tale,’ said the queen and in an aside to Elizabeth added, ‘It’s very short and more entertaining than many of the others.’
‘It’s my favourite,’ replied Elizabeth. ‘Anne and I read it together when we were girls.’
Two pages arrived carrying a jug of mulled wine and platters of food including the marchpane pastries, cutting the conversation short. The queen engaged Lady Catherine in a low, murmured conversation and, to Elizabeth’s surprise, the prince took up the conversation about Chaucer.
‘The Squire’s Taleis one of my favourites, too. It’s very romantic,’ Henry said. ‘My tutor, Mr Skelton, read it to us and we discussed the idea of a talking bird at length.’
Elizabeth had not imagined the boisterous young boy to have any interest in poetry.
‘The plight of the falcon is what interests me, too,’ she said. ‘It made me view my own birds with a gentler eye as I wondered if they too felt the pangs of lost love.’
‘This is why I am kind to animals,’ said Henry, a hint of pomposity in his voice. ‘The falcon taught me a great deal. I consider her a wise and gentle bird. You are Lady Elizabeth Boleyn, the daughter of the Earl of Surrey?’
‘Yes, I am,’ Elizabeth replied, amused at the way such a young child spoke, as though he were older than her grandfather.
‘I have read the poem Mr Skelton wrote about you and he has often mentioned his time at Sheriff Hutton Castle,’ said Henry, his face turning pink. ‘You are even more beautiful than he claimed.’
Elizabeth stared at the child, unsure how to respond and strangely unnerved by the intensity of his stare.
‘Thank you, your highness,’ she murmured.
Henry continued to gaze at her as Anne began to read.
Anne was halfway through the tale, when a page arrived. He handed the queen a scroll and scurried away. His entrance had been discreet and Elizabeth had only noticed him because shewas seated near the queen. There was a faint crackle of paper as the scroll was unfurled, Elizabeth watched as the colour drained from the queen’s face. She leaned over and whispered to Lady Catherine, who let out a sob and fled from the room.
‘What’s happened?’ asked Anne, stoppingThe Squire’s Talemid-sentence.
‘Perkin Warbeck has been found guilty of treason, as have his cohorts,’ said the queen. ‘He will hang at Tyburn with his friend, John Atwater. The Earl of Warwick is to be beheaded on Tower Hill.’
There was silence, followed by murmuring – either of approval or dissent, depending on the person’s views – then a cold, high voice said, ‘They are traitors to my father, they deserve to die. I shall watch the executions with pleasure.’
Young Henry stood flushed and exhilarated beside his mother, who did not respond to his comments. Elizabeth gazed at him in revulsion and he gave her a slow smile, before sending her another intense look and bowing low.
16
THE JOURNAL OF WILBUR SWANNE – FEBRUARY 1905
The flat has everything we need: three bedrooms, a living room with balcony space looking out over Green Park, a drawing room, bathroom and kitchenette, with a pantry for my butler to prepare our meals. There is also a small annexe off this for a maid to live. It will suit us well. Helena is delighted with the décor, which was my birthday surprise for her. After all, a girl only turns twenty once.
‘Can we afford all this?’ she exclaimed when I showed her around the apartment in Piccadilly.
When I assured her we could, she threw herself into my arms.
It makes a change to be appreciated. When in Cerensthorpe, Veronica shuns me…
No, I should strike my words through, it’s unfair and ungentlemanly of me to make cruel comments about my wife, especially when she suffers and is unable to help herself.
Dr Trowbridge has explained why Veronica ails, her third miscarriage has damaged her mentally as well as physically. He suggested a special hospital, but I have heard mixed results about such places, instead I have employed a nursing staff to care for her. My presence, it seems, is challenging for Veronica, but the doctorassures me this will pass. When I suggested that I should take a London flat on a more permanent basis, there was relief in her eyes.
I never thought I would be this man.
A man who seeks love away from home.
A cheat.
A lothario.
A wife in the country.
