‘He would be banished from court,’ said Elizabeth in horror.
Even in the first six months of his reign, Henry had displayed a mercurial and fickle sense of loyalty. Friends were often banished for no reason before being welcomed back and another dismissed.
‘There’s no safe path, is there?’ said Elizabeth.
‘No, when you’re at court, every smile, every dance, every move is measured, tested, remembered and judged. Court is a storm of danger, especially for women.’
‘What shall I do, Annie?’ asked Elizabeth, the childhood name unconsciously dropping from her lips.
‘Hide it and tell no one,’ said Anne. ‘Gifts like this are curses to endure.’
23
THE JOURNAL OF WILBUR SWANNE – MARCH 1906
Selwyn is angry. Poor chap, he has every right. The discovery of my Chaucer is, he claims, the academic highlight of his career, especially now the British Museum has authenticated its age. He is desperate to tell the world, but I have refused. Charlie requested a meeting at our club and asked why I am cutting his cousin out of the excitement of this discovery. Even the other boffins at the British Museum are furious. Their argument revolves around the patriotic position that this version ofThe Canterbury Talesis rare and should be in a museum – a treasure for the nation to enjoy.
This cannot be allowed to happen.
Therefore, I have taken the counter position of a man being entitled to his privacy and to own treasures for himself rather than share them. In my cowardly stance, I have chosen to hide behind my heritage and the property my family has owned since the Tudor times. The link (or so we have been told through family legend) comes from the offspring of Mary Boleyn, the lesser-known sister of the executed Anne, second wife of King Henry VIII. My mother once told me there was a curse. As a child, I believed her, but I am now a manof reason and do not believe in spectral tales of the dead reaching out from the beyond, their final words causing havoc in our modern world.
When Charlie accused me of being less than patriotic by keeping the Chaucer hidden, I insisted this document belongs to my home, my history, my heirs. It should and will remain at Cerensthorpe Abbey.
A secret.
My secret.
Another to add to the many I endure each day.
In my mind, my fears reason it thus: if Selwyn were to reveal this discovery toThe Timesnewspaper, as he wishes, there would be a sensation. The book and, as its owner, myself and family, would become well known. Had I nothing to hide, then perhaps this would have been diverting, but my secrets are many and could hurt those I love.
What if my life were placed under scrutiny by interested or devious newspapermen and my clandestine relationship with Helena was discovered and revealed to the wider world?
I would be ruined. Veronica would be humiliated. Ernest’s good opinion of me would be lost forever. Worse, Helena would be named a scarlet woman and our child ostracised.
None of this can be allowed to happen. Therefore, I must return to Cerensthorpe and hide the manuscript from prying eyes, forever.
Scoundrel though it makes me seem, I have taken Charlie into my confidence. He has long suspected there is agrande passionbetween me and Helena, and with reluctance he has agreed to calm his cousin. He has asked Selwyn for advice on the best way to store the manuscript and placated him with a trip to Cerensthorpe to advise on the creation of this room, as well as the opportunity to study any other tome he might choose or to catalogue things at will – whatever will make himhappy. Selwyn has reluctantly agreed and this, unfortunately, necessitates a return to the abbey, which has upset Helena.
‘What about the baby?’ she said, when I informed her my trip to Cerensthorpe could take a month or more.
‘My love, I shall return before our child arrives,’ I promised her, but she is upset.
Yet, my trip is essential to protect us all.
It has been agreed. Selwyn will accompany me to oversee the expansion of the space behind the bookshelves into a proper storage room. The walls will be lined with cedar, along with other protective requirements designed to keep the manuscript well protected. This is an heirloom as important as the house and must be left for future generations.
For the present, while the Chaucer remains with Selwyn’s team, they have made a further study of the extra tale. They are working to translate the writing, which is small and cramped, probably written by a female as it is entitled,The Mother’s Tale,to understand why it has been added to this particular copy ofThe Canterbury Tales.Who owned it and how it ended up in the abbey are mysteries we have not yet solved.
When the room is ready, I shall conceal the entrance. My lawyer will have details of how to access it and I must consider how best to pass the information on to my successors. My son is too young to be burdened with the information and Veronica must, regrettably, be told white lies. She must not know of the true importance of this document as, in normal circumstances, she is aware my nature wouldbe to share this discovery with the world. However, in my current situation, nothing could be more dangerous.
My darling girl calls, we are due at the theatre. It is a relief to know I am forgiven. Veronica intends to visit her cousins in Ireland for Easter. I shall enquire for how long; perhaps, as a salve to cure our argument, Helena could visit Cerensthorpe. She has a yearning to see it and, one day, our child might live there.
Of this, I can but dream.
24
CERENSTHORPE ABBEY – PRESENT DAY
