Chapter XXXVI
February, 1543
Jeanne handed Mary a scrolled piece of parchment and watched as the Lady Protector open it, waiting for further orders.
"Our king has agreed for French and Spanish support," said Mary, scrolling it up again. "Jeanne, does King Francis suspect anything? Doesn't he wonder how you managed to deliver 'secret' messages to him and Henry VIII without being caught?"
"I told him I stole your seal to access the King's chambers," replied Jeanne. "He believed me. He had to in order for his plans to work. What will you do now? I believe the Duke of Bavaria has agreed to give you sanctuary and support."
"Yes. By the end of this month, the children will be sent to Bavaria."
"What about Princess Isabella?"
Mary was silent for a moment before she said with a sigh, "Yes. She will go with the others. I promised Chapuys I will keep her safe, and I intend to keep that promise. I love her, but I cannot look at her without feeling a little guilty. I am her sister, and we hardly know each other. In a way, Lady Salisbury was her mother and even though she was her pawn, I believe Lady Salisbury loved Isabella as one of her own. I cannot forgive her for marrying Isabella to her grandson, but there's nothing I can do about dissolving it. Anyway, that is not important at the moment. I'm having second thoughts about running to Germany with the children. What if something else happens here?"
"You are the Lady Protector. It is up to you."
"What if taking the children to Bavaria is a bad idea? Anne would not be happy at the sudden doubt and potential plan change."
"She agreed that you are the Lady Protector, and your orders, she must obey. I know you are stressed, but may I suggest something, my lady?"
"Of course."
"If you decide to remain in England in these troubled times, I offer myself as your bodyguard. I will stay by your side even if your protection squad all die fighting. I am grateful for your kindness, and may I offer you an alternative idea?"
"Yes." Mary looked vaguely surprised.
"Send all but the Prince of Wales to Bavaria. Disguise him to look like a servant boy and keep him here in England with you in case he is needed to be quickly declared king. The King has not seen his sons in at least a year, and I doubt his memory is good. We can say that he is my son if questioned. No one would care much about a servant's child."
Mary nodded uncertainly. "The plan is to leave the King in a castle near the countryside – near my sister-in-law, Lady Mary's estate with her husband. You have told the King that there has been a falling out between Lady Mary Stafford and Queen Anne and the former is now in the countryside being treated as nothing more than a knight's wife. In your next – hopefully final – visit to the King, remind him of his love for Lady Mary, and tell him how much she still loves him and that she does not deserve the fate of a knight's wife. He always believed in being a good knight and he will try and help her by doing what he does best; lying and promising gold and protection. He will think she is ready to work against me and Anne and will find her for help."
"Will it work?"
"Of course! Lady Mary is as loyal to her sister as she had always been!"
"Very well. Is there anything else, my lady?"
"Not at the moment. I will call you when I need you. Thank you for your advice, Jeanne. I will consider it all very carefully. You may go."
She waited until Jeanne left before turning to the next room with a door slightly ajar. "You can come out now, George. She has left."
George appeared, as alert as ever. "I know you like to think the best of people, but are you sure that is a wise decision? She could be seriously working for King Francis the whole time."
"I considered that," said Mary mildly, studying the hand drawn map of England carefully. "In times like this, trusting people outside your family – sometimes in it – can be quite difficult. However, it is brave and quite bold of her to volunteer herself as my protector. Either she is truly willing to die for me, or she wishes to hand me over to King Francis herself."
"Which assumption will you believe?"
"Neither. If Jeanne is a traitor, she will be on her way to deliver the latest news to Francis I. I am not waiting for the children to be delivered to the King of France on a silver platter. They will go to Bavaria with Jane tonight. It has all been arranged without Jeanne's knowledge."
"Nor mine! By God! Does Anne know?!"
"She swore an oath that she is prepared for any sudden plan changes without a fuss, and insisted that as she is the Queen of England, she will stay in England for the better or the worse."
"That is very Anne. She does not know? Who does? Mary, I understand the caution, but did you tell anyone about this?"
"Only Jane and Philip. Philip has prepared a vessel and Jane will journey to Bavaria with the children today. Of course I would've wanted Philip to take the children, but it would be easier to lie to the Court and say that Jane is feeling unwell and has retired to the Palace of Beaulieu. It would be odd for Philip to have suddenly disappeared from Court."
"Yes, you're right. The children are not expected at Court often too..."
"Exactly. If Jeanne wishes to protect me, I'll allow her too. However, I want you nearby and to defend both me and Anne – preferably Anne – from her and any other French soldiers she decided to lead to us. If you have to choose between us, protect Anne." George opened his mouth to protest, but she added imperiously, "It is an order." Usually Mary did not evoke her power to family members, but understanding the seriousness of the situation, George nodded.
"Why?" he couldn't help asking. "Why Anne? If you do get captured, you will be executed! Do you think you will have a better chance escaping? May I remind you that we are plotting against your maternal relatives? You are English-born! Not Spanish! The King will not be merciful. I will be heartbroken if you die, and what will I tell the children?! Besides, what good is it saving Anne and not you? People still remember her as the King's conniving mistress at one stage."
"I thought Boleyns stick together," said Mary, faintly bemused.
"This is not funny! You are making me choose between my sister and you! There must be another way – no, there is – will – be another way!"
"Think about it! If we get caught, at least Arthur will have his mother beside him! The people will turn to her after my public execution and she will have another chance to change England for the better! It will all work out. As for our children...if I do die, take care of them, and if they ask where I am..." She swallowed before saying steadily, "Tell them I...I have gone to a better place for the better of England. I hope no one dies, but there is always..." Tears splashed down her smooth cheeks as her stressed emotions finally burst from days of confinement.
Automatically, George wrapped his arms around her and caressed her hair comfortingly, soothing her with calm words. "There, there. You will be fine."
"I sometimes wish I am not royal," said Mary bitterly. "Rarely, but this is one of the times I wish I'm a plain noblewoman married to the man she loves."
"You will not fail," vowed George, squeezing her fondly. "I know you will not. If it is up to me, I will rescue Anne as you ordered, but I will return for you. Nothing will keep us apart – nothing. I don't care if I have to maim the King, but I will do anything to keep us together."
The moon shone brightly from its throne in the night sky as it guided the royal family to the silent ports in the county of Kent.
"Where are we going?" whispered Elizabeth, wide-eyed and excited. "Kat never lets us stay awake this late at night!"
"You are going to Bavaria darling," said Anne, her heart aching already. She was devoted to Arthur, but her pride rested in her clever Elizabeth. "Jane will take care of you there. We do not know how long you will stay there for, but it will be a while. Be a good girl, Elizabeth. Janey, Edmund, Cecily and Eleanor will be going with you as well as Katherine, Harry, Annie, Georgie, Ned and Bess. You will be the oldest there, and I want you to protect and care for them. Do you understand? Comfort the young ones and be like a mother to the babies. We will write to you as often as we can. When you are presented to the Elector Palatine and his family, remember to speak German, as that is what they speak in. If you must wear German clothes and eat German food, please do so without a fuss."
Elizabeth nodded solemnly. "Ich verspreche, Mama. Ich werde ein gutes Mädchen sein und beten für Sie, Onkel George und Maria jeden Tag. Ich verspreche."
Tears in her eyes, Anne embraced her tightly. "I know you will make me proud."
"Where's Arthur?" said Janey timidly. She hardly spoke, which worried Anne, but tutors assured her that compared to the talkative Elizabeth, she was more quiet, but was also intelligent. At certain times, Anne was reminded of the distinct similarity between Janey and her namesake.
"Arthur has to stay here," said Anne gently.
"Don't worry Janey," said Elizabeth confidently. "I will take care of you."
"Do I have to go?" said Katherine softly, blinking away tears. "I will miss you."
"I will miss you too," said Mary, running her fingers through Katherine's soft auburn hair. "It is good practice for you. When you marry, you will have to move to your future husband's kingdom. Be a good girl for me, will you? Do you remember your German?"
Katherine nodded tearfully. "Ich vermisse dich schon."
"Good girl," said Mary, giving her one more hug before turning to her next child.
"Time is ticking," said Jane worriedly, looking around anxiously. "I do not want to rush you, but it will be horrible if we get caught by the French or Spanish during the journey to Bavaria. I promise to take care of them with my life."
"Thank you," said Anne warmly, smiling at her. "We will keep an eye on your Claudia and Maria Anna while they remain in England."
Jane nodded and hurriedly ushered the children onto the small barge by moonlight. As the loyal sailors began their duties, she looked back at them and mouthed, "I will protect them. I promise." Anne smiled back as she wiped away her tears. She believed her.
Lady Mary Stafford sat staring into the fire in Rochford Hall. Upon Wiltshire's death, it had – along with Hever Castle and Blickling Hall – fell to George as part of his inheritance additionally with Wiltshire's wealth, possessions and titles. Kindly, George gave Rochford Hall to Lady Mary, who had suffered in poverty after her unequal marriage to Sir William Stafford. Naturally, she was disowned by Wiltshire and had to live plainly as a knight's wife for some time before she was given a regular allowance as a relative of the Lady Protector and Rochford Hall.
"What are you thinking of, dear?"
Sir William sat on the chair beside her as he looked concerning at her. "You do not have to do it," he said quietly. "If you do not feel comfortable lying to the King or participating in the Lady Protector's plans, you can always refuse."
"No," said Lady Mary softly. "They need me, and I will not back down or betray them. They could have left us in poverty, but they chose to accept our clandestine marriage and acknowledge you as a member of the family. You were even given a prominent position in George's household! I could've returned to Court as part of either the Queen or the Lady Protector's households, but I chose to remain here in Essex with the children. Again, they accepted it, even though it is a little unusual for a noblewoman. Families always help each other, and I will help them."
"What about the children? I heard the royal children will be sent to a safe place abroad. What will happen to our children if the King is back in power and discovers us as traitors? We will be executed and they will be orphans."
"We have to hope for the best." She shuddered as she thought of her dear children – Anne (named after her sister of course), a girl of seven; Edward, a boy of six and Margaret, a child of four – alone and bewildered appeared in her mind. If worst comes to worst and both she and Will were executed, at least they can live with Catharine, Lady Knollys (her elder daughter by Sir William Carey), her husband and their family or with her son Henry Carey. "There are others who will care for them," Lady Mary said, this time more confidently. "My Catharine is doing well as a lady-in-waiting in Anne's household. Anne wrote glowing letters to me about her and suggests for our Anne to be a companion to Princess Elizabeth once matters have settled down."
"That is an excellent idea!"
"It is getting late. According to the plans, the King should be arriving shortly and as hospitable hosts, we keep him here for the night."
Just as she spoke, they heard a booming knock on the door. She paled, but stood up bravely. With a nod to Will, the two went to the door and Will opened it. Standing in front of them was the disgruntled and shabby-looking King.
It is a miracle he found his way without being lost, thought Will.
"Your Majesty," said Lady Mary with a curtsey. "What are you doing here at such a time? We were unaware that we were-"
The King waved his hand dismissively. "You have not changed," he spoke, his beady, suspicious eyes landing on her. "Beautiful as ever. Stafford! You are fortunate to have such a...lovely wife. I did not expect to be running for shelter either. A loyal ally had informed me that your home is nearby after I escaped from imprisonment by beastly daughter and your sister placed me in. I know how you Boleyns tended to be allies as well as family, but I heard that there's a rift between you and your siblings." He smiled with gratification as Lady Mary flinched. "I was shocked when I heard Anne left you as a knight's wife and did not even offer your husband a peerage! Help me, and I will reward you with Hever Castle, the Palace of Beaulieu and a dukedom. Furthermore, I am willing to marry my daughter Cecily to your son. Edward, isn't it? Stafford, how would you feel to be the Duke of Buckingham?"
"I will be honoured, Your Majesty," said Will dutifully.
"Of course you may stay," said Lady Mary at once. "I will ask the servants to prepare you a warm bath and prepare a hot supper for you. You may stay the night in the spare chambers. Do you know what you will do tomorrow?"
"I will take back my throne," said the King promptly. "I have been promised troops, and all I have to do is go to London. Do you have spare horses? Stafford, I need you to accompany me."
"Of course," lied Lady Mary. "We are honoured to help you, Your Majesty. Do not worry anymore. You are safe here. Stay the night, and get strong. Will can leave with you tomorrow afternoon. I heard the Londoners are all waiting for their true ruler – you. They only supported the Lady Protector because they were afraid. Their true loyalties are to you."
The King's eyes shone. Greed or delusion? Will wondered. Does the King honestly believe the Londoners support him? Then again, he has been locked in seclusion for quite some time. Even if the Londoners do adore him, they will not want a mad king on the throne.
"Thank you," said the King, beaming. "I must go and have a bath."
Lady Mary smiled and gestured for a servant to lead him upstairs.
"Now what?" asked Will. "We wait?"
"Yes," answered Lady Mary."We wait. While he sleeps peacefully, we will call for the Lady Protector and her guards. It will not take them long to get here."
The plans had been drastically changed for the better in the Lady Protector's favour, but it came in the most unexpected – yet common – way: Sweating Sickness.
That day in April, a sudden wave of Sweating Sickness appeared in Essex and the King was one of its first victims. Terrified, the Stafford family fled to Kent and informed Anne, Mary and George on the way of recent developments.
"He's dead?!" repeated Mary, stunned. "What?!"
"The King is dead!" said Lady Mary again, not believing her own words. "He must be! No one can survive a deadly bout of Sweating Sickness! We left Rochford Hall as soon as we saw the symptoms. I will be more shocked if we find him still alive if we return."
"That changes matters," said Mary, with a frown. "The French troops will still be on their way...we cannot ask them for a parley...they are not supposed to know that we know their plans. We will continue with the plan as if nothing has happened. However, this Sweating Sickness may be used to our um...our advantage. We can wait in the next village-"
"And fight what remains of the troops," finished George. "That is brilliant, but how can we be sure they will be infected? If we wait in the next village and they are still in perfectly good health, we will all be slaughtered alongside the villagers."
"I can make sure of that," said Jeanne softly.
"How?" inquired Mary. "The only way you can make sure they are infected with Sweating Sickness...is if you are infected with it."
Jeanne nodded. "I can go ahead to Rochford Hall and check if the King is truly dead, send you a message and then meet the other French soldiers who believe me to be their ally. If you wish, I can even lead them directly to you."
"No," said Mary at once. "Not a chance! You will die!"
"I die for your cause. I promised you I will die for you."
"You have a chance to live-"
"I do not want to live in an England ruled by a tyrannical king and I do not want to see English soil blossoming with English and Frenchmen blood. I have an idea that may avoid further blood spillage. Will you be interested in that?"
"Yes," said George firmly. "The less blood spilled, the better."
"Very well. Only on one condition," said Jeanne, looking straight into Mary's eyes. "You allow me to go and play my part."
Jane sat beside her feverish namesake and placed cool linen on her forehead. A month and a few weeks after their arrival in Bavaria, Janey had been struck down with fever. The Bavarians had been pleasant and kind, and the Elector Palatine had even gifted them Heidelberg Castle. However, their friendly nature all changed once Janey succumbed to illness.
The Court had fled Heidelberg for Mannheim Palace a good distance away, taking with it the best physicians, cooks, servants and entertainers. With her childish German, Jane wrote letter after letter to her brother-in-law, begging for a physician. Days after the fourth letter was sent, a bewildered physician who could only speak German, arrived on Heidelberg Castle's doorstep. After an initial confusion, it was clever Elizabeth who offered to translate as she was much ahead in German than Jane.
"Will Janey be better?" said Elizabeth, peeping through the slightly opened door.
"I don't know," said Jane sadly. "There is not much here we can do."
"Would Dr Linacre help?"
"He would, but we are not in England."
"Can we go back to England now? Why doesn't the Elector or Electress visit us anymore? Why can't we attend lessons with the Bavarian princes and princesses?"
"I'm sorry, dear. Your mother did not write for us to return yet, and Janey is too ill to travel. She has more chance to live here than on a boat at sea. The Elector and Electress do not come here because Janey is ill." She chose her next words carefully, "They thought it would be better for us to stay closer to Janey than the entire Court."
"I miss England."
"We all do."
"If I be good, will Janey get better?"
Jane frowned slightly. "What do you mean if you be good? The most you can do is pray to God for her recovery. Go and ask Katherine to do that too."
"I have been bad to her."
"How?"
"I boasted I am the most intelligent princess in the schoolroom and often spoke answers to questions the tutors asked Janey. I promise I will be more humble and less proud of my intelligence. Do you think God will forgive me?"
"God always forgives, Elizabeth. I have to admit, it is rude of you to flaunt your cleverness in front of
your siblings and cousins in the schoolroom. Ask God for forgiveness, and He may grant your wish."
"So that I can be prettier like Mama?"
"No, so Janey can recover. It will be a miracle if Janey can stay alive. She was not feeling too well during our journey here, and it may have considerably weakened her."
"I will go and pray." A little miserable, Elizabeth hurried away to the chapel. She stopped when she saw Katherine in their chambers. Katherine was on her knees, her hands clasped together in front of the cross nailed to the wall, murmuring Latin words softly.
"What are you doing?" said Elizabeth curiously.
"Praying," answered Katherine, not looking at her. "Janey is ill."
Elizabeth left and entered the chapel and began praying more earnestly than she ever did during Masses in England.
In Janey's chambers, Jane murmured a quick prayer before reaching for a parchment, quill and a bottle of ink. She looked at Janey and fear stabbed her heart as she noticed Janey's small chest rising and falling slower than before.
Jane held her namesake's hand, a tear rolling down her cheek.
"Don't cry, Aunt Jane," whispered Janey, her blue eyes closing. "I will see you again. Tell Elizabeth...tell her I will miss her, and tell Mama I will always be good..." Her small, slim fingers squeezed Jane's before curling into a fist as her body stilled.
Silently weeping, Jane turned and dipped her quill into the ink bottle. Dear Anne, she wrote, her hand shaking badly. I have bad news. Your dear Janey has been ill for many days and the Elector Palatine refused to send us the best physicians. She has just joined God. I am so sorry. I hope matters are better in England, as I believe it is time for us to return home.
Just to confirm, Elizabeth is being raised a Protestant while Katherine is a Catholic.
Ich verspreche, Mama. Ich werde ein gutes Mädchen sein und beten für Sie, Onkel George und Maria jeden Tag. Ich verspreche - I promise, Mama. I will be a good girl and pray for you, Uncle George and Mary every day. I promise.
Ich vermisse dich schon - I miss you already.