Chapter 55: I Am Going To Smoke You Out
"For all that you've done … for all that you've written and turned others against me I will have my last laugh and when I visit you, you will wonder how it was I ever stooped this low and the answer will be right in your mirror"
"Sink so low" by Anonymous
1574, June
Spain, Madrid.
Royal Palace of Aranjuez:
"Your Majesty I have come at great urgency"
"Oh then pray tell us what the urgency is," Philip said ever calm. The Duke of Alba raised himself and handed him the letter banging his fists on the table when Philip refused to do anything on the matter, having read it several times.
"Your Majesty this is important, the Queen is a traitor and she has been having secret communication and received illicit visits from the King of England's ambassador in her chambers!"
"Well they would not be so secret if they would not have something illicit to it now would they?" His secretary, Vazquez, next to him brought his mouth to his lips to cover his laughter, Philip made no secret of it.
This became too much for the Duke. Did His Majesty not realize what trollop he had for a wife? "Your Majesty the evidence is there, she has been writing to her son, your stepson, for the past three weeks and she has always refused to give her letters for inspection to Your Majesty." He took a deep breath before he said his boldest sentence, "she should be subject to the same law as the rest of us. The Convent of Tordesillas would be a suitable residence while she is being investigated"
"No!" The King screamed in outrage, surprising even his secretary.
"Your Majesty it is what needs to be done."
"It shall not be done then. I shall speak with the Queen myself."
"Your Majesty" The Duke said, courteous, bowing deeply before His Majesty and making an even big show of an exit as he gave a dramatic sigh.
Philip eased in his chair and sunk back. He turned to Vazquez "What is your opinion on this?"
Vazquez was surprised the King should ask since he had stopped relying on his secretaries, mainly since the betrayal of his predecessor who was still suspected to have been the Prince of Eboli's wife, Ana de Mendoza, lover.
He felt elated nonetheless and said –"Whatever Your Majesty says or does it shall be regarded as a wise decision but even wise decisions carry great weight on innocents' shoulders."
Philip knew what he meant at once.
"Mateo draft a letter and inform Her Majesty that her household will be severely reduced."
"As you wish Your Majesty." Mateo said, "Anything else?"
Philip's shook his head.
"Mateo" He recalled his secretary as he was halfway to the door, "If the Queen asks say nothing."
"Your Majesty" Mateo said and nodded leaving the room.
Philip sunk his head in his hands. What had the world gone to? He took a fresh parchment and began scribbling on it only to dumb it on the floor in frustration. He tried again and called another one of his secretaries, "Give this to the Prince of Eboli"
In no time, Ruy was in his chambers with a quizzical gaze. "What happened? " He informed Philip he had just seen a very angry Duke of Alba passing him without so much as a glance to him.
"Is your wife with my wife?"
Ruy nodded, confused why Philip should ask.
"Recall her and send her to the country with your children."
"Why? What is going on?"
Philip told Ruy everything. After a moment of silence, Ruy rose and looked hard on Philip. "You can't seriously believe these accusations. The letter could be a forgery for all we know."
"Does this signature look like a forgery?"
Ruy wanted to say 'no' but the evidence was condemning. That was her signature, the curved lines and tall 'l' at the end of the Spanish form of her second name, Isabel. There was no denying it, to the clear eyes this was proof enough.
Nonetheless, Ruy insisted –"The Queen has many enemies, you said it yourself and it seems very convenient that this should resurface right after you and her grandfather want to make a bid for the Lower Palatinate territories and Bavaria."
"Ruy, I called you here to assist me in the investigation if I wanted you to be her lawyer I would have made you so. I need you to get to the bottom of this."
You are the only person I can trust.
"Even if I do," he paused licking his lips, his brown-green eyes meeting his cold blue, "and whatever the outcome will be, innocent or not" he said unable to say the word 'guilty' to a person he had come to love as a sister and wife had as well, "the damage to Her Majesty will be beyond repair."
Philip had no response for this.
"Just do it Ruy" He said, "Do it and let God find the rest."
Annie was extremely shocked and displeased when she went to leave her chambers and was greeted by the terrible sight of the Duke of Alba and Fernando de Valdes, the new Grand Inquisitor and Philip's staunch president of the Royal Council.
"Gentlemen what is the meaning of this?"
"Madame by order of the King you and your ladies shall remain here in these chambers until all the charges are cleared"
Diana, Isabel, Catalina, and Juana who were standing next to her rose up in protest. The first to speak of them was Diana who boldly launched her attack on the Duke of Alba, whom she had previously enjoyed a great friendship for his wife Maria Alvarez was her Duena. She said to him –"How dare you speak thus to the Queen? We demand an answer Your Grace and Your Eminence have you stoop so low that you send so many of your dogs for a poor woman?"
"Your Highness, with all due respect, this is non of your business." Alba said with much grief for he had grown very close to the former English Princess. He considered her one of God's children, one of the few poor unfortunate souls, who been saved by the fires of God and the Inquisition.
"It is my business this is my mother Your Grace and I demand an answer now!"
Fernando's wife, Maria, who was there behind her charge glared at him. Short and large-headed but with sharp piercing eyes like he; forced him to look away.
He cleared his throat as he settled for the Queen of Spain. "Madame your household will be severely reduced and you are not to leave your chambers unless you are told so by His Majesty."
"You have not told us yet Alba what this is all about?" Annie said regaining her courage to speak.
"Madame you are charged with conspiracy to commit murder-"
"How dare you?"
However, Valdes was unmoved and continued to recite the charges against her –"Against His Majesty, our most Gracious King to place your son in his stead."
Annie almost laughed but remained silent.
"You are also charged with the crimes of conspiracy in aiding your son his evil enterprise to steal from Spanish ships coming from the Americas and enriching his favorites, Baron Burghley, his Lord Protector, and his Aunt by marriage, the Queen of Scotland and his uncle."
"Where are you getting this information?" She asked no able to withstand the humor in all of this, she let a loud laugh. "My Lords do you not see? Surely, someone is plotting against me. Mayhap one of you."
Valdes' face turned a scarlet red.
"Madame save your insults for when the King arrives, we have evidence …" He waved the copy of the letter the King's secretary had made for them.
"Papers and more pares" Annie said laughing even harder, not a sane laugh but strained as her eyes fluttered from her daughters and niece to her accusers, sensing her impending doom.
"Really Fernando, you should invent better excuses. Your forget I am a daughter of the House of Tudor but I also share part of the Tratasmara legacy from my mother and her mother before her. I am not intimidated by common men and I shall not be held like a common animal."
"Your Majesty should watch her tongue-"
"No my dear Archbishop you should watch yours for pray –that once all charges are cleared- I shall not hold you responsible."
"So you do admit your vile behavior."
"Vile? Is it vile for a poor woman like myself to defend herself when she is being wrongly accused? I demand under my most gracious sovereign lord's laws that I be given the same benefit of the doubt and be shown the evidence used against me."
"You will not be given such privilege." Valdes said holding on to his staunchness.
"Why not?" The Queen snapped "The King's law applies even to the lowest of subjects, rapists, murderers, even converses, why not me, his Queen. Your Queen, My Lords."
"No respectable Queen entertains in her private chambers her musicians and her son's ambassadors."
Annie wheeled and faced her daughters and niece, "See that children? Never invite a man into your rooms even when you are with your ladies, your husband's dogs will be after you like new meat."
"Aha! So you do admit to it?"
"I admit to nothing!" She said spinning violently to meet Valdes' inquisitorial gaze. She had seen the flames of the Inquisition on that fateful day of October. She had seen true horror at her mother's hands, she was not afraid of what this man could do to her.
"Bring your guards, lock me up but once I get out, and I will, I promise you, I shall put you out of office and take all the benefices from you."
Valdes snorted. Nothing more than the product of a delusional woman, he felt truly sorry for her but he remembered his duty was first to God. He had been ready to give up when the Duke of Alba and His Majesty summoned him in the middle of the night and informed him of the Queen's treason. This was sure an act of God. The Almighty had answered his prayers.
He nodded to the Duke who left without acknowledging any of the women presence, including his wife. He briefly turned and gave the Infanta Diana an apologetic gaze.
Isabel and Juana as soon as the guards took most of their women, including their Duenas, sniffed.
"What shall become of us?" They asked their eyes watering down as their mother lost control of her knees. Diana and Catalina rushed to her side and helped her regain her balance.
"Thanks dears. Isabel, Juana do not worry children. This is just a small misunderstanding. Your father will soon come and clear this mess."
"But what if he doesn't?" Juana screamed wailing from the top of her lungs.
Annie rubbed her forehead feeling a strong migraine. Diana came forward and slapped Juana. It only made things worse.
Annie finally decided to take initiative. She took Juana's shoulders and shook her. "Quiet, be quiet. This is not the time act like a small child. You inherited your sister's responsibilities, if you want to solve this problem you are not going to solve it by acting like a lost puppy so wipe those tears and start acting like you are a Hapsburg."
Juana nodded and pushed her hands on her face wiping all traces of her tears.
"That's better. Come here" She said motioning for her other daughters and niece to come, including the Duchess of Alba.
"I want you to promise me that whatever happens you will be brave and you will always hold your chins up. It does not matter what the people said, what your father says, you must always remember who you are and where you come from, understood?"
The children nodded saying unanimously "Yes mother." And "Yes Aunt" in the case of Catalina.
Annie wheeled to the Duchess of Alba. There was no need for words, the Duchess nodded solemnly and vowed to watch over all her children as if they were her own.
"Thank you, I shall see that you and your children are rewarded" Annie said leaving out her husband of her will, and showing the Duchess a smile.
Philip came an hour later. He was surprised the guards had not retired his daughters.
"My Lady"
Annie's light gray eyes met her husband's cold blue. "Husband"
The sisters and cousin could sense the ice in their voices. They were never formal to one another. Juana began to tremble. Out of all her sisters, she was the one who always knew what was going to happen before it happened and she told Isabel before the day began that she had one of her 'funny' feelings again.
"If we can speak alone"
Isabel, Diana, Juana, and even Catalina who had become very close to the Queen and Isabel like they were sisters, refused to leave her side but their father and grandfather's voice left no room for conversation.
"Go children, it will all be fine. Diana you are the woman of the house now." Annie told her oldest daughter, her little huntress, who had become the full embodiment of her namesake; the Roman Goddess Diana, strong, beautiful, and determined.
Diana took Juana's hands and Isabel, Catalina's, and bowed before Philip before living the room.
Philip followed their gaze as they made their exit feeling melancholy.
"They are good children, they are just worried."
"You assured them this was only a small matter?"
"I did." Annie said sitting in the couch. Philip joined her putting aside the cane he got since his gout gotten worse. Annie lacked hers. She felt she did not need it anymore, she told Philip when he asked her.
"If I am going to die, I want to die with dignity. I will not go like my old self without my cane."
"Old self? You mean your namesake, Anne Boleyn?"
"Yes, sorry. I do not know what got into me."
She really did not. The room around her dissolved, replaced with another scene from another place, another time when she had been in a similar situation.
She blinked when she saw the woman staring back at her telling her to 'Remember', she shook these thoughts away. This is who I am now, and that is who she wanted to be.
His cold icicles pierced her light gray bewitching eyes. "Is it true?" He asked her. "Did you write those letters?"
Annie said nothing enraptured by the horde of memories from her past life coming back to her, they merged with the present ones and she became a new person. Not her old self, but more determined that when she turned to Philip she said in a voice that did not sound hers, "No"
Philip blinked never hearing such determination in a subject before.
Annie recovered. She was not that person anymore, she was who she was and she was proud for it. For both her old achievements and her present ones, and because she was now more than before she vowed she would not fall … again.
"I did not write that letter but if you must know Philip, I did write a letter to my son, William."
Philip glared at her. "Why did you not tell me?"
"Tell you what that I could die before the year is over? That I wanted to seek his help to rush the wedding of Diana and the King of Navarre, Henry Bourbon?"
Philip narrowed his gaze to her midsection, wondering … It could not be. He had been so careful.
"Annie you are not …"
Annie smiled her hands resting on her flat stomach.
He laughed harmoniously putting to rest all his concerns and hugged her fiercely. Then he remembered she was carrying his son and parted from her. "Why you did not tell me? Annie we could have solved this with just one word."
"And then what? You would give Diana to the King of Navarre in less than a month. I wanted her to be with me for at least the second trimester."
"Annie she has to make her own destiny as you do. But if that is what you believe will be better for your health then I will grant you your request but next time … you will tell me first. All this secrecy makes me think ill of you sweeting."
"Rightly so, but you forget I am your wife and before you go on telling our marital troubles to your hounds, you come to me first Philip." She had never felt so humiliated by Valdes and Alba.
"Annie, I have inherited a great responsibility from my father and have a great Empire to rule. I can't afford to look weak. No matter how little a problem is I must be above reproach, I must be known for my decision, and so needs my wife need to be known for her moral virtue."
"Philip-"
"Annie let me finish" Philip said raising his hand, "When you were Regent for Edward, you knew the importance of ruling a Kingdom, and you could not afford to look weak or keep your guard down even a second. I have a greater Empire that is always at war with each other."
Annie could say nothing to this knowing he was partly right.
He touched her hand and brought it to his lips. "Wait until tomorrow and I will clear this mess up."
"How? Someone seems to have thought ahead of schedule."
"Not quite. The lady you sent your letter to will be questioned."
"By Valdes no doubt."
"He hates heretics as much as he hates you and if she is working for your mother or as I suspect, your nephew, Albert, he will break her or use all means necessary."
Annie hated being the cause of a poor woman's suffering but this woman had been close to bringing her demise. If this was God's will and lead her to her liberty, then so be it.
Joyce Evergreen was the subject of long hours of interrogation.
"Please" She was one of the few women the Queen brought from England. She told them everything they needed to know. Why were they doing this to her? Had she not done her Christian duty bringing the letter to the Duke of Alba?
"Your Grace I gave you the letter, everything is there." She pleaded joining her hands together as in prayer hoping to give her some results. But she failed to impress the members of the Inquisition who started accusing her of heresy.
The blood in her vein turned to ice and she turned pale. "Heresy?" She asked in a hoarse voice. "Heresy? Me a heretic?" She gave a nervous laugh and shook her head vigorously, fear driving her. "I was only doing what I thought was right, I saw the Queen and all those men and …"
"Lies! The Queen is innocent and you intentionally planted that evidence with malicious intent." –It was the Prince of Eboli who screamed this time, right at her face.
"Your Highness I beg of you I told you everything you wanted to know. What more can I tell you? I am just a poor woman who wanted to do what was right for her kingdom!"
"Your Kingdom by that you mean England your native country, is it not true?"
"Yes but,"
"So you admit to it woman!" Valdes said, such repulsion was his for women that his eyes almost burned her at sight.
"Eminence I swear I am innocent, Spain is my country now. I am loyal to the church of my ancestors …"
"Don't you swear Mistress Evergreen, it is a sin before God to swear on His name" Valdes chided.
Joyce covered her ears, her dirty blond locks falling on each side of her face as she ripped her hair net and lost control of herself.
Eboli grinned to Alba, Vazquez, and Valdes. The men shared a secretive smile with him and let him take over the interrogation.
"Joyce … Joyce, I won't hurt you …" He began softly. "I can help you but you must tell the truth. Nobody will know you told, this matter will not be recorded and it will be as if it never existed." She raised her head. He put his hand on her back and knelt. He whispered in her ear –"These men" he pointed to Valdes, Alba, and Vazquez, "want to hurt you and trust me Joyce they will unless you confess to me. Confess to me and I will personally see to your safety."
Her hands moved up her face wiping her tears. "Will I return to England?"
"You will and you will be greatly rewarded and nobody will remember of this. Just confess Joyce."
His kind eyes won her over and she confessed to everything. After the interview was done and her words were recorded on paper, unknown to her by the man outside her cell; she was let go and the information was passed on to Philip.
Philip tapped his fingers against one another, his arms supported on his desk.
"So that tight lipped … mother in law of mine thought she could won me over with a trick from one of her catspaw? She does not know me." Philip said fiddling with the subject with his friend Ruy.
"You could apprehend her but that would be too much unlike you Philip" Ruy said grinning at Philip's unrest. It was good to have the old Philip back. An idea suddenly came to him. "You could lock her up in your grandmother's residence, you would not need to convince she was mad."
Philip chuckled with Ruy.
"I would much rather enjoy seeing the evil from that woman exorcized of her body through the flames of Christ. If there was one woman my father admired more than my mother, God rest her soul, was her mother and for her child to turn out this way it is a stain not only to her mother's name, but to Spain."
"What will they think later then?" Ruy asked voicing his concerns. "Christendom will talk as it always loves to, trash about Spain, but truth you and I know is subject of matter of opinion."
Philip shrugged.
"Now if you do not mind Your Majesty, I would very much like to go back to my bed to my beautiful wife, and I suggest you do the same for you will need to prepare for the great make up tomorrow."
Philip nodded, not looking forward to that.
Ruy went to Philip and pat his friend's back. "Cheer up, at least she is stunning." Philip glared at Ruy.
He chuckled more. Philip did not know if it was the wine that was making him say stupid things or he was being reproachful.
"Night, night Your Majesty" Ruy said with a mock bow, near-stumbling as he walked his way out to meet his wife.
Philip signed the last papers of state and returned to his chambers. It could not wait, he longed to make it up to her but he was unable to say the word "I am sorry" and he was thankful she was not so insistent this time.
"I thought you said you would visit me till tomorrow when all of this is cleared."
"I did but I could care less what people say about us. A war is coming and when it comes your mother is going to wonder how she was able to live so large and covet what was her daughter's for your nephew and leave so little for the rest of her offspring."
Annie smirked. Maria Alvarez had returned with information of Joyce's interrogation. She wanted to see her mother suffer for this, she never felt such hatred for Mary until now … the beating, the insults were nothing compared to this and her nephew … as his mother he would pay for what their intentions.
He saw the intention clear as her sky blue in her eyes and wrapped his arms around hers. "They will pay Annie, they will all pay. We will kill them all."
Annie nodded. She proceeded to undress him. Philip left only her corset on wanting to untie the laces himself and feel the warmth of her breasts against his pale chest.
"It could hurt the baby," She said but did not mind when he fell on top of her, crushing her and thrust himself on her.
"I would never dream of hurting you or our children." Philip said passing his callused palms through her stomach up to her breasts, fondling them, feeling as they melted in the heat of their bodies.
Philip rolled of off her and pulled her closer to him in a protective embrace, passing his hands through her long wavy auburn hair. She had not lost her splendor … after all these years and childbearing.
He remembered what she said yesterday and asked her what she meant by that.
"Oh that" she said with small chuckle "that was nothing, I merely wanted to worry you so you could see the truth in my eyes."
"It worked and I would tell you it was a fine trick except that I do not believe it was a trick. This child could kill you."
Annie lifted her head and met his eyes, they were as cold and harsh as they had been when he learned the subject of her betrayal. Yet she did not see reason for him to worry.
"My age worries you? This is woman's business and I have always pulled through in my pregnancies. I only suffered one miscarriage Philip and that was so long before I met you."
Philip felt very restrained. All this talk about war, emotions, and losing her … She was beautiful, no matter what the others said about her sister –Philip's daughter in law-, with her long auburn hair and a complexion which never showed a spot; and she never put on airs of being better than anyone else. She was the perfect model of what a Queen, wife, and woman should be in everyone's minds but in Philip's she was more than that and the thought of losing her to any sickness, but childbirth especially, drove him mad.
He softened his voice, "You were once strong but you've grown delicate with age dear, you must be careful how you handle yourself."
No more balls, no more masques, no more dancing, no more chasing your children around… Philip meant. Annie scoffed at this and shook her head vigorously. "I can handle myself My Lord. We have been through worse before."
True, but other times my wife and child were not so close to death's door. He thought but said nothing. Annie had made up her mind.
1574, June 15th
England, London Borough
Hampton Court:
Mary never felt so helpless when they came into her chambers –in the middle of the day- while she was playing games with Margaret.
"My Lords, what is the meaning of this?" Mary asked in the same fashion as when they had come to apprehend her daughter.
Eustace stepped forward, aided by Anthony who recently had come home from Scotland, and the King of England. He cleared his throat and read from the piece of parchment: "By orders of His Majesty, William III, King of England, France, Lord of Ireland, you are hereby arrested for charges of treason to commit murder and usurp His Majesty's position with that of his cousin, the Duke of Bavaria and Neuburg-Palatine."
Margaret gasped, she turned to her grandmother with a hardened gaze. "Lady Grandmother it cannot be true."
Mary avoided her granddaughter's gaze.
"Lady Grandmother … mummy …"
A tear fell from Mary's eye.
"No you could not, you love William" she turned to her twin and dropped to her knees, "William it is not true, you know grandmother, she would never do this to you, she loves you … "
William feeling sorry for her sister lifted her and took her handkerchief wiping her tears. "Please William, she is not responsible …" her eyes landed to their grandfather, "don't you see it is him? It has always been him. Cecil and Aunt Bess have warned you of taking his advice." She whispered in his ear, losing control even more and sobbing, resting her head on his shoulder. "Don't kill grandmamma; she is all I have, for me …"
He pushed her away, tired of her cries and told her harshly, "You have me sister. And" he let his tone linger, his voice dropping a dangerously low "I have discussed with Cecil, and he has proposed a great marriage for you. This will be the last time you see our Lady Grandmother."
Margaret squealed "Noo!"
"So, I suggest you say her goodbyes. You were too big anyways sister of having a governess." Margaret rubbed her eyes, they were red and when they made eye contact with her grandmother, they turned redder.
Mary wrapped her arms around Margaret. "Shh, I will be fine Maggie, they can't do anything to me. I-I" her own voice broke and in the process Eustace, William, and Anthony lost track of what she said.
"I will always love you, I am so sorry … please do not hate me, always remember me."
"I could never hate you." She said wanting to say what she felt: You were like a mother to me. "I love you"
Mary parted from her granddaughter and nodded to her grandson. William took hold of her hand and he and their uncle, Anthony, dragged her away leaving only Mar and Eustace in the room, and a handful of guards outside.
After a moment of silence, she asked, "What are you going to do to me?"
"There are no words for this"
"I-I only wanted-"
"You wanted what? Ah yes" Eustace laughed all of the sudden maniacally "You wanted to put that idiot grandson of yours in the throne of England. Tell me Mary, did you really think you could make the English people accept a foreign ruler? Did you really think that Philip of Spain with all his experience in government would not find out soon enough it was you who made him kill his wife?"
"I never thought things could get this far."
"Oh stop it woman! You can lie to those around you even Margaret but you cannot lie to me. I know you, every spot of your body, every thought in your brain, every evil in your soul"
"I am sorry."
"I have been in the bottom of every bottom for what you did, not just to Annie but to our family. If it was for me" Eustace whispered in her ear, deathly serious "I would rip to pieces and take my pleasure with you and hand you over to Philip and watch as he smokes you out, and I would feast on the smoked parts."
"You did not know her Eustace. I tried loving my child, I really did but when I looked at her eyes I knew, I immediately knew who she was. I would recognize those eyes everywhere, the same that enchanted my father." Mary said with a dry laugh. It ended when she heard Eustace's response.
"You think I did not know. You think I would be so stupid as to not know my own child Mary?"
"So you knew and you still raised her, you still loved her over me?"
"She is my daughter" he said strongly walking to her, "I do not care who she was, if she was in her past life, Anne Boleyn, Jezebel, Queen Sheeba, I don't care she is my daughter and I love her. And, it was not because of any bond or any blood relation we had in common but for who I knew she was and is. I cared for her, raised her, carried her in my arms, sang her lullabies when no one else would, read to her, and was there every day of the week just like a true parent was –for her."
Another moment of silence followed.
She gave a desperate plea "Eustace if you want to rip me to pieces you are welcome to do so, I will even give you permission to hand me over to Philip's Inquisitorial Archbishop and burn me and place my parts on the dungeons … but do not, I beg you, do not unleash your furies against my grandson. Please … if there is any at fault it is me. You have me, do what you will do with me but leave my grandson alone."
Eustace pursed his lips. Mary dropped to her knees, "Please Eustace"
"You all have your faults in this but I can't allow Albert to live as long as he remains a threat to William and Annie. I am sorry."
Eustace declared, turned and left. Mary wrapped her knees to her chest and curled into a ball and cried.