Chapter Four: Circling Sharks
"Your father can't stand the dreary Bishop of Winchester," Queen Jane explained the next morning, as she was putting on her lipstick in her private apartments. "But the cathedral repairs cost a lot of money and the royal family deserves the bishop's thanks. You and I will shake hands and smile for the cameras for half an hour or so, and that will show the public that the king supports religion and the church." Jane made a funny face, and Mary couldn't help smiling back at her beautiful young stepmother.
"I guess we should both try to stay out of trouble for a while."
"Why, darling, what on earth do you mean?" Jane motioned for Mary to step closer and began carefully rechecking her stepdaughter's makeup.
"Well, yesterday at the spa, when I woke up from my nap . . . you seemed to be having a bit of trouble." Mary pressed her lips shut, hating the sticky feeling of the queen's glossy and expensive lipstick. "Was there someone bothering you out in the hall?"
"Hold still, please." Jane was frowning in concentration. "That was just a photographer I used to know in my modeling days, asking to borrow a bit of money. I felt sorry for him, really. Darling, why do you slouch when you have such a lovely figure? That's better."
Mary stood up straight and looked at herself in the mirror, her expression a bit dazed. She hardly recognized the sophisticated young woman with the dramatic coloring and crimson lips.
"Utterly transformed," Queen Jane said proudly.
"Huh!" Mary didn't want to be transformed. She wanted to go on being herself. And she wanted to know a lot more about the fashion photographer who had been pestering her stepmother. But just then the queen's secretary announced it was time to go.
The ceremonies at Winchester Cathedral turned out to be quite a circus, with flocks of reporters and cameras flashing and huge crowds of people waving and cheering and everyone jostling each other and shouting for just one picture, please, just one more!
"Steady, darling," Queen Jane said, smiling brightly for the cameras while at the same time quickly and supportively slipping her arm around Mary's waist. "Just keep on waving, my love, that's the way. And for heaven's sake don't frown!"
"Sorry." Mary smiled, trying to be grown up and imitate the queen. But the crowd was so noisy and the cameras kept popping and flashing everywhere she turned, making her ears ring and eyes sting and giving her a beastly headache. The only way she could get through it all was to lean on her stepmother for support. Jane really was marvelous in front of the cameras. And she was very experienced at dealing with crowds, laughing and joking one moment and then vanishing into the cool darkness of the cathedral.
"That's better," said the slim, golden-haired queen, guiding her stepdaughter to the tall royal seats at the front of the church.
"You were wonderful," Mary whispered, seating herself by the queen's side. The two of them had a private pew, secluded from prying eyes at the back of the church. It was medieval and royal and a world away from the cameras and the crowds.
"Was I? It's all in a day's work, darling." Jane patted her hand. "You'll get the hang of things in time. You're a very clever girl, Mary. Your father is counting on you."
"I know." Mary was feeling very thoughtful as the bishop began his sermon. She had to live up to Jane's example. But there were still nagging doubts in her mind. In front of a crowd, Jane was fearless and in control, yet yesterday in the shadowy spa basement she had been powerless in the grip of the mysterious intruder. Who was he? Was he really just a fashion photographer out of work? While the bishop droned on, Mary closed her eyes, picturing the frantic and hungry-looking men outside the church. Hungry for scandal, hungry for a story that would make them rich, even if it meant the ruin of someone like her sweet stepmother. Really they were just like sharks, always circling . . . circling . . .
"And so, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, amen."
"Amen!" Mary suddenly jerked herself upright, coming awake just in time to murmur her response with the rest of the congregation. Humiliated and confused, she glanced around the church, yet thankfully no-one seemed to notice that she'd been asleep.
Queen Jane was gazing up at the bishop with a look of gratitude, as though his sermon had quenched a deep spiritual thirst. She looked almost like a saint in a religious painting. But the moment she caught Mary's eye she dropped the pious mask of worship, and gave her stepdaughter a very private wink and a smile.
"I don't know about you, but I'm dying for another day at the spa!"