The Last Boleyn(164)
“The Howards were never like the Boleyns have been, not in the old days at least. But soon I had the children here to love and raise—George first, then Mary, and baby Anne.” She dabbed at her wet cheeks and eyes and continued to sit erect and neither Mary nor Staff nor Semmonet dared to interrupt, even with attempted consolation. “All was golden in those years for me at Hever because my lord had only his own skills to barter and he was happy as he rose high and proud and tasted the possibilities of power. But then, he took Mary and used her far away in France and then back at the English court...and then Anne and George and...he, oh, dear God in heaven, he has ruined all his children’s joy and now will murder two of them, and I love him still!”
She sobbed gaspingly on Mary’s shoulder, and Mary’s own tears wet her mother’s head. Then, amazingly, Lady Elizabeth sat ramrod straight and said, as if to Staff alone, “You see, my lord, when Mary’s sister became the queen, I dreamed that perhaps, perhaps we would be safe now, for there was no higher place for my husband’s desires to climb. But I was wrong. Nothing stops this king—not love, not gratitude, not marriage—he just pulls them all down at his feet and tramples them.”
“A legal son is the only protection any woman or family shall have from him, lady,” Staff’s voice came almost breaking. “But I believe he may not be capable of a healthy son. If so, there stands your little namesake, the red-haired princess. Now, if you would listen, Mary has some things she wishes to tell you.” He nodded to Mary and she searched her mind for the words and phrases she had rehearsed on every jog of the road between Banstead and Hever.
“When I saw Anne the two days we were at Greenwich, mother, she was much changed, resigned, inwardly strong and not afraid. We must hold to that. And she was warm and kind to me, so kind. She has arranged for my oldest son to be my ward should...should the queen die...and that Staff and I may have him to Wivenhoe for visits, and I promise you he shall come here also if you would have him. And Catherine is to be raised with the Princess Elizabeth and to visit us whenever Elizabeth goes to court. Anne gave me some jewels for Catherine and Elizabeth to give to them...if...well, when they are old enough to understand. But, if the king takes his terrible revenge, who shall ever understand?”
“But that is what I was thinking, Mary,” Elizabeth Boleyn returned, her voice warm and strong. “If the king pulls them all down, and if he dares to imprison or harm Anne and George, if these false charges should be published, they will all poison little Elizabeth’s ears, over the years. But we—all of us, especially those of you who are younger than I—must tell the child the truth of the good things of her mother and family. That is what I have been thinking over and over all this long morning since the messenger came.”
“Yes, mother. And Harry and Catherine are old enough to be told the truth, and they will not forget. They will tell Elizabeth. Little Andrew will know someday too. Staff will ride to bring him here tomorrow, for we are staying at Hever a while if you will have us.”
“Have you? Yes, my dearest one, do not leave me. My pretense of strength is over. You must tell us truthfully, Staff, what will happen. You have always told the truth here, I think.”
Staff’s worried brown eyes sought Mary’s for comfort and returned to the steady blue-eyed gaze of his motherin-law. “There will be a trial, Lady Elizabeth, and the king will try very hard to rid himself of the Boleyns so that he may marry elsewhere. At best, Anne and George may be exiled and...”
“Oh, do you think it a possibility, Staff?” Elizabeth’s thin hand gripped Mary’s wrist in excitement. “Anne would love to live in France if she escapes this. We could visit there someday.”
“It is a possibility. But I think, with Anne’s inner fire and backbone—and the fact that she will believe she has nothing else to lose but her life if she agrees to exile—she will cling to being queen and make him take it from her.”
“She is innocent of all his charges!”
“Yes, lady. Mary and I and most of the court know that, but His Grace wants to convince himself otherwise to clear his wretched conscience.” Staff continually gripped and wrung his hands. Mary had never seen him so distraught, though his face appeared quite calm.
“That bitter-cruel Jane Rochford has helped to cause all this. She dares to swear false unholy charges against Anne and her husband! But then, it is the poisons of their forced marriage coming out at last. My lord must answer to that too. The only thing Anne and George were ever guilty of was love of power, and that they learned at their sire’s knee. Tell us, then, Staff, for Mary can bear it and I shall too—what is the worst that might befall?”
“The most ominous sign I see is that the king is so desperate that he is willing to let two of his closest friends, Norris and Weston, fall with the queen. And the crazy charges of witchcraft he allows his henchman Cromwell to drag out of the closet show his unbending attitude. The worse, lady, is that the innocent shall be declared guilty and shall pay the king’s price for his own sins. Thank God Mary and I are well rid of him!” Tears stood in Staff’s eyes, and Mary crossed the little space of carpet to touch him.
“Well, my children, spring is coming and spring always comes to Hever with beauty and consolation. I have seen that many times. You must rest now. You have not even been to your room. Semmonet and I shall await you here, and I shall order food and wine. I wish to talk some more to Semmonet.”