My Lady Jane(66)

“So she was in on it all along?” he asked. “With Dudley.”

“No.” Bess’s mouth tightened. “It was by chance that Mary and I found out about Dudley poisoning you. One day, on our way to see you, we happened to overhear a conversation between the doctor and the nurse concerning an extra ingredient they were adding to your blackberries. When Mary confronted Dudley about it, he claimed that he was paving the way for Mary to take the throne, although I think he always intended for Jane to rule, and for Gifford to rule over Jane, and Dudley himself to rule over Gifford. But Mary bought his story, and played along, as did I, although all the while I was trying to find a way to save you.”

“Like with the jar of apricots,” he remembered. “You did save me.”

She nodded and smiled at him tenderly. “You’re my little brother. I could not stand by and let any harm come to you.”

“But Mary is my sister, too,” Edward said. “She’s my godmother, for heaven’s sake. How dare she try to steal away my birthright! I am the rightful king!” He was overcome by another wave of fatigue, so much that Bess rose to offer him her chair, and he couldn’t help but accept.

“I am the king,” he muttered.

“Not to Mary, you’re not,” Bess said, putting her hand on his shoulder. “Not anymore.”





SEVENTEEN


Jane

There was no battle for the kingdom.

Within minutes of Mary’s arrival, red-coated soldiers had swarmed in, wrested Gifford’s sword away from him (not that he really attempted to use it), and bound Jane and Gifford’s hands with ropes. In short order they were marched down the stairs and through the Tower at sword point.

“I’ll try reasoning with her,” Jane said as they made their way to the throne room.

“Do you think it will do any good?” Gifford was pale, but she could see he was trying to be brave.

“I don’t know. Just let me do the talking. Everyone knows that Mary hates E?ians.”

“She can’t tell just by looking at me, you know. It’s not like I have a tail hidden in my trousers.”

“Even so. Now would be a fantastic time to learn to control your gift.”

They reached the throne room, which was packed with soldiers and nobility alike. Her ladies-in-waiting were all there, a few looking faint on account of all the excitement, while others had their noses turned up like they’d never thought Jane made a good queen, anyway.

Her mother was there. She looked up as Jane and Gifford entered, but didn’t meet Jane’s eyes. A guard poked Jane in the ribs to get her moving toward the throne.

Where Mary waited.

Edward’s eldest sister reclined in the throne, Jane’s crown already gracing her brow. She wore a voluminous gown of crimson damask, with roses embroidered along the blue background of the hems. She looked regal, as though she’d known her whole life that this was what she was meant to do.

“Jane.” Mary’s tone was sweet as she leaned forward. “You haven’t been harmed?”

Jane stood before her own throne. She kept herself as straight and tall as possible and let her eyes sweep over the assembly near the throne: dukes, members of the Privy Council, and standing at the front, John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland.

“You,” Jane murmured. “Whose side are you on now?”

His only answer was a slippery smile.

“Jane.” A note of irritation snapped in Mary’s voice. “You haven’t been harmed?”

Jane turned her eyes back on Mary. “You’re sitting in my chair.”

A few people in the crowd gasped, but Mary only smiled. “Jane. Dear one. Surely you know that it was only through the plots of others that you managed to sit here at all. The throne was always meant to be mine until Edward”—her voice cracked at the late king’s name—“produced an heir. Unfortunately my brother never had that opportunity. He was taken from us too quickly. The law states that I am next in the line of succession.”

“Edward amended his will. It was his final act before he died.” Jane didn’t look at Lord Dudley again, but hadn’t that been exactly what he’d said? Now he was just standing there, accepting Mary as queen?

“I feel sorry for you, Jane.” Mary nodded to herself. “You were caught in this game without the smallest hint how to play it.”

“Edward left the throne to me.” Jane kept her voice soft but firm. “He revised the line of succession.”

“My brother was ill and persuaded to do nonsensical things by certain parties who had everything to gain.” Mary looked pointedly at Lord Dudley. “Those parties were given a choice—the same choice I’m going to give to you.”

“But the crown is not your right,” Jane said, in spite of feeling—just days before—that it wasn’t her right, either. Jane at least knew it, while Mary seemed to feel entitled to the throne.

“The Privy Council disagrees.”

The Privy Council had voted to give the crown to Mary? Jane prickled. How dare they turn on her? She could not believe it. After listening to them brag about themselves for hours on her first day as queen, she rather felt she’d earned their respect and loyalty.

“As I said,” Mary went on, “I want to be fair. I’m giving everyone a choice to bow to me.”