Her Highness, the Traitor

26

Frances Grey

April 1553 to May 1553





Guildford Dudley?” I said after Harry broke the news to me of my daughter’s betrothal. “You cannot be serious.”

“I certainly am, my dear. What’s to be said against him? He’s a presentable young man, with no mean share of learning, and his father’s the virtual ruler of England. It’s a pity, I admit, that his older brothers are married already, but there’s the chance he’ll be created the Duke of Suffolk in right of his wife one day, just as I was created the Duke of Suffolk in your right. In any case, they won’t be poor.”

“His grandfather died on the scaffold!”

“Quite a few families can now claim that distinction.”

“But Edmund Dudley was not a nobleman who fell on the wrong side of King Henry. He was a money-grubbing lawyer!”

“Whose skill at it left your uncle quite wealthy, one could add. And if it makes you feel any better, Northumberland’s mother was of noble stock. But whatever Edmund Dudley did, it hardly matters now, does it? The king regards Northumberland as his father, practically, and he wants this match. So does Northumberland. He’s not even demanded an unreasonable dowry, as I thought he would. For a man with three daughters, that is a consideration.”

I said nothing. Harry took me in his arms. “I know it’s sudden, speaking of having our girl married, but you know I wouldn’t match her where she would be miserable. I’ve talked to the lad. He’s not a scholar like she is—how many men of her station are, really?—but he’s well educated and presentable. They must come to know each other. We did.”

“Just the other day, I told Jane that we didn’t have a match planned for her.”

“Well, we didn’t then. This has come up quite suddenly. Shall we tell Jane now?”

“You tell her,” I said.

***

“I am to marry Guildford Dudley?” Every single one of Jane’s freckles stood out upon her face as she stared at her father and me. “You cannot be serious.”

“And you, young lady, cannot be serious in speaking to me like that.”

“I beg your pardon, Father.” Jane lowered her eyes, but only briefly. “But Guildford Dudley! A traitor’s grandson.”

“Your mother has already reminded me of that. He happens to also be a duke’s son.”

“A duke’s fourth son! A virtual nobody. And he speaks terrible Italian. It was painful to listen to him.”

“And how often will you be speaking Italian with him? Jane, if you are going to oppose me, at least do so with reason.”

Jane turned an accusing pair of brown eyes on me. “You told me, my lady, there were no plans to marry me yet.”

“I spoke the truth. There were none that I knew of.”

“What if I refuse? I cannot be forced to marry him. Our marriage would be invalid then.”

“Do you set yourself up as a canon lawyer now, child?”

Jane stared at the ground. “I don’t wish to marry him, Father. I don’t much wish to marry anyone, I confess, but by no means do I want to marry him.”

“Are we thinking of the same young man? He is not a repulsive creature, Jane. He’s good looking, tall for his age, well spoken—in English, at least. I daresay he’s fallen into bad company now and then, but that’s the nature of young men his age.” Harry suddenly wrenched Jane’s chin up. “You have not promised yourself to someone else, have you?”

“No, Father.”

“You don’t fancy yourself beholden to the Earl of Hertford, do you? That would have been a fair match in its day, but that day is done. He’s of no account now.”

“I do not regard myself as betrothed to him.”

“Then is it not right for you to accept Guildford Dudley as your husband?”

“He is commonplace.”

“For God’s sake, girl! You could not have spent more than an hour or two with him in your life. And he is barely older than you are. What do you expect of a lad his age?”

“I had hoped for someone different.”

“Who?” Harry’s voice softened. “Jane, you’re not still hoping for King Edward, are you? If so, I am sorry we ever put the idea in your head. He is destined for France. If—”

“If what?”

“If he lives long enough to go to his wedding. I’m beginning to have my doubts.”

It was the first time anyone had voiced the thought that had been troubling me for some time. I interrupted the volleying between my husband and Jane. “Harry, you see him at court. Is he that ill?”

“The physicians aren’t saying what ails him. Perhaps they don’t know. But you can look at him and tell that something’s not right. He looked a little better when he moved to Greenwich, but it didn’t last long. I’m old enough to recognize the mark of death on a face. I see it on his.”

“I didn’t know,” Jane said. She swallowed hard.

“Jane, the king himself wants this match. I don’t know why. I suspect Northumberland might know, but he keeps his own counsel. All I know is that the king wants it. Unless I’m mistaken, and I hope I am, you will be thwarting the wishes of a dying boy if you do not marry Lord Guildford. Do you still refuse?”

“No, Father. I will marry him.” In a small voice, Jane asked, “But must I sleep with him immediately?”

“Yes. The king wants it consummated.” Harry glanced at the clock on the mantle. “Time I went to the council meeting. Your mother can answer any questions you might have.”

***

I had barely had time to get used to Jane’s upcoming marriage when Harry arranged the betrothals of my two younger daughters as well: Kate to William Herbert, the Earl of Pembroke’s heir, and Mary to Arthur, the son of William Grey of Wilton. It only added to Jane’s annoyance that Kate could look forward to being the Countess of Pembroke when her father-in-law died, whereas Jane had no such expectation. “If Northumberland continues in favor such as he is, who knows?” I suggested. “Perhaps Guildford might gain an earldom, too.”

“In favor with whom, Mother? Father says that King Edward is worse than he was before.”

“We can only hope that he will soon improve.”

“And if he doesn’t? The lady Mary will remember all her struggles about the Mass, and that Northumberland was the head of the council that tried to stop her from hearing it. I don’t think she’ll be inclined to give Guildford anything. Or any of us.” Jane glared at the blackwork smock she was embroidering for her trousseau. “What could the king be thinking?”

We were prevented from discussing the matter further by the announcement that Guildford himself had come to call.

This was the first time I had seen my daughter’s fiancé since the marriage was arranged. Unlike his father and his brother Robert, who were swarthy, Guildford was fair, with hair the same nondescript shade of brown as his mother’s. He had inherited his father’s height, however, and he was more handsome than either of his parents. Physically, at least, I did not see where Jane had got such a bad bargain, fourth son or not.

Guildford bowed to Jane and the rest of us. “Well,” he said after a few pleasantries, “it looks as if we’ll be married soon.”

Jane gave him a withering glance. “Yes,” she said distantly.

“My father will be allowing us to stay a few days at Chelsea.”

“Chelsea? That is where I spent much time when I was living in Queen Catherine’s household. I had very happy memories of it.”

“We’ll have the place to ourselves. Well, except for our servants, of course.”

“So I assumed.”

Guildford turned his attention to the smock. “That’s very nice looking,” he ventured. He smiled. “Perhaps when we are married, you will make me shirts?”

“I am a very poor seamstress. I would not count on it.”

“Oh.”

“I prefer the pursuits of the mind. What pursuits do you prefer, Lord Guildford? Hunting, I suppose? Hawking?”

“I enjoy both, but only occasionally. I prefer tennis, actually. I hope to install a court when we have a permanent residence.”

“Really.”

“I do like music quite a bit, too, and dancing.” Guildford looked at Jane hopefully. “My mother said that she recalls seeing you dance quite well.”

“Yes, I do like music,” Jane allowed. “And dancing at an appropriate occasion.”

“Father has engaged the best musicians in London for our wedding, and two troupes of masquers, one of men and one of women. It will be quite a spectacle.”

“Indeed it will be.”

“I hope the king will be well enough to attend.”

“Yes. It would be a pity if he were not able to witness what he has brought about.”

I decided to help my future son-in-law. “Is Lady Katheryn looking forward to her marriage?”

“Oh, yes,” Guildford said. “She met her husband the other day and has spoken of nothing but him since. He brought her a puppy as an early wedding present.”

Jane, who was not fond of animals, looked warily around. Guildford said, “I didn’t think you’d like anything like that, my lady.”

“No.”

“I would like another monkey,” mused Kate. “I wish Lord Herbert would bring me one.”

“That one creature of yours is odious enough already,” Jane said. “The last thing we need is another.”

“But you won’t be living here. Neither will I. So it wouldn’t matter.” Kate smiled at Guildford. “He tore the pages of one of Jane’s books once,” she explained. “Jane has never forgiven him for that. Does your family have a monkey?”

“No. But Mother has a parrot. Father brought it home a couple of years ago. He’s very talkative. He will perch on Mother’s wrist, and Father’s, too. He’s not so cooperative with the rest of us.”

“Oh, that sounds lovely. I would love a parrot.” Kate widened her blue eyes at Guildford, who blushed.

I decided intervention was needed again before Kate captured the heart of her sister’s betrothed—not that Jane seemed at all bothered by the possibility. “My younger daughter and I shall leave you for now, Lord Guildford,” I said, rising and indicating that Kate should do the same. “You and Jane will have much to talk about, and no doubt will like to do it in private.”

Guildford’s and Jane’s faces indicated the very opposite, but neither put up an objection as I hastened out the door.

To my surprise, though, Jane seemed in reasonably good spirits after Guildford had left on his barge to Sion, one of the Duke of Somerset’s houses that Northumberland had recently acquired. “I think we have reached an accommodation,” she announced.

“Oh?”

“Yes. I am to be allowed free time to study each afternoon. Provided I have completed my household duties,” Jane added, anticipating my objection. “I shall not be expected to accompany him on the hunt, or to spend an inordinate amount of time with his friends.”

“Have you appointed a particular night for sleeping with him?”

“No. Should I?”

“Goodness, no! Marriage is a sacrament, Jane, not a series of bargains. Didn’t you read that in that book you translated for your father?”

“Yes. But the author of that book was not married to Guildford Dudley.”