The Lady in the Tower (9 page)

Dear Eleanor,

Thank you for the fruit and sweetmeats. Such a treat! Time passes so slowly, I sometimes feel I shall indeed run mad. Your notes and gifts are my only solace.

Your loving Mother

I struck a flame, set light to Mother’s note and watched it curl and blacken. With my father in residence at Farleigh and Maria snooping in my room, I was careful never to leave any evidence of our correspondence lying about. I dropped the ash into the grate and left the room, making my way down the stairs. I was to ride with Gregory.

My greatest worry now was the whirl of gaiety into which I had been drawn. There were plays and concerts as well as endless banquets. My father required my presence at all of them, and Maria ensured that I attended. Sometimes I felt she was a sheepdog worrying at my heels rather than the friend she pretended to be.

Renewing my acquaintance with my cousin, on the other hand, was a comfort to me. I found his company most agreeable. I must confess though, he was not quite the happy-go-lucky youth of my memory.

‘You do not ride astride, Mistress Eleanor?’ he demanded when he saw me swing onto Arianna’s back. His face was a very picture of shock and disapproval. I laughed out loud.

‘Indeed, I do!’ I cried. I caught Tom’s equally disapproving look and scowled at him. We had already had a whispered argument on the subject of my saddle in the privacy of the loose box. I was not willing to revert to side-saddle because guests were come to stay. I was no longer even sure I could ride on one. Unless Sir Walter himself forbade it, I would ride as I liked. ‘And I’ll wager I can outdistance you on that showy chestnut any day,’ I taunted.

‘I would not take a wager from a lady,’ he said primly, averting his eyes from the sight of me on my horse. My temper flared.

‘Do I offend your sense of decorum, cousin?’ I asked.

‘It is not seemly,’ he muttered.

Tom sent me a look that said clearly ‘I told you so’. I clicked my tongue in exasperation at them both. Their disapproval made me all the more determined to flout convention. I turned Arianna towards the gatehouse and urged her to step out smartly, leaving Gregory to follow or not as he chose. After a few moments I heard the sound of hooves behind me and guessed he was going to accompany me despite my offensive saddle.

I had not been able to ride whilst I awaited my new clothes, and Arianna was fresh. She shied at the sight of the guard and cavorted sideways across the drawbridge, pretending to be frightened of the echoing sound of her own hooves on the wooden bridge.

‘That is surely not a gentle enough palfrey for a lady,’ ventured my cousin behind me. He sounded anxious.

I laughed. ‘You must remember Arianna!’ I exclaimed. ‘I had her when you were here last. This is nothing but playfulness. Come, shall we ride out Iford way? Once we pass the encampment, there’s a great place for a gallop through the meadow along the river.’

Gregory smiled.

‘Indeed, I do remember that stretch. But do you gallop? Surely … ’ His voice trailed off as he met my incredulous gaze.

‘Do I gallop?’ I demanded in blank astonishment. ‘Will the sun rise tomorrow? Of course I do.’ It was on the tip of my tongue to remind him I jousted also, but I bit it back. He had become tiresomely conventional, it seemed, and I did not want to spoil the ride by hearing his reaction to
that
piece of information.

By the time Gregory had insisted on holding three gates open for me and had begged me to take care over rough ground twice, my temper was at boiling point. As we emerged from the trees by the river, a pheasant flew up, startling Arianna, who half reared, whinnying with fright. Quite used to her sudden frights, I kept my seat easily; ready to let her have her head if she wished to gallop. But before her front legs touched the ground, my cousin had grasped her reins just above the bit, bringing her to a complete halt.

‘Let my horse go
at once
,’ I ordered him through clenched teeth.

‘But, Mistress … ’

‘Don’t Mistress Eleanor me and don’t interfere with my riding.’ My voice was quiet but shook with anger. Gregory looked taken aback and released the reins. I urged Arianna forward and she responded by breaking into a canter and soon lengthened her stride into a gallop. The ground was soft but not wet enough to make the going heavy. I leaned low over her neck, calling encouragement to her, until she was almost flying over the grass. I could hear Gregory’s horse gaining on us and urged her still faster.

Once we reached the stream at Iford, the two horses were side by side. I slowed Arianna to wade through the clear water, glad of the shade the overhanging trees offered. I heard my cousin’s laughter over the splashing of the water, and looked round to see what amused him.

‘By God, Cousin Eleanor, you would ride the devil out of hell!’ he said and this time there was a note of admiration in his voice that made me flush with pleasure. I leaned forward and patted Arianna’s sweating neck to hide the colour in my cheeks.

‘Thank you, cousin.’ Then I grinned at him. ‘You know, we would get along a good deal better if you treated me as you were used to do, and not like some helpless lapdog. For indeed, I am no such thing.’

‘But you are no longer a little girl. And I am no longer a heedless youth,’ Gregory argued.

‘You are not so very old,’ I said. ‘I see no stubble upon your cheek.’ But he was barely listening, his brow furrowed with unease.

‘I am a man and you are a beautiful young woman,’ he tried to explain. ‘You should be worshipped and served. You need to be protected from danger.’

‘Stuff and nonsense!’ I exclaimed indignantly. ‘Where did you get such ideas? You have become so very bound by silly conventions.’

My cousin mumbled something about the code of chivalry. I didn’t quite catch it and shrugged impatiently.

‘That’s not the sort of protection I need,’ I told him. ‘Not help through gates and mounting my horse and suchlike.’ I gave my cousin a sidelong glance as our horses walked side by side. I was in need of protection in much more serious matters than my cousin meant. I wondered how much he remembered of the events that had taken place just before he left Farleigh.

‘Tell me, cousin,’ I asked. ‘Does Sir Walter believe in the code of chivalry?’

‘Of course!’ exclaimed Gregory. ‘What gentleman does not? Sir Walter is a powerful and highly-respected man. He is a fine gentleman and most gallant to the ladies.’

‘Oh, to the
ladies
! I’m sure he is,’ I retorted drily. ‘But not to his wife. He does not use my mother as he ought.’

‘But, Eleanor, you are mistaken. Indeed you must be. Your poor dear mother is sick and he takes the greatest care of her. Everyone says so.’

‘You know that is not true!’ I retorted bitterly. ‘Have you forgotten how he arrived home suddenly and locked her up for no reason?’ My cousin was silent.

I leaned across and grasped his sleeve. ‘Cousin, can I trust you?’ I asked earnestly.

‘You sound so dramatic, Eleanor,’ Gregory protested. ‘Like a play.’

‘This is not a joke, but if that is all it is to you, let us drop the subject. Shall we canter?’ So saying I urged Arianna faster.

My cousin cantered beside me until we reached Freshford and we slowed to a walk once more. Gregory looked thoughtful, but I ignored his sober looks and merely remarked upon the fine weather. He did not respond, but a few moments later he said: ‘Tell me what is upon your mind. I am your servant to command.’

I chuckled. ‘Now who sounds like a play?’ I asked. But then I grew serious and told him something of Mother’s situation over the last four years. And then, saving the climax for last, I revealed how I had heard Sir Walter and the chaplain planning to poison my mother again. ‘She needs someone to help her,’ I told him passionately. ‘Someone must make Sir Walter see sense!’

‘But, Eleanor,’ objected Gregory, ‘why would Sir Walter wish to harm your mother? It makes no sense to me.’

‘I do not know why,’ I said in a low voice. It always came down to this endless why, and I was no closer to answering it than I had been four years ago. ‘I suspect he is not sane.’

Gregory shook his head, but did not argue.

‘I can see that you are sincere, cousin,’ he said at last. ‘And that you believe all this to be true. But could it not be some kind of misunderstanding? Everyone has such respect for my uncle Walter. Why even the king trusts him and takes his advice!’

I made an impatient noise in my throat, but Gregory ignored it. He sat very straight on his horse, his brow furrowed in thought. I looked at him anxiously, realizing that I minded whether or not he believed me. I wanted him to be my friend as he once had been.

‘Eleanor, what is it you wish me to do exactly?’ he asked abruptly.

‘I’m not sure, to tell you the truth,’ I admitted. ‘I hoped you might be able to help.’

‘Do you wish me to speak to Sir Walter?’

‘Good God, no! That would merely get me into trouble.’ As I said this, I thought he looked relieved. No doubt the prospect of speaking to his formidable and powerful uncle on such a subject was unthinkable. ‘In fact,’ I continued, ‘I do not want you to repeat what I have said to anyone; unless you are quite sure they might be of use.’

Gregory sighed and shook his head. ‘I will think about this,’ he promised. ‘But really, I do not see what I can do.’

I was not sure whether I had convinced him of the truth. Neither did he actually promise me any support. But we returned to the castle much better friends than we had left it. It was a relief to have been able to talk to him.

Lord Stanton was in the stable yard when we returned. He had just dismounted from his own horse, and stood watching us as we rode in. Seeing me ride with a man’s saddle made him lift his brows in surprise. He sent me a quizzical look, but I met his eyes as briefly as possible.

‘Mistress Eleanor,’ he bowed, ‘and Hungerford!’ He nodded casually to my cousin in a way that suggested they were acquainted. ‘You will like to know that the king’s herald arrived scarce an hour ago. The king himself is expected at any moment.’

I was taken aback. I had not expected the royal visit so soon—or indeed at all, truth be told. Stanton interrupted my thoughts.

‘Mistress Eleanor, I would urge you to hurry. You would not wish the king to see you in such a guise.’ As he spoke, he looked pointedly at my saddle. ‘He may get
quite
the wrong impression of you.’

‘I do not seek to find favour with the king, sir,’ I said as haughtily as I could.

‘More fool you,’ he retorted. ‘Better people than you have lost their heads on King Henry’s orders. But it was the possibility that you might find
more
favour than you expected and of quite the wrong sort that was on my mind, Mistress.’

I felt my face flush hot, and slid off Arianna’s back with more haste than elegance. Stanton stepped up to me and held out his hand for Arianna’s reins. I was vexed at his interference.

‘I can manage myself,’ I said swiftly. Stanton shot me an amused look and bowed again.

‘I did not know you numbered stable skills among your accomplishments,’ he replied insultingly.

I glared at him, cursing myself silently for my awkwardness. I was beginning to think him a hard man to get the better of. I took Arianna to her stable to escape him. I found Tom there, looking harassed and anxious.

‘I’ll see to Arianna for you, Mistress,’ he said. ‘There’s not going to be enough stable room. She may have to go out to pasture.’ I nodded my understanding, and hurried out into the courtyard again. My cousin was waiting for me and accompanied me back to the inner court. We parted on the stairway to the great hall. ‘We’d both best hurry and make ready,’ he said ruefully, looking at his muddy clothes. Then he took me by surprise by taking my hand and bowing over it. ‘Thank you for this morning, cousin. I shall think on what you said.’

Dearest Mama,

You did not wave to me this morning when I passed the tower. Did you not see me?

With love

Eleanor

Upon reaching my room, I washed and dressed. I selected a kirtle of dark green and a gown of paler green woven with silver thread to go over it. Maria had insisted that yellows and greens were the best colours for me, so most of my new garments were shades of these. I picked out a pair of soft leather slippers slashed with green satin and pulled them onto my feet. They were more comfortable than anything I had worn in years, but would not last five minutes outside the castle. A rich girl’s shoes, I thought. For someone who doesn’t have to walk. But a part of me felt a guilty pleasure in wearing them all the same.

I could not fix my hood, having no maid of my own. So, carrying the offending article, I was obliged to make my way reluctantly to Maria’s apartments.

‘Ah, Eleanor, there you are at last. You are tardy, the king will be here any minute,’ she scolded. Then turning to her maid, she snapped: ‘I am ready now. See to Mistress Eleanor’s hair, and be quick about it.’

The maid bobbed an apologetic curtsey and drew me into a chair. But no sooner had she picked up the pot of hair paste, than we heard a bugle blown from the gatehouse.