The Queen's Lady (13 page)

12

James woke up in a cold sweat and found himself sprawled on the floor, his knife buried in the belly of his pillow, feather-guts spread across the boards.

‘My lord?’

Pulling himself up on to his knees, James met Diego’s startled eyes, the whites standing out against the dark of his face. Disorientated, he groped for the side of the bed. His servant made to get up.

‘Leave it. I’ll manage. Go back to sleep.’

‘But the pillow …’

‘You can clean up in the damn morning, can’t you?’

‘Aye, my lord.’ Lids lowered, veiling his expression, the manservant lay back down on his pallet bed at the foot of James’s four-poster. James doubted Diego would return to sleep as quickly as he pretended, but he for one was thankful for the illusion of privacy to tackle the aftermath of his nightmare.

Dragging a quilt off the bed, James wrapped it around his nakedness and ducked under the drapes so he was concealed in the window alcove. The night was freezing, a chill damp breeze coming off the oily waters of the Thames, but he welcomed the discomfort as his due for his weakness. The dream had come again – the one where the bodies of the Dutch children fell around him, broken puppets on cold snow. He’d attacked the soldier murdering the innocent, only to find he was stabbing at an inoffensive pillow. And Jane asked why they could not be together? What if she had been beside him – would he have attacked her and only realized too late what he had done? It was not an idle question. He sometimes worried about having Diego in the same room at night, but the servant had always refused to lie elsewhere.

‘God, you’re a mess, Lacey,’ James murmured, scrubbing his face with one hand. ‘Do everyone a favour and get yourself off to the other side of the world.’

Contrary to what he had told Jane, part of him did not expect to come back. He certainly wouldn’t return if the journey did not cure the strange black mood he had been in for so many months. He’d throw himself over the side of the ship first if he thought he still posed a risk to those he loved.

James was still standing in the alcove when dawn broke. He heard the scuffle of sheets as Diego rose to light the fire, the sounds of the city waking, boatmen shouting, birds singing as they made brave attempts to attract a mate in anticipation of spring. Good luck to them.

‘My lord.’ Diego handed him a tankard of warmed ale, the spicy tang of nutmeg filling his nose and turning him from statue to human again. He took a sip.

‘Thanks.’

‘Your shaving water is ready.’ Diego drew back the curtains, revealing a room already straightened, evidence of the pathetic pillow-fight removed.

James dropped the quilt, comfortable to walk around unclothed in front of his manservant. He pulled on his shirt and woollen hose, fingers stinging as warm blood circulated once more, his nails losing their bluish tinge.

‘I’ve decided we’ll go and join the ships in Plymouth.’ He lathered his face, then sat back for Diego to shave him. ‘I’m doing no good here.’

Diego thoughtfully prepared the razor on the strop. ‘I see, sir.’

‘Pack up. We’ll hire a couple of hacks. We should be there at the end of the week.’

‘My lord, I … I do not wish to go.’ Carefully, Diego smoothed the blade over James’s cheek, trimming off the excess hair to shape the beard so it followed the line of his jaw and didn’t invade the rest of his face.

James studied his man’s expression. ‘What’s this? Mutiny?’

‘No, sir: love.’

He grimaced. ‘I had forgot. The pretty copper-headed maid. She’s agreed to wed you?’

Diego nodded, turning his attention to the other side.

‘I’m pleased for you. Then I’ll go alone. There’s bound to be a suitable replacement for hire at the port and I’ll save on the second horse.’ Despite his prosaic tone, James realized he felt relieved: it had not sat right with him to drag Diego along on what was likely to prove a dangerous voyage. Only the desperate should consent to such an adventure. Separating himself from the last person who cared for him felt right, akin to renouncing worldly goods in preparation for death. He had no intention of hiring another man – no one should see him in his nightmares. He’d move heaven and earth to get a cabin alone.

‘If you’re sure, sir?’

‘I’ve never been more certain. Get wed. Be happy.’ The trim over, he rubbed his face dry and threw the towel at Diego. ‘Then name your first son after me.’

The court was preparing to move. The privies at Whitehall had reached their capacity, the taint in the air unpleasant, so the order went out for transfer to Greenwich to allow the palace to be sweetened. Jane’s maid packed her wardrobe and other personal effects from her chamber – several trunkfuls by the time she had finished.

‘I’ll see to these, my lady.’ The maid bristled with annoyance to have her work overseen by her mistress. ‘Can’t trust those boatmen – they’re not above misplacing a cargo or two.’ The girl had been cold towards her ever since the episode when Jane had practically thrown her from the room. The application of the soothing balm of a half-crown had done little to soften her disposition.

‘Thank you, Margery.’ Jane smiled at the maid but her overture was met with a stony look. She sighed inwardly. ‘I will meet you at Greenwich this evening.’

A tap at the door turned her thoughts from the fractured state of affairs with her maid.

Margery answered the summons. ‘What’s your business here?’ Her curt tone told Jane that it was someone of low status.

‘I have come to ask a favour on your lady, maid.’

Margery gave snort. ‘She won’t want to be bothered by the likes of you. Get thee gone before I call the guard.’

‘Enough, Margery!’ Jane stepped into view of the open door. ‘I know this man. Diego, please come in. Have you a message from Milly?’

With an amused glance at the maid’s crestfallen face, Diego advanced past her and into the chamber.

‘No message, O most beautiful lady. I am here to cast myself on your mercy.’

Delighted to be of assistance to her friend’s betrothed, Jane gestured him to a seat, which he refused, insisting on standing respectfully in her presence. ‘Just ask, Diego, and if it is in my power I will happily oblige.’

He tapped his chest with a fist and bowed. ‘I would ask to serve you, my lady.’

‘But you serve Master Lacey.’

‘He has gone to join the ship for America.’

So soon?
a small voice wailed inside Jane.

‘I have begged leave to stay with Milly, which he has graciously granted. Until such time as I marry her and can take her back to Lacey Hall, I am on temporary leave from my Lord Dorset’s household.’

Aware of Margery’s avid interest in this conversation, Jane tried not to give away her consternation at the news that James had left without even a farewell. She forced herself to focus on Diego’s predicament. ‘So you need a place while you remain in London?’

‘Aye, my lady.’

The request was simple enough, and she was not short of money to pay for ten more servants, let alone one. ‘Then of course, you may enter my service for however long you require – on the understanding that the Laceys do not object. I do not want to be accused of luring away one of their best men.’

‘Master James will not mind – he holds you in very high regard.’

But that was not the kind of regard she wanted from him. ‘When would you like to start?’

‘At once, my lady. My master left early this morning.’

Already?
‘I see. A sudden decision?’

‘Aye, it was.’

Jane could not come to terms with what this meant before two witnesses; she would have to leave the matter for later. But with the household on the move, this meant much later.

‘Then, Diego, you may accompany me now. I have the day free as the court is leaving for Greenwich, and we will only be in the way if we stay here. Come.’

Diego gave Margery a wicked grin, enjoying his little victory over her attempt to bar him entry. ‘I follow, my lady.’

Jane led the way to the palace stables where she had sent orders ahead for her horse to be made ready. The yard seethed with people and vehicles as the complicated business of removing the Queen’s household got underway. Carts lined up for the heavier items that were to be taken by road over London Bridge; porters swore colourfully; court officials issued threats liberally as priceless goods were levered aboard. Few noted the lady with her blackamoor attendant slipping between the throng. Seeing the horse had been prepared with the pillion saddle, Jane dismissed the manservant she had sent down earlier to convey her orders to the stable and told him to stay and assist Margery.

‘You can ride pillion, Diego, I trust?’ she asked.

‘Indeed. I have some small skill with horses, my lady.’ Diego went to the hack’s head and whispered in his ear. The gelding immediately quieted and lipped his new rider’s outstretched palm, captivated by the stranger.

‘Small skill, I vow,’ Jane said wryly.

Diego handed her up on to the rear seat before mounting smoothly in front.

‘Where to, my lady?’

‘Guess.’ Jane prodded him between the shoulders.

‘Will I like the destination, O most kind mistress?’ Diego kicked the horse into motion, heading for the gate.

‘Indubitably.’

She did not have to say any more. Diego twitched the reins and set course for Cheapside.

Diego enjoyed Milly’s surprise when she saw her two favourite people in the world, as she called them, arrive together. She flew about her upstairs workroom to make them comfortable, moving her latest commission from a chair and fussing about whether or not she had suitable refreshments for them. Deciding in the negative, she despatched Henny to the cookshop with strict orders to buy the freshest batch of sweet rolls.

‘There’s no need to go to all this trouble,’ Lady Jane protested, trying to prevent the whirligig of activity. Diego knew better than to try to stop his Milly when she had an idea in her head. He stood back to watch and enjoy.

‘You should have sent word! Oh, look at the mess!’ Milly stuffed her embroidery silks back into the basket on the table.

‘I did not mean to stop you working.’ Lady Jane picked up the smock Milly had removed, admiring the flower motif on the breast. ‘Perhaps we should help – you have a business to run, after all.’

Diego smothered his laughter when he saw Milly’s aghast expression. She was frantically trying to think how to turn down the offer without causing offence.

‘Not that I’m very skilled at this work,’ Jane continued, a twinkle in her eye. ‘But I’m sure I could stitch something given half a chance.’

His new mistress was teasing Milly. Diego turned to the window to hide his grin.

‘But, um, Lady Jane, I don’t really have that much work on at the moment,’ Milly lied in desperation. ‘There is no need for you to help me.’

Lady Jane threw the smock to Milly. ‘Got you! You should’ve seen your face.’

In a flash, Milly’s expression went from worried to relieved. ‘You wicked creature! You had me thinking you were serious!’

‘I did, didn’t I? You were always pathetically easy to gull, Milly. You need someone hard-headed to keep you safe from tricksters like me.’

Diego raised his hand. ‘I volunteer for the position, my lady.’

‘Excellent. I’ll sleep better knowing that.’

Milly glared at them, hands on hips. ‘Oh, you two! I can’t have you conspiring against me.’

Jane laughed. ‘Only for your own good, my dear.’

Henny returned with a tray of sweet rolls glazed with cinnamon sprinkled icing.

‘Those smell wonderful.’ Lady Jane took a seat at the table for a second breakfast.

‘Best in London,’ Milly promised. ‘You won’t taste anything finer at court.’

Even with Henny dismissed, Diego refused to sit at the table with them, taking his share to eat at his post by the door. Though he paid little heed to the distinction of rank, he suspected his new mistress did; the informality between the old friends was not something he felt able to share while engaged in her service.

The girls worked their way through two rolls apiece.

‘Did you leave your man below?’ Milly asked, licking her fingers.

Lady Jane shook her head. ‘He’s right here.’

Milly’s eyes widened. ‘You mean Diego?’

‘I have left Master James’s service and her ladyship was kind enough to take me on until we can be married,’ Diego explained.

‘But why leave him?’ Milly put down the last half of her roll and pushed the plate away.

‘Master James has gone to Plymouth and is bound for the Americas. I wanted to stay with you.’

The two girls exchanged looks – Milly’s questioning, Jane’s resigned to disappointment.

‘Oh, Diego,’ wailed Milly. ‘What about Jane? What about her hopes?’

Diego’s heart sank at Milly’s distress. He had thought to please her by staying but she was not taking the news in the way he had anticipated; she appeared more worried for Lady Jane than happy for them. He had long known of the attraction between his old master and new mistress but Milly was clearly party to far more confidences than he.

Milly turned pleading hazel eyes on him. ‘But I thought you’d promised the earl you’d stay with his brother?’

He had, hadn’t he? But circumstances had changed; he had exercised his freedom of choice and followed the path he preferred, the one that would lead to happiness. What did he owe these Laceys who only employed him because he was useful to them? Why should he risk everything by following his master on a voyage he did not really understand and knew would be dangerous?

He countered her charge by making it personal, dodging the issue of the promise. ‘Do you want me to go then, Milly?’

‘Of course I don’t want you to go!’ Milly took Lady Jane’s hand and gave it a squeeze. ‘But you know better than most how your master is at the moment. Doesn’t he need a friend with him on this voyage?’

Diego crossed his arms. ‘I am not a friend.’

Milly rose and went to him, cupping his cheek tenderly in her palm. ‘Aren’t you? I know you are far apart in rank, but you have done so much together – and look how worried he was about you when he thought you in danger!’