Innocent Traitor by Alison Weir Read Free Book Online

finish, making sure her upstairs was well turned-out with all those changes of clothes she insists on. Mind you, I did get to see the King a lot. Never seen a man wearing so many jewels. But the size of him…he’s put on even more weight since I last saw him.”
    “Did you see the Queen?” I wanted to know.
    “No, not sight nor sound of her.” She lowered her voice. “She’s been sent to Richmond. It looks like he’s trying to get rid of her.”
    “But why?”
    “It was all round the court the day after the wedding. The King made no secret of the fact that he had no liking for her. No one could remember him saying such things about any of his other wives, even Anne Boleyn.”
    “What did he say?” I asked avidly, biting off my thread and shaking out Jane’s mended chemise.
    “When Master Cromwell asked him how well he liked the Queen, His Majesty said he now liked her a lot worse than before. She was not fair, like Queen Jane, and she had evil smells about her. Worse still, he said he took her to be no maid. He told Master Cromwell that he had felt her breasts and other parts and believed other men had known her, and this being so, he had neither the will nor the courage to consummate the marriage.”
    I gasped at such brutal candor. “Is it true, do you think? What he says of her?”
    Mrs. Zouche shook her head and took a sip of wine. “No one believes it, if only because the Queen is patently so innocent and appears to think there is nothing amiss. Lady Rutland told my lady in my hearing that she and the other ladies-in-waiting were amazed when Her Majesty praised the King for his solicitude. The Queen said that, when he came to bed, he always kissed her, took her hand, and bade her, ‘Good night, sweetheart.’ And then, every morning, he kissed her and said, ‘Farewell, darling.’ Lady Rutland and the others could not believe their ears, for the Queen seemed to expect no more than this. Then Lady Edgecombe said she thought Her Grace was still a maid, but Queen Anne said no, how could she be when she slept every night with the King? The ladies told her there must be more than that, if she is to present us with a duke of York. But the Queen wished to hear no more and said she received as much of His Majesty’s attention as she wished.”
    I laughed. “Can any woman be so ignorant? Perhaps she’s no fool.”
    “I think she did say it in all innocence. But now she is left all alone at Richmond Palace, whilst the court is elsewhere. It must be obvious even to her that he is neglecting her. There is even talk that he will put her away like he did Queen Katherine. It is also said”—and here Mrs. Zouche lowered her voice still further—“that his eyes have lighted upon another.”
    “Who?” I asked, surprised, refilling our beakers. Is yet another poor woman to be burdened—in some ways literally—with the favor of the King?
    “The Duke of Norfolk’s niece, Katherine Howard. A very little girl, only about fifteen, but pretty enough to stir an old man’s loins. It seems the Catholic party are pushing her forward in order to crush the influence of the reformers, who have made headway since the King decided to marry this Protestant Queen.”
    “Will he really think of marrying her, this little girl?”
    “Most people think so. His Majesty will have his way, as ever. But do not divulge a word of what I have told you to anyone here. My lady would have a fit if she heard me gossiping like this. She will not brook any disrespect to her kin, especially the King.”
    I assured my friend of my discretion, and then our talk moved on to other matters. Suddenly, there was a scratching noise outside in the stairwell, and getting up to investigate, for we thought it might be a mouse, I noticed that the door was slightly ajar. Opening it, I found young Jane kneeling there, clearly surprised in the act of eavesdropping.
    “You bad girl!” I scolded, my anger spurred by concern about what she might have