The King's Secret Matter by Jean Plaidy Read Free Book Online Page A

Everything was of the best. Capons, pheasants, snipe, venison, chickens and monumental pies. Who but the Cardinal’s cooks could produce such light pastry with the golden look? Peacocks, oysters, stags, bucks, partridges, beef and mutton. There were fish of many descriptions; sauces made from cloves and raisins, sugar cinnamon and ginger; and gallons of French wines with Malmsey, and muscadell – all to be drunk from fine Venetianglasses which were the wonder of all who saw them.
    But while the company gave themselves to the appreciation of this banquet Wolsey continued uneasy, and suddenly he raised his voice and said:
    â€˜My friends, there is one among us who is so noble that I know it to be my duty to surrender my place to him. I cannot sit under this canopy in good spirit while he, who is so much more worthy than I, takes his place unrecognised at my table.’
    There was silence, and then one of the masked men spoke; and a great hatred seized Wolsey when he recognised the disguised voice as that of Buckingham. ‘My Lord Cardinal, there are many members of the nobility present.’
    â€˜I speak of one,’ said Wolsey.
    Then one of the masked men said in a muffled voice: ‘Since Your Eminence believes there is such a noble personage among us, you should remove the mask of that man that all may see him.’
    It was the invitation to unmask, always the great climax of these childish games.
    The Cardinal stood up. ‘It shall be so,’ he said. And he walked along the tables to that man with the black beard, and stood before him.
    â€˜Take off his mask if you believe it to be he,’ commanded a voice which was husky with suppressed laughter.
    And Wolsey stretched up and removed the false beard and the mask, to disclose the features of Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk.
    While he stared with dismay there was a shout of laughter and a tall figure rose and confronted Wolsey.
    â€˜So my lord Cardinal,’ he cried, removing his mask, ‘you would deny your King!’
    Wolsey knelt and took Henry’s hand.
    â€˜May God forgive me,’ he murmured.
    Henry, his face scarlet with pleasure, his blue eyes sparkling, flung his gold wire beard from him. He began to laugh in that deep rumbling way which appeared to be infectious for the whole company laughed with him.
    Thomas stood up and raised his eyes to the jovial giant.
    â€˜So Thomas, my friend, you did not know me.’
    â€˜Your Grace, I have never seen you so perfectly disguised.’
    Henry slapped his satin thigh. ‘ ’Twas a good mask. And I’ll applaud Suffolk. He led you astray, did he not. Yet I thought you would have seen he lacked that inch or so.’
    â€˜But surely Your Grace stooped to deceive me?’
    â€˜Ha! Stoop I did. And ’twas effective.’
    â€˜And I had thought I could find Your Grace anywhere . . . in any circumstances.’
    â€˜So, friend Thomas, you offer me your seat of honour, eh?’
    â€˜Everything I have belongs to Your Grace. And now I would crave your indulgence and ask you to wait awhile before you sit to table. That which was served for a band of travellers is not what I would put before my King.’
    â€˜How so, Thomas?’
    â€˜If Your Grace will excuse me I will send for my master cooks. When the King comes to Hampton Court that which is served must not only be fit for a King but fit for the King of England.’
    Henry’s eyes gleamed with pleasure. There was never such a one as Thomas Wolsey. He could be trusted to rise to any occasion. Whether it was matching the wits of his great enemy, François Premier, or talking of treaties with the Emperor Charles, Wolsey was the man he wanted to have beside him.And in a mask such as this he could be as effective as at the Council table.
    â€˜Go to, Thomas,’ he said; and when Thomas gave a quiet order to his stewards the King’s merry eyes watched the ceremonial arrival of