The Lady in the Tower by Marie-Louise Jensen Read Free Book Online Page B

bodice.
    ‘Damnation,’ he swore loudly. ‘This should have been thought of.’ He banged his fist down on the table suddenly. I jumped, but held my ground. ‘More expense to deck you out in finery,’ he muttered. There was silence for a few moments except for the impatient drumming of his fingertips on the desktop. Then he rose suddenly to his feet and kicked a chair brutally across the floor.
    ‘A curse on your head, you little witch!’ he shouted. ‘Stay in your room for a few days until you can be suitably dressed. Eat your meals in the kitchen. None of your sneaking about. I’ll give out that you are indisposed.’
    I was trembling with fright, praying that he would not let his anger loose on me again. I managed to curtsey and was leaving as quickly as I could, when my eye fell on a Bible lying on Sir Walter’s table. I paused, without realizing what I did, and stared at it. It was bound in leather and I could see it was printed, not scribed.
    ‘What are you staring at, girl?’ demanded Sir Walter irascibly. ‘Oh, the new Coverdale Bible. That cost me more than my three best tournament horses. Aye, I can see you are dying to look at it. Well, you may borrow it, if it will keep you in your room. It’s no use to me. I bought it to please the king.’
    Hardly able to believe that my father was giving me so valuable a book to read, I picked it up and hugging it close I made for the door.
    ‘Eleanor!’ came a shout behind me. I turned anxiously.
    ‘Don’t damage that!’ Sir Walter warned me.
    ‘I won’t,’ I promised and fled.
    I had accomplished my aim and much more.
    The Bible was in English, the new translation approved by the king. I had learned to read from portions of the New Testament copied out by scribes. This would be better by far.
    I did not stay in my room, of course. Dressed as a servant, as I was, there was little danger that any of the guests would recognize me later as Mistress Hungerford. Servants were well nigh invisible to fine folk, I knew that well enough. With just a few precautions, I could continue to roam the castle as I pleased.

CHAPTER SEVEN

     
    Dearest Mother,
    I am well enough. Sir Walter did not punish me. It is you I fear for.
    Eleanor
    The building work had begun on the tournament ground. From the old schoolroom window, I watched several large trees being felled. An army of craftsmen—joiners, carpenters, and labourers—were busy in the field across the river. The lists were taking shape and the seating was under construction.
    Sir Walter must be spending a fortune, I thought. How I will laugh if the king does not come after all.
    I had seen the king once before. I was only seven when we last visited London. We stayed at Hungerford House, but I went with my parents to Windsor. I saw him in the gardens. He was very tall. I had never seen such a tall man. Fair of face and fine of figure. All England loved him. Later, people began to mutter against him. They did not like the break with Rome or the new Protestant priests.
    I never heard such gossip within the castle, for Cromwell and my father were the king’s advisers. Here everyone was loyal. But when I rode out to the villages around the estate, I heard a different story. They disapproved of Henry’s many marriages. He was now on his fourth marriage, to Anne of Cleves, and the gossip told me it was not going well. That had to be dangerous for my father. I knew he and Cromwell had proposed and arranged the match. Perhaps this tournament was an attempt to placate the king.
    My musings were interrupted by a rustle of skirts behind me. I jumped and looked round. A lady stood in the doorway. I could not help but stare. She was dressed so very grandly in velvets and silks. There were jewels winking at her throat and on her arms, and her fingers were laden with heavy rings. She wore a headdress, but it was not the English hood I had once hated to wear. It was a new fashion I did not recognize.
    ‘You must be Mistress