The Manner of Amy's Death by Carol Mackrodt Read Free Book Online Page B

servant is summoned to help Jane with her clothes and then she offers her services to us but we don’t need her.  Amy and I can help each other.
          Syon, like Somerset House, is clean and new and barely used.  The garderobes or privies smell sweet even though it is now mid summer and Amy quickly checks our bed for bed bugs, whisking back the covers.  Normally we see several of them running underneath the mattress ready to plague us with bites later in the night while we are sleeping; but here all is new and there are no fleas or bugs.  We heave a sigh of relief; we will have a good night’s sleep.  We climb into bed in our shifts, our only items of underwear.
          Somehow I doubt that Jane will sleep soundly tonight.
          The next day we arise early.  Amy is ravenously hungry and determined not to miss her breakfast which, fortunately, is substantial.  Almost immediately things start to happen as people arrive at Syon.  First is the Duke of Northumberland himself.  I have to say that he is very affectionate towards his children and that the Dudleys are all close and loving towards each other.  He gives his married daughter, Mary Sidney, a warm embrace and kisses her fondly on the cheek.  Amy and I get a salutary bow and we curtsey in return.
          Other members of the Privy Council arrive, Pembroke, Northampton, Arundel and Huntingdon.  When all are assembled Northumberland, who has been talking to his daughter all this time, ushers Jane into a chamber and the Council members follow.  Now Amy seizes her opportunity to find out the latest news.
         “What did the Duke say, Mary?”
          “The good news is that the Mayor of London and the city magistrates agreed to support Jane only yesterday morning at Greenwich, where the body of the King now lies.  They have sworn an oath of allegiance to her.  Most members of the Council also said they will acknowledge Jane’s right to the throne and the ones that disagree say they will not cause trouble.”
          “So all is well then?”
          “Not quite,” says Mary.  “The imperial ambassador, Renard, and others have leaked the news of the King’s death and now word is spreading around London before we are ready to make an announcement.   And Robert arrived at Hunsdon to discover that the Lady Mary Tudor had escaped to Cambridge on the pretence that she was fleeing a plague of sickness at Hunsdon.  Now Robert and his men will have to follow her across the countryside if they wish to apprehend her.”
          From the chamber where Northumberland and the other Councillors are talking to Jane there is the sound of voices in discussion.  The Duke emerges and asks for Jane’s mother to be brought.  She soon arrives with the Duchess of Northumberland and Northampton’s wife who enter the chamber with the others.  Eventually they all emerge smiling, except for Jane who’s as serious as ever.  She does not acknowledge her friends of the previous evening as we curtsey.  Every man present kneels before her.
          The following day Mary Sidney tells us that Northumberland is to address a large gathering of members of the Privy Council, nobles and their wives here at Syon.  The Duke will formally state Edward’s wishes for the succession and will offer Jane the crown in front of all the assembled gathering.  And Jane, of course, will accept.
          Unfortunately Amy and I will not be present on this momentous occasion.  As Jane and her followers make their way to the Great Hall for supper, Mary Sidney prevents us from joining them.
          “I’m sorry, Amy and Kate,” she says, “Father has asked me to tell you that your loyalty will not be forgotten and that you are to go back to Somerset House immediately where you will receive further instructions tomorrow or on Monday.”
          Amy does not need to collect her jewellery from her little box upstairs; not to be