Jane’s tears were effective. Northumberland, along with his sons, agreed to go snatch Mary from the east of England and deliver her to the Tower, while the Duke of Suffolk remained behind with his daughter and wife.
That night I was awakened by a hard hand across my mouth.
I jerked upward, striking out at my assailant, struggling for breath to scream. I heard a satisfactory grunt as my fist connected with flesh, then a strong grip forced me back to the pillows.
“Do not rouse the house, you idiot woman,” a male voice came at me. “I am here to help you.”
My thoughts immediately flashed to Thomas Seymour, his fingers tight on my breast as he admonished me not to call out.
Fear lashed through me before I forced myself to banish my panic. Seymour was dead, and this voice was nothing like his. The man’s grasp held urgency, not seduction, his words tinged with alarm.
I strained to see who he was, but the darkness was complete. Nor could I place his voice. Not Suffolk or any of the Dudleys, and not a servant. The ungloved hand over my mouth was broad and callused.
“You must return to Hatfield at once,” the man commanded. “Without anyone seeing you. Get up and dress yourself. Dudley is departing with his father, but he said you were sensible. Do not give his words the lie.”
I finally realized who he must be. Colby, Robert’s friend, who’d shown him no deference and me little enjoyment when we’d danced. As my eyes adjusted to the dark, I made out his tall body, long face, and glint of red hair.
I lay still to convey that I would not scream if he released me, but I do not think Colby quite believed me. He lifted his hand very slowly, ready to clap it to my mouth again if I cried out.
“Why must I return home at once?” I asked in a whisper. “What has happened?”
Colby made a noise of annoyance. Had he expected I’d instantly obey any gentleman who entered my room in the night, pinned me to the bed, and hissed orders at me?
From the growl he emitted, he had. Colby had underestimated me as much as Northumberland underestimated Jane.
“There is danger here,” Colby said. “Mary will win. Her sister must be protected.”
“By me?” I sat up, hugging the bedcovers to my body. “You are optimistic. Shall I fight with my scissors and needle?”
He ignored my ridiculousness. “You must go to the Lady Elizabeth and tell her all. There will be much confusion here, and you might not have another chance to slip away.”
Colby must know me for the spy I was and realized that Elizabeth had sent me to report what happened. Robert must as well. Why the pair had not simply dragged me to Northumberland, I could not say.
Colby backed from the cot and stood waiting. The July night was hot, but a cooler breeze wafted through the high, open windows. With it came the sounds of horses snorting, chains rattling, and men shouting to one another in the courtyard below.
They were leaving to fight Mary’s troops. Whoever won this battle—Mary or Jane—Elizabeth would be the loser for it. Northumberland had said he wanted Elizabeth secure, and I shuddered to think what that might mean.
I did not really trust Robert or Colby, but nor did I want to stay any longer in the Tower.
I slid from the bed and padded to the hooks that held my clothes. It became apparent that Colby had no intention of leaving the room or even turning his back while I dressed, so little did he trust me.
Nothing for it. I faced the wall and threw off my night rail. Cool air touched my naked skin, raising goosebumps on my flesh. It was so dark, Colby could not possibly see me, or so I assured myself as I dropped my chemise over my head.
I slid on stockings and tied my skirt around me, then I held my bodice against my chest and glanced over my shoulder at Colby.
“Lace me, please.”
Colby hesitated, a typical man who did not realize how much assistance a woman needed when dressing.
“If you want us to be so secret that I cannot call a maid, you will have to do it,” I informed him.
Colby’s breath was loud in the dark as he came to me. His fingers fumbled against my back until he found the laces, then he began the tricky business of threading them through the grommets.
Once he got them started, however, he seemed somewhat competent at the task. He tied off the laces more quickly than I’d assumed he would.
“Do you have sisters?” I asked as I hooked the bodice to my skirt and then scanned the floor for my sturdy shoes.
“I had a wife.”
