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TWENTY-NINE
While Robin Dudley was banished from Court, the queen did not dance all night. She retired to her bedchamber at a decent hour, but in the antechamber Bess was still kept awake for hours as she listened to Elizabeth's sobbing. Though Bess had been offended and hurt at the angry words Elizabeth had hurled at her, she decided not to leave her Court appointment as lady-of-the-bedchamber. She fully understood this was a terrible time for the queen, and Bess refused to desert her.
In the New Year the inquest into the death of Amy Dudley returned an open verdict, which neither cleared nor condemned Robin Dudley. It was good enough for Elizabeth, however, who immediately welcomed him back to Court. Though she no longer sobbed the night away, Bess could see that Elizabeth was taut as a harp string, living on her nerves, pretending indifference that she was being laughed at all over the world for her scandalous behavior with her horse master.
Each day Bess saw her grow thinner and paler, until finally she gathered her courage and spoke to Elizabeth. “Your Majesty, I presume upon our long acquaintance. Your gaiety is forced, as worry over something eats away your soul.”
The Queen fixed Bess with a haughty glare. “Your presumption is pure arrogance, Lady St. Loe.” Then Elizabeth heaved a deep sigh. “I am at a crossroads. One path leads to my fulfillment as a woman—the other to my fulfillment as a queen. By Christ's precious blood, you have had three husbands; can I not have just one—is it too much to ask?”
“Your Majesty, I am fulfilling my destiny, as you must fulfill yours. You do not want or need my advice. Our choices in life are difficult, but as you know they are unavoidable.”
In the months that followed, Elizabeth honored Robin Dudley constantly, first with a pension, then a license to export pelts and furs. Following this she bestowed upon him the levies on all imported wines and silks, and it was rumored that an earldom was being considered.
Most courtiers surmised that the queen was about to throw caution to the wind, but Bess knew differently. Robin was receiving these favors from the queen as compensation for a marriage that would never take place. Elizabeth had chosen the path that would lead to her fulfillment as a great queen.
Bess's eldest daughter, Frances, turned thirteen, and Bess knew the time was ripe to arrange a good marriage for her. One of the most prominent men in Nottingham was Sir George Pierrepont, whose ancestors had lived at Holme Pierrepont for generations. Naturally, such a prominent family had enjoyed the hospitality of Chatsworth, and Bess had not missed the fact that Sir George's heir, Henry, was only two or three years older than her daughter Francie. Not only was Sir George impressively wealthy, a shrewd Bess could see that his health was deteriorating from either gout or rheumatics, and it would not be long before young Harry inherited everything.
Bess discussed the matter with Syntlo, who promptly offered to furnish their beloved Francie with a sizable dowry. Not to be outdone by her generous husband, Bess decided she would give Francie one of her manors upon her daughter's marriage. Bess penned a letter to Sir George and Lady Pierrepont, opening negotiations, and decided that if the reply was favorable, she would visit them at Nottingham on her way to Chatsworth.
Bess had no sooner dispatched the letter than Lady Catherine Grey knocked on Lady St. Loe's door, asking to speak with her in private. When Bess saw the worried frown on Catherine's face, she bade her sit and dismissed the servants. “Catherine, poppet, whatever is amiss?”
“Oh, Bess, I am cursed with impulsiveness. I have done something that seemed so exciting and romantic at the time, but now I am afraid that I acted foolishly.”
“Oh, darling, your mother was often impulsive; we cannot help the traits we inherit.”
“You know that Teddy Seymour and I have known each other since we were children. I'm afraid I've been indiscreet with him.”
Bess laughed. “Well, I'm amazed you've kept your virginity this long. When you were no bigger than pissants, you couldn't keep your hands off each other!”
Catherine blushed profusely. “Bess, we were secretly married when the queen moved the Court to Greenwich.”
“By God's precious blood, Catherine, it's tantamount to treason to have wed without Elizabeth's permission! Oh, you foolish child, I could shake you till your teeth rattle!”
“But we are in love, Bess,” Catherine declared, as if this made it acceptable.
“Elizabeth is jealous of anyone who loves. Who was your witness at this secret marriage?”
“Edward's sister; it was before she died so suddenly.” Tears flooded Catherine's eyes.
“Tragic though that was, it is extremely fortunate for you that your witness cannot carry tales.”
“Dear heaven, don't you think the queen will forgive me?”
“Poppet, don't be so naive; she never forgives anyone anything, not where her crown is concerned.”
“Bess, whatever shall I do?”
“Destroy the legal document immediately. Get Edward to France and deny everything, as I shall certainly do if I am ever questioned about this reckless affair!”
Bess told no one of her conversation with Lady Catherine Grey, not even her husband. Though the time for her to leave for Chatsworth for the summer months was fast approaching, Bess was loath to leave St. Loe. He looked far from robust, and he had never regained his sexual ability. As a result they now slept in separate bedchambers.
Syntlo could not bear the humiliation, even though Bess would have preferred to share a bed for companionship and warm affection. She did thoroughly understand how sensitive Will was about his impotence, but in actual fact Bess had not felt sexually satisfied since Cavendish had died.
Bess now found herself torn between her children and Chatsworth and her duty to her aging husband. Whenever she criticized Elizabeth for working him too hard, however, Syntlo sprang to the queen's defense, and Bess realized Elizabeth Tudor could do no wrong in her husband's eyes.
Bess put off leaving until the end of July, when suddenly she learned something she did not want to know. Lady Catherine Grey came to her in secret late one night and burst into pitiful sobs. “Oh, Bess, whatever shall I do? I am with child!”
Bess stared in horror at Catherine's belly. The girl was corseted so tightly, it was a wonder she hadn't killed herself and the child she carried. “You knew you were pregnant when you confessed the marriage to me!” Bess accused.
