The Bradgate Heiress

Chapter 6

Flaming June they call it and yet the English climate can produce summer weather colder than a widow"s arse at bedtime. Yesterday it was sunshine all day and this morning it is dull as ditch-water and threatening rain. And I must away to Westminster and try to steer my bill through parliament to make the duration of the protectorate dependent on the king"s pleasure instead of being fixed until he is eighteen. The boy is sickly and unwell most of the time and God knows what would happen if he were to die suddenly; as things stand the throne would go to Mary, Henry"s eldest daughter and we would be completely f****d with her turning the country back to the Roman Catholic Church.

My brother Edward, Duke of Somerset, was made Lord Protector when Henry died and a fine f*****g mess he has made of it; if my bill passes through unmolested and I can exert at least some influence on young King Edward, I may be able to alter the line of succession completely. Katherine has taken in little Lady Jane Grey and if it be possible to make her my ward I can secure a fine marriage for her.

I get ahead of myself though, verily; the girl is not yet eleven years old and has barely sprouted titties. She will grow into a fine young woman indeed; that I can see already. My eye at the moment though is on young Lady Elizabeth, Henry"s second daughter for she is, in truth, a nicely developing, shapely maiden that I would happily and joyously bed for an hour, if circumstances were propitious. She is only thirteen but young girls develop and grow into women so fast these days that you almost do not notice the transition.

I am sluggish at breakfast this morning, my mind too pre-occupied with what lies ahead on this day. I slowly grind my way through three eggs, three chunks of freshly baked bread, beef cake and a tankard of ale. When the servant approaches to ask what else she can bring me I wave her away irritably.

I lean back and take a good slug of ale as Katherine appears and joins me at table. She asks if I am leaving yet but I wave away her suggestion and tell her I will go at my own pace and leisure. Then I notice that she seems deep in thought and her brow is corrugated so I ask what ails her.

"It is little Jane," she says thoughtfully. "I"ve never known a child so intense, so full of desire for learning and so very good at everything she attempts."

"This strikes me as worthy," I say quietly, "and far from any cause for alarm."

"Oh I know and perhaps I shouldn"t fret," Katherine murmurs. "But is it natural in a little girl to devote all her time to schooling and study?"

"It"s just the way she is, m" dear," I tell her. "She will grow out and through it and into a fine, learned, handsome young woman."

She smiles. "I hope you are right," she says but doesn"t look as though she believes a word of it.

I begin to think that Jane could be a great asset in my plans for the future and it would be a good idea to try and acquire her ward-ship from her parents. All sorts of possibilities run through my eager mind, chasing each other in quick succession. She could, for example, be lined up as a future wife and Queen for Edward. And with Jane in position and betrothed to the king, what possibilities that promises for controlling the country! It is indeed a fine prospect. They are both the same age or as close as makes no difference. Then my thoughts move to the buxom young woman she will be in a few short years from now; a desirable young filly indeed.

"I"ll send my assistant, Harrington, to talk to Jane"s parents," I say lightly.

"What for Thomas, what for?"

"I think it would be advantageous for Jane to become my ward."

"You are thinking in terms of us taking her into our family on a permanent basis?"

"Well, you like her, m" dear." I say lightly, not wishing to sound too anxious or keen on my plan. "And the little girl is happy here."

Katherine is gazing at me intently, her dark eyes blazing. I feel a slight discomfort under her intense gaze but focus on holding it, impassively. After a few seconds of pause she begins to ruminate on Jane"s progress in the short time she has been with us, her slow but positive adjustment to life here at Old Manor. She talks in thoughtful manner of the Greys and their flamboyant life style; their fondness for hunting, shooting and hawking. Their aptitude and fondness for gambling and the social round.

"I sometimes think Thomas," she says ruminatively, "that people like the Greys should never have children if they are too fond of a personal life of pleasure and diversion."

"Difficult not to." I murmur quietly. "Under the old Roman church ways. Unless they pursue a life of abstinence that is."

"Well we are a Protestant country now under our church of England as my late husband took pains to ensure," she replies thoughtfully.

"Indeed."

She smiles at me and takes my hand. She tells me I have hidden depths and she is pleased that I am showing such concern for a little girl"s welfare. Not many men would. She says she can see no reason not to pursue my plan and she will be happy to take on the responsibility for Jane"s full education and upbringing. I tell her that I will initiate an approach immediately and now I must get on my way to Westminster.

I walk out of the banqueting room and through the main chamber as Elizabeth enters carrying a "close the board" game. She wears a provocative blue and white gown and her hair is brushed out to shoulder length; she is a fine looking, shapely wench indeed and looks much more mature than her thirteen years would suggest. I pat her buttocks playfully as we pass and she grins at me, cheekily. So different to little Lady Jane I"m thinking as I see her sitting in a window seat reading studiously, an hour or so before her tutor is due. I must hurry now to catch my barge.

* * *

To Hampton Court now and my audience with the young king. I am shown into his privy chamber almost immediately and he waves away several courtiers and servants who appear to be buzzing around trying to please him or attract his attention. They all slink out of the chamber and the young king smiles expansively as he sees me.

"Come right in Thomas, come right in," he says.

He is seated in his big chair, covered in cushions of bright gold cloth and looks lost in it; he is so diminutive. His pale face and straw coloured hair make him look really sickly and unwell and it is often a shock when I first enter his privy chamber.

"I trust you are well, Your Majesty," I say, my usual greeting.

"I"m bored and tired," he responds, his usual answer.

"Oh, come come," I say and move closer to him. "You can send for any game you want or any entertainment, any jester at any time."

"I"m bored with them all," he says, looking dejected and pouting like a maiden. "I wish my father were still alive and we could be together here, him and Katherine, Mary and Elizabeth and me, as we used to be."

"We can"t go back in time Your Grace," I say, quietly.

"No," he says, irritably. "I do know it."

He seems to sink into a private, selfish reverie until I clear my throat and, realising I am here, invites me to be seated. I manage to give him a big, bright smile and hope that it is infectious but he just glares back at me, morosely. I ask if he has signed any bills of state recently but he just waves his hands as if to dismiss any such suggestion.

"I don"t do anything except sign bills or proclamations," he says, testily. "That is why I am so bored."

"You are the king of England," I tell him, as if he needs to be reminded. "Your word is law."

"I don"t do anything," he says, raising his rather shrill voice. "Your brother Edward, my Lord Protector, makes decisions and requires me to endorse them. You, Thomas, advise me to sign certain documents, as do other members of the king"s council. I"m just a figurehead."

There is an awkward silence which I do not attempt to break. He is a bright, well-educated little boy, wise for his years but still, in the last analysis, just a lad. And a sickly one at that. I begin to think that this little boy will be a sprightly youth in two or three years and he will need a wife and queen. That will keep him content and occupied and with the right woman or girl in position, I may begin to exert my influence on king and council and earn control of the realm. All is within my reach.

"And I"m short of money," he tells me, looking stricken.

"Here," I respond, handing over a bag of coins I have brought along. "You should always have enough to give out as favours or for whatever your needs."

"Thank you Thomas," he says and grins, at last. "You at least look after my needs. Sometimes."

"Well put it somewhere safe, away from prying eyes," I advise.

He leaps up and goes to deposit the bag in a large chest standing in the corner of the chamber. He is muttering in a whining voice about my brother Edward telling him constantly that he doesn"t need much money.

I ask him if he remembers Lady Jane Grey, his cousin and his eyes light up. He remembers playing with her when they were both very small, on visits to her family home. I tell him she is a fine girl now, bright, intelligent and as keen as he on learning and acquiring all types of useful knowledge .And she is very pious and can quote the scriptures, chapter and verse. She is very grown up for a girl of eleven years, a pretty creature and one day, in the not too distant future she could be persuaded to be his wife and queen.

"When Thomas, when will it be?"

"Well now, hold your horses your Grace, you"re both very young. But in a couple of years or so."

"I"d like that Thomas, very much."

I caution him severely to keep it to himself and not, under any circumstances talk to my brother about it. He claps his hands and says, oh no and grins at me again. I make a note in my mind to send my envoy to Grey and get the ball rolling. It should be plain sailing and once she is my ward I will be in control. I intend to end my Lord Protector"s control of the king and take the duty fully on my own shoulders; they are far worthier than his.

I take my leave as my brother arrives, bearing a sheaf of state papers. We barely exchange civil words before my exit although he does see fit to remind me haughtily of the next council meeting where he will expect to see me bright and early.

"I"m never the last to arrive for parliamentary business brother, as well you know," I say acerbically.

"Look to it then Thomas, look to it," he growls and settles down next to our young king.

I smile and exit out into the warm sunshine that now bathes Hampton Court and environs.