Read My Enemy, the Queen for Free Online Page B

which is clear to me. When my sister was near to death, the road to Hatfield was crowded with those who would come to pay homage to Elizabeth, whose name, but a short while before, few of them dared mention. But Robert had always been for me, and it was meet and fitting that he should be the first to come to me. He stood before me, freshly arrived from France. He would have been with me before, he told me, but by so doing he would have put me in danger. And he brought gold with him a token that should it be necessary to fight for my rights he would be beside me and would raise money to support me aye, and he would have done so.
    is loyalty did him credit,I said, and added slyly: nd brought him much good. Your Majesty Master of Horse, no less.
    e has a way with horses, Lettice.
    nd with women, Your Majesty.
    I had gone too far. I realized that at once and a shiver ran through me. | hy say you that?she demanded.
    man of such excellent parts, of such fine countenance and figure must surely enchant all that is female, Madam, walk they on two or four legs.
    She was suspicious and although she allowed my comment to pass, my face was slapped none too gently a short while later because, she said, I handled one of her gowns clumsily. But I knew it was not for the gown but for Robert Dudley. Those beautifully shaped hands could deliver a sturdy blow, particularly when some jeweled ring cut into the skin. A gentle reminder that it would be unwise to displease the Queen.
    I noticed that on the next occasion when Robert was present she watched him closelynd me. We did not look at each other and I think she was satisfied.
    Robert was completely unaware of me in those days. He was firmly bent on one ambition from which nothing could make him swerve. At that time the determination to marry the Queen occupied him day and night.
    I often wondered about his poor wife in the country and what she thought about the rumors. The fact that he never brought her to Court must have aroused her suspicion. I thought what fun it would be to bring her there. I imagined myself calling on Lady Amy and suggesting that she accompany me back to Court. I liked to picture myself presenting her. our Majesty, my good friend, Lady Dudley. You have shown such favor to my lord that passing Cumnor Place in Berkshire and meeting the lady, I was sure you would wish to give Lord Robert the pleasure of his wife company.By which I betray that mischievous streak in my naturelso my annoyance because I, Lettice Knollys, so much more attractive than Elizabeth Tudor, was ignoredot even seen at ally the most handsome man at Court; and all because she possessed a crown and I had nothing but myself.
    I would, of course, never have dared to bring Lady Dudley to Court. There would be more than a sharp slap on the cheek if I did. I could see myself returning to Rotherfield Greys never to emerge again.
    I was amused when an old woman was arrested for having slandered the Queen. It amazed me that a woman of no fixed address who spent her life tramping the countryside, doing odd jobs for which she could get food and lodging, should think she knew more of what happened in the Queen bedchamber than those of us who were in attendance on her.
    However, it seemed that old Mother Dowe, while doing some mending for a lady, had heard that lady say that Lord Robert had given the Queen a petticoat for a gift. Later Mother Dowe offered the information that it was not a petticoat which Lord Robert had given the Queen, but a child.
    If the story had been clearly conjecture and utterly incredible, there would have been no need to take any notice of a mad old woman; but in view of the Queen attitude towards Robert and his towards her, and the fact that they were undoubtedly often in each other company unattended, the story could have been believed. Thus the old woman was arrested and the news of that arrest spread through the country at great speed.
    Elizabeth showed her growing skill by dismissing the