“The Queen is a clever woman, I believe, but she is fast losing her influence. The King is enamored of Lady Taillebois but Katharine does not know this. Lady Taillebois does not interest herself in politics. But she might not please the King forever, and if there were a woman who made great demands on the King and sought to influence him…who knows what would happen.”

“Thomas, I am alarmed by all this. It seems so dangerous.”

“You have nothing to fear, my love. I will always protect you and our children.”

“But Thomas, what if…?”

She did not say it. It seemed sacrilege even to think of it. Thomas would always maintain his place. There was no man in England who was as clever as her Thomas.


* * *

THE KING PACED up and down his apartment and with him was Charles Brandon, the newly created Duke of Suffolk. Suffolk, recently returned from Flanders, looked grim.

“So she’ll not have you,” Henry was saying.

“She was adamant in her refusals. You can be sure Maximilian has had a hand in this.”

“An English Duke is match enough for a Duchess of Savoy!” growled Henry.

“Alas, Your Grace. She—or perhaps the Emperor—would not agree. And there is another matter.”

Henry nodded. “Say on, Charles.”

“There was a hesitancy in the Emperor’s manner when, on your instructions, I tried to bring the negotiations for the Princess Mary’s marriage to completion.”

“Hesitation! What do you mean?”

“He was evasive. He seemed unwilling to make the final arrangements. Your Grace, it appears to me that the Emperor is one such as Ferdinand. He makes plans with us, and at the same time with others elsewhere.”

Henry’s brows were drawn together, he was thinking of the man who had placed himself under his banner and declared his willingness to serve the King of England.

“I cannot believe this,” he shouted. “He served me well.”

“He was paid well for doing so, Your Grace.”

Henry’s face darkened; but he could take more from Brandon than almost any other man.

“What means this change of front?”

“I know not, Your Grace, but let us be prepared.”

Henry stamped angrily from the apartment, but he gave orders that preparations for war were to go on apace.


* * *

IT WAS A WEEK or so later when an envoy from France arrived to negotiate for those prisoners whom Henry had taken at the battles of Thérouanne and Tournai and who still remained in England.

The envoy asked if he might speak in private with the King and, when Henry received him—in Wolsey’s presence—the envoy said: “I have words for Your Grace’s ears alone.”

Wolsey retired with dignity, knowing that the King would immediately pass on the news to him, and indeed having a shrewd notion as to what it must be.

When they were alone the envoy said to Henry: “Your Grace, I have a message from my master, the King of France. He wishes to warn you that King Ferdinand has renewed the truce he made with France, and that the Emperor Maximilian stands beside him in this.”

“Impossible!” cried Henry. “This must be untrue.”

“Your Grace will soon hear confirmation of this,” said the envoy. “But my master, wishing to prepare you and to show you that he is willing to be your friend, determined to let you know of it as soon as the truce had been signed.”

The veins stood out at Henry’s temples; his face was purple and he cried: “The traitors! By God, I’ll be revenged for this. My friends indeed! Base traitors both. They’ll be sorry if these words you speak are truth. And if they are lies…then shall you be.”

“I speak truth, Your Grace.”

“By God!” cried Henry, and strode from the apartment; storming into Wolsey’s quarters, he told him the news.

Wolsey, who was already prepared for it, received it calmly enough.

“What now?” demanded Henry.

“We know our false friends for what they are.”

“That will not conquer France for us.”

“A project which Your Grace will doubtless decide must be set aside for a while.”

The King’s eyes were glazed with anger, and in those moments he looked like a petulant boy who has been deprived of some much desired toy.

“Your Grace, what else had the envoy to say?”

“What else? Was that not enough?”

“Enough indeed, Sire. But I thought mayhap the King of France, showing his friendship in this way, might have further signs of friendship to show us.”

Henry looked bewildered.

“Would Your Grace consider recalling the envoy? Perhaps a little delicate questioning with Your Grace’s usual subtlety might reveal something of the mind of the King of France.”

“What is this you are saying? Do you believe it possible that I might become the ally of the King of France!”

“Your Grace, the other powers of Europe have proved themselves no friends of yours.”

“’Tis true enough, by God.”

“And Your Grace is now telling yourself, I know, that there can be no harm in hearing what this Frenchman has to say.”

“Send for him,” growled Henry.

In a short time the envoy stood before them.

Wolsey said: “Is it Your Grace’s wish that I speak of those matters which you have explained to me?”

“Speak on,” said Henry.

“It would seem,” said Wolsey, “that the motive of the King of France is friendship towards his brother of England.”

“That is my master’s desire, Your Grace, Your Excellency.”

“Then how would he show this friendship?”

“By making a peace with the English who shall be his friends, and forming an alliance which could not but bring dismay to those who have so clearly shown themselves the enemies of both countries. He says that to show his good faith he would be happy to make a marriage between France and England. As you know, Your Grace, Your Excellency, the King is without a wife. He is still of marriageable age. The marriage of the Princess Mary with the treacherous Hapsburg surely cannot now take place. The King of France would be happy to take the Princess as his bride.”

Wolsey caught his breath. The King was astounded. This was a complete volte-face. But the treachery of Ferdinand and Maximilian rankled; and what better revenge could possibly be achieved than such a treaty, such a marriage? It would be France and England against Austria and Spain. Henry saw now that those two wily old men had wanted to set him fighting France while they turned their attention to Italy—thus widening the dominions of their grandsons.

It was all startlingly clear. And the revenge: this alliance, this marriage.

Wolsey was looking cautiously at the King. “His Grace will wish to have time to consider such a proposal,” he said.

“That is so,” said Henry.

The envoy was dismissed, and, placing his arm through that of Wolsey, Henry began to pace the apartment with him while they talked.


* * *

THE NEWS WAS OUT and Katharine was bewildered. So once more her father had shown his treachery. He and Maximilian together had been profiting by the inexperience of the King of England and had used him shamelessly: Ferdinand in the conquest of Navarre, Maximilian for the capture of those two towns which were important to Netherlands trade. In addition Maximilian had received many English crowns as payment for his double dealing. They had endeavored to win concessions from the King of France by informing him of imminent invasion by England so that he would be ready to make peace with them, almost at any price in order to be free to tackle the English invaders.

Louis however had had a plan of his own to outwit them: the French and English should forget old enmities and stand together as allies.

Caroz was bewildered; he did not know which way to turn; and, as on a previous occasion he saw that he would be in the position of scapegoat. He hurried to see Katharine and was met by Fray Diego Fernandez who informed him haughtily that the Queen was in no way pleased with his conduct of Spanish affairs.

Caroz, angry beyond discretion, pushed aside the priest and forced his way into the Queen’s apartment.

Katharine met him coolly.

“Your Grace,” he stammered, “this news…this alarming news.… The English are incensed against us.”

“Against you and your master,” said Katharine coldly.

“My…master…your Grace’s father.”

“There is nothing I have to discuss,” said Katharine. “I dissociate myself from the instructions of the King of Spain.”

Caroz was astonished, because he sensed the coldness in Katharine’s voice when she spoke of her father.

“Do you understand,” stormed Caroz, “that there is a possibility of a treaty of friendship between England and France?”

“These are matters for the King and his ministers,” said Katharine.

“But our country…”

“Is no longer my country. I count myself an Englishwoman now, and I put myself on the side of the English.”

Caroz was shocked. He bowed and took his leave.

As he went from the Queen’s apartments he saw Fray Diego who smiled at him insolently.

His recall to Spain shall be immediate, Caroz decided. It is he who has poisoned the Queen’s mind against her father.


* * *

THE PRINCESS MARY came hurrying into Katharine’s apartments, her lovely eyes wild, her hair in disorder.

“Oh Katharine,” she cried, “you have heard this news?”

Katharine nodded.

“I!” cried Mary. “To marry with that old man! He is fifty-two and they say he looks seventy. He is old, ugly and mean.”