The queen was just ascending the steps of the great public staircase, and she greeted John Heywood with a friendly smile.
"My lady," said he aloud, "I have a few words in private to say to you, in the name of his majesty.""Words in private!" repeated Catharine, as she stopped upon the terrace of the palace. "Well, then, fall back, my lords and ladies;we wish to receive his majesty's mysterious message."The royal train silently and respectfully withdrew into the large anteroom of the palace, while the queen remained alone with John Heywood on the terrace.
"Now, speak, John."
"Queen, heed well my words, and grave them deep on your memory! Aconspiracy is forged against you, and in a few days, at the great festival, it will be ripe for execution. Guard well, therefore, every word you utter, ay, even your very thoughts. Beware of every dangerous step, for you may be certain that a listener stands behind you! And if you need a confidant, confide in no one but me! I tell you, a great danger lies before you, and only by prudence and presence of mind will you be able to avoid it."This time the queen did not laugh at her friend's warning voice. She was serious; she even trembled.
She had lost her proud sense of security and her serene confidence--she was no longer guiltless--she had a dangerous secret to keep, consequently she felt a dread of discovery; and she trembled not merely for herself, but also for him whom she loved.
"And in what consists this plot?" asked she, with agitation.
"I do not yet understand it; I only know that it exists. But I will search it out, and if your enemies lurk about you with watchful eyes, well, then, I will have spying eyes to observe them.""And is it I alone that they threaten?""No, queen, your friend also."
Catharine trembled. "What friend, John?"
"Archbishop Cranmer."
"Ah, the archbishop!" replied she, drawing a deep breath.
"And is he all, John? Does their enmity pursue only me and him?""Only you two!" said John Heywood, sadly, for he had fully understood the queen's sigh of relief, and he knew that she had trembled for another. "But remember, queen, that Cranmer's destruction would be likewise your own; and that as you protect the archbishop, he also will protect you with the king--you, queen, and your FRIENDS."Catharine gave a slight start, and the crimson on her cheek grew deeper. "I shall always be mindful of that, and ever be a true and real friend to him and to you; for you two are my only friends: is it not so?""No, your majesty, I spoke to you of yet a third, of Thomas Seymour.""Oh, he!" cried she with a sweet smile. Then she said suddenly, and in a low quick voice: "You say I must trust no one here but you.
Now, then, I will give you a proof of my confidence. Await me in the green summer-house at twelve o'clock to-night. You must be my attendant on a dangerous excursion. Have you courage, John?""Courage to lay down my life for you, queen!""Come, then, but bring your weapon with you.""At your command! and is that your only order for to-day?""That is all, John! only," added she, with hesitation and a slight blush, "only, if you perchance meet Earl Sudley, you may say to him that I charged you to greet him in my name.""Oh!" sighed John Hey wood, sadly.
"He has to-day saved my life, John," said she, as if excusing herself. "It becomes me well, then, to be grateful to him."And giving him a friendly nod, she stepped into the porch of the castle.
"Now let anybody say again, that chance is not the most mischievous and spiteful of all devils!" muttered John Heywood. "This devil, chance, throws in the queen's way the very person she ought most to avoid; and she must be, as in duty bound, very grateful to a lover.
Oh, oh, so he has saved her life? But who knows whether he may not be one day the cause of her losing it!"He dropped his head gloomily upon his breast, when suddenly he heard behind him a low voice calling his name; and as he turned, he saw the young Princess Elizabeth hastening toward him with a hurried step. She was at that moment very beautiful. Her eyes gleamed with the fire of passion; her cheeks glowed; and about her crimson lips there played a gentle, happy smile. She wore, according to the fashion of the time, a close-fitting high-necked dress, which showed off to perfection the delicate lines of her slender and youthful form, while the wide standing collar concealed the somewhat too great length of her neck, and made her ruddy, as yet almost childish face stand out as it were from a pedestal. On either side of her high, thoughtful brow, fell, in luxurious profusion, light flaxen curls; her head was covered with a black velvet cap, from which a white feather drooped to her shoulders.
She was altogether a charming and lovely apparition, full of nobleness and grace, full of fire and energy; and yet, in spite of her youthfulness, not wanting in a certain grandeur and dignity.
Elizabeth, though still almost a child, and frequently bowed and humbled by misfortune, yet ever remained her father's own daughter.
And though Henry had declared her a bastard and excluded her from the succession to the throne, yet she bore the stamp of her royal blood in her high, haughty brow; in her keen, flashing eye.
As she now stood before John Heywood, she was not, however, the haughty, imperious princess, but merely the shy, blushing maiden, who feared to trust her first girlish secret to another's ear, and ventured only with trembling hand to draw aside the veil which concealed her heart.
