Betrayal (18 page)

             
“No, Bessie, there is no time. Sarah must be ready to leave within the hour,” Elisabeth blurted out, fresh tears stinging her eyes.

“No! Oh, no, Elisabeth!” Sarah cried out. “Are we to leave so soon?”

              “No, dearest, you are to have a grand adventure all of your own.”

             
“Elisabeth,” called Maude.  “You are wanted above stairs. Best hurry.”

             
“Will you take Sarah to our chamber and change her into her russet traveling gown?”

             
Maude nodded.  Scooping up the crying child into her arms she headed for the kitchen door.

             
“Here,” the cook called.  “A honey cake to soothe her upset,” Bessie continued as she handed Sarah a gilded cake.

             
Nestling her head under Maude’s chin, Sarah allowed herself to be carried up the narrow steps to the attic room shared by the women servants.

***

              Elisabeth smiled at the child’s good behavior as she hiked her skirts to climb the steep stairs. Nearing the top of the narrow twisting staircase she felt her stomach lurch, her jaws ached as her mind raced to think of a way to keep Sarah near. She hesitated at the top of the stair. ‘Maybe I can convince the Lady Anne that I can keep Sarah safe,’ Elisabeth thought as she wiped the stinging tears from her eyes. She clutched at the stair rope to keep from tumbling backward. “Two years she has been in my care. I cannot let her go,” Elisabeth mumbled as she approached the chamber door.

             
“Elisabeth! Where are you girl?” Rochford’s razor-edged voice called. “Sister, I fail to see how this dim-witted wench can be thought to be your choice to replace Marie-Louise.”

             
“Let it be, Jane. I like the girl. She is a hard worker; she will do just fine if you will just allow her to do so.”

             
“It is my responsibility to secure the smooth running of your household,” Jane replied gruffly, unwilling to relinquish her authority. “My dear husband, your brother…”

             
“Yes Jane, I know who my brother is,” Anne cut in.  “You need not remind me by whose office you hold your post as Mistress of my household and I do not mean to argue, but the woman who will be my lady’s maid will spend much time in my company and I delight in Elisabeth’s company.  Until Marie-Louise recovers, the maid Elisabeth will serve me in her stead,” the Lady Anne finished triumphantly.

             
“We do not even know if she can thread a needle let alone sew a courtly gown,” Rochford snapped. “Well, at least we are rid of the child,” Jane minced, as she opened the door to Elisabeth. “Where were you, girl? I called and you did not come.”

             
Elisabeth dipped a clumsy curtsy. “Pardon, Madam, but I was in the kitchen to see to getting Sarah readied for her journey.  I did not think you would require me so soon.”

             
“You think!” Rochford snarled. “You are not smart enough.”

             
“Jane, let the girl be. You are frightening her. Come, Elisabeth,” the Lady Anne continued as she led Elisabeth to a stool before the hearth.

             
Elisabeth wondered if the chamber had ever been a place of warmth, for even with a blazing fire the room held the chill of mid-winter, yet it was still early October.

             
“Here, Elisabeth, sit by the fire,” Anne said, taking the girl’s hands in her own. “Your hands are like ice. Here, warm them by the hearthstone.”

             
Elisabeth settled uneasily onto the warmed stool. She held her eyes downcast, fearful of Lady Rochford’s wrath.

             
“Elisabeth,” the Lady Anne began, her voice so soft Elisabeth had to strain to hear it though they sat side by side.

             
“Yes m’lady,” Elisabeth replied, daring to raise her eyes to gaze into her Mistress’ tear-stained face. “Madam, why do you cry?”

             
“Insolent girl! Do not question your Mistress as you would a stable boy,” Rochford growled.

             
“Jane, I think it best you leave. I will call you when I have need of you.”

             
The Lady Jane Rochford huffed loudly yet took her dismissal gracefully. “As you wish, sister,” then, dipping a casual bow she exited quickly into the hall.

             
“And please, Jane, do close the door behind you. Thank you, dear sister.” A curtain of silence draped the bedchamber as the two young women waited for the door to close. When at last the lock clicked into place the Lady Anne Boleyn spoke. “I am sorry for my sister’s sharp ways. She means well, in her own way. But enough said of Jane, I have now to speak of more important matters.”

             
Elisabeth nodded silently.

             
“As you now know there is fever in our small traveling company.” She did not wait for Elisabeth to reply. Hurrying on she continued, “It is Marie-Louise who is ill. You are so recent to our company that you may not know how long she has been in my service or even how she came to be so occupied.”

             
Elisabeth remained silent.

             
“When I was a child of twelve,” the lady continued, “I was sent to the Hapsburg Court at Mechelen in Brabent as maid of honor to Margaret of Austria. My father had sent me to the Burgundian Court to serve not only the Regent Margaret but two Queens as well. But I get ahead of myself. I was but one of the Archduchess Margaret’s ‘filles d’honneur’.  I joined the household wholeheartedly and studied under the ducal tutor Symonnet. In his teaching I learned the art of courtly dance.” The lady grew silent, smiling at the memory.

             
Elisabeth held her breath lest she spoil this most pleasant moment for her lady.

             
“Fancy” the Lady Anne continued. “I have not thought of my brief time at the Burgundian Court in a long time.” She smiled again and continued.  “It was there at Madame’s, for such we called her Court, I learned to dance the masque.”

             
Not knowing how to respond Elisabeth remained silent.

             
“Oh, it was merry, Elisabeth. On one such night we dressed as imprisoned damsels held within a paper tower guarded by a paper dragon. We had our faces disguised by elaborate masks. We watched and waited for the brave knights of Madame’s Court to pull us from our makeshift prison to dance gaily until the sun came up. Though hers was a merry Court, Madame kept a close eye on us, her ladies, lest rumor or a fine gentleman lead us astray. I remember walking below the southern face of Madame’s great palace of patterned brick. Yes, those were gay days.” Briefly, silence shrouded the room as the lady allowed the memories of those golden days to warm her; a gentle smile creased her lips.

“It was at Madame’s Court I met Marie-Louise. She was a junior maid of honor, like me. She was of gentle birth and came from a noble but poor family. She once told me how she came to be at Madame’s Court but that was a long time ago and I have forgotten the details. When I went to the French Court in Paris, Marie-Louise went too. While we served in the French Court; news came that Marie’s parents and sister had died of fever.”

Elisabeth sighed heavily, remembering her own loss of family. Tears rimmed her pale eyes as she realized she had just now lost Sarah too.

“A noblewoman without family or money must make her own way in the world. I promised Marie-Louise we would never be parted so when I returned to England, she came too. Marie-Louise has served as my lady’s maid ever since. And now she lies dying just beyond that door and I am helpless to stop it. I can neither tend her nor even hold her hand as she passes from this world into the next. My truest friend, my trusted confidante,” the lady sighed heavily. “I fear my brother’s wife would betray me in an instant if it were to her gain. I need someone I can trust in my household. Will you take over as my lady’s maid? I must admit from the moment I met you, Elisabeth, I have felt a kinship for you that I cannot define.”

              “I too, my lady,” Elisabeth said quietly “It would be an honor to serve you as lady’s maid or in any other capacity you may deem to choose.”

             
“Good, now, Elisabeth, from now on you will sleep on a pallet in my bedchamber, closer to me than anyone else in my household.”

             
A loud knock at the door drew the two women’s attention. “Enter,” the Lady Anne Boleyn said.

             
“They are off, my lady. The child is in the care of two grooms of this house.”

             
Elisabeth whipped her head around to face the unknown servant at the door. “Gone!”  She cried out.  “How can they be gone? I have not seen to packing Sarah’s belongings. I have not said goodbye.”

             
“Maude did that. The Lady Rochford demanded no time be wasted and the child was gone as quick as could be.”

             
Elisabeth dashed to the chamber’s oriel window, scanning the landscape for one last glimpse of Sarah, but search as she might, she could catch no sight of them. She sank to her knees sobbing loudly.  ‘Who was this woman that she could steal Sarah without so much as a by your leave?’ Elisabeth wondered, staring blankly adrift on a sea of desolation.

             
Anne crossed the room to kneel beside Elisabeth. Handing her a silk handkerchief she said, “Partings always bring sorrow, making reunions gay beyond words. Here, wipe your eyes. You will see her again. Of that I am sure. Now, tell me when did Sarah first come into your care?”

             
“It was a cold windy March day in 1527. Since then she has slept, eaten and played by my side. What shall I do without her?”  Elisabeth sobbed. “With not a chance to say goodbye, to tell her once more that I love her, she will think me angry with her; so angry as to not want to say goodbye.” Elisabeth’s eyes held a dull look as she gazed sightlessly across the floor.

             
“Anne,” called Rochford’s shrill voice. “The Lady Elinor bids you join her in the hall.”

             
“Not now, Jane.”

             
“Yes now. She awaits you downstairs. Leave servants business to servants. The girl has no need for comfort; her work will soon soothe her woes.” Then, turning to Elisabeth, she continued.  “In that box you will find the Lady Anne’s nightwear, unpack it and ready it for her return.”

             
Elisabeth struggled to her feet, wiping her tears away with the back of her hand. “Yes, my lady,” she whispered as she dipped a gracious bow. After the two ladies left the chamber Elisabeth set about uncrating the box and smoothing wrinkles from the scented clothes within. Then she went upstairs to the servant’s quarters to retrieve her bag.  Once more in the large, cold bedchamber she sat down before the hearth to write in her journal.

She paused as she thawed the ink in her hands, her heart heavy; she mourned the loss of Sarah.

              ‘
October 10, 1529

             
              What a sad day. Sarah has gone. She goes back to London and her father. There is fever in our company so she is sent away. I am to remain with the Lady Anne as her lady’s maid. How my heart breaks to lose my little one. Why does everyone I love leave me?’

             
After scribbling these few words in her journal Elisabeth stoked the fire, huddling near to it for warmth.  The evening hours passed slowly, but to Elisabeth it seemed like only minutes had passed before the ladies returned to the bedchamber. With a start Elisabeth realized she had been dozing by the fire. She roughly rubbed the sleep from her eyes and struggled to regain her feet.

             
“Lazy wench,” Lady Rochford snapped. “Get up and assist your mistress. It has been a most dull evening listening to that woman’s ceaseless chatter of her no-account son. Really, Anne, why did you encourage her so? To think we could be at Sutton Place in company with Sir Richard and his lady wife, wined and dined upon the finest jellied larks, for which Lady Weston is so famous. But no, we stop here and listen to that woman’s constant whining. And now you have promised to speak to the King on her behalf. Why you have allowed yourself to lend credence to her complaints, I do not understand.”

             
“Enough, Jane! Cease your incessant nattering. I have done no more than politeness demands. I am tired. Please leave me. Elisabeth, please help me out of this gown. Goodnight Jane.”

             
“Am I a servant to be dismissed so?”

             
“Of course not, but I am weary. My head aches. I will see you in the morning. Please leave orders that we are to leave after breakfast. Thank you, dear sister,” the Lady Anne said, turning her back to her sister-in-law. She remained so until she heard the door close. “Jane can be such a bother and tonight she was most tiresome. After you have readied me for bed I want you to seek out Lady Elinor and tell her I shall speak to the King for her. Do not let Lady Rochford see you.”