The Lady and the Poet (29 page)

He laughed at that. ‘At least in London we do not devour each other’s offspring.’

‘You will not persuade country people of that. The fact is, I have been given an education and yet a lady of Loseley has not much call to use it.’

‘Have you not access to your grandfather’s library?’

‘Indeed. Yet I have perused it.’

‘Not all, surely?’

I shrugged. ‘The Hebrew defeats me, it is true, and the writings of the schoolmen wear me out with their logic. I cannot share the concerns of Seneca…’

Master Donne was shaking his head. ‘I am sure he would be much disappointed. If you have exhausted your grandfather’s library, I could recommend some other works, of literature perhaps?’

‘Not The Faerie Queene!’

‘I can see your taste runs not to the lyrical, then?’

‘The earthier charms of Chaucer hold more appeal for me. Save for the tale of Patient Griselda. Tell me, Master Donne, would any man wish for a wife such as she, who allows her lord to mistreat her at every turn, even to the point of turning her from their home and taking away her sweet babes, and still she gives him her full obedience?’

‘You do not find her the pattern for every good Christian lady?’ His face was serious and yet, underneath, I suspected a hidden smile.

‘Master Donne, I do not. And neither, I surmise, do you, having witnessed the pattern of Christian ladies I have seen in your company.’

He laughed at that, yet made no attempt to deny it and I wondered, with a bitter twist of my heart, how many women he had enjoyed to gain so notorious a reputation.

‘Yet, tell me, how fare all at York House? I yearn for news.’

His face took on a sterner complexion. ‘All the talk now is of war. The Earl of Essex must go to Ireland and quell the rebels there, and young Sir Thomas, the Lord Keeper’s son, is all afire to go with him.’

I thought of his wife and three sweet daughters and hoped God would protect him. A sudden fear took hold and I asked, perhaps too urgently, ‘And what of yourself, will you be accompanying him?’

His eyes held mine, searching, as if asking himself how much I might care about his safety, and why.

I looked away, studying the long-haired brown cattle in a distant meadow as if they could tell me whether Master Donne, whom—I saw now—I both desired and admired would value my love like a precious goblet wrought of delicate glass or dash it carelessly to the ground.

He answered at last. ‘I saw enough of war and death in Spain, of soldiers ablaze or drowning in their own ships. My friend Henry Wotton goes as my lord of Essex’s secretary so I shall hear enough of its progress. And your uncle has need of me in Chancery. Will you soon be returning, or has your father other plans?’

I glanced at him, overwhelmed with unaccustomed modesty, suspecting that the plans he referred to were those concerning Master Manners and my father’s desire for a betrothal.

To cover my confusion I turned away, shaking out the grass from my skirts and calling to Stephen and Hope. ‘I neglect my duties. I am sure my grandparents would wish to offer you some refreshment.’

At that his features clouded over as when rain chases away sunshine. ‘Thank you, no. I must continue my journey. I was a fair way to my destination when I saw the Loseley milestone and thought to pay you my respects.’

He turned and left us then, standing in a pool of sunlight. And the thought occurred to me, with a secret smile of triumph, that the road to Pyrford stops some miles before Loseley.

We watched until he found his horse and climbed into the saddle. As he rode off I thought how much I had missed the wit and spirit of our exchanges, and had come to look forward to them without even knowing it.

My grandmother stood at the great front door, arms folded like a goodwife, and waited for our return.

‘Did I see a gentleman riding towards the turnpike, Ann? Who was it who creeps about our parkland unannounced?’

‘No one of importance, Grandmother.’ Some instinct bade me take little Hope firmly by the hand in case she spoke the truth. ‘Naught but a traveller who had lost his way and sought the road to Pyrford.’

‘Pyrford! Then he is plentifully adrift. Pyrford is a good few miles north of here.’

I smiled again. ‘Indeed it is, Grandmother, I cannot think how the traveller made such an unfortunate mistake.’

OUR LESSONS WENT
apace.

Stephen showed an unlooked-for talent at his letters, and Hope learned quickly to recite the Lord’s Prayer. Yet it had to be said that ever since Master Donne’s departure, our days here—only a score of miles, yet several planets away from the noisy draw of London—hung heavier than before.

So it was with extreme delight that I greeted the sudden arrival of my sister Mary as she rode up, magnificent in her red frogged robe, feathered hat, and smart new leather gloves in softest burgundy kid. I wondered, with my new knowledge of her husband’s finances, just how the gloves had been paid for and hoped they did not signal that Nick’s new-found prudence was at an end.

‘Mary!’ I called, my heart leaping at the sight of my sister, her slender body so quick and full of joy for life. Mary, it often seemed to me, was like the sleek panther I had once seen down at the docks in London, imported from the distant Indies, ever tugging at her lead to be allowed off into some wild and dangerous adventure. And I could not but love her for it.

We embraced and walked through the Great Hall, nodding to the servants, who smiled at the sight of bold Mary, then once out of their sight we ran up the broad staircase as if we were children once again.

‘How fare Nick and your babes?’

‘All well. Though Nick is as grumpy as a bear at our new economies, and worse at giving up his cocking and bowling, yet his loss is my lads’ gain, since now it pleases him to play at croquet with them, and toss quoits. And instead of Nick spending his nights in the tavern or playhouse he spends them playing at Glecko with his lady wife!’

Would that this vision of domestic bliss continued.

‘Since Master Freeman kindly absolved him of his debts, my lord and master has been trying his best to please me.’

A secret smile came upon her face at the memory of her husband’s efforts. ‘Indeed,’ my sister looked suddenly coy, ‘since we must stay at home instead of being ever abroad we have found new diversions to entertain us.’ She tapped her stomach.

‘Mary! Are you with child again? I thought you wished not to be a brood mare for the Throckmortons?’

She laughed, acknowledging my teasing tone. ‘Aye, but this time there was pleasure in the getting of it.’

‘Good, then there will be no distractions from other quarters.’ She looked modestly away as if she knew not what my words implied.

‘And this time I long for a daughter.’ She looked at me narrowly. ‘And you, Ann, do you not also look to such pleasures? What of your Master Manners? If he wanted you truly could he not have talked his father into compromise by now?’

‘His father is a close old man, from all I hear, who ever lives in fear of being cheated.’

‘And our father is not one to open his palm either. He visits, by the way, in two days hence and wanted me to tell you. He seemed big with news so perhaps the mean old man has capitulated after all.’

I stared out of the window at this unwelcome intimation.

‘And your Master Donne has been kicking up a dust. Putting salt on the tails of all the clerks at Chancery, demanding receipts and accounts for every last transaction. I dined at York House three nights since and heard our uncle praise him for his good works. “Master Donne,”’ she put on a deep, gruff voice so like unto our uncle’s that I laughed out loud, “‘work thus hard, and behave so honourably, and you will rise far in my service.’”

‘I am glad for his sake.’

‘Yet Nick says he has also made himself some enemies in the doing of it. Though that boy of his watches out for him like Cerberus.’

I felt grateful for that. ‘How is Wat?’

‘The boy goes everywhere with him. His master has taken to dressing him in clothes like unto his own, so that they are as hidden dolls that open unto a smaller version of the same! It is much laughed about, though not unkindly, and several masters have started to do the same!’

I laughed at this, surprised Master Donne would want to start such a fashion. ‘And what of Wat’s education?’

‘He has caused a stir there too. For I hear that if Wat stays with him three years he has promised to send him to the grammar school at Highgate.’

‘That is kind indeed.’ I was truly moved at how different Wat’s life would be after so much learning. And at Master Donne’s generosity in giving it to him.

‘There are those who say it sets a bad example to other servants, that they might expect the same.’

‘And a good example to their masters!’ I replied with spirit.

‘Wat bade me give you a message. That his sister Sarah is recovered from her sweats.’

I thanked God for it.

Mary looked at me silently, her head cocked to one side, considering.

‘What? What is it, sister? Spit it out!’

‘I wondered if I should betray the other piece of scandalous London gossip. Shall I?’

I nodded.

‘That my lady Straven has been so much abroad with your Master Donne that her husband hath finally got wind of it and comes to London to face her.’

Her words burned into me, as corrosive as the fluids that had ravaged Wat’s hands, idle gossip though they might be. Had Master Donne a cruel or deluded nature that he could paddle in my palm and visit me at Loseley while climbing into the Countess of Straven’s bed the while?

That night, before I went upstairs to my sleep, I picked up Hope and sat with her upon my knee, watching the darkening sky and thinking of the babe in my sister’s belly. And I found myself wishing with such strong force that I would have a babe of my own to love and cherish, that a tear came to my eyes and fell upon her fair head. If I but agreed, and his father relented a little, I would be married to Richard Manners and live in Leicestershire, with a brood of my own before long.

Why then, did I still feel so reluctant to accept him?

‘Weep not, Mistress Ann,’ came Hope’s soft reply. ‘God will give you what you pray for, for you are a good kind lady.’

At that I kissed her head and said, ‘Amen to that.’

If only I could be sure what it was I did pray for.

When, after two days, I heard a great commotion of horses and dogs barking, servants running as if the Queen herself were approaching in her coach of state, I knew my father had arrived.

For a gentleman that likes to save his money, my father also loves to stand on ceremony. Chiefly he arrives at this by borrowing his coaches and horses and making many demands on other people’s servants. In this case, those of my grandfather.

I could hear him shouting orders to John Haite, groom of the stranger’s horse, and Henry, my grandfather’s steward, and even Moses Petley, the under farrier, to shoe one of his horses instantly, as if Loseley were already his own, and yet my grandfather still very much alive.

When my father had taken off his dusty cloak, and made good use of my grandfather’s ewery to wash his hands and face, and ordered beef and ale, he besought my grandmother to call us all to the withdrawing chamber.

As I walked slowly down the staircase I looked into my heart. What would I say if his announcement was that Master Manners’s father had relented at last and he and I were indeed to be wed?

My father was in great good humour, clapping each on the back, and proffering advice to all and sundry, whether they wanted it or no.

‘Mother, be seated there,’ he fussed, while my grandmother told him roundly that she had not suffered the pangs of childbed to have him tell her where she might rest her bones in her own home.

Mary caught my eye. She was no longer in my father’s power and, with an easy-going husband, could make choices of her own. How I envied that freedom in her, even though she had not always used it wisely.

At last we were all in position, with sufficient victuals to satisfy even my father’s taste. ‘I have called all here to make an announcement.’ He glanced quickly at myself, yet I looked modestly down. ‘I bring the happy news of a betrothal.’

At that my heart pounded in my chest like galloping hoofbeats, and the blood in my veins seemed to course with the force of a river in spate.

‘Between my daughter…’ He stopped until all eyes were fixed upon me, waiting for the announcement of my betrothal. ‘Frances…’
There was a gasp throughout the chamber.

‘And one Sir John Oglander of Nunwell in the Isle of Wight, a good and honourable gentleman.’

‘Then I will be My Lady!’ Frances danced around the chamber, her saintliness seeming to desert her in her hour of triumph. ‘And I will be betrothed before my sister Ann!’

‘Yet that is not the custom,’ pointed out my grandfather, his eyes seeking mine in tender reassurance, ‘while your elder sister remains unspoken for.’

‘Tosh to custom,’ insisted my father testily. ‘I have had enough of the Manners and their shilly-shallying.’ He held up his goblet of ale. ‘To the future Lady Oglander of Nunwell.’

We raised our glasses to join in the toast.

Mary’s gaze sought mine, hers all soft with sympathy. She did not need to say the words out loud that all were thinking—that my twelve-year-old sister was now officially betrothed before I was.

To me, the relief was great enough to make my toasting genuine.

Yet my joy for Frances soon wore thin.

Frances unbetrothed was trial enough, but Frances betrothed would have tried the patience of Job. She begged from the cook and clerk of the kitchen receipts for all their favourite dishes, dogged my grandmother’s footsteps in the still room to learn medicinal remedies, and drove Prudence to distraction by eternal questions concerning the effective laundering of linens. She even wrote to our sister Margaret to enquire on the management of nursemaids. Pushed to her limit, my grandmother finally cried, ‘Enough, Frances! You are but twelve years old. You will not marry this unlucky gentleman for four more years, so now go back to sewing your samplers!’