Page 19 of Love, Remember Me

Anne rode from Dartford, where she had been resting for the past few days. Only a hundred of her people from Cleves remained with her for the present. Two of her native maids of honor spoke English. They were Hans's elder sister, Helga von Grafsteen, who was thirteen, and her cousin, Maria von Hesseldorf, who was twelve. Although ignored by the Bassetts, they were welcomed into the group of younger English maids. Both girls easily picked up the lute, which delighted Cat Howard. She had been most discouraged in her efforts to teach her new mistress.

"She has no ear for music," Cat said, shaking her auburn curls. "If the king hears her efforts, he will be even more displeased with her than he already is, I fear."

"But she is quickly learning to dance," Nyssa said with a smile. "She is very graceful. And her English has been improving in just these past few days. I think the king will be pleased with her."

"She tries so hard," Kate Carey said. "It should not matter that she is not quite what her portrait made her seem."

"God's blood!" Cat Howard swore softly. "What kind of a ninny are you, Kate, that you have not realized that men will be taken by a woman's looks before all? For many of them nothing else matters."

"Surely all men are not like that," Nyssa said.

"You will not have to worry about it," Cat replied. "You are the most beautiful of us all. Do you look like your mother?"

"I have her eyes," Nyssa answered.

"They say the king was mad for her in her day," Cat continued.

"You know more than I do," Nyssa said quietly. "I was but an infant, and not even at court then."

They had brought their finest gowns with them for the official reception of Anne of Cleves into London. Nyssa had chosen to wear her burgundy velvet. The underskirt was a brocade of gold on wine velvet. Her gown was trimmed with rich marten at its hem and sleeves. Her cape matched her gown, and both the hood and the hem were richly furred, but she did not wear the hood. Her long dark chestnut-colored hair was neatly gathered in a gold caul. Her hands, sheathed in soft kid riding gloves, rested lightly on the reins of her gray mare. The other girls were as richly garbed, remembering the late Queen Jane, who had once sent Anne Bassett home until her bodice had more pearls sewn upon it. A queen's maid of honor must reflect her royal mistress's station. She could not appear shabby.

The Princess of Cleves was conveyed down Shooter's Hill to the cloth-of-gold pavilion that had been set up to receive her. About it several smaller pavilions were clustered. She arrived at the foot of the hill at precisely noon, and was received by her Lord Chamberlain, her chancellor, her almoner, and the other officials of her household. Dr. Kaye addressed the assemblage in Latin. He then formally presented Anne to all those who had been sworn to serve her. The ambassador from Cleves replied to Dr. Kaye's speech on behalf of the princess.

The ladies of the new queen's household were now officially presented. Each stepped forward to appear before the princess, curtsied, and then moved on. The maids were last, and Anne smiled warmly at them all. She was greatly appreciative of their efforts to help her adjust to her new life. It was cold, and the princess was frankly relieved when she was able to alight from her decorated chariot and retire to the pavilion with her ladies, where they might warm themselves by the braziers with their scented fires.

"Ach du lieber, mein girls," the good lady exclaimed, pulling off her gloves and handing them to Elizabeth FitzGerald, "is it cold!"

"Itiscold, Your Grace," Nyssa gently corrected her mistress.

"Ya, Lady Nyssa," Anne replied with a smile, nodding. "It is cold, ya? Is better?"

"Much better, madame," Nyssa said, smiling back.

"Bring a chair for the princess," Cat Howard said aloud, and it was instantly done.

Anne of Cleves sat down before the brazier, holding out her hands and sighing gustily. "Hans! Vhere are you?"

The page hurried forward and bowed. "I am here, madame," he answered her in their native tongue.

"Stay close by me, Hans. Nyssa is willing, bless the girl, but she is not as facile in our language as she desires to be. I will need you. Where is the king?"

"He is on his way from Greenwich now, madame," the boy said.

Young Viscount Wyndham slipped next to his sister. "You're getting on well with her, aren't you?" he said. "She's not really quite like her portrait, is she? The king is furious, I hear."

"More the fool he, then, little brother," Nyssa said sharply. "The lady Anne has both charm and dignity. She will make a good queen if our sovereign liege lord will but remember he is nearing fifty and is no prize catch himself. He must give her a chance. He will find she is a good companion, and will make a good mother."

"For God's sweet sake, sister, do not say such as you have said to me to others," Viscount Wyndham murmured low. "If it is not treason, it is near treason; although," he amended with a mischievous smile, "you should probably not lose your head, but just be sent home in deep disgrace. Then who should want to marry you, my lady Nyssa?"

"I shall not marry but for love, Philip," she told him.

"I am much too young for love," he said, "and I thank God for it. Master Culpeper, who is Mistress Howard's cousin, is most smitten with her. When the king was being fitted for his wedding clothes, he offered Culpeper some velvet for a doublet, and he begged another piece for Mistress Howard, I am told. She had the very gown she wears today made from it. The fool has next to nothing, and would have done better to keep the extra material for himself for another doublet. Love. Pah!"

"I think it most romantic of him," Nyssa said with a smile, and then turned at the sound of the princess calling her younger brother's name. Giles came forward with a goblet of hot spiced wine for his mistress. "She is very fond of Giles," Nyssa noted.

"Aye," Philip concurred. "The little turniphead seems to have a knack for being a courtier without being arrogant."

Brother and sister both watched amused as the princess fondly pinched their little brother's rosy cheeks. Giles was the only one of their siblings who was a blond, and with his light blue eyes he looked like a cherub. It was obvious that the Princess of Cleves doted on him, much to his embarrassment, but Giles was far too clever a boy to show anything but his good side to his mistress. Still he squirmed under the lady Anne's fingers, murmuring, "Madame!"

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