Page 22 of Love, Remember Me

"We will see," the Duke of Norfolk returned, and he smiled, a thing he rarely did. It was a smile of triumph.

"What mischief are you up to, Tom?" the Duke of Suffolk asked. Charles Brandon knew that Thomas Howard was closely allied with Stephen Gardiner, the Bishop of Winchester. The bishop had supported the king in his rejection of papal authority over the English Church, but he was a strong opponent of the doctrinal changes championed by the archbishop, Thomas Cranmer, a man Cromwell supported.

"You overestimate me, Charles," Norfolk replied, but he was still smiling. "I am the king's most loyal servant, and always have been."

"If anything, I underestimate you, Tom," Suffolk replied. "Sometimes you frighten me. Your ambition is a fierce thing."

"Let us get this travesty over and done with," the king growled at his gentlemen. "If I must marry her, then let it be done."

The king, escorted by his nobles, moved through the palace to the Princess of Cleves's apartments. There Anne awaited him calmly. She too had lain abed as long as she dared. When finally she was forced to arise, she had had to be coaxed to bathe her entire body in perfumed water. Despite her upbringing, which taught her that personal cleanliness was a vanity and sin of pride, she had enjoyed it.

"I vill do this every day," she declared to her ladies. "Vhat is da smell in da vasser, Nyssa Wyndham? It is nice."

"It is oil of damask rose, Your Grace," Nyssa replied.

"I like!" Anne declared, and her maids giggled. Their mirth was not directed at their new mistress, but rather, they were pleased to have made her happy. There was not one of them who did not know of the king's displeasure. Only Anne's lack of knowledge regarding English customs and the language protected her from deep hurt. She might not love Henry Tudor any more than he loved her, but she was a woman, and had her pride.

Her wedding garments were brought forth, and exclaimed over by all. Her gown was of cloth-of-gold. It was embroidered with flowers made of pearls. Cut in the Dutch fashion, it had the rounded skirt but no train. On her feet she wore slippers of gold kid with virtually nonexistent heels, to temper her height next to the king. Her blond hair was loose, declaring her virginity, and atop her head was a delicate gold coronet encrusted with gemstones, and golden trefoils resembling bunches of rosemary, a symbol of fertility. Mother Lowe placed a necklace of large diamonds set in gold about her mistress's neck, and then fastened the matching belt about Anne's slim waist. There were tears in the old woman's eyes, and when several escaped down her brown cheek, the princess gently wiped them away with her own hand.

"If your mama could but see you, my darling," Mother Lowe said.

"Is she all right?" Lady Browne inquired of Nyssa.

"She mourns the fact that the princess's mother is not here to see her married to the king," Nyssa answered. A good thing she is not, the girl thought silently to herself. A mother would see the king's unhappiness with her daughter; but perhaps that will change.

Told that the king was awaiting her, the bride stepped from her apartments. With the Count of Overstein and the Grand Master of Cleves escorting her, she followed the king and his train of nobles to the Chapel Royal, where the archbishop waited to marry them. Anne's face was serene, belying the fear she felt. He didn't want her, and she didn't want him either, yet they would marry for expediency's sake. She felt sorry for them both.

She was given in marriage by the Count of Overstein. She understood little of what the kindly faced archbishop was saying, but when Henry Tudor grasped her hand and jammed the heavy red-gold ring onto the appropriate finger, Anne of Cleves knew without a doubt that she was finally married to England's king. As Thomas Cranmer concluded the marriage ceremony, she painstakingly made out the words engraved upon her ring.God send me well to keep. It was all she could do not to laugh.

Now the king was grabbing at her hand and practically dragging her into his private chapel. She almost stumbled in her effort to keep up with him, and felt angry that he should so embarrass her on their wedding day. Whatever either of them might think, she was his wife. With effort she calmed herself, managing to get through the mass that followed. And afterward the bridal party was served hot spiced wine.

It was a day of unending ritual. Following the wedding ceremony, the king went to his private apartments to change clothing again. He put on a gown of tissue lined in embroidered red velvet. As soon as he had changed, a procession formed, and the bridal couple led their guests into the wedding banquet. In the afternoon the new queen departed the feast for a brief time to don fresh garments, choosing a gown with sleeves that gathered above her elbow. Her women also changed clothing, picking gowns decorated with many pretty golden chains, as was popular in the German states.

Cat Howard was filled with gratitude to Nyssa Wyndham, for she really had not the means to be a maid of honor. Her uncle, Duke Thomas, had obtained the position for her; but he was not so generous with his gold as he was with his influence. She had few gowns, and was forced to mix and match those she had, but even so, she was not as well dressed as the other girls. She and her sisters and three brothers were orphaned. What little their father had left, and it was indeed little, was reserved for her eldest brother. So as the queen's wedding had approached, Cat Howard had despaired of how she could afford another gown, particularly one that had to be lavishly decorated with chains.

"Let me give it to you as a Twelfth Night gift, Cat," Nyssa had said. "My allowance is more than I can spend even after having a new dress made." She shrugged. "What good is gold if you cannot share it with friends?"

"Oh, I cannot let you do such a thing," Cat Howard protested weakly, but it was obvious her heart was not in her words.

"Why not?" Nyssa inquired politely. "Is there some rule of court etiquette that I have not been told that forbids gifts between friends? If there is, I shall defy it, for I have gifts for you all!"

The others all giggled, and Lady Browne said, "Nyssa Wyndham is most generous, Mistress Howard. You are fortunate to have such a nice new friend. Of course you must accept the gift she offers. To do otherwise would be impolite, I fear, and Duke Thomas would be angry."

"In that case," Cat Howard said with a mischievous smile, "I must accept, which I do with thanks, Nyssa Wyndham."

Lady Browne nodded approvingly. "Prettily done," she said.

"I have nothing I can give you," Cat Howard told Nyssa softly, "but I do not forget a good turn done me, even as I do not forget a fault. Someday I will find a way to repay your kindness, for it is indeed kindness you do me. I am as poor as a church mouse, yet you have never made me feel inferior, as do the proud Bassetts. Eventually I shall have a chance to do you a good turn, Nyssa, and I will, I promise you."

When they returned to the banquet that afternoon in their fresh gowns, the new queen and her ladies were greeted with applause. The ladies received many compliments on their costumes. There was a program of masques and pantomimes. There was dancing. With ill-concealed grace the king led the new queen out onto the floor. But to Henry's surprise, Anne proved an excellent partner. She had learned well from her ladies. When he swung her up in the air, and she laughed down at him, he considered that perhaps she was not quite as unattractive as he had originally thought. Mayhap they could come to an arrangement.

"Nyssa?"

She turned at the sound of her name. There stood Cat Howard with . . . with . . .with him!

"This is my cousin, Varian de Winter, the Earl of March," Cat said. "He is without a partner. I thought perhaps you would take pity upon him. I know how you love to dance."

His eyes were green. Dark green. Dark water-green like the river Wye when it settled in sunlit ripples in the shallows where the river rushes grew by her home.

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