Page 76 of A Woman of Passion

TWENTY-ONE

Bess packed immediately and set out for London, and it seemed to her that half the populace was also making its way to the capital for the crowning of England's new queen. By the time she arrived, the momentous month of July was drawing to a close, and when Cavendish saw that she had rushed to London, his heart sank.

In her usual forthright manner, Bess took the offensive immediately. “Why on earth did you keep me in the dark about the calamitous events that were occurring? You must have suspected for months what was in the wind!”

“Bess, I've hardly been to bed this month; the council has been in session day and night. Even if I'd had time to write, I wouldn't have dared commit anything to paper.”

“The real reason is you didn't want me here meddling!”

“I didn't want you putting yourself in danger,” he countered.

“I must go to Frances immediately.”

“You will not,” he said implacably. “Frances and Lady Catherine are safe at Suffolk House. Henry and Lady Jane are safe in the Tower.”

“Safe for how long, with that dried-up religious fanatic on the throne?” Bess felt so frustrated, she burst into tears. “Dear God, I am so worried for them.”

He took her shoulders in strong hands and forced her to listen. “It is Dudley who will have to pay the price. Frances is a royal Tudor, cousin to Queen Mary. She will keep her husband and daughter safe.”

Bess wiped away her tears with a grimy hand. “I need a bath; the dust on the road nearly choked me. Oh, God, poor Nan Dudley.”

“Order your bath,” Cavendish said, coming to a decision. “Bess, we need to talk.”

As his wife lay in the warm scented water, William sat on the edge of the wooden tub. “It is our own position we must worry about. The council realized if we didn't proclaim Mary the rightful queen, we would all be sent to the block for treason.”

Bess paled. “Oh, William, you could lose your position because of me. Mary dislikes me intensely.”

“Bess, I could lose my position, but it won't be because of a petty personality conflict. Mary won't take kindly to a man who has dismantled the monasteries and religious houses across the country. She will no doubt start handing back all Church lands.”

“Hell's teeth, you are right as always. Oh, how fortunate that we got rid of Northaw and put the money into Chatsworth.”

In spite of the gravity of their situation, William laughed. “Christ, Bess, you are always so damned practical.”

“And who taught me?”

“Well, I did do something expedient. Paulet and I pledged our own money to raise a force to aid Mary. I had to borrow seven hundred pounds, but that was exceedingly cheap insurance.”

“She will keep Paulet as lord treasurer because he's Catholic.”

“Yes, I'm hoping our close association will save me.”

“William, I have a brilliant idea—we will turn Catholic! It will cost little to add a priest to our household.”

“Don't you think that's a little too expedient?”

“No, it's a very wise thing to do. What does our religion matter if it safeguards our children and all they will inherit?” Her hand went protectively to her belly.

“Bess, you're not breeding again?”

“And if I am, whose fault would that be?” she flared.

“Christ, you're so fecund, all I have to do is look at you.”

“You do a hell of a lot more than look at me, Rogue Cavendish.”

He held up the towel for her. “Are you angry at me?”

“Not over the baby.” She lifted her mouth to his for a hungry kiss. “Anyway, I'm not certain yet.”

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