Nine Days a Queen: The Short Life and Reign of Lady Jane Grey (5 page)

he winter at home was endless that year. And it snowed so much. I played with Pourquoi and he became part of the household, and although I feared the doings of court life, the intrigue, the need to watch my every word and move, yet somehow, at the same time, I missed it. I missed the people I'd met, the music, the masques, the times I had for study, alone.

Here, though our household was smaller, I was never alone. Mother made sure of that. Even when I was doing my studies or when my tutor came, Catherine or Mary was allowed in the room with me. Mother believed that when a young girl was allowed privacy, bad things happened. I don't know what. But the lack of privacy

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drove me near mad.

And, while I always loved my studies, the schedule was backbreaking. Up at five, prayers at six, then a breakfast of bread, meat, and ale-After that, we visited awhile with our parents, then we studied Greek and Latin until dinnertime. After dinner, it was music, modern languages and classical, or Bible reading until supper. Then we had dancing lessons and needlework before going to bed at nine.

I loved my sisters, and I played with them and told them stories of court, but I knew I would not be going back there to stay. Still, the English had a custom of boarding out children after they reached a certain age. And I sensed that arrangements were being made behind my back.

I waited for Sir Thomas Seymour. The thought of him was like a bright torch in the back of my mind. He had promised he would come for me. Gossip had it that he had wed Katharine in secret, that he was trying to get my cousin Edward, now King, to approve the marriage.

When Edward does that, Sir Thomas will come, I told myself. After all, he did promise. I

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waited for him like a prisoner in a tower, a princess awaiting her knight who would rescue her.

Finally, one day in March, an exceptionally warm day that promised spring, he did come, with his retinue of people. He rode into our courtyard and dismounted, and he was garbed beautifully, as always. Oh, please let him have come for me, I prayed! Please!

My sisters and I were presented and we curtsied, and then I was asked to play the virginals, which I did with all my heart and soul.

Everyone clapped. There was talk. Of his brother, Edward Seymour, who had become the boy king's Protector. Of the way he kept young King Edward On such a short leash.

I longed to see my cousin Edward. He was now King! How had he taken the honor? I had not seen him since he became King. Would he be able to ward off all the scheming men around him who wanted his power?

Then my sisters and I were sent from the room. From out in the gallery, I listened.

There was an exchange of money between Sir Thomas and my father. I heard my father call

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him "Admiral,'' for he had been given the tide by King Edward under advice from the Protector.

I heard the words

"alliance"

and

"cousins."

And then, without seeing me again, Sir Thomas left. I watched through the tall windows of my fathers house as he mounted his charger and rode off with his men.

That evening my parents told me I was soon to go to Chelsea Manor to live with Katharine and Sir Thomas. He was now my guardian. I was getting away from here.

The Adonis of the court, with those livery brown eyes, had come for me! I felt joy I could scarce contain, but I did contain it, lest my mother, seeing me too happy, stop the whole business.

My knight had come for me. I was free.

Before I went to Chelsea Manor, I went to see the King.

It was only proper. I had not seen Edward since he was crowned. I found him in his presence chamber. He was not alone, of course. Kings are never alone. His Lord Protector, the brother of my Sir Thomas, was with him.

The presence chamber seemed more austere

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than when King Henry had occupied it. All the tapestries were gone and only the bare stone walls stood out, with arches in them for candle sconces and other arches for windows. Edward was at a long table covered with a crimson drapery, and Sir Edward stood next to him. Other gentlemen of the chamber stood about.

I knelt before Edward, who was embarrassed at seeing me kneel and raised me up immediately. Then we hugged. "My old playmate," he said. "My cousin. I'm so glad to see you."

"Your Majesty."

"This is my Lord Protector, Edward Seymour."

"I know. I go now to stay with Sir Thomas, his brother, and the Queen Dowager at Chelsea Manor."

"Ah, you are in luck. I wish I could go with you this morning. How are you to go thence?"

"By horse. With guards."

"No, you must take the smaller royal barges down the Thames. Chelsea Manor has its own dock, and it's only three miles outside of London, but what a boat ride! You must, I say. Who is with you?"

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"My ladies, Dorothy and Eleanor; my nurse, Mrs. Ellen; and thirty men-at-arms."

"The smaller barges are still all decorated from the coronation two days ago. Did you see me when I was crowned?"

I had. He had looked so small in the vast church, so lost in those red, ermine-trimmed robes, so childlike in the throne in church, it had frightened me. "Yes, I had a good viewing, Your Majesty."

He gripped my hand. "Come and see me often. I command it. I have an idea this is going to be a lonely job. I study with some other boys, but I don't get to see girls that much. Promise me."

I promised. The Lord Protector saw me out. "Give my brother, Sir Thomas, my regards," he said, and I thought I detected a sneer on his face. I knew the brothers did not get along.

Chelsea Manor was a short trip outside of London, even going against the tide on the river. And the small royal barge I rode in was still decorated, with gauze curtains and flowers on its prow. I pretended to be a princess being rowed

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to meet her knight-lover as we made our way past the scenery on both sides of the river. As we got into the countryside, farmers left their plows to come to the water's edge and wave at us. Country maids threw flowers into the water.

They throw them at the barge,

I told myself,

not me.

But it felt good to be so honored, anyway.

"They're wondering what royal personage is riding here," I told my ladies. And they giggled.

Chelsea was a true manor house, made of rosy red brick, with formal walled-in gardens that sloped down to the river, with sundials, statues and small fishponds, rose arbors and fruit trees. Hollyhocks stood like soldiers. The house was shrouded by giant oaks, and I could see at once that it was one of the modern style, built not for defense, but for enjoyment. Its large windows reflected the late-afternoon light, and I wondered which room would be mine as we approached the small pier.

I was greeted by Katharine, Sir Thomas, Elizabeth, and a whole retinue of dogs. Pourquoi near went mad with excitement. All seemed overjoyed to see us.

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"What are you doing here?" I cried to Elizabeth.

"I've been invited to stay, just like you."

"Oh, we'll have a grand time. I wish Edward and Mary were here too."

She laughed. "Edward is now King. Can you imagine?"

"I just came from visiting him. Sir Thomas, your brother sends his regards."

He nodded.

He put an arm around my shoulder. "What's nice about this place is that it's away from the corruptions of court life," he said.

Elizabeth smirked at me, as if to say "Don't believe it." Or did that smirk say something else? It bothered me that I didn't know.

I hugged Katharine, she who had been like a mother to me. I had missed her so, during the long winter months, and told her. "Well, let's hope you never have to leave here," she said, hugging me back.

"As long as Sir Thomas keeps paying your father, you won't have to," Elizabeth whispered.

Elizabeth had changed since I last saw her. She was nearly fifteen but seemed older. She

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carried herself differently and she had a bosom! I felt like a child next to her. How had this happened? Why did I stay so young in appearance, and how did she come to be so sophisticated?

"Are you adopted too?" I whispered.

"No. One can't adopt a princess."

"Has your title been restored then?"

"Yes. Edward did it. Isn't he a love?"

I nodded yes. "I must ask Sir Thomas if I may visit Edward often."

"Why do you have to ask Sir Thomas?"

"He's my guardian now."

"Oh yes, I heard. You couldn't have picked a more handsome one, I must say."

"I didn't pick him, he picked me."

"Oh yes, of course," she said snidely. "After you get settled, come on out and we'll toss around a ball. Unless you're too old for such childish play."

"I too old?" I laughed. "You're the one who's too old, Elizabeth."

She grinned shyly, knowing what I meant.

When we got up to the house, Sir Thomas had the servants take my things inside. "So you're here finally, you little minx," he said. He leaned

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down to kiss me. I smelled a mixture of horse and musk on him. And his beard tickled. "Yes, sir."

"It won't be all play, you know," he added, suddenly serious. "I've a tutor for you two girls. Elizabeth, why don't you accompany Jane to her apartments?"

We went into the house and Elizabeth showed us around as if she owned the place. "Your chambers are next to mine," she said. Then she whispered, "Get rid of your ladies," so I did, telling them they might have the afternoon to themselves to get settled.

In my apartments, Elizabeth sat back on my bed. "Sir Thomas wanted to marry me before he wed Katharine, you know," she confided.

I stared at her. It could or could not be true. "He's always loved Katharine," I said.

"Yes, but he's mad for power. Why do you think he has you here?"

"I have no power attached to me."

She scowled. "He's promised your father to wed you to Edward someday. They have an understanding between them."

"I know that," I said airily, though I was embarrassed about it now. How serious was it

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anyway? I'd thought that day on horseback that Sir Thomas had been joking. "He just wants to make Katharine happy, that's why he has me here," I insisted.

She laughed, a trilling sound. "Believe as you wish, but trust no one, that's my motto."

"Elizabeth, you have grown up." I said it half in admiration.

The snide look vanished then. And a sad one came over her. "I've had to. It's the only way to keep from being hurt. And if you'll take my advice, you'll do the same thing, Jane Grey."

Then we went downstairs for supper.

I often thought how lucky I was to be at Chelsea with Sir Thomas and Katharine in the months that followed.

We four made up a family. It felt like a family, and I'd have traded off my own parents in a minute for Sir Thomas and Katharine.

Of course Sir Thomas wasn't always there. As Lord High Admiral--a post bestowed on him by his brother through my cousin Edward, to soothe his feelings--Sir Thomas was away betimes for weeks.

There were, of course, rumors that circled

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around him like smoke. But then, doesn't every handsome, interesting man attract rumors? I thought heaven itself would have rumors if I ever got there to hear them. These were whispered when company came, of course. And they concerned Sir Thomas having dealings with pirates, taking a share of their bounty, assembling himself an army, being insanely jealous of his brother because he had the ear of the King.

I do know Sir Thomas sent Edward ducats, because the Protector kept him without money. I do know he sent his brother gifts to keep in his good graces.