windows she could see the light of the bonfires, she could hear the sound of rejoicing. The people were going wild this day, and all because their little Princess had gone through a ceremony solemnizing the nuptials between herself and the Prince of Castile.
Inside the Palace the merriment was even greater. It was not often that Henry VII gave his courtiers an opportunity to be extravagantly gay. For this occasion noblemen and their wives had brought out their richest jewels. It was folly to do so because the King would note their wealth and set his cunning ministers, Dudley and Empson, to find means of transferring some of his subjects’ goods to the royal exchequer. But they did not care. They were starved of pleasure, they wanted to dance and masque, joust and hunt; they wanted to wear fine clothes and dazzle each other with their splendor; they wanted to vie with each other; and this was their chance to do so.
Mary was surrounded by a group of her women. They were all talking at once, so it was impossible to hear what they were saying, but she understood that they were to wrap themselves in gauzy veils, which would give them an oriental look, and there were masks to hide their faces, that they might mingle with the dancers and remain unrecognized. This was Henry’s idea and she thought it a good one.
Her women were exclaiming as she stood before them. “But I declare I should never have guessed! The Lady Mary is tall for her age. Why, no one would believe she was not yet a woman …”
“Hurry!” cried Mary. “I can scarce wait to be among the dancers.”
In the hall, with her ladies, she joined other masked dancers whom she knew to be Henry and his friends.
She heard whispers: “But who are these masked ladies and gentlemen?”
“I have heard they come from far off places to see the English Court.”
She laughed to herself as she picked out a tall figure. She was certain who he was and, going up to him, touched his arm.
“I pray you, sir,” she said, “tell me how you came here this night?”
He was trying to disguise his voice, she guessed, and she had to admit that he did it admirably. “Might I not ask the same question of you, Madam?”
“You might, but you would get no answer.”
“Then let us agree to curb our curiosity until the unmasking. Would you dance with me?”
“I will do so.”
So they danced and she thought: I have never been so happy. “This is the most wonderful ball I have ever attended,” she told him.
“And you must have attended so many!”
She laughed. “Are you suggesting, sir, that this is my first ball?”
“My lady, you put thoughts into my head which were not there before.”
“You speak in riddles, sir.”
“Then let me offer one plain truth. I’ll swear there is not a lovelier lady at the ball than my partner.”
“And I’ll swear there’s not a more handsome gentleman than mine.”
He pressed her hand. “Now we are pledged to stay together that we may prove our words.”
She sighed. “Indeed, it is a duty.”
And so it was, for even when the ritual of the dance parted them temporarily they came back to each other.
She wanted to tell him that he had put up a very good disguise, that the change in his voice was miraculous; even so he could never hide himself from her. But to have done this would have spoiled the masque. He would want her to express surprise when they unmasked—and so she would. It was all part of the game.
What a wonderful brother she had, who could remain at her side through the ball, for he was a young man and, she had heard, fond of women. He would be a little disturbed on her account perhaps, for she was over-young to move disguised among the dancers; so he was determined to stay at her side to protect her. Dear Henry! Beloved brother.
She delighted in his skill in the dance. None leaped higher, none could turn and twirl so gracefully. When they unmasked she would tell him how proud she was of him, how dearly she loved him.
When the time came for unmasking she stood before him, her eyes alight with pleasure, and as she took off her mask he cried: “By my faith, it is the Princess Mary.”
With a deft movement he removed his mask. She stared, for the man who stood before her was not her brother.
“But,” she began, “I thought …”
“I please Your Highness less unmasked?” he asked.
“You were so like …”
“His Highness the Prince? He swears he gives me an inch … but I am not so sure.”
“You must be the two tallest men at Court, so it is no small wonder that I was misled. But you danced as he dances … your voice is even a little like his.”
“I crave Your Highness’s pardon, but may I say this: Charles Brandon is as eager to serve you as he is to serve your brother.”
She began to laugh suddenly for she guessed that this man had known all the time that she believed him to be her brother and had done his best to impersonate Henry. She could always enjoy a joke, even against herself.
