his talking over with his friends the arrogance of her who, momentarily, had the King’s ear. Momentarily! It was a hideous word. The influence of all failed sooner or later. Oh, my God, were I but Queen! she thought. Were I but Queen, how happy I should feel! It is this perpetual waiting, this delay. The Pope will never give in; he is afraid of the Emperor Charles! And how can I be Queen of England while Katharine lives!
There was a tap on the door, and Anne Saville’s head appeared.
“I told you I would see no one!” cried Anne impatiently. “I told you—no one! No one at all! Not the King himself . . .”
“It is not the King,” said Anne Saville, “but my Lord Rochford. I told him you might see him . . .”
“Bring him to me,” said Anne.
George came in, his handsome face set in a smile, but she knew him well enough to be able to see the worried look behind the smile.
“I had the devil’s own job to get them to tell you I was here, Anne.”
“I had said I would see no one.”
He sat on the bed and looked at her.
“I have been hearing about Suffolk, Anne,” he said, and she shivered. “It is a sorry business.”
“I fear so.”
“He is the King’s brother-in-law.”
“Well, what if that is so? I am to be the King’s wife!”
“You make too many enemies, Anne.”
“I do not make them! I fear they make themselves.”
“The higher you rise, sister, the more there will be, ready to pull you down.”
“You cannot tell me more than I know about that, George.”
He leaned towards her.
“When I saw Suffolk, when I heard the talk . . . I was afraid. I would you had been more reasonable, Anne.”
“Did you hear what he said of me? He said Wyatt and I were, or had been, lovers!”
“I understand your need to punish him, but not your method.”
“I have said he shall be banished from the court, and so he is. I have but to say one shall be banished, and it is done.”
“The King loves you deeply, Anne, but it is best to be wise. A queen will have more need of friends than Anne Rochford, and Anne Rochford could never have too many.”
“Ah, my wise brother! I have been foolish . . . that I well know.”
“He will not let the matter rest here, Anne; he will seek to work you some wrong.”
“There will always be those who seek to do me wrong, George, no matter what I do!”
“It is so senseless to make enemies.”
“Sometimes I am very weary of the court, George.”
“So you tell yourself, Anne. Were you banished to Hever, you would die of boredom.”
“That I declare I would, George!”
“If you were asked what was your dearest wish, and spoke truthfully, you would say ‘I would I were settled firmly on the throne of England.’ Would you not?”
“You know me better than I know myself, George. It is a glorious adventure. I am flying high, and it is a wonderful, exhilarating, joyous flight; but when I look down I am sometimes giddy; then I am afraid.” She held out a hand and he took it. “Sometimes I say to myself ‘There is no one I trust but George.’”
He kissed her hand. “George you can always trust,” he said. “Others too, I’ll warrant; but always George.” Suddenly his reserve broke down, and he was talking as freely as she did. “Anne, Anne, sometimes I too am afraid. Whither are we going, you and I? From simple folk we have become great folk; and yet . . . and yet . . . Dost remember how we scorned poor Mary? And yet . . . Anne, whither are we going, you and I? Are you happy? Am I? I am married to the most vindictive of women; you contemplate marrying the most dangerous of men. Anne, Anne, we have to tread warily, both of us.”
“You frighten me, George.”
“I did not come to frighten you, Anne.”
“You came to reprove me for my conduct towards Suffolk. And I have always hated the man.”
“When you hate, Anne, it is better to hide your hatred. It is only love that should be shown.”
“There is nothing to be done about Suffolk now, George. In future I shall remember your words. I shall remember you coming to my room with a worried frown looking out from behind your smiles.”
The door opened and Lady Rochford came in. Her eyes darted to the bed.
“I thought to find you here.”
“Where is Anne Saville?” said Anne coldly, for she hated to have this tate-a-tate disturbed; there was much yet that she wished to say to her brother.
