“A bad sign!” said Elizabeth, growing pale.
“Nonsense!” cried Kat, sprawling on the floor to recover the bracelet. “Here, let me put it on your wrist… where it belongs. Bless you, my love. God preserve you.”
“Kat, you foolish woman! You’re crying.”
“I love you, darling, and that’s the truth. So much that I am sometimes afraid.”
“I know what you’re afraid of. You think of her of whom we never speak. Kat…I want to talk of her now … and then, afterward … never again. Am I like her?”
“No.”
“She was beautiful, was she not?”
“She had more than beauty.”
“That did not save her. All that charm and all that beauty…it did not save her from the sword.”
“She was wild and full of levity,” said Kat, “and many men loved her. The King was among them. They say he never loved any as he loved her. But that did not save her.”
“She was raised to be a Queen… raised quickly, and quickly put down. But I would be Queen in my own right.
“I remember it, my lady.”
“And if I will wear a black velvet dress, then I will wear a black velvet dress.”
“Yes, my lady, but that does not mean I shall say I like it.”
“Why do you not like it, Kat?” Her tone was wheedling.
“It makes you look too old.”
“Too old for what?”
Kat Ashley shook a finger at the Princess. “Take care, my lady. You know what I mean. When I see the glances he gives you, I tremble.”
“Oh, Kat…so do I! But have no fear. I am not so charming as she was… and although I have some levity, it is not as great as hers. Many men will love me, Kat, but none shall ever betray me.”
And with that she went sedately out of the room and down into the gardens.
There she found the Admiral and her stepmother walking under the trees.
The Admiral bowed ironically as he watched her approach. Katharine smiled, giving no sign that Elizabeth, as far as she was concerned, made an unwelcome third.
How can she remain in ignorance of those glances? wondered Elizabeth. She looked haughtily at the man, to show him that she did not approve of such looks… when his wife was present.
“Why,” said Thomas, with mock dignity, “it is the Lady Elizabeth. And how think you she looks this day, Kate?”
“Very well and very charming,” said Katharine.
“I think not,” said Thomas. “I like not her gown.”
Elizabeth answered pertly: “Indeed, and do you not? I did not know it was the duty of a stepfather to approve his daughter’s gowns.”
Thomas raised his eyebrows. “The responsibility of a father toward his daughter through marriage is great; and the more so when she is a Princess, and a Princess who dares parade her charms in a black velvet gown.”
“I care not that you do not like my gown,” said Elizabeth, turning away. “My mother does, and that is enough for me.”
But as she turned, Thomas had caught her. He seized her by the shoulders and pulled her roughly round to face him.
“How dare you?” cried Elizabeth, flushing hotly. “How dare you treat me thus!”
Katharine’s innocent laughter rang out.
“He teases you, my dear. Thomas, you should not tease her so. It is too much teasing, now that she grows up.”
“But, my love, she needs to be teased out of her haughtiness. What do you think of this black gown, Kate? ’T were as though she mourns someone. Does she mourn someone? Do you know, Kate?”
“Nay, she wears black because it becomes her. And it does, Thomas. You must admit it does.”
“I admit nothing. She mourns someone. Some secret lover, is it? Why, the girl blushes.”
“I do not! I do not!” cried Elizabeth.
“Let her go, dearest,” said Katharine. “I believe she is really angry.”
“Then she must learn that she must not be angry with her step-father, who is a very loving stepfather. The wicked child hides secrets from us. Who is this lover whom you mourn? Come, Princess. Confess.”
Elizabeth twisted from his grasp, but, as she did so, her gown was torn, exposing her shoulders. She knew that he had deliberately torn it.
“She hath a tolerably white skin,” said Thomas. “Hath she not? Methinks it is a pity to hide such sweetness under this ugly black cloth.”
