Author: Charles Major
Category: Historical
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_CHAPTER V_
_An Honor and an Enemy_
A day or two after this, Brandon was commanded to an audience, andpresented to the king and queen. He was now eligible to all palaceentertainments, and would probably have many invitations, being afavorite with both their majesties. As to his standing with Mary, whowas really the most important figure, socially, about the court, Icould not exactly say. She was such a mixture of contradictoryimpulses and rapid transitions, and was so full of whims and caprice,the inevitable outgrowth of her blood, her rank and the adulation amidwhich she had always lived, that I could not predict for a day aheadher attitude toward any one. She had never shown so great favor to anyman as to Brandon, but just how much of her condescension was a merewhim, growing out of the impulse of the moment, and subject toreaction, I could not tell. I believed, however, that Brandon stoodupon a firmer foundation with this changing, shifting, quicksand of agirl than with either of their majesties.
In fact, I thought he rested upon her heart itself. But to guesscorrectly what a girl of that sort will do, or think, or feel wouldrequire inspiration.
Of course most of the entertainments given by the king and queenincluded as guests nearly all the court, but Mary often had littlefetes and dancing parties which were smaller, more select andinformal. These parties were really with the consent and encouragementof the king, to avoid the responsibility of not inviting everybody.The larger affairs were very dull and smaller ones might give offenseto those who were left out. The latter, therefore, were turned over toMary, who cared very little who was offended or who was not, andinvitations to them were highly valued.
One afternoon, a day or two after Brandon's presentation, a messagearrived from Mary, notifying me that she would have a little fete thatevening in one of the smaller halls and directing me to be there asMaster of the Dance. Accompanying the message was a note from no lessa person than the princess herself, inviting Brandon.
This was an honor indeed--an autograph invitation from the hand ofMary! But the masterful rascal did not seem to consider it anythingunusual, and when I handed him the note upon his return from the hunt,he simply read it carelessly over once, tore it in pieces and tossedit away. I believe the Duke of Buckingham would have given tenthousand crowns to receive such a note, and would doubtless have shownit to half the court in triumphant confidence before the middle of thenight. To this great Captain of the guard it was but a scrap of paper.He was glad to have it nevertheless, and, with all his self-restraintand stoicism, could not conceal his pleasure.
Brandon at once accepted the invitation in a personal note to theprincess. The boldness of this actually took my breath, and it seemsat first to have startled Mary a little, also. As you must know bythis time, her "dignity royal" was subject to alarms, and quite hermost troublesome attribute--very apt to receive damage in herrelations with Brandon.
Mary did not destroy Brandon's note, despite the fact that her senseof dignity had been disturbed by it, but after she had read it slippedoff into her private room, read it again and put it on her escritoire.Soon she picked it up, reread it, and, after a little hesitation, putit in her pocket. It remained in the pocket for a moment or two, whenout it came for another perusal, and then she unfastened her bodiceand put it in her bosom. Mary had been so intent upon what she wasdoing that she had not seen Jane, who was sitting quietly in thewindow, and, when she turned and saw her, she was so angry shesnatched the note from her bosom and threw it upon the floor, stampingher foot in embarrassment and rage.
"How dare you watch me, hussy?" she cried. "You lurk around as stillas the grave, and I have to look into every nook and corner, whereverI go, or have you spying on me."
"I did not spy upon you, Lady Mary," said Jane quietly.
"Don't answer me; I know you did. I want you to be less silent afterthis. Do you hear? Cough, or sing, or stumble; do something, anything,that I may hear you."
Jane rose, picked up the note and offered it to her mistress, whosnatched it with one hand, while she gave her a sharp slap with theother. Jane ran out, and Mary, full of anger and shame, slammed thedoor and locked it. The note, being the cause of all the trouble, sheimpatiently threw to the floor again, and went over to the windowbench, where she threw herself down to pout. In the course of fiveminutes she turned her head for one fleeting instant and looked at thenote, and then, after a little hesitation, stole over to where she hadthrown it and picked it up. Going back to the light at the window, sheheld it in her hand a moment and then read it once, twice, thrice. Thethird time brought the smile, and the note nestled in the bosom again.
Jane did not come off so well, for her mistress did not speak to heruntil she called her in that evening to make her toilet. By that timeMary had forgotten about the note in her bosom; so when Jane began toarray her for the dance, it fell to the floor, whereupon both girlsbroke into a laugh, and Jane kissed Mary's bare shoulder, and Marykissed the top of Jane's head, and they were friends again.
So Brandon accepted Mary's invitation and went to Mary's dance, buthis going made for him an enemy of the most powerful nobleman in therealm, and this was the way of it.
These parties of Mary's had been going on once or twice a week duringthe entire winter and spring, and usually included the same persons.It was a sort of coterie, whose members were more or less congenial,and most of them very jealous of interlopers. Strange as it may seem,uninvited persons often attempted to force themselves in, and allsorts of schemes and maneuvers were adopted to gain admission. Toprevent this, two guardsmen with halberds were stationed at the door.Modesty, I might say, neither thrives nor is useful at court.
When Brandon presented himself at the door his entrance was barred,but he quickly pushed aside the halberds and entered. The Duke ofBuckingham, a proud, self-important individual, was standing near thedoor and saw it all. Now Buckingham was one of those unfortunatepersons who never lose an opportunity to make a mistake, and beinganxious to display his zeal on behalf of the princess stepped up toprevent Brandon's entrance.
"Sir, you will have to move out of this," he said pompously. "You arenot at a jousting bout. You have made a mistake and have come to thewrong place."
"My Lord of Buckingham is pleased to make rather more of an ass ofhimself than usual this evening," replied Brandon with a smile, as hestarted across the room to Mary, whose eye he had caught. She had seenand heard it all, but instead of coming to his relief stood therelaughing to herself. At this Buckingham grew furious and ran aroundahead of Brandon, valiantly drawing his sword.
"Now, by heaven! fellow, make but another step and I will run youthrough," he said.
I saw it all, but could hardly realize what was going on, it came soquickly and was over so soon. Like a flash Brandon's sword was out ofits sheath, and Buckingham's blade was flying toward the ceiling.Brandon's sword was sheathed again so quickly that one could hardlybelieve it had been out at all, and, picking up Buckingham's, he saidwith a half-smothered laugh:
"My lord has dropped his sword." He then broke its point with his heelagainst the hard floor, saying: "I will dull the point, lest my lord,being unaccustomed to its use, wound himself." This brought peals oflaughter from everybody, including the king. Mary laughed also, but,as Brandon was handing Buckingham his blade, came up and demanded:
"My lord, is this the way you take it upon yourself to receive myguests? Who appointed you, let me ask, to guard my door? We shall haveto omit your name from our next list, unless you take a few lessons ingood manners." This was striking him hard, and the quality of the manwill at once appear plain to you when I say that he had oftenreceived worse treatment, but clung to the girl's skirts all the moretenaciously. Turning to Brandon the princess said:
"Master Brandon, I am glad to see you, and regret exceedingly that ourfriend of Buckingham should so thirst for your blood." She then ledhim to the king and queen, to whom he made his bow, and the paircontinued their walk about the room. Mary again alluded to theskirmish at the door, and said laughingly:
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"I would have come to your help, but I knew you were amply able totake care of yourself. I was sure you would worst the duke in someway. It was better than a mummery, and I was glad to see it. I do notlike him."
The king did not open these private balls, as he was supposed, atleast, not to be their patron, and the queen, who was considerablyolder than Henry, was averse to such things. So the princess openedher own balls, dancing for a few minutes with the floor entirely toherself and partner. It was the honor of the evening to open the ballwith her, and quite curious to see how men put themselves in her wayand stood so as to be easily observed and perchance chosen. Brandon,after leaving Mary, had drifted into a corner of the room back of agroup of people, and was talking to Wolsey--who was always veryfriendly to him--and to Master Cavendish, a quaint, quiet, easy littleman, full of learning and kindness, and a warm friend to the PrincessMary.
It was time to open the ball, and, from my place in the musicians'gallery, I could see Mary moving about among the guests, evidentlylooking for a partner, while the men resorted to some very transparentand amusing expedients to attract her attention. The princess,however, took none of the bidders, and soon, I noticed, she espiedBrandon standing in the corner with his back toward her.
Something told me she was going to ask him to open the dance, and Iregretted it, because I knew it would set every nobleman in the houseagainst him, they being very jealous of the "low-born favorites," asthey called the untitled friends of royalty. Sure enough, I was right.Mary at once began to make her way over to the corner, and I heard hersay: "Master Brandon, will you dance with me?"
It was done prettily. The whole girl changed as soon as she foundherself in front of him. In place of the old-time confidence, stronglytinged with arrogance, she was almost shy, and blushed and stammeredwith quick coming breath, like a burgher maid before her new-foundgallant. At once the courtiers made way for her, and out she walked,leading Brandon by the hand. Upon her lips and in her eyes was a raretriumphant smile, as if to say:
"Look at this handsome new trophy of my bow and spear."
I was surprised and alarmed when Mary chose Brandon, but when I turnedto the musicians to direct their play, imagine, if you can, mysurprise when the leader said:
"Master, we have our orders for the first dance from the princess."
Imagine, also, if you can, my double surprise and alarm, nay, almostmy terror, when the band struck up Jane's "Sailor Lass." I saw thelook of surprise and inquiry which Brandon gave Mary, standing theredemurely by his side, when he first heard the music, and I heard hernervous little laugh as, she nodded her head, "Yes," and steppedcloser to him to take position for the dance. The next moment she wasin Brandon's arms, flying like a sylph about the room. A buzz ofastonishment and delight greeted them before they were half wayaround, and then a great clapping of hands, in which the king himselfjoined. It was a lovely sight, although, I think, a graceful woman ismore beautiful in La Galliard than any other dance, or, in fact, anyother situation in which she can place herself.
After a little time the Dowager Duchess of Kent, first lady in waitingto the queen, presented herself at the musicians' gallery and saidthat her majesty had ordered the music stopped, and the musicians, ofcourse, ceased playing at once. Mary thereupon turned quickly to me:
"Master, are our musicians weary that they stop before we arethrough?"
The queen answered for me in a high-voiced Spanish accent: "I orderedthe music stopped; I will not permit such an indecent exhibition to goon longer."
Fire sprang to Mary's eyes and she exclaimed: "If your majesty doesnot like the way we do and dance at my balls you can retire as soon asyou see fit. Your face is a kill-mirth anyway." It never took long torouse her ladyship.
The queen turned to Henry, who was laughing, and angrily demanded:
"Will your majesty permit me to be thus insulted in your verypresence?"
"You got yourself into it; get out of it as best you can. I have oftentold you to let her alone; she has sharp claws." The king was reallytired of Catherine's sour frown before he married her. It was herdower of Spanish gold that brought her a second Tudor husband.
"Shall I not have what music and dances I want at my own balls?" askedthe princess.
"That you shall, sister mine; that you shall," answered the king. "Goon master, and if the girl likes to dance that way, in God's name lether have her wish. It will never hurt her; we will learn it ourself,and will wear the ladies out a-dancing."
After Mary had finished the opening dance there was a great demand forinstruction. The king asked Brandon to teach him the steps, which hesoon learned to perform with a grace perhaps equaled by no livingcreature other than a fat brown bear. The ladies were at first alittle shy and inclined to stand at arm's length, but Mary had set thefashion and the others soon followed. I had taken a fiddler to my roomand had learned the dance from Brandon; and was able to teach it also,though I lacked practice to make my step perfect. The princess hadneeded no practice, but had danced beautifully from the first, herstrong young limbs and supple body taking as naturally to anythingrequiring grace of movement as a cygnet to water.
This, thought I, is my opportunity to teach Jane the new dance. Iwanted to go to her first, but was afraid, or for some reason did not,and took several other ladies as they came. After I had shown the stepto them I sought out my sweetheart. Jane was not a prude, but Ihonestly believe she was the most provoking girl that ever lived. Inever had succeeded in holding her hand even the smallest part of aninstant, and yet I was sure she liked me very much; almost sure sheloved me. She feared I might unhinge it and carry it away, orsomething of that sort, I suppose. When I went up and asked her to letme teach her the new dance, she said:
"I thank you, Edwin; but there are others who are more anxious tolearn than I, and you had better teach them first."
"But I want to teach you. When I wish to teach them I will go tothem."
"You did go to several others before you thought of coming to me,"answered Jane, pretending to be piqued. Now that was the unkindestthing I ever knew a girl to do--refuse me what she knew I so wanted,and then put the refusal on the pretended ground that I did not caremuch about it. I so told her, and she saw she had carried things toofar, and that I was growing angry in earnest. She then made anotherfalse, though somewhat flattering, excuse:
"I could not bear to go through that dance before so large a company.I should not object so much if no one else could see--that is, withyou--Edwin." "Edwin!" Oh! so soft and sweet! The little jade! to thinkthat she could hoodwink me so easily, and talk me into a good humorwith her soft, purring "Edwin." I saw through it all quickly enough,and left her without another word. In a few minutes she went into anadjoining room where I knew she was alone. The door was open and themusic could be heard there, so I followed.
"My lady, there is no one to see us here; I can teach you now, if youwish," said I.
She saw she was cornered, and replied, with a toss of her saucy littlehead: "But what if I do not wish?"
Now this was more than I could endure with patience, so I answered:"My young lady, you shall ask me before I teach you."
"There are others who can dance it much better than you," shereturned, without looking at me.
"If you allow another to teach you that dance," I responded, "you willhave seen the last of me." She had made me angry, and I did not speakto her for more than a week. When I did--but I will tell you of thatlater on. There was one thing about Jane and the new step: so long asshe did not know it, she would not dance it with any other man, andfoolish as my feeling may have been, I could not bear the thought ofher doing it. I resolved that if she permitted another man to teachher that dance it should be all over between us. It was a terriblethought to me, that of losing Jane, and it came like a very strokeupon my heart. I would think of her sweet little form, so compact andgraceful; of her gray, calm eyes, so full of purity and mischief; ofher fair oval face, almost pale, and wonder if I could live withoutthe hope of he
r. I determined, however, that if she learned the newdance with any other man I would throw that hope to the winds, whetherI lived or died. St. George! I believe I should have died.
The evening was devoted to learning the new dance, and I saw Marybusily engaged imparting information among the ladies. As we wereabout to disperse I heard her say to Brandon:
"You have greatly pleased the king by bringing him a new amusement. Heasked me where I learned it, and I told him you had taught it toCaskoden, and that I had it from him. I told Caskoden so that he cantell the same story."
"Oh! but that is not true. Don't you think you should have told himthe truth, or have evaded it in some way?" asked Brandon, who wasreally a great lover of the truth, "when possible," but who, I fear onthis occasion, wished to appear more truthful than he really was. If aman is to a woman's taste, and she is inclined to him, he lays upgreat stores in her heart by making her think him good; and shamefulimpositions are often practiced to this end.
Mary flushed a little and answered, "I can't help it. You do not know.Had I told Henry that we four had enjoyed such a famous time in myrooms he would have been very angry, and--and--you might have been thesufferer."
"But might you not have compromised matters by going around the truthsome way, and leaving the impression that others were of the partythat evening?"
That was a mistake, for it gave Mary an opportunity to retaliate: "Thebest way to go around the truth, as you call it, is by a direct lie.My lie was no worse than yours. But I did not stop to argue about suchmatters. There is something else I wished to say. I want to tell youthat you have greatly pleased the king with the new dance. Now teachhim 'honor and ruff' and your fortune is made. He has had some Jewsand Lombards in of late to teach him new games at cards, but yours isworth all of them." Then, somewhat hastily and irrelevantly, "I didnot dance the new dance with any other gentleman--but I suppose youdid not notice it," and she was gone before he could thank her.