A Dangerous Inheritance

The King – dying? He was but fifteen years old. I had heard he’d been ill, with measles or smallpox, but that he had recovered. He could not be dying, surely? It was too much to take in. As for the consummation of my marriage, I knew what that meant, but why shouldn’t it be allowed? Surely Pembroke would want to bind himself to us, who are, after all, of higher rank than the Herberts, and of royal blood to boot? Modest as I am, I have been brought up to consider myself and my sisters great prizes in the marriage market.

‘Northumberland will hold on, never fear.’ My lord’s tone was confident. ‘The country was glad to turn Protestant under Edward. People will rally to the Duke. It’s too late to go back to the old ways. Mary must understand that.’

‘I doubt it!’ my mother interrupted, tart. ‘She’s spent most of his reign fighting for the right to have her Mass.’

‘But she has no support. Of course, the Catholics in the north will cleave to her, yet I doubt she’ll command much of a following elsewhere. It may be that his Majesty and Northumberland have some other plan in mind.’

There was a pause, and once more I held my breath, in case my parents should discover that I was listening outside.

‘Do you know something that I don’t?’ my lady asked at length.

‘I know nothing,’ my father replied, not entirely convincingly.

‘But he is plotting something. If it affects us, I have a right to know. I am, after all, the King’s cousin, and in line for the throne myself after his sisters.’

My father never could withstand my mother’s iron will, but what he said to her next I could not hear, only the sibilant hiss of a whisper.

‘For me?’ I heard my mother exclaim.

‘Shhh! Walls have ears,’ my father muttered, with more truth than he knew. ‘I know for a fact that one of our servants is in the pay of Pembroke, and have no doubt that the Earl is aware that something momentous is afoot. He has Northumberland’s confidence.’

‘But is it to be me?’ my lady persisted. Her tone was urgent.

‘In truth, I do not know what the Duke is pla

‘But her right is enshrined in law …’

‘Acts of Parliament can be repealed.’

‘And you think Pembroke knows of this? That explains everything. It’s as I feared. He is pleased to ally himself to us, and thereby to Northumberland, but only for as long as the Duke holds power. Pembroke means to hunt with the hare and the hounds, and if the hounds should by any chance win, he will have all the pretext he needs for breaking this marriage.’

‘That may be so,’ said my father, ‘yet I think you are fretting in vain. Northumberland is strong, and he has the nobility and the country behind him.’

‘I do hope so, my lord. I do hope you are right. It’s a good match for Katherine. The child was much taken with Pembroke’s boy. I don’t want to see it broken.’

I heard a rustling of silks as my mother rose from her chair, and tiptoed back up the stairs, all thought of food abandoned. I could not have touched a morsel anyway, for my mind was in turmoil. Was my marriage in some way uncertain? Would it not even be a true marriage? I did not sleep at all that night.

But now it is my wedding day, and as I stand here in my bridal finery, waiting for Mrs Ellen to make the final adjustments to Jane’s train, and for my mother to clasp around our necks the priceless jewelled necklaces sent as wedding gifts by the King, I am still in torment. Whenever I think of my Harry’s handsome face, his loving countenance and all the promise in his fair words, I dread to think that I might lose him, or that they will forbid us to become man and wife in the truest sense.

But there is no more time to brood on this, for the trumpets are sounding and my lord my father, dazzling in white and gold, is waiting to escort us down the grand processional stair to the splendidly arrayed state apartments, through which we must pass towards the chapel. Durham House, where we have come to be married, is a palatial residence surrounded on the Strand side by a high wall buttressed by marble pillars. The guest chambers that have been allocated to us give onto the river, and the great hall and chapel overlook a wide courtyard. This is an old building, not much used these days, but I’ve heard that King Harry the Eighth’s queens once lived here. It is now the property of his Majesty’s sister, the Lady Elizabeth, who has graciously allowed us to use it for the celebration of our joint wedding. I have never met the Lady Elizabeth, but I know of her by repute as a great lady, and very learned. Jane was brought up with her for some years in Queen Katherine Parr’s household, and although they were never close – being two very clever girls, they were too competitive for that – Jane did come to admire Elizabeth; indeed, she speaks often of her wit and erudition.

Sadly, the King ca

I stare at Harry in alarm. He does not look like the robust young man who came to court me at Sheen. He looks ill, in truth, and thi

The binding words are spoken over us; we make our responses, and I swear to be true and loyal all my days, and to be obedient and amiable in bed and at board; and now the blessed moment comes: we are pronounced man and wife, and kneel together for the Bishop’s blessing. I have eyes only for Harry, whose hand is squeezing mine so meaningfully. But I ca

But now here are our parents and guests, clapping and congratulating us, kissing me and Jane, and jocularly slapping our new spouses on the back. The Bishop beams as Harry ventures a chaste kiss on my lips, and I feel a great lightening of the spirits. Harry and I are wed now; surely no one can prevent us from becoming one flesh, as Holy Scripture enjoins.

It is only at this moment – for I have been utterly enrapt by the ceremony – that I become aware of so many great lords among the company.

‘The entire Privy Council is here!’ my mother breathes. ‘Are you not honoured?’

‘Yes, indeed,’ I stammer, overwhelmed that I should be thought so important, and hastily curtseying to the fine gentlemen. ‘I thank you all for coming, good my lords.’ Their presence, not to mention the splendid display put on for the wedding, is making me feel dizzy with conceit. These marriages must indeed be important to warrant such honours. But why?

The Duke of Northumberland bows.

‘This day I have gained a daughter,’ he says, addressing Jane. ‘I hope you will be happy in your new husband, my dear.’

Jane murmurs a reply. He ca

The Earl of Pembroke, my new father-in-law, is more effusive.

‘You are heartily welcome to the family, my Lady Katherine,’ he declares, lifting my hand and kissing it. His wife, the Countess A