"So she loves this one?"
"Oh, he is one of her admirers! How she can listen to such false compliments I can never understand."
"Few understand the Queen—nor does she intend them to.
Leicester wants to present Essex to her. How think you that will work?"
"Well, he's good-looking enough to please her and can be charming when he wishes. Has he agreed to come to Court?"
"Not yet. I am sending a messenger asking him to come to me. Leicester will then arrive to turn on the persuasive powers."
"I doubt he'll come. You know how stubborn he can be."
"Stubborn and impulsive," I agreed. "He has always acted without much thought. But he is over young. He'll change, I doubt not."
"He will have to change a great deal—and quickly," commented Penelope. "He will never be able to pay those extravagant false compliments which the Queen demands from her young men. You know, he always speaks his mind, Mother. He has been thus since he was a boy."
As Essex had spent a good deal of time with the Riches in recent years I could be sure his sister knew what she was talking about.
I said: "Well, I don't think the Queen will receive him, since he is my son."
"She received us," replied Penelope, "though I have to admit she gives us some odd looks now and then and snaps at us rather sharply. Dorothy said the same."
"She's thinking all the time that you are the She-Wolf's cubs, as she so elegantly calls you."
"Who knows, perhaps between them your husband and your son will be able to persuade her to have you back."
"I doubt Essex would be able to do what my Lord Leicester has failed to."
Although she wanted to cheer me, I could see that Penelope agreed. Even after all these years it was unlikely that the Queen would relent.
Then we talked of family matters and how she hated her husband, and how difficult life was with him.
"I could endure him more if he were not so religious," Penelope told me. "But it is maddening, the manner in which he kneels down and prays before getting into bed and then proceeds to ... well, I will leave that to your imagination, for I would prefer not to remind myself of it. He is demanding my dowry now and says he has had little from the marriage. And I have already given him his sons Richard and Charles and—curse of curses—I am pregnant again."
"He should be delighted that you are so fruitful." "I assure you I don't share his delight." "Philip does not seem to find you any less delectable." "It is pleasant of course to be honored in verse, but Philip seems content enough with that."
"What does Frances think of these poems to another woman?" "She raises no objection. He pays some attention to her clearly, since she has been delivered of a daughter whom, most loyally, she has named after Elizabeth our Queen. Her Majesty has shown a certain interest in her namesake."
Thus we chatted, and the time I spent with my daughter passed merrily as always.
In due course, Essex obeyed my summons and came to Leicester House. How proud I was of him when I presented him to his stepfather!
He was indeed a son to be proud of. Every time I saw him I was astonished by his handsome looks because I always felt that I underestimated them in my thoughts. His coloring was similar to mine. He had abundant hair, though his was more auburn than mine, and the large dark Boleyn eyes. He was very tall and, I suppose because he so often had to look down to people, he stooped slightly. He had delicate, beautiful hands, and the fact that he left them unadorned seemed to call attention to their elegance. His Venetian breeches—very full at the top and narrowing towards the knee—were in the finest velvet and slashed and puffed, but not in the height of fashion when compared with those in the French style, which Leicester, the courtier, was wearing. Essex's cloak was embroidered with gold lace, I remember—but what did it matter what he wore? He could never look anything but completely distinguished. He wore all his clothes with an indifference which accentuated his natural elegance; and I was fondly amused to notice his determination not to be impressed by the Queen's favorite. In fact, he was not going to hide his contempt for a man who allowed his wife to be disdainfully treated, even though it was by the Queen.
He was clearly suspicious of Leicester's intentions—and I was fully aware of them. I had previously found my husband's desire for friendship with my family endearing, but now under the influence of Leicester's Commonwealth I looked for other motives behind the affectionate interest. By entering his orbit they became his men and women and their function would be to further his ends.
I was a little resentful and uneasy. I did not want him to use my son. Perhaps after all I was at that time not without a little foreknowledge. Then I dismissed my fears. It would be amusing to see whether Leicester could persuade young Rob to do what he wanted, and even more so to learn how the Queen received him.
Before Leicester's arrival I had told my son that his stepfather had something to discuss with him. Essex had replied rather curtly that he was not interested in Court matters.
"You must please be courteous to members of my family," I reproved him.
"I do not like matters as they stand," retorted my son. "Leicester spends his days dancing attendance on the Queen in spite of the fact that she will not receive you at Court."
"He has other duties besides dancing attendance. He holds many posts in the government."
Essex looked mulish. "If she won't receive you, he should refuse to see her."
"Rob! You are talking of the Queen."
"I don't care. Leicester should first be loyal to you. I hear talk and resent it. I always will to see you humiliated."
"Oh, Rob my darling, I love you for your folly. There is nothing else he can do. Please see that. The Queen hates me for, marrying him. She is determined to keep him from me. You must understand it would be disastrous for him to disobey her."
"If I were in his place ..." muttered Rob, clenching his fist in a manner which made me laugh tenderly and happily. It was wonderful to have such a champion.
"You have lived overlong in the country," I told him. "Leicester owes his fame and fortune to her ... and so will you."
"I! You will never make a courtier of me. I prefer a life of dignity in the country. I learned that in Burleigh's household. To see a wise old statesman like that tremble at the command of a woman! No, it is not for me. I will keep my freedom, my independence. I will live my life my own way."
"I doubt not you will do that, my son. But you do understand, do you not, that your mother wants the best for you."
He turned to me then and embraced me. My love for him overwhelmed me.
Then Leicester arrived, all charm and bonhomie.
"What a pleasure it gives me to see you," he cried. "Why, you are indeed a man. I wish for us to grow better acquainted. You are my stepson now, remember, and families should cling together."
"I agree with that," said Essex sharply. "It is wrong that a husband should be at Court when his wife is not received there."
I was aghast. Essex, I knew well, had never been one to consider his words, but he must know something of Leicester's power and how unwise it was to offend him. Hadn't he read Leicester's Commonwealth! I did not believe he would harm my son, but no man should make an enemy of Leicester.