For the first time during their friendship Overbury saw Robert angry.
He said shortly: “You have helped me considerably in many ways, but I must ask you not to meddle in my private affairs.”
The two men faced each other; both were unusually pale now for the color had faded from Robert’s face as quickly as it had come. Then without another word Robert turned away and briskly left the apartment.
Fool! said Overbury when the door had shut. Does he not see where this is leading him? That woman will be the destruction of him.
Another and more unpleasant thought quickly followed: And of me. For never was one man’s fortune so bound up in another’s as was Tom Overbury’s with Robert Carr’s.
He paced up and down the apartment. Yet was it so? Many people guessed that the favorite’s sudden abilities could only mean that he possessed a ghost who worked in the shadows. Some knew that Overbury’s was the hand that wrote the letters, the brain which produced the brilliant suggestions. And if Robert Carr should fall from favor, having involved himself in a disgraceful scandal with the wife of Essex, none could blame Thomas Overbury. People might remember that he had been the brains behind the pretty fellow. That was a comforting thought.
Do I need Robert Carr as much as he needs me?
An exciting idea that, which went whirling round and round in his head.
He went to the Mermaid Club where he was always welcomed as the poet who was also the close friend of the most influential man at Court. It was natural that he should be flattered there for he was richer than most of the Club’s patrons and could entertain them with his wit and lively talk of the Court. He had always been cautious, though, never betraying how much he influenced Robert Carr.
But he was reckless that day, and having drunk freely, talked more loosely. With Frances’s insults rankling in his mind, with the curt words of his friend mingling with them, he asked himelf who had the more to lose, himself or Robert?
And there in the Mermaid Club he talked freely of his association with Robert Carr; and when it was said, “So the real ruler is Overbury!” he did not deny it.
But the next morning he considered the state of affairs more soberly and he was uneasy.
IS THE EARL IMPOTENT?
The weeks which followed were some of the happiest Frances had known. Robert, stung out of his mildness by Overbury’s interference, was more loving than he had ever been before. The meetings were more frequent; and Frances was sure that this was due to the spells and enchantments.
She had met Dr. Savories and Dr. Gresham, who had expressed their keen desire to work for her; they were more reckless than Dr. Forman had been and agreed with Mrs. Turner that it was imperative to work on the Earl of Essex. Frances saw several women, all of whom could procure some ingredients which the doctors had decided were necessary, or had some special powers to work their spells; all had to be paid and they were often pleased to accept a piece of jewelry.
Robert was always loath to make love at Court where the Earl of Essex could not be far away, so Frances arranged that they should meet at Hammersmith; but when she sensed that Robert was not even completely at ease there, because it was the house of Mrs. Anne Turner, she decided to buy a country house of her own—a small place which she could look upon as a retreat.
Impulsive as ever she soon acquired a house at Hounslow which had been the property of Sir Roger Aston, and here Robert came frequently as the house was within easy riding distance of Whitehall.
It was here that Robert expressed his dissatisfaction with the state of affairs and explained his uneasiness every time he was in the presence of her husband.
“You need not concern yourself with him,” Frances replied.
“But I cannot help it. He is, after all, your husband; and when I think of how we are deceiving him—”
“My dearest, you are doing him no harm.”
“But how can that be … when you and I are as we are.”
“He could never take your place with me. I have told you that he has never been a husband to me in anything but name.”
“But that seems incredible.”
“Why should it?” Frances remembered those days at Chartley and the lie came to her lips. It was necessary, she told herself, to placate Robert. And what were a few lies compared with all she had done? She repeated: “Why should it … when he himself is impotent.”
She was unprepared for the effect these words had on Robert.
“Is that so then? He is impotent? But don’t you see how important that is? Since that is the case I do not see why you should find much difficulty in divorcing him.”
“Divorcing Essex….” she repeated.
“Then we could be married. It would be an end of all this distasteful subterfuge.”
An end of scheming! she thought. An end of those journeys to Hammersmith. No longer need she conspire with Savories and Gresham, no longer show her gratitude to women whom she suspected of practicing witchcraft.
Escape from Essex! Marriage with Robert, who himself had suggested it!
She was certain that Robert had become spellbound as a result of all the work that had been done. Success was in sight.
Robert himself spoke to Northampton.
“I have often thought that it is time I married.”
Northampton smiled; he was always ingratiating to the favorite. “I am surprised that James has not found you a worthy bride long ere this.”
“I had no fancy for one … until now.”
“And who is the fortunate lady?”
“Your own great-niece. Oh, I know at the moment she has a husband, but since he is impotent I do not think we shall have any great difficulty in obtaining a divorce. I was wondering whether, as the head of Frances’s family, you would have any objection.”
“Frances, eh!” mused Northampton. He thought: Essex impotent! It’s the first time I’ve heard that. He considered his great-niece’s marriage. The family had been delighted with it when it had been made, for Essex had rank and riches to offer. But, of course, the man who could offer a woman more than any other was certainly Robert Carr who retained such a firm hold on the King’s affections.
“Well?” persisted Robert. “How do you view this?”
“My dear Robert, there is no one I would rather welcome into the family.”
“Then will you speak to the Earl and Countess of Suffolk?”
“I will with pleasure and tell them my feelings.”
“And I will broach the matter to the King.”
Northampton was elated. He knew that there would be no difficulty with Frances’s parents once he made them see what a glorious future awaited her—and the Howard family—when she was married to Robert Carr.
James smiled benignly at his favorite.
“So you have a fancy to a be a husband, eh, Robbie?”
“I think it is time I settled down.”
“Well, well, and I never thought ye had much of an eye for women.”
“I have for this one, Your Majesty.”
James patted Robert’s arm. “And she’s married. It would have been easier, laddie, if your choice had fallen on someone who was free.”
“Your Majesty, the Countess of Essex should be free. She is bound to an impotent husband and has never lived a true married life with him.”
“Is that so? Essex impotent! ’Tis the first I’ve heard of that. Never did much care for Robert Devereux. Too serious without the intellect. He always looks as though he’s in a sulk.”
“Your Majesty will see that the Countess should be freed from such a man.”
“And given to you, Robbie. I see your point. I see her point. What are Northampton and the Suffolks going to say of this?”