The result naturally to be expected from a step so imprudent, soon followed. Instead of finding her passion for the admiral decrease she perceived that it gained fresh ardor, while on his part Seymour became more desperately enamored than ever. Constantly thrown together, it was impossible they could be blind to each other’s feelings. Again, as in days gone by, when he was bound by no sacred ties, the admiral began to breathe words of love: again, forgetting the wrong she was now doing another, Elizabeth listened to him.
Unconscious of what was going on, unaware that she was allowing her own happiness to be undermined, Catherine, instead of checking it, foolishly encouraged this dangerous intimacy. Incapable of levity herself, she could perceive no harm in her husband’s attentions to the princess.
But if the queen was thus unobservant and unsuspicious, there were others who were more quick-sighted, and who saw clearly enough how matters stood, and among these was Ugo Harrington, who ventured to remonstrate with his lord on the dangerous passion he was indulging, expressing his opinion that if an end was not put to the love affair, it must be found out by the queen, and the discovery would lead to fearful consequences.
“Would I could undo what I have done, Ugo,” cried the admiral. “Would I were free once more! It was by thy advice that I wedded the queen so precipitately. Madman that I was to listen to thy counsel!”
“Yet the counsel was good, and I will uphold it,” replied Ugo. “Your highness is far better off than you would have been if you had married the princess. The queen has given you wealth, power, position, but the princess would have brought you little more than her charms of person. Nay, she might have caused your downfall.”
“But I love her so desperately that I would almost barter my soul to obtain her,” pursued Seymour. “She engrosses all my thoughts, and puts to flight all my projects. Turn which way I will, her image stands before me. My love for her makes Catherine hateful to me.”
“Her majesty ought to excite other feelings in your breast. She is a good and loving wife.”
“I say not a word against her, but she is in the way of my happiness, and therefore, if I could, I would have her removed.”
“Removed!” echoed Ugo. “Is it come to this already? Scarce six months married, and you are anxious to be unwed. You seem as quickly tired of your consort as King Henry was of his spouses, but he had means of getting rid of them which your Highness will scarcely be able to put in practice. Therefore you must bend to circumstances, and wear your chains as lightly as you can. They will gall you less if you do not think about them. If I may presume to say so, you allow the princess to exercise too much influence over you. You are too much with her. Abstain from her society. Devote yourself to your affairs with your former energy. Break through these silken meshes that enthral you, and be yourself again.”
“Thou art right, Ugo!” cried the admiral. “I am bewitched. My sole chance of safety is in flying from the sorceress who has cast her spells over me. But it will cost a terrible effort.”
“Cost what it may, the effort must be made,” said Ugo. “Console yourself with the reflection that a time may come hereafter when you may wed the princess. Some unforeseen circumstance may occur—the queen may be suddenly carried off. In Italy our princes work in a different manner from the late king. They do not strike with the axe, but the blow is no less effectual, though dealt more silently.”
“I comprehend thy dark suggestions,” said the admiral; “but I will have naught to do with thy damnable Italian practices.”
“Nay, my lord, I had no thought of suggesting poison to you, but if you grow tired of waiting—”
“No more of this!” interrupted Seymour, sternly, “or thou wilt forever forfeit my favor.”
“I pray your Highness to forgive me if I have offended you, and set it down to my devotion.”
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