The Constable of the Tower by W. Harrison Ainsworth

In another moment they reached the entrance of the palace, near which the three gigantic warders were stationed, Edward having expressly commanded that, during his stay at the Tower, they should be constantly placed on guard there. A crowd of henchmen, pages, ushers, grooms, and other functionaries had issued from the palace as soon as the princess’s arrival at the fortress was announced, and they were now drawn up at the foot of the perron leading to the principal door to receive her. Alighting from her palfrey with the aid of Sir Thomas Seymour, Elizabeth entered the palace with Mistress Ashley, and was ceremoniously ushered by the marshal of the hall into the apartment assigned her. After making some slight change in her apparel, she descended to one of the state-rooms, where she was informed by Fowler she would find her royal brother. Edward was impatiently expecting her, and on her appearance he flew to meet her, embraced her tenderly, and gave her a hearty welcome to the Tower.

Scarcely had the amiable young monarch’s raptures at the sight of his dearly-loved sister subsided into calm satisfaction, when he found a new subject for delight in the appearance of his two tutors. To the infinite astonishment of Fowler, who would have expressed his courtly dissatisfaction at the proceeding, if he had dared, he ran towards them as he had flown to Elizabeth, and gave them both a very affectionate and unceremonious greeting. Taking them kindly by the hand, he prevented them from kneeling, saying with much benignity, “I have received you in private, my respected preceptors, because I wish all ceremony to be dispensed with in regard to friends I so entirely love and esteem as yourselves. As far as possible, I desire our old relations to continue. At the earliest opportunity I shall resume my studies with you, and while so employed I shall altogether lay aside the king, and be again your pupil.”

“Such words have rarely issued from royal lips, sire,” replied Sir John Cheke, “and do as much credit to your head as to the heart that prompted their utterance.”

“Do not flatter me, worthy Sir John,” rejoined Edward, smiling. “Now that I have got you with me, my dear preceptors, and my sister Elizabeth,” he added, looking affectionately at her, “I shall be perfectly happy, and care not how long I may remain at the Tower. Since I have been here, Elizabeth,” he continued to the princess, who had now joined the group, “I have formed a strict friendship with our cousin, the Lady Jane Grey. Her tastes, in all matters, coincide with my own. She likes reading, and is very devout. I am sure you will love her.”

“I am quite sure I shall if your Highness loves her,” replied the princess.

“You will be able to form an opinion upon her at once, for here she comes,” observed Edward, as the subject of their discourse entered the chamber with the queen-dowager, the Marchioness of Dorset, the Countess of Hertford, and most of the other court dames who had witnessed the princess’s arrival from the windows of the palace.

Catherine’s manner towards her stepdaughter was cold and constrained, and her greeting anything but cordial. On her side, Elizabeth was no less distant and haughty. Her pride was instantly roused by the queen-dowager’s treatment, and she resented it with great spirit. Besides, she instinctively recognized a rival, and this feeling sharpened her sense of injury.

As yet, Catherine had not had opportunity of upbraiding her fickle suitor by word or look, but in the very midst of the scene we have described he entered the chamber. To keep aloof from the dispute would have seemed to be Sir Thomas’s wisest course, but he knew better. He did not miscalculate the extent of his influence upon either party. At a reassuring smile from him, the frowns vanished as if by magic from Catherine’s brow, and her countenance resumed its wonted serenity. At a glance, perceptible only to herself, Elizabeth was instantly softened, and assumed a more conciliatory manner and tone towards her stepmother. Lady Hertford noticed this sudden and striking change, and failed not to attribute it to the true cause. An unguarded exclamation of Catherine on beholding Sir Thomas’s marked attention to the princess on the arrival of the latter at the Tower, had led Lady Hertford to suspect the truth, and subsequent observations confirmed the surmise. Still smarting from the affronts she had received from the queen-dowager, she now felt that revenge was in her power.