“You are vindictive, fair princess,” cried Seymour, but I would counsel both you and her Majesty to think twice ere you make any such attempt.”
“Ah! now we see him in his true character,” exclaimed Elizabeth. “The serpent hath found its sting.”
“Enough! we have unmasked him,” rejoined Catherine. “It shall be my business to forget him,” she added, with a sigh.
“Her Majesty relents,” muttered Seymour, watching her narrowly. “All is not yet lost in that quarter. Were she alone, I should not despair of retrieving my position at once.”
For a moment it seemed as if this chance would be given him. Calling to her governess, who had listened to the scene in affright, not knowing how it might terminate, Elizabeth prepared to depart, and looked at the queen-dowager, as if expecting she would accompany her. Catherine, however, remained irresolute, and Seymour made sure of recovering the ground he had lost.
At this juncture a page entered the room, and announced “The king!”
On this, the princess and her governess stood still.
“What brings the king here?” said Catherine. “Ah! I understand. Is his Grace unattended?” she added to the page.
“The Countess of Hertford is with him, an please your Majesty,” replied the page.
“‘T is as I suspected,” thought Catherine; and, advancing towards the princess, she whispered, “Be cautious Mischief enough has been done already by the countess. She must not triumph over us.”
“Fear me not,” rejoined Elizabeth, in the same tone. “No words of mine shall betray your Majesty.”
While this was passing, a second page entered, and called out as the first had done, “The king!” Then followed a gentleman usher, bearing a wand, who made a similar announcement. After which, the tapestry covering the doorway was drawn aside, and Edward, accompanied by the Countess of Hertford, stepped into the room. Behind the young monarch came Fowler and Xit.
On entering the chamber Lady Hertford’s first glance was directed towards Catherine, and she was surprised and mortified to see her exhibit so much calmness of manner and look. By a great effort the queen had succeeded in recovering her composure. Neither did Elizabeth betray any symptoms of agitation. As to Sir Thomas Seymour, he appeared so perfectly easy and unconcerned, that no one could imagine he had been the principal actor in such a scene as had just occurred. The only person who could not entirely shake off her perturbation was Mistress Ashley. But of her, Lady Hertford took little heed.
Having received the obeisances of all the party whom he found in the room, Edward turned to Lady Hertford, and said, “When you begged me to come hither, good aunt, you promised me an agreeable surprise, and some diversion. In what does the surprise consist?”
“My good sister would appear to be surprised herself, to judge from her looks,” observed Sir Thomas Seymour, “though, it may be, not so agreeably as she expected. In any case, I am indebted to her for bringing your Majesty here, though I fear it will be trouble taken for little gain.”
“Perhaps my presence was the agreeable surprise intended for your Majesty,” observed the queen-dowager. “If so, I shall feel highly flattered.”
“Or mine,” added Elizabeth, “though Lady Hertford could scarce know I was here.”
“There your Highness is mistaken,” rejoined the countess. “I was fully aware you were here. Perhaps Sir Thomas will account for being here likewise?”
“Nothing more easy, good sister,” replied Seymour. “I came hither to see my sister Herbert, and learning she had gone to another part of the palace, I should have departed instantly, had I not found the Lady Elizabeth’s Grace and Mistress Ashley in possession of the room, and I remained in converse with them for a few minutes, when her majesty the queen-dowager arrived, and detained me until now.”
“A likely story!” exclaimed Lady Hertford. “I can give another version of it.”
“Indeed! then pray do so, good aunt!” cried Edward.
But the countess’s reply was checked by a very menacing glance fixed upon her by Seymour.
“I have bethought me, and must decline to say more on the subject,” replied Lady Hertford.
“Nay, good aunt, that will not satisfy us,” cried Edward. “You impugn Sir Thomas’s veracity, and yet are unable, or unwilling, to prove him wrong.”