Queen Elizabeth's Daughter Read Online Free PDF Page A

have married him, the naysayers be damned.
    But such a match was never to be—she had come to that decision long ago, when his name (and hers) had been blackened by the mysterious death of his wife, Amy Robsart. Amy’s death was the death knoll for the queen and her lover. Her Majesty could never have Robin after that—her own honor would have suffered and that she could not abide.
    She strolled along the familiar garden path, lit by torches and the moon. The fresh leaves on the trees shone silver in the light and the pebbles along the path glinted like the stars. She was heading for her white garden, hoping to find some early rosebuds to pin to her silk dress. Just as she was approaching this place that was wholly hers, she heard voices coming from within the garden itself.
    She paused, listening.
    She recognized the voices at once—Robin and Lady Essex! She could identify that tinkling, silly laughter anywhere. She stood immobile, straining to hear their love talk. Oh, he tells her she is beautiful. She laughs again, throatily this time. He says hers is a warm beauty, not like the queen’s regal coldness. Elizabeth could contain herself no longer.
    “Cold, am I? Untouchable? I shall teach you of coldness, milord!” said the queen as she strode toward Lord Robert. Before she could think, she slapped him hard across the face. Then she turned to Lady Essex and pushed her so that she almost fell to the ground. The shoulders of Lady Essex’s dress had come down and her breasts were exposed. The queen stared and then grabbed hold of Lady Essex’s hair, tugging it with great gusto.
    “Out, whore! Adulterer! Go back to you husband! And do not return to London on pain of death!” shouted the queen. Lord Robert regained his senses and grabbed the queen by her arms.
    “Run, Lettie! Run while you can! Bess! Bess! Get hold of yourself!” said Lord Robert.
    Lady Essex gathered herself and disappeared into the larger gardens. Lord Robert still held the queen.
    “How dare you! How dare you make love to her! Oh Robin! How can you betray me thus?” said the queen, her voice cracking.
    “Bess, dearest, what would you have me do? Just because you choose the virginal state does not mean I must—I am a man, Bess. I have desires you would not understand! Such women mean nothing to me, darling. You are my love—you will always be my true love! If only you would marry me, Bess, I would be your faithful knight, serving you only and always. Marry me, my love, and put me out of my misery,” said Lord Robert, pulling her against him.
    “Hah! Marry you! So you could rule this kingdom! That is the only reason you would marry me. I am cold and regal—nothing like the hot beauty you were holding only minutes ago. Go! Get out of my sight! Go!” screamed the queen, sinking down to the ground. “Go at once or I shall call my guards!”
    Lord Robert bent down to her but she shoved him away. He turned and left her there, sitting in the damp grass.

 
    Four
    God’s blood, how am I to bear it? How can I stand to look at him, see him each day, imagining him with his arms around that she-wolf? Does he think me a fool, that I would still cling to him after such a display? Does he believe he can act as he pleases, that I am so besotted with him that I will allow any sort of betrayal? God’s blood, Parry! What am I to do?
    And Mary, my dear Fawn, how can I make her understand the importance of a good marriage? You remember well my own silly youth, that terrible scandal with Thomas Seymour … What is it about the name Tom? She does not see the dangers in men—how could she? I know, I know. She is no longer a child. But she will always be my girl, the child of my heart.
    Do you remember how she first came to us? The sky over London was bleak and gray, though the mood of my people was light, almost giddy, for my sister was dead and I was to be crowned queen. I still recall the way my people gathered as I rode from Lord North’s city house to