The King's Secret Matter Read Online Free Page A

worth it, he decided; even though at the time he had suffered some uneasy moments.
    But he was glad that he had shown his daring to the Court; there was no doubt of that when he had approached Sir WilliamBulmer, who was in the service of the King, and bribed him with an offer of better service in his own retinue. He had done this out of bravado, out of that ever persistent desire to show the King that he was of equal standing. Buckingham had never forgotten how Henry had sought to seduce his, Buckingham’s, sister, as though she were some serving girl at the Court. Perhaps Henry also had not forgotten Buckingham’s action in having the girl whirled out of his orbit by her enraged husband just at that moment when successful seduction seemed imminent. Buckingham had scored then. It was a glorious victory for a Duke to win over a King. And he had tried again with Bulmer. Not so successfully, for the King, no longer an uncertain boy, had summoned Bulmer to the Star Chamber and accused him of having deserted the royal service. Bulmer had cowered before the onslaught of the King’s anger and had been kept on his knees until he despaired of ever being allowed to rise.
    But at length Henry had relented, forgiven Bulmer and taken him back into his service. The affair, however, was meant to be a warning – chiefly to an arrogant Duke. Yet the Duke still thought his dangerous thoughts; and it was possible to read them in almost every gesture that he made.
    â€˜Ah, Bulmer,’ he mused now. ‘That man was a coward. He should have returned to me.’
    â€˜It might have cost him his head,’ suggested Norfolk.
    â€˜I would rather lose my head than be known as a coward.’
    â€˜Take care that you are not called upon to prove those words, Edward.’
    â€˜Henry does not possess a surfeit of bravery,’ retorted Buckingham. ‘Look how he let my sister go.’
    â€˜It would be a different state of affairs if that had happened today. Henry was a boy when he decided on your sister. I dobelieve that up to that time he had never been unfaithful to the Queen. Those days are over.’
    â€˜He realised that we Staffords would not accept the insult.’
    â€˜You deceive yourself. If he fancied your wife or mine he’d care not a jot for our families. The King is no longer a boy to be led. He is a man who will have what he wants and thrust aside all those who stand in his way.’
    â€˜If he respects royalty he must include those who are as royal as he is.’
    â€˜Henry sees only one point of view, his own. He is the King. The rest of us, be we Dukes or lords, are so far beneath him that he would have our heads, ay, and feel it was but his due, should the fancy take him. That is why I bid you to be cautious. Ha, here comes Wolsey, on his way to the royal apartments, I’ll swear.’
    â€˜The butcher’s dog is for ever sniffing at the heels of his master,’ said Buckingham, without taking the precaution of lowering his voice.
    Thomas Wolsey was making his way towards them, an impressive figure in his scarlet Cardinal’s robes. He was a man of about forty-five, his expression alert, his face mildly disfigured by smallpox, and the lid of one eye hanging lower than the other, which gave an added expression of wisdom to his clever face.
    Buckingham did not pause as he approached; his gaze became cold and he looked beyond the Cardinal as though he could not see the red-clad figure.
    â€˜A merry good day to you, gentlemen,’ said the Cardinal.
    â€˜Good day to you,’ answered Norfolk.
    â€˜I trust, my lords, you enjoyed good sport and that His Grace is happy because of it.’
    â€˜The sport was fair enough,’ murmured Norfolk; but Buckingham, who had not spoken, was walking on.
    Wolsey did not appear to have noticed; he inclined his head slightly and Norfolk did likewise, as Wolsey went on towards the King’s apartments, the two Dukes on to