‘He continued along the coast of Guiana, intent upon finding El Dorado so that he could plunder its gold and fund an invasion of England without Spain’s help. But his men were falling away, either through sickness or mutiny, soon leaving Raleigh virtually alone on board the Destiny. He was forced to abandon the expedition and turn his sails northwards again. The King received word that he has been spied off the coast of Ireland. It will not be long before he is arrested and brought back to London.’
‘And the Tower,’ Frances added. Thomas looked as wretched as she felt. ‘Then we are ruined,’ she said.
His face sank into his hands. ‘I am sorry, Frances. This is all my doing. I have been so blinded by my hatred of that – that creature’ – his voice was as bitter as bile – ‘that I have failed to see how great was the risk I took to be rid of him.’
‘It was more than that,’ she replied softly. ‘If he had succeeded, Raleigh would have rid us of this heretic king and restored the country to the Catholic fold.’ Her words sounded insincere, even to her ears. She knew her husband had spoken the truth, that his desperation to be rid of Buckingham had lain at the root of this. They had sacrificed so much to that devil already, but Frances had a creeping suspicion that he would take more from them yet.
‘How much have we lost?’ she asked.
Thomas raised his eyes to hers. ‘Everything we pledged for the voyage. The lands I have mortgaged too – I will not be able to buy them back now. We have only Tyringham Hall and the income from my position here at court.’
Frances bit back a scornful remark. She knew that her husband’s salary, like most others here, did not reflect his status. Even the grandest of titles rarely brought riches. If it did, then Buckingham would not have cast a second glance at a woman such as Lady Katherine Manners.
‘I will write to my mother,’ she said. ‘George does not come into his inheritance for a few years yet, but I will ask that we borrow a portion of it now. It will be repaid – with interest – long before he reaches maturity.’
‘No, Frances,’ Thomas replied firmly. ‘It is enough that I have ruined my own estate – your fortune too – without hazarding Longford. I will find another way. The King himself might advance me the money. He has been in an excellent humour since our return from the hunt.’
Frances eyed him doubtfully but said nothing. She knew that he had only made the suggestion to allay her worry, that he had as little faith as she in his royal master’s generosity.
‘I will find a way,’ he repeated.
‘I am so glad to see you!’ Kate Manners cried, embracing Frances warmly. ‘I have missed you so much since you left. You are quite recovered?’ she enquired anxiously, holding her at arm’s-length. ‘I know it is more than two years now since . . . since that terrible accident, but I was so afraid for you. I sent for word every day, but my father would not let me see you. He said it would distress me too much and that you needed to rest,’ she rattled on, hardly pausing to draw breath. ‘And when at last I heard that my prayers had been answered and you would live, you were already on your way to Buckinghamshire. I wasn’t even able to say goodbye . . .’ Her voice cracked.
The girl was as pure in heart as when Frances had last seen her, and she could not but rejoice at the fact. She had feared that in her own absence from court her friend would have been corrupted by its vices, especially with such a man as Buckingham to pay her attention. Perhaps the marquess has found another focus for his acquisitive gaze. Even as she thought it, she knew how unlikely it was. There were ladies of greater beauty at court, but none of greater riches than Lady Katherine.
‘I am sorry,’ Frances said. ‘I tried to send word of my departure but it was all conducted with such haste. My husband was anxious for me to return to Tyringham as soon as I was able to travel.’
Kate clasped her hands. ‘I know, and he was right to be so after all you had suffered here. He is a good man and loves you truly.’ She bit her lip. ‘I pray that I may be blessed with such a husband one day.’
‘I am sure you have had many suitors here since I saw you last,’ Frances replied, watching her closely.
‘You have too high an opinion of me,’ Kate said. ‘I know I am not well favoured – the countess has often reminded me of that.’
Anger surged in Frances. ‘It is your stepmother who is ill-favoured – in everything that matters. Your goodness and virtue far exceed hers.’
‘Oh, I did not mean Countess Cecilia,’ Kate responded, ‘though she is of the same mind, certainly. No, it was the Countess of Buckingham I referred to.’
Frances stared, mute.
‘The Marquess of Buckingham’s mother,’ Kate explained, seeing her confusion. ‘She is very proud of the title that the King has bestowed upon her – rightly so, of course,’ she added quickly.
Frances tried to hide her dismay. The title was as much a compliment to Buckingham as it was to his mother, who had clearly succeeded in ingratiating herself with the King during the time she had spent at court. Thomas had told her that Lady Mary had shown no inclination to return to her estates. What was worse, she and her son had succeeded in installing other members of the family in James’s service. Buckingham’s younger brother Christopher was now a gentleman of the bedchamber, and the King had entailed Buckingham’s title on his elder brother John, should his favourite die without heirs. Frances suspected that James hoped he would.
‘It is indeed a great honour for her,’ she replied quietly. ‘Her son the marquess showed you great courtesy when I was last at court,’ she went on after a pause. ‘Has that continued during my absence?’
The flush on her friend’s cheeks told her it had, but she appeared more perturbed than pleased.
‘Yes – even more so,’ Kate replied quietly, her fingers working at a stray thread on the seam of her gown. ‘I was flattered at first, of course – he could have his pick of the ladies at court. But there is still something about him that makes me uneasy.’
Frances tried to hide her satisfaction. She was glad that Kate was less naive than she had thought. Perhaps it would not be so difficult to save her from Buckingham’s clutches after all.
‘What is your father’s opinion of him?’ she asked.
Kate’s frown deepened. ‘He hardly speaks of him, but I have noticed he falls quiet whenever we meet, though the marquess takes great pains to win his good graces.’
Frances had no doubt of that. Buckingham was always at his most obsequious when he had something to gain. ‘I thought your two families were well acquainted?’ she ventured.
‘As you know, our estates lie close to each other, but that is all. Father has never shown much interest in strengthening our connection, though my lady mother has encouraged him many times. She and the Countess of Buckingham are on very affectionate terms.’
Frances fell silent, as if considering the matter. ‘I have always known your father to be a man of discernment,’ she observed carefully. ‘If he harbours the same distrust as you for the marquess, then it must be for good reason. It seems your instincts may be right, so you are wise to behave with caution. I have long since learned that not everything at court is as it appears. Buckingham is high in the King’s favour and has many men to do his bidding, but I do not trust him.’