The Miracle at St. Bruno's

Kate wrote from Remus. Carey would soon be sixteen years of age and she wanted to give a ball to celebrate his birthday.

The young people were excited. We lived in melancholy times and it was wise no doubt to get away from the news of arrests and dire consequences for a while; and Kate was the one to arrange such an occasion.

Honey, Catherine and I traveled to Remus with the twins and a few servants. Bruno refused the invitation and my mother preferred to stay at home; and as our barge took us downriver farther away from Smithfield and the Tower I felt my spirits rising a little.

I was amused by Catherine who could not hide her excitement at the prospect of the ball and at the same time wondered whether she ought not to have stayed behind to be with her father. The dress I had had made for her was of golden-colored velvet from Italy. The bodice was stiffened and the front opened to show a beautifully embroidered brocade kirtle-also from Italy. Honey's dress was similar but of blue velvet. Honey was nearly seventeen years old, Catherine fifteen. I thought with a pang: They are growing up. Soon it will be a case of finding husbands for them.

It was pleasant to be with Kate again. Even though she was past thirty, she was no less attractive than she had been at seventeen. I often wondered why she had not married again. It was certainly not due to a devotion to Remus.

She entertained a good deal in Remus Castle. Now her guests would be Catholic families.

Kate was too wise to be embroiled in politics; she was one who would sway with the wind.

As soon as we arrived she carried me off for a private talk, and her first words were to compliment me on the looks of the girls.

"It should not be difficult to find husbands for them. They are an attractive pair.

Catherine should have a good dowry. What of Honey?”

"I shall see that she is adequately provided for.”

"Ah, yes, Caseman Court is yours now." A shadow crossed her face. "A bad business.

How is your mother?”

"She has aged ten years. She works in her garden. Thank God she has that. Oh, Kate, what a melancholy country this has become!”

"It was more gay, was it not, under Henry when we were girls? I have a feeling, though, that this will not last. The Queen is a sick woman." She lowered her voice. "One must be careful how one speaks. Poor woman! She has brought misery to thousands.”

"Is it the Queen? Or is it her ministers?”

"Ah, there you have it. She is a fanatic surrounded by fanatics.”

"These burnings at the stake. There was never such horror here before.”

"You forget those who were hanged, drawn, and quartered.”

"There are those too and in addition that fearsome pall of smoke that seems to hang forever over Smithfield. I wonder what is coming to us all.”

"There is the great consolation that it cannot last. It is the Spanish influence.

These burnings of which you speak have been a feature of Spanish life since Torquemada and Isabella revived the Inquisition in Spain. If the Spaniards should get a hold on England it would be the same story here.”

"God forbid!”

"Have a care, Damask. It is better to speak only of these things to those whom you trust-and whom can one trust?”

"All this in the name of religion!" I cried.

"In the name of envy, malice and covetousness perhaps. Many men go to their death sent by someone who covets an estate, a woman-or even desires revenge. Who sent Simon Caseman to his death, think you?" I was silent and she went on: "Bruno? Such a short time ago he threatened Bruno.”

"Only a lucky chance prevented Bruno's being taken, I am sure.”

"A miracle?" she said mockingly. "With Bruno there must always be miracles.”

We were silent for a while and then she went on: "It will not last, Damask. It is said that the Queen cannot live long. She is the most unhappy woman in England. Her husband does not love her. She is distasteful to him, they say. He prefers to roam far from her and they say he is happier spending a night in an inn with the landlord's daughter than with her. I have heard some of our servants singing a rhyme which would no doubt cost them their lives if they were overheard in some quarters. I'll whisper it to you: 'The baker's daughter in her russet gown Better than Queen Mary without her crown.’

There. But is it true? He is a strange, cold man, and we shall never understand these Spaniards.”

"I am sorry for her but I deplore this sorry state into which we have fallen. It seems one is a heretic if one as much as discusses a new idea.”

"Ah, we have a hint-and only a hint-what religious persecution can mean. But there is a growing resentment in the people. It might well be that if Wyatt had waited a few years... if he had risen now he might have had enough support to put Elizabeth on the throne.”

"You think life would be different under her?”

"Who can say? She is young. She is clever. How many times do you think she has come within an inch of losing her head? The Queen has a softness for her sister though.