The Miracle at St. Bruno's

It was a banquet that was put before our distinguished guest. There was fish-dace, barbel and chub all served in herbs of my mother's growing. Lord Remus congratulated her on her cook and she was delighted. Then there was sucking pig and beef and mutton followed by my mother's own brand of syllabub. There was ale and wine in plenty and I saw my mother's eyes gleam with satisfaction and I thought how easy it was for her to be happy in the moment; and how strange it was that such a short time ago we were living in terror of what would happen next and I could not get out of my mind the image of Brother Ambrose hanging from his gibbet at the Abbey's Gate.

Kate, who was seated opposite Lord Remus, asked him when he was last at Court and he replied that he was there but a week before He talked of the Court and the King's dissatisfaction with h' state and how his temper was such that it was apt to flare up if one were careless enough to rouse it.

"I'll warrant you, my lord, are the soul of tact," said Kate.

"My dear young lady, I have a desire to keep my head on my shoulders, for that I consider is where it belongs.”

Kate laughed a great deal and I saw my mother glance at her and I thought afterward she will be reprimanded for her forwardness; but for the time that could pass, for Lord Remus did not seem to object to it.

Lord Remus had drunk a great deal of the elderberry concoction which my mother admitted was particularly fine this year and he was inclined to be talkative.

"The King needs a wife," he said. "He cannot be happy without a wife, even when he is looking for a new wife. He must have a wife.”

Kate laughed a great deal and the rest of us smiled; I guessed my parents were thinking uneasily of the servants.

"This time," said Lord Remus, "he is looking for a Princess from the Continent, but some of the ladies are just a little reluctant." He glanced at Kate. "Like me, young lady, they are anxious to keep their heads and in view of what happened to the unfortunate Anne Boleyn and even to Queen Katharine, the reluctance is understandable.”

"It is like the Arabian nights," said Kate. "Perhaps if the King could find a Queen who could continue to amuse him she could continue to live.”

"That is what the new Princess will have to aim for," said Lord Remus. "I hear that the sister of the Duke of Cleves has the King's attention. Master Holbein has painted a beautiful portrait of her and the King declares himself to be enamored of the lady already.”

"So the new Queen is chosen.”

"That is what is being said at Court. Master Cromwell is eager for the marriage.

I never liked the man-a low fellow-but the King finds him clever. It would be a good marriage for polities' sake, so they say. I'll dareswear that very soon you will be seeing another coronation.”

"She will be the King's fourth wife," said Kate. "I should love to see her. I daresay she is very beautiful.”

"Princesses are rarely as beautiful as they are made out to be," said Lord Remus.

"I'll warrant those who lack royalty can often make up for it in beauty." He was smiling at Kate in somewhat bleary-eyed concentration. Our elderberries were very potent that year. They must have been or I am sure he would not have spoken so freely.

I think my father was rather relieved when the meal was over; then my mother led Lord Remus into the music room and she sang a very pleasant ditty to him which he applauded with delight and then Kate took her lute and sang.

She sang a love song and every now and then she would raise her eyes and smile in the direction of Lord Remus. Her long hair escaped from the gold net and fell about her shoulders; she pretended to throw it impatiently back but I knew her well enough to realize she was calling attention to it.

When Lord Remus left we all conducted him to the privy stairs and watched his barge sail up the river.

I noticed that Kate was laughing as though at some secret joke.

She came to my room that night. She had to talk to someone and she had always used me for this purpose.

She stretched out on my bed. She always did that while I was expected to occupy the window seat.

"Well," she said, "what thought you of my lord?”

"That he eats too much, drinks too much and laughs too much at his own jokes and not enough at other people's.”

"I know so many to whom those words could apply.”

"Which shows that my lord is so like many others that there is very little new one can say about him.”

"One could say that he is rich; that he has a large estate in the country and a place at Court.”

"All of which could make him very desirable in the eyes of scheming young women.”

"There you speak sense, my child.”

"Pray do not call me your child. I have had a proposal of marriage which is more than you have had.”

She narrowed her eyes. "Master Caseman?”

I nodded.

"He doesn't want to marry you, Damask, so much as all this your lands, this house and everything that you will inherit from your father.”

"That is exactly what I implied.”

"You are not so foolish after all.”