Keeper of the King's Secrets (29 page)

“Will he really rid himself of Wolsey? He does not look as if he would even consider it.”

Susanna saw the King take the architect’s plan from Wolsey and hold out his hand for Wolsey to kiss. Henry’s face was jovial and his eyes danced.

“I am sure of it.” Parker walked with her out of the room, away from false smiles and insincere offers. “Wolsey is a dead man walking.”

And whereas I have sought to make them my enemies, because I believed that war with them would conduce to my power and glory, thou hast every inducement to make friends of them, because their alliance will bring thee advantages and security.

—Niccolò Machiavelli
, The Life of Castruccio Castracani of Lucca
(translated by W. K. Marriott)

T
he Comte was waiting for them as they stepped out of Bridewell.

He made no attempt to hide himself and came forward boldly, in full view of the guards at the door.

Parker reached for his sword, but the Comte lifted his hands, palms outward, to show he held no weapons.

“May I ask, just from personal interest, where the Mirror was hidden?” He came to a stop just out of sword reach.

“It was in the Jewel Tower, hidden in an unused box.” Susanna spoke softly, and Parker thought there was some sympathy for the Comte in her voice.

“Ah. What was Jens thinking?” The Comte’s voice caught and almost broke.

“I’m sorry. I truly am.” Susanna made to move to him, but Parker held her back.

“Sorry? You
bitch
.” The Comte moved suddenly, a knife magically in his hand.

Steel ground on steel as Parker’s sword caught the blade and threw it back, flipping it out of the Comte’s hand. It somersaulted in the air and landed with the high ting of metal on stone, then skittered away into the dark.

The guardsmen gave a shout, but Parker lifted a hand to show he had it under control.

He and the Comte stared at each other, breathing hard.

“I’d run for France if I were you.” Parker’s arms ached to thrust the sword home. “I would dearly love to kill you, but there would be repercussions and I do not intend to spend my time answering tiresome questions. The King knows your part in this, and things will not go well for you if you stay.”

“I am away to Dover this very night.” The Comte spoke tightly.

“Let me not delay you.” Parker lifted his sword, ready for another strike.

“One word of warning.” The Comte edged back. “Do not come to France, either of you. It will not go well for you.”

He spun and strode to his horse.

Parker sheathed his sword.

Susanna was staring after the Comte, her face drawn. “He was in an impossible situation. I do not think his failure will do him any favors in France, either. I feel sorry for him.”

Parker stared at her. “You are a mystery to me, my lady.”

She turned to him. “Is it finally over now?”

“Aye.” He drew her close. “It is over. Until the next time.”

T
he letter from home arrived the next day.

Susanna had been waiting so long for it, she let it sit on the table and simply looked at it. She had never thought she would miss her family as much as she did. Her mother particularly, but her father and her brother, too.

She’d left Ghent angry and disappointed in them, but her life had changed for the better in all ways since she’d come to London. Her father had done her the greatest favor to send her off.

She fingered the parchment, which was a little dirty from its journey, and finally took up a knife to break the seal.

The paper rolled open on her lap, and she saw it was in the beautiful hand of her father. He was not a scribe, but he formed his letters as if he were guided by angels.

She read the small, tight script once, then twice. Stood and went to stand by the fire. Happiness warred with anger, and even—she would admit—jealousy. Fury.

Even though the understanding had always been that this opportunity was temporary, now that he was taking it away, she realized how much this work meant to her. This life.

Being the visible artist, not the one who toiled in obscurity in the atelier.

“What is it?” Parker stood at the door, and she must have looked worse than she feared, because he came to her as if she had received some terrible news.

“I have a letter from my family.” She pointed to it, lying on the small table beside her chair.

“And?” He made no move to reach for it.

“They are coming to England.” She lifted her wrists to dab away the tears that were suddenly there. “My father has had enough of Margaret’s administrators always paying him late. He is bringing my mother, and he and my brother Lucas will take over my work for the King.”

Parker watched her with eyes that saw to her soul. “You do not want that.”

She shook her head, afraid to speak. Afraid that the force of her desire to keep what she had would spill out into something uncontrolled.

“It seems to me you have other clients already, besides the King.” He stroked her hair. “The Queen, and her ladies, are all clamoring for your pictures.”

Susanna stilled. “Aye.”

“And when you are married to me, your father cannot command you.” Parker brushed away the last tear with his thumb.

“No. But you can.” She looked up into his stark, beautiful face. They had never discussed what would happen with her work when she married him.

“You know my greatest wish is for your happiness.” He kissed her forehead. “And if you want to paint, then that is what you will do.”

She finally smiled, and framed his face with her hands, thinking of all the paintings she would do of him—an infinite number, showing every brilliant facet of him.

“Yes. That is exactly what I will do.”

This is, of course, a work of fiction, but where possible I have kept to the events and facts of the time.

The story of how Henry VIII came to possess the Mirror of Naples is quite true, although what happened to the jewel is a mystery. Venetian ambassadors did describe a jewel worn by Henry that sounds very much like the Mirror, but after that it disappears from the record books.

Also true is the tale of Henry’s headfirst dive into a ditch while hawking. The incident sent a ripple of alarm through the nobility on the question of succession, and Henry was very aware of this.

Wolsey’s Amicable Grant is also fact. He was under pressure from the King to raise funds for a war with France. He bypassed Parliament and simply implemented the Grant, causing rioting and a massive backlash from the laity and nobility alike. He was forced to retract the Grant, a huge loss of face for him and the King.

In this book I have implied that Gertrude Courtenay, Countess of Devon, was the daughter of William Blount and his third wife, Ines de Benegas. However, I’d like to mention there is conflicting information on this fact. She is also listed as the
daughter of William Blount and his second wife, Elizabeth Saye. All the sources were reputable, if at odds with one another, so as Alison Weir refers to Gertrude as being half Spanish in her book
Henry VIII: The King and His Court
, mentioning that her Spanish heritage made her very dear to Katherine of Aragon, I chose to keep her half Spanish for the purposes of this story.

The underground passage from St. Sepulchre’s to Newgate Prison did exist. The one from St. Sepulchre’s to the Fleet did not, except in my imagination.

Bartholomew Fair was the name of the underground dungeons that made up the most horrific cells of the Fleet, and some of the prisoners there were sent by the Star Chamber and by Wolsey himself. When the nobles and Henry acted against Wolsey and arrested him, one of the charges against him was sending people to the Fleet without due process.

And finally, “shooting the bridge” really was a pastime of the Thames boatmen with nerves of steel and a certain death wish. As the Thames flowed toward the sea and encountered the massive barrier of London Bridge, it was forced to slow and back up, like a dam. Because the river is tidal, when it was low tide the water on the seaward side of the bridge could be as much as six feet lower than the water on the source side. The pressure on the water as it forced its way through the bridge’s arches was immense, and boatmen took their lives in their hands if they chose to navigate it.

Michelle Diener

www.michellediener.com

In
Keeper of the King’s Secrets
, a violent encounter between Susanna Horenbout and Master Jens of Antwerp, an old family friend and distinguished jeweller, soon becomes a race to prevent the theft of one of the King’s most magnificent jewels—a theft that could plunge England into a war with France. After Susanna and her betrothed, courtier John Parker, learn of Jens’s involvement in the disappearance of the King’s beloved and controversial Mirror of Naples, they embark on a dangerous quest to find who is trying to steal the prized jewel—and which of Henry’s inner court is working with an assassin to remove all those standing in his way. They tirelessly search for the jewel despite assassination attempts on their own lives, sinister plots against them devised by rival courtiers, and Parker’s kidnapping by Cardinal Wolsey. Just when they have seemingly exhausted all avenues, Susanna solves the riddle of the jewel’s hiding place. After one final struggle with the French assassin, Parker and Susanna successfully return the Mirror of Naples to King Henry VIII, thus averting the war with France Henry would have demanded had it been stolen and cementing Parker’s status as one of the King’s most loyal courtiers.

1. Nearly all chapters begins with a quote from Machiavelli’s
The Prince.
What do you think is the significance of these quotes? How did these quotes frame the chapters? Did they enhance your reading in any way? Why or why not?

2.
Keeper of the King’s Secrets
is the second novel in a series. If you have not already read the first novel,
In a Treacherous Court
, did you find it difficult follow Susanna and Parker’s story line? Are you interested in reading the first book? Explain.

3. King Henry VIII’s mishap while hawking caused a ripple of concern among the royals and his court, while also drawing attention to Henry’s lack of a male heir. Can you think of any recent incidents similar to the King’s mud dive?

4. Both Parker and Susanna risk their lives and their social stations to find the King’s jewel. Who do you think took the greater risks? Explain.

5. Of all the risks Susanna takes, her greatest one is dressing as a monk. Can you think of a modern-day crime equivalent to Susanna’s impersonation?

6. Throughout the story, Parker and Susanna go to great lengths to not only find the Mirror, but also to protect one another. Do you think their partnership would’ve been more or less successful if they weren’t engaged? How does their relationship aid their sleuthing dynamic? How does it hinder it?

7. Many characters, including the Comte and Queen Katherine, acknowledge their use of spies. With so many duplicitous characters, whom would you trust if you were Parker or Susanna? Whom would you trust the least?