The Forest - Edward Rutherfurd [180]
‘I suppose, My Lady, it may be so. I had not thought of it,’ Jane answered truthfully.
‘Think on it now, then,’ the Lady Albion commanded firmly. And then more gently: ‘Are you faithful, child, to Our Holy Church?’
Jane Furzey knew nothing of Albion’s mother. Brook was ten miles from Albion’s house; the lady had departed from the Forest almost fifteen years before Jane had been born. She had no idea who this impressive person with her air of splendid authority might be; but as she gazed at her now a thought occurred to her.
Jane had never seen the queen. Each summer, Queen Elizabeth would make a royal progress through some part of her kingdom. Several times she had come into other parts of the county, although not into the Forest. Was it possible that Her Majesty was coming down here now to see the shore defences? Would the queen ride about without a retinue? It seemed odd; but perhaps her gentlemen were nearby and would come up in a moment. The lady’s rich clothes, her haughty bearing and kindly words certainly matched every description she had ever heard of the queen. If it isn’t her, she thought, it’s somebody very important. ‘Oh, yes, My Lady,’ she said and attempted a rustic curtsy. She wasn’t sure what the queenly figure had meant, but she was certainly going to agree.
Albion’s mother smiled. It had been clear to her in all the three places she had visited that many of the peasants, perhaps most, were still faithful to the old religious ways. In this assessment she was perfectly correct. Now here was this intelligent girl, quite alone, confirming everything.
Another thought occurred to her. ‘They say, child, that the Spanish will soon be here. What will happen when they come?’
‘They will be met by the muster, My Lady. My brother,’ Jane added eagerly, ‘and my betrothed’ – she hesitated only a moment when she said this last word – ‘are both in the muster.’
‘They are both steadfast to the true Faith?’
‘Oh, yes.’
‘And brave men both, I am sure,’ the lady continued warmly. ‘Who is their captain?’
‘A noble gentleman, My Lady,’ Jane hoped this was the way to talk to a queen. ‘His name is Albion.’
‘Albion?’ This was exactly what she wanted. ‘And will they follow him obediently?’
‘Why yes, My Lady.’
‘Let me put you a question, child. If it should chance that the Spanish upon our shores are truly our friends and not our foes, what will your brother do?’
Jane looked perplexed. How was she meant to answer?
‘If this good captain, Albion, should instruct him so?’
Jane’s brow cleared. ‘He will obey, loyally, I promise you, My Lady, whatever Albion commands.’
‘Well said, my child,’ the lady cried. ‘I see you are truly loyal.’ And with a wave that might, indeed, have been given by a queen, she rode off towards Brockenhurst.
When she met her unhappy son just north of that village she greeted him gaily with words that made him quake even further: ‘I have been speaking with the good people of the Forest, Clement. All is well. You are loved and trusted, my son.’ She beamed at him approvingly. ‘You have only to give the word and they are ready to rise.’
Two more days passed and the weather over the Forest continued fine. It was said that the Spanish had definitely set sail, yet no one knew their whereabouts. The English fleet was down in the west, at Plymouth. The beacons were ready, but still no message came. Up at Malwood young Nick Pride wailed in high excitement. Each evening Jane visited him, and this evening she had promised to stay and keep him company as he took the night watch. ‘I may fall asleep, Nick,’ she had warned.
‘You may.’ He had smiled confidently. ‘I shall not.’
So when evening fell she told her parents she would remain up at Malwood with him and took her usual path down from Brook past the Rufus tree. The shadows were lengthening as she reached the old oak and she was walking by, not intending to pause, when suddenly she realized she was not alone. Under the trees nearby stood a small cart. In the cart sat Puckle.
She gave a little start. He was watching her calmly. She wondered