CHAPTER XI
AT THE QUEEN’S COMMAND
But neither Greville’s obsequious homage, nor Lord and Lady Stafford’s apologies could regain the goodwill of the queen. Seeing her state of mind Lord Stafford advised that Francis should retain her chamber during the rest of Elizabeth’s visit.
For the three days that the queen remained at the Hall her demeanor was such as to fill its master with a vague uneasiness. Lady Stafford she hardly tolerated, and though Lord Stafford lavished gifts upon her, yet she refused to be propitiated.
“Surely,” Francis heard her father say to her mother, “the remark of a child would not suffice for such behavior? Elizabeth is vain beyond most women, yet ’twere doing her an injustice to deem her capable of resentment for so slight a thing. Can she have learned of Ballard’s presence in England? Of our visit to Chartley? And yet none save 112 we three knew whither we went. And you would be discreet, I trow. Francis, young as she is, would reveal naught that would do me harm. She is too straightforward, too truthful,”—he stopped with a light laugh and kissed his wife. “What spirit the girl had to tell the queen that thou wert fairer,” he said. “Thou art so in truth, Penelope, yet for my life I durst not tell it to Elizabeth.”
“Nay; I would not have thee to, my lord. Say that Elizabeth is the loveliest, the fairest of womankind, I care not so that I may keep thee with me. But our child, my lord! I fear for that very directness which thou dost commend. A weaker spirit would be more politic. I would not that she be less truthful, but I wish, I wish——”
“Nay, sweetheart, wish not that she be other than she is. I would not have her fawning upon the queen as do the maids of the court. Dost mark what words of flattery they utter and yet with what ridicule they speak of her to each other when they think that there is none to hear? I would not that Francis should be as they are.”
“Nor I,” acquiesced the mother. “Yet 113 sometimes truth doth not meet with the merit it deserves.”
“True; but let us think not on that, but be grateful that our child is as she is.”