He touched his hat and moved on. The young Duke looked after him with eyes of agony, then stumbled wretchedly away through the trees.
William proceeded slowly to the privy garden, which was full of stocks, pinks, wallflowers, aloes, and early roses.
He found the Queen and Lady Nottingham seated in front of a great bush of box clipped into the shape of a peacock. Between them was a length of yellow silk that they were sewing with blue beads in little crosses and stars.
At the King's approach Lady Nottingham rose and retired with a courtsey. Mary looked after her kindly.
"She is a sweet lady—I like her vastly," she said.
"You find most ladies sweet, do you not?" answered the King; he seated himself beside her on the bench, and took up the end of silk Lady Nottingham had laid down.
"I have spoilt your work. But I wished to tell you something, Marie."
Mary glanced at him anxiously; she was slightly pale, and wore a black scarf wrapped round her head and shoulders; her petticoat was striped red and frilled at the foot, her over-gown dark blue and spread round her in circling folds of glittering silk. For all the sombre heaviness of this stately dressing she looked very young—sad, also, for all the desperate gaiety to which she was continually nerved.
The King looked about him to see that they were not overheard, then said, in a low voice—
"I have accepted my Lord Shrewsbury his resignation."