Through Each Tomorrow, page 30
Drew sat on the window seat and put his forearms on his knees while clasping his hands. “I’m so raw with grief right now, I couldn’t tell you if I’m coming or going. I have no idea what to do.”
“You don’t need to choose right now. But—” my voice became stern—“if you don’t know whether you’ll choose Cecily, I’m asking you not to consummate your marr—”
Drew looked at me sharply.
“I know,” I said, holding up my hands, “but it’s not fair to her if you don’t plan to honor your marriage vows.”
“You don’t have anything to worry about. I’m not a blackguard.”
Neither of us spoke for a minute, and then Drew finally stood and sighed. “I can’t make my final choice for several months, so I might as well get busy doing what I can here.” He studied me for a moment. “Will you return to Virginia or come with us to New York?”
“As Lord Norfolk?” I shook my head. “I should return to Virginia.” I paused. “I don’t want to add more to your plate, Drew, but one of the reasons I agreed to do this was to get financial investment for my farm.”
“I am not sure what my father’s will entails,” Drew said, “but I’d be shocked if I didn’t inherit all his shares in the company, making me the majority stockholder. No matter what, I will ensure that the Whitney company invests in your farm. It could take some time for all the legal work to be done, but you don’t need to worry about your mother and sister anymore.”
Relief and gratitude overwhelmed me, and I reached out to shake Drew’s hand, gripping it hard. “Thank you, Drew. I know that things have been awkward between us lately—”
“Say no more, Charles. You came here to do me a favor, and now I will do one for you.”
“Thank you,” I said again.
“I want you to talk to Evelyn. The last thing she needs right now is more grief. If she wants you to come to New York with us, as our guest, please consider her request. If she’d rather you go back to Virginia, I’d like for you to honor that, as well.”
“Of course.”
I left the study, thankful that Mama and Ada would be taken care of. That meant that I could stay in 1563 with Cecily.
And if Drew ended up staying in 1883, I might have no other choice.
I should have felt relieved that everyone would be taken care of, but I wasn’t.
Evelyn was in the garden at the back of Midcliff, facing the ocean. The sun shone bright, such a stark contrast to the storm that ravaged the Atlantic the day before and took the lives of those on Mr. Whitney’s yacht.
“My father created this garden for my mother when they had the cottage built ten years ago,” she said without taking her eyes off the ocean. “He knew how much she loved flowers and wanted her to have this space to read or host lawn parties. They were so happy then—at least, they appeared to be.”
“I’m sorry for your loss, Evelyn. Is there anything I can do to help?”
“Sit with me.” She finally turned to me and placed her hand on the stone bench next to her.
I walked through the dahlias, black-eyed Susans, and zinnias. I knew the names of the flowers because Cecily loved them and had spent hours in the garden growing up. She and Evelyn would be good friends, I was certain, though they would never get to meet.
I took a seat next to Evelyn, and she reached for my hand.
“Thank you for being there for me when Officer Francis gave us the news.”
“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”
She looked at the ocean again, and I saw the remnants of tears in her eyes. “Nothing will ever be the same. You would think I was used to change and loss, but I hate it more than ever.”
I lifted her hand to my lips. “I wish I could take your pain, Evelyn.”
“I know.” She leaned her head on my shoulder. “Charles, I can’t even think about you leaving right now. Will you return to New York with us?”
I sighed. “I would like nothing more, but our separation is inevitable. If Congressman Reinhold learns that I’ve traveled with your family to New York, I’m certain he’ll tell your mother the truth about me. And we have your aunt to think about. She’s been waiting for the perfect opportunity to hurt your mother, and what time would be better than now?”
Evelyn lifted her head off my shoulder. “Aunt Helen wouldn’t dream of hurting Mother at a time like this.”
“Do you really believe that? If their rivalry is as ruthless as I’ve heard, I wouldn’t doubt she’d try.”
“Not now,” Evelyn said with certainty. She gently squeezed my hand. “Will you stay, at least through the funeral? Everyone would think it odd if you didn’t.”
I wasn’t sure that it was wise, but I couldn’t say no to Evelyn, especially at a time like this. “Of course,” I said, lifting her hand to my lips again. “I would stay forever, if I could.”
Tears gathered in her eyes again, and she leaned into me for a hug.
I wrapped my arms around her, willing to hold her for as long as God would allow.
But I was done trying to manipulate Him and His plans. It was time to surrender my own will and start to trust His.
Come what may.
25
CECILY
AUGUST 6, 1563
WINDSOR CASTLE
Despite Andrew’s declaration that he was going to stay in 1563 and honor his vows to me, dread overwhelmed me as I sat at the window seat in his apartment the next day. I wrapped my arms around my bent knees and placed my cheek on them. At any moment, the queen might summon us, and we would face our punishment.
Below me, the North Terrace was bright with the colors of late summer as the early morning sun shined upon the castle grounds. A gardener was busy trimming shrubs, peacefully going about his work.
How I longed to be in the garden to look for caterpillars and take them to my tower to paint.
There was a light knock on the bedchamber door, causing my heart to pound.
“Cecily?”
Relief overwhelmed me as I realized it was Andrew and not the queen’s guards.
“Come in.” I slipped my feet off the window seat and turned to face him.
The door opened, and Andrew entered. His face was still lined with sleep, and he was only wearing his linen shirt and hose. His feet were bare, and his hair was still tousled from being abed.
He’d never looked so handsome or inviting. I ached to be in his arms.
With each passing day, my love and desire for my husband grew. Seeing him in such intimate surroundings, wearing only a shirt and pants, made my pulse escalate.
“Good morrow,” I said, allowing the joy of seeing him to banish the melancholy I’d been feeling all morning. When he didn’t return my smile, I knew something was terribly wrong. “What is it?” I rose to my feet. “Is it the queen? Have we been summoned?”
Ever since we’d arrived at the castle the afternoon before, we’d been anticipating a page or guards to be sent to Andrew’s apartment. We’d spent the previous day dreading the summons, yet no one had come. As night had fallen, Andrew had insisted I sleep in his bedchamber while he took the couch in the outer room. Neither of us wanted our marriage as husband and wife to start under the strain of uncertainty.
“Nay,” he said as he joined me, taking one of my hands to lead me back to the window seat. “’Tis not the queen.”
There was so much sadness in his voice and movements. I stopped him. “What’s wrong, Andrew?”
When our gazes met, his face crumpled and he drew me into his arms.
My lips parted as I clung to him, starting to fear the worst. “What’s happened? Is it Charles? Did you two duel after all?”
“Nay.” He shook his head. “’Tis my other path.”
“Tell me, Andrew,” I begged. “Did something happen to Charles there?”
He finally pulled away but didn’t let go of me. “My father was killed in a yachting accident on his way to Newport. There was a terrible storm, and no one survived on the boat.”
I stared in shock. “I’m so sorry, Andrew. How terrible.”
“We traveled to New York City yesterday,” he continued. “When I wake up there tomorrow, I will have to deal with all the business details while Mother and Evelyn plan the funeral.” He studied me as he spoke. “This isn’t how I imagined everything would go. Father was supposed to have years left to find a replacement for me.”
I shook my head in denial. I’d just started to hope that we could have a life together. He said he was going to choose me. “What do you mean?”
“I don’t know what I’m going to do. I can’t live my father’s life. It would destroy me. But I can’t abandon my mother and Evelyn right now, either. There is no one else to fill my father’s shoes except my uncle Clarence, and he will run the company into the ground. Hundreds of employees depend on Whitney Shipping for their livelihoods, not to mention my relatives. It’s not just Mother and Evelyn, but my aunt and cousin, as well.” He shook his head. “I’m sorry, Cecily.”
My heart was breaking, but Andrew was in pain, and he needed me to be strong. “You have nothing to be sorry about, my love,” I said, slipping my hand up to his face. “’Tis not your fault.”
He hugged me again, and I clung to him.
“Is there time enough to find a replacement for you?” I asked, hopeful.
“There are so many unknowns. Once my father’s will is read, I will know more, but I can’t think of anyone my uncle Clarence would approve if I tried to find someone else.” He placed his hand on my cheek, and I placed mine over his. “I love you,” he whispered. “The only thing that got me through the horrors of yesterday was knowing that I would come here today and see you. Hold you.” He kissed me then, and I wrapped my arms around him, wishing I could hold him forever. When he pulled back, he said, “I don’t know how I would survive a life in 1883 without you. Running the family company is not my dream, but to do it while grieving the love of my life seems a penalty too great to bear.”
“We will find a way,” I promised, though I’d already suffered so much loss and disappointment, and a small voice in the back of my head told me to prepare for the worst. Very few things had gone as I had hoped or planned in my life, so why did I think this would work in my favor? Bitterness wanted to take root in my heart as the tears began to fall.
Yet, I could almost hear my mama’s voice, whispering in my mind and heart not to let anger win. She’d been a time-crosser and understood the difficulties. As I had been sick in 1913, and we were certain I would not live, she had made me promise not to let bitterness win. To remember all the things she and Papa had taught me, to love God and trust Him and pray. Always pray.
He leaned his forehead against mine. “I’m sorry,” he whispered.
“’Tis not your fault.”
A loud knock echoed throughout the chamber, causing both of us to stiffen.
“Doctor Bromley!” a man yelled. “The queen has summoned you and your wife to her Privy Chamber at once!”
I clung to Andrew as panic raced up my throat.
“Fear not,” he whispered to me as he kissed me again. “God has gone before us in this and all things. We must trust Him, Cecily.”
I briefly closed my eyes, trying, with all my heart, to believe him. Would God listen to my prayer if I asked Him to protect us? He hadn’t answered mine or my parents’ prayers in 1913 when I became sick. Was it because He had a better plan? This plan?
As the door to the bedchamber opened, Andrew laced his fingers through mine, and we faced the queen’s guards together.
“Pray, my love,” he whispered.
So I did.
We followed the guards through the halls of Windsor Castle at a fast pace. I imagined many who had gone before us, summoned to the English monarch, some with more tragic fates than others. Yet, I knew their dread. The queen was at liberty to exact any punishment she saw fit for the unapproved marriage of one of her maids. My only hope was that she would be lenient with us, knowing why we had left the castle.
We walked through the Queen’s Ballroom, past dozens of courtiers apparently waiting there to see us. People stood in small groups, whispering with disapproving glares.
Would all this attention cause people to question Andrew’s past? What if someone discovered that he hadn’t apprenticed with a doctor? Would he be at risk for further punishment?
I didn’t want to even contemplate such a thing.
Aveline was among those who stood in the Queen’s Ballroom. The moment our eyes met she stepped forward, but there was nothing she could do. The guards walked so quickly I wouldn’t be allowed to speak to anyone.
Her eyes were filled with worry as we passed her, and I wondered what would become of her if the queen banished me from the castle. Aveline’s hope of becoming a maid of honour was now ruined, and she would be forced into a convent.
“Where is my brother?” I asked Andrew as I searched the faces of those present.
Andrew inhaled as we continued toward the Presence Chamber. “I know not.”
“Are things any better between you?”
“I’m thankful he was there for us yesterday.” It was all Andrew would say.
As we entered the Presence Chamber, the familiar room looked menacing. I tried not to panic. Just beyond the door at the other end was the queen—and our fate.
Andrew’s fingers tightened around mine as one of the ushers opened the door to the Privy Chamber.
We walked through the door and found the queen sitting on her couch. She wore her makeup, but I could tell she was still weak and exhausted from giving birth to her son. Her swelling had gone down considerably since the last time I’d seen her, and her eyes were creased with the depth of her loss.
Kat stood behind the couch on one side, and Charles stood on the other.
I met my stepbrother’s cool gaze briefly as I let go of Andrew’s hand and curtsied to the queen while Andrew bowed.
“Rise,” the queen said in a hard voice.
Panic wrapped around my heart as I stood straight.
“Step forward, Cecily.”
It did not escape my attention that the queen had failed to call me Lady Cecily.
I stepped forward and dipped my chin.
“Is it true that you left the castle in the dead of night with Doctor Bromley?”
“Aye. ’Tis true, Your Majesty.”
“And that you married Doctor Bromley, without my consent, at a chapel in Wexham?”
“Aye.”
“Do you deny this charge, Doctor Bromley?” the queen asked him.
“I do not, Your Majesty.”
“Why did you do this thing without asking me?”
“Because—” He paused, and I saw the war waging within him. He had done it to protect the queen and her son, but he could never admit that to anyone, the queen included. “Because I love Cecily.”
There was a pause, and I glanced up to find the queen looking at him. Her emotions were masked and hard to read. Was she testing his loyalty to see if he would reveal the truth about the baby? The only person in the room who didn’t know was Charles, and he would be trustworthy with the news. She had to know that. She could have chosen anyone else to be present.
“I have asked Lord Norfolk and Kat to be my witnesses,” the queen said, still sitting on her couch. “So I ask them now, do either of you have anything to say on behalf of Doctor Bromley and his wife?”
Hope filled my chest as I looked at my brother and then at Kat. Charles could petition the queen to grant us leniency because he was one of her favorites, and because he knew that the only reason we’d married without her consent was because Lord Wolverton had seen us. And Kat could appeal to Her Majesty because she knew why Andrew and I had left the castle in the middle of the night. She had all but forced me.
Yet neither of them spoke as an awkward silence filled the Privy Chamber.
Was the queen testing their loyalty, as well?
“Your Majesty,” I finally said, “may I—?”
“There is nothing you can say that would convince me of your innocence,” the queen said in a sharp voice. “You have blatantly disobeyed my orders by marrying without my consent, and for that reason, I am banishing you from court and putting you on house arrest until further notice.”
“My queen,” I said as I bowed my head, “I beg you—”
“You are fortunate the plague is ravaging London,” she barked. “Or you would find yourself in the Tower! Charles, call in the guards and have them remove Doctor Bromley and Cecily to their rooms.”
Andrew stepped forward. “Your Majesty—”
“I do not want to hear your pathetic excuses,” the queen said as she slowly rose to her feet. “You have betrayed me and my confidence in you.” She turned to me. “Not only have you married without my consent, but you married beneath you, Cecily. I cannot tolerate a member of my household, or a member of nobility, marrying a commoner. Anyone with access to my person must be of the highest character, trustworthy, and willing to do whatever is necessary for the safety of the crown. You have done none of those things.”
Charles moved past us and opened the door to summon the guards.
“Charles,” Andrew said as he turned back to the room. “You know—”
“Silence!” the queen said. “If you utter one more word in my presence, I will send you to the dungeon.”
Andrew pressed his lips together as his gaze met mine.
I shook my head as tears filled my eyes.
Why didn’t the queen pardon us? She had to know why we left.
And why didn’t Charles come to our defense? Or Kat? There were things they could say without betraying the queen.
Two guards took hold of Andrew, and the other two took hold of me. Mine walked me out of the Privy Chamber just ahead of Andrew.
