Although Brigid felt better after three days, she had to stay in bed for a week: her mother had insisted, fearing that a draught might cause another attack. When people almost lose their favourite creature, they become overzealous in protecting it. But Miss Guise was not bored, for her dear friend was at her side and spent almost all her time at her bedside. Alienor, who was as anxious for Brigid's health and life as the latter's parents, felt a certain guilt: it was she who had insisted on that ill-fated walk in the field. But could she have foreseen that the light white clouds would be replaced by black storm clouds? After all, she does not possess the gift of foresight, so could she have known that it would rain in a way that would make the frail Brigid sick?
– I'm sorry, my dear, but it seems your favourite hood is lost forever. I looked for it after that storm, and then again, with a couple of maids… But don't be sad: I will give you a new and even more beautiful one," Alienor said affectionately to her friend as the girls strolled through the garden.
Miss Guise was allowed to leave her chambers and the castle, but not for long, so they did not go further than the large, well-tended garden behind the castle. The girls held tightly to their hands, and behind them, silent as a shadow and true as a dog, walked a boy-parlour carrying a small basket of candied fruit. This little procession was closed by two armed servants, who had been ordered to guard the life and peace of Miss Norton and her friend.
– 'You are so kind,' smiled Brigid. – 'I shall be glad of such a gift! I only hope your father will not scold you for such a waste?
– Ah, he will do anything I ask," Alienor waved her hand. She knew her father as well as anyone. And she spoke the truth: he never refused her anything. Whatever the price, whatever his daughter asked of Sir Norton was bought without argument. – But tell me, was your mother angry with you? For that poor hood was a gift from her?
– I confessed my loss to her, but she only smiled and said it was a small payment for the Lord not taking me away from her," replied Brigid, and at this recollection a warmth sprang into her bosom. A happy smile touched her lips, and she whispered in her friend's ear: "She has changed so much! This illness must have been God's blessing to me! My mother was never so caring and caring… She even took pity on me and my foolish love for William… "He is not worthy of you," she said!
– And your father?
– He, too, has suddenly become caring and even kind to me… Of course, he doesn't express it as openly as my mother does, but this morning he said that he would find me a worthy suitor, more intelligent and richer than William… – Brigid frowned: even though she had accepted her shame and the fact that her dream would never come true, the girl still suffered at the thought that she was not destined to marry for love.
After all, who would marry her? Who would want a fresh, beautiful rose when her family was in disgrace and barely making ends meet? To marry Brigid Guise would be to fall into the king's disfavour, for along with her beauty her husband would have a stain on his name.
– I will ask my father to find you the handsomest and bravest knight in all England," Alienor said hastily, as if she had read her friend's thoughts, and she laughed merrily as she patted Brigid's cheek. "And William will eat his own sword when he hears that you have been married to an earl or even a duke's heir!
– That will never happen. I might be beautiful, but…" Brigid sank her head sullenly.
– Might be? How modest you are! – Alienor exclaimed and kissed her friend on the cheek. – There is no girl in England more beautiful than you! Not even the King's favourite can match you! Have you seen her? Bland as a rotten fish!
– And yet she manages to keep Henry tied to her," Brigid said grudgingly. – Do you find Anne Boleyn bland? I thought you liked her.
– She can be bland and I like her at the same time! – not at all ladylike, Alienor giggled. – Her face is plain, really, but her eyes… Such eyes! They enchant, envelope, invite… If I were a man, I would definitely fall into her net!
– If I were a man, I would be happy to have a woman like Catherine of Aragon as a wife! – said Brigid firmly, displeased at her best friend's sympathy for the horrid, vile woman who broke the heart of the Queen of England. – Ah, Alienor, how can you like that lecherous woman? They say all she does is party, dance and get gifts from the King!
– That's exactly what I like about her! She's not boring, which is more than I can say for your favourite Catherine," said Alienor. – I like to live and be merry, and to spend the whole day in the prayer room, like the Queen and her ladies in honour, would make me dull with boredom… Oh, my dear, don't be sad," she added affectionately, seeing the sadness on Brigid's face. – The king will not marry her. As long as Catherine lives…
– I pray to God that the Queen will live long and happy years, – bitterly whispered Brigid and shook her head. – But I don't want to hear any more about all this. The only thing I wish for is William Tury, but it is time for me to tear him from my heart. He wanted to marry you, Alienor. – A flame of envy flickered in the girl's eyes, but it was not black or evil. – He asked for your hand in marriage.
– My sweet, kind, and naive Brigid," Alienor sighed patiently. – He did not want to marry me. The purpose of his proposal was to be related to my father. You do remember the influence that Lord Norton wields at court, don't you?
– Are you sure? What if he sees you in his dreams?
– It's not me he sees in his dreams, it's how he's going to get into the King's retinue. The King is always lavishing favours on his retinue. And I'm the only way William Tury can get into the palace.
– Miss Guise! Your father told me to find you! – they heard behind their backs, and turned round to see a servant girl walking quickly in their direction.
– Father is calling…" Brigid said thoughtfully. – I must go.
– I'll be in the garden. I felt like writing a couple of sonnets to nature today," Alienor smiled encouragingly.
Brigid smiled and headed for the castle, wondering what her father wanted from her, as he had said he would be very busy today and asked not to be disturbed.
***
Lord Norton walked slowly across the garden, re-reading for the umpteenth time the little note he had received from London only a few minutes ago. His full lips, hidden beneath a thick golden moustache, smiled enigmatically.
– How nice to see you so happy, father," said a woman's gentle voice behind him, which made Sir Norton shudder with surprise and laugh heartily at himself.
– Ah, it is you, my pearl! – He went up to his daughter and kissed her white, high forehead. – Are you walking alone? Where is Brigid?
– 'Her father sent for her…' Alienor shrugged her shoulders, and then bowed her head and squinted her sky-blue eyes. – You shine like the midday sun. And what has made you so happy?
– I can't hide anything from you, my beauty! – Sir Norton bent down to the girl's ear and whispered softly: – 'News from London! Do you remember how quickly His Majesty left our castle?
– How could I forget such a thing? Oh, don't let me die from curiosity! – whispered Alienor impatiently.
– Henry has sent an ambassador to the Vatican to bring the Pope's consent to the divorce of our King and Queen Catherine! My secret attorney also reports…" Lord Norton whispered quickly, quickly.
– Wait, wait! Father, are you sure about this? – Alienor's eyes widened and she said aloud: the news her father had shared with her astonished her, and her whole being could not believe that King Henry had decided to divorce his old wife after all. How could such a thing be possible? And how had Anne Boleyn managed to induce him to take such a serious, ungodly step? Did he not care at all what his subjects had to say about him?
"But why am I surprised? It was so obvious! The old faithful horse is going to the stall, and the young and stroppy one is preparing to be ridden," thought the girl with a sarcastic smile. – Catherine had better kindly, quietly step down and give her place to her rival, for she has long since won their duel for the heart and favour of this lustful fool!"
– Have I ever been wrong, my rose? – replied the girl's father ingratiatingly, and bent again to her ear: – A man loyal to me, a courtier who is among Henry's closest friends and favourites, has also reported that Catherine, that Spanish fox, has somehow discovered about her husband's secret messenger to the Pope, and has also sent a man to the Vatican… But this is but the last agony: once the King has made his decision, he cannot be changed, however foolish it may be… Do you realise what awaits us all now, my daughter?
– Changes, Father, and I'm sure for the better. But when will you persuade the King to take me as his wife's retinue? This spanish nun may soon fall, but while she's at court, I could be her lady in waiting…
– No, no, just think how Anne would feel about my request. She's soon to be the new Queen of England, and she will certainly not forget that I begged her rival to take you as her lady in waiting. It will cast a shadow over you, my dear. And on all the Nortons! And I do not wish to end up like Brigid's father.
– Then beg Anne! She will be pleased to hear that the young daughter of Henry's councillor stays awake at night, so eager to serve her! – Alienor pleaded.
– What if Henry should die? Anything could happen! Would he die without divorcing then Catherine will remain Queen-mother of the heir to the throne! This woman is soft, but she will not forget those who have hurt her and trampled on her name! No, my little bird, I can't risk it! We will wait," Sir Norton insisted stubbornly.
– Wait? But, Father, I'm already seventeen! I don't want to enter the palace as an old woman! – Alienor snarled resentfully.
– My dear, you know that I am always on your side, but this time I insist on my own: we will wait for a convenient moment, – said Lord Norton in a serious tone, and his daughter did not argue, but only sighed sadly.
***
When Brigid knocked timidly on the door of the room where her father usually worked and was allowed to enter, she slipped in silently, and her gaze immediately met that of a young, richly dressed man she did not know.
– Father! – The girl made a deep curtsy to Sir Guise, and then did not forget to greet the guest as well. – Sir!
– Truly, sir, there is no girl more beautiful than your daughter in England or in the whole world! – The stranger smiled broadly at Sir Guise, but kept his admiring gaze on his daughter. At the girl's appearance the young handsome man's sky-blue eyes lit up like torches with the coming of darkness.
– Brigid had inherited her beauty from Elizabeth Woodville, her ancestress. As you must know, sir, there are still legends goes about that legendary Queen's beauty," Sir Guise said contentedly. He stood at the window, with a large map in his hand, and, in the daylight, scrutinised it. Then, distracted from his study, he laid the map on the table, came to his daughter, and took her hand in his.
– I beg your pardon, father, did you call for me? – The girl asked quietly, not understanding why her father would send for her while he was receiving visitors. And who was this blond handsome man? She seemed to have seen him before, but where and when? His face seemed so familiar, and his blue eyes so dear! But she could not remember, nor did she wish to.
– Have you given your father notice of your return, sir? – Sir Guise asked his guest, as if he had not heard Brigid's voice.
– Not yet, sir. My heart demanded an answer, and the first thing I did was to rush to you," he said, not taking his eyes off Miss Guise's beauty, and that intense, passionate gaze made the girl blush and her mind fill with hundreds of questions that she did not dare to ask aloud.
– Oh, even so? – Mr. Guise laughed cordially, but Brigid, who knew her father, immediately recognised the falsity in his laugh. – But, sir, before embarking on such an important and responsible path, you need your parents' permission!
– My father would be delighted, as would my mother," the stranger smiled warmly, not even thinking of taking his eyes off Brigid Guise, the Flaming Rose.
– Father, I apologise… I don't understand what's happening," the girl turned to the smiling Sir Guise in a whisper.
– 'My good, naive daughter! – Sir Guise affectionately touched the girl on the shoulder. – Don't you recognise our guest?
– You seem familiar to me, sir, but I do not remember…" Brigid began, turning her gaze to the guest.
– It is five years since we last saw each other, my dear miss, and you must have forgotten me. But I have not forgotten you. For years, your beautiful face has stood before my eyes, and my ears have been filled with your marvellous singing," interrupted the stranger, and gave her a deep bow. – I am still the same Philip, the older brother of your best friend Alienor.
Brigid's eyes widened in surprise: of course it was him! How could she not recognise those white curls and sky-blue eyes? Philip! He and Alienor looked so much alike, as if God had given them the same appearance for two!
"What a man he has become! No longer that clumsy young man teaching me archery, but a manly and handsome man! He's back! How glad Lady and Sir Norton will be at his return! And Alienor? She has waited for him so long, cherished and reread his letters with such tenderness!" – A happy smile lit up the girl's face, and Philip Norton almost gasped at her beauty.
– Alienor will be so glad… So happy! – Brigid exclaimed, pressing her palms to her breast.
– And are you pleased, Miss Guise? – Philip asked in an ingratiating tone.
– Of course, sir, I'm very glad you're back, too," she answered timidly.
– Well, that's fine! Why delay when two hearts are drawn to each other with such inevitable force? – Brigid's father said in a cheerful manner. His face shone with pleasure. – We'll have the wedding next week!