Читать интересную книгу The Murder in the Tower: The Story of Frances, Countess of Essex - Jean Plaidy

Disillusioned, feeling he had been rather foolish, having listened to vague warnings from Wilson whose judgment he trusted, he had come to believe that he would be well rid of such a woman. He had found comfort in hunting and other outdoor sports with friends of his own sex, and when he heard that Frances was desirous of divorcing him, he shrugged his shoulders and thought that it might be good to be free of her and in time find a wife who was ready to lead a normal life with him.

They had scarcely seen each other for some little time, and now that she believed she would soon be free of him, Frances rarely thought of him.

But another ogre had risen in his place: Sir Thomas Overbury.

She could not tell her lover of her fears because he would laugh at them, not understanding what harm Overbury might do if he discovered too much. Robert would not know how much there was to be discovered. But there was one she knew who would not be shocked by her villainies, providing they could be suppressed and did not cause open scandal; and now that he was working with her, would be ready to use his great power to suppress them. This was her great-uncle, the Earl of Northampton. So to him she went.

He read through “The Wife” and regarded his great-niece severely.

“Yes,” he said, “this man could make trouble—great trouble.”

“It is for us to see that he does not,” answered Frances.

“You have been very indiscreet.”

“Perhaps. But I am where I am, and it is not for you to reproach me, for you are glad that I am there.”

What a wild creature she was! thought Northampton. Young and inexperienced as she was, and old and experienced as he was, he would not care to have her for an enemy.

“H’m,” he said after a pause. “We must put an end to this man’s activities.”

“I have already tried to do this.”

Northampton’s eyebrows shot up. “What?” he cried.

“I offered a certain man a thousand pounds to engage him in a duel and kill him.”

“My dear niece, you are too impulsive. What man?”

“Sir David Woods, who I knew hated him because he was sure that it was due to Overbury that Robert refused him a post he coveted.”

“And what did he say?”

“He said it was too dangerous, and that only if Robert himself commanded him to do it and would promise him his patronage when it was done, would he undertake it.”

“And Robert?”

Frances laughed. “It is clear that you do not know Robert. He is so innocent. There is much he does not understand.”

Northampton looked intently into his great-niece’s face. “I believe that,” he said.

She shook herself impatiently. “Oh, come, it is not for you to preach to me. Do you think I do not know you take bribes from Spain?”

“Hush, niece, hush.”

“Then do not look as though I am the only sinful member of the family. My mother takes bribes and lovers. And you—”

He held up his hand and looked over his shoulder. “My dear Frances, be discreet if you can. I am not blaming you for what you have done. I am only asking you to observe the decency to see that you are not found out.”

“That is what I am trying to do. That is why I want an end of Overbury.”

Northampton was thoughtful.

“We must, I think,” he said at length, “find some means of sending him to the Tower. Safely there he would have little hope of making mischief.”

“Robert would never agree.”

“Robert has quarreled with him, I believe.”

“Oh, yes, but Robert is still grateful to him. He says he is his friend. The quarrels take place when that snake Overbury reviles me. Robert refuses to listen—and for that I must be thankful. Robert thinks Overbury is jealous and you know how indulgent he always is. Please understand this: Robert must be made to see that some action should be taken against Overbury. That is where you come in. If I try to explain he will think I am afraid of the slander Overbury is spreading about me. You must make Robert understand.”

“How?”

“That is for you to decide. After all, you stand to gain a great deal from this marriage, do you not?”

Northampton had to admit that that was true.

Northampton made sure that none could overhear their conversation when he opened the subject with Robert in the latter’s apartments.

“This man Overbury alarms me,” admitted Northampton.

“Tom? Oh, he has got a little beyond himself, I’ll grant you,” said Robert with a laugh. “He’ll calm down.”

“I believe he has uttered insults against my great-niece.”

“For which,” went on Robert, “I find it hard to forgive him. But he has been a very close friend of mine and I fear he is a little jealous.”

“Robert, you are too good-hearted. You look at evil and see it for good.”

“There is nothing evil in Tom Overbury.”

“It depends on what you call evil. I hear he boasts of his activities and tells his friends that your rise to fame is due to him.”

“We must not take too seriously what he says at this time.”

“But it is serious, Robert. He is against the divorce and your marriage and he has said that he will stop at nothing to prevent it.”

Robert looked shaken. “Has he said that then?”

“More. He is circulating lies about Frances. That is something I cannot forgive.”

“Nor I,” added Robert quickly.

“In fact, he is dangerous. I know he has been a good servant to you in the past, but he is so no longer. I think we should teach him a lesson. He should have his anger cooled.”

“I will speak to him.”

“You will but fan the flames, Robert. There is one other matter that I have in mind. There were unpleasant rumors at the time the Prince of Wales died; and it was well known that you and he were not fond of each other.”

“He seemed always to seek to bait me.”

“And people whisper that not long before his death he was a strong and healthy man. How was it, they say, that he took sick and died so suddenly?”

“He died of a wasting disease aggravated by a fever.”

“There are some people in London, not far from Whitehall, who know how to make a victim appear to die of a wasting disease.”

“What are you suggesting?”

“I speak of rumors that have come to my ears. If Overbury gave the word, those rumors would carry a great deal of weight.”

“You cannot think that I had a hand in the Prince’s death?”

“I do not think so. Rumor does not always have to be truth, Robert. At one time the Prince was in love with Frances; the Prince died and she became your mistress. That is not generally known. The King does not know it. He believes that you and Frances have fallen in love because her husband is impotent. He is sorry for you and wants to help you. A little scandal now and who knows what would happen? Who knows who would be accused of what? Overbury is in the mood to make that scandal. He is an arrogant self-opinionated man, Robert. We have to be careful of him. I suggest that if we could put him away … oh, only for a week or two … just while he cools down … well then life would be a great deal happier for all of us.”

Robert was thoughtful. “If he is going to make mischief—”

“He is making it fast. It should not be difficult to get him a spell in the Tower.”

“But he was my friend … still is. I feel I should explain to him.”

“Robert, this is not a matter to be explained. Let us endeavor to get him into the Tower. When he comes to his senses it will be an easy matter to have him released.”

Robert’s expression was unhappy. Northampton laid his hand on his arm.

“Think about it,” he said. “But do not delay too long.”

Robert could not reconcile himself to the plot to get Overbury imprisoned in the Tower. He could not forget their friendship and was certain that Overbury would eventually give up this ridiculous plan to prevent the divorce.

An idea came to him when James was sending new ambassadors to the Low Countries and France. Why not send Tom? It would be good experience for him; he was fully qualified to make a success of the mission; and it would remove him from the scene while the divorce was being arranged.

When Robert suggested this to Northampton he thought it an excellent idea and lost no time in putting it before the King.

James had never greatly liked Overbury. He felt he had too much influence with Robert and was overbearing; Robert had found him a useful secretary, but James had heard how the man boasted of his own importance.

“We shall appoint Sir Thomas Overbury to the Low Countries,” said James. “Or if he would prefer it, to France. I think he should do well in the post.”

As a result Overbury was summoned by the Lord Chancellor, Lord Ellesmere and the Earl of Pembroke to come to them to hear the King’s wishes.

Overbury, rather startled by the order, was unprepared for the suggestion which was offered.

“Ambassador to the Low Countries or France!” he cried. “No thank you! I prefer to remain in my own country.”

The eyebrows of the Lord Chancellor were raised in astonishment. “But it is the King’s wish that you should undertake this office.”

“My health is not good enough for me to undertake it.”

“I am surprised,” said the Chancellor, “for I thought that you were in excellent health.”

“I should not be for long if I went abroad.”

Pembroke said: “Sir Thomas, you would be ill advised to refuse this offer. I do believe it to be a prelude to a post in the royal household, perhaps Treasurer. The King wishes to satisfy himself that you would serve him well.”

“The King knows I would serve a master well.”

“Then why do you not give him this further assurance?”

“Because I have no desire to leave England at this time.”

“Is that your final word?”

“You may take it as that.”

When an account of this interview was taken back to the King, he was annoyed.

“I like not the stiff carriage of his fortune,” grumbled James. “This is an arrogant man. He boasts that he rules the Court and country. He has boasted too often. This is a matter of contempt and punishable by imprisonment. He should not think that I shall allow this to pass.”

Overbury was writing at his table when he heard the tramp of feet outside his door.

He looked up surprised when the door was flung open and he saw the guards there.

“Sir Thomas Overbury,” said the leader. “I come on the King’s command to arrest you.”

Overbury was on his feet spluttering his indignation. “On what charge?”

“Contempt of the King’s royal person” was the answer.

“I protest. You cannot do this. Call Viscount Rochester.”

The answer was to show the warrant for his arrest.

There was nothing to be done. He could only follow them, out of the palace, down to the waiting barge.

Along the river they went to the grim gray fortress.

Overbury’s heart was heavy with foreboding as he entered the precincts of the Tower of London.

“Overbury is in the Tower!”

The news spread through the Court.

And could not Rochester save him? Did this mean that Rochester was losing his place? Who would step into his shoes?

Robert was dismayed. It had happened so quickly. He wished that he could have saved Overbury from that. It seemed strange because it was exactly what Northampton had wanted to happen. But it was disconcerting to think of poor old Tom in a cell.

He would speak to the King. James had surely acted in a moment of anger, for Tom was too arrogant; he did have too high an opinion of his importance; he really should have taken the post in the Low Countries. He could have come home after a reasonable time.

Robert would have spoken to the King but Northampton who made a point of seeing him at once, advised him not to.

“Why, Robert,” he said, “this is the best thing that could have happened. Let him cool his heels against a stout stone wall for a while. It’ll do him good. We’ll go ahead with the divorce and when that little matter is done with, Tom Overbury shall come from prison, a wiser man, I’ll promise you.”

Robert could see the reason in that; so he did not speak to the King of Sir Thomas Overbury.

Frances called on Anne Turner at Hammersmith. She looked radiantly beautiful as she embraced her friend.

“Good news, Anne,” she cried. “Overbury is exactly where we wanted him to be. In the Tower.”

Anne clapped her hands with pleasure. “That’s the best news I’ve heard for a long time.”

“And not before it was necessary,” went on Frances. “The man was becoming a menace, I can tell you.”

“That scum of men!”

“Yes, he was determined to make trouble. He had his spies. He was ready to malign me. Anything to turn Robert from me. And that is something I should not endure.”

“I should think not—after all you have done to win his love and keep it!”

Frances sighed. “I must have more charms, for he is ready to be deterred at the slightest trouble.”

“My poor sweet lady! What trials are yours! Yes, you must continue to hold him.”

“I fear that Robert may visit him there. I fear that he may bring about his release. I also fear what he has discovered. I suspect him of bribing the secrets from people who are willing to sell them. He could stop the divorce. He intends to. Why, if he brought to the King’s notice—”

Anne shivered. “He must be prevented.”

“The King hates and fears witchcraft.”

Anne nodded.

“If he thought that I—”

“My sweet lady, you are over-wrought. He shall never know.”

“How can we be sure?”

“By keeping Overbury in the Tower until he dies.”

“Until he dies,” repeated Frances.

She was staring with wide eyes at her friend. She had made up her mind then. Overbury must not leave the Tower alive.

MURDER IN THE TOWER

The Earl of Essex was astonished—not that his wife desired a divorce, but by the reason she gave for wanting it. She accused him of impotence! He was angry. How dared she make such a statement when she had never given him an opportunity of proving whether he was or not!

If there was any justice in the land she would soon be discovered to be a liar.

Arthur Wilson, who had become his confidant, was not displeased by the news. He believed that he had, by his vigilance, prevented the Earl’s being poisoned at his wife’s order. If Essex were divorced—no matter by what means—he would escape forever from the evil influence of that woman; he could marry and live a normal life, and that, Wilson believed, would be a very desirable state of affairs.