Page 23 of Love, Will

After I accepted Henry's employment, I wanted to go straight to the inn and discuss with my fellow actors, to which he agreed and offered to join. Most of the men looked surprised and possibly angry at the beginning but once I explained I would not require payment until they got back and I would not claim any share of profits, they realized that my absence made their coin heavier so they wished me well and told me to be on my way. The Burbages were the only ones who argued further and kept asking me to reconsider and think about the experience of traveling together and the creativity I would find on the road. At which point Henry, who was sitting on his own at the table next to ours intervened.

“If I may interrupt, Master Burbage, rest assured that Will, will have access to my entire estate and work will not be too heavy on him. So he can spend the better part of the day focusing on creating brilliant work. After all, we all need more Shakespeare plays ready when the theatre opens again, you have my word that I will not stay in the way of genius,” Henry uttered, then smiled politely and turned back to sipping his ale is if he hadn’t just made the biggest compliment of my work in the presence of all my colleagues.

Both Burbages nodded, not knowing what else to say or daring to contradict the Earl.

“And, Master Burbage, if I may, a little good luck present for your tour.” I saw Henry swiftly placing a coin bag in Master Burbage’s hand and later found out that he gave the company the entire sum of five pounds to help them with the touring, which was almost a quarter of the amount they made in their journeys.

Once I said goodbye to the men, Richard offering a few more insults to last me for the time we’d be separated and wished for my prick to fall off, to which I replied he has a better chance to lose his to one of the peasant ladies on the fields, we withdrew to the Earl’s residence, but this time, I did not hold the position of guest any longer.

As soon as we entered, Henry asked his steward to gather all the staff in the tea room, since he had an announcement to make. By the time we arrived in said room, over thirty people waited, heads bowed, for the Earl. I only knew three of them, the ones that have attended us in my visits. I later came to know that they were the head steward and the footmen, but I never realised how much folk the Earl needed on a daily basis.

I was one of the lucky few commoners who had the opportunity to be friends with an Earl and be able to address him by his first name, as if we were truly equal, but Henry was one of the most important people in the country and had blood connections to the Queen. One word from him and all of us could be banished from London or be punished or beheaded if we gave him any kind of offence. Henry’s power always stirred passion in me and I couldn’t lie, I enjoyed the feeling of being considered his equal.

“Good afternoon all, I called you to announce that Master Shakespeare has done me the honour of accepting to be my secretary and he will reside here from now on. He is my second in the villa and my representative when I am away.”

The servants nodded, without looking up at the Earl. I later found out that not everyone could speak directly to him and some had to be given permission before they could voice anything in his presence. Even the servants had ranks and some only saw the Earl from a distance for the entirety of their service.

“You can return to your duties,” Henry commanded, and the room dispersed in seconds, leaving us with his steward and another man, whom later I found out would be my steward. The Earl bid me farewell for the night and returned to his chambers to prepare for a morning meeting.

Conversing with Keith, my new steward, who I had absolutely no idea how to address,I found out that the Earl liked to have a late morning and breakfast would be commonly served at seven, sometimes seven and a half, depending on how late he went to rest the night before. After breakfast, urgent letters or financial matters were attended, so he assumed that is when I would be mostly needed. The Earl liked to have a fencing or sparring lesson before dinner, which was normally served at twelve, after which he would read or attend lessons, sometimes go to the theatre. Supper was served at around six, unless the Earl was out, in which case it had to remain ready and hot until his return or, as I would be his second, I could choose to dine alone. I also had a footman present during the day who delivered sweets, fruit, pies, tea or something stronger on my command and I could use any horse but the Earls to go out whenever I wished, as long as Henry was made aware and my presence was not needed.

It took me a long time to process all the information and realise how drastically my life would change from this day onward until we arrived at my lodgings, which were in the same corridor as the Earl’s, only two doors away from him. I was allowed to go without permission into any room inside the villa apart from the treasure room and Henry’s private chambers. Then he left me to get ready for the night and bowed.

When I opened the door, I could not believe my eyes. My room was as big as half of the stage from the theatre. If I was careful enough, I could organize a whole play inside it. The bed stood enormous. It probably fit three or four people and the pillows were goose feathers, nothing similar to the sheep ones I used to sleep on at the inn. I had a huge study with tens of sheets of paper, quills and a small knife to sharpen them and three bottles of ink. I had an extensive wardrobe, two big chairs and a table. Even so, after all this, enough space remained in the room to fit a few horses. I looked out the window and saw a beautiful garden and the flaming July moon.

The next morning, after breakfast, Henry took me to the study and explained my duties. I had to accompany him when he read correspondence and write the letters he dictated to me or write responses on his behalf. Sometimes he tasked me with the correspondence of a whole subject which I then had to take upon myself and write and reply to all the necessary letters until the situation was solved, only then I notified Henry of the outcome.

Most days, after eleven, I was free to read and write. Sometimes, the Earl had to entertain or travel, in which case I read all the correspondence on his behalf and notified the sender of his absence, unless the matter was urgent in which case I had to send a page with a message to his location. My payment would be three pounds a month, almost ten times more than my theatre salary of forty shillings. I told the Earl this, but he insisted, saying it was the least he could do after robbing me of my fellow actors.

I adored my time in the Earl’s house. Not only did I enjoy a lifestyle worthy of nobility and being paid like a king for it, but I only worked a few hours a day. This offered me much free time to explore the library and search for new ideas. I never rested so well before. I normally woke up at five and read for an hour or two until Henry rose and breakfast was served. We talked about the meaning of our dreams, of the plans for the day. Sometimes I would tell Henry what I read that morning and we eagerly discussed the plot.

After our time working together, he would partake in the sports activities to which he invited me a few times, but I kindly refused, preferring to stay on the side and read. Or better said, pretend to read since I got easily distracted by the sweaty or sometimes shirtless young Earl. Seeing him so brave and following the line of his tense biceps, I had a vision of Adonis. How he would go hunting every day with as much passion as the earl was sparring. And a young woman watching him from a distance, sighing for his love. This is how, in a few weeks,Venus and Adoniscame to creation, with a direct dedication to the Earl.

I remember his pride and excitement when I finally decided to show it to him one evening after supper. I went into my room and brought the pages, which I placed carefully on the table in front of him.

“What is this?” he asked eagerly while gazing at the scribbled notes, rubbing his hands together as if preparing to grab a treasure.

“It’s my way of saying thank you for all the opportunities you are giving me,” I replied with a slight blush, which I tried to hide by scratching the back of my head.

He took the first page and read out loud, Venus and Adonis, by William Shakespeare.To the right honourable Henry Wriothesley…

Henry looked at me, shocked, his eyes wide with joy.

“Is this work dedicated to me?” He could not contain his emotions, so he stood quickly, walked to me and grabbed my shoulders, shaking me gently. “Is it, Will?”

“Only if you consider it worthy,” I said shyly.

“Of course I will, you’re you!” Henry screamed with excitement and went back to reading his dedication. I watched him frown while reading, and my heart stopped. I had made a small allusion to the possibility of marriage and wished him a clear path in life which would only follow his will. I hoped my work helped in his decision, but now I felt unsure and worried about overstepping a boundary. He finished reading it and continued to look at the paper, meditating. I remained silent, allowing him to have as much time as he needed and hoping that I did not offend.

“Thank you Will, this means so much coming from you,” Henry finally said.

I smiled and excused myself, allowing him to start reading the pastoral and hoping it was to his pleasure. The truth was, I could not bear standing there watching him read and waiting to see his reaction. I could barely stand it when Master Burbage read my work at the theatre.

So I decided to go to bed and speak with him in the morning. I had already prepared an apology letter should he hate my work and the fact that it contained a dedication to him.

A hard knocking on the door woke me from sleep. It was the middle of the night and all the lights were out in the garden, so I could not understand what had happened. I hurried to open and in front of me stood Henry, in his nightgown with messy hair. He looked excited and made small jumps up and down, unable to contain his emotions.

“I loved it! Will, I loved it,” he exclaimed and jumped to hug me. I felt my heart rushing in my chest, beating so hard I thought it wanted to grow legs and run away from such a rush.

Henry was hugging me tight, his head on my shoulder and hands on my back. I felt his chest pulsating and his abdomen pressing against mine. Within an instant, I decided that, even if I burn in Hell, I would claim this moment. So I placed my hands on his back and pulled him to me tighter, adjusting my face so I could smell his hair and feel part of his forehead on my chin.

I had this man in my arms and nothing else mattered.

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