Page 23 of The Uprising
They sat quietly, and he considered his options. He turned to her after a while and said, ‘You can tell me I must get him to disassociate himself from the Pilgrimage.’
‘You do realise this is you we’re talking about, right?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Just because I tell you what to do, it’s absolutely no guarantee you’ll do it. You’re just as stubborn in Tudorville, as you are here.’
George looked into her eyes and smiled. ‘Ah, right. Well, we’ll just have to hope I can see the sense in your suggestion. Try not to be too bossy and I’ll be more likely to follow your advice.’
‘Bossy, me? I think you mean persuasive.’
George laughed, and Cara snuggled into his arms, grateful they were safely at home together.
Chapter 8
Hampton Court Palace, London, 1536 - Tudorville
Cara reluctantly released George from her embrace as he unfurled his long limbs and stood up slowly.
‘I must report to the king; he’ll have heard of my return and no doubt awaits the latest news of the uprising.’
‘All right,’ she said, her mood plummeting, despite her efforts to be stoic.
George tilted her chin upwards and looked into her eyes. ‘I won’t be away long today, and we will dine in the great hall together later. Even if I leave again soon, it won’t be today as the king will want us to determine strategy with Cromwell and Norfolk.’
‘I don’t think it’s going to end well for Robert if he persists in leading the Pilgrimage,’ she said.
George studied Cara’s face as he rubbed his thumb across her cheek and then leaned down to kiss the top of her head. ‘What is this, my love? Have you divined some strange power to see into the future while I’ve been away?’
‘Something like that... I ask you to trust that I have a strong sense of trouble for your friend.’
‘It’s true, you’re rarely off base with those senses of yours although what more I can do for him, I don’t know. Robert is up to his neck in it. I probably couldn’t tear him away if I tried; he’s deeply passionate about the cause.’
Cara beckoned him closer and lowered her voice. ‘The queen told me the king has no intention of granting their demands. She relayed to me how she beseeched him to restore some of the papist customs.’
George dressed hurriedly in clean breeches, white shirt, and a finely embroidered doublet, always preferring to dress himself unlike the other nobles. ‘I don’t as yet know the details of what the king intends to propose,’ he said. George was secretly worried about the king’s intentions but hadn’t wished to alarm Cara.
‘Henry was immoveable on the matter and rebuked the queen for attempting to intervene in affairs of state,’ Cara whispered.
‘I have high hopes that what the queen told you will not come to pass. I am most optimistic of a peaceful agreement, and the king granting at least some of their demands. If he double crosses the rebels, I can’t see them backing down without bloodshed...in which case you could be right about poor dear Robert.’
George finished dressing, kissed Cara one last time, and said, ‘Thanks for warning me, my darling. When I return, we must think of a way to divert him; perhaps we may save him from such an untimely end.’
Cara wrapped her arms round his neck and returned his kiss. ‘Hold on, what? You know about Robert Aske being executed?’ she said.
George looked at Cara; his confusion reflected in his brown eyes. ‘Why, of course I do. We talked of it at the cottage in York. Have you forgotten?’ he whispered in response.
‘How wonderful you remember, at last. It was so difficult trying to figure this out on my own. We’ll talk more upon your return. Do please take care not to let anything about the future slip out by mistake.’
‘Don’t fret; I’m clear on my role here.’
‘I love you,’ said Cara.
George turned to face her from the doorway, ‘I love you,’ he said, and blew her a kiss as he departed.
Cara lay in bed for a while musing over how incredible it was that he was aware of their time travel. The fear she had carried with her, like a hard lump in her chest, dissipated and she jumped out of the four-poster bed with renewed optimism.
Later that day, Margaret turned to clasp Cara’s hands when she entered the queen’s apartments and sat next to her. ‘Are you quite well, my dear? I’ve been worried about you.’
