Page 6 of The Uprising
‘I can’t tell you how good it is to have you back with us. Your smiling face is always a pleasure to behold. The new queen is easy to attend—I don’t mind the dawn duties. I prayed with Queen Jane, and Her Grace appeared in good cheer.’
Cara forced herself to continue with the polite exchange, and they talked quietly about how bad-tempered Queen Anne had been in the mornings. They whispered her name—only the old circle dared speak of her at all, in fear of angering the king.
‘I sense you are a little downhearted today—you are not your usual joyful self. Is all well with you?’ asked her friend, examining Cara’s face.
‘You are astute as always, Margaret. May I ask something of you in confidence, and trust you won’t pass my words onto another soul?’
‘But of course. We have always been here for one another, have we not? You can be assured that your secret will not pass these lips,’ she said, gesturing that her lips were sealed.
Cara squeezed Margaret’s hand and took a deep breath before speaking. Her heart started pounding again, so great was the dreaded anticipation of the answer she might receive. ‘Please tell me truthfully, have you heard a rumour about George taking a mistress?’
Cara felt Margaret tighten her grip on her hand. She glimpsed a flash of pity in her friend’s sapphire eyes.
Oh, God. It is true.
‘I wondered whether you had heard the rumours. I’m sorry, my dear. I won’t lie to you. I heard George took a woman called Marianne as a mistress not long after his arrival at court.’
Cara swallowed the hard lump in her throat before her voice emerged as a faint croak. ‘Are you certain?’
‘Um...about as certain as I may be. I am acquainted with Marianne's sister, and she told me it was so, but I also heard it from other sources which I deem trustworthy.’
Cara was freezing, and she began to tremble.
Margaret drew her friend into her arms, patting her back as though she were a small child. Cara tried to stave off the tears.
‘There, there, this too shall pass. George adores you—you know that—everyone knows that. There is many an envious girl who’s tried to hold his attention before, and he's only ever had time for you.’
Cara's tears spilt onto her cheeks and she fought to regain her composure. It wouldn't do to fall apart in the queen's rooms.
‘If that’s true, what can have changed? We were only apart for a few months, which has happened many times before,’ she said, hurriedly wiping her eyes with the silk handkerchief Margaret pressed into her cold hand.
‘The king now spends his days with George, like in their younger years. And the king’s current mistress is a close friend of Marianne’s. My guess would be George went along with it to keep in with the king. I’m sure it means nothing.’
Rage consumed Cara as she battled to contain her emotions in the face of such treachery. ‘Please excuse me. If the queen asks for me, pray say that I am unwell, and I have retired to my rooms.’
‘Of course. Have a rest, my dear. I’m certain you’ll recover your spirits soon. All the noblemen at court have a mistress. It means nothing about your marriage.’
Margaret clutched at platitudes in her attempt to restore Cara’s peace of mind, and she already regretted being the one to confirm her friend’s suspicions. Hampton Court had been awash with rumours for months. The courtiers and the servants took great pleasure in witnessing someone else’s misfortune. Margaret had hoped it would blow over without Cara being any the wiser, but she had to tell her the truth when asked.
Pain had quickly turned to anger. Cara was furious. How could George do such a thing?HerGeorge, and after all they had been through!
They had always talked as if they would never behave like other couples. Did he not love her in Tudorville as he used to?
Cara felt the icy cold vortex creep over her skin; she attempted to smile at Margaret, who she believed was a trustworthy friend, trying to do the right thing. Cara vowed to confront George as soon as he returned, no matter the hour. The devious, cheating, double-dealing... But then she was gone.
Chapter 3
Rose Cottage, York - Present day
Cara opened her eyes and squinted in the bright early morning sunlight seeping through the cracks in the white blinds. She pulled herself up and saw George was already awake, propped up against the pillows, reading.
‘Morning. Sleep well, darling?’ he said.
‘Morning. Um...no, not really. I don’t feel like I slept at all. The strangest things happened.’
George detected the seriousness of her tone, laid his book face down on the duvet, and turned to give her his full attention.
‘Like what? You haven’t been having those vivid dreams again?’
