The years went by again. At last all was changed in England. The monarchy was restored, and the land was smiling and content. One day there was a private reading in the Queen’s chamber of the palace. The voice of the reader moved in pleasant yet vibrant modulations:
“The King was now come to a time when his enemies wickedly began to
plot against him secretly and to oppose him in his purposes; which,
in his own mind, were beneficent and magnanimous. From the shire
where his labours had been most unselfish came the first malignant
insult to his person and the first peril to his life, prefiguring
the hellish plots and violence which drove him to his august
martyrdom—”
The King had entered quietly as the lady-in-waiting read this passage to the Queen, and, attracted by her voice, continued to listen, signifying to the Queen, by a gesture, that she and her ladies were not to rise. This was in the time when Charles was yet devoted to his Princess of Portugal, and while she was yet happy and undisturbed by rumours—or assurances—of her Lord’s wandering affections.
“And what shire was that?” asked the King at that point where the chronicler spoke of his royal father’s “august martyrdom.”
“The shire of Lincoln, your Majesty,” said the young lady who read, flushing. Then she rose from her footstool at the Queen’s feet, and made the King an elaborate courtesy.
Charles waved a gentle and playful gesture of dissent from her extreme formality, and, with a look of admiration, continued:
“My Lord Rippingdale should know somewhat of that ‘first violence’ of which you have read, Mistress Falkingham. He is of Lincolnshire.”
“He knows all, your Majesty; he was present at that ‘first violence.’”
“It would be amusing for Rippingdale to hear these records—my Lord Clarendon’s, are they not? Ah—not in the formal copy of his work? And by order of my Lord Rippingdale? Indeed! And wherefore, my Lord Rippingdale?”
“Shall I read on, your Majesty?” asked the young lady, with heightened colour, and a look of adventure and purpose in her eyes. Perhaps, too, there was a look of anger in them—not against the King, for there was a sort of eagerness or appealing in the glance she cast towards his Majesty.
The Queen lifted her eyes to the King half doubtfully, for the question seemed to her perilous, Charles being little inclined, as a rule, to listen to serious reading, though he was ever gay in conversation, and alert for witty badinage. His Majesty, however, seemed more than complaisant; he was even boyishly eager.
The young lady had been but a short time in the household, having come over with the Queen from Portugal, where she had been brought to the notice of the then Princess by her great coolness and bravery in rescuing a young lady of Lisbon from grave peril. She had told the Princess then that she was the daughter of an exiled English gentleman, and was in the care of her aunt, one Mistress Falkingham, while her father was gone on an expedition to Italy. The Princess, eager to learn English, engaged her, and she had remained in the palace till the Princess left for England. A year passed, and then the Queen of England sent for her, and she had been brought close to the person of her Majesty.
At a motion from Charles, who sat upon a couch, idly tapping the buckles on his shoes with a gold-handled staff, the young lady placed herself again at the Queen’s feet and continued reading:
“It was when the King was come to Boston town upon the business of
the Fens and to confer sundry honours and inquire into the taxes,
and for further purpose of visiting a good subject at Louth, who
knew of the secret plans of Pym and Hampden, that this shameful
violence befel our pious and illustrious prince. With him was my
Lord Rippingdale and—”
“Ah, ah, my Lord Rippingdale!” said Charles, half aloud, “so this is where my lord and secret history meet—my dear, dumb lord.”
Continuing, the young lady read a fair and just account of the King’s meeting with John Enderby, of Enderby’s refusal to accept the knighthood, and of his rescue of the King at Sutterby.
“Enderby? Enderby?” interjected the King, “that was not one Sir Garrett Enderby who was with the Scottish army at Dunbar?”
“No, your Majesty,” said the young lady, scarcely looking up from the page she held, “Sir Garrett Enderby died in Portugal, where he fled, having escaped from prison and Cromwell’s vengeance.”
“What Enderby did this fine thing then? My faith, my martyred father had staunch men—even in Lincolnshire.”
“The father of Sir Garrett Enderby it was, your Majesty.”
“How came the son by the knighthood? ‘S’death, it seems to me I have a memory of this thing somewhere, if I could but find it!”
“His gracious Majesty of sacred memory gave him his knighthood.”
“Let me hear the whole story. Is it all there, Mistress Falkingham?” said the King, nodding towards the pages she held.
“It is not all here, your Majesty; but I can tell what so many in England know, and something of what no one in England knows.”
The Queen put out her hand as if to stay the telling, for she saw what an impression her fair reader had made upon the King. But the young lady saw no one save Charles—she did not note the entrance of two gentle men, one of whom looked at her in surprise. This was Sir Richard Mowbray of Leicester. The other was Lord Rippingdale (now lord chamberlain), who had brought Sir Richard thither at the request of the King. Sir Richard had been momentarily expected on his return from a mission to Spain, and my Lord had orders to bring him to the King on the very instant of his arrival.
The King waved his hand when Lord Rippingdale would have come forward, and the young lady continued with the history of John Enderby. She forgot her surroundings. It seemed as though she were giving vent to the suppressed feelings, imaginations, sufferings and wrongs of years. Respectfully, but sadly, when speaking of the dead King; eloquently, tenderly, when speaking of her father; bitterly, when speaking of Oliver Cromwell, she told the story with a point, a force and a passionate intelligence, which brought to the face of Charles a look of serious admiration. He straightened himself where he sat, and did not let his eyes wander from the young lady’s face. As she spoke of Sir Garrett Enderby and his acts—his desertion when Lord Rippingdale laid siege to the house, his quarrel with his father, the trial of the son, the father’s refusal to testify against him, and the second outlawing by Cromwell—her voice faltered, but she told the tale bravely and determinedly; for she now saw Lord Rippingdale in the chamber. Whenever she had mentioned his name in the narrative, it was with a slight inflection of scorn, which caused the King to smile; and when she spoke of the ruin of Enderby House, her brother’s death and her father’s years of exile, tears came into the Queen’s eyes, and the King nodded his head in sympathy.
Sir Richard Mowbray, with face aflame, watched her closely. As she finished her story he drew aside to where she could not see him without turning round. But Lord Rippingdale she saw with ease, and she met his eyes firmly, and one should say, with some malicious triumph, were she not a woman.
“My lord Rippingdale,” said the King, slowly and bitingly, “what shall be done to the man whom the King delighteth to honour?”
“Were I Mordecai I could better answer that question, Sir,” was my Lord’s reply.
“Perhaps my Lord Rippingdale could answer for Haman, then,” returned his Majesty.
“My imagination is good, but not fifty cubits high, Sir.”
The answer pleased the King. For he ever turned life into jest—his sorrows and his joys. He rose motioning towards the door, and Lord Rippingdale passed out just behind him, followed by Sir Richard Mowbray, who stole a glance at the young chronicler as he went. She saw him, then recognised him, and flushed scarlet.
She did not dare, however, to let him come to her. He understood, and he went his way after the King and Lord Rippingdale.
In all the years that had passed since the night he had helped her father and herself to escape from Enderby House; since he aided them to leave their hiding-place on the coast and escape to Holland, she had never forgotten his last words to her, the laughing look of his eyes, the pressure of his hand. Many a time since she had in her own mind thought of him as she had heard her father call him, even as “Happy Dick Mowbray!” and the remembrance of his joyous face had been a help to her in all her sufferings. His brown hair was now streaked with grey, but the light in the face was the same; there was the same alertness and buoyant health in the figure and the same row of laughing white teeth.
As she stood watching the departing figure, she scarcely knew that the Queen was preparing to go to her bed-chamber. She became aware of it definitely by the voice of her Majesty, now somewhat petulant.
Two hours later she was walking alone in one of the galleries when, hearing a gentle step behind her, she turned and saw the King. She made an obeisance and was about to move on, when he stopped her, speaking kindly to her, and thanking her for the great pleasure she had given him that afternoon.
“What should be done for this quasi knight of Enderby?” asked the King.
“He saved the life of the King,” she said; then boldly, confidently, “your Majesty, for conscience sake he lost all—what can repay him for his dishonoured years and his ruined home!”
“What think you, Mistress, should be done with him? Speak freely of the man whom the King delighteth to honour.”
She felt the sincerity under the indolent courtesy, and spoke as only a woman can speak for those she loves. “Your Majesty, he should have the earldom promised his ancestor by Wolsey, and his estates restored to him as he left them.”
The King laughed dryly.
“He might refuse the large earldom, as he scorned the little knighthood.”
“If your Majesty secured him estates suitable to his rank he could have no reason to refuse. He was solicitous and firm then for his son—but now!”
Her reply was as diplomatic and suggestive as it was sincere, and Charles loved such talents.
“Upon my soul, dear Mistress Falkingham, I love your cleverness,” said the King, “and I will go further, I—” He stooped and whispered in her ear, but she drew back in affright and anxiety.
“Oh, your Majesty, your Majesty,” she said, “I had not thought—”
She moved on distractedly, but he put out his hand and stayed her.
“Ah, a moment, sweetheart,” he urged.
“I must go to the Queen,” she answered hurriedly. “Oh, your Majesty, your Majesty,” she repeated, “would you ruin me?” Her eyes filled with tears. “Until the Queen welcomed me here I have had nothing but sorrow. I am friendless and alone.”
“No, no,” said Charles, kindly, “not alone while Charles is King in England.”
“I am little more than an orphan here,” she said, “for my father is now only a common soldier, your Majesty, and—”
“A common soldier!” repeated Charles a little stiffly; “they told me he was a gentleman of England doing service in Italy.”
“My father is in your Majesty’s household guard,” she answered. “He was John Enderby—alas! none would recognise him now as such.”
The King stared at her a moment. “You—you—Mistress—you are John Enderby’s daughter?”
Her reply was scarce above a whisper. “His only child, Sir.”
“Upon my soul! Upon my soul!” was all Charles said for a moment, and then he added: “Why did you not speak before?”
“My father would not permit me, your Majesty. He is only returned to England these few months.”
“He is here to—?”
“To be near to myself, Sir.”
The King bowed low over her hand.
“Mistress Enderby,” said he, frankly, “we are honoured by your presence in this place. To-morrow morning at eleven your father shall come to us. You are still but a child in face,” he said; “and yet—eh?”
“I am twenty-seven years old,” she answered frankly.
“Quite old enough to be a countess,” he said charmingly, “and young enough to enjoy the honours thereof.” So saying he bowed again, and with a gracious smile dismissed her. She went so quickly that she did not see two gentlemen almost at her elbow as she left the gallery. One of them was Lord Rippingdale.
“Ha,” said my lord, with a wicked smile, “a new violet in the King’s garden!”
His companion turned on him swiftly.
“My lord,” said he, “this is the second time to-day you have slandered this lady.”
The other lifted his eyebrows.
“Is it a slander to say that the King finds a lady charming at any hour o’ the clock?” he rejoined.
Sir Richard slapped him across the cheek with his glove.
“I take a pleasant duty from John Enderby’s shoulders, my lord. I will meet you at your pleasure.”
The next morning at sunrise Lord Rippingdale declared with his last breath that he did not know the lady was John Enderby’s daughter, and he begged Sir Richard to carry to Enderby his regret for all past wrongs.
Sir Richard came in upon the King at the moment that his Majesty was receiving John Enderby—a whiteheaded old man, yet hale and strong, and wearing the uniform of the King’s Guard. The fire of Enderby’s eye was not quenched. The King advanced towards him, and said:
“You are welcome to our Court, Squire Enderby. You have been absent too long. You will honour us by accepting a tardy justice—without a price,” he added, in a low tone.
“Your Majesty,” said Enderby, “for me justice comes too late, but for my child—”
“An earldom can never come too late—eh?” asked the King, smiling gaily.
“For me, your Majesty, all comes too late except—” his voice shook a little—“except the house where I was born.”
Charles looked at him gravely.
“Upon my soul, Enderby,” said he, “you are a man to be envied. We will not rob you of your good revenge on our house or of your independence. But still we must have our way. Your daughter,”—he turned lightly towards Felicity,—“if she will not refuse me, and she cannot upon the ground that you refused my father—she shall be Countess of Enderby in her own right; with estates in keeping.”
Womanlike, Mistress Felicity had no logical argument against an honour so munificently ordained. “And now for your estates—who holds them?” asked the King.
“Lord Rippingdale, your Majesty,” answered Enderby.
“Yes, yes, my lord Haman! We have already sent for him. It is long past the time.” His brow darkened.
Sir Richard Mowbray stepped forward and said: “Your Majesty, Lord Rippingdale is beyond obedience or reparation;” and then he gave the message of the dead man to John Enderby.
A month later Mowbray was permitted to return to Court, and with him came John Enderby and the Countess of Enderby. When Charles was told how matters had gone between the younger two, he gave vent to a mock indignation; and in consequence he made Sir Richard Mowbray an earl also, that, as he said, they might both be at the same nearness to him; for etiquette was tyrannical, and yet he did not know which of them he loved better!
As for the man so long dishonoured, Charles swore that since John Enderby came not to the King at Court, the King would go to him at Enderby. And go he did in good temper and in great friendship for many a year.