December 5

Thank you to Anne Boleyn Files follower Lorna Wanstall for sharing this extract from her work in progress, her historical novel Mea Culpa.

Over to Lorna…

There was something familiar about his grey eyes and the determined look on his face. He reminded him of someone he once knew long ago. Could it be, that the day he had feared for so many years had finally come? The boy reached up and ran his fingers through his hair as he did so, the Duke caught sight of the ruby ring that was given to a woman who…..?

The Duke smiled at him and said, “What be your name, boy?”

Ned swallowed and said, “Ned Fillol, my Lord.”

The Duke nodded and said, “I have sent for you because Baron Dacre, has a high esteem of your skills, and thinks you are the right man for a little venture he and Lord Grey are planning. But I warn you it could be dangerous.”

Ned answered, “Danger and fear my Lord, are but savage beasts and it would be folly to run from them. You must face them bravely and tame them and thus become their only master.”

The Duke nodded in agreement and said, “Indeed, I have received information that the Queen is in Stirling Castle and not in Edinburgh as we first thought. Baron Dacre, Lord Grey and a thousand men are to ride to Stirling to lay siege to the castle. But before that, I want you to ride to Stirling and find a way into the castle, and to find out exactly where in the castle the Queen is lodged. Once the first shot is fired, there will be widespread panic. We need to know every inch of the inside of the castle so that there can be no escape for the Queen. With luck, pray to God, the Queen will soon be on board my flagship and out to sea before that French bitch and her devils realise she is in our keeping. However time is not our friend here and you will need to act quickly.”

“I understand my Lord and I will serve you with honour,”said Ned.

The Duke looked into Ned’s eyes and saw that they shone with a steely determination to do as he asked.

“Be ready to leave for Stirling shortly,” said the Duke and waved his hand for Ned to go.

Ned gave the Duke a quick bow and walked towards the door. As he did so, the Duke said, “Was William Fillol a relation of yours?”

Ned turned and said, “Yes, my Lord, he was my grandfather.”

The Duke said, “I thought so, he was a good man. It’s said that he died of a broken heart, something to do with his younger daughter I believe?”

“I know not, my Lord, for he died shortly before I was born, and I never knew my mother,” Ned said.

“Catherine, that was her name, Catherine.” The Duke said and smiled as Ned quietly closed the door behind him.

The Duke had seen Ned stiffen slightly at the mention of his mother’s name and he was left in no doubt now who Ned truly was.

He had put all thought of Catherine from his mind until now, for she had brought great shame to the Seymour name. Had it not been for his sweet foolish sister Jane, he would still be living the life of a disgraced country squire. It was because of Jane, he was now the most powerful man in England.

His mind went back to the day when it felt like his whole world had come crashing down. He was in his chambers going over the estate accounts that his father always seemed to make a muddle of, when he heard a scratching at his door. Putting down his quill he said “Enter” the door opened and Walter Cobham, his father’s servant, said “Samuel Markham is outside begging to see you master.”

Edward answered, “Well, what does he want?”

Walter replied, “He says he has a message from Henry Keston.”

Edward nodded and said, “Very well bid him enter.” And got up and looked out of the window over the lush verdant countryside, and saw a clump of red deer in the distance.

Samuel came in. He looked hot and was streaked with dirt. Edward poured himself and Samuel a drink of ale, which Samuel was clearly grateful for. Samuel wiped his mouth on the back of his sleeve and said, “Master Seymour, I bring you sad tidings. Richard Keston died just before daybreak.”

Edward looked at Samuel and said, “God rest his soul.” He took a mouthful of ale and added “How did this happen?”

Samuel had tears in his eyes and said, “When he failed to return from Hungerford before nightfall, Widow Keston sent master Henry and two servants to look for him. They found him laying in the road, not far from Blackwater Manor with a wound to his head. Master Richard said he had been set upon by a band of men and they had stolen the money he had been carrying.” Samuel swallowed another mouthful of ale and continued, “He told Master Henry that one of the men was an ex servant called Elijah Shipley.”

Edward said “Yes I know of the man. Richard told me that he had dismissed him after he had been caught stealing from Widow Keston. Has he been caught?”

“Yes, we found him hiding in the woods covered in blood not far from Blackwater Manor. Master Henry locked him in the dungeon.” Samuel said.

Edward said, “Has Shipley said who his accomplices were?”

Samuel said, “Not yet, but Master Henry believes a few days in a dark dungeon with no food or water, with only the rats for companions, will soon loosen his tongue.”

Edward gave a sly smile and said, “No doubt, no doubt. Shipley and the other brigands will surely hang for this.”

Samuel nodded and said, “Master Richard’s last words were for you, Master Seymour. He bid Master Henry to give you this purse of coins and settle his debts.” Reaching into his pocket, he brought out Richard’s Ruby ring and said, “Master Henry also told me that I was to give his ring to Mistress Seymour.”

Edward said, “I will see she gets it, just leave it and the purse on the table.”

Samuel nodded and placed them both on the table.

Edward said “Please give Widow Keston my deepest sympathy, and inform Henry that should he need my help with anything, he only needs ask.”

As Samuel turned to go, Edward added, “Go to the kitchens and refresh yourself before you return home.”

Samuel smiled and said “God bless you, Master Seymour.”

Edward sat down, opened the drawer and pulled out some more paperwork. He picked up Richard’s ring and wondered why he would want to give it to Catherine. He sighed. Richard had been a good business man and become quite wealthy because of it. He put Richard’s ring and the bag of coins into the drawer and thought no more of it.

Picking up his quill, he set his mind once again to the management of the estate.

Catherine had just come out of the solar and was walking down the stairs when she saw Richard’s body servant, Samuel, coming out of Edward’s study. What would Samuel be doing here? Had Richard finally found the courage to tell Edward about them? But surely Richard would not trust a servant to tell Edward of their love?

She walked down the stairs and saw that Edward’s study door was open. As usual, he was sat at his desk. She was about to walk by, for she knew Edward didn’t like to be disturbed when he was in his study. At that moment, Edward looked up and saw her, and said, “Catherine.”

She walked into the room, and he said coldly “Richard is dead.”

Catherine eyes filled with tears and she let out a mournful howl, “It can’t be true Edward? It just can’t? Richard can’t be dead, he…..”. She rushed out of the room crying bitterly. All that day, all that could be heard were the grief-wracked sobs of Catherine echoing around Wulfhall.

Edward thought Catherine’s behaviour very strange considering that she had only met Richard when he had stayed at Wulfhall when he had business in East Grafton, or when he and Catherine had stayed at Blackwater Manor. Although he had to admit that whenever Richard was around Catherine seemed to be a giddy girl and often behaved a little immodestly in his company.

She had come to him later. As she walked into the study, she saw that on his desk were the remains of a chicken and a few crumbs of bread. He often ate in his study and worked long into the night, and because of it, not wishing to disturb her at such a late hour, he had had a bed placed in the chamber behind his study. On the few occasions they had shared a bed, his lovemaking had been cold and felt more like a sense of duty. The sooner it was over, the better, and he could get back to making money.

Richard had been a passionate lover and nothing else mattered when they were together. They lay together afterwards in each others arms planning their future, but now that had been ripped away from her.

He looked up and said, “What is it Catherine? I am very busy”

“Edward, I am with child.”

Before he could express any feelings, she had gone down on her knees. He had looked at her puzzled as she said “My lord, I have shamed you and damned myself, for the child is not yours.”

Her words cut into him like the lash of whip and for some moments he was stunned. Catherine begged him for forgiveness. He looked down on her with a cold fury as the truth finally hit him, and said, “Richard?”

Catherine looked up, nodded and said “We knew that what we were doing was wrong, but we truly love.. loved each other. Once I found out I was with child, we knew that it would only be a matter of time before you guessed the truth. Richard was going to tell you about us I swear, but he never seemed to find the right time and now it’s too late. Richard is dead….” She broke down yet again into heartbreaking sobs and said, “Oh God, I wish I could die too.”

Edward opened the drawer and picked up the ring. Now he knew the reason why Richard had wanted her to have it. Her child was the heir to Blackwater Manor and the wealth Richard had accumulated. The ring felt like it was burning his flesh. He got up, walked towards her, and threw it onto the floor in front of her, and said, “Damn you, damn you both to hell.”

She had cried out again in anguish for him to forgive her, but in those brief moments everything had changed. He turned away from her and walked out of the room and shut the door, leaving her sobbing, broken-hearted and alone.

She was nothing to him now, and he started making plans to rid himself of her.

He decided that Catherine would live in the east wing with just two maids and one footman for company, and there she would stay until her baby was born.

Once she had been churched, she and her child would be sent home to her parents, and never spoken of again.

The morning of Catherine’s departure, he had been in the chapel and heard the sound of the coach pull up outside Wulfhall.

He heard the sound of a baby, whom she had called Edward, wailing along with Catherine’s broken-hearted sobs.

The coach door slammed shut and the sound of heavy laden trunks being loaded upon the coach and strapped down.

He heard the voice of Edward Willoughby, Catherine’s brother-in-law say, “You be ready back there? It’s time we be on our way. It be a long journey and I want to be in Sarum by nightfall. The cold night air be not good for the little un.”

He heard one of the servants answer, “All ready, Sir, I wish you God speed.”

At that moment, he heard Catherine cry out, “Don’t send me away! Have mercy, I beg you!”

He had heard his mother answer, “It is to God to whom you should beg for mercy. For he is now the only one who can wash away your sins and save you from the flames of Purgatory.”

As he heard the sound of horse hooves and the cart wheels go down the drive, he sighed with relief. She was gone.

It was of some small comfort that Shipley’s accomplices were caught shortly after Richard’s funeral, and that all they paid for their crime on the end of a rope. But nothing could wipe away Catherine and Richard’s betrayal.

However there were times in the coming months after Catherine had gone, when he blamed himself for what happened with Catherine. Perhaps if he had shown her a little more tenderness or love, she wouldn’t have felt the need to seek comfort elsewhere.

But the word “love” had no meaning for him. He had seen full well what love brought. Betrayal and death.

Anne had married him knowing full well that he would never love her, and was happy with the wealth and position her marriage to him had brought her. As a result, she had earned his respect, for she had never asked him for anything more than the pleasure of his company when his courtly duties permitted.

He sighed as a vision of his poor foolish sister, Jane, floated in front of him. She fell in love with King Henry and much good did it bring her. She gave the King his longed-for heir and he abandoned her to die in agony alone.

About Lorna

Lorna lives on the Isle of Grain, a very remote village on the Hoo Peninsula.

She is married to Roy and has 4 wonderful children, and a beautiful Savannah cat called Katt.

Lorna has been working on Mea Culpa for many years, and is coming very close to completing it.

She says that Mary Queen of Scots is a very interesting and infuriating subject to write about, and she believes that all of Mary’s problems started and ended with France. While she fully understands Marie de Guise’s reasons for sending Mary to France, she believes that she did her no favours at all.

Lorna hopes that you all enjoy what she has written and wants to take this opportunity to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a peaceful and prosperous New Year.