Robert and Cecil a Tudor romance

Robert dressed and left his quarters being careful to lock the door and secrete the key in the pouch carrying his lute and music, as he neared the great staircase on his way to meet Cecil by the well. He was conscious of someone following him along the long gallery and to the top of the Grand staircase. He sprang down the staircase, hoping to outwit his follower, on the first landing there was an alcove with a window and seat overlooking the river, over which hung a large tapestry curtain, presently drawn back. Robert spied his chance and concealed himself behind the drawn curtain, waiting, he heard the footsteps on the landing and stood perfectly still. the footsteps paused and looked into the alcove, then continued down the stairs.

Robert waited for a moment and then looked down the stairwell and saw his follower disappear in the direction of the Great Hall and Library. Robert shot down the stairs and checking his follower had gone from site, he nipped through the door that led to the garden. Then under the many arches leading through an orchard , rose garden, all the time pausing to check he was not followed till eventually he arrived at the well, but no sign of Cecil. Robert paused at the well and he heard familiar cough coming from the Rose arbour by a door which Robert knew led to the Queens garden, which he had seen from the Queens quarters , it was out of site of the main palace as the walls concealed it from the windows, it was only visible from the Queens quarters and was bounded on the other side by a lake which led to the river.

Cecil grabbed Robert by the arm and led him into the Rose Arbour explaining that the seat at the back swung out and had a spy hole - it was the other exit of the tunnel and stairs from Robert s quarters. He guided the lad through another door which led to a long abandoned Orangery, which now only possessed a few dead trunks and broken branches. What is this? said Robert , Cecil explained as this sad abandoned place was because according to Cromwell, this was where Anne Boleyn entertained her minstrel Mark Smeaton, and her other paramours all of whom ended on gallows or the block, including her own brother.

Cecil was convinced it had more to do with her failure to provide a male heir and jealousy of her maids, especially Lady Jane Rochford, formally Jane Rivers who she had insulted several times in front of the Lords and ladies of the Court. We are safe here from prying eyes , Robert told Cecil how he outwitted the spy sent by Rich, by hiding on the landing. Cecil warned him to be careful as Rich had eyes everywhere. they embraced and Cecil promised once again his vow to see no arm befell this lad who he had become lovers with.

He told him the Queen had requested he go to her this evening and play the new tunes for her, so she could decide who they would be suitable for as entertainment. Cecil embraced the lad again sliding his hand into the lads codpiece and undoing the lace so the lads hardening cock and balls were freed he knelt and took in his mouth the now rock hard cock, sucking till it released its load of cream into the mans gullet, and he swallowed it all as the lad let out a yelp at the same time. He fastened up the codpiece and taking Robert by the arm led him back through the gardens to the foot of the staircase, they climbed to the top and as they entered the Long Gallery. Richs Spy approached them.

Sir Richard requires the minstrels presence at once, and will take no excuses Lord Cecil!. I am sorry sir but I have strict instructions from the Queen to bring master Robert to her, immediately, which is where where we are headed, so unless Sir Richard has orders from the King to the contrary, I must carry on with my task, he said brushing the young page out of the way as they continued down the gallery to the Queens quarters. Whereupon they were admitted by the chief lady, Cecil about to take his leave, was instructed that the Queen wished to see him on a personal matter too. Cecil went in and the door was shut in the face of Richs page.

The Queen was alone apart from the Chief lady, and Robert played the pieces and the Queen said they were admirable suitable, she was just about to dismiss Robert, so she could speak on the other matter with Cecil, when Cecil explained what had happened regarding Rich and his page.

Have no heed of him, I will see you both leave here by another route to Robert and your quarters. Cecil thanked her and the two of them discussed matters, while Robert trhumbed through some music on the table. Take those with you they are new pieces from France, sent by Mary of Guise for me, Robert took them reading them and humming the tunes. When they had finished the Queen showed them through a door to an ante chamber. which not even Cecil knew existed, the corridor leads to the lift for the King, so if he becomes weary he can leave this way, without anyone realising how infirm he his.

Cecil took this as the perfect opportunity to ask the Queen discretely, on the Kings health, he saw her face pale and she said it worried her, although she dressed his legs, he would only let her touch them as they were so painful, she let slip that she was worried the ulcers were not healing and two more had recently developed on his thigh, she was worried that they would become infected with serious results. Cecil assured her that might not happen so long as she continued changing the dressings and bathing the sores.

She led them to a round tower that Cecil had only seen from outside where they had been earlier there was a strange contraption in the centre with a spiral wooden staircase around it. Cecil looked puzzled, the Queen seeing his look, explained it is for the King as he cannot make the stairs from the River, two trusted servants pull him up in that Chair out of sight of anyone except, myself, Lady Grace, and those two servants. Cecil nodded and looked at Robert, who also nodded. You take the stairs and it leads to the jetty and from there you can get to the gardens and back to the Rose arbour, you will be safe going that way as only my ladies, the royal princesses have access to that area.

Cecil thanked her and bid their leave. They went down the stairs and across the Gardens till they reached the Rose Arbour, there Cecil opened the secret stair and soon they were back in the safety of Roberts quarters. They embraced, Cecil s questions of the Kings health was more for his and Roberts safety than true concern for his majesty but he now knew that Henry was a lot worse than was generally known. All that had to happen as Cecil knew was some of the fluid in his legs to get into his bloodstream and the end would come quickly as it poisoned his body. Cecil decided to stay the night with Robert in his quarters, and he would unknown to Robert plan for there action should the King pass away.

He decided after much thought while Robert received the food ordered from his servant, but made no mention of Cecil s presence there. Their best course would be to leave the palace by the gardens to the jetty and get away down the Thames to Chelsea and from there by horse to Cecil s country House, taking Robert with him to keep him away from Rich.

Hopefully the King would last a little longer yet, especially with the Queen tending to his legs and dressing and washing them regularly, thereby delaying any infection. After their meal they retired and made love together and Cecil told Robert he would keep him safe always, even if Sir Richard Rich got wind after the Kings death, that he had taken Robert to his Country estate.

There was a large house unknown to anyone that nestled on the Welsh borders, that an elderly relative had left to Cecil, and no one knew of its location or existence, he would keep the lad safely there out of arms way. They would be there together safe. (to be continued)