Chapter 280: She Did This To Herself
"Out!" Theodora yelled.
The second command scattered them.
Theodora’s eyes returned to Tabitha. "She did this to herself, did she not?"
"Yes," Tabitha said. "But she made certain you would go into the ground with her. So she asked me to tell you to choose carefully. Order her a physician, or everyone will learn what happened."
"And what exactly happened?"
Tabitha stepped closer to the bed, placing herself between Livia and Theodora. "My lady used your own trick against you. She is quitea fast learner. She did what you would do. She had your hand counterfeited...A letter was written giving instructions to Mistress Joan in the kitchens to exchange the herbs you have been feeding her with poison."
"Surely Your Grace did not think me foolish enough not to recognise the scent of herbs meant to prevent conception."
Theodora’s mouth curved slowly. "You old bitch."
Livia groaned from the bed.
Tabitha turned at once. "Livia."
The girl’s body twisted slightly against the sheets, one hand curling at her side. Panic rose in Tabitha.
She faced Theodora again. "Physician. Now."
"No." Theodora’s face had settled into resolution. Calm, pitiless resolution. "She is not getting one...I will not save her life."
"You will if you wish to save your own."
"Do you still believe you frighten me?"
Tabitha’s hands trembled at her sides. "His Majesty will have your head."
"My son will grieve. He will rage," Theodora said. "He inherited that from his father. Then he will remember that he is king, and that I am his mother."
"You will let her die."
"Without even a second thought."
Livia made another sound, weaker this time.
Tabitha moved to her side, wiping her mouth with shaking hands. "Hold on, my lady. Please, hold on."
Theodora watched them. "You should not have let her gamble so poorly."
"You are making a mistake," Tabitha said.
"A son cannot love a woman more than his mother. Blood remains blood. I gave Henry life." Theodora looked at Livia one final time. "She will not be here when my son returns. I do not care if I must go up in flames for it. Besides, this is not the first time you have threatened me with nothing."
"She will not die," Tabitha said.
"She will," Theodora replied. "It is only up to you to keep her as comfortable as you can before her death."
Then Her Grace turned and walked out.
The doors opened, and the murmur beyond them died instantly. Theodora stood at the threshold, face composed, voice cool and commanding as she dismissed everyone still hovering in the passage. "Return to your chambers. There is nothing more to see."
The corridor emptied. Theodora left for her own apartments. Inside Livia’s chamber, Tabitha’s eyes filled with tears as she took Livia’s hand between both of hers.
"I told you we would fail," she whispered. "I told you. You underestimated her, Livia. I should have stopped you." Tabitha pressed her fingers to her lips, her heart breaking with every shallow breath the girl dragged into her body. "What will I tell Richard?" she whispered. "What will I tell His Majesty?"
Then her eyes snapped open. An idea struck her so suddenly that she stopped breathing. She remembered where Livia had left the letter to his majesty. Inside a book. "His Majesty..."
Tabitha scrambled back to her feet. Grief had almost won. It had nearly pinned her beside Livia’s bed.
Livia was still breathing. That meant there was work to do. Tabitha rushed to the table where Livia’s books lay scattered among papers. She snatched up Livia’s quill, dipped it too sharply into the ink, and dragged a small square of parchment towards her.
Her hand shook. She struck the first line through and began again. There was no time for elegance. There was barely time for grammar. She wrote quickly.
Then she reached for the forged letter Oswald Finch had written in Theodora’s hand inside another book.
Tabitha folded the letter inside the note, then looked around for a way to carry it out unseen. Her eyes landed on a small washing basin and the little covered pail used for hot water. She placed the folded papers flat at the bottom of the basin, set the pail inside it to hide them, and covered the arrangement with a cloth. It looked ordinary enough.
She hurried back to Livia once more. The girl’s face was nearly colourless. Her lashes trembled against her cheeks, and the faint rasp of her breathing frightened Tabitha more.
"Hold on," Tabitha whispered, pressing a kiss to Livia’s brow. "You stubborn little fool, hold on."
Then she took the basin and went to the door. The guards straightened when she stepped out.
"Do not let anyone in," Tabitha said.
One frowned. "Where are you going?"
"To fetch hot water for my lady and herbs from the kitchen." She stepped closer, lowering her voice. "If anything happens to my lady while I am gone, be certain it will be your head."
That, at least, was a language guards understood.
He nodded.
Tabitha turned and walked away before either man could find the courage to ask another question.
Each step away from Livia felt like betrayal. She hated leaving her. Only one person in Whitehall could move quietly enough to help before Theodora noticed.
Bless Livia’s heart for making friends with the one person all of Whitehall overlooked. Master Hartwell, keeper of the royal library.
Tabitha moved quickly through the quieter passages, basin clutched to her side. By the time she reached the library, her breath was tight, and anger had become the only thing holding her upright.
Tabitha removed the pail, lifted the cloth, and took out the folded papers and threw them under the doors of the library.
*****
Geoffrey arrived at Whitehall with a storm on his face. He strode through the palace with his robe swinging behind him and a physician following at his heels, the poor man gripping his satchel.
Master Hartwell had come to him pale, and clutching a letter.
(powered by Mar King 3/4)