Elizabeth I Page #4

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A man and a woman were never

at less risk of being natural.

I am not even supposed

to be here, Elizabeth.

And yet...

I have never felt

more natural.

And I too.

Both of us, I fancy, have spent

so long in the glare of court gossip

that... that privacy

seems unnatural.

- Mistress Val Leseur?

- No, sir.

Lady Anne?

Where is everybody?

Where is Her Majesty?

We understand

she is at Greenwich.

She spends

much time there.

The air is good there.

- What?

- Good Air.

And why are you

not with her?

That is indeed

a very good question.

My Lord?

I think it may be that...

Simier's Master

has arrived.

Anjou?

At Greenwich?

The Queen

is ready to be wooed.

Why should he not

be here, my lord?

Is it any

concern of yours?

You know my concern,

Lord Burghley.

I counsel

out of love for her.

This marriage

will not go.

Her heart

will be broken.

Not yours.

Or his, if he had one.

Personally I never

cared for the Dutch.

I find them common.

But you came to their aid.

They are a nation

of shoemakers, ma'am.

But I would rather have

them than the Spanish.

Ugh.

And besides,

they are Protestant...

and I have this weakness

for Protestants.

Does it extend to becoming

a Protestant yourself?

My Catholic relations

are far worse than yours.

They keep trying

to kill me.

- Mary, Queen of Scots.

- Ah.

You charming

French Cousin.

When she was betrothed

to my elder brother Francis

who was to be

the King of France,

it seemed most romantic.

But of course

Mary was only five.

Poor little thing.

She was Queen of France after all!

Queen of France,

then Queen of Scotland

and now...

she's nothing.

The park's deserted.

Empty of Frenchmen.

The duller for it then.

Why did you hide it

from me, Bess?

Can I not keep my counsel

if I choose?

Am I bound to you, sir?

If you cannot read my silence

then you are nothing.

So what manner of man

is this Duke d'Anjou?

Hmm?

- He is personable.

- Oh.

We like him well.

So you'll help him

retake the Netherlands?

Can you not

wish me happy, Robin?

Would my contentment

be such a burden to you?

I swear, I did not think it

would ever be granted me,

but these

last few weeks l...

- I cannot lie to you, madam.

- There's a new failing in you.

This marriage must not be.

When we were young and fair,

and favor graced us,

I sought you for my wife.

But you spurned me.

You said "Go.

Go seek some otherwhere.

Importune me no more."

And now...

And now?

Now would you bid me

hide a passion...

when a passion's caught me?

Me.

Late fruit of the tree,

a breath away from withering.

I pray you do not work on your brothers

in the council in this matter.

That is my stern command.

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