I really liked reading "My Enemy the Queen" by Victoria Holt, so much so that I could not stop reading once I started. Regardless, I felt like a lot of the conflict in this book could have been avoided if Lettice and Robert Dudley had told Queen Elizabeth the truth about their love affair. This is how "My Enemy the Queen" should have ended...
I wanted to see Robert to tell him that I was with child, for I was certain of it. I was thrilled to be a mother again, and bare the child of the handsome Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. But I was too anxious to be happy now. I wondered what Robert would do when I told him the news. Would he be thrilled, as I? Or would he disown the child? Then, the most dreaded anxiety of all: telling Queen Elizabeth, my cousin, that I was going to bare the child of the man she loved. Although my love for Robert was as deep as the ocean, and I knew he felt the same way about me, I feared the queen's wrath worse than death.
When Robert finally arrived at Durham House and I told him the news of our child, his smile lit up the room. We embraced, and in that moment I knew that everything would turn out okay if Robert would take me as his wife now, before my pregnancy began to show. I told him this, and he readily agreed.
"I will arrange it. Come to Kenilworth and the ceremony shall take place there. There will be no more delay." I knew he meant what he said this time. There was no doubt in my mind now that he would take care of my children and I. That was the biggest blessing of all: knowing my children would not live without a father.
Before I could make the journey to Kenilworth to get married, there was something I had to do. I knew Robert would argue with me and possibly break off our engagement if I told him my plans, so instead of rushing to Kenilworth, I went to the queen's bedchamber.
"Your Majesty," I began, feeling butterflies dance a waltz inside of my stomach. "There is a pressing matter in which I need to discuss with you."
"Yes Lettice? What can I do for you?" she asked, sounding bored. I took a deep breath, and said:
"Your Majesty, I have a confession to make. I am with child, your grace. The father of the child is Sir. Robert Dudley. Before you speak, please let me explain." Her eyes widened and her face began to turn red, but she held her tongue until I was finished telling her Robert and I's love story. "Your Majesty, I could not help falling in love with Robert anymore than you can help breathing. If you call him here, he will not deny his love for me either. Please let us be married in peace. If you wish, I will step away from court forever and you will never see my face again. Just please, your Majesty...please let us be married. I can not have my child be a bastard or I a common whore." Elizabeth was quiet for several minutes, but her stony glare told me she was thinking my request over grudgingly.
"I should have you banned from court forever," she began, and my heart dropped. "I should wish that your child will be stillborn or a hunchback. I should whip Robert 'til the point of death for betraying me. I should have you jailed for life for betraying me. But," she paused, with a frown. "I will not. I can not let my people see me in such a way. You are, however, banned from this court forever and I will speak to Robert on this matter. If he doesn't deny you or your child, you can do whatever you want with each other. Frankly I don't care so long as your traitors are removed from my presence. I never what to see your faces again. Do you understand?"
"Yes your Majesty," I replied, dumbstruck.
"Now go. Take my words as a blessing from a death sentance." I turned and hurried out of the bedchamber. Down the hall I heard her add loudly: "And don't you ever come back!"
It didn't matter to me whether or not I came into this place again: I had everything I could ever want and more. I was finally going to have the happiness I deserved. I walked out of the castle a happy woman, and I never looked back.
Meanwhile, in the queen's bedchamber, Elizabeth began to cry.
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