Tannakin (Scene 10) Poem by John Fenton Mcleish

scene 10
*
*
the dark lady
*
Edward and burghley are in a carriage together.They have been summoned to the palace by the queen.There is to be a royal marriage, french ambassadors have arrived.She wants edward to act as a consort.In the carriage edward confronts burghley about his inheritance.Burghley explains that the issue is being resolved.Edward knows burghley is stalling.He is furious.They exit the carriage and enter the banquet hall.When edward and burghley enter the hall falls silent.The queen is sitting on her throne at the back of the hall.Anne, as maid of honour sits behind the queen.Burghley bows and asks permission to approach.Approval is given and burghley takes his position beside the queen.
The hall is full.The entourage gather round the sides of the hall.The floor in the center and at the front of the queen is empty.The french ambassadors stand to the side.There is complete silence.Edward is supposed to perform but he stands with the other young lords.The queen waits but is becoming irritated.She motions to edward.Edward walks to the center of the hall and just stands there with his arms folded.At first everyone thinks it's part of the show, but as the seconds pass the atmosphere becomes more intense.
The queen turns to burghley and whispers, 'what's wrong.Is he ill or something'? Burghley begins to panic.The crowd and the ambassadors are murmuring.Burghley begs the queen for leave.He hurries over to edward.Edward is still standing in the middle of the dance floor alone.Burghley whispers to him, 'edward, edward please'.Edward doesn't move, he just smirks at burghley.He wants to see burghley beg.burghley is clearly panicking by this stage.Edward is playing the crowd.He's angry and he's pushing burghley as far as he can.He loves seeing burghley squirm, but even he knows theres a limit.
'please edward', burghley whispers.Edward raises his voice, 'no! '.
The queen and the audience gasp.The queen is in shock.She nearly faints.Anne hurries to the queen to comfort her.She wipes her forehead.The french ambassadors begin remonstrating.They have been insulted.The whole palace is up in arms.Edward revels in the attention.Burghley hurries back to the queen who is just about having a coronary.Edward stalls, lets the seconds pass, them makes a pose.He waves the band to play and begins dancing.The queen nudges her maids out of the way and sits up.The audience let out a sigh of relief.The french ambassadors are smiling.The queen regains her composure.Burghley thanks god.Edward continues to dance and show off.
While he's dancing he catches the eye of another maid of honour sat beside the queen, anne vavasour.A young dark haired girl.Their eyes remain interlocked.Burghley sees the eye contact and looks to anne to see if she is watching also, but anne is busy watching edward dance.The song finishes.Everybody cheers.Edward is a hero again.Edwards eyes remain locked on anne vavasour's.
*
*
*
// this poem may contain copying errors