Chapter 33-36 Summary
Chapter 33 Summary
Amy waits nervously for Leicester's arrival. She tries to convince herself that he cannot come before nightfall, but she expects him at any moment. She watches the incredible display of fireworks launched in honor of the Queen and even enjoys them momentarily. Yet she feels she is watching as a captive when she should be watching as a mistress. The castle should be hers, too.
Gradually Amy drifts off to sleep as the revelry fades. The following day, she awakens, disappointed that her husband has not come. Then there is a sound at the door. Amy throws it open to see not Leicester but Michael Lambourne. He menaces her and grabs her arm, and she cries out, bringing Lawrence Staples running. The warder refuses to allow Lambourne to hurt Amy, and the two men fight. Amy takes the opportunity to run, leaving her glove behind. Another man intervenes in the fight and threatens to report them both to Varney.
Amy finds herself in the Pleasance, the castle's pleasure garden. She decides to hide for a while, wishing she could find Wayland and make sure that he delivers her letter. She has brought her casket of jewels with her, thinking they may be useful.
Chapter 34 Summary
The morning's entertainment is supposed to be a great hunt. Still, Leicester and Elizabeth decide to take a walk in the Pleasance first. Both of them are richly dressed, and as they walk, the Queen looks at the ground, blushing at the Earl's words. Leicester tells her something that makes her respond "with broken accents" that she must be the mother of her people and deny herself other connections. It cannot be, she tells him. Then she asks him to delay the hunt for a half-hour and leave her alone.
Elizabeth wanders into the same grotto where Amy is hiding. At first, the Queen thinks she is seeing a beautiful statue and then one of the performers. Amy falls at the Queen's feet in supplication, beginning for protection. Elizabeth asks her to explain, but the young woman cannot. Finally, Amy stammers that she wants protection against Varney. Then Elizabeth recognizes her companion. Amy fiercely denies that she is Varney's wife. Elizabeth demands to know whose wife she is then. All Amy can say is, "The Earl of Leicester knows it all."
Elizabeth's anger is on the rise. The Queen grabs Amy's arm and drags her from the grotto. They head directly toward Leicester, who is in the middle of a group of nobles. Elizabeth is like a thunderbolt. She accuses the Earl of deception and swears he is in "great peril." Leicester somehow manages to remain calm and even a bit defiant. Elizabeth screams of high treason, but one of her advisers, Lord Hunsdon, counsels patience.
The Queen then turns to Amy and demands why she said that Leicester knows all. Amy tries to backtrack. Then Varney shows up. Amy declares him a "most shameless villain," saying she will go mad if she must look at him. Elizabeth tells Hunsdon to take Amy away with him. She nearly faints in his arms, and he gently carries her away.
Elizabeth is beginning to regret what she has said and done, but she demands that Varney explain what is happening. He says that he has just received word that Amy, whom he calls his wife, has escaped her refuge and is more ill than ever. He asks the Queen if she might be returned to his custody. Elizabeth wants her own doctor to examine Amy first. Varney may see her, however.
Leicester is...
(This entire section contains 1243 words.)
Unlock this Study Guide Now
Start your 48-hour free trial and get ahead in class. Boost your grades with access to expert answers and top-tier study guides. Thousands of students are already mastering their assignments—don't miss out. Cancel anytime.
Already a member? Log in here.
having trouble calming down. Elizabeth offers something of an apology, but he responds that there is nothing to forgive, for she has done him no injury. They go off to the hunt. Raleigh and Blount are left to muse on the situation.
Chapter 35 Summary
Later that night, Leicester and Varney are alone together. Leicester is upset with the situation but blames Amy, seemingly unwilling to blame Elizabeth or himself. The Earl declares that Amy must bear the title of Varney's wife until she can be removed from Kenilworth. Varney adds that she will have to continue to do so for a long time.
Leicester is also regretting what he said and implied to Elizabeth that morning. He feels like he is on a precipice. He can climb no farther; the only way to go is down into the abyss. Varney says that they must keep the marriage a secret and that he will make Amy consent. Leicester responds that he must speak to Amy himself.
The two men made their way by a secret passage to the rooms where Lord Hunsdon guards Amy. Amy is thrilled to see her husband. She worries about him and complains she has been so ill and sorrowful. Her husband says he does not want to scold her, but she has undone him. Leicester tells her she will go to another retreat than Cumnor Place but must pretend to be Varney's wife for a few days. She firmly refuses. Not even his direct command will make her obey. Amy wishes she were at her father's house, but Leicester will not bring Tressilian into the secret. Amy jumps to Tressilian's defense.
The Countess then offers an idea of her own. Leicester should take his wife by the hand, bring her to the Queen, and openly admit their marriage. That would be true justice and honor. Leicester recognizes the truth of Amy's words but fears the Queen's reaction. He does agree, however, to confess. Amy must give him a little time to prepare. Then Leicester leaves the room. A boy mysteriously thrusts a casket into his hand. Varney follows, muttering to himself that the crisis has come. Either he or Amy must perish.
Chapter 36 Summary
When Leicester and Varney return to the former's rooms, Varney begins the next phase of his plan. He puts on a "look of despondency" and sighs, "Alas!" Then he tries to discourage the Earl from taking any position against Elizabeth. He is popular now, but everyone will desert him if he defies the Queen. What Leicester is thinking is high treason. The Earl declares that he does not care.
Now Varney brings the conversation to Amy. He hints that there is a flaw in her. Varney says he has not wanted to say anything, but now he must. Then he describes the night Tressilian was found at Cumnor Place. He twists the incident to make it seem like a planned encounter between Amy and her lover. Then he continues by describing the conspiracy of Tressilian to steal Amy away from Cumnor Place. He brings his tale to a climax by revealing that Amy was staying in Tressilian's apartment at the castle. He proves his case by describing the glove that Amy left when she ran from Lambourne.
Leicester flies into a combination of rage, grief, and agony. He quickly believes that Amy has been false to him. Yet he also wonders why she would have come to the castle. Varney explains it as her desire for power. Leicester then declares that she will die as an adulteress and traitor. He orders Varney to open the casket from the boy and sees Amy's jewels inside. To the Earl, this is more evidence of her guilt. He hurries into the next room and locks the door, nearly insane. Later, he and Varney talk for a full hour.
