Chapter One: Henry's Court at Whitehall Castle
"Introducing the Lady Catherine Bishop, Duchess of Exeter." the page said as I entered the court of King Henry VIII, hiding the obvious hatred of being announced to a group of people. The King and Queen sat at the end of the room, which truly felt a mile long with all the men and women [mostly men] of their court surrounding either side. As I knelt at their feet, the iridescent olive folds of my dress crinkled about me.
"Your Majesties." I said bowing my head, "My condolences for your loss. I knew your uncle well as a friend of my mother before her passing."
"Lady Exeter, it is an honor to have you here in Whitehall. Come. Let me introduce you to my court." Henry said standing from his chair offering his hand to me. Standing, I placed mine on top of his and we moved forward.
"My beloved sister, Princess Margaret."
She was a woman smaller in build than I but my height. Her sandy brown hair ended just above her hips and she wore a lovely coral that complemented the tan of her skin.
"Your Royal Highness." I said bowing as I felt would become the greeting to everyone else in the room.
"Your highness."
"My "father", Thomas More, and my Chancellor, Cardinal Wolsey."
"Mr. More. Your Eminence."
"Your highness." they said echoing each other. Thomas More was dressed in all black, of course, as a lawyer of King Henry's court it made sense. The cardinal, was well, dressed as a cardinal. As a man of the cloth, he wore all red.
"The Lords Buckingham and Norfolk."
"Your graces." I said bowing to their age and the longevity of their court life.
"Your highness." the Lord Buckingham seemed to respond with scorn and the Lord Norfolk, with a nicer tone. The last three didn't seem of nobility, but they weren't commoners either. New to the court perhaps. Henry introduced them, "William Compton, Charles Brandon, and Anthony Knivert. My dearest best friends."
"Gentlemen." I bowed with a slight fanciful curtsy. Lifting my head, my eyes met those of Anthony. Such beautiful green eyes he has underneath a darker sandy brown hair than the princess.
"Highness." he said, his voice filled with shy rapport. I smiled encouragingly and warmly, receiving a smile from him.
"There is a banquet tonight in your honor, Lady Exeter. I do hope you can attend." Henry said as he let go of my hand turning to me.
"Naturally, Majesty, I cannot refuse. I will happily be in attendance tonight." I said turning my eyes back towards the three boys who whispered amongst themselves with Anthony and Charles doing the same to me. Looking back at Henry I finished, "But, I would like to change into something nicer. If I may?"
"Of course." Henry said slightly bowing his head, "Anthony?."
"Yes, your Majesty," he said stepping out of the line.
"Would you escort the Lady Catherine to her room?"
"Yes, your Majesty." Anthony said offering his hand as Henry had moments ago. "My lady."
-----
We walked silently down the corridors of the castle to my room.
"It seems like such a maze, this castle." I said turning to look at him, admiring his Romanesque features.
"Eventually, you'll get used to it." Anthony said smiling. "It's not that hard to figure out shortcuts around here."
"Do you joust in any of the tournaments? I hear Henry greatly loves the sport."
"Yes, I do. I love the sport as well. In fact, there is a tournament tomorrow. I would love for you to attend." he said as we walked through a stone doorway into my room.
"Why?" I said raising my eyebrow.
"Because... It would do me great honor to receive your blessing there." he said slowly letting go of my hand.
"And you may have it."
Anthony smiled then as is nothing made him happier in the world than to hear that. "One more favor, My Lady."
"Yes, Master Knivert." I said walking to a trunk of dresses I brought from my home.
"May I ask for a kiss?" the young man asked with such temerity.
Looking up to the mirror and seeing his sincere face in the mirror I turned around and walked to him.
"Yes. You may." I whispered kissing but the farthest corner of his lips.
"Thank you, My Lady Catherine. I must go... for the king will wonder why I have tarried so long."
"I understand." I said with somewhat mixed emotions. How I longed for him not to go, to stay if not for a moment longer. Then, Anthony was gone.
-----
The candlelight made the dark blue embroidery of my dress glimmer in the banquet hall. All sorts of little sparkles caught the bottom of my eyes from the jeweled embroidery around the neckline.
"Catherine, come dance!" Henry said as I walked into a wall of music.
"Majesty." I said bowing. As the music began Henry and I danced and, of course, it was one of those dances when you end up with a different partner at the end.
"My dearest Lady Catherine." he said bowing deeply.
"Master Knivert." I said with a slight chuckle. "What a pleasant surprise."
He handed me a goblet of wine, grabbing one for himself.
"A toast... to you My Lady. The most beautiful woman in Henry's court."
"And to you Anthony." I said taking a drink of my wine. I could see Anthony stop, furrowing his eyebrows and lowering the pewter glass from his lips. "For me?"
"Yes. For your tournament tomorrow. So that no harm may come to you." I smiled. "Because if any did, I don't think I would be able to live with the fact I gave you my blessing and you were injured."
Touching my cheek, he started, "No harm shall come to me. That I will promise you. And even if it did... do not blame yourself. It's jousting. Someone is bound to get hurt."
Always so sincere, and tender, and loving.
"Lady Catherine!", Charles said behind me, "A word?"
"Excuse me, Anthony. I don't want to leave you but I must."
"In short time, My Lady." he said before kissing the back of my hand and going to talk with William.
Turning to face him all I could muster to say was, "Yes, Charles."
"I wondered when you would finally be talked into coming to court he said with a boyish smile.
"Now, why would you do that? I couldn't mean that much to you after all."
"Why do you say these things? I love you."
"Oh? Is that why you ignored me if I was anywhere but your chambers? I wrote you tirelessly and never got a reply back and if I did, it was one or two lines." I said letting the hurt tone show in my voice. "I don't know why I should even talk to you."
"Cath-"
"No. I can't show you grace, and I can't show you courtesy. In court, among others, I will simply wear a facade. I will speak to you no more than what I have to, do you understand?"
"Why are you acting so irrationally?" he said angrily.
"Because I am a woman SCORN BY YOU!" I turned around ignoring any cries of forgiveness and held back any tears that would well up on this occasion.
As I walked further unto the banquet hall I met up with Thomas More, the lawyer.
"Mr. More."
"Your Grace."
"I have read your work. Utopia, I believe its called."
"Yes, Lady Catherine."
"I quite liked it. In fact I was wondering if we may take some time to discuss our ideals, for I, like yourself, am an idealist."
"Thank you... I don't often stay at court and never stay for banquets usually but yours is a most honorable event. Do you dabble in politics much?" he said taking off his hat for a brief moment to run his fingers through his hair, then replacing the cap back on tight.
"Honestly? I hate politics, but, as Duchess of Exeter I have no choice but to play my part in them." I said admiring the lawyer, the humanist, the idealist. "How long have you been at Henry's court?"
"A while. Harry is like a son to me." he smiled, "I've taught him in most of the ways of a lawyer. Unfortunately, as a king, he doesn't always use the intelligence I've supplied him on hopefully maintaining peaceful relations."
"He is young."
"Not unlike yourself. How old will you be this year?"
"Twenty-five."
"And already a Duchess? I could see you become a powerful queen.", he said with one of those mentor-esque smiles that makes you so happy and warm inside.
Flattered by his comment I could think of nothing more than thanks, "Thank you, Mr. More."
"You're quite welcome, Lady Catherine."
"Catherine!" Henry shouted from the dance floor, "Come dance!"
"Excuse me Mr. More."
"My Lady." he said backing away into a hallway to go home.
"How are you liking court, Catherine?" Henry said as we walked into our lines.
"Better than home. I would be happy to remain here." I said twirling around him. "My brothers can take care of the countryside while I am gone."
"I am certainly happy. Will you be attending the tournament tomorrow?"
"Yes Majesty. I had planned on it."
"I'm sure, Anthony, will enjoy your company." he said looking straight down the parallel lines of figures.
"What do you mean, Henry?" I whispered furrowing my eyebrows in a confused look. What could he mean? I mean, we've talked through letters before I came here but never enough to make one too fond of another. I mean, we didn't even know what the other looked like.
"Since you've arrived, he's talked of you tirelessly. I can tell by the way he looks at you, I'm certain he's in love. Like now. look by the fireplace." he said as we spun reversing the direction we were facing and Henry was right. And that longing I felt when he left my room slowly crept back into my heart.
"I think you're right."
"I know I'm right, Catherine." he said looking at me with a raised eyebrow. "Why should I have cause not to be?"
"You shouldn't. As the King you are right indefinitely, as we live in your realm and your sovereignty." I checked myself and finished saying as the dance ended. We bowed to one another and he finished his night at the banquet off with a kiss on my hand and, "I feel as though we may become strong allies in this 'realm'. Until tomorrow, My lady Catherine."
"Your Majesty." I said bowing my head.
And again I find myself obscurely alone on the dance floor.
{Anthony's POV}
"Go on, Tony. Dance with her once more before the night is over." William said as we watched the king leave Catherine to visit one of his mistresses. "If you don't dance at least offer to take her back to her room."
"Come on, Anthony, just go." Charles added to the pressure.
"I can't." I said bluntly trying not to stare at the Lady Catherine as she struck up a conversation with Her Majesty. "Look at the way she holds herself when talking to the Queen. She holds such a regal grace and beauty. And she's of royal blood, the King wouldn't allow a marriage between a man like me and a woman like her."
"Just go!" they both said pushing me out there.
"You must know that I envy your Majesty's beauty with all my heart." I said closing a conversation with the queen.
"Hush, child, you are like myself when I was your age, you shouldn't worry." the Queen Katherine of Aragon said as I could see Anthony walking over out of the corner of my eye. "You have a young man who loves you."
"I do?" I asked turning red at the thought. The queen discreetly pointed to Anthony who was making his way over to us.
"He looks at you with the same love Henry did me when we were younger." she smiled then clearing her throat.
"Your Majesty. Lady Catherine, would you like one more dance?" Anthony said offering his hand.
"I would say yes but I am very tired and would more like to go to bed." I said with slight trepidation, it really made me feel bad.
"Would you like me to escort you to your room then?" he said.
"It would be my pleasure." I said accepting his hand and saying goodnight to the queen.
At least I wouldn't have to walk the dark, dank tapestry hung halls alone. The moonlit path led us to my room where we bid farewell.
"Until tomorrow, my Lord."
"My Lady." he said bowing, walking out of the door.
I smiled closing the door putting my back up against it feeling the most dreamy euphoria.
"I'm going to marry him one day." I said to myself smiling, eyes closed.
As Catherine closed the door after our final farewell, I felt an aching in my heart. Long to be with her still I rest my left cheek upon her door and a few moments later heard the sweetest melody I could ever hope to hear.....
"I'm going to marry him one day."