PROUD MARY
Two enemies form a new bond. Please comment nicely!
"Please, Princess Mary." The pretty girl with the tiny gold crown hurried after the tall young woman in black. Servants and courtiers were shocked at the breach of protocol – a queen running after a mere princess!
"How dare you say such a hateful thing about my mother!" Mary Tudor whirled on the little blonde in fury, looking exactly like a queen scolding a silly servant. "Do you dare say Queen Katherine of Aragon is not in heaven right now?"
"No, Mary, of course not! I just said that it might be confusing, you know, for the king, meeting all his wives and not knowing which one to choose – especially when two of us share one name!" Catherine Howard gave in to a fit of harmless giggling, while the older girl simply glared at her.
"It will probably be a very long time before you meet my mother in heaven," Mary Tudor finally said. And then she walked away, as stiff and cold and stately as a queen.
"I want to be friends with her, I really do!" Catherine couldn't help sobbing when the king came to her bed that night. "Harry, the princess hates me. Please tell me what to do!"
Henry VIII felt old and tired. For the first time he realized that the stunning blonde looking up at him was still just a child. "You need to show Princess Mary you can be serious about your religious duties as queen. Stay with her, Cat. You know how often she travels to the old holy places, and prays throughout the night at the altar. Go and join her one night." The old king wanted a night off. Cat was so energetic. His aching body craved rest.
"Yes, Harry." Catherine smiled up at the king through her tears. He was so smart, and he loved her so much. And though she was just a silly girl in many ways, she knew very well how the sight of her tears always moved him to passion. He groaned as he pulled her into his arms, a weary sound.
Before long the two of them forgot all about religion.
A few nights later, Princess Mary looked over at the slim figure in black. "Have you come far, good friend?" she asked. The ancient cathedral was nearly empty. The old beliefs were out of fashion. Mary didn't care, so long as she could be alone with people who truly understood her spirit.
"Surprise!" Queen Catherine threw back her veil. "On a night like this, I just felt I had to come and pray. It's way past my bedtime, but they say the night air is good for a woman's skin. Isn't this fun?"
"Bow your head," Mary instructed.
The next hour was the longest of Catherine Howard's life. She was kneeling on hard stone and she wasn't used to it. Mary didn't seem to feel the pain at all. Catherine gritted her teeth, thinking of all the times Mary Tudor had called her a silly girl, a weak fool, someone unworthy of the royal life.
The time dragged. Her knees hurt. Catherine bit her lip. For the first time, she understood how the king's ulcerous leg tormented him so. And so often she made it worse, just by being so energetic in bed!
Catherine was actually praying when Mary jabbed her arm.
"We're stopping," she said.
"Wh-what? But I thought we went on all night!"
"Not tonight we don't." Proud Mary gave her a hard stare. "Quite strange, I believe my mind is on worldly thoughts. I think I'll go home early and go to bed." For a moment the tall, stern, gray-eyed young woman hesitated. "Do you need a ride?"
"Yes, I do."
The carriage was dark, and neither woman spoke. But Mary didn't object when the Queen of England's head gradually sank down to rest against her shoulder.
Catherine Howard was always so energetic in bed. But tonight she was asleep in no time.