Date & Setting: Early Summer, June, 1536
Perspective: Catherine Carey, Mary's eldest child.
"Now, what do I have now? I have now but a carriage of my own, as I'm fast approaching my thirteenth birthday in which I'll be summoned back to court. Additionally, three gold trimmed headdresses go along with my French silk gowns even
though we aren't the wealthiest in the world; and ought to not splurge as much as we do on these materialistic treasures. We have certainly made profit off of my stepfather's farm. But for a girl like me, who's been coveting the court life from the moment that I was born of my mother's womb, I daresay I want more in life. I'm partial Tudor, after all, or supposedly illegitimate from what my mother has told me – barely anything, though, mind you. If it weren't for the fact I'm in a family of proud and boastful genes, I would be mourning my aunt's death, but she never was terribly nice to me. It was always Henry that she favoured more so with her attention and cherishing. Aunt Anne, I know, only wanted to adopt him as her own son for the benefit of what it would be when married to the king. Unfortunately, bastards are not brought up in courts in these times. I'm considered the bastard son not of Great King Henry, the golden prince, but instead William Carey; the father that I never knew as he had died before I aged of ten years.
My father and I get along as daughters and fathers ought to, not bearing in mind that we aren't actually in blood relation. I help attend the crops in the field, and bear independent dwellings that ought not to be found in a lady as myself. It doesn't get to my conscious much though, as I'd rather be proud of independence and culture than conformity. I've been one much like my Aunt, rather than my mother, not seeking to fit into society, but instead to revolt against it. That's not saying I'm not subtle, as I daresay I shall not be willing to meet the same fate as many members apart of my mother's one time considerably esteemed family. It's a shame that I can't bear the necklace that my Aunt did, and it's a shame that I'll have to put myself through matrimony soon enough. Even though I long for a companion, what is the greatest ordeal with fornication? Is it as much of a sin as the priests at service regularly seem to proclaim? If so, how so is the King allowed to bed around with many a maid-chamber servant?
Seeing the riches and glamour of the court from being a lovely child that has been raised nearly twelve years in the presence of such notable figureheads such as various Dukes and whatnot, people that I have no desire to become acquainted to or have taken apart of my fancy. Certainly not! I daresay I do not want to see myself besotted, and losing my personable exterior. Oh dear me, I have to recall the dinner service earlier in the evening, my brother was chucking peas and food from his plate across the table at me. Something that even coming from children of his age is considered inappropriate. My mother got in a fuss, as she does regularly these days, and spent the rest of the night in the bedchamber. When she came out an hour or so, I lost track of time and I have no sundial around to check up on it, and I became intent on finding the real reason behind her stress. It was nearly three months after many of her family's deaths after all, but I think the loss of her child that was to become another member of our close family, and the first of my father's blood relative children; crippled her emotionally as well as exteriorly.
"You're a nosy one, aren't you, my daughter? I think we ought to have learnt our lessons in recent days from the happenings of late not to pry around or do anything terribly conspicuous. You will be told when the time comes what is upsetting mother, and if I catch you peeking through this crevice you will be whipped," my father told me, my brother trying to control his hysterics. It resulted in me leaving the room completely vacated to only my father and a few of his commoner friends, though from what I later gathered; one was a courtier. Oh! How I fancy a chat with him! Why must it be inappropriate for someone of such young age and devious looks, I do realize and value my beauty as much as my family's ambition, to strike up a conversation with a much older fellow? Did not our king marry somebody on the day they buried my mother, wouldn't that bring up much more of a shrouded scandal? Apparently 'tis not so.
Even though we live in the middle of the commonplace of England, which is typically made up of many farms far outnumbering the urban life, we do have our entertainment in other ways rather than spying on the occasional house scandal. There are a few gatherings in our tiny village made up of a few houses, and sometimes mother even allows me to ride in a carriage far away just for an entertainment extravaganza! She tells me, with a dismayed and clearly disapproving look – probably of my father's good advice that I was to be sent sooner or later, that I need to start becoming groomed as a housewife as well as taking care of my younger brother in steed. My luck! I'm such an accursed young girl that is unable to stay on one topic and not stray or linger from the eye of the conversation being discussed.
Now, what shall I discuss? Oh, of course. The delightful boy that caught my eye, a particular handsome fellow named Francis Knollys! Oh, alright, so he's not exactly what you would classify as young, being about double my age, but he is a courtier! Yes, I have to add that he's the same one that I brought up earlier. And he's quite wealthy, with a title from great Henry and all, I daresay my parents should be encouraging. There's only one scenario I must get through, I must keep him on his toes, instead of falling down flat into his bosom as my mother reportedly did. – Dear, I hope my brother Henry does not read my thoughts for fear that he would get all riled up at the thought of me bringing up the years she spent as mistress. For certain, that would result, if not in temporary exile, in dismissal from any social gatherings. Anyways, I must be certain of what I think and do before I proclaim anything other. My mother's all excited about something, I notice as I glance around, trying to remain a tad conspicuous. That's when she shows an envelope
to my father and his normally timid expression turns into something between wild fury and ecstasy. I dare not venture a guess on why, I just know it has to do with me. Being an eldest and all, I bear the family's most prized attributes, and good charm.
