This was it- Katherine could feel it in her bones. God was answering her prayers, sending her exactly what she needed. First, Katherine's nephew had been betrothed to her daughter cementing her future, and now it seemed her husband was ensnared. It took a few months for Henry's attentions to become clear, but by the time she caught him gazing longingly at the dark maiden, Katherine had a pretty good idea of who Anne Boleyn was. Her coloring made her stand out, but her sharp mind and wit made her truly unique. It was clear that Thomas Boleyn had brought his younger daughter to court to follow in her sisters footsteps-hoping for more success.
But where Mary Carey had clearly encouraged the king when he looked her way, Anne seemed to be playing a different game. She did not outwardly respond to Henry's intense gaze, but Katherine had seen how the girl would allow her own dark eyes to linger just a moment longer than necessary. Katherine could see that she knew how to inflame his desires, but that she would not be some simple affair. Henry was already enobling her family.
But God certainly was cutting it close. For Henry was enobling another-one that came as a great shock to Katherine.
She sat in her presence chamber, impatiently awaiting her guest. When that snake, Wolsey, was ushered in, she rose and stared down her nose at him imperiously. "I see his Majesty has made his bastard son a duke," she clipped, his disapproval obvious from her tone. "Does this mean that he is next in rank to His Majesty? Next in line to the throne?" Now her voice dipped into unconcealed anger. "Above my daughter?"
As always when in her presence, Wolsey carried himself with the smooth confidence and arrogance poorly covered by a veil of courtesy that her station demanded. She knew he did not care for her just as he knew she disliked him as well. But she was the queen, at least for the time being, and he unfortunately was the man her husband had entrusted much of the care of state to. And so when he looked at her with these conceited looks, as he was now, she was indignant.
"Yes. Technically. He is set above all others." She looked away, tamping down the rage and disbelief growing in her, but he was not finished. "Except for a legitimate son." He met her eyes and she felt the wind leave her lungs.
She was beset on all sides-alone against a thousand enemies. She knew that Henry was considering an end to their marriage. That he was so desperate for a son that he would set aside the years they had been together and start a new union-even if that meant throwing their beloved daughter down. But she had not considered this. That he would throw away Mary's rights for a uncontested bastard.
She took a deep breath and steeled herself against panic. "His majesty loves our daughter... he has shown it on many occasions. I cannot believe that he wishes to place his bastard child above her!" Now she turned with suspicion to the man she hated most in this moment. "I do not believe that his majesty was personally responsible for this action," Wolsey fidgeted and glanced away, confirming her suspicions. But he was a fool to think that he would get away with this. A fool to treat Katherine of Aragon, daughter of Isabella of Castille, like she was powerless. "After all," she murmured, clutching onto her trump card. "Our daughter is engaged to the Emperor. My nephew." She felt a vengeful smile growing as the Cardinal turned away. But then he looked back at her with that same, falsely sympathetic curl of his lips.
"Then your majesty has not heard..." he stepped towards her, though she held her ground. "The emperor has married Princess Isabella of Portugal" he all but smirked as Katherine's smile died. "Apparently he decided it was not worth waiting for your daughter to grow up." Katherine felt her heartbeat slow and her lungs clench. Her legs weakened and she felt herself sway, just slightly. Wolsey kept speaking in that horribly condescending voice, but Katherine could not hear anything past the ringing in her ears.
It couldn't be true...her nephew would not have betrayed her like this. Just a few months ago, when she had hinted that not all was well between she and Henry, he had promised to always stand by her. He had taken Mary as his betrothed, telling her that his cousin and bride would never be denied her position as long as he had a say. Would he truly now throw the both of them away without a word of warning, leaving Katherine more vulnerable than ever? Tears threatened and she sent the Cardinal away with a flick of the hand before he could see them. As she watched his pompous back retreat panic flooded through her senses and she sank into her chair, grateful that her ladies gave her a wide berth.
She couldn't wait anymore-her nephew had just robbed her of that luxury. She was not completely powerless, not yet. But with every day, Henry's love and affection for her-and by extension, their daughter- waned. With this new betrayal, her bargaining power was weakening. Soon, Henry would make his move to set her aside and she must be ready.
She stood and stepped towards her ladies where they sat sewing, giving her a moment alone to process this devastating news. Her eyes settled on Lady Anne who looked back with curiosity.
"Mistress Boleyn, I would speak to you alone." Katherine spoke clearly, despite the lump in her throat. Her other ladies shot scandalized glances at each other before rising and leaving the two women alone. She was sure they were imagining quite the cat fight to ensue. After all, Henry had not been that subtle in his attentions and the gossip at court was already surging. Even Lady Anne seemed to be steeling herself for whatever chastisement they all expected from the queen.
"Please...come sit with me." Katherine sat on her fine wooden chair by the fire, trying to prepare herself for what she needed to do. "I would like to discuss something of import with you."
A/N: Up next, what you have all been waiting for!