A/N: This chapter is a little bit of everything so I hope you all enjoy it. I really wanted to have it done by last Friday (which was the anniversary of the day Arthur Tudor died!) but with it being Good Friday it just didn't work out. As always, I'm very grateful to everyone who reads and reviews! ~Katie
Ludlow Castle, Wales- Spring 1503
Prince Edward John was christened on St. George's day. He was brought from the Royal Nursery to his mother's chambers so that Katherine could give her son a mother's blessing. The Princess of Wales was still recovering from the birth but was dressed in cloth of gold with a coronet on her head as she sat in a chair and gave her son the blessing. Sir Richard and Katherine's dear friend Lady Margaret Pole were Edward's godparents and Margaret later recounted the entire event to Katherine, in great detail. The younger of the two women laughed when her friend told her how her son had wailed upon being dipped into the baptismal font and how the King's Mother said it was a sure sign that the devil had left him.
"How I wish I could have been there," Katherine said.
"Soon enough you will be churched and you will be able to return to our little court here."
"I hope that soon enough the King's Mother will move back to her son's court. Her control is stifling to me. She has rules for everything contained in that book of hers. Well, they are her rules and not mine and many of them are utterly ridiculous."
"I will be most sad to see the Queen return to Richmond though. She had been a most welcome presence here," Lady Margaret interjected.
"I agree, I wholeheartedly enjoy her company as well, but I will be happy when things return to a normal routine."
"What about your plans for renovation?"
"Ah, yes," Katherine said remembering her asking Arthur about the subject when they were at court for Yuletide. Since then, she had spent her confinement not only making preparations for her son's nursery and household, but, secretly, making plans and lists of things she had wished to change at Ludlow. She hoped Arthur's prediction would be correct and that, since she had given England's heir an heir, the King would acquiesce to her request. "I will have to ask the Prince to petition the King to allow us to proceed with our plans."
"And have you given anymore thought to choosing a governess for the little prince?" the young countess asked.
"To be honest, no," Katherine admitted. "I am torn and the Queen had been trying to advise me about it."
"Where is the dilemma?"
"I'm afraid it lies in my own selfishness. There is a most qualified lady but I do not want to lose her service."
"But, if I may say so, the prince's household will most likely remain with your own, at least for some time, so she would still be able to share your company from time to time."
"This is true and a comfort to me. I am quite sure that you have figured it out already, but I would greatly wish for you to be Prince Edward's governess. I need someone I can trust, someone who will be like a mother to him when I am not with him."
"Your highness, I dare say that I did have an idea about it and I would be most honored to be appointed governess to the prince," Lady Margaret said placing her hand over her friend's hand.
***
Arthur held a feast to honor the birth and christening of his son and while Maria de Salinas did not want to attend, Katherine virtually forced her to, insisting that she enjoy herself. Maria doubted that should would and wanted to avoid Charles Brandon at all costs. She was embarrassed by their interaction on the day of Edward's birth and had no intention of repeating it. She was nearly mortified when Brandon sought her out and approached her.
"Mistress de Salinas," he said with a low, sweeping bow.
"Mister Brandon," she replied with a small curtsy.
"I, well, I wanted to apologize for my actions the other day and so I ask you for your pardon and forgiveness. It was rude and inexcusable."
Maria could practically feel her jaw fall as she looked at Charles. He seemed to be completely sincere about his apology and she wanted to forgive him. He was Arthur's best friend and they would have to see one other often.
"Of course I forgive you Mister Brandon," she finally said.
"Thank you," he replied, his face brightening. "Now, I was wondering if you might honor me with a dance."
"I'm sorry Mister Brandon. I do forgive you but I cannot dance with you. Good evening," Maria said with a bob of a curtsy and then left him.
Why did I say 'no'? she thought to herself. It was a perfectly reasonable offer. They had danced many times before, I like to dance. He was polite so why refuse him?
"Maria, what did Charles Brandon say to you?" Francesca, another one of Katherine's ladies, said to her.
"What? Oh, nothing. He lost his cap and thought he may have left it in the princess's chamber after the birth," Maria lied.
"Don't you think he is just so handsome?"
Maria gazed at Charles. He was handsome, but his downfall was that he knew just how attractive women found him and he used it to his advantage. Sometimes she wondered how the prince could be such good friends with him. "I suppose he is handsome, but he is also very arrogant."
"I don't think so," Francesca countered. "I think he is confident. I admire that in a man. I'm going to go speak to him, maybe he will ask me to dance with him."
She could not explain it, but Maria felt a pang of jealousy well up inside her went in. Why should I care who he dances with? she questioned herself. Francesca went in search of Charles Brandon but he was nowhere to be found in the great hall. Instead he was wandering aimlessly through the corridors just outside of the hall. He was not used to being refused by anyone, let alone being refused by them twice. The fact was that the harder it was for him to get what he wanted, the harder he tried. He knew that if remained persistent, Maria de Salinas wouldn't be able to resist him for much longer.
***
Katherine was churched on May 22, forty days after the birth of Edward, in the round chapel at Ludlow. She held a white taper in one hand and knelt on the cool stone floor, just as she had done a little over a year ago, but this time for a much more joyous reason. She had a brought a child into the world, a male child at that, and now she was to offer her thanks to God. Fr. Fisher, who had recently come from the service of Margaret Beaufort to serve as Arthur's personal chaplain, sprinkled her with holy water.
"Our help is in the Name of the Lord!" he exclaimed.
"Who made Heaven and Earth," Katherine replied and then Fr. Fisher recited the twenty-third psalm. When he had finished, he placed his white stole upon and led her before the sanctuary.
"Enter into the temple of God, adore the Son of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who gave you fruitfulness of offspring."
After Fisher completed the rest of the proscribed prayers, he sprinkled Katherine with holy water once again in the shape of a cross and said "The peace and blessing of God almighty, the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost, descend upon you and remain forever."
"Amen," came Katherine's reply and the ceremony was complete.
***
Later on that evening Katherine waited patiently for Arthur's arrival. She looked forward to being alone with him because she had scarcely had five minutes alone with him since Arthur's mother, aunts and grandmother had come. To pass the time, she and a few of her ladies were playing a dice game. Katherine rarely gambled to excess, but she enjoyed cards and dice and was shrewd in her strategy. Arthur always told her that it was a shame she did not gamble more often because she was a good player. She had just won a game when Dona Elvira announced the prince and her husband came striding into the room, exuding confidence and, perhaps, just a hint of arrogance.
"Good evening husband," she said warmly, a familiar sparkle dancing about in her eyes. Dutifully, the ladies quit their game and Arthur took one of the vacant seats at the table.
"So, you are free of your jailor now that you have been churched," he observed.
"Yes, but I was sorry to see your mother and aunts leave," Katherine replied honestly for she had greatly enjoyed their company.
"As am I. Unfortunately, my mother had to return to church as she will soon travel part of the way to Scotland with Margaret. I must admit, I am glad that things will now be able to return to normal."
"And we may do as we please?" Katherine suggested with a coy smile and a raised eyebrow.
"Leave us please ladies," Arthur said with a decisive wave of his hand and Katherine noted that his eyes seemed to darken slightly. He waiting until all of the attendants had left before he turned his attention back to his wife.
"I'm surprised you waited that long."
"Believe me, it was not easy, because you look radiant."
Katherine could feel herself blushing the way she still did whenever Arthur paid her a compliment. "I believe it is your roll," she said holding out the dice to him. He took the dice and placed them on the table instead of rolling. He smiled almost wickedly as he stood and pulled Katherine to her feet so that she was standing in from of him.
"I had other plans in mind," he said lifting her chin and kissing her. Katherine closed her eyes tightly and sighed into his mouth while she laced her arms around Arthur's neck. She felt as if she had been waiting for this for months. It was almost as if she was a new bride all over again, except this time she had a doting and loving man before her instead of a young, green boy. Happy as she and Arthur had been in the past few months, she though the timing of it all was unfair. They were, after all, just becoming comfortable with one another when she had discovered she was with child. It seemed as though they had so much time to make up, and yet so much had changed in their relationship during recent months. Arthur was no longer just her husband. He had become her friend, her confidant, her lover.
"Sweetheart," Arthur said pulling away abruptly. "Are you sure you are well enough?"
"Yes," she replied, touched by his concern for her. It was just another part of him that she loved. No matter what else may be occupying his mind, he was nearly transformed when he was with his wife.
"Thank God," he practically groaned as he kissed her with renewed passion. Katherine sensed his urgency and began to feel her way to the belt around his waist. Deftly, she undid the buckle and the strip of leather which held the dagger she had given him for Christmas. It fell to the floor with a thud.
"Careful," he warned. "Someone I hold very dear gave that to me."
"I wonder who that may have been," Katherine whispered into his ear.
"I should have come later."
"Why?"
"Because then I wouldn't have to unlace this damned dress," Arthur mumbled while placing light kisses down her neck and onto her collar bone.
Katherine giggled and turned around to allow him easier access to the laces of her gown. "Do not tear my dress."
Arthur worked quickly to untie and loosen the stay of her gown, peppering her shoulder and back with kissed as he peeled away the fabric until her dress lay in a pile at her feet.
"Well, I feel slightly overdressed," Arthur said cheekily.
"I think I can help with that," Katherine replied with a brazenness that seemed to come from nowhere. There was a time when she would have blushed at even the thought of removing his doublet but now she made short work of pushing it off along with his shirt, leaving him standing before her in only his hose and boot, which he quickly kicked off. Arthur quickly recaptured Katherine's lips with his own and moved them to the bed. She gently lay back onto the large, soft pillow and gazed up at her husband. His slate grey eyes spoke the words that rarely needed to be said between them.
"What are you looking at?" she asked, cocking her head to one side.
"Perfection," he whispered into her ear, causing a shiver to run up and down her spine.
"Have you been reading poetry again?" she joked as she reached up to cup his face with her hand. For a moment, she allowed her fingers to trace a path along the scar next to his left eye. Most people would think of it as an imperfection, but to Katherine it made him seem even more attractive, almost dangerous.
"No, I've just missed you."
"But I have not gone anywhere," she said playfully.
"You know what I mean," he replied gently covering her body with his own and her lips with his.
"Do I?" she questioned in between kisses. "You might have to explain that to me."
"What don't I just show you," he finally said and pulled the covers over them.
***
Katherine awoke earlier than she had wanted to the next morning. Being only mid-May it was still fairly cool in the mornings and the fire had died down considerably. She raised herself up on her elbow and gazed at her husband as he slept peacefully on his back, one hand across his torso while the other was thrown over his head. She wondered if she had changed as much as he had in the past year. His outgoing, confident temperament, which she admitted bordered on arrogance at times, was a great change from the shy, unsure boy she had married. His studious ways were now paired with a thirst for competition. He had changed physically as well; hitting the growth spurt which his father worried had skipped over him. The hours a day he had been spending in the saddle or in sport had toned him and Katherine noted his strength as he held her tight in his arms the night before. She could not stop from reaching out and touching him, sweeping his tawny hair, which he had let grow, off of his forehead and placed a light kiss there.
"I love you," she said lightly against his cool forehead.
"I love you too but I think it is far too early for my wife to be awake," he grumbled as he covered his eyes with his arm.
"I'm sorry," Katherine said softly. "Go back to sleep."
"Oh, no, I'm awake now, we might as well make the most of it," he replied and they made love most tenderly and leisurely than they had the previous night. Spent once more from their actions Arthur pulled Katherine to him and the paid did not stir again until Katherine's chamber maids came in to light the fire and bring in fresh water.
***
"It seems your Aunt Margaret is on her way to finally marry the King of Scotland," Arthur said to his infant son as he took Edward from Katherine's arms.
"When did she leave?" she asked as she thumbed through her stack of letters.
"June sixteenth, according to my mother. She and my father are escorting her as far north and Collewston in Northamptonshire, which is the seat of my grandmother."
"I'm sure Margaret is most excited to finally marry the King."
"I suppose, but technically, they have already been married by proxy just as we were. Everyone already addresses her as the Queen of Scotland."
"Proxy marriages can be broken. You just don't understand what it is like for a young woman to be married after they have anticipated it for so long. What shall we send for a wedding gift?"
"You will be proud of me because I've already thought of such things," he said rather proudly. "My sister is very fond of Barbary horses so I think I will send her a pair."
"Excellent," Katherine replied reading over the missive in her hand. "This letter is from my mother and father."
"Oh? What do they have to say?"
"They, of course, send us their congratulations on the birth of Edward and say that they will be sending a gift as well."
Katherine paused for a moment to read the rest of the unusually long letter from her mother, her brow furrowing.
"What other news from Spain?" Arthur ventured.
"Unfortunately, it is not all good news. Do you remember what your parents told us about Philip leaving Juana stranded in Spain in early winter?"
"Yes, he left for Brussels by way of France."
"Yes, well my mother has written at length of the details of the matter. She says that Philip grew restless and decided to return to Brussels, knowing that Juana could not travel with him because she was again with child. She became hysterical when he told her that she would have to remain in Spain and the two of the fought terribly. Philip traveled through France despite the fact that Spain is at war with the French in Italy."
"How diplomatic," Arthur scoffed.
"Despite all of that my sister gave birth to a healthy son whom she named Ferdinand just a month before Edward was born."
"God be praised for that."
"I can just sense the way in which this is all weighing upon my mother just from the tone in which she writes. She continues by saying that Juana wants to leave Spain with all speed to be reunited with Philip. She is even considering leaving her son behind."
"Perhaps, if he is raised in Spain, he could be a comfort to your mother," Arthur offered.
"Would that I could be a comfort to her," Katherine muttered.
"You do comfort her. Every time you write to her with good news, I'm sure it brightens her mood."
"But I wish I could be with her," she replied and regretted the words as soon as they had left her mouth. She knew from the day she left Spain that she would never see her mother again. "Never mind, I know I am being foolish."
"Do you think this news would be of importance to my father? He wanted us to report to him on Philip's dealings?"
"Oh please, no. There is nothing here that your father does not already know. This is more personal. Half of Europe already thinks my sister is madly in love with Philip, I couldn't be responsible for spreading more rumors about her."
"Of course," Arthur said handing Edward to his nurse. "Everything will be alright."
Katherine wished she could believe him but she knew that Arthur would never understand what it was like from her to be so far from her mother, or what it was like for her to not be able to help her sister in her time of need.
** York- July 1503**
Harry sat listlessly gazing out the window, wishing he could play instead of endure the awful lesson with Archbishop Savage. He only met with him once a week, the other times he was tutored by other learned clergy men, but he found his lessons to be insufferable. He longed to ride in the mid-summer sun, to hunt, to be back on progress with the court instead of training for the priesthood in York.
"Your highness, are you paying attention?" Archbishop Thomas Savage asked.
"What? Yes, of course."
"The Lord knows when you are lying Henry."
"Can't we just continue this later?"
"No, you may not. I have been instructed by your father, the King, to aid in your lessons on the church. This is of the utmost importance."
"Don't you think God would want us to enjoy the glory of his creation?" Harry said. He was proud of himself for crafting such clever reasoning.
"You must not justify your own selfish desires with what you speculate God would want. We must see to do His will above our own. It is God's will that one day you will become a priest. Who knows, one day when I am dead and gone, you may be the Archbishop of York. An archbishop is of great importance for he is God's chosen vicar on earth. The King may rule over the hearts and welfare of the people, but it is the archbishop who is responsible for their souls."
"Say that again," Harry demanded, hearing something that he liked.
"I only meant that, in a way, the archbishop and King are both God's anointed servants on earth. Both must know and carry out the will of God. One looks over the body and one looks over the soul."
Harry sat back and contemplated on this while Savage continued to drone on. Arthur might be King one day but he would be a bishop or Archbishop, responsible for bringing souls to God. Surely, this was more righteous in God's eyes because while the dead body rotted away in the ground, it was the soul that could gain entrance into heaven. Perhaps this would not be so terrible after all. He could still wield tremendous power, possibly more so even than the King.