A.N. Thank you for being patient. School just started and I do not have much computer access over the summer, but more chapters will be following soon. Thank you also for the good reviews. I'm glad some others like my story as much as I like writing it.

Chapter 14

A month later:

Catherine felt like crying. Thomas had not come to see her nor had he even bothered to speak to her. She had another baby one the way and as far as her husband, Henry VIII, knew, it was his. The physicians would all tell her that it was another, strong, healthy boy, but she has learned, never to rely on them. She wanted Thomas back. Her chambers and court had been in a gloomy mood since he left and the entire court, save the King, knew the reason. She was heart-broken and nothing they did or said would fix anything.

She thought about, maybe asking for permission to go home to Spain. Surely the King would grant her this wish, after the baby was born, of course. He loved her and was honest and truthful to her. Sure, he has had whores, but he always came back to her. He came back to her open arms and bed, but these past few weeks, her arms hadn't been so open. She was hurting and even Henry could tell, but no one would tell him why. They would all shrug their shoulders and mutter that they didn't know, in fear of the Queen's wrath. They had never seen Catherine mad at anything, but if they told her secret, it would be death for her and a new Queen for them. Who knew what kind of dangerous whore Henry would put on the throne.

"Thomas," Henry said, while on a hunt to his courtiers. "What is wrong with Catherine? She seems in a mood and nothing I do will make her happy. I even bought her a palace and still she sits and stares out of a window all day, while one of her beautiful ladies reads to her."

"Any of these girls to your liking? I could arrange something," Thomas replied, changing the subject rather quickly. However, Henry noticed.

"Why won't people tell me what is wrong with my wife? I ask and ask and I demand to know an answer!" Henry yelled.

Thomas inhaled deeply, staring at the King. He did not want to tell him that he had slept with his wife. No one would ever admit to a King that he had slept with his wife.

"There are rumors, Your Majesty," Thomas began. He did not want to go on.

"What kind of rumors?" Henry asked immediately.

Thomas looked around and no on else was in a distance close enough to hear. No one else was paying attention to them.

"There are rumors that she is seeing some men in private. The rumors have affected her so. Another rumor suggests that she was seeing one other man and he refused too see her, thus the reason she seems so broken-hearted. I do not know the truth."

Thomas turned his head to the King, but the King wasn't beside him. Henry had stopped his horse somewhere in that sentence and just waited there, in the middle of the woods. His face was red with anger and wet from the few tears that had escaped his eyes. He couldn't believe a word Thomas said. She had provided him a son and another child was on the way. It made him question whether the children were really his. If everything he had said were true, then he must put her to trail. He loved Catherine, but if this were true or not, he needed to figure it out right away.

He turned his horse to the guards. He didn't say anything, but edged his horse onward, back to the castle. Everyone knew then that the hunt was over, before it had even begun.

Henry arrived to the castle in a fury. He spoke to his Master of Guards and ordered the Queen and her ladies be confined to their room and no one goes in or out. He wanted to know the truth and he would find out.

Catherine had sat in front of her window all week. Se saw her husband leave a few hours ago and then he came back. He looked angry and she knew he must not have done very well. She decided then to ask him to accompany her for a walk in the garden. He loved spending time with her and it made her happy to know he still cared for her.

She opened her chamber doors, but guards were at the door, blocking the way.

"Excuse me," Catherine said, trying to get their attention to move.

"I apologize, ma'am. A direct order from the King is that you and your ladies must stay in your chambers."

Catherine knew then that Thomas had betrayed her. She did not know how he could have, unless he mentioned some other man, but she sank to the ground, in fits of tears. Her ladies closed the doors and helped her to her prie-dieu where she sat on her knees for hours until someone convinced her to rest.