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Chapter 14: Katherine Howard

April 13th 1540

Helen was feeling cold with the news Ursula brought to her, the King was no longer pleased with Ursula and wished to end their relationship.

Helen had known that Henry had already kept Ursula for a considerable amount of time truthfully she was surprised he had not done this sooner, but this meant that now she absolutely had to get a new Mistress for Henry, and hope he agreed with her choice.

She smiled at Lady Misseldon and nodded "Thank you for bringing this to my attention Ursula now can you please go get Sir Francis Bryan for me?"

If anyone could help her find a young woman to put into the kings bed in a short amount of time, she believed it would be Francis Bryan.

She was much impressed that he came with all haste.

Sir Francis smiled at her and bowed "Your Majesty, should I be honored or worried by your summons?"

Helen smiled back at him and said "Sir Francis Lady Misseldon has just told me that the king wishes to end his relationship to her; I need you to find someone who can replace her."

Francis raised his eyebrow and said "very well your Majesty but, may I ask why you want to find someone new for him?"

Helen beckoned Francis forward and whispered in his ear once he was close enough "That if for me to know, and for you to guess at." She had a playful smile on her face as Francis pulled away from her.

Sir Francis nodded slowly "Very well Your Majesty, what do you want in this woman?"

Helen thought for a moment and said "She must be young, no younger than 15 but no older than 25 she must be beautiful, long curly blond hair and bright blue eyes. She must have no qualms about becoming the Kings' mistress."

Sir Francis smiled and bowed "I will do everything in my power to find you this woman."

Helen smiled "I am sure you will come back successful."

April 15th

Duke Philip of Bavaria had finally come to court Mary, Helen liked him immediately. He was sweet and charming, and clearly enchanted with Mary even asking to kiss her hand. And Mary was responding well to his charms for all of her protests to the contrary.

"He is a Lutheran!" She said one day when she and Helen were alone in the Queens chambers.

Helen had begun a painting and was working on it while she and Mary were discussing this "Yes, indeed he is, and yet you like him."

Mary didn't respond so Helen put down her paintbrush and looked at Mary "If religion is so much of a problem, talk to him about it, he cares about you enough that I would guess that he would be just fine letting you continue to practice the catholic ways."

Mary stood and began pacing "But what would my mother think?"

Helen sighed and said "Your mother would probably protest the idea of you marrying him, but she also protested you marrying a French prince… in the end Mary it all depends on what your father thinks, and he is giving serious consideration to this marriage proposal, more than to any other for your hand. I suggest that you figure out how you feel about Duke Philip and then go to your father and discuss it with him."

April 17th

"Your Majesty I have found a woman to amuse the king." Sir Francis said to Helen.

Helen sat up a little straighter and asked "Who is she?"

Francis responded "Her name is miss Katherine Howard, she is a distant relation to the Duke of Norfolk. Her background is… how shall I say? Not entirely conventional."

Helen smiled and looked at Charles when he said "I assume she is young and pretty?"

Francis smiled "See for yourself my lord." He walked towards the entrance to the chambers and said "You may come in now."

In walked a beautiful young woman with blond hair and blue eyes and a very pretty face. Francis said "Katherine, these are the excellent people I told you of; Her Majesty the Queen of England, His Grace the Duke of Suffolk and Sir Anthony Knivert."

Katherine curtsied "and said "Your Majesty, Your Graces"

Helen leaned forward a bit and beckoned Katherine forward. Katherine stood before the Queen apprehensively. Helen stood and slowly circled around Katherine. Finally she stood in front of the younger girl eyeing her up and down.

Charles finally asked "How old are you Katherine?"

"Seventeen" she answered readily.

Anthony leaned to Charles and said "I wonder who taught her to count."

Helen finally said "Tell me something about yourself, your family, so on." She walked over to her chair and sat down again.

Katherine stepped forward and said "My mother died when I was little. My father remarried by I didn't know his wife really. I was sent to live in the household of the dowager duchess."

"The dowager duchess of Norfolk? The widow of the second duke?" Sir Anthony asked.

"I suppose so my lord, I didn't see her much there were other children there from lots of marriages. We ran a little wild. There was some fun in it."

Helen smiled and then asked "You understand what you have been brought here to do Katherine?"

Katherine blushed but nodded "You want someone to bed the King."

Helen smiled and shook her head "Not quite, I want someone who can be a companion to my husband when he doesn't desire my company. But yes part of that will mean bedding him, are you okay with that?"

Katherine smiled "Yes your majesty I am."

Helen touched Katherine's cheek "I'm glad to hear it."

April 19th

Helen smiled as she noticed that Katherine had caught the kings' eye and he asked questions about her. Ursula leaned close and asked "Why did you want to choose his next mistress?"

Helen smiled and whispered the answer into Ursula's ear. "Because that way I can ensure that she's not trying to use her position to bring down either Mary or Elizabeth. Or bolster her family. Cromwell is bad enough, I don't want someone else whispering poison in my husband's ears."

Helen looked at Ursula and said "I will talk to Henry about finding a suitable husband for you but I would like it very much if you would continue to stay as a lady in waiting."

Ursula smiled and said "Your Majesty the day I leave your service willingly will be the day I die."

Helen whispered "You've been a true friend to me Ursula; I promise you it will not go unrewarded."

May 28th

Mary was pacing her chambers again and Helen was wide eyed with what Mary had just told her.

"I'm sorry Mary can you please repeat that for me?"

Mary paused, looked at Helen and said "I'm in love with him."

Helen put a hand over her mouth and then after a few minutes of silence she asked "Have you told your father yet?"

Mary was shaking now and she shook her head "What if he tells me I cannot marry him?"

Helen sighed and said slowly "I will tell your father tomorrow about your feelings, and with luck we will be discussing Wedding plans within the week."

May 29th

Helen swallowed a little and said "Henry… Mary came to me last night."

Henry looked up from some paperwork and asked "Is she alright?"

Helen nodded "She is fine physically… emotionally… Henry… She is in love." She finally managed to say.

Henry looked at Helen startled "In love? With whom?"

Helen took a deep breath "Duke Philip of Bavaria… She wishes to marry him."

Henry looked shocked and finally said "I will talk with the Duke and if the Duke agrees, he and Mary will be married soon."

For all you fans of Mary & Duke Philip Don't worry i love him too!

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