Catherine bowed her head as she climbed the steps to her room. The constable didn't look so polite, but at least she got to stay in the room she was in before her coronation. Things outside began to look bad. A crowd had formed demanding her release, but she doubted she would have any luck. She had committed a sin against God and treason against the King, her husband, Henry. She had a hard time forgiving herself. There was a point where she didn't know if she loved him anymore, but all she had to do was think about what she had done for him.
He had taken Lady Blount as a mistress and she proposed a fine match between her and Thomas Cromwell. She even blessed it and she doubted that it was her fault that she had died. She felt sorry for the child. She had done everything she was ever told and fell to the trap men had placed before women. They were demanded to listen to their every word, but what if they didn't? Would they really take to killing women because they wouldn't listen? There was no way they would kill all the women, but she was not raised that way. Her mother, Isabella, had taught her to be the princess she is and listen to those above her. Unfortunately, that included men.
She took a seat on the bed and thought about her children. She thought about little Thomas, with his dark, curly hair. His birthday was coming up and she didn't know if he or his sister, Mary were safe. Thomas wasn't Henry's son and she bet he knew that now. There was no way he would ever forgive her for it. Adultery. Even the word made her shudder and sent chills down her spine.
She stood up and walked over to the cross and knelt down. She prayed to her God, whom she hoped was still listening to her. She heard the door behind her open, but she paid it no mind. Her lips moved silently in prayer and her hands were clasp in front of her. Surely, anyone who saw her would think she was the most loyal subject yet.
Whoever walked into the room, stood quietly, waiting for her to finish. She could stay here for hours, like she used to when she was younger. She would spend hours praying for anything she could think of, especially her family and country. Her parents were away at war a lot, when she was a child and she prayed for their return and safekeeping of the soldiers who risked their lives to protect their country. Never before had she committed a sin so great as to put her life in jeopardy, but she had this time and there was no doubt what Henry was going to do to her, but if that was the case, she would take her time before talking to anyone who would. Commit her to her death.
Church bells rang in the distance and she cocked her head to hear their lovely tone echo throughout the city. The window to her room was shut, so the tone bounced off the glass and headed back into the city.
"May the window be opened?" she asked whoever was there, keeping her eyes closed. "I'd like to hear the church bells. Whether it is to know the time of day of just enjoy their sounds."
Whoever was in the room did not respond, but Catherine heard their footsteps walk over to the window and opened the hatch. She could tell it was a woman by the way her heels clicked on the stone floor. The floor was cold and hard and she knew it, especially since the only thing between her knees and the floor was her dress. Either way, it hurt to kneel on the stone floor, but she was going to be loyal to God above anyone else.
Clicking sounds rang through the room again as whomever was there walked back over to the door. She ignored them as she prayed for forgiveness for her sins. She thought about asking for a priest to hear her confession. But she knew he would just go and tell Henry whatever she said. She couldn't deal with that right now.
Her heart yearned for her children. Her only two children that had survived her carrying them and birth had been taken from her and she just needed to know that they were safe. No news of their whereabouts had turned up. Surely Henry would let her know, even if he was angry at her.
Three hours passed as tension in the room grew stronger. Catherine could hear the woman in the room shift her weight from one foot to the other, uncomfortably. Catherine decided she had her waiting long enough and muttered her prayers and stood up. She picked up her rosary and kissed the tiny cross on it and opened her eyes. The light hurt her eyes and she waited for them to adjust before she turned around.
Jane Rochford stood by the doorway. She was always lurking about and quiet whenever near Catherine, but this seemed different. She seemed agitated, like she didn't want to be here to begin with. Catherine looked at her dress. It was as plain as could be. The bright yellow reflected off of her pale skin, making her look sickly and ill. No man the Catherine knew of would marry someone who looked like that, but Catherine stopped thinking about that. She was in the Tower and trying to determine what her Ladies would wear should be the least of her issues.
"What are you here for?" Catherine asked in an irritated tone, allowing her Spanish accent to come through stronger than she usually did.
Lady Rochford didn't answer at first, but instead stared at the ground. She lifted herself onto her toes and clicked her heels to the stone floor again and again. The sound began to annoy Catherine as she became impatient.
"Well?" Catherine asked again, waiting for an answer.
"I'm here as your Lady, Your Majesty," was all she said in her reply. Catherine didn't expect anything else out of her. Catherine rarely expected anything else out of her.
"Then come," Catherine sat down at the mirror. "Come help and take my hair down."
Catherine figured that since she was in the Tower not many men would be coming to visit her. There would be no need for her to have her hair up if it was only going to be bothersome for her, but then she thought about it again.
"Never mind," Catherine said as she stood up. She walked over to the chair near the fireplace and sat down. "Read to me from the bible."
Lady Rochford hesitantly walked over to the podium. She opened the Bible to a random page, but Catherine interrupted her. Catherine asked her politely to read from Matthews and Lady Rochford did so without question.
Catherine paid little attention to the story being read, but instead she thought about her life. She had always been so loyal to whoever was taking care of her as men were supposed to do. She was an obedient child and followed all rules up until this point. What had gone wrong?
Thomas had turned her world upside down, or was it Henry taking so many mistresses? Why was it that the man could take mistresses and the woman cannot? It seemed like a sin for the man to do so as well. Why is Catherine at fault when Henry had put her through so much as it was?
Henry stood by the window of the office placing on hand on the frame and leaning against it. He had thought about Catherine's punishment and everyone he knew advised death. Could he really place his wife and the woman who had treated him with nothing but respect to death? Jane walked by and rested her hand on his arm. He had to, if not for himself then for Jane. Jane was everything his other mistresses were not. He had not even slept with her yet. He wanted to marry her properly, but could he put his wife to death just to do so?
Tears swelled up in his eyes as he turned away from Jane. He walked out of the office and headed into the gardens. When he realized they were crowded, he headed back into the palace and into his chambers. No one would bother him here.
He sat down on his bed and thought about how much Catherine had supported him. She married him without complaint. She had suffered through his many mistresses without complaint as well. He had born him two children, who may or may not be his, but what could he expect from her? Would she tell him the truth or lies to try to save herself? He needed to see her and to talk to her. He needed her. She was his strong point when everything began to fall. She was always there when he needed her and he wasn't about to refuse to be there for her.