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Chapter III
- I won't do it! It's ridiculous! – whined Katherine, turning her back to her cousin and lady-in-waiting, Jane Boleyn. Her uncle, the Duke of Norfolk, had sent his private doctor to check on her female parts. A year had passed, and no signs of pregnancy. Her uncle was getting worried about her health and welfare – or so he said – but even Katherine wasn't that stupid to believe him. He was starting to get impatient. He wanted to reap the benefits of being the uncle of the future Prince of England as soon as possible.
- It's for your own sake – said Jane Boleyn, for the millionth time. – You better do as His Grace commands.
- No! I'm the Queen of England. He can't command me anymore. I'm way above him right now! – Katherine kept whining like a child.
Jane was starting to lose her patience.
- Kitty – she said in a colder and less deferential tone, for once not giving a damn about the protocol. – Can't you just do what you're told? It's for your own good. You know His Majesty's biggest desire is to have a male son. It would please him a great deal if he knew his beloved wife was healthy enough to bore him one soon.
Katherine bit her lip nervously. Jane was right. What could be wrong, anyway? She was fifteen, for God's sake, and she had never been sick in her life, not even once. Everything was fine. Still, she had to endure the humiliation of being wide open to a stranger, even if he was a doctor. Thankfully, Jane was there holding her hand and giving her a supportive smile. None of her old friends and now ladies in waiting were allowed to stay in the room.
When the examination was over, Katherine covered herself with the white linen sheets of her feathered bed and waited for the verdict, since the doctor was talking to her uncle outside the room. Fifteen minutes later, Thomas Howard appeared at the doorway, and Katherine hugged herself defensively. His look was so infuriated that she feared he would strangle her.
- Your useless whore – he said, gritting his teeth.
- What did the doctor say? – intervened Jane, trying to calm him down. Wrong idea. He seemed to get even more furious, if that was possibly.
- She can't bear the King any sons. Her womb is too small – he said coolly.
- It can't be! – Kitty and Jane exclaimed at the same time.
- It is true, your stupid, empty-brained whore! – Norfolk wanted to shout at her, Jane could tell, but he didn't dare to take the risk of being listened. – All this planning for nothing! We put you in the King's bed, we made you Queen of England… for what? You can't even bear a child inside your damn womb!
Katherine was about to cry but she still managed to retort in a weak voice:
- His Majesty loves me. I'm sure he won't mind. He already has a male heir, anyway.
Norfolk stifled an ironic giggle.
- He loves you? Seriously? Wake up, silly thing! He doesn't love you for who you are, Katherine. The only thing he wants is a heir, besides Prince Edward. He's getting old and the thought of leaving only a male son behind frightens him. He was a second son, back in the day when Henry VII ruled the country. Then his older brother, Prince Arthur, died and his father followed him shortly after. If Queen Elizabeth of York hadn't bore him more than a male son, the Tudor dynasty would have ended briefly after its very start. Do you understand now, Katherine?
She nodded slowly.
- He doesn't love anyone, Katherine. Anyone but himself – Jane Boleyn whispered. - For years he proclaimed his unconditional love for his deceased brother's wife, The Princess Dowager of Wales, and he went to great lengths to marry her and make her Queen of England. The Queen miscarried many times, being the only child who survived her infancy Princess Mary. Then, after 20 years of marriage, he discarded her like an old rug for your cousin, Anne Boleyn. She promised him a son and he was allured by her wits and charm, marrying her against the will of the Holy Church and turning the country upside down in the meantime. But then Elizabeth was born, and although the King loved her, she was a great disappointment in his eyes. Anne couldn't give him a male son, and so she was executed like a treacherous witch. Only because she wasn't able to give him a son. Do you understand?
Kitty nodded again.
- What should I do? – she muttered. Now she was starting to be frightened.
- I don't know – said Norfolk. – Yet. Leave it to me and Jane, we'll discuss this matter with all the due urgency. For now, be of good cheer. Be as enchanting as a young Queen can be. I've heard His Majesty has called for you tonight. You will meet him and couple with him as if you were a goddess of fertility. Conceal your feelings, Katherine, whatever they may be. Trust your family, we'll come up with something.
Katherine nodded and straightened herself, watching him leave her quarters. Then she turned to Jane Boleyn.
- Do you promise you will fix this up?
Jane squeezed her hand. She wished she could promise her so. But in fact she couldn't. However, she managed to give Katherine a reassuring smile.
- We let a Queen fall before – she said firmly. – We won't make that happen again. I promise.