Chapter 9
- So how are you feeling, my rose? – the King asked one morning, during breakfast.
- I am fine, Your Majesty. – Katherine smiled brightly.
- No morning sickness yet?
- No, not really – said Katherine, picking a peach from the bowl next to her. – Although I'm starting to crave some special foods – she bit the peach with all her might.
The King smiled, obviously pleased.
- That's a good sign, my love. Let's pray that the rest of your pregnancy goes this smoothly – he leaned forward to caress her belly, or, in this case, the tiny fake belly attached to her own. – I believe you are being well treated by your doctor?
- Yes, Your Majesty. He's a very wise man… although no one could compare to poor Dr. Linacre – she said pitifully. The old doctor had passed away a couple of months before, dying from a sudden heart attack. Henry sighed.
- Indeed. But the most important thing is that you're being well treated. It was very thoughtful of your uncle to recommend his own personal physician to attend you – he nodded appreciatively to Norfolk, who was serving him wine. The duke curtseyed deeply.
- I only did what I thought best, Majesty.
- And you did well, Norfolk, you did well – Henry patted him friendly on the shoulder. Behind them, Jane Boleyn, pressed her lips together. If only the King knew the truth.
- Well, concerning my pregnancy… I wish to ask Your Majesty's permission on a very important subject… well, at least to me – Kitty folded her hands in her lap.
The king became serious.
- Is there anything bothering you, sweetheart?
- Yes… I mean, to a certain extent – Katherine said carefully. She could feel Norfolk and Jane's eyes darting at her. – Your Majesty has been far too gracious in letting me pick my ladies as I pleased, but I am afraid I haven't made a wise choice. I was wondering if I can dismiss some of them.
- Are they not behaving properly?
- Well, no. It's only that… this whole subject of pregnancy… scares me a bit – Katherine confessed with an apologetic smile. – My ladies are, as Your Majesty might recall, my friends, the girls with whom I've grown up in Lambeth. They are good spirited and useful, but I am afraid they are as… naïve as I am in terms of how a woman should behave while she is pregnant, how much she needs to rest, what is advisable to do… My point is that I would like to be with some older ladies (not all of them, of course), but with enough knowledge of such affairs. – she shut up, waiting anxiously for her husband's reaction. She sighed inwardly in relief when he nodded.
- I get your point, Katherine. It's a very mature thing to do, my love and I'm sure these ladies will be most honoured to serve you. Also, I believe you will have some help in picking them, will you not?
- Sure, Lady Rochford will help me – she said, smiling to Jane Boleyn, who curtseyed perfectly.
The king nodded, while finishing his breakfast. When he was done, he rose from his seat and kissed his wife's forehead.
- Have a good day, sweetheart. I must see you at dinner.
- Your Majesty – Katherine bowed.
As soon as the King left, the Queen's ladies started protesting like mad chickens.
- Are you mad?
- What have we done wrong?
- Who do you think you are?
- The Queen of England – interrupted Jane Boleyn with such resolution they all went silent. – And you must do as Her Majesty commands and respect her wishes. You will be generously rewarded for your good services – she couldn't help but roll her eyes inwardly. Those girls were empty-brained silly girls, always up to some kind of mischief. – You shall leave tomorrow. Your Majesty – she said, turning to Katherine – why won't you sit down as we wait for your new ladies? They must be here anytime soon.
- Thank you, Lady Rochford, I'm fine – Katherine smiled. – All I can say is thank you for your friendship and loyalty, and assure you that you are not forgotten. I shall provide you with good marriages and a good reward, as a token of my appreciation. Now you may leave.
They all did as she commanded, some reluctantly, dragging their feet. Anne Bassett made a last curtsy to the Queen, but Katherine grabbed her shoulders, making her rise.
- Not you, Nan. I need someone by my side to cheer me up. You too, Kate – she said, turning to her cousin (and stepdaughter, according to some gossip) Catherine Carey.
Catherine remained silent. Anne Bassett beamed in happiness.
- Your Majesty is too gracious – she kissed Kitty's hands, who giggled wholeheartedly.
- Thank you, Nan. Will you see if my new ladies have already arrived?
- Sure, Majesty – and she practically ran out of the room.
When they were alone, Jane sat beside Katherine, gently combing her hair with her fingers.
- You did very well with the King. Your uncle was impressed.
- I aim to please him – Katherine said seriously. – I may have no choice, but I'm doing the best I can.
- It's the only thing we ask of you – Jane caressed Kitty's cheek in a rare moment of tenderness. She could only pray for none of their schemes to be discovered. Then Anne Bassett came in.
- Your Majesty, they are here.
Katherine straightened herself and let out a deep breath.
- Very well, Nan. Let them in.
Thirteen ladies entered the room, curtseying deeply as they did so.
- You may arise, my ladies. You are very welcome to my household – said Kitty in a sympathetic tone. – Now I would ask you to step further, one at a time. I want to know your names, since now you'll be attending me on a daily basis in a very delicate… matter – she said carefully. They all nodded. All of them knew about her uncle's scheme. In fact, they had been handpicked by him.
- You may be the first – said Katherine, gesturing to a lady in her forties on her left to come further. The woman bowed and stood in front of Katherine.
- I am Anne Bray, Baroness Cobham.
- Lady Anne is a cousin of yours. She was present at your cousin's coronation – Jane Boleyn whispered and then passed to the second lady, who looked way younger than Lady Bray, but somehow similar to her.
- And you are…
- Elizabeth Brooke, Majesty – the girl said shyly. – I am the daughter of Lady Bray.
- How old are you?
- Fifteen, Majesty.
- Good. I hope you enjoy the life at Court.
- Thank you Majesty.
- Jane, can you do the presentations? I'm starting to get a little tired – whispered Katherine.
- Sure, your Majesty. The lady next to Mistress Brooke is her aunt, Dorothy Bray and her elder sister, also called Dorothy. Then we have Lady Anne Zouche, another lady in waiting to your late cousin. – She didn't add that Lady Anne was also one of the responsible for testifying against Anne Boleyn in her infamous trial. – This is your aunt, Lady Anne Shelton, sister to your uncle Thomas Boleyn.
An old woman curtseyed lightly. She seemed to study Kitty from head to toe, which made her quite uncomfortable.
But Jane ignored that fact and kept presenting the ladies: Baroness Anne Berkeley, another former lady-in-waiting of Anne Boleyn and also witness at her wedding with the King; Baroness Anne Bourchier, cousin to three Queens of England: Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour and Kitty herself; Lady Elizabeth Holland, mistress of her uncle Norfolk, as well as Elizabeth Howard, the Duchess of Norfolk herself; Mary Fitzroy (née Howard), who was married (and recently a widow) to the King's bastard, Henry Fitzroy; and last, but not the least, Lady Margaret Lee, one of the late Queen Anne Boleyn's friends.
- Do you all understand why are you here? What do you have to do? – asked Katherine.
- Yes, Your Majesty – they all nodded in perfect unison.
Katherine swallowed hard.
- Very well – I must retire now. – She stood up and started walking towards her bedchamber. Jane was ready to followed but Katherine halted her with a gesture.~
- Thank you, but I need to be alone.
Jane nodded reluctantly and watched as the Queen locked the door behind her. Once in her rooms, Katherine dropped to her knees. She wasn't a religious person, not at all, but she felt the urge to pray to God and all the saints. Now that she had seen the faces of her accomplices in her uncle's crazy scheme, she could only pray for their lives. For if someone ever discovered what they were planning, it would be a slaughter like England had never seen.