Hope everyone had good holidays.
Enjoy!
We spent a great deal of time in the gardens; long enough for a few games of bowls to be set up-which would keep us busy until the archery butts could be placed. We all played at bowls but eventually left it to the younger ones. Kitty, Cat, Lizzy, little Henry, and a groom-Culpeper I think-continued playing while the rest of us turned to archery. Lady Dorothy was about to follow us but instead decided to play chaperone for the young ones. We barely acknowledged her as she stayed behind and we continued forward.
"Who will play against me, hmm? Which of you would lose to your King?" We laughed at that as the men all argued on who would go first. In the end Surrey was given the privilege and the rest of us placed our bets. George's wife was in charge of keeping up with the money as she appeared to be the least biased.
"Six Crowns on the King."
"Eight on Surrey."
"On Surrey? What's the matter Compton, don't like your money? Ten on the King."
"You're the one losing money Seymour, five on Surrey."
They kept on at that until we had all placed bets. Watching, gossiping, and cheering. When the King had hit the bullseye for the third consecutive time, Surrey threw his hands up and conceded defeat with a laugh.
"Oh come on Surrey, you can do better than that."
"Alright then Boleyn, you play the King."
George stepped up and grabbed Surrey's bow asking the King if he was ready or needed a break. Henry laughed jovially and told us to place our bets.
"Your Majesty, will you betting on your husband or your brother?" Edward asked.
"A good sister never bets against her brother."
"How many on Boleyn?"
"My Lord, a dutiful wife never bets against her husband. And a smart Queen never bets against her King." Anne winked at Henry, who smiled, and turned to me. "Sister?"
I shook my head. "Brother or King. King or brother. I'll keep my newly earned winnings to myself, if it please you."
"Probably the most money you've seen in awhile. You would do well not waste it," Thomas Seymour said with a smile. George's face became a scowl.
"Oh it is Lord Seymour and I thank you for having a care. And to be sure that my fortunes continue to soar, I'll be sure not to place my bets on you." By now a few more member of the court, including Norris, had joined us and they, along with my relatives and The King, all immediately began laughing-Knivert even spit out the wine he was drinking. Thomas and Edward Seymour managed to look amused for their King's sake but even I was aware enough to see the irritation in their eyes. George and the King went neck and neck until with the utmost subtlety, almost as if he'd been outplayed, George lost. Any stranger watching would've thought the King got lucky or had simply been better than George but neither were the truth. George was young and fit but he was no fool, and Henry never could stand losing.
Anne congratulated Henry with a chaste kiss on his lips and took his bow. "I want to play." Henry smiled as he reached for his goblet surrendering his bow to her.
The Seymour women looked shocked at this but for all their strife Henry and Anne had a great deal in common-not least of which was their love of competition. Anne thrilled at the chance to prove that a woman could be just as good as her male counterpart-that she herself was match for any man. I'd never really understood how anyone could doubt that, but it was always worth the view.
"Will you play against me brother?"
"Not quite done licking my wounds yet. I don't know if I could face two defeats in succession."
"I'll play Your Majesty. With your permission," Thomas Seymour offered.
Anne answered with a perfectly pleased nod. She was thrilled at the opportunity to play him.
George and I placed all our winnings on Anne while all the other men-except for Norris and Knivert-and women, placed their's on Thomas. After all there was no way a woman could out play a man. Even if that woman were a Queen. Henry said nothing as he reached into his pocket and placed his bet on his wife.
"A good King never bets against his Queen."
Seymour was good. He shot a few bulls-eyes and scored some good points. He was good. Anne was excellent. After she'd warmed up, where she aimed she hit, and she was aiming at the center for every single shot. Eventually the conversations around us quieted completely as everyone watched Anne play. Henry had been conversing with Mistress Jane and either Anne didn't know or she'd ignored it and had been working on her temper. She didn't say a word, didn't even look in his direction. She didn't need to.
"Our Queen is very cruel. Your Majesty, forgive me but it was very cruel of you to let Seymour think he had a chance," Compton called. Anne turned her head to wink and smile at him and let loose an arrow without looking. When it hit the center target we erupted in applause and Seymour gritted his teeth at the loss.
Henry walked over and kissed her on the mouth. "I knew you'd bring me good fortune." She blushed at the compliment and kissed him again.
"Now if only Your Majesty would agree to play against me."
"Not for all the fortune in the world," he laughed "I'll abdicate my throne before I let you beat my like that," he said nodding his head towards Thomas Seymour. We all laughed at that and Anne passed her bow to a groom who gave it to Compton so that he and Knivert could compete and we could begin betting again. Henry walked with Anne back to where we were standing and she spent the rest of her time outside amusing and entertaining him. He had very little time for Mistress Seymour after that.
I was in a good mood that night and ordered food, wine, and merriment to be had by all.
Once the dancing began, I decided to forgo with sitting on my throne to stand among my courtiers. My closest companions kept me company. Knivert, Compton, Surrey, Bryan, the Seymour brothers, Norris, and Brereton kept me company. It was good to have everyone around me. Despite Charles' absence, it felt like it did when I was a young King, carefree and bold. I did miss him. Damn him.
"I want to plan a hunt for later this week, I think. Not the entire court but not just us either."
"So in other words you want the ladies to join us?" Compton said boldly.
"Of course we should invite them as well, the Queen always did excel at the hunt."
"Archery too right Seymour?" Knivert teased.
"Her Majesty is truly skilled," he conceded.
"Bryan. You and Rochford plan it. I'll give you four days."
"Of course Your Majesty. It'll be splendid."
"I trust that it will be." As we spoke I noticed Lady Catherine Carey slowly yet assuredly approaching.
She curtsied low and gracefully.
"Your Majesty. My Lord Surrey. Sir Francis. My Lords."
"Rise Lady Catherine."
"I don't mean to intrude Your Majesty. I'll be only a moment," she turned to Surrey. "Cousin Surrey, I want to dance, may I?"
"Ask your uncle."
"He's not here. Aunt Anne-that is Her Majesty Queen Anne summoned him."
"Well go dance with your brother," his tone was dismissive. I had the sudden urge to intervene but thought better of it. Surrey could decide for himself...but he'd better reach the right decision.
"He's not here, he's off playing pretend."
"A bit old for that is he not?" Francis inquired.
"Well he's pretending to be Uncle George's shadow so apparently he isn't too old for it."
We chuckled at that. She had Anne's wit...and her eyes. A dangerous thing for a Howard girl.
"My lady you do your brother a disservice," Tom spoke up.
"The duty of every sister, younger or older. We are perfectly designed to torment our brothers," she beamed and turned back to Howard-she was persistent. "Cousin Surrey please all I want to do is dance. Preferably without one of my kin staring down my partner," she turned towards Bryan as she spoke.
"That was one time Cat."
"Once was enough. He won't even talk to me now."
"Good. Maybe next time he wishes to dance with a lady of the court he'll ask for permission first."
She sighed and rolled her eyes, "Cousin Francis, how am I ever going to capture a husband if you keep running off all of my suitors?"
"Any man who takes a bride when he doesn't have to is a fool," I said.
"Don't say that too loudly, Your Grace. If the young men of this court learn the truth I'll never trick one into marriage." We laughed at that. She was quite captivating, I'd have to spend more time with her-for my own amusement of course. But I couldn't help but wonder how life would've been if her mother and I had been married when we conceived her.
"You believe that? That you can trick a man into marriage, my lady?" Edward Seymour spoke up. He'd hardly acknowledged her since her arrival but she had everyone's full attention by now. Not to mention more than a few members of the court eyed her curiously, wondering what a silly girl like her would have to say to a King.
"Indeed. We women have been doing it for centuries. It's one of our many tricks."
"Care to elaborate?" Compton asked curiously.
"You would pry into a woman's secrets, My Lord?"
"Just the once."
"Hm. Well perhaps it wouldn't hurt to tell," she angled her head gracefully, pretending to think it over. Her hair, like her eyes, mimicked her aunt's and I watched it shine in the light. She'd have made the perfect Princess.
"Alright. It's quite simple to trick a man into marriage. He asks you for a dance and eventually he's infatuated. He courts you and all the while his mother and father are pressing upon him the importance of marriage. So he marries you, provides for you, gives you children, and all the while you sew, dance, and sing at your leisure. While he's out trying to devise a way to make sure you and the children have a full belly, trying to find money for jewels and ornaments to adorn his wife, you're in your chambers playing cards with a friend. Now you look at that situation and tell me a man came up with that idea. What's even better, once you raise a son to understand the importance of marriage, he'll soon be pressing upon his own son the urgent need for a wife, and in doing so secures marriages for young ladies of the court for generations to come. So by the end of it you all think it's your idea and we have considerably less effort to spend. So one might say this is a world run by women but we would never allow you all to know that."
We were quiet for a moment, just staring at her before we began to laugh. She was quite clever. I had no doubt that if she was in a different court she'd be the mistress of the King before long. Her tanned skin, like her mother, made her stand out from the rest of the young ladies at court; and there was something to be said about the way it contrasted with her raven hair. She could find herself a great husband on her looks alone, though her closeness to the Queen would no doubt bring a great many suitors courting. I'd ask her grandfather about marriage prospects before too long. She may have Carey's name but I'd be damned if I didn't play a part in the husband she took.
"Very well Cat, you want to trick a boy into marriage, go ahead. But we will be watching you." Bryan nodded his assent.
Her eyes lit up and she bowed to him, "Thank you Cousin Surrey. Now all I have to do is convince someone to dance with me, which shouldn't be too hard as long as neither of you stare."
"My Lady, if I may?" Tom spoke up. We all eyed him warily.
"Lord Surrey, I'd like to dance with Lady Catherine. That way you can be assured that nothing untoward happens, she'll get to dance, and the young gentlemen of the court will know she has permission to dance."
Surrey hesitated a moment before glancing at Bryan and then at me. Reluctantly, I gave him a slight nod. I wasn't sure why I had such a problem with her dancing with Jane's brother; she wasn't mine to dictate but I felt the need to protect her. The same way I would protect Mary or Elizabeth. However, I realized how irrational that was. Bold as Seymour was he wasn't foolish enough to be lewd or forward with the Queen's eldest niece.
"Very well then Tom, but be careful with her," his tone was pleasant enough, his face told another story.
"My lady," Tom reached for Cat's hand and led her to join the dance.
We spoke of inconsequential matters as they danced. Edward did his best to turn my attention from where my daughter was but I would not be moved. She was young and beautiful, and so graceful. Her dress was pale blue and made her dark features striking and I could see the men of the court, young and old, saw what I saw.
"Your Majesty?"
I heard Edward's voice but completely ignored it. I could only see my daughter dancing with Jane's brother. I could see that he spoke to her, leaning towards her ear when the steps permitted. What was he saying to her? Was she smiling or frowning? Smiling. Was it genuine or forced? Did she feel the need to court the good graces of the Seymours because they were in my favor? She would never have to worry about something like that. She could do nothing to lose favor with me and therefore had no reason to act, Seymour on the other hand...
As the dance concluded they both walked back over and bowed. Tom, carefree as ever complimented her dancing and stood next to his brother who looked like he would strike him were they not before me. Cat stood in between her relatives posed to say something when Culpeper walked up.
"Your Majesty," he bowed and turned his head towards Howard. "Lord Surrey, I wonder if I might have permission to dance with Lady Catherine?"
"Yes," she answered before Surrey had the chance. He nodded and she placed her hand in his and returned to dance. Culpeper was a good lad and too close to me to even consider a dalliance with what he believed to be my niece. Conversation soon returned to normal as she danced with my groom. Tom's face was placid but I could see the envy brooding in his eyes. He'd better be careful. I barely said anything to him as we spoke; preferring to keep the Queen's relatives in my good graces. As we spoke a flood of women entered the hall; the Queen had released her ladies to enjoy the festivities. The Seymour women smiled and walked over.
"Your Majesty."
"Rise ladies. Her Majesty released you?"
"Yes, Your Grace," Jane answered, eyes glued to the floor.
"Did she say whether or not she would attend?" I noticed Lady Mary walk in.
"She-," Jane was cut off as I turned to Brereton not waiting for her to finish.
"Go and fetch Lady Boleyn to me."
I ignored the conversations around me as I watched Mary walk around with Katherine Howard, who was clearly over awed by the splendor of court. That pleased me greatly. Seasoned courtiers no longer showed appreciation for the pains I went through to keep my court beautiful. I watched Mary slightly curtsy as Brereton approached her, she turned to Katherine and said something to the girl which caused her to grab Mary's hand in a panic. Mary smiled affectionately at the girl and patted her hand. Then they both turned, hand in hand, and followed Brereton back to me.
She smiled once she reached me and dropped to a deep bow, nearly to the floor.
"Rise ladies. How fare you at court Lady Mary? Happy to be back?"
"I believe I am Your Grace. Spend enough time at court and the country becomes a foreign place. Spend enough time in the country...and the court still feels like home."
I smiled, "Well said. And you Lady Howard. How do you like it here?"
She blushed and smiled, "I like it very much Your Majesty. The Queen treats me very well and I only hope I never displease her."
"The Queen is fortunate then to have such loyal ladies," she blushed again and curtsied a thank you.
"Lady Mary, walk with me." She took my arm and I drew her a little ways from the group.
"Is Anne coming?"
"I think not, Your Grace."
"Why? Is she ill?"
"She has not said so. She was just with-with Elizabeth."
"She was speaking to Mary, you mean."
She held her head down and looked up worriedly. "I did not mean to offend Your Majesty."
"You haven't. But tell me truly, you and I always spoke honestly with one another; not something I could say about most of my courtiers. What do you think of all this? Of Mary being at court?"
"I fear Your Majesty will be displeased at my answer."
"Why? I've asked you to be honest. I'll only be upset if you hide the truth from me."
She took a deep breath, "Then I think it is better if she is at court than at Hatfield. It is well she learns her new place in life but no matter what station she's in, she'll always be Your Majesty's daughter. I think she may learn her new position better if she is released from the Princess's household."
I frowned, "How would that help her learn anything? She would become more proud if she were not treated as a servant...I can see by your face you disagree-out with it."
"Forgive me Your Grace, but I've talked to the Lady Mary, there is no way for her to become any prouder than she already is. If she'd taken the oath Your Majesty would've been kind and generous to her. You would've given her chambers befitting the natural daughter of a King. She'd have jewels and dresses and been the pearl of the court. She would have a good husband and perhaps Your Majesty would even be kind enough to allow her to see her mother when she wanted. That's all my sister would do for her now. That's all she would have if Your Majesty released her from the Princess's service. Nothing more than that. She's spent more time as Princess of Wales than she has as Lady Mary. She is still a child in so many ways, she needs time to adjust. And who knows, Your Grace, she may never truly come to accept her new status in her heart-but I dare say that doesn't matter."
"It doesn't?"
"What matters is the example she sets to others. I know why you've been so hard on her. If she submits then who can boast her claim? If she labels herself illegitimate then who would dare launch a rebellion in her name? Overthrow the proper order of things and make her Queen above Elizabeth or any sons you will have? Who would dare? Who would stick to the old faith when she herself recognizes your supremacy in spiritual matters in England? If she were to cut herself off from the see of Rome, from the authority of the Bishop of Rome, others would follow her example."
I stared at her as I thought of what she said. She was right to an extent. Though I did care that Mary truly held in he heart that her mother and I were never truly married. That Anne was my Queen. It didn't mean I didn't love her, I did. I loved all of my children. Perhaps I needed to show them that. It was risky to show too much affection to Mary's children though. Claiming them as my own could help those wrong-minded individuals who persist that Anne is not my wife. Yet would I risk destroying even more bonds with a child of my body for her sake? She never asked me to acknowledge them, and she never would but I doubt that she would be happy about their elevation. I should've married Mary. As I came out of my thoughts I saw her glance out towards the dancers and then turn her full head towards them. Her face appeared concerned so I followed her eyes-Tom was talking with Cat, Katherine, and Culpeper. My groom led Lady Howard into the dance and Seymour led Cat. He was playing a dangerous game.
"If I'd asked you to marry me after Carey died, would you have?"
She whipped her head back immediately and looked at me with wide eyes. "Your Majesty I...III-I dare not answer that."
"I asked you not to keep the truth from me."
She sighed and slightly turned her head. "Your Majesty, there was a time when you were all I thought about. And then we-I had Cat and you couldn't be the only thing that occupied my mind. I was a mother now and my only thoughts were on her. But then she was sent away to Kent and you and her shared my thoughts. Then when Henry was born I thought you would be pleased with me-but...in the end, just as everyone else, you preferred Anne." She stopped for a moment, collecting her thoughts. "To answer your question, if you'd asked me to marry you, of course I'd have said yes. If you'd have asked me to be your official mistress, I'd have said yes. Without voicing it, you asked me to step aside for Anne, and what did I do? I silently said yes. I went to a husband who could barely stand me and who hated my children. He tried his best to get a child on me before he was called from this world, but God would not have it so."
"Why did he hate your children?"
Her face held confusion, "They weren't his."
"If the children who wear the last name Carey, are not Carey's children, then who's are they?" Her confusion cleared and she smiled. She could see my meaning. I wondered if she'd dare say aloud that the children were mine.
"They are mine Your Grace. That's all that should ever concern them."
"Well said." I was quiet a moment. "If Anne was with Elizabeth, why weren't you with little Anne?"
"That was why I arrived late. She's sleeping now, not much I can do but hold her."
"You miss her."
She smiled. "It was not long ago that I tended to every need she had. Now I feel as though I will become a stranger to her, that she will not know me."
"Would you sacrifice it? Would you let her be raised by other's if it meant she could be a companion to Elizabeth?"
"I dare not refuse that honor, Your Grace, for it is a great privilege."
She turned her head away from me again and I gently turned it back. "Your face suggests otherwise."
"Anne is probably the last child I'll have, and she's very young. She's the only one I was able to tend to myself. It will be hard giving her up."
"But we must look to her future, and that of her siblings." She nodded and gave a weak smile. "Does Cat share chambers with her Majesty's maids?"
"No Your Grace. She usually sleeps in Lady Mary's rooms."
"They get on?"
"They seem to adore one another though perhaps they are too much alike. Kitty has the harder time between the three of them. Cat and Kitty are jealous of one another I think."
"Kitty? You mean Lady Howard." She nodded. "And if I were to give her chambers of her own?"
"Then people may wonder what she's done to deserve such privilege. She's new to court and is the Queen's niece but if you give her chambers, the it would only be appropriate to give Henry his own as well. And people will wonder if you don't intend to make her your mistress."
I flinched at that. She was right, of course. I'd wait to lavish attention on her. I couldn't claim her as my daughter and there was no way I'd have people think she'd be my mistress-or anyone's mistress for that matter.
"Very well. I'll wait until she's a bit older. Also, I'll send them each a tutor to help with their lessons. I'll think about what you've said regarding the Lady Mary. Now, would you like to dance?"
"If it please Your Grace."
"It does Madam."
We'd stayed at the feast until the King retired. He and I had danced twice before he went back to his circle of companions. I had a steady stream of partners after that. Most noticeably, Knivert. However, when we were about to dance a fourth time Henry came over and asked for my hand again. If I didn't know him any better I'd have said he was jealous, but then I knew better. After that he danced with Jane once and perhaps would have again if her presumptuous brother had not been approaching our daughter again. Before I could even react Henry had swiftly and unceremoniously walked away from Jane and asked Cat to dance. Seymour danced with Jane to cover both of their embarrassment and then neither of them danced again.
I walked towards Anne's chambers with Francis, Surrey, and Cat trailing behind me. Surrey and Cat were still arguing.
"I told him he could have one dance. Not your bloody hand in marriage."
"For the hundredth time, it's not my fault! I didn't want to dance with him."
"Yet you did."
"What would you have had me do?"
"Go to your chambers."
Cat scoffed and walked ahead of him.
"Walking fast isn't going to get you out of this."
"Out of what? I'm not in anything."
"Stay away from Seymour."
"Ugh. You are clearly not listening."
"Give it a rest, we're almost to Anne's chambers. The whole palace doesn't have to know you're arguing," Bryan finally ended the argument.
As we entered Anne's chambers she and George were sitting at a table talking, drinking, and playing cards. They turned at our approach and looked at us expectantly. Surrey poured himself some wine and stared out of a window into the darkness, Francis threw himself down on a couch and crossed a leg over the other knee, Cat stood where she was and I took a chair.
"Well?"
"Well for starters, the King has decided he wants a hunt. Boleyn, you and I are to arrange it. We've four days to prepare. It's to be his Majesty's closest companions, a few notable members of court, and plenty of ladies."
"Did the King order that last bit or is that you?" George asked amused.
"Well he did ask for ladies to be invited to the hunt."
"No doubt to show off Mistress Seymour," Anne said matter-of-factly.
"Maybe, but what he said was that you always excelled at the hunt. Your day in the light's not passed cousin. Don't sulk like it is."
Anne looked at him thoughtfully before asking what else happened and Surrey took that at his moment to go on another rant about Thomas Seymour dancing with Cat.
"Why do you keep acting as if I had a choice in the matter. I've never even spoken to Thomas Seymour before tonight. What reason have I to seek out his company? Besides that, you gave him permission to dance with me for neither of us had a choice. I, just like you and everyone else standing there, except for Thomas Seymour, saw his Majesty nod his approval. After that, if I'd refused, one or all of us may have found ourselves out of his Majesty's good graces all because I wouldn't dance with Jane Seymour's brother. A necessary sacrifice is it not?"
"And the second dance?"
She hesitated. "Same as the first."
"Cat," I warned. She looked at me and I could see her reluctance. "The full truth."
"Speak with Kitty. She came over with him and asked Culpeper if he intended to spend the entire night dancing with me. Then Seymour suggested ,to insure no one thought anything improper was going on between the King's niece and groom, he would dance with me and Kitty could dance with Culpeper. He's just a groom but even he isn't daft enough to question or contradict a Seymour; especially not after hinting at impropriety against the King's niece. Everyone's still waiting to see how far the Seymour's might go so in the meantime no one dare contradict them."
"Maybe someone needs to talk to Kitty about who she's supposed to be siding with," Bryan suggested.
"I don't understand why she'd help a Seymour. Perhaps she didn't have a choice."
"Aunt Anne she had every choice. She'd rather spite me than- the point is she had a choice. Seymour didn't really approach her, when she saw he was heading in our direction, she headed there too. If she just wanted to help she could've lied and said you sent for me. How was he going to contradict that?"
Anne thought it about it for a moment and nodded. "I'll have mother talk to her, that should be a good thumping."
"May I speak honestly?"
"Of course Cat."
"We would be wise to regard this as an opportunity. Thomas Seymour is bold-"
"Too bold some might say," Surrey interjected.
"Precisely. He's bold in the way that leads to treason, not in the way that leads to glory. He may truly be desirous of me, or he may simply want to ruin my reputation. He could be nephew to the King by marriage if he plays his cards right. He could be in son-in-law to the King should his Majesty come to acknowledge us. Which would in effect make him brother-in-law to the future King of England."
"I doubt Seymour's thought that far niece," George said.
"I do too. He was simply doing what he does best but Edward will be expecting an explanation. And Thomas Seymour is cunning enough. He can come up with some logic at a moment's notice. Edward saw the King nod his approval for me to dance with him but he also saw the King storm away from Jane to stop him dancing with me. Edward will not be pleased about that."
"What was that bit about ruining your reputation?" Francis looked concerned.
"Well the other alternative, assuming the King won't give his permission to marry, or finding the risk unworthy of the reward, would simply be to bed me. Imagine the Seymour victory if I were to walk around court full bellied before I've even had an offer of betrothal. If I say the child is his he can simply say I'm slandering him and that while he's admired me from a distance, while he did write poems to my beauty, grace, and virtue, his conscience simply can't bring him to marry a woman who is carrying another man's child. It would be believable that as a Howard I would try to drag a Seymour down with me. If it was believed that the child was his it would be disastrous for them all. A grown man such as Seymour tricking a naive, country girl like me into improper intimacies would be scandalous. Shame on him for tricking me that way. If it wasn't believed then I'd be Queen's whore of a niece following in the footsteps of her mother and aunt. I know that's harsh but that's what they'll say."
Anne spoke up, "Your words are harsh but you are not wrong Cat. That is what they'll say and then some. You seem to have a pretty good head for this. I want you to do something for me."
"Anything."
She addressed everyone, "I've spoken only with George and Mary about this but we're going to push Kitty forward to capture Richmond."
"To what purpose? He's not going to marry her," Francis said.
"No. I don't intend that. Kitty...Kitty is kind enough and very beautiful, but she'll not make a very good Duchess and Richmond's bride has to be so much more than a mere Duchess. She has to be a Princess for he may one day be King. I plan to pick his bride, but it will not be Kitty."
"You want her to be his mistress? Kind of a waste of a girl," Bryan mused.
"Kitty is no better than the rest of us, she's just another Howard girl. There's plenty more to take her place if there's a need."
"Catherine!"
"She's not wrong Mary. Don't blame the girl for her honesty," George defended. "Lambeth is full of possibility."
I hated when they spoke about us like that. Anne used to say that to me when I was trying to capture the King. There were always more Howard girls. We grew like weeds. Beautiful, desirous weeds. Groomed to look and behave like a flower but in the end we'd all be plucked from the garden and discarded for one day they would see us for what we were.
"When Richmond spent all that time in my chambers I told him that if I went sonless I'd convince Henry to give him the throne. I cannot say to you whether or not I will but it is a possibility and it won't hurt to court his good graces. I'll pick the woman he marries in coming years but for now I'm only concerned with cementing his ties with us. I cannot give him Kitty as a wife but I can give him to her as a lover. He doesn't have to bed her, he just has to want to see her happy. And what will make Kitty happy is seeing him bonded to her family."
"Very clever," Francis praised.
"However, despite what was supposed to be a decent upbringing, Kitty lacks the refinement to purposefully catch a man's attention. And despite Cat's modest background she catches men as easily as breathing."
"You want me to help her."
"I do. Whatever the animosity between the two of you, I need you to put it aside for now. I know you two don't get along- how could you? Two young Howard girls at court? That hasn't happened since your mother and I and we could barely tolerate each other at the best of times and had to be pulled apart by George at the worst of times."
George chuckled at that.
"But your family needs you. I know you wonder when it'll be your time to be the center of attention; don't think we've forgotten you. But for now I need you to take a step back and let Kitty go forward. I have plans for you but it will be a while yet before they are realized. So for now your duty will be to groom and guide Kitty. Pick her clothes from the hood on her head to the shift she wears under her gowns. You'll show her how to walk, how to trap a man in conversation, and how to make a man fall in love with her, but first, teach her to bow. Teach her how to seduce a man. We need Richmond. Therefore we need Kitty so we need you. Help us Cat."
"Your Majesty need only ask me but..."
"But...," George prodded.
"I can do my best to put aside my differences for the sake of the family. I only worry that she won't. I can't instruct her if she won't listen to me."
"These are trivial matters. You'll figure it out," Surrey said. Clearly not concerned with what he believed to be Cat's personal problems.
"You misunderstand. If I cannot teach her and she makes a mistake it'll be me who gets the blame. I won't be lost for her foolishness."
"Ruthless," Francis laughed.
"She'll be talked to Cat, don't worry. I'll have mother impress upon her the importance of doing as she's bid. If she doesn't want to be replaced by another Howard girl she'll do her duty. And for the moment her duty is whatever you say it is."
"Yes, Your Grace."
"Cat who is Culpeper?" Surrey questioned. She shrugged delicately and shook her head.
"I don't know. Just one of the King's grooms. He played at bowls with us earlier."
"And now he's asking for dances. Don't encourage him."
"I don't encourage anyone. No one has told me of a betrothal or of making a man fall in love with me so I keep them all at a safe distance."
"Thomas Culpeper. He's distantly related to us. Kitty's mother was a Culpeper but the King's groom is barely related to us, though ,the way his family boasts their name you'd never figure that out. Be careful around him in general Cat. He's Cromwell's man as well as the King's." George cautioned.
"I had no knowledge of that," Anne said affronted that she'd been excluded from that bit of information.
"He's new to court and the two of you never have any interaction. His Majesty brings Brereton around you and never Culpeper what reason have I to tell you that?"
She rolled her eyes and Cat looked like she was thinking something. "What child?" I asked her.
"Nothing. It'll sound like prattling gossip, I'll keep it to myself."
"But we do so love prattling gossip," George encouraged.
"It's just-well earlier in bowls Kitty was very animated with Culpeper. He seemed to pay her sufficient enough attention-for her anyway- and when he wasn't looking she stared and when he was looking she blushed. And then earlier with Thomas Seymour-I'm wondering if she didn't come over for the same reason he did."
"That's a bit of a problem," Anne said looking to George.
"That's good Cat, very good," George said while looking at Anne. I could tell he and Anne were having a silent conversation. The others may not be able to tell what they were thinking but I could understand as easily if they were talking aloud. Kitty's heart would have to be broken or at least thwarted. She would have nothing to gain in marrying a Culpeper even after Richmond was finished with her. She was never going to be Mrs. Thomas Culpeper.
Francis stood up and poured himself a drink. "So Mary, are you ever going to tell us what you and the King were whispering about?"
"You spoke privately with the King?" Anne said. Her face now blank.
"Indeed. He drew her away from the group and at some point turned her face back towards him. That little gesture of intimacy caused a little stir among the Seymours," he answered for me.
"He wanted to know if you were coming," my answer sounded pathetic even to my own ears.
"That all? You should've told us. We thought you might actually be talking about something important," Francis said sarcastically. "Funny enough he asked Jane Seymour the same question and in the middle of her answer he turned and sent Brereton to fetch you. It was quite rude of His Majesty. Yet he spent a great deal of time waiting on you to answer that one question?"
"Okay. So perhaps we spoke about more than that."
"Tell, Mary. You remember how this goes," George said with raised eyebrows.
I bit my lip and then went down the conversation as best I could remember it.
Surrey, Bryan, and Cat all immediately began spouting questions.
"Why can't I have my own chambers?"
"You told him to relieve the Lady Mary of her duties?"
"Why didn't you just say they were his children?"
They went on arguing-making points I couldn't hear. Eventually George intervened. "Alright. Enough. Mary did what was best. Cat the reason your mother didn't accept the chambers is for the same reason she never asked for anything in the old times. Henry is petitioned and lied to one hundred times a day, he knows how to smell out someone who just wants gifts. Mary asked for nothing and she got much for this family. It's wise that she does so this time around as well. Besides as you are supposedly the King's niece through marriage it can be misconstrued that you are to be the King's mistress. You danced with him tonight, that's usually how it begins. As the two of you are seen to share no blood there would be nothing inappropriate except for your closeness to his Queen. It is wise for us that Lady Mary no longer serve the Princess as Anne will no doubt get the blame for that. Mary cannot just come out and say Cat and little Henry are the King's. He knows that she knows that. He has to claim them. Imagine the perils of children who's mother keeps insisting they are children of the King when he himself won't even claim them. One of them a boy, old enough to sit through a coronation, young enough for a regency... the country would tear itself apart."
The room was quiet after that. "Guess you're right Boleyn. But this is a step in the right direction. The King is showing interest in Mary and her children already. Shouldn't be long now."
I turned to Francis, "It will be long. This isn't a quick game of remembering what the old times were like. I have to make him love me again. And I won't get there by bedding him the moment he asks me to. I can't go at this the way Anne did nor the way Jane is going. There has to be something different about me. There already is I just have to play it to my advantage."
"And what's that?"
"I have the King's son. I have to show him that; that Henry-and Cat-is his. I'll have to bring out the color of his hair, his personality, the way he dresses, his desire to be good in all things, his skill at everything. He has to be Henry's boy through and through. Yet I can't teach him to ride or hunt or shoot so I'll need you all for that. Teach him to be his father's son."
Anne stood up. "It's late and I'm weary. I think I'll go to bed. Good night."
Cat followed her Aunt into her chambers to help her undress and I looked to George.
"You knew she'd take this hard. She knew it'd have to happen. No use sulking about it now. She just needs some rest she'll be fine. But we should go to bed. We've had a good start tonight but we still have a long way to go."
"I'll stay with Anne tonight. You all go. Goodnight."
After they walked out I walked to Anne's chambers and heard her talking to Cat.
"Say it one more time, niece. One more and then I'll go to bed."
"You can endure this. You waited years to be his wife and Queen. You can endure this trying time as well. And it'll all be worth it in the end when you give him a son."
"God help me if I can't," she whispered.
Hope you enjoyed. Don't hesitate to let me know what you thought.
(So totally had to reupload this-it'd been so long I forgot a major detail-Suffolk isn't at court. Luckily he didn't say much so it was an easy fix)