Princess Katherine of Aragon (Boleyn)- 47 December 16th 1485
Prince Thomas Boleyn, Duke of Wiltshire-55 March 12th 1477
Isabella Boleyn- 15 September 7th 1517
Thomas Boleyn, Duke of Pembroke- 15 September 7th 1517
Cordelia Tudor-14 year May 2nd 1518
William Boleyn, Duke of Buckingham- 13 June 13th 1519
Anthony Boleyn, Duke of Suffolk- 13 June 13th 1519
Rose Boleyn- 12 March 2 1520
Catalina Boleyn- 11 August 29th 1520
George Boleyn, Duke of Rochford- 19 April 17th 1513
Jane Boleyn- 2 March 28th 1530
Princess Mary Tudor-16 February 18th 1516
Princess Cecily Tudor- 10 July 25th 1521
Princess Elizabeth Tudor- 15 September 7th 1517
Princess Margaret Tudor- 8 years August 14th 1523
Prince Edward Tudor of Wales- 13 February 14th 1519
Prince James Tudor of York- 9 years October 1st 1522
King Henry VIII-40 June 28th 1491
Queen Kathryn Parr- 39 August 30th 1492
Lady Ursula Middleton- 37 February 2 1495
Lady Amy Hobbs- 12 November 15th 1518
Lady Amelia Sutton, 10, May 18th 1523
Lady Mary Howard, 12, April 24th 1519
Gregory Cromwell Earl of Oxford- 16 October 19th 1514
Prince Henry of France- 19 July 10th 1513
Prince Phillip of Spain- 20 May 2 1512
Princess Joan of Austria- 12 June 24 1519
Charles de Bourn, Duke of Beaucourt- 12 July 21 1520
William Cavendish, Duke of Devonshire- 17 January 9th 1514
Henry Stanley, soon-to-be Earl of Derby- 16 September 1st 1516
August 29th 1532
"Happy birthday sweetheart" I whispered waking Catalina up, she yawned and reached up holding around my neck and kissing my neck.
"Morning mama" she was the last one to wake up this morning and I let her sleep in a little later because it was her birthday.
"Morning sweetheart, you need to get up now" she nodded and I helped her out of bed and into her blue silky dress, her favorite one.
"Papa, is my dress pretty?" She asked and he smiled.
"Yes, ma fille douce" he said and she brightened kissing his cheek.
My sweet girl
"Merci papa" he caressed her cheek and she sat down at her seat, I shall admit Catalina did not learn as fast as the others, but she was still so sweet, and was seemed to be good at French.
"Catalina, Margaret wants you to play with her in the gardens today, remember?" Isabella told her and she nodded.
"I remembered, but I do not know if I want too anymore" she sighed.
"If you promised someone something you will have to go through with it, do not break your plans up at the last minute like that, Margaret has been looking forward to playing with you today" Thomas told her seriously and she nodded.
"Yes papa" she whispered looking back down at her breakfast.
"Enough talk, eat your breakfast" I said in a severe voice and they all nodded.
"Mama, papa, can I go hunting today?" Tom asked playing with his breakfast.
"Oh yes can we!" William and Anthony added in, I looked to Thomas who seemed to think it over.
"It sounds like a plan, would any of you like to go?" He asked the other children already knowing that I would not go, I never did.
"I would!" Isabella said almost jumping out of her seat happily.
"I want to as well!" Cordelia giggled in excitement.
"I would rather stay with mama" Rose replied wrinkling her nose.
"I have never gone hunting" Catalina said curiously and Thomas smiled.
"Would you like to come with us then? You can ride with me on my horse so I can teach you" she nodded bouncing in excitement.
"Alright, go get ready then" I sighed giving up hope that they would ever finish their breakfast, they all scattered but Rose who looked up at me.
"What are we going to do today?" She asked.
"I do not know yet sweetheart" George walked in looking around till he found me.
"Mama, can you help me with something?" He asked walking over to the table looking scatterbrained.
"What is it?" I have not really spoken with him since he told me that he was leaving to France.
"I need to check on Rochford Hall and see if everything is ready but I cannot leave Court, can you please go for me, I already asked papa and he said to ask you" Rose stood up and came over to my chair.
"I shall" he hugged me tightly.
"Thank you mama!" I had my bags packed along with Rose's, she was excited to me traveling with me and was holding my hand tightly as I helped her up into the carriage. I hated leaving on Catalina's birthday though, it made me feel very uncomfortable, but I spoke with Thomas before I left and he assured me everything would be alright and she would not be upset.
No matter what I was going to be back in time for Isabella and Tom's birthday.
September 5th 1532
Isabella Boleyn
"Cristo! Por favor, cállate!" I snapped at Elizabeth as she kept hissing her nonsense at me.
Christ! Please just shut up!
"You do not have the right! I am a Princess of England! You are no one!" She snapped at me her face was red with rage.
"BOTH OF YOU SHUT UP!" Tom roared in anger finally snapping, we both quieted and I looked at him in shock, "you both are selfish! Neither of you are fit to take Mary's place, and as the eldest male child I am the one who it should go to, so both of you just shut up and sit down" Tom snapped and we quickly did as he said.
"Finally" Edward sighed leaning back in his chair, "I thought you two would never shut up" Elizabeth shot him a venomous look.
Catalina Boleyn
Everyone was arguing again and I snuck off to papa's office, "papa?" I questioned, he had people around him looking down at papers.
"Catalina" papa said in surprise and she rounded the desk coming over to me, "papa is trying to work right now, go back to your siblings" he dismissed me and went back to the desk.
I stomped my foot in anger and screamed in frustration and he looked up surprised as did everyone else in the room "you never pay attention to me anymore!" I burst into tears and ran back to my room and slammed the door shut. It was not fair, he even told mama I was alright with her leaving on my birthday, I hated George for asking mama to go to Rochford Hall.
"Catalina? Please open this door or we shall break it down!" Willy and Tony demanded and I wiped my tears away.
"Leave me alone!" I sobbed, it took a few minutes but they picked the lock.
"I talked him out of breaking the door" Tony said sheepishly.
"Leave me alone, both of you!" I snapped to them and they both ran forward jumping up on my bed and landing next to me.
"Ugh, God Catalina why are you crying now?" Willy demanded in anger.
"Mama and papa do not spend time with me anymore! I wanted to spend time with mama on my birthday and when I came back she was gone because papa told her it was okay to leave. It was my birthday and she left! And she left with Rose! She spent my birthday with Rose!" I burst into sobs again.
"I am sure she believed papa when he said it was alright for her to go, do not be mad and please stop crying" Tony said rubbing my back soothingly.
"Oh shut up Anthony, grow up Catalina the world does not revolve around you, just because you are the youngest and mama babied you more does not mean she has to be with you every minute of your life" Willy sneered.
"William! Jesus she just wants to spend more time with our parents, shut up and get out!" Tony snapped back to him hugging me as I sobbed harder.
"Fine" he snapped and I leaned into his hug.
"I am sorry, Willy has always been a bit rude, do not cry Catty I am sure mama misses you as well, and papa is really important and has a lot of work, but you know he loves you" I sniffled snuggling my face into his shoulder.
"I think he is mad at the way I acted in his office with all the other men around" I whispered and he was silent for a moment.
"You will probably be punished, you know it was wrong to do that?" I nodded and the door opened revealing papa.
"Anthony, go back to your room" he said sternly, Anthony obeyed and left quietly, I pulled my knees up and crossed my legs glaring down at the bed. "Catalina Boleyn look at me this instant!" He snapped and I waited a second or two before looking up at him, "what you did was uncalled for, now you will apologize to everyone tomorrow" he snapped then turned to leave.
"No I will not!" He stopped and slowly turned to face me.
"What did you say?" He demanded and I gathered my courage.
"I am not going to apologize because you ruined my birthday!" I sobbed throwing myself on my pillows.
"Catalina, I do not have time for this" he shook his head and opened the door.
"Then you should have killed me when I was in mama's stomach like you wanted too!" He froze, it did not even look like he was breathing, but then he slowly turned his face like stone.
"You will not talk to your father that way" he slammed the door shut seeing some of the maids peering in curiously, I jumped at the loud bang.
"You hated me to begin with! You always favor the others over me because I hurt mama when I was born! I was nothing more then a mistake to you!" He did not say anything for a while, just stared at me with a hard look in his eyes.
"I have always done my best to make you happy, I do not know where you get that I love your other siblings over you, your mother and I have always babied you!" He finally snapped to me and I rolled my eyes.
"Mama is the one who babied me and always paid attention to me and you always yelled at her for it, your sending me to France because you hate me. You can say anything else you like but I know it is true! Rose it older then me! She should have been the one who is to go, but no, you hate me so much when you saw a chance to get rid of me you took it. I hate you!" I sobbed to him my voice dripping with malice and venom, silence filled the chamber.
He stalked forward and slapped me across the face, I had never been hit before and it stung, I did not cry out though I wanted to "you will never speak to me in that manner again, if it pleases you to think I hate you then I shall not get in your way, stay in your chambers for the rest of the week!" He left slamming the door shut and I held my face in pain sobbing softly.
Katherine Boleyn, Princess of Spain, Duchess of Wiltshire
Rose and I just arrived back to the Palace and I let her go to her brothers and sisters as I set out to find Thomas, he was walking from the girls room his face showing nothing but anger as he pushed passed me. "Thomas?" I questioned, but he ignored me, I looked down the hall and quickly went to my daughters room "Catalina?" I said in surprise, I had thought it was Isabella who had gotten him as angry as he was.
"Get out" she sobbed and I quickly went over to the bed where she held her cheek tightly.
"What happened? Catalina tell me" I pulled her hand from her face and gasped seeing a bright red hand print on her cheek, it turned my stomach, "who did this?" I whispered.
"Papa" I closed my eyes and pulled her close to me.
"What happened?" I demanded from her.
"We fought and he hit me" she whimpered, I kissed her head and got up.
"I will be back" I quickly went to his office where he was sitting alone drinking a glass of wine "you hit my daughter" I said with a leveled voice and he looked up placing his glass down.
"She is convinced I hate her, she told me I should have killed her when she was in your stomach like I wanted to, she went on for at least 5 minutes" he downed the whole glass of wine and I winced.
"Please do not drink" slowly I walked forward and sat down in his lap resting my head on his shoulder as he leaned back.
"They were a lot easier to deal with when they were little and they looked up to us like we could do no wrong" he whispered wrapped his arms around my waist.
"When is George leaving?" I asked softly and he pressed his lips to my forehead.
"The 10th he wants to be here at least for Isabella, Tom and Elizabeth's birthday" he sighed tightening his hold on me for a only moment.
"She does not mean it Thomas, she is just upset right now, we all say things we do not mean when we are upset" I kissed him and he shook his head.
"No, I think she does though, you should have seen the look in her eyes" he was really upset at what happened and I hugged around his neck "it was not an easy decision to make" he said suddenly and I looked up.
"What?" I asked confused about what he was talking about.
"When I promised her to Charles de Bourn, it was not easy, but I told myself that she would be excited when she grew older, she would be like a Princess there just without the title. I thought she would love being with Mary, I thought she would like being there" his voice trailed off and he buried his face into my shoulder "I was wrong and now she hates me, it seems no matter what I do it is always wrong."
"Please do not speak like that, you are not always wrong" I whimpered feeling horrible, I could feel his tears on my shoulder and squeezed my eyes shut "Thomas please, she loves you and I am sure she will love France" I whimpered, I hated it when he cried.
"Go to supper with the children, I know they have missed you" I shook my head.
"I want to stay with you, Isabella and Tom can handle it" I closed my eyes holding him tighter, I felt like this was somewhat my fault, I never wanted her to go, so naturally she wanted to stay for me.
Isabella Boleyn
When I heard mama was back I was excited, we all were, but our excitement ended when he heard papa crying, he never cried. Anger filled me, I have tried to keep my temper from flaring since Dover, but I could do nothing to tame it now.
I stormed down the hallway before anyone could catch me and threw the door open to our chambers "Isabella! Stop!" Cordelia cried as I grabbed Catalina's hair and pulled. She screamed and clawed my hands, I slapped and hit her as hard as I could and she did the same.
"Cordelia make them stop!" Rose cried fearfully as both Catalina and I fell off the bed with a crash, Tom ran in and tried to break us up but I kicked him away.
"Get mama and papa!" He snapped at Rose and she quickly raced from the room in tears.
"I HATE YOU!" I screamed bringing my knee up into my stomach, she coughed and balled her fist and punched me in chest, I hissed in pain pulling away slightly.
I dragged my nails down her neck and she screeched digging her nails into my neck and squeezed so I could not breath. We were both pulled away suddenly, Catalina by George and me by papa.
"BOTH OF YOU STOP THIS AT ONCE!" He roared and we calmed just a little bit.
"¡Dios mío!" Mama gasped in disbelief seeing us.
"Mama" Cordelia whispered as tears slowly slipped down her cheeks.
"I did nothing! She attacked me!" Catalina cried in anger.
"BECAUSE I HATE YOU! YOU RUIN EVERYTHING!" I screamed, mama let out a small sob, she hated it when we fought like this.
"Cordelia, take your mother sister and brothers back to my chambers" she nodded and led them all away save Tom and George. "Explain yourselves" papa snapped and he loosened his hold on me as George did the same with Catalina.
"We heard you and mama, we did not mean to listen to you two, but we came to see mama" I started off and looked up glaring at Catalina, "I agree with her on one this, you should have gotten rid of her" I hissed and he grabbed my arm roughly.
"Shut up Isabella!" Catalina said unaware of how much she had hurt papa.
"She does not even care! Mama has made her such a spoilt brat that she only cares for herself, she does not care what effects her words have on anyone!" I cried in rage.
"Will both of you stop it? You have upset mama" Tom snapped in anger and I softened a bit looking at the spot she once stood.
"I do not know what has gotten into the both of you, but it will stop right now, your mother is already overwhelmed with sending Mary away and George leaving, she does not need this, you both will learn to get along because after your birthday Isabella you both will be sent to Dover until I see improvement" no one said anything.
"I do not want to go with her!" Catalina cried tears pooling in her eyes.
"Shut up you spoilt little brat" I snapped but was silenced by the look papa gave me.
Cordelia Tudor
"Are you alright?" William asked mama who was sitting in her chair by the window.
"I am fine William, I just do not feel so good right now" She sighed and Anthony quickly walked over.
"Do you need a doctor?" He asked worriedly.
"I do not need a doctor right now, but I thank you for your concern" she smiled at them, but she did look really pale.
"Mama please let me get a doctor, you look really pale" I whispered softly, but she did not pay attention to me, "Rose get-"
"Cordelia Tudor I do not need a doctor and that is final" she snapped and everyone was quiet, she was being stubborn, "I just need some rest, I just got back from traveling and I am just tired, eat without me" she stood up and went into the dressing chamber.
"Go eat, I will stay with her" I told Rose, William and Anthony, they all nodded and left and a few minutes later mama came out in her chemise.
"I thought I sent you to supper" she sighed when she saw me.
"I was not hungry" I replied and she shook her head and sneezed ending with a cough, I took a deep shaky breath, "your head is warm, please mama let me get the doctor" I begged feeling her forehead.
"Fine, fine, just…go get the doctor" she finally relented and I sent one of the maids who quickly returned with Doctor Butts.
"Milady" he said bowing to mama who was laying in bed, he felt her head and took down all of her symptoms in a little black book before coming to a conclusion. "I believe you have caught a cold, I suggest bedrest and trying to relax, too much stress will worsen your condition" she nodded and the maid paid him as he left.
"See, you are sick" I sighed laying down next to her, she wrapped her arms around me hugging me close to her.
"I love you sweetheart" she whispered after kissing my head.
"I love you too mama" I cuddled into her and noticed that she had started to cry.
"Mary is gone and George and Jane are leaving and now your sisters are fighting, these last couple months have been so stressful and just when I think I can relax…something just has to happen" she sobbed and I hugged her tightly.
"It will be alright, Isabella and Catalina always fight…and George is just leaving to be with Mary, so she will not be alone" I whimpered softly.
"That does not make it hurt any less….I just need to rest" my throat felt tight and it hurt.
"I will go tell papa your sick, maybe he could find something to help you get better" she laughed softly.
"I do not think anything will make me feel better at this point sweetheart, I love you Cordelia, just go eat with your siblings" I kissed her goodnight and got up going back to the room.
"Papa" I said getting his attention, he was still talking with Isabella and Catalina.
"Yes Cordelia?" He sighed obviously annoyed.
"Mama is really sick, and she is crying a lot" I whimpered and his eyes widened in alarm.
"George make sure Isabella and Catalina sleep in different chambers" he nodded and papa quickly left.
Thomas Boleyn, Prince of Spain, Duke of Wiltshire
Katherine was running a fever and had finally fallen asleep in my arms, apparently her and Rose got caught in a storm on their way here. She had cried herself to sleep and I held her sleeping form close to me petting her cheek.
We were nowhere near as young as we once were, her getting sick could turn out life threatening. "Thomas" She whimpered stirring awake and I shook my head waking myself up.
"Yes Ma Cherie?" She snuggled closer.
"Your sending the girls to Dover, are you not?" She sighed with her eyes closed.
"Yes I am, how did you know?" I asked quietly, I did not wanted her to go back to sleep and rest.
"You always send them to Dover when they get in trouble" she said with a little laughed and I smiled and kissed the top of her head.
"It keeps them out of trouble for a little while" I joked and she smiled.
"Only for a little while" she sighed mournfully.
"I have decided to send them all to Dover, you need to relax a bit, after Isabella and Tom's birthday of course" she nodded burying her face in my chest and going back to sleep.
September 7th 1532
Princess Mary of France
I have been married for 3 months now, Henry has been very kind and patient with me, there were still nights where I cried myself to sleep missing my family so much. But now something had changed.
"You Highness, I believe you to be two months with child" the doctor said with a bright smile, I was half excited and yet, half terrified.
"I thank you doctor, but ask that you tell no one, I wish to be the one to tell the good news" he nodded and a maid paid him. Today was also my younger siblings 15th birthday Henry and I had sent them gifts.
"Wife, are you missing your family?" He asked me coming to visit me an hour after the doctor had left, I was standing at the balcony looking down on the river.
"I miss them very much, but it is not what ails me" Lady Amy stood quietly in the background a huge smile on her face.
"Then what is it? Are you sick?" He asked in concern.
"I am, but it is to be expected" he was thoroughly confused and not picking up on any of my hints "I am two months pregnant" it took him a few minutes to understand what I was saying.
"Your what?" He said a bit breathless.
"I am two months with child" he lifted me up and twirled me causing my stomach to turn a bit and he quickly put me down kissing me.
"We have to tell my parents! And you must write yours!" I laughed at his reaction.
"I found out an hour ago, I have already written my mother" he took my hand and led me out of our chambers, Lady Amy followed quickly behind us.
"Son, what makes you so happy this morning?" Queen Claude asked as we burst into their chambers unannounced.
"Mary is pregnant" he panted and King Francis looked up in surprie.
"You are with child?" I nodded.
"I am two months along the doctor said" he smiled and hugged his son while Queen Claude hugged me.
"I am very happy for you Marie, having your first child is very exciting" she said, everyone called me Marie now, save Amy and Henry.
"Thank you, Your Majesty" as happy as I was, I still wanted my mama here, I wanted her to hold me and tell me how happy she was for me. But I knew she could not.
Henry Tudor, King of England
Elizabeth was now 15 years old, as was Isabella and Tom Boleyn, katherine has been ill these last few weeks and stayed confined to her chambers, tomorrow morning she and Lord Wiltshire were leaving for Hever and their children for Dover.
"Papa is mama ever going to have another baby?" Margaret asked me at the banquet sitting in my lap, I looked down to her then over to Kathryn, she had lost a great deal of blood with Margaret and could no longer have children.
"No, we decided that having you and James were enough" I sighed and she smiled.
"Good, because I like being the youngest" she smiled brightly and James looked up.
"Well I am the youngest boy and Duke of York, so I am better" she pouted and looked up at me.
"Is he papa?" She asked with tears filling her eyes.
"No, your mother and I love you both the same" she wrapped her arms around my neck and stuck her tongue out at James.
"Papa" Elizabeth said, she has been very quiet all evening and I knew she probably wanted to ask me something about her mother.
"Yes?" I questioned.
"Can I ask you something?" Her voice was tiny and nervous glancing at Kathryn.
"Anything" I promised and she swallowed hard.
"Did you love my mother?" It must have been something she wanted to ask for a very long time because she relaxed after saying it.
"I did very much, and I know she loved you as well, you were the light in her world and I know she would have never traded you for any boy" her eyes brightened. "Losing your mother was hard and I know you do not have that many memories, but I know your grandfather has much of her belongings at Hever" she nodded.
"He lets me stay in her room and hung up portraits of her, but I took them down because I saw that it hurt him a lot when he saw them" she whispered mournfully.
"I shall have them sent to Hatfield then for you, you can put them up in your room, it hurt your grandfather a lot as well when he lost Anne. Your sister Isabella looks like her a bit, but resembles her mother too much at times to even guess it" I knew it was odd for her to think that Anne was Isabella's older half sister.
Edward Tudor, Prince of Wales
Even though it was a party everyone was sad, George was leaving in a few days and Nana was sick, Isabella and Catalina were still awfully sore with each other.
"Everyone is sad" Cecily commented and I looked to her.
"A lot is changing now" I replied and she looked up to me with bright brown eyes.
"Next year Beth will be leaving and so will Tom and Bella, they will be getting married" I nodded, it saddened me too, but that was just life.
"We will still see Isabella and Tom, do not be sad Cecily, and Elizabeth will be fine, she will be Queen of Spain one day" she nodded sadly with a sigh.
"Hey" Tom said sitting next to me.
"Does not really feel like a party" I sighed and he nodded in agreement.
"Are you leaving back to Ludlow tomorrow?" He asked.
"No, papa is letting us stay a little while longer" I was happy about that, I did not like being sent away to Ludlow.
"I am going to Dover to spend 24 hours a day listening to my sister and brothers fight, I might as well just go to Pembroke Castle" he growled looking out over the crowd to see Bella, Catty and Cordy all glaring at each other.
"You can always push them in the moat" he smiled thinking about it then shook his head.
"It would upset mama and papa too much, and I do not want to do that now" his voice ended sadly probably thinking about his mama being sick.
"She will get better, everyone has to get sick sometimes and I do not ever remember nana being sick, only when she was pregnant with Catty" I vaguely remember her during that time.
"I guess you are right" he sighed looking up.
"I am always right" he pushed me with a laugh.
Katherine Boleyn, Princess of Spain, Duchess of Wiltshire
"You do not have to stay with me Thomas, go to the banquet" I sighed as he sat beside me.
"I am not going to let you be alone right now, you are sick" I let out a soft laugh looking up at him.
"I am not going to die, I just have a little cold, please it would make me feel better if you went to the banquet and celebrated our children's birthday alone with Elizabeth's" he hesitated before nodding.
"I will not stay long, only an hour or two" I nodded and he left, I sighed looking up at the ceiling when I heard a soft voice.
"Cecily, you are supposed to be at the banquet" I said with a smile turning my head to see her in the doorway.
"I know, but it got boring and I saw you were alone and I wanted to spend time with you, no one should be alone when they are sick" I sat up and she ran over jumping into the bed.
"You are very sweet Cecily, you remind me so much of your mother" her eyes brightened immediately and looked up at me with such eagerness.
"I do!" She smiled brightly, it did not take much to make her happy.
"Yes, very much so, you even look like her" her hair was a soft reddish brown and her eyes a sparkling brown like her mothers.
"Do you think Mary is happy in France?" She asked me cuddling close laying her head on my chest.
"I would like to believe so" I whispered kissing the top of her head.
"Do you think she is going to have a baby soon, after all it has been 3 months" my heart stopped for a moment, I had never thought of that, I would not be there for her first child.
"I cannot say, but I know when she finds out she will write us" I throat felt tight and I lay back, "Cecily, I need to rest, go back to the banquet, I am sure they are missing you" she nodded and kissed my cheek leaving.
September 8th 1532
It was still dark out as everyone was getting ready to leave, I said goodbye to all my children and they were soon on their way to Dover "mama" George said gaining my attention, he was leaving for France today.
"George" tears pricked my eyes and I sniffled, "have a safe jounry and make sure Jane behaves herself, do not let her run off, she could fall into the water" he nodded and came towards the bed.
"I am sorry I am leaving mama, but seeing Mary as we left….mama I know I am doing the right thing, I am only sorry that it has to hurt you like this" I caressed his cheek and kissed his forehead.
"I know you are doing the right thing, and I am very proud of you for it, make sure she is alright and let her know I love her very much, tell her nothing of the sadness" he nodded and held my hand tightly.
"Nana!" Jane cried crawling on the bed an excited look in her eyes "I see Mawee soon" she said brightly and I smiled at her.
"Can you give her a hug from Nana?" She nodded her head and hugged around my neck.
"Nana come too?" I shook my head.
"No, I have to stay here in England, make sure papa writes us often and does not misbehave" she nodded with a giggle and kissed my cheek jumping into Thomas's arms next.
"I love you mama" he whispered kissing my cheek, I kept the tears back for Jane's sake and nodded.
"I love you too, be safe" he nodded and took Jane in his arms.
"Bye bye Nana, bye bye pa!" she said waving as they got into the carriage, I smiled and waved as the carriage pulled away.
"Come Katherine, it does you not good being outside like this, you will only get sicker" he said softly helping me up into the carriage and wrapping many blankets around me.
"It is never going to get better, it will always hurt like this" I whimpered leaning into his chest.
"George is not gone forever, he shall return and so will Jane, love do not cry, you must rest we shall be at Hever in a couple of days" Thomas said pulling my closer to him and making sure I was covered.
September 15th 1532
Rose Boleyn
No one talked to each other for the first couple days and we all stuck to our studies, George left for France already and I knew it bothered Tom, William and Anthony very much. "Lady Rose, can you please pay attention" Lady Middleton said in a stern voice, she looked around at all of us for a moment "I know you all wish to be at Hever with your mother and father and you miss Lord Rochford very much, but Lord Wiltshire will not allow you back until he thinks you can behave, so let us all try our best." Catalina scowled at her venomously.
"I wish to be anywhere but with you" she snapped to Lady Middleton and Isabella's arm came down and elbowed her in the chest.
"BOTH OF YOU STOP IT!" Tom roared in rage and they quickly froze, "if you do not learn to get along we shall never go home, so let us all take a few minutes to figure out why the hell you two cannot get along" it was silent and even Lady Middleton said nothing.
"She is a baby! She always whines about everything! She is going to France to be with Mary and because she refuses George went instead" Isabella snarled glaring at her. "And you saw papa that day, she was cruel and hurt him, she made him cry, papa never cries" her voice ended softly, but her eyes were dangerous slits.
"I never had a choice! I do not want to go live in France, if you like it so much then you go! I shall be happy to marry William Cavendish" Catalina had her arms wrapped around herself securely.
"Can we get through this lesson please?" Anthony sighed.
"Yeah I want to play" William quickly finished.
"I want you all to focus, next one to speak out will be punished" Lady Middleton snapped.
After studies I went down to the kitchens to play "Lady Rose, please be careful" a cook said as looked down to the simmering pan.
"Can you teach me?" I asked surprising her.
"You wish to learn to cook? You are to be a Countess I doubt it will be something you will need to know" she said with a small laugh.
"I know, but I still want to learn, please!" She bit her lip for a few minutes.
"Something simple, I will teach you how to make bread" I giggled happy that I had worn an old gown, we mixed everything in a large bowl, flour covered my dark green dress and my hair had bits of dough in it from pushing it back with my doughy hands.
"Now we must let is rise for at least an hour, in that time we can clean this mess up" it was fun, even cleaning! An hour passed and I kneaded it down into a pan and she put it into the oven.
"How long will it take?" I begged and she smiled.
"A little while, I shall check them in a few minutes" she let me eat some of the sweetmeats and it seemed time went by so slow "Lady Rose, it is done" I jumped off my seat as he put it on the cooling rack, again we had to wait.
"Can I have a taste?" She nodded and put a slice of butter on it and I savored it, I smiled in pride looking at the loaf of bread I made.
"Rose!" Isabella gasped in relief finding me "we have been looking for you everywhere!" she grabbed me tightly and pulled me off the stool.
"I am sorry Lady Boleyn, she has been with me the whole time" the cook said, I believe she said her name was Elizabeth Ried.
"She should not have wandered off! Lady Middleton is worried sick over you!" Isabella snapped to me and I rolled my eyes.
"So what was I supposed to do? Stay with you all and just listen to you fight my little children? I would rather stay down here with Miss Ried" I pulled myself back from Isabella's arms and she just stared at me.
"Lady Middleton wants you right now and that is final. Now go!" I glared at her for a few minutes before leaving up to Lady Middleton, she gasped and hugged me tightly when she saw me.
"Lady Rose! Please do not walk off like that" she begged pulling herself back.
"I am sorry, I was just sick of hearing Isabella and Catalina fight all the time, I went down to the kitchen and helped the cook, Elizabeth Reid, make bread" she picked some of the dough from my hair with a laugh.
"I can see that, please go wash up and get ready for supper" I nodded and went back to our chambers and the maids gave me a bath and dressed me again.
"Lady Rose, why must you always be so messy" one of the older maids said and I just smiled sweetly to her.
"I shall try to stay clean this time!" She only shook her head with a smile and left the room going to attend to her other duties.
Katherine Boleyn, Princess of Spain, Duchess of Wiltshire
As much as I loved my children I would have to admit I liked having the castle to ourselves, I had gotten much better and been able to get out of bed and walk the gardens with Thomas in the mid afternoons. "When shall the children come back?" I as we ate a small supper, he glanced up at me then back down at his plate.
"I do not know right now, maybe next month I shall allow them to join us, do not worry of it so much sweetheart, just enjoy the silence" I nodded and picked at my plate.
"I do not mean to bother you with it, I just….I know that this time next year I will lose Isabella and Tom and.." tears pricked my eyes and he placed his fork down.
"Katherine please, can we not go for minutes without you worrying over the children? I wish to relax" I swallowed hard forcing all my tears back. I knew he did not mean to be cruel, but he had yet to give away any of our daughters and I knew it bothered him very much.
"I am sorry" I whispered and forced myself to finish what is on my plate. I went to bed directly afterwards, not that I was tired but I just wanted to be alone. After the maids had be undressed I pulled my dusty bible out and held my mothers rosary reading over the comforting words.
"Katherine" Thomas hissed, after all this time I trained myself not to jump, many times over the years he caught me praying.
"Husband. I thought you had to work on things?" He ripped the bible from my hands, the only copy he had never gotten rid of, and threw it out the window and into the moat below. I never expected that. I let out a scream and ran to the window looking below and in the darkness I could see the white pages sinking below the murky water.
"And this!" He snapped grabbing the rosary, tears pooled in my eyes, I did not follow him but let out a whimper that he heard. He turned to see the first tears spilling over my cheeks "that may have worked before, but it shall no longer" I quickly ran to him and grabbed his hands.
"Give it back Thomas! Right now give it back!" He held me at bay his grey eyes burning with anger. When it came to religion not even his love for me would change his mind, he was dead set on what he wanted this family to be and he made it known. Though Isabella was secretive about her religion and did not let anyone know or even catch her. I did not care who saw me, I was a Catholic.
"NO!" I went silent immediately, "how many chances over the years have I given you? Dam it woman! Why must you disobey me every chance you get? I HAVE HAD ENOUGH!" I jumped a little and looked away. He grabbed me face forcing me to look at him "You will obey what I tell you just like the children must, they get it from you, all this disobedience will stop as of now" his voice was haunting and demanding.
"I am not a child or a dog Thomas, and will not be treated as one" he let me go and only glared.
"Do not push your already thinning luck, you will not get these back" he left and I took a deep breath going back to the bed and laying down in tears. He did not return for an hour and when he did I refused to look at him "we shall go to services tomorrow, I have let you not be there as much as need be but from now on you will attend everyday" I balled my fists.
"I will no go" he got into bed and pinned my wrists against the bed leaning over me.
"Yes you will, and there will be no arguing about it" he was livid and I knew better then to keep pushing him right now. He kissed my neck and I pushed him away turning my back to him.
"No me toques!" I snapped.
Do not touch me!
"I should have kept a God dam mistress" he grumbled cruelly and I let out a tiny.
"Fine then Thomas! Take a mistress! I do not care anymore!" I hissed shoving him as far away from me as possible.
"I never needed you permission!" He slapped my hands away and I whimpered crawling to the far end of my bed.
"Sometimes I wish I had never married you! You are horrible husband!" I cried in tears.
"And you are thee most unreasonable and stupidest woman I have ever met!" I sobbed quietly into my pillow and he did not move, we were both too stubborn to say sorry for what we had said to each other.
The night wore on and I got no sleep and I did not think he got much either, but I never once asked him or even looked in his direction. My face was buried in my pillow busy creating tears of pain that were caused from his hurtful words.
September 16th 1532
When morning came he got up without a word and got dressed leaving to his study "Lady Wiltshire, is everything alright?" A servant asked nervously.
"Fine, I do not feel to well today, I think I shall just read" she nodded and set up a place by the fire for me, I did not bother to get changed just wrapped myself in a robe and braided my hair down my back. I could not wait till the children got here, they always seemed to fix everything between Thomas and I.
