Chapter Four: Out of Mischief

"Stealing from you?" Anne of Cleves Cosmetics laughed as she edged cautiously towards the door, desperate to escape from Henry Tudor's executive suite in London. The interview had gone well. Henry seemed relaxed. He agreed to finance her new venture. Anne felt sure her casual style and elegant figure fooled him. But on the inside she was frightened, and shaking like a leaf!

"Yes, stealing. Isn't that what they call it when someone takes what is yours?" All at once Henry was a different person, menacing and dangerous. A cruel smile twisted his lips. "You were seen having dinner with the girl on Oxford Street three days ago. Catherine Howard was stuffing her face with wine and pasta. Since then she's dropped off the face of the earth."

"Oh, well!" Anne waved a hand, ever so slightly trembling. "I wouldn't expect anyone else to hire her, Harry. Not as a model. Everyone knows that when you drop a girl her career is over."

"If I see Catherine in town, modeling for you or for anyone else, I will take it as a personal insult. Do you understand, Anne?"

"Ow! Henry, you're hurting me!" Anne pulled her wrist free, fighting the urge to rub the sore spot. "Catherine Howard is not on my payroll, and I haven't paid her a single penny! And wherever she is now, I'm sure modeling is the last thing on her mind."

Meanwhile, at Anne's luxurious country house in Kent . . .

"Do I look all right?" Catherine Howard was more nervous than she had ever been on any modeling shoot. She wanted that nice Reverend Meeps to see right away that she was a very different person than the girl she had been in London.

"You look lovely." Mrs. Holliday looked the pretty fashion model up and down, taking in her shining eyes and sensible black dress.

"But do I look sincere? Like a person who wants to start over?"

"You look just like a respectable young lady. Up you go now, pussycat, and wait in the front parlor for our morning visitors."

"Oh, all right, mummy. I mean, yes, Mrs. Holliday." Catherine rolled her eyes like a typical teenager. But secretly she liked being looked after by the housekeeper. Mrs. Holliday's warm smile made her feel snug and safe, like a babe in her mother's arms. Being called "pussycat" was embarrassing, but she rather enjoyed calling Mrs. Holliday "mummy." It was just a joke, really.

Reverend Meeps was expected at eleven o'clock. Catherine paced back and forth in the downstairs parlor, her high heels clacking loudly on the polished floor. She felt so nervous that she fiercely desired to light up a cigarette, which was something she hadn't done since leaving London. Really it was a bad habit and she fully intended to quit, once she got started on her new life.

Some bad habits are very hard to break. Catherine was searching Anne's parlor for cigarettes when she came across the elegant ivory box. Without really meaning to, she started looking inside.

Anne of Cleves Cosmetics was a rich and powerful businesswoman, and Catherine just naturally assumed that her friend and protector had always been wealthy and independent. But as she looked through the photos she saw that Anne had once been a fashion model just like she was. There were pictures of Anne wearing all sorts of lovely gowns, and some lingerie pictures too. There were even a few pictures of Anne in the nude!

Catherine didn't judge Anne for the nude pictures. She'd done a few naughty things too. But what made the slim, long-legged young model suddenly feel sick to her stomach were the pictures of Anne with Henry Tudor. His arm was around her, and his eyes were bright. Catherine knew that greedy, hungry look on his face.

Henry thought he owned Anne. He thought he owned every woman he'd ever slept with. If he twisted Anne's arm, she might tell him where Catherine was hiding. But it was worse than that. He might ruin Anne if she didn't tell.

"Ah, there you are, my dear." Reverend Meeps was beaming at Catherine. He was a little man with a bald head and kindly blue eyes. He had just been shown into the parlor by Mrs. Holliday.

"Oh! Good morning. I'm so glad to see you!" Catherine was slamming the lid of the box shut, but a couple of nude pictures were sticking out at one corner. She shut it again, but her hands were shaky. Catherine felt exactly like a thief caught in the act.

"Looking at old family pictures?" The minister sat down in a chair across from the sofa, sipping the cup of tea which Mrs. Holliday had just served him. She was quite calm and very dignified, as though she served important visitors every day.

"Yes, that's what I was doing. Just looking at pictures, that's all!" Catherine nearly snatched the teacup from Mrs. Holliday's hands. She took a sip and felt much better. "My friend Anne has such a beautiful home, doesn't she? I feel as though I could stay here forever! But I want to do something useful, to help Anne and show how grateful I am for all her kindness. I want to start a new life!"

"I think that's a wonderful idea," Reverend Meeps said, his mild blue eyes crinkling at the corners. Catherine could tell he smiled a lot of the time. "What did you have in mind, my dear?"

"Well, I thought helping at the church . . . you know, with the children . . . you have such a wonderful day care center! And then, I'm also quite good at visiting people, like the elderly, and cheering them up. I could deliver food baskets, and collect old clothes, or whatever you think is most important for the church!"

"Are you really interested in giving up your modeling career?" Reverend Meeps looked a bit surprised. "When I spoke to Anne on the phone she told me that you were quite a success in London. She has something special planned for you, I'm sure. Surely you hope to return to London and dazzle the fashion world?"

"Well . . . this is not a good time!" Catherine blushed, wondering what this nice man would think about her affair with Henry Tudor. "I want to work for Anne, and I'll gladly model for Cleves Cosmetics. But in the meantime, she wants me to stay here in the country, and rest. But I also need to keep myself busy, and . . ."

"And out of mischief!" Reverend Meeps had a smile that made his eyes twinkle. He started to laugh and Catherine joined right in. She felt as though she was really going to enjoy being a good person and starting a whole new life.