The Lady Carey

by Anne R Bailey

  “I only am looking for the best.” Anne was stumbling over her words now.

  “And you still can’t speak English.” The King was laughing at her now.

  Anne disregarded his cruelty. “I am learning.”

  The King threw the goblet and Catherine watched the precious metal bounce on the floor and roll into a corner. This was not the first time she had seen him rage, and she pressed herself against the wall, the panels digging into her back.

  “Not fast enough, it seems.”

  The King limped towards the door and threw it open. To the courtiers outside, he pretended he was in a good mood, calling for Anne Basset to play him a song.

  Anne had not moved, but, knowing they would talk if she did not reappear, she straightened her gown, smoothing her hands over the embroidered petticoat.

  “Some more wine, your grace?” Catherine asked.

  “No.” Anne shook her head. “No need.”

  Catherine followed her out of the room.

  That evening, just as she was ready to get to bed, Jane Boleyn popped her head in the room.

  “Catherine, we are summoned to see the Duke. Put on a robe and let’s go.”

  Catherine shook her head. “I cannot.”

  “Catherine Carey, do you wish to be dismissed from court?”

  At the threat, Catherine pulled on a thick robe and threw on her hood to maintain some modesty.

  She followed after Jane, not through the usual main passage ways but rather secret back doors and galleries. Jane nudged her to enter the door, and she followed closely behind.

  The Duke of Norfolk was standing by the window. If she didn’t know him better, she would have thought that he was looking forlorn.

  “Your grace.” The two women bowed in greeting.

  “Ah, my little assistants. What news do you have for me?”

  Jane nudged Catherine to speak, but she wasn’t sure what he wanted to hear.

  “Come along — I know you were witness to the King’s conversation with the Queen tonight.”

  Word seemed to have gotten around quickly. Catherine threw a glance at Lady Rochford, who seemed fascinated with her nails.

  “He took her aside to talk.”

  “He was confiding in her?” Her uncle gave a bark like laugh.

  “He was enjoying her company but then she displeased him.” Catherine refused to go into details. She knew now that he wasn’t merely keeping abreast of the news in the court. He had something far more sinister in mind.

  “And how did she manage that?”

  Catherine had a choice to be loyal to her family or her Queen. She tried for a middle road.

  “She always manages that. The King is usually irked by her mere presence.” It hurt Catherine to disrespect Queen Anne, who was such a kind and trusting mistress. She never spoke harshly to anyone and was always quick to help in any way she could.

  Her uncle and Lady Rochford were trained courtiers and were not fooled by her though.

  “I think you should wrack that brain of yours for a better answer. Remember who you owe the very clothes on your back to!” Her uncle was hardly trying to hide his displeasure as he took a step towards her. “If I had not convinced your father to take your mother back under his good graces instead of disinheriting her, you and her brood would be living in a hovel on a farm somewhere scrounging for food. If I had not found you this place at court you would be forgotten in the country. So?”

  “She told the King that the Princess Mary wouldn’t be happy with the Duke of Bavaria.” The words came spilling out as she trembled in her fear.

  “Ah, so she dared to speak out — I didn’t think she would have it in her,” Lady Rochford said, her arms crossed in front of her.

  The Duke patted Catherine on the head as though she was a pet dog. She fought her instincts to step away from him.

  “You have done well to serve your family. I shall see you are rewarded as long as you learn to understand now who to give your loyalty to.”

  “Yes, my lord.” Catherine bobbed a polite curtsey. With her downcast eyes, she appeared to be the very representation of female servility, and the Duke turned away from her to ask Jane questions now.

  However, Catherine was far from reprimanded. Inside she was plotting her escape. She did not wish to be a part of his games. Anne did not deserve it.

  “I hear that the Queen is trying to get Master Cromwell to meet with her. If he does, make sure one of you are present and report to me everything that is being said.”

  “Catherine you may leave.” The Duke waved her away and invited Lady Rochford to take a seat. “Bennett will escort you back to your rooms.” He had called for his manservant, who appeared like a silent shadow.

  They were done with her but she wasn’t done with them. Catherine and her escort were nearly back to the Queen’s apartments when Catherine pretended to have remembered something.

  “OH! I forgot my rosary in the chapel.”

  The man glared.

  “I must get it or Mistress Loew will be upset with me in the morning. I am so careless.” Catherine looked positively frightened. “I can go by myself. I know the way.”

  The man was now frowning and he seemed tempted.

  “You’ve almost taken me back. I shall be fine from here. There’s no way I would get lost, and I won’t tell my uncle. You must be tired.” She gave him a piteous look.

  “Alright, lady. But you promise you won’t give me any trouble later?”

  “I promise.” This wasn’t really a lie. Catherine turned to walk towards the chapel, but, once she saw that Bennett had disappeared back to her uncle’s room, she followed after him.

  There was no one guarding the front door to his rooms, but she would she dare sneaking in? The door would surely squeak and alert them even from the inner chamber. She glanced around and saw no one was around. She even pressed her ear to the door trying to make out if anyone was inside.

  Finally, she took the risk and tried the door.

  It opened a crack and she got a good view of the empty receiving room. The only light came from the moonlight outside, leaving the room in darkness. It was late and the servants were asleep. She could always have an excuse ready if she was discovered. So she slipped inside the robe she was wearing, making her smaller and easier to maneuver around the furniture. She kept to the wall, ready to hide behind a bookcase if someone appeared.

  She reached the door to her uncle’s office where he was sequestered with the Lady Rochford and listened through the keyhole.

  “And the King seems to continue to favor her?”

  “Certainly,” Jane Boleyn answered. “He doesn’t keep this a secret.”

  “But he hasn’t managed to do anything with her?”

  “She has kissed him.”

  “It can go no further.” Catherine could feel the Duke’s anger. “The little slut has to act the part of an innocent girl. Can she not manage that?”

  “I will speak to her.”

  “Is she such a fool that she does not realize how much she could stand to gain if she just plays this correctly?”

  “I shall put the idea in her head. Leave it to me, my lord. All she wants are more jewels and gowns. She loves attention and is easily persuaded.”

  “Good, she can have those if she does as we say, but I will not have another Anne. A chance like this won’t come again.”

  “Do you think the King will put the Queen aside?”

  “Certainly, Gardiner is already looking for evidence. The French are no longer allied with the Spanish so now we no longer need the Cleves alliance.”

  “So quickly?”

  “Why not? But it will go quicker if the King falls in love again, and it would be best if he falls in love with a Howard girl.”

  Catherine pulled away from the door. She thought she could hear footsteps coming from the antechamber and rushed back out the door of her uncle’s apartments. Her heart was pounding as she made her way back to her own rooms, praying
she wouldn’t stumble into anyone.

  So that’s what her uncle was after. Putting a girl like Kitty Howard in the way of the King. She would never have thought of it herself. After all, Kitty was such a flirt and loose with her favors. She was half in love with all the handsome young men of the court already, but Catherine doubted she felt anything for the King.

  Of course, she danced for him and batted her eyelashes at him, but she was after small rewards and trinkets. She was hardly lusting after him. However, Catherine new how easily convinced she could be. It wouldn’t take much for her to realize the benefit of being in the King’s good graces.

  There was nothing she could do openly, but she would wait and bide her time. Keeping this information to herself until she could see what she could do with it. Should she warn Anne of what was being planned? No. Besides what could Anne do anyways? She only had Karl Harst to help her and he was little more than useless.

  Kitty giggled when she saw Catherine sneak into their shared room. “And where have you been?”

  “None of your business, Kitty.”

  “Fine I won’t tell you where I have been either.”

  “You’ve been somewhere?” Catherine furrowed her eyebrows.

  “I met with Thomas Culpeper. He asked me to see him in the gardens.” She was not ashamed to share this information with anyone.

  Catherine blushed at the implications. “But your honor. Kitty, if anyone finds out...”

  “We didn’t do anything! Well, he kissed me and gave me a rose.” She held it up to her. “He’s so handsome.”

  “And you? Were you with that Francis you have your eye on?”

  “Of course not!” Catherine crossed her arms indignantly in front of her. She would never dare be so brazen as to meet a man alone at night.

  “Well, I highly recommend it or someone else will snatch him up.”

  “I never said I liked him.” Catherine climbed in under the covers leaving her robe on the trunk at the foot of her bed.

  “You never said you didn’t.” Kitty laughed. “Did you know Thomas said he would ask to carry my favor at the next joust? Of course, he’s not the first to ask me, but I think I shall say yes to him and to Edmund.”

  Catherine ignored her but this didn’t stop Kitty from prattling on and on about the wonderful Thomas.

  In the morning, Jane had positioned herself at Kitty’s side, whispering in her ear for the entire mass. Catherine knew what Jane must be telling her poor relation. Kitty’s eyes were wide and her mouth parted open as if she had been surprised as they walked back to the Queen’s rooms.

  Catherine asked her if she had seen Culpeper trying to get her attention when the King had bid the Queen good morning.

  “He did? I did not see.” Clearly her mind was elsewhere, for she had been gushing over him just the night before. Then her eyes looked up in surprise at Catherine. “He really shouldn’t be. There’s no reason he should be making eyes at me. He means nothing to me.”

  Catherine was taken aback.

  “I am an honorable girl, and I don’t think about boys.” Kitty walked faster to walk beside Anne Basset.

  Catherine’s eyebrow arched watching her go. How quickly she changed her tune and how quickly she lied. She thought it would be prudent to tell her uncle that his chosen one was highly unsuited for the position he was intent on pushing her towards.

  Chapter Nine

  Catherine waited a week before approaching her uncle. During this time, she had seen Kitty go out riding alone with the King and dance before him, paying attention to him and him alone.

  “You wanted to see me?” The Duke raised his eyebrow, surprised by her willingness to come forward.

  “You told me to come to you with any information I thought was important.”

  “So I did.” He looked expectantly at her, satisfied that she seemed to know her place now.

  “I thought you might like to know that Katherine Howard is all but in love with Thomas Culpeper.” This was not a complete exaggeration.

  The Duke’s face was expressionless. He hid his interest in the subject well, but she saw how his fingers had tightened their grip on the arm of his chair for the briefest of moments.

  “She is my cousin and I would not want a blemish on our reputation and honor.” Catherine offered this as a reason for giving the information.

  “She has spoken to him and seen him?”

  “May I be blunt? She often sneaks out of the maid’s chamber at night. She’s not the only one, of course, but I think you would want to talk to her.”

  He fixed those hawk-like eyes of his on her, but she did not squirm under his gaze.

  “And do you sneak off at night too? Or do you merely creep around in the shadows?”

  “I would never.” Catherine huffed.

  “Good, for it might ruin your chances at a proper marriage.” Catherine looked confused. “You seem so clever and knowledgeable, but, let me assure you that you are a novice at the game of courtly intrigue.”

  “I never…” She took a step back.

  “I suppose you don’t think I’ve noticed how you blush and laugh with that Master Knollys. Do you think he is paying attention to you because he likes you or finds you pretty?”

  Catherine bit the inside of her cheek.

  “You haven’t kept your own feelings so carefully hidden either, my niece, but don’t worry, your honor isn’t at risk for you have been betrothed. Your parents are signing the contract. You have me to thank for finding you someone willing to marry a girl of such low birth and ambiguous lineage.”

  Catherine’s fingers were digging into her palms as she fought to keep her expression passive.

  “I have not acted dishonorably in anyway.”

  “I know you have a weakness for listening at doors.” Now he was smiling brightly at her. “But thank you for bringing me this news. I was not aware of how far things had gone.” He was pulling at his beard thoughtfully. “It is nothing but innocent courtly flirtation is it not?”

  “I am sure it was,” Catherine said.

  “Keep an eye on her for me, since Lady Jane seems to have failed in this department. I am sure this won’t hurt your conscience, and perhaps you shall be more helpful with this than you are with the Queen.”

  Catherine curtseyed, grinding her teeth together to stop from saying something she would regret as she left her uncle’s rooms.

  She had been brought low today.

  She was not the sharp-minded courtier she had thought herself to be. It did not even matter to her that she was to be betrothed; it hurt that Francis had seemed to know all along, and he had tried to make her feel special by his attentions. She had let him tempt her too. She was weak. She had tried to jump too high and had fallen.

  Catherine excused herself from the Queen’s company, saying she was not feeling well, and, indeed, the Queen declared she was looking pale and ordered her to rest in her room. She stayed unmoving on the bed until it was time for dinner. She had managed not to cry and that small victory ensured she wouldn’t show up with red eyes at the dining hall.

  Even though she hoped she wouldn’t have to see Francis that night, he approached her as the partners were assembling for a dance. She turned on her heel and walked away from him.

  The idea of marriage did not scare her. She knew that soon she would be married off to someone, but she had thought it would be a more mutual affair. That she wouldn’t be made to feel like a fool.

  For two days, Catherine managed to avoid Francis, but, on the third, he cornered her on her way back from the chapel.

  “May I speak to you, Lady Carey?”

  Catherine’s temper had cooled by then and she agreed. He didn’t lead her anywhere private, lest someone get the wrong idea. Instead, he led her to the window overlooking the inner courtyard. If anyone walked by they would see a couple admiring the scenery outside.

  “Why have you been avoiding me?”

  The question was easy enough to answer, but Cath
erine felt her mouth go dry. She was unable to speak from shame of admitting she had thought he might be talking to her out of love and admiration, not out of a sense of duty.

  He was waiting patiently enough so Catherine was forced to speak.

  “Is there a reason for you to go out of your way to speak to me?” She watched his expression change from confusion to a look of dawning understanding.

  “You have been told?”

  “My uncle was kind enough to let me know. Although I suppose that I didn’t need to know at all until the day of the w-wedding.” Her voice cracked at that word.

  Francis ran a hand through his hair.

  “I wanted to spend time with you without a looming cloud hanging over our heads.”

  “Marriage to me would be that terrible?”

  “No! Listen you are upset and rightly so. I thought, perhaps, if we got to know each other slowly then we could start off on good terms which is more than many people have.”

  Catherine thought of the Queen and swallowed hard.

  “It has started off with lies. I thought you liked me for me, not because our families have pushed us together.”

  Now he looked exasperated. “I wouldn’t have gone out of my way to dance and speak to you if I felt it was such a struggle to be by your side.”

  Catherine could feel her eyes pricking with tears. She bit the inside of her cheek again to hold them back.

  “You can be angry with me, but do you think you could forgive me? If you cannot, tell me, and I will break off the betrothal.”

  “Then I will be nothing but unwanted goods.”

  Her words stung him and she saw him step back.

  “I am sorry. I didn’t mean anyt…” He stopped midsentence as a sob finally wracked her body.

  Catherine found herself biting her fist to try to keep the sobs from escaping. He stood by her side until her tears had been spent. She was sure everyone walking by had seen. Francis took out a handkerchief and handed it to her. She looked up at him and saw how he bit his lower lip as he considered what to do. His sincerity threatened to make her cry again. So she looked away and dried her eyes, though fresh tears were still escaping.