The Queen's Companion

by Maggi Petton

  “Your father not only lost a friend, but a spiritual brother, as well,” sympathized Bella.

  “He lost more than that, I fear. My father was a deeply pious man. Even though he didn’t agree with the Inquisition, he always believed it would pass, with the help of those good men in the church like Thomas Capshaw. He desperately wanted to see the end of the Inquisition in his lifetime. He believed that he and Thomas, together, could effect change from the inside, for his own subjects at the very least. Then after Thomas’s return, that belief faded.”

  Catherine was quiet for a time, thinking back on painful memories. She swirled her hand absently in the water.

  When she continued, she didn’t attempt to hide the sorrow in her voice. “He lost his faith in so many ways. He always believed that God put him and Thomas together to fight for justice. When he lost Thomas, he lost part of himself, the part that needed to believe that good men remained good men in spite of temptations put before them. Thomas’s change cut my father to his soul. It was after losing much of his support on the Council to the bishop that he lost his confidence in dealing with life itself. In many ways I believe that’s when he started to die. He only lived for a year after Thomas returned from Rome. I watched as he deferred more and more to the Council, and the Council deferred more and more to the bishop.”

  “I am so sorry,” Bella offered sadly.

  They got out of the tub and dried. Catherine dressed for the day, but Bella slipped into a light gown. They sat at the table again.

  Catherine continued. “When my father died and I assumed my role, I thought, foolishly, that the Council just needed a strong royal leader again. It didn’t take me long to realize not only was it too late, but as a woman, the battle would be endless.”

  They opened the doors to the balcony and stepped out into the sunlight. Catherine’s gaze drifted to a far off place. Bella placed her hand on Catherine’s and they stood for a bit, letting the warmth of the sun filter into their bones. The sounds and smells of the surrounding forest, pines and chestnut trees, wafted up to them. Catherine inhaled deeply then took Bella’s hand to draw her back inside where she kissed Bella.

  With her hands on either side of Bella’s face, she said, “I don’t know how it is possible, but I love you more than I did a few short days ago.” She left for the day, happier than she had been in some time.

  Chapter Twenty Three

  “Your Majesty,” said Bishop Capshaw, “we did not expect you today.” I understood from the king, that you were not well last evening and spent the night in your own quarters.”

  Catherine heard the insinuation and the slight emphasis on Ambrose’s title. She attempted to diffuse both. “My husband spoke correctly, Your Grace. But I am much better after a good night’s sleep. Shall we get down to business, my Lords?”

  The Council shared a number of decrees they wished to establish regarding land and water rights. She agreed to all the decrees. Where possible she always tried to give in where she thought she could. In that way, when she did feel the need to stand her ground, she hoped they’d be more inclined to agree with her. At least that was her strategy.

  Once the matter of new decrees was addressed, Lord Giovanni gave a report on several more attacks by the fanatical group. One of the attacks was in the southern part of the kingdom. Two were in the north. The attack in the south happened between the two northern attacks and was much too close in time to have been the same group. This information was alarming, as the attacks had been random and few enough that the assumption was that it was only one rogue group with whom they were dealing. Clearly, at least one other group had formed.

  “Where is your delegate?” Catherine asked the bishop.

  “The last word received is that he is on his way back from the eastern part of the kingdom, Highness.”

  “What was his communication to you?” asked Catherine.

  “Fears are high, Your Majesty. As a result, it is difficult to get people to discuss what is happening. He has spoken to the servants of only one household that was attacked, and those servants were frightened to say anything for fear of reprisals.”

  “When your delegate arrives, I should like to meet with him, with your permission, of course.”

  “Of course, Majesty.” He nodded curtly to her.

  “I am planning to make another visit to Rome,” Catherine informed them. “The new Pope, Marcellus II, seems to have a gentler and more humane approach to leading the Church and I will, again, attempt to convince the Holy See to assist us in deterring the fanatical groups that plague the countryside.” Indeed, Catherine was relieved to hear of the election of the new Pope, but she also desired a reason to take Bella to Rome. Once the baby was born she wanted to give them time to travel and be alone together. And, it was true that Pope Marcellus was said to be quite fair and intelligent in his approach to issues of people. She had high hopes for a positive relationship with the new Pope.

  The Bishop gave them a new list of interrogations scheduled for the upcoming weeks. While it was not necessary for him to do so, it was politically conducive to insuring his continued support on the Council. The Nobles expected to know if any of their own family had been named.

  The meeting concluded and Catherine joined the Council for the midday meal. Her grandmother had begun the custom early in her reign as a gesture of respect for the Council members. Her father continued the ritual. Catherine gave thought to dispensing with the custom, but she found it interesting that often more in-depth discussion of the meeting topics took place over the meal. When that was not the case, the meal gave her opportunity to engage with the lords with whom she felt an affinity-- namely Lord Giovanni, Lord Romeo and Lord Como. The ability and ease with which she could interact with them was always a welcome treat for her.

  Chapter Twenty Four

  It was May. Bella was in the full bloom of her pregnancy, and bored with her inability to do much. She was uncomfortable, irritable and anxious over the coming birth. Catherine wanted to surprise her with an outing to the flower fields, which she expected to be in full spring glory. Thoughts of bringing Bella back to the place of their first kiss made Catherine smile.

  She invited Robert and his family to join them. She hadn’t had the opportunity to visit with Petra of late, and little Gio was growing up quickly. She wanted to be a part of her little cousin’s life. Lord Giovanni was invited, as well.

  And so a picnic party was arranged to the flower fields. As there was no way Bella could ride a horse in her condition, Catherine ordered a covered carriage for them. A separate, open carriage was arranged for Petra, little Gio and Lord Giovanni. Robert alone rode on horseback.

  Catherine was as anxious for this outing as she had been for anything for some time. She quickly grew tired of the charade of her marriage. Although she spent several nights a week with her husband, the energy required to manage delight in the task was enormous. And there was the additional need to make certain that it was obvious to everyone the couple was, indeed, spending many nights alone together.

  The morning of the planned outing Catherine left Ambrose sleeping in their bed and stole into her quarters to awaken Bella. Bella was unaccustomed to seeing her so early on mornings after she spent the night with her husband.

  “I have a surprise for you, my love. Get up, let’s have some breakfast. Then you must prepare for an outing.”

  Bella’s moods had become as unpredictable as the end of the Inquisition itself.

  “Sometimes,” Catherine confided to Robert, “nearly as frightening. I never know if Bella will burst into tears or be outraged at an unexpected event.”

  Robert laughed at Catherine’s frustration. “I find it enormously amusing that I have been warned about a woman’s moods during pregnancy, while you are surprised by them!”

  Much to Catherine’s relief, Bella was delighted with the idea of a surprise outing.

  Catherine closed the carriage curtains so she could offer Bella the full impact of the flower
fields. As they rode along in the dim light of the carriage Catherine talked only of the picnic and her delight at spending the day in such wonderful company. She was as excited as a little girl giving her first gift.

  A knock. “Majesty, we have arrived.”

  “Close your eyes, Bella,” demanded Catherine. Her excitement was so contagious that Bella complied. “And do not open them until I tell you.”

  Catherine opened the door of the carriage. She and Robert assisted Bella out, her eyes still closed. She then took Bella’s hand and walked her to the front of the carriage and stopped.

  From directly behind Bella, hands on her shoulders, Catherine whispered into her ear, “Open your eyes, my love!”

  Bella’s quick intake of breath left no doubt that the scene before her was as wondrous a thing of beauty as she had ever known. One hand flew to her mouth, the other to Catherine’s hand on her shoulder. She was speechless. The view spread out before them, acres upon acres of yellow and purple flowers in a sea of green grasses, a clear, blue, pristine lake in the distance, and the Apennines as a backdrop, still covered in snow. In Catherine’s mind there was no higher praise for God’s glorious work of art than a single, heartfelt gasp.

  The group enjoyed a wonderful day sunning, chatting, reading and walking. Bella struggled awkwardly to pick blooms to carry home.

  That night Catherine dined with Ambrose, who seemed genuinely dismayed about being excluded from the outing.

  “Did you not even consider that I might like to join you?” he asked.

  Catherine was taken aback. “I am truly sorry, Ambrose. It never occurred to me that you might enjoy something like that.”

  “Whether I might or might not have enjoyed the particular place is not what bothers me,” he said. “I am your husband and I would have liked to have been included. At the very least I should have been asked, even if my answer was no,” he pouted.

  “Ambrose,” Catherine got up and walked around behind him. She slipped her arms around his neck, “I didn’t intend to hurt you. I do apologize. I didn’t want to wake you, you were sleeping so peacefully.”

  “I suppose I forgive you, then,” he turned and pulled her into his lap. She felt his erection and gave in to his amorous overtures. When he was finished he fell asleep. Catherine slipped out of the marriage suite and went back to her quarters.

  When she arrived Bella was already in bed, genuinely exhausted from the day. Catherine found her sleeping among petals of yellow and purple. She smiled and slipped in next to Bella.

  The next morning brought unbelievable news. Pope Marcellus was dead. Catherine’s letter requesting an audience could not even have reached him. He was in office a mere twenty two days. It did not seem possible. Catherine sat at her desk and dropped her head into her hands. The reports she received stated that the Pope died of a weak constitution. The intense and rigorous schedule was too much for his frail disposition. “God only knows,” she thought, “who will be elected now.” She felt unsettled about this Pope’s death. Something did not feel right about it.

  Chapter Twenty Five

  “Marie! Marie!” shouted the queen. “Fetch the midwife! Lady Isabella’s time has arrived.”

  As they waited for Marie to return with the midwife, Catherine walked Bella to her old pallet and held her. Between her labor pains Bella could not contain her tears…or her fears.

  “Catherine, please. I am afraid. Don’t leave my side.” Catherine grasped her hands. “I am here. I won’t leave you.”

  “What will become of this child? I can’t love it!” Bella was nearly beside herself with her anxiety.

  “Don’t think about that now, my love. God will help us.”

  Catherine felt bile rise in her throat. If God didn’t approve, then God would need to act. And therein lay her biggest fear…that God would act. Her heart was nearly always prepared to lose Bella. And now, today, as Bella’s pains overtook her, and caused her to cry out, Catherine felt certain the loss was imminent.

  Marie arrived with the midwife and they set to work for the birth. Bella was experiencing contractions about ten minutes apart.

  “Majesty,” the midwife directed Catherine, “you need not stay and bother yourself.”

  “Don’t leave me!” Bella grabbed Catherine. Her face was full of fear. “I intend to stay,” Catherine informed the midwife. “Direct me as you will.”

  The midwife continued her evaluation of Bella. “I anticipate no problems. Lady Isabella seems ready for a normal enough birth. Marie and I can tend to the birthing; you may feel free to be a comfort to Lady Isabella.”

  Catherine positioned herself behind Bella in such a way as to support Bella’s body and hold her hands. When the pains overtook Bella, she squeezed Catherine’s hands tightly and cried out. Catherine offered her words of encouragement, wishing there were more that she could do.

  Time seemed to stretch endlessly with no change. After nearly six hours, Bella was still not experiencing contractions closer than eight minutes apart.

  “Lady Isabella, please try to relax and let the baby begin to move down.” The midwife pressed on the top of Bella’s swollen belly in an attempt to push the baby down.

  “Bella, you must try to help the baby. Please do as the midwife says and relax,” Catherine urged, choking her fear down.

  The midwife instructed Marie to go to the kitchen and bring back some items. Marie returned a short time later. The midwife busied herself at the dining table then marched to the pallet.

  “Here, drink this!” she commanded. She gave Bella a mixture of raw egg, sugar and ale.

  Bella drank. “Oh, God, that’s awful!” she gagged.

  “Drink it anyway, you need something to help you relax and keep up your strength.” The midwife said authoritatively.

  Bella dozed on and off between contractions for several more hours

  “What’s happening?” Catherine asked the midwife. “Why is this taking so long?”

  The midwife shook her head. “It’s her first child, sometimes first babies take longer. It is not unusual for first labors to go on for twenty hours. But it would help if she wanted this baby. I have seen this kind of holding on before, when the woman does not wish to have the baby. The body simply fights against letting go.”

  Bella cried out as another contraction took hold of her. “I don’t want the child, but I want this ordeal to be over. Do something!”

  Catherine felt more helpless than ever in her life. All she could do was wait and watch as Bella went through this agony. She wished she could endure this for Bella.

  Bella’s head was cradled back against Catherine and Catherine’s lips were next to her ear. “Bella,” she whispered, “if it were within my power I would birth this baby for you. I cannot bear to see you suffer. Please, please, I beg you, do not give up. Do not leave me. I can bear anything but that.” She continued to hold Bella, rocking her ever so gently.

  After four more hours they were all exhausted. Bella continued to doze between contractions. Catherine remained alert and watchful, still holding and rocking.

  After another two hours, the contractions had progressed only minimally. Catherine watched in horror as the midwife reached up and pulled a sharpened goose quill from her hair. As the midwife made to insert the quill between Bella’s legs, Catherine stopped her. “What are you doing?” she demanded.

  “Majesty, I need to break the woman’s water to move things along. Neither Lady Isabella nor the baby can endure much more.”

  “Have you done this before?” Catherine was near panic.

  “Yes, Majesty.”

  “Is it dangerous?”

  “No more dangerous than letting the labor continue. Her contractions should be much closer together by now.”

  The midwife inserted the goose quill. They didn’t have to wait long for the water to spill from Bella. The midwife reached her hand inside Bella and felt for the baby’s head.

  “The baby is positioned correctly. There should be no
problem with the birth. Push now!”

  Bella pushed, but she was weak and her attempt was feeble. The contractions progressed a bit more.

  When the contractions were just over two minutes apart the midwife said, “Marie, push down on the lady’s belly. Lady, push again! Hard!”

  Catherine was still cradling Bella from behind. She had her arms wrapped around Bella, who held tightly to Catherine’s arms. “Push, Bella, push!” Catherine pleaded.

  Bella pushed with a howl that came from deep within her. The midwife reached for the baby’s head as it emerged.

  Catherine held Bella tight and watched the baby slither out of Bella.

  At first there was no noise, just a bloody newborn being held by the midwife, who stuck her finger in the baby’s mouth, then turned it upside down and slapped it. It gasped, and finally let out a cry, a pitiful cry, but a cry nonetheless.

  Bella collapsed back onto Catherine in a faint as the baby delivered. The midwife looked at Catherine and said, “There is nothing left now but the afterbirth. It is a boy child. Marie, clean and swaddle the child to deliver him to his mother.”

  Catherine slipped herself out from behind Bella and helped to rearrange her pillows and covers after the midwife pulled the soiled linens away.

  As the circumstances surrounding this pregnancy were so unusual, the usual joy and celebration was not expected. In fact, no one, the midwife included, quite knew how to respond to the birth of this child.

  Marie cleaned and swaddled the baby. When she was done she brought him to Lady Isabella, who had regained consciousness as Catherine was wiping her forehead with a cool cloth. She turned her head to the window and refused to even look at him.