“Jane, you should take care of what you say.”
She took my arm and put her face close to mine, smiling at me in that sly way of hers.
“I only speak this way to little Katherine,” she said. “She is my friend. She would never speak against me. She knows full well that if she did, they would say she had joined in the talk and was as guilty as I.”
“Oh, Jane,” I said, “let us not speak of such matters.”
The Queen faced those men in the hall. They talked to her and I heard afterward that, when she heard what they had to tell her, she could only think she was living in a dream. It was not as she had feared. And a great joy came over her, such as she had not known since coming to England.
I soon learned why. It was Lady Margaret who told me.
The messengers had brought word of the King’s intentions, and it was their task to obtain the Queen’s acceptance of his terms.
“She was to cease to be his wife,” said Lady Margaret, “and if she would agree to this, he would adopt her as his sister. She must give up the title of Queen. But she would have precedence over every lady in the land, except the King’s two daughters and, if he married again, of course, his Queen.”
“And she accepts that most willingly, I’ll vow,” I said.
“You speak truth there. Moreover she will have estates to the value of three thousand pounds a year.”
I gasped in astonishment.
“I was with Her Majesty,” went on Lady Margaret. “At first, she thought she had not heard aright. But I assured her that she had. I thought she was going to faint again, she turned so pale … and then the color was flooding back into her cheeks. I think this day the happiest lady in England is the Queen … who is Queen no longer—and well content not to be. She is to write to her brother and tell him how wholeheartedly she accepts the King’s conditions.”
“Does she not want to return to her own country?”
“Indeed not,” said Lady Margaret. “To have been rejected … unwanted. Imagine it! And the alternative? To stay here … as the King’s sister.”
“But she is not that.”
“Indeed not!” said Lady Margaret. “The King calls her sister and she has three thousand pounds a year and is one of the most important ladies in the land. Oh come, Katherine, can you not see why she wants to stay there?”
“Poor lady. I am so happy that it has been settled in this way.”
“I hope she did not betray her great desire to be rid of the King. I’ll swear it was as great as his to be rid of her.”
“Then it is a most happy solution for them both,” I said.
“And there you speak wisely, Katherine Howard.”
I think it was the first time in my life that anyone had thought words of mine wise.
My grandmother requested me to call on her, so I took a barge to Lambeth.
I found the Duchess in an exultant mood. She seemed more spritely and much younger.
“Katherine, my dear child!” she cried. “You look in excellent health and good spirits.”
“There is no reason why I should not be,” I replied.
She laughed. “Of a surety there is not. Indeed, you are going to be much honored. My little granddaughter, Katherine Howard, of all people! Who would have thought it? Your uncle says he finds it hard to believe, and that you will need much guidance. You must do exactly as he tells you.”
“Have we not always done so? And why has he become so interested in me?”
“Katherine, my child, can it be that you do not know?”
“It is because the King has noticed me. I know that.”
She laughed. “Noticed indeed! Well, you were always a pretty child.” She screwed up her eyes and studied me intently. “Many girls are pretty, but you have something more. Plump as a pouter pigeon and yet still the little girl. A pretty creature, who needs to be cherished and cared for, being somewhat unworldly. Yes, I can see it.”
I smiled complacently. It was good to meet with this approval—something rare in the past.
“The King will be here soon.”
“Here?”
“Here indeed. You must be prepared for him. Let me look at you. H’m. Shall I bring the ruby necklace for you to wear? No, I think not. You are better as you are. Simple. I believe that is the quality which attracts. Now, you must be prepared when the King speaks to you.”
“How shall I know what answers I should make? I never know and he asks so many questions. Some of them do not need to be answered, but that is not always so … and I am never sure.”
“You have pleased him as yet. It is true that he is in a mood to be pleased with you. He has fallen in love with you, Katherine. It must be because you are so different from the others.”
“In love with me!”
She nodded. “It is hard to believe that you … a simple girl … could win the affection of the King. But it appears to be so. It is for this reason that he is so eager to be rid of Queen Anne.”
“Oh no, you are wrong! I have amused him with my simple ways. He is kind.”
“You must not be so foolish, Katherine. We know the King likes an innocent and unworldly girl—such a contrast to those who have gone before. It is a novelty. But you must not take that too far. If you seem too stupid, he might turn from you.”
“You cannot mean that I …”
“Could be the next Queen of England.”
I began to tremble at the thought. I married to the King—that old man with his bad leg, which had to be dressed by Thomas—and I was betrothed to Thomas.
I said: “Your Grace, I could not. I am already betrothed.”
She stared at me in amazed horror.
“Betrothed! What mean you?”
“You said I was to be. Do you not remember? To my cousin Thomas Culpepper.”
“Thomas Culpepper? Are you crazy, girl?”
“I am not,” I said defiantly. “We are going to marry, leave Court and live at Hollingbourne.”
A sudden fury came over her. She brought up her hand and slapped my face.
“Do not let me hear you say such a wicked thing again,” she gasped.
“But…”
“Silence! Your uncle would be furious. He would make you sorry you ever saw Thomas Culpepper, and him sorry he ever saw you.”
“We love each other.”
“Be silent, I said. You must be mad. Never a word of this must pass your lips again. Do you want to ruin us all?”
“Ruin you? How?”
“Ruin the whole family. You were always addle-pated. The King has a fancy for you. Your uncle says he has never seen him so determined since …” She faltered. “We do not want such as that to happen again. He was set against the family then … but it was only for a time and we did return to favor. Not a word of this so-called betrothal to Culpepper, or it will be the worse for you … and for him. Not a word, not a word. Is that understood?” “Do you mean … ?”
“What I say. There must be no more talk of Culpepper. You must forget there was ever any mention of you and him. And …” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “There was that other. Derham … Francis Derham. He is away. In Ireland, I believe. He must stay there and, Katherine Howard; you must forget you ever saw him.”
“I cannot forget as I will. I could never forget Francis Derham.”
“He came back …”
“I told him it was over between us.”
“It is not only over, it never happened. It must never be mentioned. You did not know Francis Derham. You did not make any arrangement with Thomas Culpepper. Holy Mother of God, Culpepper is still in the King’s service.”
“But I cannot believe I did not know Francis Derham because I dare not speak of him. And I love Thomas Culpepper.”